Removed cards
Several cards that were published in the first editions of the earliest sets in Dominion were removed from those sets, and replaced by new cards, when their second editions were released. Cards chosen for removal were chiefly those that turned out to be underpowered or rarely useful in gameplay, as well as a few overpowered cards that tended to dominate games they were in.
History
When the first editions of Dominion and Intrigue were released, not much was known about the relative strengths and weaknesses of each card - playtesting with a select group of people can only get game designers so far. Early on, Dominion was often criticized for having too many relatively useless Action cards; some people even went so far as to call Dominion a 'solved' game in which the key to victory is just buying Treasure (see also Silver test). Over the years, after the release of many expansions, Dominion became more balanced, very weak Action cards became more uncommon, and engines got more and more opportunities to shine. Nevertheless, some of the early cards still remained notorious for being laughably weak for their cost, with especially Scout and to a lesser extent Chancellor and Adventurer often being ridiculed for being useless.
Already back in 2012, Dominion designer Donald X. elaborated on the things he would do differently if he had a 'Dominion time machine'. However, it took quite some time before actual steps were taken to update the early sets.
On September 21, 2016, Jay Tummelson posted a message on the BoardGameGeek forums that Dominion was getting a 'face lift', meaning that the original Base set as well as Intrigue got second editions that would replace the original first editions. The most notable of these changes was the fact that each set had 6 Kingdom cards as well as the blank cards removed, and replaced with 7 completely new Kingdom cards. A few days later, the new rulebook revealed which cards were going to be deleted (see below).
In early 2022, second editions of Seaside, Prosperity and Hinterlands were announced back-to-back, with each releasing with 9 new cards to replace removed ones.
Reception
Overall, most people were content with the upgrades, praising the removal of weak cards and the addition of a handful of exciting new cards. The only controversy came from the removal of Coppersmith from the second edition of Intrigue, which many frequent forum members were unhappy about. Coppersmith, while not a power card, was probably the strongest of the removed cards, and a fairly unique one as well. It was argued that Coppersmith was mainly removed because it tends to be a trap card for newer players; while occasionally useful as payload in an engine, it is typically a card newer players buy early on in the game, only to regret it a few turns later. A poll on the Dominion Strategy forums revealed that a little under 40% of forum members would miss Coppersmith the most out of the removed cards.
List of Removed cards
Dominion (2016)
Intrigue (2016)
Although not removed, Harem was renamed to Farm in 2024.
Seaside (2022)
Prosperity (2022)
Hinterlands (2022)
Cornucopia & Guilds (2024)
Bag of Gold, Diadem, Followers, Princess, Trusty Steed
Fortune Teller
Doctor, Masterpiece
Farming Village, Horse Traders, Taxman, Tournament
Harvest
Card Gallery
Refer to Update Packs' galleries.
Trivia
Other cards Donald X. considered removing
- Harem. It's called Harem. It would have left but it shows a real person.
- Baron. It's not so fun to think the move is to open with it and then draw it with no Estates.
- Trading Post. I don't like how it's good turn one and sucks if you get it later.
- Minion. More hated than Swindler.
- Mining Village. It should trigger e.g. at start of buy phase, both for tracking and to save time considering it. But I couldn't just change that and call it Mining Village.
The last card to go was Coppersmith. Some people miss it. Possibly Baron or Trading Post would have been a better call.
; there's a new Militia in Allies, that concept hasn't died. And I mean Sea Witch and Clerk are not weak attacks, as you will find.
