Master cards
Villein
played in 832 decks,
typically 2-6 copies
Its Trifle trait made it one of the best leech option overall, besting Minion Tap and often slower tools like Vessel or Blood Doll.
Dreams of the Sphinx
played in 727 decks,
typically 1-3 copies
Loved for its ubiquitousness, the Dreams provides either two pool (and can even accelerate the setup if played early) or help the deck rotation in critical moments by drawing two cards.
Giant's Blood
played in 521 decks,
typically 1 copy
Even if it is only once per game, it brings more blood on the table than any other card, with the notable exception of Golconda: Inner Peace. It is often played in a single copy: with a bit of luck it brings a definitive advantage, otherwise it prevents an opponent to play it himself.
Wider View
played in 512 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
A cheap Trifle that provides rotation to the crypt. For a lot of crypts, this is a useful asset in the mid game to help fetch a third or fourth vampire. It is even guaranteed to generate one pool at some point.
Direct Intervention
played in 487 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
The ability to cancel any minion card is extremely valuable. It has reliable role in wall decks to deal with block denial, otherwise its value varies depending on how good a player is at assessing the importance of cards.
Vessel
played in 473 decks,
typically 1-4 copies
The most played leeching card after the ubiquitous Villein, it enables a 1 point leech per turn and allows to give some blood back to a vampire, which can avoid hunt actions and keep A&B high. Blood Doll is cheaper and faster, but it can be destroyed and it is not a Trifle.
Powerbase: Montreal
played in 387 decks,
typically 1 copy
A good bloat device that generates one pool per turn at no cost. It is a no-brainer in decks able to defend it. It can also be a useful bargaining chip when dealing with other Methuselahs, as it can easily be borrowed as part of a deal.
Information Highway
played in 367 decks,
typically 1-3 copies
An excellent crypt accelerator at no cost, it is played both with big capacity crypts, but also with weenie crypts at 1-2 capacity to make it possible to draw and get out a vampire in a single turn. Even if it is Unique, some decks include it in multiple copies to improve their chances to draw it early on.
Pentex™ Subversion
played in 351 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
Before its errata in September 2020, Pentex was the most played Master card in all decks. It is still powerful though: disabling a specific minion of the prey can be key to victory in many decks.
Fame
played in 240 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
A key card for combat heavy decks, usually used on the prey's minions, it provides excellent pool damage. The fact that it is Unique means it can not easily be abused, though.
The Coven
played in 236 decks,
typically 1 copy
A good way to bring some blood back on the table, is it a useful tool against rush and grinder decks. Even if it does not come along so often, the fact that it helps the whole table can really slow down these particular archetypes.
Ashur Tablets
played in 232 decks,
typically 6-12 copies
It is a decent bloating device but its key ability is to allow some recursion in the deck. Since its nerf in 2024, it is played in less copies overall, since only one can be played per turn. It stayed powerful enough to see play regularly.
The Rack
played in 231 decks,
typically 1 copy
One of the best tool available to bring some blood back on a vampire, it works beautifully with Blood Doll or Vessel. It needs to be defended to be kept in play, but such a good blood generator at no cost is a bargain.
Club Illusion
played in 229 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
A permanent bleed boost for Anarch decks: any Anarch can spend a blood to add one to a bleed. Cheap to set up and always relevant when the plan is to bleed the prey down.
Archon Investigation
played in 224 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
A dreadful deterrent against too powerful bleeders. A must have for decks who do not have access to bounces, it can be included in virtually any deck just to discourage the 6-7 bleed scores or can achieve.
Monastery of Shadows
played in 221 decks,
typically 1 copy
A costly but efficient location. The stealth can make the difference between life or death for the prey, and the bonus hand size is nothing to frown upon. It is a little bit better in decks using Parity Shift as it can get the pool down just enough to be able to play the vote against one's prey.
The Parthenon
played in 213 decks,
typically 1-5 copies
A useful tool as it enables the play of more Master cards at no cost, it can be combined with vampires providing yet another Master action: Anson, Nana Buruku, Cybele, Huitzilopochtli or Isanwayen.
Jake Washington
played in 198 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
A good way to bring back some blood on a vampire, it can also provide protection by blocking an action and is a key combination with War Ghoul.
Smiling Jack, The Anarch
played in 175 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
A slow-building source of table-wide attrition: each turn one feeds it a counter, and every other Methuselah then pays for each counter it holds. It shines in decks with enough block potential to protect it while the counters pile up.
Papillon
played in 173 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
Basically a better Hunting Ground for those relying heavily on Princes, Barons or Archbishops. Definitely worth including when the crypt fits.
Secure Haven
played in 164 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
Although Unique, it is a solid counter against rush decks. Other options are required to really defend against them as this can only protect one vampire, but this is still a vampire one would not take down easily.
Anarch Troublemaker
played in 162 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
It locks up to two of the prey's vampires each turn, a cheap and repeatable way to strip their defense before a bleed or a rush. The downside is that it then passes to the prey to use in turn.
Wash
played in 150 decks,
typically 1-2 copies
Countering Master cards is often useful: the best move is to counter a bloat card like Villein, which is equivalent to a serious bleed. Other powerful Master cards can be countered this way too.
Perfectionist
played in 142 decks,
typically 1-3 copies
An easy way to get some blood back on a vampire at no cost. Many actions go through unblocked and unreacted to, so it tends to bring blood back on the vampire at least every other turn.