The best use of trusted is probably betrayal. The second best use is keeping Survivor allies that heal themselves alive when the encounter deck does one damage or one horror to allies. But the best use hasn’t been mentioned yet in reviews, and that’s to reload Becky.

For a measly one resource, a card, zero actions and zero XP, you can make your disposable allies that much tougher. And then you kill them off, which if you’re building Tommy right you will. (Between Tetsuo, solemn vow, or even self-sacrifice, you should be cycling allies regularly.) And one damage and one horror means two more bullets in a gun that perpetually seems out of bullets.

Even better, it’s two more damage if you plan on the level two guard dog and space things out, turning the pupper into a 5/3 powerhouse. With this card, officer Muldoon can turn trust into a one-way street.

Someone pointed out that this has a wonderful interaction with counterpunch and guard dog (as well as their upgrades). Instead of going across the map to fight the stranger, it’s possible to defeat him because of the attacks he makes on you. The Pale Man may beckon, but Nathaniel the boxer sees a hand start to move and drops a hook right to the jaw. See you in the dreams!

If you’re wondering why Sister Mary is in Guardian, this is why. Passive enemy extinction. Even in a fast game, Sister Mary will add 12 to 17 tokens to the bag just by existing. And until you have allies like Nephthys or a covenant, you’re going to cringe anytime someone draws a double bless. (Unless you have blessing of Isis.*)

Now, you want your allies to draw blesses! It lets you explode enemies, even more effectively than guard dog(2). +1Will is OK, and you could even teamwork this ally to a mystic, because it doesn’t matter where the Blessed tokens come from as long as they get used. There is another combo with this. Holy rosary (2) wants you to pass every willpower check you get. Bast’s faithful helps out. You handle this, first watch, and I'll Handle This! allows you to cycle tokens through the bag even faster. Enchanted weapon also wants your willpower to be increased. There’s plenty to elevate Mary even without spells.

At 4XP, Nephthys is extremely expensive for an ally. Cycle hard, get her out early, and melt foes. Neph is best (Bast?) at high player counts, where blessings will be drawn continually.

*It’s worth noting that there’s an anti-synergy between this card and blessing of Isis. Nephthys wants tokens taken out of the bag. Isis keeps them in there, and if you’re Mary increases them. You could take both, and on a larger team someone could take the other. But they go in different directions, so don’t spend your XP on both at once.

Spring 2024 edit: New bless tech, like Blessed Blade (4), make the huntress even deadlier. You don't need to run a covenant with this combo.

Oh I get it! It takes up an accessory slot because it goes around the neck. I see what you did there FFG. Need 200 characters I'll just talk about my day until there. Started off sleepy but got coffee

This is an insane card. Tutor for 0 resource is obviously. Comes along well with Finn's other signature Finn's Trusty .38, which will often be your first target. Very soon, you are likely to search your deck for Lockpicks, maybe other/heavier weapons.

I really like to put it back in deck, delay your weakness(es), get a chance to use it again. Very versatile card, it can be used as a tutor, refill for weapons or Lockpicks, shuffle if you know that your weakness is on top, and even you had 0 Illicit card in your deck, still a ? Symbol -which will almost never happen cause of Finn's Trusty .38.

I like to play a heavy-drawer Finn and the ability to put this back in the deck is a good way to avoid reshuffling it. Helps me to: -Avoid the horror, sometimes a critical issue for Finn. -Bury my weaknesses. -Keep my discard pile for Scavenging By the way Caught Red-Handed can most of the time achieve the same purpose.

According to the wording, I guess that you can search your deck, even if you don't have an Illicit card in it and then put back Smuggled Goods in it. Can you though, search an empty deck ?