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Total Votes : 16
corvus
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:40 pm
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1696 Location: Roaming, but dangerous!!!
--- description ---
The continuation of last month’s article, only with top tier decks for standard format, but not extravagant prices.
--- end description ---
Welcome to my new article!

Introduction
Free Peoples Sides
-Elven Archery (Hunters)
-Dwarven Beatdown
-Smeagol and Ring-Bound Hobbits
-Rohirrim Archery with Merry
-Killer Boromir
-Ithilienish Blade
-Anarion Event Deck
-Ents With Gandalf
Shadow Sides
-Uruks
-Gothmog/Corrupt Bomb
-Corsairs
-Evil Men Infinite Loop



Introduction


Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game has always been debated to be one of the most costly ones, along with Magic the Gathering. Or is it? Last month we saw how to build strong decks, mostly with common and uncommon cards. This time, we will see how much a top-tier deck would cost to build. Want to beat all those bragging friends of yours without spending all your pocket money? Want to copy that nice deck you saw without spending a lot? Just need some standard format brainstorming? This is the place then! Grab some pop-corn and sit comfortably! Popcorn

And we start with:




FREE PEOPLES SIDES!!!



ELVEN ARCHERY (hunters)

Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom
The One Ring, The Ring of Doom
Orophin, Silvan Elf
Rumil, Silvan Elf

Legolas, of the Woodland Realm
Elven Guardian x4

Elven Bow x4
Legolas’ Bow
Sword of the Fallen x3
Nenya, Ring of Adamant x3

Into the West x3
Namarie x3
Shadow Between

Point Blank Range x2
Hearth and Hall x3
Lothlorien Guides x3
Farewell to Lorien
Weapons of Lothlorien x2


Easy to build, easier to play with! For whoever loves archery, this brand new elven technique is marvelous and simplistic. Now you can use all your archery tricks, plus turn the vitality of your hunters into wounds for the minions of your choise. Plus, you can use Rumil’s and Orophin’s abilities on the minions of your choice!

Everything is really self-explanatory. All the companions are (ab)used due to their hunter keyword, to use the lethal machines from Lothlorien. Legolas offers extra wounds versus hunter minions. The sword of the fallen lets your elves get some more protection against surviving minions; the bows... well they are bows, what more is there to say? Laughing and Nenya, Ring of Adamant with farewell to lorien and shadow between gives some much needed healing.

Namarie and lothlorien guides make sure that you don’t have to trouble yourself with such petty things as conditions. Hearth and hall refills your hand, and into the west your threat capacity. Weapons of Lothlorien is here to prevent 3 exertions when facing a full-vitality swarm.

Price: $37.60



DWARVEN BEATDOWN

Gimli, Bearer of Grudges
The one ring, the ring of rings
Dain Ironfoot, King under the Mountain
Durin III, Dwarven Lord

Grimir, Dwarven Emissary
Thrarin, Smith of Erebor
Linnar, Dwarven Lord

Ring of Accretion
Ring of Fury
Ring of Guile
Ring of Retribution

Armor of Khazad x2
Axe of Khazad-dum x4
Dwarven Bracers x4

Proud and Able
A clamour of many voices x3

Battle to the Last x3
Out of Darkness x3
Sharp Defense x3
Honed x2
Blood Runs Chill


A classic dwarven beat-up deck. As for the companions: Durin fully packed (axe, bracers, armor, ring) is the main skirmisher, with his 15 strength and great damage bonus. Linnar is a decent companion as he can both heal your dwarves and help assassinate some dangerous minions while uncloaging your hand. Grimir helps prevent fatal wounds during skirmish, should the bracers and armor prove to be insufficient. Thrarin gets a huge damage bonus, to perfectly combine with Honed and kill strange looking minions whose use you cannot imagine... Better dead than mysterious! Laughing Dain makes all Dwarves a little cheaper, and has great stats and a good double ability!

The axes give a strength, and maybe even a damage bonus, as do the rings, that also help pull up a few tricks out of your sleeve. The bracers give a little strength and prevent a wound when needed, and as for the armor, it is what makes these dwarves undead. A Clamour of many voices helps you prepare your hand for shadow, and proud and able makes sure you get a well-needed damage bonus. The events are straightforward pumps, to make sure you win all the skirmishes you need.

All in all, this great deck is a survivor deck, and is better combined with a killing shadow. Grimir, the bracers and the armors make sure your dwarves can endure, while a clamour of many voices (with 14 skirmish events!) and out of darkness prepare your hand for whatever your choise may be: DOUBLE OR KILL!

Price: $45.55



SMEAGOL AND RING-BOUND HOBBITS

Smeagol, bearer of great secrets
The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry
Sam, Great Elf Warrior
Bilbo, aged ring-bearer

Frodo, frenzied fighter

Hobbit sword x2
Sting, Weapon of Heritage

The Tale of the Great Ring
Herbs and Stewed Rabbit x3
There’s another way x3
Connected by fate
A Promise x4
Simple Living

Daddy Twofoot, Next-door Neighbor
Frodo Gamgee, Son of Samwise
The Gaffer, Master Gardener
Hobbiton Brewer, Maker of Fine Ales
Hobbiton Farmer, Lover of Pipeweed

Community Living x3
No visitors x4
One good turn deserves another x2
Naked waste x2
The more the merrier x2


This is a rather annoying deck to play against. Once it is set up, nothing can stop it. Smeagol gets to an enormous strength, but he rarely needs to actually skirmish, unless you want him to save Bilbo. The latter, combined with no visitors and daddy twofoot, makes sure to make you avoid the biggest minion, and remove a burden due to aid of other followers. Sam is the main fighting machine, as along with Sting, he removes an extra burden, and along with a follower, Bilbo’s text and some promises, he becomes a BEAST. Frodo is also here to complete the party, and save someone else if needed with a self-sacrifice.

The followers are pretty simple, just add burdens to transfer, use Bilbo and Sam to remove them and win/cancel skirmishes. Tale of the Great ring saves a hobbit once, as does connected by fate. Naked waste gives some strength to anyone, community living helps set up the followers faster, The more the merrier removes 2 burdens (perfect combo with simple living) and one good turn deserves another gives some site control.

All in all, the definition of a to tier deck in a low price. Speaking of which:

Price: $38.85



ROHIRRIM ARCHERY WITH MERRY

Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry
Gamling, Defender of the Hornburg
Eowyn, Lady of Ithilien
Smeagol, Hurried Guide

Riddermark tactician
Eomer, Keeper of oaths
Haethen, Veteran Fighter
Theoden, Tall and Proud
Merry, Swordthain x3

Merry’s Sword x3
Riddermark Javelin x4
Spear of the Mark
Rohirrim Mount

Sword Rack x4
Home and Hearth x4

Unheeded x2
One good turn deserves another


The Well-known Archery Rohirrim deck is our next candidate. This strategy evolves around exhausting during the maneuver phase with Merry, giving some more archery with the javelins, and then giving all the rest to a defender +1 or even +2 Eowyn to take care of. All the companions help set up better (Eomer, Gamling, Theoden) or at least endure skirmishes with ease.

Sword Rack gives the ability to reuse the javelins and Merry’s sword, while Home and Hearth removes some burdens when Merry is played. The mount and spear are used on Eowyn, to help her get a defender bonus and spread an exert to each minion she gets assigned to, before sending it to eternal sleep.

Unheeded is a good trick to pull to any shadow, and is usually used with Merry’s Sword during the maneuver phase to kill a minion. One good turn deserves another is used on every site, not only to get out of dangerous sites, but also give the most strategic point of this deck: Plain sites!!! With plains, Eowyn gets a nice defender bonus from the mount, and the javelins give out another point to the free peoples archery. Easy money…

Price: $34.30



KILLER BOROMIR THE WAY NBARDEN MADE IT

Isildur, Bearer of Heirlooms
The One Ring, The Ring of Rings

Boromir, Doomed Heir
Pippin, Wearer of Black and Silver

Tolman Cotton, Farmer of Bywater x2
Merry, Loyal Companion x2
Farmer Maggot, Hobbit of the Marish x2
Aragorn, Thorongil

Blade of Gondor, Sword of Boromir x 2
Kingsfoil x 4
Bow of Minas Tirith
Anduril, Sword That Was Broken
Armor of the Citadel
Hobbit Sword x 4

Heirs of Gondor x 4

Guarded City x 4


The way to play is rather simple. Set up your possessions on Boromir, and get out all your hobbits. Aragorn can help with his great stats while bearing Anduril, and each other possession goes on Boromir. Merry can be a BEAST if facing a swarm, Farmer Maggot gets a great bonus at forests and dwellings, and Tolman is the protection from corruption of the deck. Each hobbit gets a hobbit sword, plain and simple.

Now, you get heirs of Gondor down and play Guarded City. You spot Boromir, so you got many many many tokens on your condition. You slay every minion Boromir skirmishes, and need be, save your hobbits with his sword’s ability. As EL says, happy hunting!! Safari prices are at:

Price: $30.45



ITHILIENISH BLADE

Faramir, Bearer of Quality
The One Ring, The Ring of Rings
Madril, Loyal Lieutenant
Ranger of the White Tree

Unyielding Ranger x4
Derufin x2

Ithilien Blade x4
Ranger’s Cloak x4

Soldier’s Cache x4

Invigorated x4
Stand to Arms x4
While We Yet Live x4


Alright, this is a type of deck that needs no recommendations! Ithilien blade the way that is used after the banning of Madril, Defender of Osgiliath is based on Soldier’s Cache, which hasn’t been printed yet unfortunately. On this version, we are mostly based on exerting/discarding/healing/beating-up-what’s-left.

The starting fellowship makes sure you get to use discarding with an IB, however much it may hurt. Unyielding Ranger becomes rather strong, and Derufin provides some possession removal.

Ithilien Blade and ranger’s cloak get their 4 copies as the basis of the deck, and may be used on any companion.

Soldier’s cache is there to help when you have little vitality left, Invogorated is the main way to heal the companions, Then minions are to be finished with stand to arms/While we yet live.

Price: $22.70


ANARION EVENT DECK

Boromir, Bearer of Council
The one Ring, the Ring of Rings
Anarion, Lord of Anorien
Aragorn, Strider

Denethor, Wizened Steward
Elendil, The Tall
Faramir, Captain of Ithilien

Anduril, Sword That Was Broken
Narsil, Forged by Telchar
Armor of the Citadel x2
Ranger’s Cloak x2
Ithilien Blade x2

I Will Go x2
Houses of Healing x2
Stewards’ Legacy x2

Stout Resistance x3
Banners Blowing x3
Rally the Company x3
Last Throw
Elendil’s Valor


The strategy is pretty simple. Get an IB, a cloak an armor and i will go on Anarion, and overwhelm a couple of minions in his skirmish. All companions become beasts as Aragorn get Anduril and Elendil Narsil, and we endorse the new Faramir/Stewards’ Legacy combo, to prevent the nasty tricks minions like Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the On may try to activate. Other than that, the deck has many skirmish events to help Anarion, a lot of healing to keep him functional, and a last throw to make an unexpected triple and win. All these, in the amazing

price of: $35.45



ENTS WITH GANDALF

Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry
Gandalf, Leader of the Company

Gandalf, Leader of the Company
Treebeard, Keeper of the Watchwood
Erland, Dale Counselor
Jarnsmid, Barding Emissary
Leaflock, Finglas
Skinbark, Elder Ent
Quickbeam, Hastiest of All Ents

Glamdring, Foe-Hammer x2

Sent back x3
G for Grand x4
Brooding on Tomorrow
Traveler’s Homestead
Watch and Wait

Out of the High Airs
Traveled Leader x4
The Flame of Anor x2
Look to My Coming x3
Momentous Gathering x4


A classic Ent deck, utilizing momentous gathering instead of saved from the fire, but just as effective. Just use this event to get out all your beasty companions. From then on, just use it with your Ents in play, to better set up your G for Grand and other conditions. Glamdring, along with the terrific condition removal system make sure that you are fully protected from corruption and archery, and as for skirmish, good old Gandy, the G for Grand s and the events make sure you rarely lose any, given the high strength of your companions. Traveled Leader is a must for such decks, in spite of the days to counter it.

Price: $43.25

________________________________________________________________________


SHADOW SIDES!!!



URUKS

Vigilant Uruk x4
Furious Uruk x2
Invincible Uruk x2
White Hand Slayer x4
Watchman Uruk x4
Saruman, Agent of the Dark Lord x4

Broken in Defeat x4
Brutality x4
Strange Device x2

Suffered Much Loss x4


A simple Uruk deck will be our first half-way cheap candidate. Vigilant and furious are known for the effectiveness ever since the 11th age, the first giving us a nice example of how to use the lurker keyword, the latter rendering a companion useless until his skirmish is over. Invincible offers some wound protection along with his high stats, and watchman helps expanding the hand. Saruman is well-known for his highly effective ability as a strength bonus, and White Hand Slayer makes an excellent combo with broken in defeat when spotting a high number of companions.

Suffered much loss makes all sites battlegrounds, thus helpsing a lot with watchman and brutality, which toughens up your minions as the fellowship progresses. Strange Device is always a good card to use with uruk minions, as it helps better set the hand, or get more minions on the table whenever enough twilight is availble.

Price: $13.40



MACHETEMAN’S GOTHMOG BOMB/CORRUPT BOMB

Gothmog, Lieutenant of Morgul x4
(Gorgoroth Attacker x4)
Gorgoroth Troop x4
Gorgoroth Officer x4
Siege Troop x3
Gorgoroth Berserker x2
Gorgoroth Sapper x2
Mordor Pillager x2
Gorgoroth Swarm x2
Gorgoroth Agitator x2

Encirclement x2
Barren Land
Troop Tower x2
Tower Walkway x2
Peril

Gothmog’s Warg
Ithil Stone


Title says it all, this is the Gothmog Bomb deck Macheteman presented us a few days ago with some minor alterations in portions. The strategy is rather simple: Up to site 6, all you have to worry about is taking control of sites! You easily do that with siege troop (especailly if bearing Gothmog’s warg), Gorgoroth Berserker (who gets some help from Gorgoroth agitator), Mordor Pillager, Gorgoroth Swarm, Troop Tower and Tower Walkway. Also, hope to draw your Ithil Stone as well, in order to expand your hand even more.

From then on, if you have also set your other twilight cost reducing cards (Peril, Encirclement, Barren Land) all you have to do is use the 3 amigos: use Gothmog along with Gorgoroth Troop and Gorgoroth Officer. Stack him on a site you control with one, and replay him with the other until you run out of twilight/cards/opponent...

OR you can just switch Gothmog with Gorgoroth Attacker and switch this into a powerful corrupt combo. Your call!

Price: $29.20 (26.20)



CORSAIRS - REUNITED HARBORMASTERS!

Corsair Marauder x3
Corsair Gunners x2
Corsair Plunderer x2
Corsair Boatswain x2
Corsair Brute x4
Corsair Ruffian x2

Black Sails of Umbar x4
Corsair Ballista x4
Corsair War Galley x3

Fierce in Despair x2
Red Wrath x4


This is a whole different way to play corsairs. Instead of trying to defeat the opponent, here we make them feel pain. Get a Brute with a Ballista or a Gunner and a Red Wrath, and you are sure to cause some havoc. Boatswain helps set up faster, Plunderer, Ruffian and Marauder fill the ships with tokens.

Then, all minions can cause some pain with a red wrath. After all the cautious skirmish phases, who would expect the discarding of a Galley to take a companion with it during the regroup? All in all, a true NPE deck in terms of pain for large fellowships.

Price: $30.55



EVIL MEN INFINITE LOOP THE SWEET WAY NBARDEN MADE IT

Strange-looking Men x 4
Easterling Dispatcher x 4
Sunland Guard x 4
Saruman, Coldly Still x 2
Vengeful Primitive x 4
Stampeding Savage x 3

Wildman’s Oath x 4
Pavise x 4
Primitive Brand x 2

Countless Companies x 2
Last Days x 2


Sounds familiar? It is the Evil Men loop with out the need of ceremonial armor thanks to Nbarden. How to play? Start by cycling through your deck and work with minions to get many on your possessions and your discard pile. Also get some pavises on Countless Companies.

Play an Easterling Dispatcher and a Sunland Guard. Play Pavises on them. Use Guard to play SLM and another dipatcher. Take the dispatcher’s Pavise on SLM. From then on Exhaust Sunland Guard to play Easterling Dispatchers and one Sunland Guard. Use Strange-looking Men to suicide the Guard by transferring the Pavise to the other guard. Pull out Vengeful Primitive to discard all your dispatchers. Stack them on Wildman’s Oath and play them off with the Sunland Guard/Strange Looking Men combo. Continue until you have enough twilight. If you begin to run low, you can always play the loop again. Now loop with Stampeding Savage to play all your minions from your discard pile, discarding 0 minions each time. He stacks again, so keep pulling the loop until you play every minion from your discard pile. Then pull the loop to grab every minion stacked on possessions. In the meantime, the more minions in your hand for Last Days, the better.

Swarm them up!!!

Price: $12.70


Enjoy your victories. It is estimated that in 3 months you will have redeemed your deck’s price in victory boosters! Laughing
Last edited by corvus on Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:43 am; edited 59 times in totalClick here if you want to trade some foils away Wink
Far, Far beyond the island we dwelt in shapes of twilight
Through draught and weary days
Through grief and endless pain
corvus
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:42 pm
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1696 Location: Roaming, but dangerous!!!
Sorry guys, prices will be coming a little later. My apologies for the delay.
Click here if you want to trade some foils away Wink
Far, Far beyond the island we dwelt in shapes of twilight
Through draught and weary days
Through grief and endless pain
bobtheorc
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:28 pm
Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 1218 Location: Wow, its hot in Iowa
Stikin SWEET article.
I love, I love it!!!
Good job covering a wide variety of cheaper decks.
Last edited by bobtheorc on Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:39 pm; edited 1 time in totalExclamation Ban the Overpowered OrcsExclamation
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Anonymous Prodigy
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:34 pm
Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 4197 Location: United States
Nice article, corvus. Thumbs Up Good to see a follow-up of your article from last month. Anarion’s Events is another deck good that is fairly cheap, but also powerful. A 4 and an extra GP from me! Very Happy
I had to put something here.
PeterPot
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:50 pm
Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Posts: 157 Location: On the Back of my fat old Unicorn
Great Article.


Worth a five
Please don't give me gp. Please!!!!
corvus
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:05 pm
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1696 Location: Roaming, but dangerous!!!
Thanks a lot guys! Just to my article’s defence, i have to note some things. This is not a build-a-deck-with-10$ article like last time. This one goes to tournament techniques, just without going over the top monetarily. Liked the game? Wanna progress? Spend some 60$ and have fun for the next years to come.

Besides, ringbearers and rings is what makes those prices reach the ceiling. I.E. in the elven hunters deck, Gala and the ring require 16$, almost half the deck...
Click here if you want to trade some foils away Wink
Far, Far beyond the island we dwelt in shapes of twilight
Through draught and weary days
Through grief and endless pain
Glamdring
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:06 pm
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 575 Location:
Nice! I especially enjoyed the Rohirrim Archery, and the Corsairs!
Great minds think alike.~CarpeGuitarrem
Rangers will rule the World!! (CC's Official Ranger Lover)
My Haves/Wants Please look!!

...much debate much hard feelings. ~SOP
NBarden
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:41 pm
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 5468 Location: I don't know...
corvus wrote:
EVIL MEN INFINITE LOOP THE SWEET WAY NBARDEN MADE IT


How can I say no to this?

Laughing

Anyway, good article, I wouldn’t say great, but definitely worth a 4.
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Anautikus
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:26 pm
Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 687 Location:
nice article.
i was hoping for a gondor beatdown, since that’s what my 2 friends and i love; we’re just lazy and dun check the prices. aside from that, sweet. GP Very Happy
My Haves/Wants
Let's Trade! Cool

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lem0nhead
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:11 am
Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 2981 Location: Blood Island
Dude nice article. Have to say its nice and refreshing to see a "have more than 5 cents to make a deck" style article. I for one have many rare and hard to get cards and its cool to see some decks that use them rather than them all being less than $10. Budget is fine but as you say "even cooler victories" Very Happy

I’d suggest some others to add to this, but ive realised all my decks are worth more than about $30 so i wont bother. Good list.
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