The Last Homely House
Middle-Earth => Lothlórien => Expanded => Topic started by: wrigh516 on August 15, 2025, 07:27:35 PM
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As the physical cards are getting harder to find these days, I gathered a large physical collection of common and nostalgic decks to play with family and friends as a pre-built game. I'm posting these decks as a reference and for feedback.
The decks are split into free peoples and shadow sides, all interchangeable at 35 (36 as I added more cycling and discard decks) cards each. There are some obvious drawbacks to doing it this way, but it is 100% worth it to allow mixing/matching. It allows enough combinations to keep each game unique and interesting. The idea is to have thematic and fun strategies while maintaining a balance. These are built with physical cards, so any in the $150+ range are not always going to make it in due to the costs and to maintain balance among the decks. I follow the Expanded format and rules before errata, but some decks might also fit into other formats. This is one of those decks:
[Rohan] [Shire] Rohan Merry Men - Free Peoples (Expanded)
This is a pretty typical Merry, Swordthain with Merry's Sword wounding strategy.
Starting:
The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry
Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
Eomer, Eored Captain
Merry, Swordthain
Companions:
Eowyn, Lady of Ithilien x4
Theoden, Lord of the Mark
Gamling, Defender of the Hornburg
Riders of the Mark
Allies:
Leowyn
Possessions:
Merry's Sword
Riddermark Javelin x4
Eomer's Spear
Firefoot, Eomer's Steed
Brego
Rohirrim Mount
Rider's Bow
Rohirrim Shield x2
Spear of the Mark x2
Events:
Simbelmyne x4
Conditions:
Shadowplay
Sword Rack x3
Weapon Store
Cast from the Hall x2
Golden Glimmer
Strategy:
This uses Merry, Swordthain to retrieve Javelins or anything else while pairing it with Merry's Sword and Shadowplay to exert minions. Merry comes back fully healed each time.
Sword Rack and Weapon Store are to ensure you get Merry's Sword back.
You have to plan each turn. You want to end up with just the right amount of wounds on the minions so that Eomer, Eored Captain and Eowyn, Lady of Ithilien can do their thing (and in the right order).
Spear of the Mark is incredibly good on Eowyn, especially when she has a mount.
Simbelmyne ensures you can get everything set up quickly. Leowyn, Brego, Rohirrim Shield, Theoden, Lord of the Mark, and multiple copies of Eowyn are to keep her healed up. Golden Glimmer helps prevent wound shenanigans.
One card I've considered is Home and Hearth to help with burdens.
I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.