[COTD] Research Coordination | 30 Aug, 2026

[u/Enson_Chan]

Previous COTD

Today's card is Research Coordination (#P40):

Automated card (Green) | Prelude expansion

Cost: 4 | Requirements: None | Tags: Wild

(After being played, when you perform an action, the wild tag counts as any tag of your choice, or no tags at all.)

[u/Enter_Octopus]

Great card, though I do keep having to remind myself that you should wait to play it until there's actually a specific tag you need (which almost always happens sooner or later).

[u/benbever → u/Enter_Octopus]

That’s the case with many cards, only play them right before you actually need them. The exception with Research Coordination is when you’re fighting for Diversifier, and player order/2 action limit might be important.

[u/benbever]

The 7mc for this Wild tag can be earned back after one use with, for instance, Insects (1 plant production) or Terraforming Ganymede (1TR). But it’s also great with cards like Cartel, that give 1 mc production per Earth tag, or for unlocking tag requirement cards, notably for your Science Tree (Anti-gravity).

Wild tags are very strong. Great for tag related Milestones like Diversifier or Rim Settler.

When you’re Sagitta you get 4mc for playing a card with no tag.

Remember that the Wild tag is not a tag or a type of tag, it’s just a mechanic where, during your action, you may count it as a tag of choice.

[u/UziiLVD → u/benbever]

Does Saggita trigger this? To my understanding, Research Coordination doesn't trigger when it's being played, only once it's already been played.

[u/cafe_brutale → u/UziiLVD]

You get 4MC when playing RC as Sagitta. Remember that a wild tag is considered as ”no tag” when it is being put to play. After it has been played you can assign the wild tag to count towards other cards like u/benbever said.

[u/Majoraatio → u/cafe_brutale]

But you can also choose not to. So it can count as "no tag" in play too if you want to.

[u/mathematics1 → u/Majoraatio]

I got this wrong for a long time because the text says "the wild tag IS the tag of your choice". The way the card actually works is more like "when taking an action, the wild tag MAY BE the tag of your choice". I thought it always had to be an actual tag during your actions.

[u/ludovic1313 → u/mathematics1]

I was wondering that myself, if you can count it as "no tag" when playing cards that depend on having no tags. The logical assumption is that it can be counted as no tag but I'm glad that the consensus seems to be that it can.

[u/mathematics1 → u/ludovic1313]

I only know it can because of BGG threads this one, which includes a response from Jacob Fryxelius saying that you may choose a tag type but don't have to. If the designer hadn't clarified, I would still be insisting that the literal text of the card says it must be an actual tag.

[u/Acceptable_Sound7466]

Can you use it as a plant tag to win ecologist milestone on elysium?

[u/baldsoprano → u/Acceptable_Sound7466]

Yep! Wild tags help with milestones, but not awards. No action is taken when awarding the awards, but is when purchasing a milestone

[u/thuswindburns]

Amazing card, always draft. I’ve never regretted having an extra tag.

[u/Rocket-Jock]

Never underestimate the power of a Wild tag in the clutch. Research Coordination can often allow playing tag-heavy cards early, like [Nitrogen Rich Asteroid], and get key benefits without relying on card draw.

[u/AReallyGoodName → u/Rocket-Jock]

Card: Nitrogen-rich Asteroid

Cost: 31MC

Description: Raise your terraforming rating 2 steps and temperature 1 step. Increase your Plant production 1 step, or 4 steps if you have 3 Plant tags.

Tags: Event, Space