I think this card is underrated. Sometimes you would like to soften up a big enemy that has Retaliate for your monster hunters, or that person is you and you can pull out Backstab for your next action, or activate Delilah O'Rourke's ability to finish off a 3 HP enemy (Delilah also gives a +2 skill boost).

But other times you need a test you are sure you can succeed big at for your Rogue succeed-by-X cards, like Momentum, Watch This, Quick Thinking, Nimble, Opportunist, or All In, and you're engaged with an enemy. Winifred & Rita will be testing at a base 8, Tony, Skids, Finn & Monterey Jack at 7, Bob, Trish, Jenny & Sefina at 6. With the aforementioned skill cards that also have a payoff, it shouldn't be hard to succeed by 2 (or by 1 with the upgraded version, which can also return to your hand). Sure you can draw the red token, but that's the Rogue lifestyle.

The other option, Lockpicks (1), is a better payoff for the succeed-by-X cards for Bob, Finn, Wendy, & Trish or Monterey Jack with Lockpicks (0). But don't glaze over Cheap Shot.

If you're interested in a handy list of Rogue cards that may benefit from this bad boy — here you go: arkhamdb.com

If your investigator is not limited by Rogue cardpool — delete "f:Rogue" from search input and hit Enter.

I think this card having icons is a mistake, faustian bargain is by most accounts a very strong card, like obscenely strong, it makes its way into almost every deck I make even if team mates don't want curses the idea of gaining 5 resources from me is too tempting.

That said the idea that when you are fully set up and you can afford to not play this card and keep the curses at bay you don't even have to consider this a dead card, will and intellect tests are endlessly being made so you will just commit this in the late game, I feel like that's a mistake, can you just say no to the bargain and go on with your life?

Like any true evil bargain it should be there....tempting you, begging you to play it "its only two curses...come on, you can handle that can't you.... and you need the money, what if you draw something expensive and need it out fast?"

Like all cards that channel dark forces, faustian bargain proves there is a reason the good guys are always on the back foot, evil just get the best toys.

This card is considerably better when you're using it in a Sign Magick deck. You don't need to waste actions activating this anymore, just use it in conjunction with a spell you're already using! The same can be said for other under-used spells such as Clarity of Mind etc. That's more of a note about Sign Magick, but it's still worth mentioning!

At five XP and seven resources, you absolutely have to build your deck around agency backup. It’s not incidental, it should be critical.

Thematically, this card is Roland Banks pulling out all the stops. No more skulking: it’s time to meet force with force. It can give him clues or some sanity soak, and with Hallowed Mirror he can keep it going even longer.

Zoey would have to pick up some rogue economy cards to afford this.

But this is the card Tommy players salivate over. Calling in Favors to make it happen, then using them up to get cash back. (The last damage/horror can even come from someone else at your location, giving you eight resources, three damage and three clues per use.)

Pair this with the The Star • XVII for truly ludicrous results.