I've always wanted to make a deck based around
Aragorn, Driven By Need,
Merry, Rohirrim Squire, and
Pippin, Sworn To Service. They just seem to be MADE to all work together, with Merry adding the threats and making Pippin and Aragorn big, then Aragorn conveniently removing the threats in regroup to recycle the next turn. I've dabbled in a few Expanded and Standard decks using the trio, and now, for my first King block deck, I figured they'd be a good place to start.
I went even one step farther and made TWO similiar--yet quite different--decks out of them.
FREE PEOPLES (37 cards):Frodo, Hope of Free Peoples w/
The One Ring, Such a Weight to CarryMerry, Rohirrim Squire (starting)
Pippin, Sworn To Service (starting)
Gimli, Faithful Companion (starting)
Aragorn, Driven By Need x4
Anduril, Flame of the WestFootman's ArmorGimli's Battle Axe, Trusted Weapon x2
Sting, Bane of the Eight LegsOrc ArmorMerry's SwordMerry's ArmorPippin's SwordPippin's ArmorHearts Raised x2
The Tale of the Great Ring x2
Stout Resistance x3
Dagger Strike x3
Counts But One x2
Out of DarknessNine-fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom x4
A Marvel x2
Noble IntentionsAs mentioned above,
Rohirrim Squire is your main engine for generating threats, which makes Aragorn, Pippin, and Gimli (with his axe) a lethal little fellowship. Since Merry's ability can only add 2 threats, however, there are several ways to get that last one.
Stout Resistance can add another and has the added benefit of being a very nice (and free!) strength pump for Aragorn.
Counts But One adds a threat and also lets Gimli replace one of your vulnerable Hobbits in a skirmish. If you're feeling dangerous and want to throw Frodo into a skirmish,
Bane of the Eight Legs can add a threat AND discard a minion...though it's only helpful if there are fierce minions around.
Speaking of skirmishing, there's plenty of other help for that, too.
A Marvel,
Noble Intentions, and
Dagger Strike -- paired with Merry and Pippin's swords and armor -- makes your Hobbits a rare sight here: ones that can actually fight!
The Tale of the Great Ring provides defense against particularly large minions, especially early on when you're trying to get all their gear on them. Aragorn also gets to use
Dagger Strike, as well as the aforementioned
Stout Resistance. Gimli really only has his axe, initiative, and a single
Out of Darkness to help him out, though hopefully that will usually be enough to mop up anything left over.
Removing threats is pretty easy. Aragorn's regroup ability does a fine job, but since we'd usually prefer not to exert him twice, there are plenty of other methods.
Nine-fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom works nicely, though ALSO requires some exerting; the nicest thing about it is that you can add some threats during skirmish (especially by pumping Merry up), reap their benefits, remove them with
NfFatRoD, and then do it AGAIN that same skirmish phase. Truly nasty.
After skirmishing is over,
Hearts Raised can toss any excess cards in your hand to remove threats before you decide whether or not to move again.
Now, the second deck. Like I said, similiar, but one key companion change makes a BIG difference in how certain things are implemented....
FREE PEOPLES (37 cards):Frodo, Hope of Free Peoples w/
The One Ring, Such a Weight to CarryMerry, Rohirrim Squire (starting)
Pippin, Sworn To Service (starting)
Gandalf, Leader of Men (starting)
Aragorn, Driven By Need x4
Anduril, Flame of the WestFootman's ArmorGandalf's Staff, Focus of PowerGlamdring, Elven BladeShadowfax, GreatheartSting, Bane of the Eight LegsOrc ArmorMerry's SwordMerry's ArmorPippin's SwordPippin's ArmorHearts Raised x2
The Tale of the Great Ring x2
Stout Resistance x3
At His Command x2
Dagger StrikeLet Us Not Tarry x3
Citadel to GateNine-fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom x4
Noble IntentionsGandalf adds a whole new dimension to the trio, mainly because he can use the fact that all three threat-loving companions happen to have the Gandalf signet. This opens up
Let Us Not Tarry as a strength -3 event for ANY companion's skirmish. Nifty! It also lets us stuff in
Citadel to Gate for use at the most opportune moment, healing all companions of one culture (probably
will be best most of the time) and removing ALL threats.
Shadowfax, Greatheart also gives us one more method with which to add that final threat we may need to make Pippin and Aragorn as powerful as possible.
There's one more fun little trick to be had with signets: and it ain't with Gandalf's this time, either.
At His Command --typically used only in
Wraith decks -- might seem an odd addition to a fellowship full of Gandalf signets (and very much NON-Wraithy companions)...until one notices that
Gandalf, Leader of Men just so happens to have the signet required by the event: Aragorn's! This turns
At His Command into what should be AT LEAST a strength +3 pump for Gandalf, if not more. Not bad, not bad.
Critique away! Like I said, these are my first attempts at a King block fellowship, so I'm sure there are kinks to work out. I'm counting on you more experienced King block players to help this deck out, if you have the time to do so.