<p>There are some subtle situations where you need to have curses on the table even without an explicit curse kingdom card. For example, the <strong>Swindler</strong> from the Intrigue expansion lets you trash opponents cards and replace them with cards of equal value. If you're <strong>trashing a zero-value copper</strong> you can <strong>replace it with a zero-value curse</strong>. Without curses all you could do is replace it with another copper.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-08T03:43:35.133Z
2011-01-08T03:43:35.133Z
Adam Wuerl
<p>Friend of mine bought one in a Garden-based deck - he had 79 cards and copper ran out.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-18T22:52:17.660Z
2011-12-18T22:52:17.660Z
Reactormonk
<p>When playing with "Fairgrounds" from the Cornucopia expansion I sometimes buy a curse just to have another type of card in play.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T20:46:03.580Z
2011-12-16T20:46:03.580Z
Gildavinor
<p>"Should curses be available <em>for purchase</em> ?" - </p>

<p><strong>Yes!</strong></p>

<p>The most common scenario for purchasing curses (in a game where they aren't otherwise gained) is in a two-player game where <em>buying all (at most) ten of them would end the game, resulting in a win for the player who does so</em>. Usually this requires some/all of the following:</p>

<ul>
<li><p><strong>Watchtower</strong> in hand, so you can trash them immediately. (Note: I was about to put <strong>Trader</strong> here also, but that doesn't <em>trash</em> the curses; you just don't get a curse...)</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Talisman</strong> in hand, so buying a curse gets you an extra.</p></li>
<li><p>Multiple buys.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>This ("scooping" the game) frequently happens when one or both players in a two-player game are buying-up all of a few kingdom cards (e.g. <strong>Fishing Village, Bridge, City</strong>).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-05T15:17:18.853Z
2012-02-05T15:17:18.853Z
The Chaz 2.0
<p>If you don't have all the expansions they're great for proxying other cards if you don't have attack cards that would use them. I only have the base set right now, and I've used curses to represent Colonies, platinums, and even more complicated cards from the other sets if everyone understands them. The blanks are also great for this. You can use kingdom cards as well, but I find its easier to forget that they actually mean something else.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-08T16:42:15.033Z
2011-01-08T16:42:15.033Z
Gordon Gustafson
<p>The Dominion rules contain the following note:</p>

<p><em>Note: Curse cards are present in every game, however, they are rarely used in the basic game other than with the Witch card.</em></p>

<p>I believe you can buy them just like any other card.  The question is, why anyone in their right mind would ever want to!  Just to show off, I guess :D</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-07T20:33:21.843Z
2011-01-07T20:33:21.843Z
thesunneversets
<p>Should <a href="http://dominion.diehrstraits.com/?card=curse">Curses</a> always be laid out as a supply pile even when no kingdom cards give curses? Or should the only be available when a curse kingdom card is chose?</p>

<p>An extension of this question could be should Curses be able to be purchased without being forced to get them by a card.</p>

<dominion>
When should Curses be used? 
Pithlit
# When should Curses be used? 

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-01-07)

Should [Curses](http://dominion.diehrstraits.com/?card=curse) always be laid out as a supply pile even when no kingdom cards give curses? Or should the only be available when a curse kingdom card is chose?

An extension of this question could be should Curses be able to be purchased without being forced to get them by a card.

**Tags:** dominion


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## 6 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2011-01-07. Score: 24 | Accepted answer

The Dominion rules contain the following note:

*Note: Curse cards are present in every game, however, they are rarely used in the basic game other than with the Witch card.*

I believe you can buy them just like any other card. The question is, why anyone in their right mind would ever want to! Just to show off, I guess :D


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### Answer by username_1 on 2011-01-08. Score: 13

There are some subtle situations where you need to have curses on the table even without an explicit curse kingdom card. For example, the **Swindler** from the Intrigue expansion lets you trash opponents cards and replace them with cards of equal value. If you're **trashing a zero-value copper** you can **replace it with a zero-value curse**. Without curses all you could do is replace it with another copper.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2011-12-18. Score: 4

Friend of mine bought one in a Garden-based deck - he had 79 cards and copper ran out.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2011-12-16. Score: 4

When playing with "Fairgrounds" from the Cornucopia expansion I sometimes buy a curse just to have another type of card in play.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2012-02-05. Score: 3

"Should curses be available *for purchase* ?" -

**Yes!**

The most common scenario for purchasing curses (in a game where they aren't otherwise gained) is in a two-player game where *buying all (at most) ten of them would end the game, resulting in a win for the player who does so*. Usually this requires some/all of the following:

* **Watchtower** in hand, so you can trash them immediately. (Note: I was about to put **Trader** here also, but that doesn't *trash* the curses; you just don't get a curse...)
* **Talisman** in hand, so buying a curse gets you an extra.
* Multiple buys.

This ("scooping" the game) frequently happens when one or both players in a two-player game are buying-up all of a few kingdom cards (e.g. **Fishing Village, Bridge, City**).


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### Answer by username_5 on 2011-01-08. Score: 2

If you don't have all the expansions they're great for proxying other cards if you don't have attack cards that would use them. I only have the base set right now, and I've used curses to represent Colonies, platinums, and even more complicated cards from the other sets if everyone understands them. The blanks are also great for this. You can use kingdom cards as well, but I find its easier to forget that they actually mean something else.


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