Duration draw
Duration draw is a collective term for abilities that increase the number of cards you have in hand at the start of your turn. Most of the effects that provide duration draw are Duration cards—hence the name—but a few are Events.
Duration draw is valuable in engine decks because it increases the probability that you will be able to line up key engine components to start your turn; the effect is therefore similar to guaranteeing a non-terminal draw card in a normal-sized hand. The power of duration-draw cards is mitigated by the fact that as Duration cards, they remain in play for multiple turns, and can therefore be played less frequently than comparable non-Duration cards. Moreover, the benefit duration-draw cards provide is delayed; most of them provide little or no value on the turn you play them. One reason Wharf and Gear are considered very powerful cards is because they can provide both terminal draw when you play them and duration draw the next turn.
Duration-draw cards often provide defense against handsize attacks, since they can allow you to re-draw to a full-size hand after being hit by an Attack like Militia. However, this is not true of the Events with similar effects, because they increase your handsize before you're hit by the Attacks.
List of duration-draw effects
Cards
- Haven
- Enchantress, Gear, Ghost Town
- Caravan
- Archive, Cobbler, Crypt, Den of Sin, Haunted Woods, Tactician, Wharf
- Hireling
Prince can provide duration draw if it sets aside an action that provides at least +1 Card. Dungeon and Guide don't increase your handsize at the start of your turn, but they do sift your hand.
Other
- Events: Save, Expedition
- Boon: The River's Gift
Fringe example: Summon, like Prince, can provide duration draw if it sets aside a card that draws.