Flamaria
What is Flamaria — The Meaning of "Planned Coronation" and Ability Details
Princess General Flamaria is the Tier A "planning-type princess" in the Heart of Crown base set. She lacks Laoriri's instant explosive power, but possesses the unique strength of being able to plan coronation timing precisely and obtain exactly the cards you want.
Ability Details
Upon coronation, she has the effect of "acquiring up to 2 cards of cost 5 or less from the market and placing them directly on top of your deck."
The strength of this ability lies in "getting the 2 cards you want most, for free, immediately." Normally, purchasing 2 cost-5 cards (like Alchemist) requires 10 coins. Flamaria achieves this completely free at the moment of coronation.
Numerical Comparison of the Ability
| Scenario | Normal Purchase | Flamaria Effect | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Witch (cost 3) × 2 | 6 coins | Free | 6 coins |
| Alchemist (cost 5) × 2 | 10 coins | Free | 10 coins |
| Star Witch × 1 + Alchemist × 1 | 8 coins | Free | 8 coins |
| Supply Corps (cost 4) × 2 | 8 coins | Free | 8 coins |
Getting cards worth up to 10 coins for free means Flamaria's ability has extremely high economic value.
What "Planned Coronation" Means
To maximize Flamaria, you must decide before coronation what 2 cards you will take, and manage the market to ensure those cards remain available.
This is why she is called "planning-type." While Laoriri says "just build economy and coronate," Flamaria says "only reach maximum value by coronating when the target cards are available."
Flamaria vs Laoriri Comparison
| Item | Laoriri | Flamaria |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate VP on coronation | +10 pts | 0 pts |
| Deck enhancement on coronation | 5 Court Maidens | Any 2 cards (cost 5 or less) |
| Play style | Explosive, instant | Planned, transformative |
| Difficulty | Medium | Med-High |
| Reproducibility | High | Medium (supply dependent) |
| Tier | S | A |
Why Flamaria is "Tier A"
1. High flexibility in acquirable cards
Unlike Laoriri who always takes Court Maidens, Flamaria can choose any 2 cards of cost 5 or less. In environments where specific combos work, this becomes overwhelming strength.
2. The strongest combo — Star Witch + Alchemist — exists
Flamaria's greatest strength is acquiring "Star Witch (cost 3) + Alchemist (cost 5)" simultaneously upon coronation. When this combo activates:
- Star Witch manages deck top every turn (eliminates bad cards)
- Alchemist draws 2 cards every turn (improves hand quality)
- Forms a powerful cycle for drawing large quantities of VP cards
3. Solves the "can't draw the cards I need" problem
By placing Star Witch + Alchemist on top of the deck after coronation, you can reliably use these in the first few turns post-coronation.
When to Choose Flamaria
Highest Priority Conditions
Condition 1: Both Star Witch and Alchemist are Available
| The 2 cards' roles | Effect | Post-coronation value |
|---|---|---|
| Star Witch (cost 3) | View top 2 of deck, discard 1 | Optimize deck every turn |
| Alchemist (cost 5) | Draw 2 cards | Increase VP cards in hand |
Taking both moves your post-coronation deck toward the ideal state of "drawing what you want."
Condition 2: Supply Corps + Star Witch Available
Supply Corps (cost 4) is a powerful alternative to Alchemist. Has draw effect and combines with Star Witch for high-speed deck rotation.
Condition 3: Library + Many Action Cards in Supply
Library (cost 4) provides additional coins when action cards are played. Acquiring Library with Flamaria increases coins per turn in action-heavy decks.
When to Avoid Flamaria
| Condition | Reason |
|---|---|
| Neither Star Witch nor Alchemist available | Core combo impossible |
| Most desirable cards cost 6+ | Outside Flamaria's ability range |
| Court Maiden pile has 5 cards left | Should choose Laoriri |
| Heavy curse distribution from early game | Curse management takes priority |
Market Inventory Monitoring
After choosing Flamaria, constantly monitor "will the cards I want still be in the market when I coronate?"
Cards requiring close attention:
- Alchemist: Popular card many players want. Depletes quickly
- Star Witch: Relatively easy to obtain but count decreases with multiple buyers
- Supply Corps: May be desired by everyone as a draw source
Phase-by-Phase Strategy (Complete Guide)
Phase 1: Economic Development (Turns 1-5)
Phase Goals
- Build economic foundation (secure 2-3 Cities)
- Purchase Flamaria (cost 6)
- Monitor target cards in market while building
Turn 1-2: Opening Priority
| Coins Available | Top Priority | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2 coins | Donation | Best compression available |
| 3 coins | Star Witch | Usable before coronation and target for acquisition |
| 4 coins | City | Core economic card |
| 5 coins | City | Alchemist can be taken via Flamaria — no need to buy now |
| 6 coins | Flamaria or Metropolis | Situation dependent |
Important: If you see 6 coins on turn 1-2, generally buy Flamaria first to secure the princess before opponents.
Turns 3-5: Building the Economic Core
- Secure 2-3 Cities (most critical task)
- Compress Villages with Donation if available
- Regularly check stock of planned target cards
- Do not buy Alchemist yet — save it for free acquisition via Flamaria
Avoid "accidentally buying your target cards yourself" — the entire point of the strategy is getting them for free.
Phase 2: Coronation Preparation and Verification (Turns 6-12)
This phase is the core of Flamaria play. The decision of "when to coronate" determines victory or defeat.
Coronation Timing Criteria
Coronate when ALL required conditions are met:
Required conditions:
- The 2 target cards remain in the market
- 12 coins can be produced in one turn (Metropolis purchase + 9 coins)
Ideal conditions:
- Villages compressed to 4 or fewer
- 3+ Cities in deck
- Metropolis already purchased; coronation requires total 6 coins (including Metropolis's 3 coins — just 3+ more from other cards)
Market Inventory Monitoring Method
| Check Timing | What to Check | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Start of every turn | Alchemist / Star Witch count | Alert if 2 or fewer |
| Reaching turn 6 | Are both target cards available? | Accelerate if yes |
| During opponent's turn | Did they buy a target card? | Switch to backup plan if yes |
Emergency coronation criteria: If a target card drops to 1 copy, consider coronating even if economy is insufficient. Getting 1 card is better than getting none.
Purchase Priority During Turns 6-12
| Priority | Card | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Metropolis | Required coronation trigger |
| High | City (if insufficient) | Economic foundation |
| High | Donation (if available) | Village compression |
| Do not buy | Alchemist | Take via Flamaria effect |
| Do not buy | Star Witch (2nd copy+) | Same reason |
Phase 3: Post-Coronation VP Collection (Powerful Moves with Star Witch + Alchemist)
Ideal State After Coronation
Deck state after Flamaria coronation acquiring Star Witch + Alchemist:
| Card | Count | Position | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Witch | 1 | Top of deck | Deck top management |
| Alchemist | 1 | Top of deck (next) | Draw 2 |
| City | 2-3 | In deck | Economy |
| Metropolis | 1 | In deck | High economy |
| Court Maiden | 3 | In deck | Economy + VP |
| Village (remaining) | 2-4 | In deck | Weak economy |
Star Witch + Alchemist Combo Flow
Ideal turn flow:
- Draw 5 cards
- Star Witch + Alchemist both in hand = ideal
- Use Star Witch: Check top 2 cards, discard weak cards (Villages etc.)
- Use Alchemist: Draw 2 additional cards
- Result: 7-card equivalent hand with multiple economic cards drawn
This combo makes your effective hand 7 cards, making 10-14 coins easier to produce.
VP Purchase Strategy
| Coins Available | Recommended Purchase |
|---|---|
| 12+ coins | Duke (8 coins) + Councilor or Court Maiden |
| 8-11 coins | Duke (8 coins) only |
| 6-7 coins | Margrave (6 coins) or Councilor + Court Maiden |
| ~5 coins | Councilor (5 coins) |
Card Priority for Flamaria's Coronation Acquisition
S Rating: Must Acquire
| Combination | Reason | Expected Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Star Witch (cost 3) + Alchemist (cost 5) | Best combo. Free 8-coin equivalent | Deck optimization + 2 draws per turn |
| Alchemist × 2 (cost 5 × 2) | Free 10-coin equivalent | 4 additional draws per turn (2 uses) |
A Rating: Powerful in Certain Situations
| Combination | Reason | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Corps (cost 4) + Star Witch (cost 3) | Draw + deck management. Free 7-coin equivalent | Alternative when no Alchemist |
| Library (cost 4) + Alchemist (cost 5) | Coin bonus + draw for action-heavy builds | Only for action-rich supplies |
B Rating: Usable but Not Maximum Value
| Combination | Reason | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| City × 2 | Economic enhancement | Emergency measure when no good options |
| Court Maiden + Alchemist | VP + draw | When wanting early VP |
Key Card Priority Rankings
S-Rank: Must Have
| Card | Cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Alchemist |
5 | Core of Flamaria combo. Keep in market for free acquisition |
 Star Witch |
3 | Deck top management. Cost-3 acquisition target, also usable pre-coronation |
 Metropolis |
6 | Required for coronation, also high economic power |
 City |
4 | Core economy. Target 3 copies |
A-Rank: Actively Acquire
| Card | Cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Supply Corps |
4 | Draw alternative to Alchemist. Flamaria acquisition target |
 Library |
4 | Economic support in action-heavy builds. Flamaria target |
 Duke |
8 | Main VP card post-coronation |
 Donation |
2 | Village compression to thin and accelerate deck |
Sample Game Walkthrough (Two Patterns)
Pattern A: Star Witch + Alchemist Combo Route
Assumed Supply: Donation, City, Metropolis, Supply Corps, Star Witch, Alchemist, Duke, Emperor's Crown available
Turns 1–5: Economy Building and Securing Key Cards
| Turn | Hand | Purchase | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | [Village×4, Court Maiden×1] | Donation (2 coins) | Village compression first |
| T2 | [Village×2, Court Maiden×2, Village×1] | City (4 coins) | First economy card |
| T3 | [Court Maiden×2, Village×2, Donation×1] | Use Donation→trash Village; buy City (4 coins) | Remove 2nd Village + economy |
| T4 | [City×2, Court Maiden×2, Village×1] | Flamaria (6 coins) | Secure princess first |
| T5 | [Village×3, Court Maiden×1, City×1] | City (4 coins) | 2nd City |
Key point: Do not buy Alchemist (cost 5) at any point — it is saved for free acquisition via Flamaria's ability.
Turns 6–10: Coronation Preparation (Market Monitoring and Metropolis)
| Turn | Hand | Purchase | Coins Left | Market Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T6 | [Court Maiden×2, City×2, Village×1] | Metropolis (6 coins) | 2 remaining | Alchemist 3 copies, Star Witch 3 copies |
| T7 | [Village×2, Court Maiden×2, Donation×1] | Use Donation→trash Village; City (4 coins) | — | Alchemist still 3 copies |
| T8 | [Metropolis, City×2, Court Maiden, Village] | City (3rd copy, 4 coins) | — | Alchemist 2 copies: alert! |
| T9 | [Metropolis, City×2, Village×2] | Hold — waiting for coronation turn | 9 coins | — |
| T10 | — | — | — | Coronation confirmed for T11 |
Turn 11 (Coronation): Example Hand and 2-Card Acquisition
Hand drawn: [Metropolis, City×2, Village×2]
Coin calculation: Metropolis (3) + City×2 (4) + Village×2 (2) = 9 coins
Coronation requirement: total 6+ coins including Metropolis. Condition met (9 coins).
Flamaria's coronation effect: Acquire up to 2 cards of cost 5 or less from the market, placed in discard pile.
Cards chosen: Star Witch (cost 3) + Alchemist (cost 5)
- Star Witch placed at deck position 1 (top)
- Alchemist placed at deck position 2
- 2 coins remaining after coronation — not enough for any purchase
Post-coronation deck state (12 cards): Star Witch (top), Alchemist (2nd), City×3, Metropolis×1, Court Maiden×3, Village×2, Flamaria×1
Turns 12–16: Duke Chain with Star Witch + Alchemist Combo
| Turn | 5-Card Draw | Combo | Final Coins | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T12 | [Star Witch, Alchemist, City, Court Maiden, Village] | Star Witch: discard Village from top 2; Alchemist: draw 2 more (get City + Metropolis) | 3+2+2+3+2=12 coins | Duke (8) + Court Maiden (3) → 1 leftover |
| T13 | [City×2, Court Maiden×2, Village] | No combo | 9 coins | Senator (5 coins) |
| T14 | [Star Witch, Alchemist, Metropolis, City, Duke] | Star Witch: eliminate weak card; Alchemist: draw 2 (Court Maiden×2) | 3+2+2+2+2=13 coins | Emperor's Crown (13) exactly! |
| T15 | [City×2, Court Maiden×2, Village] | No combo | 9 coins | Duke (8 coins) |
| T16 | [Star Witch, Alchemist, City, Metropolis, Senator] | Combo fires | 12 coins | Duke (8) + Court Maiden (3) |
Final score: Court Maiden×5=10 + Senator=3 + Duke×3=18 + Emperor's Crown=14 = 45 points
Pattern B: Supply Corps + Senator Stable Route
Assumed Supply: Donation, City, Metropolis, Supply Corps, Senator, Duke available (no Alchemist)
Turns 1–5: Opening Economy
| Turn | Hand | Purchase | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | [Village×4, Court Maiden] | Donation (2 coins) | Village compression |
| T2 | [Village×2, Court Maiden×2, Village] | City (4 coins) | Economy base |
| T3 | [Court Maiden×3, Donation, Village] | Use Donation→trash Village; City (4 coins) | Compress + economy |
| T4 | [City×2, Court Maiden×2, Village] | Flamaria (6 coins) | Secure princess |
| T5 | [Village×2, Court Maiden, City, Village] | City (4 coins) | 3rd City |
Turns 6–8: Metropolis and Coronation
| Turn | Hand | Purchase |
|---|---|---|
| T6 | [Court Maiden×2, City×2, Village] | Metropolis (6 coins) |
| T7 | [City×2, Court Maiden, Metropolis, Village] | Hold — 10 coins available, but saving for coronation |
| T8 | [Metropolis, City×2, Village×2, Flamaria] | Coronate: 3+4+2=9 coins ≥ 6 |
Flamaria effect at T8: Acquire Supply Corps (cost 4) + Senator (cost 5) — both placed on top of deck
Turns 9–13: Supply Corps + Senator Engine
| Turn | Hand | Combo | Coins | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T9 | [Supply Corps, Senator, City, Village×2] | Supply Corps: draw 2 (get City + Metropolis) | City(2)+Village×2(2)+Metropolis(3)=7 coins | Duke (8) — need more; buy Senator (5) instead |
| T10 | [City×2, Court Maiden×2, Village] | None | 9 coins | Duke (8) |
| T11 | [Supply Corps, Metropolis, City, Court Maiden, Senator] | Supply Corps: draw 2 | 12 coins | Duke (8) + Court Maiden (3) |
| T12 | [Duke×2, City, Court Maiden, Village] | None | 7 coins | Margrave (6 coins) |
| T13 | [Supply Corps, Metropolis, City×2, Village×1] | Supply Corps: draw 2 | Metropolis(3)+City×2(4)+Village(1)=8 coins | Duke (8) |
Pattern B characteristics: Supply Corps + Senator lacks the explosive power of Pattern A, but securing 3 VP from Senator immediately and steady draws from Supply Corps provide a safe and reliable route when Alchemist is unavailable.
Full Comparison Table: Cost-5-or-Less Acquisition Candidates
This table evaluates all viable 2-card combinations for Flamaria's coronation effect.
S-Rank Combinations
| Card 1 | Card 2 | Coins Saved | Post-Coronation Effect | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Witch (cost 3) | Alchemist (cost 5) | 8 coins | Deck-top management every turn + draw 2. Effective 7-card hand, expect 12–14 coins | S |
| Alchemist (cost 5) | Alchemist (cost 5) | 10 coins | Draw 4 per turn. No deck management but maximum draw power | S |
A-Rank Combinations
| Card 1 | Card 2 | Coins Saved | Post-Coronation Effect | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply Corps (cost 4) | Star Witch (cost 3) | 7 coins | Draw 2 + deck management. Best alternative to Alchemist combo | A |
| Supply Corps (cost 4) | Alchemist (cost 5) | 9 coins | Draw 2+2=4 per turn. No deck management | A |
| Supply Corps (cost 4) | Supply Corps (cost 4) | 8 coins | Draw 4 total. Fallback when Star Witch unavailable | A |
| Star Witch (cost 3) | Senator (cost 5) | 8 coins | Deck management + 3 VP immediately locked in | A |
B-Rank Combinations
| Card 1 | Card 2 | Coins Saved | Post-Coronation Effect | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court Maiden (cost 3) | Alchemist (cost 5) | 8 coins | 2 VP + draw boost. Good if you want early VP secured | B |
| Senator (cost 5) | Senator (cost 5) | 10 coins | 6 VP immediately. No draw enhancement | B |
| City (cost 4) | Alchemist (cost 5) | 9 coins | Economy + draw. Reliable but no synergy | B |
| City (cost 4) | Supply Corps (cost 4) | 8 coins | Economy + draw. Solid fallback when nothing better exists | B |
| Express Horse (cost 2) | Alchemist (cost 5) | 7 coins | Draw enhancement pair. Express Horse is light but underwhelming | B |
C-Rank Combinations (Generally Not Recommended)
| Card 1 | Card 2 | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Curse Witch (cost 5) | Charm Witch (cost 5) | Attack cards provide no deck engine — contradicts Flamaria's strengths |
| City (cost 4) | City (cost 4) | Economy only — without draw, can't reliably access the cards you buy |
| Star Witch (cost 3) | Star Witch (cost 3) | Duplicate of same card; one Star Witch is sufficient |
Summary: Flamaria's ideal acquisition is draw power + deck management in a 2-card package. Star Witch + Alchemist is the gold standard. When unavailable, Supply Corps-based alternatives are next best. Including one VP card (Senator) is a valid secondary option when early points are critical.
Ideal Deck Lists
Ideal Pre-Coronation Deck
| Card | Count | Role | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court Maiden | 3 | Economy + VP | 3 |
| City | 3 | Core economy | 4 |
| Metropolis | 1 | High economy + coronation | 6 |
| Village (compressed) | 2-4 | Remaining | 1 |
| Flamaria (princess) | 1 | Held | — |
| Total | 10-12 cards | — | — |
Key point: Alchemist and Star Witch are intentionally not purchased, preserving them for free acquisition via Flamaria.
Post-Coronation Deck (Star Witch + Alchemist Acquired)
| Card | Count | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Witch | 1 | Deck top management | Placed on deck top |
| Alchemist | 1 | Draw 2 | Placed on deck top |
| Court Maiden | 3 | Economy + VP | In deck |
| City | 3 | Economy | In deck |
| Metropolis | 1 | High economy | In deck |
| Village (remaining) | 2-4 | Filler | Compress if possible |
Combo turn flow: Star Witch → discard weak card → Alchemist → draw 2 more → 7-card effective hand → 10-14 coins.
Failure Patterns and Alternative Plans
Failure 1: Target Cards Purchased by Opponents Before Coronation
Fix: Monitor market every turn. Prepare backup plans B and C at the time you choose Flamaria.
Backup plan:
- No Alchemist: Switch to Supply Corps + Star Witch
- Neither available: City × 2 or other cost-4 combinations
- Nothing useful: Consider delaying coronation or switching princesses
Failure 2: Accidentally Buying Target Cards Yourself
Fix: The core discipline of Flamaria strategy is "waiting without buying the cards you intend to take." If the supply is stable, hold off on Alchemist purchases until coronation.
Exception: If only 2 copies remain and opponents are competing for them, buying 1 yourself (then taking the other via Flamaria) is correct.
Failure 3: Coronating with Insufficient Economy, Wasting the Combo
Fix: Ideally coronate when both "economy is ready" and "target cards are available." Combo cards on a weak deck still don't produce enough coins for Duke.
Failure 4: Continuing to Buy Action Cards After Coronation
Fix: Star Witch + Alchemist is the complete engine. Switch immediately to VP-buying mode after coronation.
Failure 5: No Backup Plan When Supply Has Nothing Good
Fix: Always identify your top 3 target combinations before starting. Never choose Flamaria without at least one good 2-card combination available.
Opponent-Specific Strategies
vs Laoriri (Tier S — Biggest Threat)
Main threat: Laoriri gets 10 VP instantly upon coronation, plus automatic economic boost from 5 Court Maidens.
Strategy:
- Coronating before Laoriri is the primary countermeasure
- If the Star Witch + Alchemist combo activates at maximum speed, you can match Laoriri's VP collection pace
- If Laoriri has already coronated: constantly calculate remaining VP needed, chain Duke purchases
Advantage: Flamaria unfavorable (reversible depending on timing)
vs Rurunasaika (Multi-Buy Type)
Main threat: +1 purchase phase after coronation enables multiple VP cards per turn.
Strategy: With combo active, compete through raw coin output. Rurunasaika's multiple purchases tend to be lower-value individual cards — counter by consistently buying Duke (6 pts each).
Advantage: Slightly unfavorable to even
vs Rain (Stable Type)
Main threat: Stable VP collection; becomes more stable as game lengthens.
Strategy: Rain's VP speed is slow. Flamaria coronating first and activating the combo establishes superiority. Better hand quality advantage develops over time.
Advantage: Flamaria favorable to even
vs Bergamot (Disruption Type)
Main threat: Disrupts action cards — Star Witch and Alchemist are targets.
Strategy: If facing Bergamot, reduce reliance on action cards. Consider taking non-action cards (City × 2 etc.) with Flamaria's ability instead.
Advantage: Unfavorable (action card dependency)
Advanced Techniques
Technique 1: Double Cost-5 High-Risk High-Reward Plan
Alchemist × 2 is Flamaria's maximum output. Free 10-coin equivalent, enabling up to 4 additional draws per turn.
Conditions: 2 Alchemists remain in market; game likely to go long; opponent isn't Laoriri applying immediate VP pressure.
Risk: Without Star Witch, deck-top management is impossible. Consider pre-purchasing 1 Star Witch before coronation as risk mitigation.
Technique 2: Reservation Purchase to Prevent Depletion
When a target card drops to 2 or fewer copies, buy 1 yourself (then take the remaining copy via Flamaria). Costs coins now but guarantees 2 total copies.
Adoption criteria: Target card at 2 or fewer AND you judge opponents are competing for it.
Technique 3: Pre-Purchasing Star Witch to Prepare Deck
Buying Star Witch before coronation lets you manage the deck top before you even coronate, removing Villages and weak cards from accessible positions. The tradeoff is that it uses up one of your Flamaria acquisition slots.
Decision criterion: If 3+ Star Witches remain in market, pre-purchase is viable since you can still take one via Flamaria.
Technique 4: Continuous Star Witch Use After Coronation
The Star Witch placed on deck top after coronation continues to provide value throughout the VP collection phase — discarding Villages from deck top, setting up Duke draws, managing the deck for critical late-game turns. Think of it as a card you use every game, not just at coronation.
Summary — 5 Success Conditions for Flamaria
- Decide the 2 target cards at game start — ideal is Star Witch + Alchemist, but adapt to supply
- Don't buy target cards yourself until coronation — the entire strategy depends on getting them free
- Check market inventory every turn — be ready to coronate urgently or switch plans if supply dwindles
- Balance economic readiness with coronation timing — calculating this tradeoff is what separates intermediate from advanced play
- Switch to VP-buying mode immediately after combo activates — no more action card purchases needed
Flamaria is Heart of Crown's "princess that tests both planning and execution." She lacks Laoriri's explosive power, but with correct planning and precise execution, she can compete against any opponent. Focus on supply reading and inventory management to master her.