Dead

Cards are referred to as dead if they are drawn at a time when they can't be used, or can't be used effectively.

• The most common example of drawing cards "dead" is when you play a terminal +Cards card like Smithy and draw Actions which you can't play because you have no actions remaining.
• Victory cards are typically dead cards in your deck until the end of the game.
• Throne Room, King's Court, and Procession can be drawn with no actions to use as targets.
• Treasure Maps drawn without a second Treasure Map in hand can be dead cards.
• Sea Hag becomes a dead card once the Curse pile is empty.
• Early-game trashers become dead cards once you have trashed all of your bad cards.
• Baron may be considered dead if it is drawn without an Estate in hand by a player who does not want to gain an Estate.