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Fellowship / PC-FOTR: 2024 April Qualifier Weekend League Decks

« Last post by TelTura on April 28, 2024, 08:01:22 PM »

Here are the top 10 decks from the 2024 April Qualifier Weekend League.

Remember that all cards utilize PC Errata, even if the non-errata'd version is shown below, and that set V1 cards are also legal.


Author: matohara
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
Green Dragon Inn
Ettenmoors
House of Elrond
Hollin
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Lothlorien Woods
Silverlode Banks
Gates of Argonath
Slopes of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Gimli, Son of Gloin
1x Arwen, Daughter of Elrond
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim
1x Aragorn, Ranger of the North
3x Boromir, Defender of Minas Tirith
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Sam, Son of Hamfast
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
1x Calaglin, Elf of Lorien
1x Celeborn, Lord of Lorien
4x Elrond, Lord of Rivendell
1x Orophin, Lorien Bowman
1x Rúmil, Elven Protector
1x Albert Dreary, Entertainer From Bree
3x Ottar, Man of Laketown
1x Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal
1x Glamdring
2x Horn of Boromir
1x Sting
2x Sleep, Caradhras
2x Hobbit Intuition
4x Hobbit Stealth

Shadow Draw Deck:
1x Lurtz, Servant of Isengard
1x Orthanc Berserker
3x Saruman, Keeper of Isengard
4x Troop of Uruk-hai
2x Uruk Captain
4x Uruk Lieutenant
2x Uruk Ravager
4x Uruk Warrior
1x Tower Assassin
1x Beyond the Height of Men
2x Bred for Battle
2x Saruman's Power
4x Savagery To Match Their Numbers
4x Saruman's Ambition
1x Tower of Orthanc



Author: rbranco
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
The Prancing Pony
Ettenmoors
Rivendell Valley
Hollin
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Lothlorien Woods
Anduin Wilderland
Gates of Argonath
Slopes of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Gimli, Son of Gloin
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim
1x Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1x Boromir, Son of Denethor
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence
1x Sam, Proper Poet
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
1x Calaglin, Elf of Lorien
1x Celeborn, Lord of Lorien
3x Elrond, Lord of Rivendell
2x Galadriel, Lady of Light
1x Orophin, Lorien Bowman
1x Rúmil, Elven Protector
1x Bounder
2x Sting
1x Thror's Map
1x Mithril-coat
2x Foul Creation
2x Secret Sentinels
3x Hobbit Intuition
4x Hobbit Stealth
1x O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!

Shadow Draw Deck:
2x Lurtz, Servant of Isengard
1x Orthanc Berserker
3x Saruman, Keeper of Isengard
3x Troop of Uruk-hai
2x Uruk Captain
4x Uruk Lieutenant
3x Uruk Ravager
4x Uruk Warrior
1x Tower Assassin
1x Beyond the Height of Men
2x Bred for Battle
1x Saruman's Power
4x Savagery To Match Their Numbers
4x Saruman's Ambition


Author: Beezey
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
The Prancing Pony
Midgewater Marshes
Rivendell Terrace
Moria Lake
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Lorien Throne Room
Silverlode Banks
Shores of Nen Hithoel
Tol Brandir

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Arwen, Daughter of Elrond
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
3x Aragorn, King in Exile
1x Boromir, Redeemed
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Sam, Son of Hamfast
1x Calaglin, Elf of Lorien
2x Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad
1x Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood
1x Asfaloth
2x Gwemegil
1x Aragorn's Bow
2x Armor
2x Athelas
3x Flaming Brand
1x Ranger's Sword
1x Sting
3x Foul Creation
2x Release the Angry Flood
3x Secret Sentinels
3x The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
1x You Have My Sword

Shadow Draw Deck:
1x The Balrog, Durin's Bane
3x Morgul Hunter
4x Orc Ambush Troop
4x Orc Assassin
4x Orc Scouting Band
1x Tower Assassin
2x Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul
4x Hate
2x Memory of Many Things
1x Mordor's Strength
1x Gaze Of The Eye
4x Orc Bowmen
4x Under the Watching Eye
2x You Bring Great Evil


Author: basmelis
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
The Prancing Pony
Breeland Forest
Rivendell Waterfall
Hollin
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Lothlorien Woods
Anduin Wilderland
Gates of Argonath
Slopes of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Arwen, Daughter of Elrond
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, Friend of the Shirefolk
1x Aragorn, King in Exile
3x Boromir, Lord of Gondor
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence
1x Sam, Son of Hamfast
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
1x Calaglin, Elf of Lorien
2x Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad
2x Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood
1x Orophin, Lorien Bowman
1x Rúmil, Elven Protector
1x Bounder
1x Gwemegil
1x Aragorn's Bow
2x Armor
1x Blade of Gondor
3x Flaming Brand
1x Ranger's Sword
1x Frying Pan
4x Secret Sentinels
2x The Last Alliance of Elves and Men

Shadow Draw Deck:
3x Lurtz, Servant of Isengard
2x Orthanc Berserker
3x Saruman, Keeper of Isengard
4x Troop of Uruk-hai
2x Uruk Captain
4x Uruk Lieutenant
1x Uruk Ravager
4x Abandoning Reason for Madness
2x Beyond the Height of Men
2x Saruman's Power
4x Savagery To Match Their Numbers
4x Saruman's Ambition


Author: Spud-Daddy
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
Hobbiton Party Field
Trollshaw Forest
Frodo's Bedroom
Mithril Mine
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Dimrill Dale
Anduin Wilderland
Shores of Nen Hithoel
Summit of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
4x Aragorn, Heir to the White City
1x Boromir, Defender of Minas Tirith
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Pippin, Friend to Frodo
1x Sam, Son of Hamfast
1x Bilbo, Well-spoken Gentlehobbit
1x Bounder
1x Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal
1x Aragorn's Bow
1x Armor
2x Athelas
2x Blade of Gondor
2x Flaming Brand
2x Ranger's Sword
1x Frying Pan
3x Red Book of Westmarch
1x Sting
1x Thror's Map
4x Gondor Bowmen
2x No Stranger to the Shadows
1x The Saga of Elendil
1x A Talent for Not Being Seen
3x Consorting With Wizards
1x O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
2x Stone Trolls
1x There and Back Again

Shadow Draw Deck:
3x Cave Troll of Moria, Scourge of the Black Pit
1x Goblin Flankers
4x Goblin Runner
4x Goblin Scavengers
1x Goblin Scrabbler
1x Goblin Warrior
1x Guard Commander
4x Moria Scout
1x The Balrog, Flame of Udun
2x Troll's Keyward
1x Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul
4x Goblin Scimitar
1x Moria Axe
4x Host of Thousands
4x Goblin Armory
3x Goblin Swarms
1x Relics of Moria
2x They Are Coming


Author: butemin
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
The Prancing Pony
Weathertop
Ford of Bruinen
Eregion Hills
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Caras Galadhon
Anduin Wilderland
Nen Hithoel
Summit of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, Olorin
2x Aragorn, Estel
1x Celeborn, Lord of Lorien
2x Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad
3x Galadriel, Lady of Light
1x Orophin, Lorien Bowman
1x Rúmil, Elven Protector
1x Bounder
1x The Gaffer, Sam's Father
2x Glamdring
1x Aragorn's Bow
1x Ranger's Sword
1x Sting
1x Thror's Map
1x Vilya
1x Gandalf's Staff
1x Narya
2x Secret Sentinels
2x Servant of the Secret Fire
1x Speak \Friend\ and Enter
1x The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
1x My Heart Tells Me
1x The White Council
1x Trust Me as You Once Did
1x O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!

Shadow Draw Deck:
2x Morgul Skulker
3x Ringwraith In Twilight
4x The Witch-king, Lord of the Nazgul
1x Úlairë Attëa, The Easterling
3x Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul
3x Úlairë Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight
1x Úlairë Otsëa, Lieutenant of Morgul
2x Pale Crown
4x It Wants to be Found
4x Morgul Gates
1x White Faces Burned
4x Gates of the Dead City
1x His Terrible Servants


Author: Axter
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Son of Drogo
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
The Prancing Pony
Midgewater Marshes
Rivendell Gateway
Eregion Hills
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Caras Galadhon
Anduin Confluence
Nen Hithoel
Summit of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Gimli, Son of Gloin
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim
1x Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1x Boromir, Son of Denethor
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Pippin, Of Tuckborough
1x Sam, Proper Poet
1x Orophin, Lorien Bowman
1x Rúmil, Elven Protector
1x Ottar, Man of Laketown
1x Glamdring
1x Frying Pan
1x Gandalf's Staff
1x Narya
4x Servant of the Secret Fire
2x Sleep, Caradhras
4x Two Eyes, As Often As I Can Spare Them
4x Hobbit Stealth
1x My Heart Tells Me

Shadow Draw Deck:
1x The Balrog, Durin's Bane
3x Morgul Hunter
2x Morgul Skulker
4x Orc Pillager
4x Ringwraith In Twilight
2x The Witch-king, Lord of the Nazgul
4x Must Do Without Hope
4x Gleaming in the Snow
2x Hate
4x It Wants to be Found


Author: balrog69
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
The Prancing Pony
Bree Streets
Ford of Bruinen
Hollin
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Valley of the Silverlode
Anduin Wilderland
Nen Hithoel
Summit of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Arwen, Daughter of Elrond
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim
4x Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1x Boromir, Son of Denethor
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence
1x Sam, Son of Hamfast
3x Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad
1x Asfaloth
2x Gwemegil
1x Aragorn's Bow
2x Armor
2x Athelas
4x Flaming Brand
1x Ranger's Sword
1x Sting
1x Vilya
1x Mithril-coat
2x Secret Sentinels
2x The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
1x The Tale of Gil-galad
1x The Saga of Elendil
1x There and Back Again

Shadow Draw Deck:
3x The Witch-king, Lord of Angmar
3x Úlairë Attëa, Keeper of Dol Guldur
3x Úlairë Cantëa, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur
3x Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul
2x Úlairë Lemenya, Lieutenant of Morgul
1x Úlairë Nertëa, Messenger of Dol Guldur
1x Úlairë Toldëa, Messenger of Morgul
1x Morgul Blade
1x The Pale Blade
2x Fear
2x Fell Voices Call
2x Morgul Gates
3x Relentless Charge
3x Too Great and Terrible
3x Black Breath
2x Blade Tip
2x Wreathed in Shadow


Author: hobbit
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
Green Dragon Inn
Prancing Pony Spare Room
Rivendell Valley
Dwarrowdelf Chamber
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Lothlorien Woods
Anduin Wilderland
Shores of Nen Hithoel
Wastes of Emyn Muil

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Gimli, Son of Gloin
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim
1x Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1x Boromir, Son of Denethor
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence
1x Sam, Proper Poet
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
1x Calaglin, Elf of Lorien
1x Celeborn, Lord of Lorien
3x Elrond, Lord of Rivendell
2x Galadriel, Lady of Light
1x Orophin, Lorien Bowman
1x Rúmil, Elven Protector
1x Hobbit Sword
1x Sting
1x Thror's Map
1x Mithril-coat
3x Foul Creation
2x Secret Sentinels
1x Sleep, Caradhras
3x Hobbit Intuition
4x Hobbit Stealth
1x O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!

Shadow Draw Deck:
2x Isengard Forger
4x Isengard Servant
4x Isengard Shaman
4x Isengard Smith
4x Isengard Warrior
2x Isengard Worker
2x Orc Commander
2x Orc Overseer
2x Saruman, Servant of the Eye
4x Isengard Axe
2x Saruman's Power
4x Servants to Saruman


Author: Chadwick537
Replays: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure deck:
The Prancing Pony
Breeland Forest
Rivendell Waterfall
Hollin
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Lorien Throne Room
Anduin Wilderland
Nen Hithoel
Slopes of Amon Hen

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Arwen, Daughter of Elrond
1x Legolas, Greenleaf
1x Gandalf, Friend of the Shirefolk
1x Aragorn, King in Exile
3x Boromir, Lord of Gondor
1x Merry, Friend to Sam
1x Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence
1x Sam, Son of Hamfast
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
1x Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad
3x Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood
1x Orophin, Lorien Bowman
1x Rúmil, Elven Protector
1x Bounder
1x Gwemegil
1x Aragorn's Bow
2x Armor
1x Athelas
1x Blade of Gondor
3x Flaming Brand
1x Ranger's Sword
1x Sting
4x Secret Sentinels
2x The Last Alliance of Elves and Men

Shadow Draw Deck:
3x Lurtz, Servant of Isengard
1x Orthanc Berserker
3x Saruman, Keeper of Isengard
4x Troop of Uruk-hai
2x Uruk Captain
4x Uruk Lieutenant
2x Uruk Ravager
1x Tower Assassin
4x Abandoning Reason for Madness
2x Beyond the Height of Men
1x Saruman's Power
4x Savagery To Match Their Numbers
4x Saruman's Ambition

2

Standard / Re: Eowyn NorthWoman-Can she be a superwoman

« Last post by Larry5000 on April 07, 2024, 05:32:30 PM »

Well There is a difference I guess between wounds and exertions. The minion needs to exert before the skirmish. As far as if he can take wounds or not I would say no if Burial mounds is played.

3

Standard / Re: Eowyn NorthWoman-Can she be a superwoman

« Last post by Phallen Cassidy on April 06, 2024, 05:45:33 AM »

You're right, if she's not overwhelmed she won't be killed (unless you specifically assign her to a minion that can kill her through game text such as Ulaire Cantea, Black Assassin). Constantly having to assign the Ring-bearer is its own danger though, and he definitely can still take wounds and be overwhelmed. Make sure you have the appropriate support if you want to make a deck around an invincible Northwoman.

As far as Burial Mounds, what do you think? And how do you think it would interact with something like Rider's Mount?

4

King Standard / Dwarf Tokens / Uruk Site Control... Grind?

« Last post by Phallen Cassidy on April 04, 2024, 01:52:59 PM »

The Free Peoples here is both fun to play and very good. Shadow, I'll be honest, is lackluster.

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Courteous Halfling
Ring: The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry

Adventure deck:
Dunharrow Plateau
King's Tent
Hall of the Kings
Anduin Banks*
City Gates*
Minas Tirith Second Circle
Ruined Capitol
Morgulduin
Haunted Pass

Free Peoples Draw Deck: (33)
1x Gimli, Son of Gloin (Starting)
1x Farin, Dwarven Emissary (Starting)
1x Fror, Gimli's Kinsman
1x Gloin, Friend to Thorin
4x Aragorn, Defender of Free Peoples
1x Sam, Resolute Halfling
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
2x Dwarven Armor
2x Dwarven Axe
3x Dwarven Bracers
1x Gimli's Battle Axe
1x Aragorn's Bow
2x Athelas
1x Hobbit Sword
1x Ring of Barahir
2x Axe Strike
2x Disquiet of Our People
1x Power According to His Stature
1x Dark Ways
1x My Axe Is Notched
3x Stout and Strong

Shadow Draw Deck: (33)
3x Berserk Butcher
1x Berserk Slayer
3x Lurtz, Servant of Isengard
1x Orthanc Champion
1x Troop of Uruk-hai
2x Uruk Captain
4x Uruk Hunter
1x Uruk Rear Guard
1x Uruk Warrior
2x Uruk-hai Band
2x Uruk-hai Horde
3x Banner of Isengard
1x No Dawn for Men
1x Saruman's Power
2x Attack on Helm's Deep
2x Down to the Last Child
2x Greed
1x Scaling Ladder


How to play (or at least, how I play it):
I bid 2 to go first, which is higher probably 40% of the time and then you'll win the tie another 30% of the time. Very few people ever bid 3 or more, and I'm one of them You don't need your site 1 though, I just use it to pull My Axe Is Notched, or Stout and Strong if I've already drawn that. If I happen to have both I won't use the site at all -- Dark Ways is something you want to draw later.

If you get anything at all to increase Gimli's strength, you should be able to win some skirmishes at the start. Don't get him killed by an opponent's skirmish pump, of course, but accumulating some tokens early means smooth sailing most of the time. Your big twilight drop is Aragorn, at 4x in a pretty small deck you should be drawing him early anyway. After that you've got a decent amount of choke going on, the only times you add notable twilight are playing companions (which will be able to help you survive whatever your opponent musters by dying if nothing else) and playing Gimli's Battle Axe. I'll discard Gimli's Battle Axe if it comes at a bad time and I'm not playing against Orcs to avoid the twilight, but boy does it do wonders against Morc decks.

Other than that, it's just a solid little Dwarf build. Play free possessions and move then around as needed. Kill off companions to make room for more (Gloin in particular is just a warm body here). Win the skirmishes that matter and then it really doesn't matter what happens in the others. Aragorn's Bow and Athelas, plus just Aragorn being 8 strength with 4 vitality, are also contributing factors to the deck's staying power. If you struggle to get tokens or your conditions get tossed you're still going to be able to make it pretty far as long as your hand doesn't get clogged up with minions. Reconcile them away if you have too many!


Not much to say for the Shadow. The inspiration here is Banner of Isengard + Uruk Hunter. Turn sites into wounds! But I don't lean too far into fierce minions because of Arwen, Fair Elf Maiden, and Isengard is pretty bad at taking sites, sooo... What actually happens is the site control doesn't really come online and I play one or two big minions every turn. That's enough a surprising amount of the time, if not to get kills then at least to get stops: high strength minions with high vitality and a damage bonus means that even when the minions lose their skirmishes they stick around and dissuade a double. Greed covers a majority of the troublesome Rohan builds that prevent any minions from surviving to the regroup phase so there's not much left to worry about. The site stuff is still there and all, it just ends up being there to distract my opponent. And me, I guess


Other stuff I wrote because I can't help it:
The Free Peoples here have a lot of good matchups. Morcs are token farms for Gimli and Farin especially, which in turn means that Gimli will basically always be able to beat whatever Nazgul is in play thanks to Aragorn. The Pale Blade is no concern when Gimli is 18 strength without really trying! Athelas is for Black Breath, one of the only cards that will stop you in your tracks (Red Wrath is another one, beware using Gimli when you don't have bracers). Wounding decks lose skirmishes often which means healing for you. Gimli is nigh on unbeatable with 4+ tokens in the bank and Dwarven Armor keeps anyone else alive, covering you against beatdown. Swarm decks can't compete with Disquiet of Our People, plus you can use Aragorn to heal Thrarin and have him cover a weak minion turn after turn if need be. It's a cute little combo if nothing else And of course Aragorn's Bow is great for knocking off the occasional troublesome minion(s).

Opponents with condition discarding can be trouble, but generally they have to spend precious twilight to do it. If you anticipate condition discarding (Orc Patrol, Discovered, Saruman's Power), just use up your tokens with Aragorn at the slightest need. Oh, and be sure to use tokens evenly so there's no obvious target for individual removal. I tend to cap Stout and Strong at 3 and put extra tokens on My Axe Is Notched so it's a more attractive target when there's a surplus. That way your opponent can remove the greater number of tokens or the greater utility, but not get both at the same time. Then again, there's extra S&S and no spare MAIN so I could see an argument for doing it the opposite way.

There's a lot going for this FP even when you don't have any tokens, too. 0 twilight cost means the stuff transfers for free so any dwarf with Armor and Dwarven Axe can take 2 wounds from a 20 strength minion, then you just move the gear to a healthy Dwarf next turn. I've got Sam, Resolute Halfling over Son of Hamfast even though there's plenty of healing because I'm not running any condition discarding for Sauron Grind. I try to double move as often as possible against that deck to prevent my opponent from getting very set up, but Orc Patrol at 4x will make it hard to rely on your tokens for healing. If you make Sam the Ring-bearer you can safely soak UtWE exerts and deprive your opponent of a good target for Hate (can't get any kills without 3 copies all at once), then Disquiet of Our People means that you really only need to get to site 9 with Sam and one Dwarf with 2 vitality to win. That's very easy to do, and I don't know if it'd be possible with Son of Hamfast.

However, while typing this up I realized that by switching to Son of Hamfast I might be able to swap Such a Weight to Carry for Answer to All Riddles. SaWtC is more useful against corruption and swarms -- Sam covers the first and the rest of the deck is pretty well teched against the second already, so in theory it's just an upgrade. The extra vitality, meanwhile, might be enough to compensate for less healing in those instances where it matters.

The big downside I see in changing The Ring this is that my starting bid of 2 is much riskier. If Frodo has to skirmish early I'm hitting 4 burdens for sure, and who knows when I'll draw Sam to bring it back down. I don't remember ever being troubled by burdens, though maybe I never played against corruption with this deck (only 2-burden Easterlings). I think I can mitigate the danger by either putting Son of Hamfast at 2x or putting in more pumps for Gimli and starting SoH. That would be nice since it'd allow me to increase my starting bid to 3 or even 4, but it's such a weak start that I'm not even sure I'd want to go first anymore. I don't want to increase the decksize much either, there's already so many things I want to be able to draw depending on the matchup. Some things to experiment with over the next few games.

Unrelated to all that, Frodo could swap too. I'm not terribly worried about Tower of Barad-dur and initiative Sauron for this deck and that's my main reason for picking Courteous Halfling most of the time. Blocking Din of Arms is nice, though again if Gimli can get some tokens stored up he will probably pick up the slack without trouble. Son of Drogo is always a great partner to Resolute Halfling while Wicked Masster! would go just fine with Son of Hamfast. Old Bilbo's Heir would open up Bounder, Reluctant Adventurer would probably lean me towards including There and Back Again... Even Tired Traveller removing one burden is probably better than dodging discard effects from a competitive standpoint. Of course, simply not having to deal with discarding effects has its merit in casual play


Anyway. It's a good thing I rambled on about the Free Peoples because I really don't have many nice things to say about the Shadow yet. It's a first pass at a... Uruk-hai Site Control Grind? deck. I don't even know what it should be called. No Dawn for Men is cool if you can nab a site because you can effectively bench many 3-vitality companions with a single wound. I don't know about Uruk-hai Band vs Uruk-hai Horde so I've split 2x between them to see which one better. My money is on Horde, 4 for 12 seems a lot better than 5 for 14.

A more serious attempt would probably scale down the Banners and Hunters to 2x to get 4x Attack on Helm's Deep and 3x Down to the Last Child? The hope would be that you draw them ASAP and maybe claim a site before an opponent can clear the conditions with Vilya or Fortress Never Fallen or whatever. I don't want just one site though, that's more suited to We Are the Fighting Uruk-hai. I want 3 sites so that Uruk Hunter deals 8 wounds after winning 2 skirmishes Right now it's got plenty of expensive minions so I think there's room to cut some of them for more impactful supporting cards (skirmish pumps mostly, maybe an Uruk Spear or Broad-bladed Sword). Then it'd just be a matter of finding the best such cards for the matchups that are least likely to let you take (and keep) sites. I'll keep tinkering and maybe come back with an update one day, but I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any!

I mean, I can't be too hard on it. It does fine. The real problem with the Shadow is that if you are doing well and able to take sites, you really don't need to take sites. You're already doing well! There's something to be said for being able to snowball, but I don't know what matchup there could be in which taking sites offers a particular advantage compared to using other, less vulnerable cards. As you can probably tell though, in-game my focus is almost always on my Free Peoples. Shadow can afford to be a bit of a throwaway for those kinds of decks, I think -- an opportunity to try something different. Still, seeing it laid out like this makes me think I haven't given the Uruk-hai the attention they deserve. The core of this Shadow can become reasonably frightening even if this particular brand of Uruk site control doesn't make much sense

5

King Standard / Re: King Standard Sample Decks

« Last post by Stormborn on April 04, 2024, 04:40:11 AM »

Thanks for creating these decks and adding notes! I've just used your Osgiliath deck as a template for a King Block deck.

6

Standard / Eowyn NorthWoman-Can she be a superwoman

« Last post by Larry5000 on April 03, 2024, 07:22:54 PM »

What can anyone tell me about Eowyn Northwoman Not being able to take wounds doing skirmishes  as long as the ring bearer is involved in a skirmish seems like that makes her a super woman, almost like she could never get killed.

I understand if there was a minion who double her strength that could kill her but if she is wearing armor that makes her strength triple before she is overwhelmed it might make her indestructible. Also it seems with that combination of her card and the armor and such she could take on being a defender+1 is this correct?

With that said the other question is: cards like Burial Mounds, It can make her Defender +1 but I guess at the same time the minions she is skirmishing can also not take wounds, if that is true does that mean they cancel each other out so to speak? No mater who is stronger they still cannot take wounds? I just want to be clear on all of that seems to good to be true.

7

Fellowship / Re: Any decent Sauron Archery lists for fellowship?

« Last post by Ringbearer on March 30, 2024, 11:56:38 AM »

I am very hesitant to splash anything in Sauron Archery. You need way too much Sauron minions/trackers to get your stuff active and if you splash you don't want to play cards that require another culture. OYMTT will often clog the hand while you try to find that Isengard minion.

8

Standard / Re: Theoden and Theodred making move limits.

« Last post by Orophoin on March 29, 2024, 08:05:26 AM »

No. I have always found the way Decipher worded move limits to be pretty ambiguous, however your interpretation didn't work here.

The move limit is, as the name implies, the number of times you can move each turn. The default value is 2 and some cards can add it subtract from it, like this one. But Theoden is only making it 3, not plus one infinitely. That would be like saying G for Grand makes each companion strength infinity as you can continue to add 1 to their strength.

9

Standard / Theoden and Theodred making move limits.

« Last post by Larry5000 on March 28, 2024, 01:16:28 PM »

Theoden game text says  at the bottom: While you can spot Theodred the move limit is + 1 Now assuming that you can continue to spot him after your normal second move, obviously you can do a third move, but after that move could you keep going and do a 4th move and even a fifth move, again assuming you can still spot him and of course you feel you can keep going without getting beat down to death?

10

Fellowship / Re: Ally Deck

« Last post by Phallen Cassidy on March 28, 2024, 07:21:36 AM »

What format do you want to make this deck for? This section is for Fellowship block decks. There's not many formats where you can use both Witness to History and Boromir's Horn, and the ones that do allow it also allow much, much stronger things, so I wouldn't really recommend it unless you're just playing with friends who have their own restrictions on what they'll allow. You can find the list of formats here on the forums: https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=120.0
Or here on the wiki: https://wiki.lotrtcgpc.net/wiki/Formats

I'll expand a bit assuming we're talking about Fellowship block. The trouble is that, without any extra companions to bear the load, Boromir will still have to fight after exhausting himself with the Horn against many decks. That will probably mean dying and then Frodo is hopeless a site or two later. I think with the Hobbit setup, Merry, Friend to Sam can go in your start and get healed by Farmer Maggot, Chaser of Rascals + Hobbit Party Guest. Consorting with Wizards will take the edge off of Defender of Minas Tirith's twilight generation. Bill the Pony, A Talent for Not Being Seen, and No Stranger to the Shadows will keep your companions from adding twilight. The nice thing about A Talent is you can expand to 5 companions by adding Pippin and Sam, but you'll be adding twilight for only 3 (and then down to 1 with Bill and NSttS). You get the choke of just Frodo in the fellowship without losing the numbers. Plus Sam is one of the best companions to have and you're already wanting Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (who will make him a stronger Ring-bearer than Frodo).

With the Elf setup, I'd probably go for 4x Boromir in the deck and start Legolas, Greenleaf and Arwen, Daughter of Elrond. You can up your NSttS copies to 4x and include Aragorn, Heir to the White City to pull with Prancing Pony. There's plenty of choke and you won't need to use Boromir every turn thanks to the extra copies. You can kill off Legolas in matchups where he's not able to contribute much, probably Nazgul, to choke even more.

I would suppose you could instead make a pipe deck with The Gaffer's Pipe, Frodo's Pipe, and Aragorn's Pipe. Then you could use Boromir, Son of Denethor for some flexibility with his vitality (bring an ally in or buff Frodo). You'd probably need to draw 20 Free Peoples cards before you get set up though, between the pipes and the pipeweed and the allies, which will be at least 6 sites even with a slim cycling Shadow and I suspect it'll fall apart before that point. So I wouldn't recommend doing this. There is one upside, however: you don't have to worry about Such a Little Thing since you'll have a ton of possessions already.