Which Dominion expansion after the base game?

2-4 players (base) Deck-building About 30 min

The game

Already own Dominion? Every expansion is a set of Kingdom cards that needs a base game for the shared cards. Here is the order most tables enjoy.

2-4 players with the base game (5-6 with extra base cards). The English 2nd editions are the ones to buy now.

Buy the 2nd editions. Dominion, Intrigue, Seaside, Prosperity and Hinterlands all have cleaned-up 2nd editions with weak cards replaced. The old 1st editions still play, but do not mix the update packs by accident.

Intrigue is a base game in English. Intrigue (2nd edition) includes base cards and plays on its own. It also combines with the base game for 5-6 players.

Cornucopia and Guilds come together. In current English printings the two small boxes are sold combined as Cornucopia & Guilds.

Which boxes do you already own?

Put on the table what you already have, and how many of you play.

You usually play with

2-4

Release timeline

Base 2008 (2nd edition 2016), Intrigue 2009 (2nd 2016), Seaside 2009 (2nd 2022), Alchemy and Prosperity 2010, Cornucopia 2011 and Guilds 2013 (combined 2nd 2022), Hinterlands 2011 (2nd 2022), Dark Ages 2012, Adventures 2015, Empires 2016, Nocturne 2017, Renaissance 2018, Menagerie 2020, Allies and Plunder 2022, Rising Sun 2024.

The graph

How the Dominion boxes connect, plus the mechanics. An arrow starts at the expansion and points to the box it needs.

needs another box
contains this box
part of the line
game mechanic

Depending on what you want

You want	Get
Treasure and Colonies	Prosperity
Cards that stay out	Seaside (Duration cards)
A huge box of attacks and trash	Dark Ages
Events and travellers	Adventures
The newest, shadows and prophecies	Rising Sun

Tick your boxes at the top and the answer follows.

At the table

Box	What it brings
Dominion (2nd edition)	2-4 players. The base game and its Kingdom cards.
Intrigue (2nd edition)	Standalone in English, and pairs with the base for 5-6.
Seaside	Duration cards that pay off next turn.
Prosperity	Platinum, Colonies and big treasures.
Alchemy	A small box built around Potions.
Cornucopia & Guilds	Two small boxes in one: variety rewards and Coffers.
Hinterlands	Effects when you gain or buy cards.
Dark Ages	A big box: Shelters, Ruins, trashing matters.
Adventures	Events, the Tavern mat and traveller cards.
Empires	Debt, Landmarks, Events and split piles.
Nocturne	Night cards, Heirlooms, Boons and Hexes.
Renaissance	Projects, Artifacts, Coffers and Villagers.
Menagerie	Horses, Exile mats and Ways.
Allies	Allies, Favors and rotating split piles.
Plunder	Loot, Traits, Treasures and Durations.
Rising Sun	Shadow cards, Prophecies and Debt.

Compatibility

Box	Needs	Players
Dominion (2nd edition)	standalone base	2-4
Intrigue (2nd edition)	standalone base	2-4
Seaside	needs one base	with the base game
Prosperity	needs one base	with the base game
Alchemy	needs one base	with the base game
Cornucopia & Guilds	needs one base	with the base game
Hinterlands	needs one base	with the base game
Dark Ages	needs one base	with the base game
Adventures	needs one base	with the base game
Empires	needs one base	with the base game
Nocturne	needs one base	with the base game
Renaissance	needs one base	with the base game
Menagerie	needs one base	with the base game
Allies	needs one base	with the base game
Plunder	needs one base	with the base game
Rising Sun	needs one base	with the base game

The 1st-edition update packs and the Base Cards set are outside the picker: they are card sets for owners of the old printings, not new Kingdom content.

FAQ

Which Dominion expansion first?

Prosperity for most groups: Platinum, Colonies and powerful Kingdom cards. Seaside is the other classic first buy.

What do all Dominion expansions need?

A base game: Dominion or Intrigue, either edition, for the Treasure, Victory and Curse cards.

Is Intrigue an expansion?

In English it is both a standalone game and the partner box for 5-6 player games with the base game.

Are Empires, Nocturne, Renaissance, Menagerie, Allies and Plunder in this picker?

Yes. Rio Grande Games sells all six in English, and each needs Dominion or Intrigue for the basic cards, like every expansion here. They sit after Adventures in the picker: strong boxes, but buy the classics first.

Who publishes Dominion in English?

Rio Grande Games. Designer: Donald X. Vaccarino.