Why Princess Choice Matters
Your princess is the first major strategic decision that shapes the entire game. Each princess's coronation ability and succession point total changes how you build your deck from the very first turn.
Since the market is randomized each game, adapting your deck building to the available princesses is a core skill.
Base Set Princesses
First Princess Lulunasaika (Cost 6) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ability: 6 succession points
The most straightforward princess. She has no coronation ability, so once you coronate you can immediately focus on collecting succession point cards.
Recommended Strategy:
- Reliable in any supply — works with any deck style
- Appropriate for both beginners and experts
- Easy first purchase at cost 6
Card Synergies: No restrictions. Just build a good economy and coronate efficiently.
Second Princess Laoriri (Cost 6) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ability: On coronation, gain up to 5 Court Ladies
One of the strongest princesses in the base set. Gaining 5 Court Ladies (2-coin generators each) at coronation creates an explosive economic boost exactly when you need it most.
Recommended Strategy:
- Post-coronation succession point buying (Senator, Duke) becomes extremely fast
- The 5 Court Ladies added to your deck multiply your purchasing power dramatically
- Top priority for first princess purchase
Caveats:
- Opponents will compete for Laoriri — buy her early
- Over-thinning your deck before coronation can sometimes backfire if you don't hit 12 coins consistently
Southern Sea Princess Clamclamm (Cost 6) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ability: While in your domain, all card costs are reduced by 1 (minimum 1)
This looks subtle but is genuinely powerful. Buying City for 3 coins instead of 4 accelerates your economic buildout significantly.
Recommended Strategy:
- Benefits low-cost card strategies — great at any point in the game
- Cost-4 cards become cost-3, effectively giving you +1 coin of purchasing power
- Metropolis drops to cost 5, making coronation preparation easier
Best Card Synergies: Any cost 4–5 cards (City, Express Horse, Star-Reading Witch, etc.)
Refined Princess Bergamot (Cost 6) ⭐⭐⭐
Ability: Discard 1 card from hand → add 1 action card from discard pile to hand (once per main phase)
An active ability princess designed for combo decks. She's powerful when paired with strong action cards, but doesn't directly boost economy, making her suited to advanced players.
Recommended Strategy:
- Secure multiple powerful action cards (Star-Reading Witch, Alchemist) before coronating
- Ideal for action-chain combo decks
- Active ability gives precise timing control
Caveat: Using the ability requires discarding a card — with a small hand you'll run out of fodder quickly.
Princess General Flamaria (Cost 6) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ability: On coronation, gain up to 2 cards with cost ≤5 from market, placed on top of deck
Simultaneous deck upgrade at coronation. The ability to cherry-pick exactly what you want is powerful for planners.
Recommended Strategy:
- Classic pick: Star-Reading Witch + Alchemist for immediate combo potential
- Taking 2 Senators on coronation builds an early succession point lead
- Any two cost-5-or-less cards gives excellent flexibility
Caveat: Check that the cards you want are still available in the market at coronation time.
Twin Princesses Rain & Sion (Cost 6) ⭐⭐⭐
Ability: On coronation, gain Twin Counters based on total field card count (22–24 = 2 counters, 25+ = 3 counters). Spend counters for extra turns
A unique princess with an extra-turn mechanism. Total field cards includes hand, play area, and domain.
Recommended Strategy:
- Build toward a large deck specifically to hit the 25-card threshold
- Extra turns mean more succession point purchases
- Avoid trashing cards — accumulation rather than compression
Caveat: This is the opposite of the standard compression strategy, requiring a completely different approach. Advanced players only.
Princess Selection Guidelines
Recommended Order for Beginners
- Lulunasaika — Simple with a low learning curve
- Flamaria — Clear, powerful coronation bonus
- Clamclamm — Teaches the feel of economic efficiency
Princesses That Reward Advanced Play
- Laoriri — Outright strongest for raw power
- Bergamot — The better your combo construction, the stronger she becomes
Choosing When Multiple Princesses Are Available
The market typically shows 3–4 princesses from the base set each game.
Decision Points:
- If Laoriri is available, secure her ASAP — opponents want her too
- For active-ability princesses (Bergamot), buy early to plan your deck around her
- Competing for the same princess as an opponent creates a purchasing race
Summary Table
| Princess | Power | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lulunasaika | ★★★★ | ★☆☆ | Simple and stable |
| Laoriri | ★★★★★ | ★★☆ | Economy explosion at coronation |
| Clamclamm | ★★★★ | ★★☆ | Cost reduction for all purchases |
| Bergamot | ★★★ | ★★★ | Combo-oriented, advanced |
| Flamaria | ★★★★ | ★★☆ | Deck reinforcement at coronation |
| Rain & Sion | ★★★ | ★★★ | Extra turns, unique construction |
For Far Eastern Frontier princesses, see the Far Eastern Frontier Guide.