What Is Coronation?
Coronation is the single most important move in Heart of Crown.
When you coronate:
- Your princess is placed in your "domain" and her ability triggers (if any)
- The final succession point race begins
- You signal to all opponents that the endgame has started
Coronation timing is what separates experienced players from beginners.
Coronation Requirements
You can coronate during the Buy Phase when:
- You have a Metropolis in hand or play area
- Your total coins reach 6 or more (including the Metropolis's 3 coins)
In other words, you need Metropolis plus at least 3 more coins from other sources.
Three Phases of Coronation Analysis
Phase 1: Coronation Preparation (Early-Mid Game)
You can't coronate yet. Your objectives:
- Buy economy cards: City, Court Lady, strong Common cards
- Compress your deck: Trash Villages with Donation
- Purchase your princess: The prerequisite for coronation (cost 6 — requires good economy)
- Secure a Metropolis: Essential for coronation; opponents want it too
Phase 2: The Coronation Decision (Mid Game)
Once you have a Metropolis and start consistently hitting 12 coins, the question becomes: should I coronate now?
Phase 3: The Endgame (Post-Coronation)
After coronation it's a pure succession point race. The question is: how many high-cost succession point cards can you buy with Metropolis's 3 coins plus the rest of your hand?
How to Judge Your Coronation Timing
Benefits and Drawbacks of Early Coronation
Benefits:
- More turns to collect succession point cards
- Princesses with coronation bonuses (like Laoriri) reward early coronation most
- You set the game's pace before opponents do
Drawbacks:
- Coronating with a weak deck means only 6 coins per turn
- You won't be able to buy high-value succession cards, and opponents catch up
- You stop developing your economy prematurely
Benefits and Drawbacks of Late Coronation
Benefits:
- A fully developed deck maintains high buying power every turn
- Succession point collection becomes more efficient
Drawbacks:
- If an opponent coronates first, your available turns shrink dramatically
- Opponents have a head start on succession points
Practical Timing Guidelines
Economy Benchmark
Target: consistently producing 12+ coins per turn before you coronate
Think about what you need post-coronation:
- Duke (6 VP, cost 8) requires 8 coins
- Senator (3 VP, cost 5) requires 5 coins
If your deck reliably generates 8–10 coins per turn after coronation, you're ready.
Turn Benchmark
A typical game lasts 15–20 turns per player.
- Coronating before turn 10: Early coronation. Risky with a weak deck, but valid with princess bonuses
- Turns 12–14: Standard coronation window
- Turn 15+: Late coronation. High risk of falling behind on succession points
Reading Your Opponent
The most critical skill is predicting when your opponent will coronate.
Signs that your opponent is close:
- They've already bought a Metropolis
- Their deck is thin (around 10–15 cards)
- They're generating large amounts of coins each turn
If you see these signs, prepare to coronate within 2–3 turns yourself.
Post-Coronation Strategy
Counting Remaining Turns
After coronation, all opponents receive a limited number of remaining turns (see rulebook). Focus on:
- Maximizing how many succession points you can collect in your remaining turns
- Considering disruption attacks to reduce opponents' remaining turns
Succession Point Card Priority
| Card | Cost | VP | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor's Crown | 13 | 14 | Maximum VP but very expensive |
| Duke | 8 | 6 | Standard high-value target |
| Imperial Capital Kalikuma | 11 | 6 | High cost, high VP |
| Margrave | 6 | 3 | Good cost-to-VP ratio |
| Senator | 5 | 3 | Best mid-cost efficiency |
| Court Lady | 3 | 2 | Excellent with Laoriri |
When your post-coronation coins are low: Focus on Senators (cost 5)
When you have strong coin generation: Chase Dukes and Imperial Capital
Immediately after Laoriri coronation: 5 Court Ladies land in your deck — instant economy boost
Using Ladies-in-Waiting
Don't overlook the Ladies-in-Waiting series — they can be placed in your domain after coronation.
- Lily / Honoka / Minyan / Sharifa / Petite: 2 VP each, plus field effects
- Grabbing 1–2 at coronation time creates meaningful advantages in the endgame race
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Coronating with too little economy
Symptom: You can only afford Senators (5 VP) every turn after coronation
Fix: Build 3+ Cities and 2–3 Court Ladies before considering coronation
Mistake 2: Reacting to opponent coronation in a panic
Symptom: Coronating with a weak deck because you "had to," then struggling
Fix: Constantly track your opponent's Metropolis purchases and buying power growth
Mistake 3: Continuing to buy economy cards after coronation
Symptom: You're still buying Cities while opponents are collecting Dukes
Fix: At the moment of coronation, mentally flip your strategy from "economy" to "succession points"
Summary: Pre-Coronation Checklist
Before you coronate, verify:
- Metropolis is in your hand or play area
- You consistently generate 10+ coins per turn
- Village count in deck is 3 or fewer
- Your opponent's deck looks close to coronation-ready
- You've already purchased your princess
If these boxes are checked, coronate without hesitation.