Shelob´s Problem

[Pepin The Breve]

  Hi everybody, i´m trying to make some crazy shadow deck that has Shelob as it main character, but this creates a problem since she (it?) is a site 8 minion and cards like IB and What are They? could just crack my entire strategy sending her to the discard pile even before can do her tricks    Fourth Level + anything that kill her could be a problem to but i have some manners to handle that like Sweeter Meats.

   So without further ado i like to ask if you people know any means of: 1) skip the manuever phase (palying Balrog, DoM isn´t a real possible option for this deck  2) prevent a minion for being discarded (i think this doesn´t even exist) 3) Cancel a manuever action 4) Anything that could save her eight legs of going strict to discard pile, could be of any culture...

   Obviuosly i don´t expect from you to make a meticulous search for me, just give a shot if you have something in mind...

  Thanks in advance!

[NappyKorn]

Well getting ready of the IB problem is simple, you can run minions like Mumak Rider and try to control the path or run a mini corsair shadow with her. Another option could be find a way to pump gollum (eg. Slippery as Fish amongst others) and Run Reclaim the precious to exert him twice in the regroup phase to toss the IBs. Of course the easiest way to prevent the IB is to run Final Strike, You can exert gollum to prevent any Maneuver or Archery special abilities the Free People's player uses .

As for getting What Are They? to not destroy you that might take a bit more thinking. I'm not even sure there are any shadow cards that can cancel or prevent maneuver events. I will take a look at it later and either edit my post here or just reply with a new post. Maybe someone else here has figured this problem out already though .

Edit: Best beat I have found so far to kill that event would be running some Uruk Scouts and/or Orc Scouts. If they play an event that spots or exerts a ranger (which What Are They? does) you can exert them or one says discard it to prevent that event . Hope this helps some, but maybe others no of something else.

[Elessar's Socks]

You know, I might just concentrate on whatever Shelob strat you have, and not worry too much about IB decks. If it's starting to look like the tail is wagging the dog... well, first bash your IB opponent over the head with a proper Corsair deck, then bring out your Shelob deck when things are looking more sane.

Otherwise what NappyKorn said is really good. Also Madril DoO is pretty much the key to the deck, with no backup to making minions roam in the maneuver phase--if you can kill or discard him, that would usually shut down Ithilien Blade and What Are They? For example maybe run a full contingent of Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul (you should have no trouble spotting 6 companions). Treachery can temporarily give you an opening for one site each.

Any idea what you'd like to do with Shelob, or which version(S) you want to run?

[Pepin The Breve]

  Hey guys thanks very much for the tips!    I think Final Strike is just what i needed since can be very useful against many kinds of decks!

  The deck is a "Crazy Shelob Surprise" with Gollum and Southron support! Theorycally it´s more effective when you caught your opponent by surprise but can be effective in a "psicological way" if your opponent knows what are you up to, preventing him/her to doublr for example...

  For a brief description works more or less like this: You have Gollum, TG and a threat engine working on with CbtR and Fat Ones Wants It and make the path soft for my fellowship walk around. You have Southrons that bost the threat thing and make sure the threats stay there with Rallying Call. You have some raider support to diacard possessions, add twilight and maybe do some wounding and finally you have... Her 

   The deck isn´t a super one since deppends heavily on Shelob (along with some path control) and a little luck on draws to really cause a big damage, but i thnk could be a very fun deck to play.

  The freep side is a Frodo + Aragorn + Pippin choke inspired in a deck that NK runs against me these days.

  After i have tested and fix the weak points i will post both sides here...

  Again thanks for the very useful reviews! 

[Pepin The Breve]

   By the way, do you people know some effective way of pumping shelob besides Web?

[SomeRandomDude]

Just run some possession discarding and you should be fine vs IB. I don't really think that Shelob is great as a strategy in and of herself, simply because IB IS a problem, as is pumping her. She's better when played as a support card for another strategy, i.e. Shelob, Her Ladyship.

[FingolfinFinwe]

Not much.  Unabated in Malice or Countless Cords + .  Web is the best obviously for EoL, but you really need some orcs to max out its potential, and that isn't the direction of your deck.

[DáinIronfoot]

Countless Cords would be perfect though, since you're adding tons of threats anyway.

[SomeRandomDude]

Gollum, Skulker.

[DáinIronfoot]

Nah. With all those threats around, I'd rather have Threatening Guide (or at least Vile Creature) with Hobbitses Are Dead, No End of Wickedness, and/or Cunningly Hidden any day.

[Pepin The Breve]

Just run some possession discarding and you should be fine vs IB. I don't really think that Shelob is great as a strategy in and of herself, simply because IB IS a problem, as is pumping her. She's better when played as a support card for another strategy, i.e. Shelob, Her Ladyship.

I agree with you but i just want to build a fun deck around her, not an all powerfull deck that conquers all...hehehe.

I´m consedireing to put some Countless Cords in...

Anyway i just have to do some playtesting to see how the things go...

   Thanks for the advice people!

[SomeRandomDude]

Don't consider it, do it! And Let Her Deal With Them, Unabated in Malice, and the Southron Initiative seizer engine. Anyone like a d+2 fierce spider? Every turn? Not to mention Deceit.

[TheJord]

Use the non-enduring Shelob + Ettenmoors 

[SomeRandomDude]

Or use the enduring one and convince your friends to play with the old site.

Run Ferny, SSF. Free str +4 pump.

Or Agent of Saruman, if you can get your hands on him.

[Elessar's Socks]

Not Easily Avoided.

[Pepin The Breve]

Or use the enduring one and convince your friends to play with the old site.

Run Ferny, SSF. Free str +4 pump.

Or Agent of Saruman, if you can get your hands on him.

Yeah i had the same idea as you and i´m running Ferny as a pump!

Just played against NK and it´s still depends too much on luck to do something bad...  In this deck i really don´t nedd Shelob to crush everybody when she puts her eight legs on the path, just her survive (better if with some wounds) to start the fun!

Maybe Unbatted will work nice since can be used as a pump too.
Anyway thanks a lot guys!

[SomeRandomDude]

Very nice. Go with that.

[Elf_Lvr]

Not Easily Avoided is one of the best cards giving Shelob strength. It's first ability isn't bad, either, esp. if you have incited.

Countless Cords is cool because it can work on any minion, not just shelob.