Smeagol's RB Rangers // Southron Threats Beatdown

[Cw0rk]

Frodo And Ring 
*The One Ring, Answer To All Riddles (4R1) 
*Smeagol, Bearer of Great Secrets (RB)(9R+30) 

 
Sites 
(1R)Steps of Edoras (7U334) 
(2R)West Road (7U337) 
(3R)Hall of the Kings (7U339) 
(4R)City of the Dead (8U118) 
(5R)Steward's Tomb (10U119) 
(6R)Minas Tirith Sixth Circle (7U351) 
(7R)Osgiliath Channel (8U120) 
(8R)Cross Roads (7U356) 
(9R)Dagorlad (7U360) 

 
Fellowship (32) 
1x *Thrarin, Dwarven Smith (1U27) 
2x *Scroll of Isildur (9R36) 
1x *Seeing Stone of Minas Arnor (9R37) 
1x *Seeing Stone of Orthanc (9R38) 
1x *Anborn, Skilled Huntsman (6C48) 
1x *Damrod, Ranger of Ithilien (4U114) 
1x *Faramir, Ithilien Ranger (6P121)  (start)
1x *Mablung, Soldier of Gondor (4U127) 
1x *Sam, Son Of Hamfast (1C311)  (start)
3x Ranger of Ithilien (4C130) 
1x *Forests of Ithilien (4R121) 
2x Don't Look at Them (6R39) 
1x Elendil's Valor (1C103) 
2x Hobbit Appetite (1C294) 
4x Might Of Numenor (3C43) 
1x Power According to His Stature (1R308) 
2x Coat of Mail (1C101) 
2x Footman's Armor (7U93) 
4x Knight's Spear (7C108) 

 
Shadow (32) 
3x Line of Defense (8R63) 
2x Rallying Call (10U47) 
1x Saruman's Power (1U136) 
4x War Towers (7C173) 
2x *Grima, Wormtongue (4R154) 
4x Desert Nomad (7C132) 
1x Goblin Man (2C42) 
4x Mumak Chieftain (10R45) 
2x Southron Captain (7U162) 
1x Southron Leader (7R166) 
4x Troop of Haradrim (7C172) 
4x Mumakil (8R64) 


I've played this deck several times on GCCG and it has been successful so far.

FELLOWSHIP
The idea here is to survive until the regroup phase with the fellowship and then discard all minions using Smeagol to double-move. I don't care about losing skirmishes, so I focus on cards that will allow me to not be overwelmed. If I lose someone, I can just replace him by another RB ranger. Sam is there to remove the burdens and can be healed easily and my Rangers as well with cards like Hobbit Appetite, Might of Numenor and Faramir. Corruption doesn't stand a chance vs me as long as I have Sam. Wounding shadows will have troubles as well due to all the healing. Swarm decks can be countered using Don't look at them and PATHS. I remember having a lot of trouble vs Dunland this is why I added Forests of Ithilien.

SHADOW
I wanted to build a shadow that could do well vs one of the most common deck on GCCG at the moment, wounding decks using Slaked Thirst. Line of Defense is the most important card to counter this type of deck. Eowyn, LoI can still be annoying so I added a copy of Southron Leader, just in case. The objective of the shadow is to add threats and kill companions to do more damages. I need to have 4 threats to cause big damages, even though Desert Nomad is fine with 2 threats only. Grima, Wormtongue is there because of another popular GCCG deck, Durin's dwarves. Saruman's power is a necessity vs Knights and I added one copy of Goblin Man (it's always nice to see what your opponent has).

[Cw0rk]

If Boromir, Steward's Heir would be Movie block legal on GCCG, it would be in this deck.

[Witchkingx5]

If Boromir, Steward's Heir would be Movie block legal on GCCG, it would be in this deck.

But he is in real cards, actually?

[Cw0rk]

Banner of Westernesse is not working because I'm not winning skirmishes. Mablung isn't starting because I don't use the bow so he is as good as Anborn.

[Cw0rk]

This deck is currently working extremely well. I'm probably 10-3 with it. Seriously, it is as efficient as Dwarves or Elvents, maybe more. All of my wins were FP wins. The shadow is incredibly good at stopping my opponent. I've played vs wounding decks, and I was able to out-heal the archery wounds with Faramir and Might of Numenor. I've played vs Corruption, Sam and Hobbit Appetite made it very easy. I haven't played vs swarm so far. Smeagol's abillity is just awesome.

[Cw0rk]

Anyone has a shadow side that controls a lot of site? Controling all the sites would help me a lot vs Dunland. I've built a Dunland deck but I think that there are more effective shadows to control the site quicker... I've built a Southron Archer Bomb deck that could control 5-sites per game but it wouldn't work very well paire with this fellowship (it needs Gimli, DoE). Any other ideas?

[Gerontius]

Anyone has a shadow side that controls a lot of site? Controling all the sites would help me a lot vs Dunland. I've built a Dunland deck but I think that there are more effective shadows to control the site quicker...Any other ideas?

Banner of Westernesse could help you here to, but if you really can't win enough skirmishes.. I really don't know what would  be fastest; just remember to go first so you have a better chance at getting sites early.

I've built a Southron Archer Bomb deck that could control 5-sites per game but it wouldn't work very well paire with this fellowship (it needs Gimli, DoE).

Would you mind posting this decklist?

[rubbercarp]

I would love to try out this Fellowship, but we don't play with Sam, SoH.
Can anyone think of any other good ways to get rid of burdens if I took out Sam and the 2 Hobbit Appetite's?

[hrcho]

Not Listening is a very nice card, but you'd have to put some more effort into Smeagol winning some skirmishes aside from Don't Look at Them.

Extraordinary Resilience comes to mind, as well.

Another, more expensive way is to use Tom Bombadil and some NFFATROD, but that's hardly worth the effort. Or instead of Tom Bombadil you could use several other allies and NFFATROD.

One more expensive and even more deck changing way would be to throw in some allies, most efficiently Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad, Vilya and few copies of Elf Song. That way you'd even get some condition removal and some healing abilities.

I can't think of any other way at the moment. Your best bet would be Not Listening.

[Fowler]

Why play Mablung and Damrod if dont use Ranger's Bows?

I think that the idea Smeagol+Fara+Sam is good but maybe giving roaming and playing Eregion's Trails, Swordsman of the northern kingdoms...

[Cw0rk]

Why play Mablung and Damrod if dont use Ranger's Bows?

I think that the idea Smeagol+Fara+Sam is good but maybe giving roaming and playing Eregion's Trails, Swordsman of the northern kingdoms...

Because they are ring-bound, they cost and have 6-3 stats. I don't care about killing minions, I discard them during regroup, so that's why I don't have Ranger's Bow.

[Fowler]

CwOrk i test ur deck and have problems in early game, do u like What are they? i think that u can cut some cards like 1x scroll of isildur, Forests of Ithilien, Elendil's valor...

Why 2 footman's armor and no 4x Coat of Mail?

What do u think about add 1 or 2 PATHS for work better with Dont Look at Them?

and change the site 3 for Tower of Ecthelion?

Ty

[Cw0rk]

CwOrk i test ur deck and have problems in early game, do u like What are they? i think that u can cut some cards like 1x scroll of isildur, Forests of Ithilien, Elendil's valor...

Why 2 footman's armor and no 4x Coat of Mail?

What do u think about add 1 or 2 PATHS for work better with Dont Look at Them?

and change the site 3 for Tower of Ecthelion?

Ty

If you want to have an easier time early in the game, make sure that you are playing first by bidding at least 4. Then your opponent would have around 4 shadow cards in hand compared to a lot more if you play second. I really don't like What are they? for this deck.

I like Footman's armor because some of my guys ended up dying to 18 strength minions. Maybe that 3 Coat of Mail and 1 Footman's Armor would work, as keeping some cards for Don't Look At Them. Adding more PATHS sounds like a good idea.

Forest of Ithilien is your only protection vs Dunland who keeps destroying this deck.

Go with Tower of Ecthelion if you want. It sounds like a good idea with Smeagol's abillity to discard minions.

[Fowler]

i played this sunday this fellowship in a tourney with sauron wounding. made a 2-1, 1fp win, 1kill in site 6 and lose against corsairs, cuz has a minion that destroys the coat of mail, and he plays 3 minions fierce with 12 power in same turn :S

Fellowship (35)  
1x *Thrarin, Dwarven Smith (1U27)  
2x *Scroll of Isildur (9R36)  
1x *Seeing Stone of Minas Arnor (9R37)  
1x *Seeing Stone of Orthanc (9R38)  
1x *Anborn, Skilled Huntsman (6C48)  
1x *Damrod, Ranger of Ithilien (4U114)  
1x *Faramir, Ithilien Ranger (6P121)  (start)
1x *Mablung, Soldier of Gondor (4U127)  
1x *Sam, Son Of Hamfast (1C311)  (start)
4x Ranger of Ithilien (4C130)  
3x Don't Look at Them (6R39)  
2x Hobbit Appetite (1C294)  
4x Might Of Numenor (3C43)  
2x Power According to His Stature (1R308)  
4x Coat of Mail (1C101)  
4x Knight's Spear (7C108)  
1x Boromir My Brother
1x Last Throw

Boromir My Brother is a really good card for this deck! I think add 1 more copy... The deck work fine, the problem is the sinergy with sauron orcs :S but havent more cards ><

Definitelly 4 coat of mail after test, and i like run from 3 to 6,

I preffer The One Ring, Such a Weight To Carry (7R2) for fight with smeagol against power 8 or 9