Best Economy Strategy - Generate 5+ Stock Per Turn from Pawns
Quick Fix
The Pawn Economy Loop generates 5+ stock per turn. Here’s the setup:
| Piece/Gambit | Stock Generated | Turn |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrel’s Gambit | +$1 per Pawn gained | Always |
| Berserker’s Gambit | +$1 on your first capture | Turn 1 |
| Bug Catcher’s Gambit | +$2 per Pawn capture | Always |
| Race Flag’s Gambit | +$3 per promotion | On promote |
Turn 5 target: a working Pawn income engine. Combined with the right Gambit picks, the Full Gambits List ranks Squirrel’s and Bug Catcher’s among the best economy options so you know which to prioritize.
How Pawn Economy Works
The Core Idea
Pawns pay for themselves when you build around the moment they enter and leave the board. The loop works like this:
- Buy cheap Pawns and keep a steady stream of them entering the board
- Use Squirrel’s Gambit so every Pawn you gain pays you $1
- Use Bug Catcher’s Gambit so every capture a Pawn makes pays you $2
- Capture with Pawns, then promote the survivors for Race Flag’s $3
Core Gambit: Squirrel’s Gambit
Squirrel’s Gambit (Common, $6): Every Pawn you gain pays you $1
This is the engine. Pawns are the cheapest pieces in the shop, and every one you buy or earn turns into money.
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Build 4 Protected Pawns (Turn 1-3)
Turn 1: Deploy 2 Pawns Turn 2: Deploy 2 more Pawns Turn 3: Deploy 1 Rook (protects your Pawns)
Board position example:
. . . . .
. P P P .
. . R . .
. P . . .
. . . . .
The Rook protects 3 Pawns. Each Pawn has a safe square to move to.
Step 2: Loop Pawns (Turn 4-7)
Each turn:
- Keep at least three Pawns active so captures are always available
- Capture with a Pawn where safe (+$2 from Bug Catcher’s)
- Redeploy or rebuy a Pawn so Squirrel’s keeps paying (+$1)
- Promote a spare Pawn when the board allows (+$3 from Race Flag’s)
Step 3: Scale with Beth’s and Berserker’s (Turn 4+)
Add Beth’s Gambit (Rare, $7): capturing the last enemy with your Queen pays extra money. Add Berserker’s Gambit (Common, $6): your first capture of the game pays $1.
Income sources working together:
| Source | Pays | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrel’s Gambit | $1 | Every Pawn you gain |
| Bug Catcher’s Gambit | $2 | Every Pawn capture |
| Race Flag’s Gambit | $3 | Every promotion |
| Beth’s Gambit | Bonus | Last enemy captured by your Queen |
When to Spend Your Stock
Wait until you have 80+ stock before buying big pieces. The Queen Supremacy Guide shows exactly how to deploy Queen for maximum impact once your Pawn Economy Loop delivers the stock.
| Option | Cost | When to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Queen | High | Once your Pawn income is steady |
| 2 Rooks | High | Mid-game, for lane control |
| Max Piece on Board upgrade | Rising | When games end with Stock still full |
Complete Build Summary
Gambits (Pick 3):
| Priority | Gambit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squirrel’s Gambit | Core - every Pawn gained pays out |
| 2 | Bug Catcher’s Gambit | $2 on every Pawn capture |
| 3 | Race Flag’s Gambit OR War Horse’s Gambit | Pay on promotion, or protect the promoted piece |
Piece Build Order: If bosses are your next bottleneck after building stock, the Boss Strategy Guide tells you exactly how much stock to hold before each boss encounter.
| Turn | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Pawns |
| 2 | 2 more Pawns |
| 3 | 1 Rook (protects Pawns) |
| 4-7 | Capture with Pawns, keep Pawns entering the board |
| 8+ | Buy Queen/Rooks |
Reliability: High when Pawns keep entering the board when Pawns keep entering the board