Combo: Beggar and Gardens

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Beggar / Gardens
Beggar.jpg Gardens.jpg
Info
Set(s) Dark Ages / Base
Type Slog

BeggarBeggar.jpg and GardensGardens.jpg is a combo that uses Beggar's triple CopperCopper.jpg gaining ability to pump up the VP of Gardens, as well as for increased buying power throughout the potentially quite long game. It is interesting in that how it plays depends highly on whether or not your opponent chooses the same strategy; normally a slog, this combo becomes a rush in mirror matches.

Contents

[edit] Article

Original article by Geronimoo, edited by theory

Everyone and their mother knows about Ironworks/Gardens, but the new standard for Gardens enabling is here. Beggar! How cool is this dude!?. If you manage to collect all Gardens by the end of the game, each Beggar play will have added 2.4 VP. Comparable to RebuildRebuild.jpg, a sick $5 card that adds 2 to 3 VP per play.

Now you don’t have to be called WanderingWinder, -Stef- or Geronimoo to figure out Beggar and Gardens form a great combo, but you might want to consult with these guys if you’re facing the tough choice between a strongish engine like Hunting Party/Baron or Beggar/Gardens. Here’s me to help you out.

[edit] How to play the combo

Beggar/Gardens isn’t a rush strategy like Workshop/Gardens but a slog. (You might want to read the articles by the great WanderingWinder first). One notable aspect of the slog is that Copper is a good card instead of a liability. Another important property of the slog is that it does better the longer the game takes (unlike rushes and engines).

Ideally you’ll want to be able to play a Beggar each turn for the entire game which means you need to get a healthy number of them before greening. The simulator suggests 6 Beggars if your opponent goes for a Combo, Big Money or Engine strategy. If your opponent mirrors you, then you should aim for 4 Beggars before trying to win the Gardens split[notes 1]. This might seem late, but remember that once the Gardens are gone the game becomes a slog where being able to reach DuchyDuchy.jpg $ is very important. The extra Beggars will ensure you have enough fuel for the rest of the game. If your opponent goes for a rush (like Workshop/Gardens) use the same advice of 4 Beggars before greening.

[edit] Matchups

At game end your Gardens will often be worth 7VP which means an opponent aiming for ProvincesProvince.jpg needs to end the game as soon as possible. If your opponent is rushing, engining or comboing, and they try to fight you for Gardens, the green cards will hurt them a lot more than you.

[edit] vs Big Money

A typical big money strategy is WharfWharf.jpg BM. Beggar/Gardens beats it 4 out of 5 games. The Wharf deck can’t prevent Gardens reaching the 7VP treshold which means game over most of the time.

[edit] vs Rush

Ironworks/Gardens will win only 1 out of 20 games because it’s not good at buying Duchies after the rush becomes a slog.

[edit] vs Attacks

Attacks often turn games into slogs and the reaction part of Beggar adds some more value. Now you can discard all your excess Beggars to gain Silvers and keep one in hand for the Coppers. CursesCurse.jpg don’t really hurt (8 Gardens = -2VP from 10 Curses) so a Sea HagSea Hag.jpg or MountebankMountebank.jpg centered deck doesn’t stand a chance. Discard attacks like GoonsGoons.jpg are a little stronger, but unless they’re part of a big engine they can’t really beat the Beggar/Gardens.

[edit] vs Combo

Let’s take the Golden Deck (a deck that consists of exactly 5 cards: 1 BishopBishop.jpg, 2 SilverSilver.jpg, 1 GoldGold.jpg, 1 Province which trashes a Province each turn). This can reliably empty the Province pile in 16 turns which will beat the Beggar about half the time.

[edit] vs Slog

If your opponent decides to use the Beggar for a different slog like Duchy/DukeDuke.jpg he doesn’t stand a chance because Gardens will reach 5VP when three piles are empty (Beggar, Copper, Gardens). The Duchy player doesn’t have time to gain enough 8VP Dukes to compensate.

[edit] vs Engine

Hunting PartyHunting Party.jpg/BaronBaron.jpg is a nice simple engine which beats the Gardens player by a few percentages if the engine player builds up enough before going for the 8 Provinces. A strong engine like Fishing VillageFishing Village.jpg/Wharf will win 9 out of 10 games so you really shouldn’t try to go for the Beggar when there’s a megaturn engine.

[edit] Colony games

The 10VP of Colony is better suited to fight 7VP Gardens. The stronger Big Money decks will now also be able to beat the Beggar and all the engines will perform much better (not just the mega ones).

In conclusion this is a very strong combo that only gets beaten by the strongest engines or in Colony games. Just remember to load up on Beggars before greening and you should easily coast to victory with this little gem.

[edit] Notes

  1. Comments on the original posting of this article came to a consensus that opening Beggar/Gardens will be about equivalent to getting 4 Beggars first.


Cards $0 Ruins (Abandoned MineAbandoned Mine.jpgRuined LibraryRuined Library.jpgRuined MarketRuined Market.jpgRuined VillageRuined Village.jpgSurvivorsSurvivors.jpg) $0star SpoilsSpoils.jpg $1 Poor HousePoor House.jpgShelters (HovelHovel.jpgNecropolisNecropolis.jpgOvergrown EstateOvergrown Estate.jpg) $2 BeggarBeggar.jpgSquireSquire.jpgVagrantVagrant.jpg $3 ForagerForager.jpgHermitHermit.jpg (MadmanMadman.jpg) • Market SquareMarket Square.jpgSageSage.jpgStoreroomStoreroom.jpgUrchinUrchin.jpg (MercenaryMercenary.jpg) $4 ArmoryArmory.jpgDeath CartDeath Cart.jpgFeodumFeodum.jpgFortressFortress.jpgIronmongerIronmonger.jpgMarauderMarauder.jpgProcessionProcession.jpgRatsRats.jpgScavengerScavenger.jpgWandering MinstrelWandering Minstrel.jpg $5 Band of MisfitsBand of Misfits.jpgBandit CampBandit Camp.jpgCatacombsCatacombs.jpgCountCount.jpgCounterfeitCounterfeit.jpgCultistCultist.jpgGraverobberGraverobber.jpgJunk DealerJunk Dealer.jpgKnightsKnights.jpg (Dames AnnaDame Anna.jpgJosephineDame Josephine.jpgMollyDame Molly.jpgNatalieDame Natalie.jpgSylviaDame Sylvia.jpg • Sirs BaileySir Bailey.jpgDestrySir Destry.jpgMartinSir Martin.jpgMichaelSir Michael.jpgVanderSir Vander.jpg) • MysticMystic.jpgPillagePillage.jpgRebuildRebuild.jpgRogueRogue.jpg $6 AltarAltar.jpgHunting GroundsHunting Grounds.jpg
Combos and Counters Apprentice/Market SquareBeggar/GardensBishop/FortressDonate/Market SquareHermit/Market SquareLurker/Hunting GroundsMasterpiece/FeodumProcession/FortressTrader/Feodum
Other concepts When trashLooter
Cards $2 CellarCellar.jpgChapelChapel.jpgMoatMoat.jpg $3 HarbingerHarbinger.jpg • MerchantMerchant.jpgVassalVassal.jpgVillageVillage.jpgWorkshopWorkshop.jpg $4 BureaucratBureaucrat.jpgGardensGardens.jpgMilitiaMilitia.jpgMoneylenderMoneylender.jpgPoacherPoacher.jpgRemodelRemodel.jpgSmithySmithy.jpgThrone RoomThrone Room.jpg $5 BanditBandit.jpgCouncil RoomCouncil Room.jpgFestivalFestival.jpgLaboratoryLaboratory.jpgLibraryLibrary.jpgMarketMarket.jpgMineMine.jpgSentrySentry.jpg • WitchWitch.jpg $6 ArtisanArtisan.jpg
Removed cards $3 ChancellorChancellor.jpgWoodcutterWoodcutter.jpg $4 FeastFeast.jpgSpySpy.jpgThiefThief.jpg $6 AdventurerAdventurer.jpg
Combos and Counters Beggar/GardensChancellor/StashWorkshop/Gardens
Other concepts Vanilla
Dominion Card Combos
Apprentice/Market SquareBeggar/GardensBlack Market/TacticianBishop/FortressCapital/HerbalistCapital/MandarinCounting House/Travelling FairDonate/Market SquareGolden deckHermit/Market SquareLurker/Hunting GroundsMasquerade pinMasterpiece/FeodumNative Village/BridgeProcession/FortressRoyal Carriage/BridgeTrader/FeodumWorkshop/Gardens
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