Root Strategy Hub

The Vagabond

The wandering adventurer forging relationships and completing quests

Intermediate
Base Game
Solo Adventure
Relationship Management
Item Optimization
Complexity
3/5
🎯 Win Condition

Score 30 points through quests, improving relationships, and item manipulation

⚙️ Crafting Method

Craft during Daylight by exhausting items matching card cost (no VP from items)

🎲 Starting Position

One vagabond pawn in any forest with starting items based on character

Overview

The Vagabond is a unique solo faction that travels the woodland completing quests, managing items, and forming relationships with other factions. They score points through quests, aiding/battling factions, and crafting items. With only one piece on the board, they must carefully manage their item track to maintain mobility and power.

Faction Board

Faction Board
Official player board reference from Root Wiki • Hover over phase sections for details
The Vagabond faction board
Hover to learn about each phase

Faction-Specific Cards

Essential cards unique to The Vagabond

Thief Character

Starts with: Boot, Boot, Sword, Torch. Special: Steal items from other players during battle.

Tinker Character

Starts with: Boot, Bag, Hammer, Hammer. Special: Day Labor - Gain extra cards when crafting.

Ranger Character

Starts with: Boot, Crossbow, Torch, Sword. Special: Hideout - Repair items in forests.

Arbiter Character

Starts with: Boot, Bag, Sword, Crossbow. Special: Arbitrate - Gain points from helping players in battle.

Scoundrel Character

Starts with: Boot, Crossbow, Torch, Bag. Special: Scorched Earth - Deal extra damage to buildings.

Vagrant Character

Starts with: Boot, Boot, Hammer, Sword. Special: Instigate - Gain points when opponents battle each other.

🎓 Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Vagabond Mastery Walkthrough

Character Selection & Setup

Choose your character based on strategy, not tier lists. Tinker and Adventurer excel with Exiles & Partisans deck. Start in forest adjacent to most ruins. Characters with 4 items in satchel need bag quickly. Prioritize starting hands with Tea, Coins, and Hammer. Bad hands may warrant skipping Vagabond.
•Lake map is worst for Vagabond due to spread ruins
•Consider advanced setup for better hand control

Early Game - Ruin Exploration

Explore all ruins efficiently in turns 1-4. Use Slip action for movement, saving other items for scoring. Aid every faction encountered for easy points. Avoid ending on plots or sympathy. Do not need all 4 items immediately - 2 swords plus crossbow suffices.
•Never rush Marquise Keep - unsportsmanlike and self-destructive
•Consider early hostility if safe, profitable target exists

Mid-Game - Maximizing Scoring

Goal: Reach 22 VP at least one turn before opponents. Craft items yourself for double benefit (VP plus engine acceleration). Anvil card is sacred - craft swords and coins yourself. Quest for cards if opponents are not crafting. Balance hostility against long-term mobility.
•Valuable crafts: Armors, Code Breakers, Scouting Party, Command Warren
•Avoid limping - repair fully or rest completely

Managing Table Aggression

Control forest turn timing. If sent twice in 7-round game, need 50 percent more points per turn. Take mid-game forest turns to prevent late-game disruption. At 22+ VP, ensure no opponent wins while you are in forest. Emerge with items refreshed for final push.
•Infamy strategy: Battle weak factions, aid strong ones
•Track aggression levels across all opponents

End Game - Victory Push

Emerge from forest at perfect timing with repaired items. Use refreshed items for maximum scoring burst. Maintain mobility to reach opportunities. Protect critical items (swords, crossbow). Watch for dominance opportunities if traditional victory blocked.
•Efficiency is everything - every action must maximize VP
•Plan two turns ahead for optimal scoring sequences

💡 Tip: Hover over highlighted game terms to see detailed explanations and related mechanics.

Mechanics & Strategy

Unique Mechanics
Special abilities and rules that define this faction

Relationships

Track relationships with each faction using Relationships chart (Hostile box and 4 Allied track spaces). Score VP when improving relationship. Score bonus VP (Infamy) when removing Hostile faction pieces in battle.

Law of Root 9.2.6

Items

Items are placed on tracks (Boots, Swords, Hammers - max 3 each) or in Satchel (Bags, Coins, Torches, Tea). Exhaust face-up items to take actions. Damaged items go to Damaged box.

Law of Root 9.2.3

Quests

Complete quests by exhausting items matching card requirements. Score VP equal to quest complexity.

Law of Root 9.5.3

Aid

Give cards to other factions to improve relationship. Allied factions can't attack you.

Law of Root 9.5.4

Nimble

Move regardless of who rules clearings. Only piece on board is the vagabond pawn.

Law of Root 9.2.2

Turn Order
Actions available in each phase

Early Game

  • Establish Allied relationship with 1-2 factions
  • Acquire swords and boots from ruins
  • Complete simple quests
  • Build balanced item collection

Mid Game

  • Maintain Allied status with key factions
  • Complete medium-difficulty quests
  • Craft high-value items
  • Score from relationship improvements

Late Game

  • Score 3-4 VP per turn consistently
  • Complete difficult quests
  • Strike key buildings
  • Maintain safe Allied relationships

Strengths & Weaknesses

💪 Strengths
  • +Extreme mobility across entire map
  • +Can't be targeted by most factions when Allied
  • +Flexible scoring through multiple paths
  • +Character abilities provide unique strengths
  • +Strong early-game presence
  • +Can craft items without ruling clearings
⚠️ Weaknesses
  • -Only one piece - vulnerable to focused attacks
  • -Item management is complex
  • -Exhausted items limit actions
  • -Difficult to score consistently in late game
  • -Relationships can be fragile
  • -Limited items means limited flexibility
🤝 Synergies
  • • Can leverage any faction's success through aiding
  • • Benefits from chaotic games
🛡️ Hard Counters
  • • Coordinated attacks when exhausted
  • • Marquise (many warriors to become Hostile)
  • • Lizard Cult (can score from you becoming Hostile)

🎬 Video Guides

Watch & Learn (2 videos)
Expert tutorials to master The Vagabond