Dominion is an immensely popular deck building adventure that’s been a hit at the game night table since its release in 2008. The simple yet strategic gameplay and wacky medieval theme, along with the opportunity to curse your friends and family, has won over many. However, I’d argue that what truly makes the game great is its extensive catalogue of expansions.
Dominion: Rising Sun, the 16th expansion for the game, is due to drop in June 2024. In addition, many of the game’s earlier expansions have been updated in recent years with second edition printings. That means you have plenty of options when it comes to picking up a new set of kingdom cards. Here are the 10 best Dominion expansions you can add to your collection today.
10. Dominion: Intrigue (2nd Edition)
Cards in the Intrigue expansion emphasize player choice, which means many of the actions and attacks in the set are more versatile. Secret tunnel and masquerade are standout cards here that offer more advanced strategies. A basic expansion, but a good one nonetheless.
9. Dominion: Nocturne
Nocturne is one of the bigger boxes in the series, adding thirty-three new kingdom cards, boons, hexes, and a few other non-supply cards. It also introduces one of Dominion’s more advanced mechanics- the night phase. Unfortunately, the cards in this set don’t mix quite as well with the other boxes. However, its theme makes for a fun experience anyway.
8. Dominion: Adventures
The Adventures expansion for Dominion adds events, the page and peasant upgrade track, and the reserve mat. I wouldn’t recommend it as a first expansion, because it plays best when paired with the platinum and colony cards in the Prosperity box. Beyond that, it’s a good buy.
7. Dominion: Seaside (2nd Edition)
Seaside adds duration cards to the game that produce effects immediately when played and at the start of your next turn. The second edition is also a significant improvement over the first release, which featured a gamebreaking pirate ship card.
6. Dominion: Menagerie
Animals and the exile mechanic are the highlights of this box. There are quite a few reaction and duration cards here to play with as well, which means you get a little bit of everything when you pick this one up.
5. Dominion: Empires
The best Dominion expansion packs offer completely new gameplay experiences, and Empires certainly represents one of the furthest departures from the core set. Landmarks implement new scoring rules, debt lets you play big turns early, and castles add some extra competition.
4. Dominion: Renaissance
The best new game mechanic in Renaissance is the struggle to keep artifact cards like the flag and the key under your control. Coffers and villagers, which were first introduced in the Guilds expansion, make a welcome return.
3. Dominion: Hinterlands (2nd Edition)
The Hinterlands box adds a range of ‘when gain’ effects to the game, plus a wider selection of reaction cards compared to the other expansions. Border village and tunnel are personal favorites.
2. Dominion: Dark Ages
Trashing cards is the name of the game in the Dark Ages expansion. The new ruins and shelters cards require you to focus on cleaning up the rubble that is your deck, which is a complex yet rewarding process.
1. Dominion: Prosperity (2nd Edition)
Prosperity is the most essential Dominion expansion because it scales up the size of the game with platinum coins and colony victory cards. Villages become cities, mines become mints, and cellars become vaults. With the cards in this box you’ll be richer than ever.
