Beat down decks focus on making one or two minions very powerful, with the intention of destroying all of the companions one by one; eventually getting to the ring-bearer once all the companions are gone. Swarm decks have an opposite strategy: their goal is to play as many minions as possible as cheaply as possible. While one swarm minion might not be very powerful by itself, each minion is very cheap which allows many to be played, easily outnumbering the companions. While they did exist since the first sets, bomb decks have been gradually gaining popularity and have, in some ways, replaced beat-down decks. They combine strategies of both beat-down decks and swarm decks: instead of focusing on one or two powerful minions, they play several minions of medium strength. The goal of a bomb deck is to destroy the weaker companions, and then swarm the Free Peoples player out.

For the shadow side, the most common strategies are beat-down, swarm, bomb, archery/wounding and corruption.

Beat-down- Beat down decks focus on making one or two minions very powerful, with the intention of killing all of the companions one by one; eventually killing the ring-bearer.

Swarm- Swarm decks have an opposite strategy of a beat-down: their goal is to play as many minions as possible as cheaply as possible. While one swarm minion might not be very powerful by itself, each minion is very cheap which allows many to be played, easily outnumbering the companions and assigning themselves to the ring-bearer.

Bomb- A bomb deck combines the strategies of both beat-down decks and swarm decks. Instead of focusing on one or two powerful minions, they play several minions of medium strength. The goal of a bomb deck is to destroy the weaker companions, and then swarm the Free Peoples player.

Archery/Wounding- Archery and wounding decks rely on wounding companions outside of the skirmish so much that they die from their wounds. A variation of this strategy focuses on wounding the ring-bearer and killing him.

Corruption- Corruption decks focus on adding enough burdens to corrupt the ring-bearer, or playing cards that require certain conditions to be met to corrupt the ring-bearer outright.

For Free Peoples side, the most common strategies are tank, choke, and minion wounding.

Tank- Tank decks try to play as much as possible and build up as many companions to combat the opponents Shadow side with force.

Choke- Choke decks, the opposite of tank decks, try to put out as little twilight as possible, denying the opponent resources.

Archery/Minion Wounding- Minion wounding decks try to use "archery fire" and direct wounding to destroy the minions (Shadow characters) before they even have a chance to attack.

For the shadow side, the most common strategies are beat-down, swarm, bomb, archery/wounding and corruption.

Beat-down- Beat down decks Focus on making one or two minions very powerful, with the intention of killing all of the companions one by one; eventually killing the ring-bearer.

Swarm- Swarm decks have an opposite strategy of a beat-down: their goal is to play as many minions as possible as cheaply as possible. While one swarm minion might not be very powerful by itself, each minion is very cheap which allows many to be played, easily outnumbering the companions and assigning themselves to the ring-bearer.

Bomb- A bomb deck combines the strategies of both beat-down decks and swarm decks. Instead of focusing on one or two powerful minions, they play several minions of medium strength. The goal of a bomb deck is to destroy the weaker companions, and then swarm the Free Peoples player.

Archery/Wounding- Archery and wounding decks rely on wounding companions outside of the skirmish so much that they die from their wounds. A variation of this strategy focuses on wounding the ring-bearer and killing him.

Corruption- Corruption decks Focus on adding enough burdens to Corrupt the ring-bearer, or playing cards that require certain conditions to be met to Corrupt the ring-bearer outright.