Top 16 decks from Worlds 2004

[jcb213]

Here are the top 16 decklists from day 3 of worlds 2004.  Many of these are within a few cards of what these players played on day 2, but a few of them used either a different shadow or free peoples (the lists from day 2 were never posted so there is no way to see what they changed).  This was the biggest tournament ever held in movie block, but it was only about 1.5 months after Mt. Doom came out so a lot of people hadn't figured out how powerful Galadriel LR was yet.

I cut and pasted these from the old dgma website (using the internet archive to look at them) and I cleaned them up some for ease of reading but it was taking too long so I gave up on correcting all the typos.

Enjoy & Discuss!


Emir Delic

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, Courteous Halfling
The One Ring, Answer to All Riddles

Sitepath:
Edoras Hall
West Road
Hall of the Kings
City of the Dead
Pelennor Flat
Minas Tirith Fourth Circle
Osgiliath Channel
Northern Ithilien
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Eowyn, Lady of Rohan
1 Eomer, Third Marshal of Riddermark
1 Hrethel, Rider of Rohan
1 Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1 Sam, Son of Hamfast
2 Legolas, Greenleaf
2 Merry, Swordthain
1 Radagast, the Brown
1 Out of the High Airs
2 Merry's Sword
4 Simbelmyne
2 Rider's Mount
1 Firefoot
1 Brego
1 Eomer's Spear
1 Rider's Spear
3 Arrow Slits
1 Fortress Never Fallen
3 Thundering Host
1 We Left None Alive
1 Leowyn
1 Deor
1 The Tale of the Great Ring
1 Eowyn's Sword Dernhelm's Blade

Shadow:
1 Fat One Wants It
2 Web
1 Gollum, Mad Thing
2 Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul
3 Promise Keeping
1 Unabated in Malice
1 Final Strike
3 Shelob, Her Ladyship
1 Gollum, Stinker
4 We Must Have It
4 Captured by the Ring
3 Evil Smelling Fens
3 Hidden Even From Her
4 They Stole It
2 Desert Lord
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Josh Cornwell-Mott

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, Tired Traveller
The One Ring, the Binding Ring

Sitepath:
Steps of Edoras
Rohirrim Camp
Base of Mindolluin
Anduin Banks
Crashed Gate
Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
Osgiliath Crossing
Morgul Vale
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Derufin
1 Dervorin
1 The Saga of Elendil
1 Sting, Baggins Heirloom
1 Citadel of the Stars
1 Stone Tower
3 Secret Sentinels
1 Aiglos
1 The Tale of Gil-Galad
2 Faramir, Son of Denethor
1 Noble Leaders
2 The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
1 Sam, Son of Hamfast
3 Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad
2 Anduril, Flame of the West
4 Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1 Glorfindel, Revealed in Wrath
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
1 Boromir, Son of Denethor
1 Vilya
1 Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood

Shadow:
2 Tower Walkway
1 Troop Tower
3 Troll of Gorgoroth, Abomination of Sauron
3 Gorgoroth Assassin
1 Ithil Stone
2 Grond, Hammer of the Underworld
4 Great Siege Towers
1 Gorgoroth Agitator
2 Gorgoroth Swarm
4 Great Hill Troll
2 Their Marching Companies
2 Siege Troop
4 Gorgoroth Soldier
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Michael Perucca

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Isildur, Bearer of Heirlooms
The One Ring, Answer to All Riddles

Sitepath:
1. Steps of Edoras
2. West Road
3. Base of Mindolluin
4. Pelennor Plain
5. Crashed Gate
6. Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
7. Osgiliath Crossing
8. Morgul Vale
9. Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Alcarin , Warrior of Lamedon
1 Turgon, Man of Belfalas
1 Sam, Son of Hamfast
2 Faramir, Defender of Osgiliath
1 Aragorn, Captain of Gondor
1 Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth
1 Garrison of Gondor
1 Ingold
2 Men of Numenor
2 Garrison of Osgiliath
3 Sixth Level
2 Fifth Level
4 Fourth Level
2 Citadel of the Stars
2 Stone Tower
2 Knight's Mount
3 Gondor Bow
4 Banner of Westernesse

Shadow:
3 Olog-Hai of Mordor
2 Troll of Gorgoroth , Abomination of Sauron
4 Great Hill Troll
1 Siege Troop
1 Gorgoroth Swarm
4 Mordor Pillager
2 Gorgoroth Agitator
3 Gorgoroth Soldier
4 Gorgoroth Assassin
1 Grond, Hammer of the Underworld
1 Tower Walkway
2 Troop Tower
3 Their Marching Companies
3 Great Siege-Towers
1 Encirclement
1 Great Peril of Fire
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Maximillien Bouchard

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, Tired Traveller
The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry

Sitepath:
1. Steps of Edoras
2. West Road
3. Base of Mindolluin
4. Anduin Banks
5. City Gates
6. Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
7. Osgiliath Crossing
8. Morgulduin
9. Slag Mounds

Free Peoples:
1 Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood
3 Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad
1 Vilya
2 The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
4 Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1 Boromir, Son of Denethor
1 Aiglos
1 Stone Tower
1 Citadel of the Stars
2 Faramir, Son of Denethor
1 Glorfindel, Revealed in Wrath
1 Sam, Son of Hamfast
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
1 Derufin
2 Secret Sentinels
2 Anduril, Flame of the West
2 Shadow Between
1 Noble Leaders
1 Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs
1 Elven Sword
1 The Saga of Elendil
1 The Tale of the Great Ring

Shadow:
4 Morgul Brute
4 Morgul Destroyer
1 Gollum, Dark as Darkness
3 Captured by the Ring
3 Ulaire Cantea, Faster than Winds
2 Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul
1 Ulaire Otsea, Thrall of the One
1 Out of Sight and Shot
2 Flung Into the Fray
4 Fell Beast
4 The Witch King, Lord of the Nazgul
2 Ulaire Toldea, Winged Sentry
1 Ulaire Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight
1 Gollum, Old Villain
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Chad Baumgardt

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, Tired Traveller
The One Ring, the Binding Ring

Sitepath:
Rohirrim Road
Rohirrim Camp
Hall of the Kings
Pelennor Plain
City Gates
Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
Ruined Capitol
Morgulduin
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
1 Glorfindel, Revealed in Wrath
4 Aragorn, Ranger of the North
3 Faramir, Son of Denethor
1 Boromir, Son of Denethor
1 Derufin
1 Radagast, the Brown
1 Sam, Son of Hamfast
3 Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad
1 Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood
1 Vilya
2 Secret Sentinels
3 The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
1 Aiglos
1 The Tale of Gil-Galad
1 Shadow Between
1 Noble Leaders
2 Anduril, FotW
1 Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs
1 Sword of Gondor
1 Citadel of the Stars

Shadow:
4 Southron Bowman
1 Haradrim Marksman
3 Desert Lord
4 Uruk Crossbowman
2 Ranged Commander
3 Lurtz, Servant of Isengard
4 Morgul Ambusher
1 Gollum, Dark as Darkness
4 Captured by the Ring
4 War Towers
2 Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul
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Matt Ward

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Isildur, BoH
The One Ring, ATAR

Sitepath:
Steps of Edoras
King's Tent
Tower of Ecthelion
Anduin Banks
City Gates
Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
Osgiliath Crossing
Cross Roads
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
2 Sharpen Your Swords
1 Terrible and Evil
1 Coat of Mail
4 Saved From the Fire
1 Gandalf's Staff
1 Narya
1 Might of Numenor
2 Deep in Thought
3 Out of the High Airs
1 Barliman Butterbur, PPP
2 Sapling of the White Tree
1 Scroll of Isildur
1 Anduril, FotW
1 Narsil, BotF
1 Faramir, SoD
1 Denethor, LoMT
1 Aragorn, ET
1 Elendil, tT
1 Radagast, tB
1 Sam, SoH
1 Gandalf, LoM
1 Ranger of Ithilien

Shadow:
4 Uruk Chaser
4 Uruk Runner
2 Uruk Captain
3 Greed
2 Saruman's Power
3 Spies of Saruman
4 Abandoning Reason for Madness
3 Mauhur, PL
4 Ugluk, SoS
1 Uruk Hunter
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Brian Fred

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, TT
The One Ring, the Binding Ring

Sitepath:
Steps of Edoras
West Road
Hall of the Kings
Anduin Banks
Crashed Gate
Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
Osgiliath Channel
Morgul Vale
Slag Mounds

Free Peoples:
1 The Tale of the Great Ring
1 Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs
1 Arwen, FEM
1 Shadow Between
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
1 Glorfindel, RiW
1 Boromir, SoD
1 Derufin
1 Armor
1 Stone Tower
1 Citadel of the Stars
1 Vilya
1 Aiglos
1 The Tale of Gil-Galad
1 Noble Leaders
2 Faramir, SoD
3 The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
4 Aragorn, RotN
2 Secret Sentinels
2 Anduril, FotW
3 Elrond, HtGG
1 There and Back Again
1 Sam, SoH

Shadow:
1 Enquea, LoM
1 Constantly Threatening
2 Ready to Fall
4 Hides
2 Saruman, Rabble-Rouser
1 Hillman Horde
4 Dunlending Elder
4 Hillman Tribe
2 Over the Isen
2 Wulf
2 War Club
4 Burn Every Village
4 Freca
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Bryce Stevenson

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, OBH
The One Ring, SaWtC

Sitepath:
Rohirrim Road
Rohirrim Camp
Hall of the Kings
Pelennor Prairie
Steward's Tomb
Minas Tirith Fifth Circle
Pelennor Grassland
Morgulduin
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Arwen, Queen of Elves and Men
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
1 Galadriel, LR
1 Eowyn, LoI
2 Cirdan, tS
1 Sam, SoH
1 Bounder
2 Elrond, HtGG
1 Gwemegil
1 Asfaloth
1 Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs
1 Aiglos
3 Elven Bow
1 Shadow Between
1 Power According to His Stature
3 Curse Their Foul Feet!
4 Double Shot
3 Stand Against Darkness
2 Defiance

Shadow:
1 Ulaire Nertea, Thrall of the One
2 Ulaire Otsea, Thrall of the One
2 Ulaire Cantea, FtW
1 Ulaire Enquea, LoM
2 Ulaire Lemenya, AM
4 Morgul Whelp
4 Morgul Brute
4 Morgul Destroyer
2 Morgul Squealer
2 Bill Ferny, SSF
1 Gollum, DaD
4 Captured by the Ring
2 Flung Into the Fray
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Chris Tubman

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir
The One Ring, Answer to all Riddles

Sitepath:
Sleeping Quarters
Rohirrim Camp
Hall of Kings
Osgiliath Fallen
City Gates
Minas Tirith Third Circle
Ruined Capitol
Cross Roads
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Legolas, DH
1 Pippin, HoSI
1 Merry, FtS
1 Sting, Bot8L
1 Escape
1 There and Back Again
4 A Promise
2 Hobbit Sword
1 Chance Observation
2 A Talent For Not Being Seen
4 Sam, Great Elf Warrior
1 Gaffer, SF
1 Rosie Cotton, HL
1 Farmer Maggot, CoR
3 Narrow Escape
1 Thrarin, DS
2 Phial of Galadriel, SG
2 Hobbit Party Guest
2 Tale of the Great Ring
1 Boromir, SoD

Shadow:
3 Desert Lord
2 Elite Archer
1 Southron Leader
1 Company of Haradhrim
1 Southron Marksman
1 Southron Archer Legion
2 Southron Veteran
4 Mumak Chieftain
2 Ships of Great Draught
4 Seasoned Leader
4 Mumak
2 Field of the Fallen
1 Rallying Call
1 Bold Men and Grim
2 High Vantage
1 Discovered
1 Enquea, LoM
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Benoit Lemaire

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Gimli, BoG
The One Ring, The Binding Ring

Sitepath:
Rohirrim Road
West Road
The Dimholt
Pelennor Plain
Crashed Gate
Minas Tirith Seventh Circle
Osgiliath Crossing
Morgulduin
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
3 Nenya, RoA
1 Elrond, VL
1 Sam, SoH
1 Aiglos
1 Elven Sword
1 Company of Archers
2 Great Day, Great Hour
1 The Tale of Gil-Galad
2 Shoulder to Shoulder
1 Ring of Fury
1 Shadow Between
3 Forearmed
4 Supporting Fire
3 Quick as May Be
1 Radagast, tB
1 Glorfindel, RiW
1 Galadriel, LR
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
2 Cirdan, tS
1 Gil-Galad, EHK
2 Stand Against Darkness

Shadow:
4 Desert Lord
4 Seasoned Leader
2 Quelled
1 Gollum, DaD
1 Enquea, LoM
4 Southron Bowman
4 Elite Archer
3 Captured by the Ring
3 Southron Archer
3 War Towers
3 Soutrhon Marksman
1 Southron Archer Legion
1 Whirling Strike
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Patrick Sullivan

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Boromir, BoC
The One Ring, Answer to all Riddles

Sitepath:
Steps of Edoras
West Road
Base Mindolluin
Anduin Banks
Crashed Gate
Minas Tirith, Sixth Circle
Osgiliath Crossing
Morgul Vale
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Galadriel, LR
1 Stone Tower
1 Aiglos
2 Elrond, HtGG
3 Curse Their Foul Feet
2 Stand Against Darkness
2 Aragorn, ET
1 Denethor, LoMT
1 Elendil, tT
1 Narsil, BotF
1 Sapling of the WT
1 Scroll of Isildur
1 Faramir, CoG
2 Noble Leaders
1 Seeing Stone of Orthanc
1 The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
3 Legolas, Greenleaf
1 The Tale of Gil-Galad
1 Anduril, FotW
1 Shadow Between
2 Secret Sentinels
1 Citadel of the Stars
1 Sam, SoH
1 Ring of Barahir

Shadow:
1 Ithil Stone
3 Siege Troop
2 Grond, HotU
1 Troop Tower
4 Great Siege Towers
1 TowerWalkway
3 Gorgoroth Soldier
2 Gorgoroth Agitator
3 Their Marching Companies
4 Gorgoroth Assassin
4 Great Hill Troll
4 Troll of Gorgorothm AoS
1 Enquea, LoM
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Michel Alain

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, TT
The One Ring, Binding Ring

Sitepath:
Rohirrim Road
West Road
Base of Mindolluin
City of the Dead
Pelennor Flat
Minas Tirith, Sixthh Circle
Ruined Capitol
Cross Roads
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Stone Tower
1 Citadel of the Stars
1 Glorfindel, RiW
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
2 Anduril, FotW
1 Turgon
1 Vilya
2 Secret Sentinels
1 Galadriel, LotGW
3 Elrond, HtGG
1 Shadow Between
1 The Tale of Gil-Galad
1 Aiglos
1 Tale of the Great Ring
1 Sam, SoH
1 Sting, Bot8L
1 Knight's Spear
3 The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
2 Faramir, SoD
1 Boromir, SoD
1 Derufin
4 Aragorn, RotN

Shadow:
1 Enquea, LOM
4 Raider's Bow
4 Easterling Polearm
1 Bold Men and Grim
4 Red Wrath
3 Small Hope
2 Easterling Footman
1 Desert Lord
4 Easterling Army
2 Easterling Pillager
2 Easterling Regiment
4 Easterling Captain
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Michael Halloway

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, RH
The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Sitepath:
Rohirrim Road
Rohirrim Camp
The Dimholt
City of the Dead
Crashed Gate
Minas Tirith Seventh Circle
Osgiliath Channel
Morgul Vale
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Legolas, Greenleaf
1 Glorfindel, RiW
1 Galadriel, LR
1 Sam, SoH
1 Radagast, tB
1 Aragorn, RotN
2 Gandalf, MoW
1 Gil-Galad, EHK
1 Aiglos
1 Nenya, RoA
2 Terrible and Evil
2 Roll of Thunder
1 The Tale of Gil-Galad
1 Glimpse of Fate
1 Shadow Between
1 Gandalf's Staff
1 Deep in Thought
2 A Wizard is Never Late
3 Stand Against Darkness
2 Curse Their Foul Feet
4 Forearmed

Shadow:
3 Sauron, tLotR
3 Cave Troll of Moria, SotBP
2 Host of Moria, LotU
1 Enquea, LoM
2 Goblin Scrabbler
2 Goblin Swarms
4 Goblin Runner
4 Goblin Scavengers
2 They Are Coming
4 Goblin Armory
4 Goblin Scimitar
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Dan Clark

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, OBH
The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry

Sitepath:
Edoras Hall
West Road
Hall of the Kings
Anduin Banks
Crashed Gate
Minas Tirith, Fourth Circle
Osgiliath Crossing
Northern Ithilien
Haunted Pass

Free Peoples:
1 Fight for the Villagers
1 Deor
1 Leowyn
3 Simbelmyne
1 Deep in Thought
4 An Honorable Charge
1 Terrible and Evil
1 Grown Suddenly Tall
1 Arrow Slits
1 We Left None Alive
1 Trust Me as You Once Did
1 Bounder
1 Help in Doubt and Need
1 Sam, SoH
1 Sting, Bot8L
1 Rohirrim Helm
1 Firefoot
1 Eomer's Spear
2 Radagast, tB
1 Brego
1 Rider's Spear
1 Elite Rider
1 Rider's Mount
2 Gandalf, tWW
1 Aragorn's Bow
2 Aragorn, HtE
1 Eowyn, LoR
1 Boromir, DoMT
1 Merry, Swordthain

Shadow:
2 Goblin Swarms
1 Drums in the Deep
4 Goblin Scimitar
1 Moria Axe
3 They Are Coming
1 Web
1 Enquea, LoM
2 Host of Moria, LotU
4 Goblin Scavenger
2 Goblin Sneak
1 Guard Commander
1 Greed
1 Gollum, DaD
1 Shelob, HL
4 Goblin Runner
2 Moria Scout
2 Uruk Besieger
1 Uruk Captain
1 Captured by the Ring
1 Evil-smelling Fens
4 Goblin Armory
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Nathan Powell

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Frodo, RA
The One Ring, ATAR

Sitepath:
Steps of Edoras
West Road
Tower of Ecthelion
Anduin Banks
City Gates
Minas Tirith, First Circle
Ruined Capitol
Morgulduin
Dagorlad

Free Peoples:
1 Boromir, SoD
1 Merry, FtS
1 Smeagol, AH
1 Phial of Galadriel, SG
2 Blade of Gondor
3 Don't Look at Them
4 Don't Follow the Lights
2 Frodo's Cloak
3 Sting, Baggin's Heirloom
1 Hobbit Sword
2 Escape
2 A Light in His Mind
4 Shire Countryside
4 Nine Fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom

Shadow:
4 Witch King, MK
3 Attea, KoDG
2 Toldea, MoM
2 Enquea, MoM
3 Cantea, FtW
2 Nelya, LoM
1 Gollum, OV
2 Ring of Ire
2 Ring of Asperity
3 The Pale Blade
3 Winged Mount
1 Fear
3 Captured by the Ring
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Len Neidorf

Ringbearer and the One Ring:
Gimli, BoG
The One Ring, the Binding Ring

Sitepath:
Dunharrow Plateau
King's Tent
Tower of Etchelion
Pelennor Plain
Pelennor Flat
Minas Tirith, Second Circle
Osgiliath Crossing
Morgulduin
Narchost

Free Peoples:
1 Durin III, DL
1 Linnar, DL
2 Faramir, SoD
2 Sam, SoH
1 Aragorn, RotN
1 Thrarin, DS
2 Delving
2 Dwarven Braces
2 Hand Axe
2 Here Lies Balin, SoF
2 Blood Runs Chill
2 Ring of Fury
1 Ring of Guile
1 Ring of Retribution
4 Dwarven Axe
1 Dark Ways
1 Endurance of Dwarves
1 Gimli's Helm
1 Fury of Blows
4 Axe Strike

Shadow:
4 Witch King, LotN
4 Enquea, RiT
3 Nelya, RiT
3 Morgul Brute
2 Gollum, DaD
2 Wraith World
2 Resistance Becomes Unbearable
4 It Wants to be Found
3 His Terrible Servants
3 Ring of Rancor
4 Fell Beast
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[ununtrium]

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to post the deck lists. I have little experience in building decks, so this information is invaluable to me. This should give me plenty of opportunity to jumpstart my lotr tcg education

BTW, is there a source for the decklists of later worlds events? I would be interested in anything that incorporated cards from the WotR block, just to see, if people were able to build worthwhile decks.

Again, your effort is appreciated very much.

[macheteman]

wow, most of the decks included gollum and captured by the ring... gp for the post!

[jcb213]

BTW, is there a source for the decklists of later worlds events? I would be interested in anything that incorporated cards from the WotR block, just to see, if people were able to build worthwhile decks.

Decipher posted decklists on www.dgma.com.  That site is now down, but you can use the internet archive (www.archive.org) to see cataloged versions of the site from various dates, so you can pick a date around the end of the year for whatever year you want and then look under the decklist link on the left.

[Witchkingx5]

Good Ol' Sullivan played LR... oh how I miss his articles and tournament reports...

[Kralik]

Fantastic work! Thanks for taking the time to dredge these up.

[Kralik]

wow, most of the decks included gollum and captured by the ring... gp for the post!

I noticed also that nearly every deck includes good ol' Shotgun Enquea. Gotta love that guy!

[ununtrium]

Decipher posted decklists on www.dgma.com.  That site is now down, but you can use the internet archive (www.archive.org) to see cataloged versions of the site from various dates, so you can pick a date around the end of the year for whatever year you want and then look under the decklist link on the left.

Many thanks for the help. I found a couple of decklist I have to look through, but it looks very promising. Found several Star Trek Second Edition decks from the time, when it first came out, too!! 

[Imrahil]

It's fascination to see the difference between top tier decks and my own woeful attempts, although I suspect that it might be the players, rather than the cards that make the real difference.

[MuadDib85]

It's fascination to see the difference between top tier decks and my own woeful attempts, although I suspect that it might be the players, rather than the cards that make the real difference.

That's the great thing that sets this game apart from nearly all other tcgs... Both deck and player must be good to win against good decks/players... Having the best deck doesn't mean you will always win.

[Imrahil]

It's amazing to me how popular the elf-man deck was, considering that I feel it's fairly weak. I can see it surviving fairly easily for a couple sites and then getting utterly destroyed by a number of things.  I like the deck overall, but I don't understand how it was so successful.

[hrcho]

It's amazing to me how popular the elf-man deck was, considering that I feel it's fairly weak. I can see it surviving fairly easily for a couple sites and then getting utterly destroyed by a number of things.  I like the deck overall, but I don't understand how it was so successful.

What kind of Man-Elf deck are you thinking of? I know my such decks are very powerful and all the others I've seen were also very, very powerful.

It's usually something like this: Frodo, Arwen, Greenleaf, Aragorn  and Faramir. Put a bow on everyone, add a few Gondor Bowmen and along with Elrond, HtGG and Vilya you're good to go against almost anything.

[Imrahil]

Which is exactly the variation I would run myself. 

What I find most surprising about the top man/elf decks is that few of them actually run the bows or the Gondor Bowmen, and only a couple run actual telepathy.  Personally, my elves are almost always either archery or forearmed decks, otherwise they just aren't able to do the job.  A couple of the decks listed here don't have any "pumps" either than Noble Leaders, which suggest to me that a loaded Witch-King or Easterling Captain could be a serious problem.

I'm also amazed by the variety of the Shadow sides, considering that Sullivan would have had me believe that everyone was either running Beasterlings, Morcs, Besiegers, or Enduring Nazgul.

[jcb213]

The best man/elf from that era didn't need archery beyond Greenleaf.  The deck focused on 5 vitality Greenleaf and Aragorn ROTN with Anduril and Last Alliance.  All the other companions were expendable and replaced with a new companion.  The deck could kill a minion with Greenleaf in the archery phase and another with Aragorn in the skirmish phase, use tricks like Stone Tower & Citadel to kill something, use Dervorin to discard something in the regroup, use Sting to get rid of a fierce minion, etc, then heal with Elrond and Shadow Between and move again.  Once it was set up it was very difficult to kill and it would just let the other companions die and then replace them.  If you got in a pinch you could always have Aragorn go defender +3 or +4 to keep yourself alive, and if he was still alive at 9 there wasn't much the shadow could do.  It had a good chance against anything, so it was popular among good players because they could rely somewhat on their ability to outplay people in any matchup.  It could also be run at 30 cards for maximum efficiency or bumped up a few with tech cards.

I have noticed that many (not all) of the decks people post on here focus on playing 5 companions and keeping them all alive, but that wasn't a very popular strategy back then except in Dauntless Hunter decks.  Most decks played 9 companions and had one or two key companions while the rest were all expendable.  When you aren't worried about keeping everyone alive you can double move a lot more.

Heavy archery just wasn't as effective then because Corsairs killed your bows, Grond killed your bows, Cantea FTW killed your bows, Easterling Polearms stopped the archery, etc.  It was much more reliable to play the way you see the list because you didn't get totally hosed by strategies built to stop direct wounding.  You'll also notice that the man/elf decks played 0 possessions because of all the possession hate running around at the time.

[Imrahil]

Hmm...thanks for the explanation jcb, sometimes the decklist just doesn't tell the full story.

I do agree with you that our decks seem to rely on 5 or 6 comps, whereas most of the ones posted here can balloon out to nine as needed.  It's an interesting idea, and one that I think will change my builds in the future.