Herbalist
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{{Infobox Card | {{Infobox Card | ||
|name = Herbalist | |name = Herbalist | ||
|cost = 2 | |cost = 2 | ||
|type1 = Action | |type1 = Action | ||
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|illustrator = Harald Lieske | |illustrator = Harald Lieske | ||
|text = '''+1 Buy'''<br/>+{{Cost|1}} | |text = '''+1 Buy'''<br/>+{{Cost|1}} | ||
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}} | }} | ||
| − | '''Herbalist''' is an [[Action]] from [[Alchemy]]. It | + | '''Herbalist''' is an [[Action]] from [[Alchemy]]. It gives +{{Cost|1}} and +1 Buy, and allows you to put a [[Treasure]] on top of your deck to use again next turn. |
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| + | Herbalist is the only Alchemy card which does not explicitly mention {{Card|Potion|Potions}} in any way. | ||
== FAQ == | == FAQ == | ||
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== Strategy == | == Strategy == | ||
| − | + | Herbalist's main value is as a source of +Buy, which can be a crucial resource when [[build]]ing an [[engine]]. However, because Herbalist is [[terminal]] and provides almost no benefit aside from +Buy, it will usually be outclassed by any other source of +Buy in the kingdom as well as non-buy sources of [[gain]]s and will only be worth considering if these resources are otherwise severely lacking. In these cases, the timing for acquiring Herbalist is important, since it provides almost no benefit beyond the +Buy; ideally, you should anticipate when you will be able to generate sufficient {{Cost}} to make use of this and buy Herbalist just before that. Occasionally (e.g. when drawing with {{Card|Scrying Pool}} or {{Card|City Quarter}}) you may prefer Herbalist over a Treasure-based source of +Buy that is generally stronger. | |
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| + | Herbalist’s topdecking effect is usually irrelevant, since Treasures (being stop cards) are generally among the worst cards to have in your starting hand when playing with an [[engine]]. Although in principle it could be helpful to topdeck a {{Card|Gold}} when employing a [[money strategy]], in practice Herbalist itself would be a weak addition to this type of deck, as it generates only {{Cost|1}} (thus lowering your [[money density]]), and it would be difficult to make use of the +Buy or to [[collision|collide]] it reliably with {{Card|Gold}}. It is also easily disrupted by [[handsize attack]]s, especially {{Card|Minion}}. | ||
| − | Herbalist's | + | There are a few scenarios, however, which can cause you to want a Treasure in your next starting hand, making Herbalist's topdecking usable. {{Card|Crown}} is usually a good choice to topdeck, and a guaranteed {{Card|Gold}} or {{Card|Plunder}} on top can be highly beneficial in an engine drawing with {{Card|Storyteller}} or {{Card|Encampment}}. Herbalist’s ability also synergizes well with {{Card|Capital}}: if a {{Card|Capital}} or two in your next starting hand won’t hurt (either because you can [[draw]] reliably or because you don’t care about [[deck control]]), topdecking them allows you to avoid discarding them from play, thus providing access to their full {{Cost}} value without incurring the usual {{debt}}. Additionally, it might sometimes be worth topdecking {{Card|Potion}} if you’re relying on {{Card|Alchemist}} for draw, as this allows you to guarantee topdecking your {{Card|Alchemist|Alchemists}} next turn as well. You may also wish to guarantee being able to use a {{Card|Copper}} as fodder for {{Card|Masquerade}} or {{Event|Cathedral}}.The more marginal the benefit, the less likely it is that Herbalist is worth using for its topdecking effect if you don’t also need the +Buy, as it takes up [[terminal space]] and is reliant on your draw or [[reshuffle|shuffle luck]] for collisions. |
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== Versions == | == Versions == | ||
Revision as of 18:12, 30 November 2021
| Herbalist | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Info | |
| Cost |
 |
| Type(s) | Action |
| Kingdom card? | Yes |
| Set |
Alchemy |
| Illustrator(s) | Harald Lieske |
| Card text | |
|
+1 Buy +  When you discard this from play, you may put one of your Treasures from play onto your deck. | |
Herbalist is an Action from Alchemy. It gives + and +1 Buy, and allows you to put a Treasure on top of your deck to use again next turn.
Herbalist is the only Alchemy card which does not explicitly mention Potions in any way.
Contents |
FAQ
Official FAQ
- When you play this, you get + and +1 Buy.
- When you discard this from play in Clean-up, you may choose a Treasure card you have in play, and put that card on your deck.
- You choose what order to discard cards during Clean-up; so for example if you have Herbalist, Potion, and Alchemist in play, you could choose to discard Alchemist first, putting it on top of your deck, then discard Herbalist, and put Potion on top of your deck.
- If you have multiple Herbalists in play, each one will let you put another Treasure from play onto your deck when you discard it.
Other Rules clarifications
- Using Herbalist with Throne Room or King's Court does not allow you to top-deck more than one Treasure per Herbalist card. Using Herbalist with Procession, or emulating it with a card such as Band of Misfits, doesn't allow you to topdeck any Treasures at all, since you never actually discard the Herbalist.
- Herbalist cannot topdeck a Treasure that leaves play before the Cleanup phase, such as Spoils, Stockpile, or any Treasure doubled by Counterfeit.
- Unlike Scheme, Herbalist doesn't check if the Treasure you topdeck will be discarded from play this turn. This means you can topdeck a Treasure which is supposed to stay in play for another turn (e.g., a Crown or Scepter being used to play a Duration card, or a Treasure–Duration created by Capitalism); if you do, you will have to remember what the card was supposed to do on the next turn.
- Although Herbalist itself is a Treasure if you have Capitalism, you cannot have an Herbalist topdeck itself, because it's no longer in play when its topdecking ability is activated. You could, however, topdeck an Herbalist with a different Herbalist.
Strategy
Herbalist's main value is as a source of +Buy, which can be a crucial resource when building an engine. However, because Herbalist is terminal and provides almost no benefit aside from +Buy, it will usually be outclassed by any other source of +Buy in the kingdom as well as non-buy sources of gains and will only be worth considering if these resources are otherwise severely lacking. In these cases, the timing for acquiring Herbalist is important, since it provides almost no benefit beyond the +Buy; ideally, you should anticipate when you will be able to generate sufficient 
to make use of this and buy Herbalist just before that. Occasionally (e.g. when drawing with Scrying Pool or City Quarter) you may prefer Herbalist over a Treasure-based source of +Buy that is generally stronger.
Herbalist’s topdecking effect is usually irrelevant, since Treasures (being stop cards) are generally among the worst cards to have in your starting hand when playing with an engine. Although in principle it could be helpful to topdeck a Gold when employing a money strategy, in practice Herbalist itself would be a weak addition to this type of deck, as it generates only (thus lowering your money density), and it would be difficult to make use of the +Buy or to collide it reliably with Gold. It is also easily disrupted by handsize attacks, especially Minion.
There are a few scenarios, however, which can cause you to want a Treasure in your next starting hand, making Herbalist's topdecking usable. Crown is usually a good choice to topdeck, and a guaranteed Gold or Plunder on top can be highly beneficial in an engine drawing with Storyteller or Encampment. Herbalist’s ability also synergizes well with Capital: if a Capital or two in your next starting hand won’t hurt (either because you can draw reliably or because you don’t care about deck control), topdecking them allows you to avoid discarding them from play, thus providing access to their full value without incurring the usual 
. Additionally, it might sometimes be worth topdecking Potion if you’re relying on Alchemist for draw, as this allows you to guarantee topdecking your Alchemists next turn as well. You may also wish to guarantee being able to use a Copper as fodder for Masquerade or Cathedral.The more marginal the benefit, the less likely it is that Herbalist is worth using for its topdecking effect if you don’t also need the +Buy, as it takes up terminal space and is reliant on your draw or shuffle luck for collisions.
Versions
English versions
| Digital | Text | Release | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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+1 Buy + When you discard this from play, you may put one of your Treasures from play on top of your deck. |
Alchemy 1st Edition | May 2010 |
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+1 Buy + When you discard this from play, you may put one of your Treasures from play onto your deck. |
Alchemy 2nd Edition | December 2018 |
Other language versions
| Language | Name | Digital | Text | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 中藥舖 (pron. zhōng yàopù, lit. Chinese medicine shop) | ||||
| Czech | Bylinkář | ||||
| Dutch | Kruidenexpert (lit. herb expert) | ||||
| Finnish | Yrttikauppias (lit. herb dealer) | ||||
| French | Herboriste | ||||
| German | Kräuterkundiger |  |
+1 Kauf + Wenn du diese Karte aus dem Spiel ablegst, darfst du eine deiner Geldkarten aus dem Spiel auf deinen Nachziehstapel legen. |
(2019) one or more other versions listed here | |
| Italian | Erborista | ||||
| Japanese | 薬草商 (pron. yakusōshō, lit. medicinal herbs merchant) | +1 購入 + これを場から捨て札にするとき、場の財宝カード1枚を山札の上に置いてもよい。 |
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| Russian | Травник (pron. travnik) |  |
+1 Покупка + Когда вы сбрасываете эту карту из игры, можете положить одно из вашних Сокровищ из игры на верх колоды. |
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| Spanish | Herbalista |
Trivia
Preview
symbol in the cost; Apprentice cares about 
symbols in costs; and Potion is potion. What's up with Herbalist? As it happens Herbalist is in the set specifically for how it interacts with Potions! A cheap +buy is a handy thing when you're trying to buy cards with the symbol in the cost. And then it puts a treasure back on your deck. A treasure like... Potion? That's right. Of course you already knew that from the bit about Alchemist.Secret History
with +1 buy, to help support potions, and it had one. Some people complained about it though, 1) for being boring, although man, you need some simple cards here and there, and 2) for being the only card in the set that had nothing to do with potions. So we tried out this one to replace it and it seemed fine. Some people preferred the old one though. People seemed about 50-50 on it. I was 50-50 on it. In the end I felt like this card would be more interesting in this set than in most sets, and the other card could just go anywhere.
