Dominion Shuffle Rules: When to Reshuffle Your Discard Pile
Dominion does not shuffle the discard pile every turn. You shuffle only when you need to draw or reveal a card and your deck does not contain enough cards.
When do you shuffle?
If your deck is empty and you need to draw or reveal another card, shuffle your face-up discard pile to form a new face-down deck.
What if you need more cards than remain?
Draw or reveal as many as possible from the current deck. Then shuffle the discard pile into a new deck and continue drawing or revealing the remaining number.
Do you shuffle immediately when the deck becomes empty?
No. Wait until you actually need another card from the deck.
Do newly gained cards get shuffled immediately?
Normally no. Gained cards go to your discard pile unless instructed otherwise. They enter the deck the next time that discard pile is shuffled.
What happens during Cleanup?
At the end of your turn, discard cards you played and cards remaining in your hand, then draw a new hand of five cards. If your deck runs out during that draw, shuffle as needed.
Can you look through your discard pile?
No. The standard rules do not allow you to look through your personal deck or discard pile. You may count cards remaining in your deck and inspect the shared Trash pile.
Why the timing matters
Cards gained this turn may or may not enter your next shuffle depending on whether they reached your discard pile before the shuffle occurred. That timing is a core part of Dominion deck control.
Related Dominion guides
Official source
Rules checked September 2026.