Solo Frodo/Aragorn (Fellowship side only)

[Fierce]

This is my first attempt at an solo Frodo/Aragorn deck with a focus on clearing the table of minions and running. Probably I'll pair it with a good stopping Nazgul beatdown with Fell Beast x4 for cycling (necessary because it includes lots of Fellowship events and some expensive nazzies).

Any feedback will be most welcome!

Frodo Frenzied Fighter
The One Ring Isildur's Bane

Aragorn, Well-traveled Guide (starting)

Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs
Ranger's Sword
Flaming Brand
Bill the Pony
Golden Perch Ale
Mithril-coat
Kingsfoil x2
Swordarm of the White Tower x4 (a 0 cost +4 pump for Aragorn)
Defend It and Hope x3
PATHS x4
Hope is Kindled x2
Gondor Bowmen x4
Cliffs of Emyn Muil
No Stranger to the Shadows
Citadel of Minas Tirith x2

Concerns

The deck lacks all kind of condition removal except for shadow conditions played on Frodo.

The will be lots of exertions for Aragorn. Hopefully the Citadels, Kingsfoils and sanctuaries will be enough to keep him alive.

Not to much burden removal, just Golden Perch Ale and Hope is Kindled. The Ale may be less efficient since the are just two pumps for Frodo.

Any thoughts?

[ket_the_jet]

First problem: Frodo, Frenzied Fighter is not a Ring-Bearer.
-wtk

[ket_the_jet]

You could always have a Sam, Son of Hamfast as a "one-and-done" burden removing machine Throw him under a Sauron or something...

Why the One Ring, Isildur's Bane? Wouldn't having The One Ring, The Great Ring be much more effective at making your Ring-Bearer a fighter? There is certainly plenty of burden removal in the culture.

Just a warning, your Aragorn is, without a doubt, going to be killed by the third or fourth site. Can you run solo-Frodo with so few events?
-wtk

[Fierce]

Ah, you are right. I need another Frodo...

Second problem, Sam is X-listed in expanded. As for the ring, Isildur's Bane is the only rare ring I got. I'm not so sure Aragorn will die so soon. Sure, against some shadows it will be tough but I think he will last longer.

I'll also try to trade a Anduril, Flame of the West and ditch Ranger's Sword and Flaming Brand.

[Gerontius]

I would try to fit in more copies of Sting, and maybe some Orc Bane. Frodo, OBH + Bounder is a good engine for keeping him alive, too.

[Elessar's Socks]

ARV / Pathfinder could be worth a shot. Pathfinder itself dodges Steward's Tomb and summons fellowship-friendly sites.

I might stick with Ranger's Sword and Flaming Brand for choke (concerned about Mithril Coat, too), add Aragorn's Bow... maybe bump up CoMT.

[jdizzy001]

I really enjoy aragorn defender decks.  There are a few of my Aragorn decks in casual.  If you're using wtg, the best thing you can do it maximize vitality (use anduril) and BRING ON THE SKIRMISH EVENTS! forget choke & gondor bowman.  Replace them with gondor/shire skirmish events. banners blowing, swordarm of the white tower, and banner of the white tree are excellent choices. Drop down to 2 or 3 copies of PATH. dagger strike is another good choice for events.  archery is not your friend, but there isn't much you can do about that.  Rabbit stew is okay, but I haven't had much luck with it.  you really should use the great ring, but if you don't own one, there isn't much you can do about that either.  strength in my blood is also another excellent choice. that with anduril will give you str 11 and damage +2 in addition to an archery.  If you have athelas, it is better than kingsfoil.  Other than that you aren't going to find much in the way of discarding conditions... It's just the nature of the beast.  I hope you don't feel like I'm destroying your deck, I just really like defender decks.

[Smeagollum]

I play awtg with boro as rb. Very nice...

[legolas3333]

Elendil's valor can be a lifesaver....

[ket_the_jet]

I play awtg with boro as rb. Very nice...

What is 'awtg'?

And if it is anything that limits wounds (i.e., Armor), do you understand that you then must take the burdens to skirmish?
-wtk

[TelTura]

What is 'awtg'?

Aragorn, Well-Traveled Guide

[ket_the_jet]

That makes sense.
-wtk

[Smeagollum]

@KTJ

When will Boro skirmish? awtg becomes defender +x and will have str enough and if boro skirmish then you take wounds and after that you heal them or you prevent wounds. And I use the sites for burdenremoval. See no problems with burdens or wounds. Sure there will be something against it, but I choose to go for my own str. And what the other does doesn't concern me that much.

[TelTura]

he thought that "awtg" was an abbreviation or misspelling of some sort of wound-limiting device...he didn't know it was for aragorn, and thus his warning.

[Elessar's Socks]

Personally my favorite is Faramir/Aragorn. A Ring-bearer gets to share CoMT and take the exertions from Gondor Bowmen off Aragorn, who can then exert for his bow. Faramir is a bit more forgiving on assignments than Boromir and has his own bow as well.

With Frodo/Aragorn, it felt like they're each doing their own thing... though I'm not sure how much that matters.

[jdizzy001]

I heart boro/awtg decks.  I find by using answer to all the riddles ring, and a ranger's cloak, you can keep boromir as active as gorn.  Fara/atwg are probably the most impressive defender decks I've ever seen.  slap on faramir's bow then use pathfiners (to pull rivers or forests) and use a ranger's versatility to exhaust minions.  It's beautiful.  isildur and wtg decks are also real fun.  Make gorn a knight with armor of the white city, and isildur for that matter.  As is normal with isi, burdens are... well a burden but a isi/wtg deck must be artifact heavy so scrolls of isiludur would help with that.  Oh look at me, I'm rambbling on again. That is what happens when you get old.  I'm still trying to make a galadriel/wtg deck but it doesn't work so well.  Solo galadirel works better. You could easily make here str. 14, but to do that you have to play without erratas.  Yeah, I'm bizzare, my group and I don't use erratas, but then again we never use the same deck more than once so it isn't a problem.   

[Fierce]

Thanks for the massive input guys! When this FP-side is finished, it will be great fun to try it out. Seems like I just need to get my hands on a Faramir Bearer of Quality to make it work 

[Smeagollum]

Think I've got 2, but not sure.. Will let you know with about 2 weeks (I'll be operated next week and this week I actually don't want concentrate me on other things. PM to make me not forget

[Knight-Who-Says-Nee]

I've made a somewhat similar deck and one card I use is Dagger Strike.  It works for both the ringbearer and Aragorn WTG (granted you have a hand weapon).  It is good for versatility. 

[Smeagollum]

I've made a somewhat similar deck and one card I use is Dagger Strike.  It works for both the ringbearer and Aragorn WTG (granted you have a hand weapon).  It is good for versatility. 

I rather like: No Mere Ranger

[legolas3333]

i personally like WTG decks in casual where you can use pathfinder, no stranger to the shadows, sting, bill the pony, and so forth

[Mythdracon]

I'm also trying to make a Frodo + Aragorn deck, mostly because I think Gondor RBs simply take too many wounds to be useful (though their strength is nice). What about cards like Concerning Hobbits?

Storied Homestead and Spirit of the White Tree could be nice to prevent minion special abilities like Black Gate Sentry and other Exert-to-wound nastiness.

Natural Cover, Mithril-Coat and Shield of the White Tree can take care of archery events, and maybe Prized Lagan to stop fierce minions. Rally the Company is great for strength (for both companions), and Nine-Fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom to remove threats and/or burdens. Nice Imitation can prevent wounds to Frodo, which is nice because healing always relies on waiting for the wounds to drop first (ouch, could be evil), and won't save Frodo from death if he MUST take a wound. Might of Numenor might work to heal both Frodo and Aragorn, but it's risky. I wonder what the most reliable healing card would be in this setup. :S

Pathfinding would be nice to avoid horrible sites like Steward's Tomb too....Anyone got a decklist for Frodo + Aragorn, WtG that they are proud of and which counters many things? Atm I find I have too many cards in consideration to make a coherent deck.

[jdizzy001]

http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/topic,4095.msg47734.html#msg47734

check out this gorn/frodo deck.  There isn't much you can do about wounds, except heal, but that comes at the skirmish event sacrifice.  Granted, this is under the assumption the deck is made with a 30/30 card count.

[Mythdracon]

Wound prevention from Spirit of the White Tree, Nice Imitation and Sapling of the White Tree might work.

[jdizzy001]

indeed it may, but it comes at a cost of skirmish events

[Mythdracon]

Yea, the balance is tough. :S

I do like that Frodo's ability to wear the Ring in maneuver (before Archery) does mean he can soak up Archery like a champ though.

[Witchkingx5]

Yep, and you neither need any burdens or exertions to pay for wearin' the ring, which is one of the things why I like The Great Ring and The Ring of Rings very much.

[Smeagollum]

Sulu-Frudu??? These funny language brings Starship Enterprise back thousends of years into the third era of Middle-earth
Don't know who is responsable for this language, but it's Funny!!!!

[Mythdracon]

One thing about The Ring of Rings--are you forced to take burdens instead of wounds, or is "Response:" an optional action the RB can take?

[Smeagollum]

He can take wounds, but if he decides to wear the ring (a response action which is optional) then you'll have to take the burdens.

[jdizzy001]

but yes, responses are ALWAYS optional.  However, as in the case of the ring of rings, once you use the response to put on the ring, it is stuck on until the regroup phase.  it is a really good ring to use with boromir rb.  once he is assigned to a skirmish, you can wound him twice and put on the ring for the second wound and take 1 wound and 1 burden instead of 2 wounds.

[Mythdracon]

Nice. Well, if someone wants to post a Boromir + Aragorn deck here, be my guest. 

[jdizzy001]

this is the borogorn deck i run in casual.  You can alter it to fit expanded, but i was pleased with how well it worked.

http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/topic,3046.0.html

[Smeagollum]

Think I've got 2, but not sure.. Will let you know with about 2 weeks (I'll be operated next week and this week I actually don't want concentrate me on other things. PM to make me not forget

Appaerently I allready have treded the other Faramir. Wasn't sure about it first. But I've got only one at this time.

[Smeagollum]

Here's one in standard:

Boromir bearer of council
The One Ring, The Ring of Rings

Aragorn wtg

2 Horn of Boromir, The Great Horn
Gondorian Servant, Denethor's Handman
3 Ranger of the North
Elendil's Army
2 Faramir's Company
2 The Faithful Stone
Denethor's Sword
2 Crown of Gondor
Anduril, Sword That Was Broken
4 City of Men
2 Hearts Raised
2 Footman's Armor
2 Sapling of the White Tree
Scroll of Isildur
4 Rally the Company

4 Lurtz, Minion of the White Wizard
2 Fortitude
4 Lurtz's Bow, Black-Fletch Bow
4 White Hand Guard
3 Spear of the White Hand
4 Lurtz's Sword, Mighty Longsword
4 Ugluk, Ugly Fellow
4 Tracking Uruk
2 Cleaved

Unfortunately I only have just one Gondorian Servant. Three in this deck would be better (would replace  a The Faithful Stone and a Crown of Gondor in that case).

Btw Lurtz becomes at least str 19 dmg +1 and fierce when fully equiped (unless opponent play ringbound). Might want to replace 4x Tracking Uruk for 4x Chasing Uruk (if I had any   ) and one Cleaved for an Ugluk's Sword, Weapon of Command.

[Mythdracon]

How come Denethor's sword is there without Denethor? Looks interesting though. 

[uncle_elrond]

If you still want to go with Frodo and choke, I might even use Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer.