Ronin

Basic Info

• Type: Action-Shadow
• Cost: 5
• Effect: Draw until you have 5 cards in hand.
• Shadow: Can be played directly from your deck.

Rating

A handfiller. Reaches max value (+5 cards) only when hand is empty — typically post-attack. Shadow type compensates for terminality.

Tier C overall. Situational. Inferior to Smithy (+3 cards always) in most boards.

How to Play

Early: not a top $5 buy. Prefer Smithy/Change.

Mid: Play Ronin from deck (Shadow) post-attack to refill hand.

Late: insurance card vs hand attacks.

Caveat: dead if hand already has 5+ cards.

When to Pick / Skip

Pick when:

1. Strong attacks present (Minion, Torturer, Ninja).
2. Shadow synergy boards.
3. Engine fillers needed.

Skip when:

1. Attack-free boards.
2. Strong draws (Smithy) already exist.
3. Short rushes.

1-2 copies typical.

Key Combos

Ronin + Ninja: Shadow synergy.

Ronin + Minion (own): Refill after Minion's discard.

Ronin + Cellar: Discard for refill.

Ronin + Haven: timing.

Ronin + King's Court: Doubled play (second often wasted).

Synergies

• Ninja: Shadow.
• Minion/Torturer: refill insurance.
• Cellar: discard + refill.
• Haven: timing.
• King's Court: doubled.
• Shadow cards.
• Smithy (coexists): different role.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Attack-free supplies: not needed.
• Strong draw (Smithy): outclassed.
• Short games: insurance role unused.
• Already 5+ hand: dead card.

Advanced Tips

Shadow play conserves hand: post-attack to 3 cards → Shadow Ronin → 5 cards.

Anti-attack defense: Minion drops you to 3, Shadow Ronin restores.

Cellar synergy: Discard hand → Ronin refills.

KC max: KC + Ronin = 2 plays; second usually wasted.

Mirror: attack-trade meta affects Ronin value.

Haven: save Ronin for post-attack turn.

Dead-card avoidance: don't fire if hand already 5+.

3-pile-go: Ronin pile depletion.

Post-shuffle weakness: hand often already at 5; Ronin whiffs.