Dominion expansions
Seaside vs Menagerie
Short answer: buy Seaside first. The set most guides name as the best first expansion. Duration cards add planning without much extra rules.
Pick Menagerie first instead if this sounds more like your table: The top favorite in the 2023 r/dominion survey and an IGN top pick. Ways give your action cards extra uses.
| Question | Seaside | Menagerie |
|---|---|---|
| Our label | Buy this first | Worth it |
| Buy order | #1 for Dominion | #3 for Dominion |
| What it adds | Duration cards that keep working on your next turn, plus mats and tokens. | Horses, Exile mats, Ways (other ways to use action cards), and Events. |
| What it fixes | — | — |
| Type | Expansion | Expansion |
| Players | — | 2–4 players |
| Rules load | — | — |
| Best for | — | — |
| You need first | Just the base game | Just the base game |
| Price guide | $40–$60 | $40–$60 |
| More | Seaside details | Menagerie details |