Recent Posts

1

Expanded / Evil Men Archery - Shadow (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on April 22, 2026, 01:46:27 PM »

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:

Evil Men Archery - Shadow (Expanded)
My version of the Men Archery strategy that turns minions into archers instead of using the weak inherent archer minions.

Minions:
Mumak Commander, Giant Among the Swertings x3
Voice of the Desert, Southron Troop x4
Fletcher of Harad x4
Mumak Rider x4
The Mouth of Sauron, Messenger of Mordor x3
Easterling Runner x2

Possessions:
Long Battle Bow x2
Pavise x2

Events:
Elevated Fire x4

Conditions:
Countless Companies x2
Howdah x4
Rapid Reload x2


Strategy:
The Mouth of Sauron, Messenger of Mordor is there to get Countless Companies, Long Battle Bow, and importantly, Pavise out early and on the board.
Mumak Commander with a Pavise is 4 exertions.  Elevated Fire is another 3 to archery, and we are using minions with 2+ vitality to allow the Toil to help us out.
Voice of the Desert is an insanely good minion that can stop fellowships at site 2 or just make every minion an archer at sites 4-6.  Fletcher of Harad with some plains sites can do the same at all regions.  This with Long Battle Bow helps get tokens on Howdah.
Save the Howdah conditions until you can bomb with archery later in the game.  Easterling Runner is great for making the tokens on Howdah conditions more efficiently arranged for the bomb.
Rapid Reload is such a powerful card.  It punishes large twilight pools and gives flexibility to shut down many fellowship strategies.


Some people use the weaker archers (Archer of Harad and Southron Murderer) with Precision Targeting.  I find the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of Elevated Fire is better.  Plus, killing companions with Precision Targeting is great, but you still have to kill the rest of the (presumably the stronger) fellowship now with less twilight and less efficient events.  I don't have a problem piling up tokens on Howdah using promoted archers instead.  On top of all that, these are stronger minions with more vitality to possibly stick around on double-moves.
I never had the cards to make this deck when I was younger.  Now that I do, I see why people didn't like the new sets as much.  The power creep was real.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

2

Expanded / Gondor Ithilien Blade - Free Peoples (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on April 22, 2026, 01:00:16 PM »

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:

Gondor Ithilien Blade - Free Peoples (Expanded)
A modern, post-shadows version of the wounding rangers using the new Madril.

Starting:
The One Ring, Answer To All Riddles
Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
Faramir, Captain of Ithilien
Mablung, Ranger of Ithilien
Madril, Defender of Osgiliath

Companions:
Aragorn, Thorongil (pull with Prancing Pony)
Damrod, Dunadan of Gondor x2
Boromir, Defender of Minas Tirith x2
Garrison of Gondor x2

Possessions:
Faramir's Bow
Aragorn's Bow
Ithilien Blade x4
Ranger's Cloak x2
Flaming Brand
Sting, Baggins Heirloom
Athelas x2

Events:
What Are They? x4

Conditions:
Stewards' Legacy
Houses of Healing
Invigorated x4
Sapling of the White Tree x4


Strategy:
Aragorn, Thorongil and Ranger's Cloak can add threats for Madril, Defender of Osgiliath to spot to keep everything roaming in the Maneuver phase.  Make sure you keep enough threats for the next move.
Ithilien Blade and What Are They? are what everything is built around.  They take out all the undesirables, leaving you to clean up with archery and fairly strong companions.
This strategy normally has trouble with surprise wounding (Southron, Ninja Gollum, etc.), but the Sapling of the White Tree conditions solve that problem.
There is a massive amount of healing needed to run this engine.  Boromir, Damrod, Houses of Healing, Athelas, and Invigorated all help to keep it going.


Most of the time I see a Smeagol, Always Helps in the starting fellowship with couple Don’t Look at Them conditions.  I find that I don't need it, but I am considering adding it for the theme anyway.
I never had the cards to make this deck when I was younger.  Now that I do, I see why people didn't like the new sets as much.  The power creep was real.


I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

3

Expanded / Wraith Morgul Orcs - Shadow (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on April 22, 2026, 12:10:45 PM »

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:

Wraith Morgul Orcs - Shadow (Expanded)
It's the basic Morgul Orcs strategy with some newer Nazgul, but it is so deadly with Expanded format sites.

Minions:
Ulaire Cantea, Faster than Winds x2
Ulaire Lemenya, Assailing Minion x2
Ulaire Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight x2
Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul x2
Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman x2
Ulaire Otsea, Seventh of the Nine Riders x2
The Witch-King, Black Lord x2
Gollum, Dark as Darkness
Morgul Brute x4
Morgul Destroyer x4
Morgul Whelp x4
Morgul Squealer x2

Events:
Captured by the Ring x3

Conditions:
Flung into the Fray x2
Out of Sight and Shot x2


Strategy:
Get wounds on the ring-bearer and abuse the threat and burden machine from the Morgul Destroyer and the Morgul Brute.
Captured by the Ring brings out Gollum, Dark as Darkness to get exertions going.
The conditions and Morgul Squealer are there to recur the best Nazgul options.  I use this Otsea, because I find I often want the additional draw, and you'll spot plenty of wounds on the ring-bearer.
The sites that make this strategy deadly are Neekerbreekers' Bog, Crags of Emyn Muil, and City Gates.  Woody-End and The Angle are great too.


I know most people throw in a bunch of Úlairë Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders to recall those sites and focus more on wounding everyone (Ulaire Enquea, Sixth of the Nine Riders).  I don't do that here to try to maintain some old nostalgia and to balance it out for this collection.  It is already too strong.  The true physical version of this deck has Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman replaced with Ulaire Nertea, Thrall of the One to tone it down.  It is also one of the few erratas I enforce in this collection, and don't like to have erratas confusing new players

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

4

Expanded / Last Alliance of Elves and Men - Free Peoples (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on April 22, 2026, 11:37:49 AM »

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:

Last Alliance of Elves and Men - Free Peoples (Expanded)
There are so many version of Last Alliance decks.  This one abuses the Greenleaf and Aragorn's Bow archery targeting.

Starting:
The One Ring, The Binding Ring
Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
Glorfindel, Revealed in Wrath
Legolas, Greenleaf

Companions:
Aragorn, Ranger of the North (pull with Prancing Pony)
Faramir, Son of Denethor x2
Boromir, Son of Denethor x2
Elendil, The Tall
Gil-Galad, Elven High King

Allies:
Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad x3

Artifacts:
Narsil, Blade of the Faithful
Aiglos
Anduril, Flame of the West
Vilya
Mithril-Coat
Phial of Galadriel, Star-Glass
The Shards of Narsil

Possessions:
Aragorn's Bow
Legolas' Sword
Sting, Baggins Heirloom
Gondorian Blade
Gondorian Sword
Flaming Brand
Armor
Shield of Boromir

Events:
Seclusion x3

Condtions:
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men x3
Shadow Between
The Saga of Elendil
The Tale of Gil-Galad


Strategy:
Greenleaf and Aragorn's Bow target minions in the archery phase.  Then, use Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad and Shadow Between to heal up.  Aiglos, The Tale of Gil-Galad, Vilya, and The Saga of Elendil can be spread around and moved to improve this.
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men can spot the 3 elves (including allies) to make the men +3 strength.
Once Elendil or Gil-Galad show up, you should have enough artifacts to move Narsil, Blade of the Faithful or Aiglos to them to make them 14-15 strength (before Last Alliance) with 5-6 vitality.


It's worth considering putting in Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom instead (changing Boromir with something else), then using Galadriel's Silver Ewer and Nenya, Ring of Adamant instead of Mithril-Coat and The Shards of Narsil.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

5

Expanded / Isengard Trackers - Shadow (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on April 22, 2026, 11:08:40 AM »

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:

Isengard Trackers - Shadow (Expanded)
The old Trackers deck with Search cards.

Minions:
Ugluk, Servant of Saruman x4
Mauhur, Patrol Leader x3
Uruk Chaser x4
Uruk Runner x4
Uruk Searcher x4
Uruk Seeker x4
Uruk Hunter
Grima, Wormtongue x2

Conditions:
Many Riddles x3
Weary x3
What Did You Discover? x2
Greed x2


Strategy:
This is a basic beatdown strategy with Search conditions.  Weary wears them down and Many Riddles allows you to target companions.
Ugluk, Servant of Saruman is essential to get out early and as often as possible.  Uruk Searcher and Uruk Seeker benefit from those Search conditions.
Greed is for punishing large fellowships.


Saruman, Servant of the Eye is a deadly option to target a specific companion too.  I really like having it, but you need a good amount of Trackers to get this to work better.  I find Many Riddles works well enough most of the time.
Vengeance is an option as an alternative to Grima, Wormtongue.  You need something to handle the choke decks.  Grima is good because the minions are fierce and stronger on the second fight, plus it removes those cards' effects from the maneuver phase and chokes the opponent's hand; but Vengeance is good because you typically need a cheaper option to get enough Trackers out against choke decks, plus it works great if you decide to put both Search cards on a companion.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

6

Expanded / Gondor Noble Leaders - Free Peoples (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on March 20, 2026, 06:39:32 PM »

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:

Gondor Noble Leaders - Free Peoples (Expanded)
My version of a typical Noble Leaders deck.

Starting:
The One Ring, Answer To All Riddles
Boromir, Bearer of Council
Faramir, Prince of Ithilien
Denethor, Lord of Minas Tirith

Companions:
Aragorn, Elessar Telcontar
Elendil, the Tall

Artifacts:
Throne of Minas Tirith
Narsil, Blade of the Faithful
Anduril, Flame of the West
Ring of Barahir
Scroll of Isildur
Sapling of the White Tree x4

Possessions:
Armor x2
Coat of Mail x2
Athelas x4
Flaming Brand
Gondorian Sword x3

Events:
Guarded City x3

Conditions:
Noble Leaders x2
Heirs of Gondor x2
Garrison of Osgiliath
Houses of Healing
Kings' Legacy
The Saga of Elendil


Strategy:
At site 3, use Denethor, Lord of Minas Tirith to pull Aragorn, Elessar Telcontar, which heals Denethor.  Then pull Elendil, the Tall, Throne of Minas Tirith, and/or Narsil, Blade of the Faithful.
Athelas, Houses of Healing, or The Saga of Elendil should give you enough healing or vitality on Denethor to get the 4th card.  Many times, one shows up in your hand already, and you can get Anduril, King's Blade as well.
You'll want to put a possession on Faramir to get the defender +1 for the big fight at site 4.  Coat of Mail is perfect if you have it.
I try to give Denethor Armor and heal him or have a Sapling of the White Tree save him at the site 4 battle.  The rest of the game is a breeze.


Horn of Boromir, The Great Horn and Elendil's Army seem like they would be good fits for this deck.  I'm not sure it is worth replacing anything for them though.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

7

Expanded / Gandalf BoO/Northmen - Free Peoples (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on March 20, 2026, 01:18:40 PM »

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:

Gandalf BoO/Northmen - Free Peoples (Expanded)
Gandalf, BoO and Northman Rohan is a very powerful combination.

Starting:
The One Ring, The Ring of Rings
Gandalf, Bearer of Obligation
Soldier of Rohan
Eowyn, Northwoman

Companions:
Theoden, Northman, King of Rohan
Eomer, Northman
Erland, Dale Counselor

Allies:
Barliman Butterbur, Prancing Pony Proprietor x3

Possessions/Artifacts:
Eowyn's Sword
Herugrim
Snowmane
Heavy Chain
Glamdring, Foe-Hammer x2
Gandalf's Staff, Ash-Staff x2
Shadowfax, Unequaled Steed

Events:
Saved from the Fire x4
Servant of the Secret Fire x3
Deep in Thought x2
Roll of Thunder x2
On Your Doorstep x2
Look to my Coming x2

Conditions:
Hearken to Me x2
Watch and Wait x2


Strategy:
Use Saved from the Fire to place Soldier of Rohan in the dead pile and pull Theoden, Eomer, and either Eowyn's Sword or Herugrim.  The rest of them are for Gandalf's text, unless you want to sacrifice Eomer for the last 3 Rohan cards.
Barliman Butterbur, Prancing Pony Proprietor, Erland, Dale Counselor, On Your Doorstep, and Gandalf's Staff, Ash-Staff muster can help keep Gandalf cards available or regain lost cards.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

8

Expanded / Raider Beasterlings - Shadow (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on March 20, 2026, 12:44:44 PM »

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:

Raider Beasterlings - Shadow (Expanded)
A very stereotypical Beasterling deck.

Minions:
Easterling Army x4
Easterling Captain x4
Easterling Regiment x2
Easterling Footman x4
Easterling Axeman x4

Possessions:
Easterling Polearm x4
Raider Bow x4
Ships of Great Draught

Events:
Red Wrath x3
Discovered x2

Conditions:
Small Hope x4


Strategy:
Get to 2 burdens as soon as you can using Small Hope and Easterling Footman.  This kicks off Easterling Captain, Easterling Army, and Easterling Polearm.
Raider Bow and Easterling Regiment give you more twilight to use Red Wrath or Easterling Captain ability.
Ships of Great Draught helps cycle and retrieve what you need.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

9

Expanded / Well Travelled Guide - Free Peoples (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on March 20, 2026, 12:31:48 PM »

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:

Well Travelled Guide - Free Peoples (Expanded)
Chokes like a Solo Smeagol deck.

Starting:
The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry
Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
Aragorn, Well-Traveled Guide

Allies:
Bilbo, Well-Spoken Gentlehobbit x2

Possessions/Artifacts:
Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs x2
Bill the Pony
Mithril-coat
Phial of Galadriel, Star-Glass
Anduril, King's Blade
Flaming Brand
Coat of Mail x2
Athelas x2

Events:
Swordarm of the White Tower x4
Banners Blowing

Conditions:
No Stranger to the Shadows
The Saga of Elendil
Spirit of the White Tree
Ranger of the North
Gondor Bowmen x4
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
The Tale of the Great Ring
There and Back Again
Three Monstrous Trolls
A Dragon's Tale x2
Scouring of the Shire x2
Cliffs of Emyn Muil


Strategy:
You have options to win skirmishes with strength or wounding to double move.  You can also just let Aragorn lose and take 1 wound at most.
Use the various Tales for Bilbo, Well-Spoken Gentlehobbit to discard the shadow conditions to prevent them from building anything up on you.
Scouring the Shire makes this strategy possible by protecting your Shire possessions/conditions.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.

10

Expanded / Wraith Blade Tip - Shadow (Expanded)

« Last post by wrigh516 on March 20, 2026, 11:48:04 AM »

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:

Wraith Blade Tip - Shadow (Expanded)

Minions:
The Witch-King, Dark Lord x3
Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul x3
Ulaire Attea, Keeper of Dol Guldur x3
Ulaire Toldea, Dark Shadow x3
Ulaire Cantea, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur x3
Ulaire Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders x3
Ulaire Lemenya, Servant of the Shadow x3
Ulaire Otsea, Black Specter x3

Conditions:
Blade Tip x4
Black Breath x4
Wreathed in Shadow x2
Winged and Ominous x2


Strategy:
This plays a lot of expensive minions and has options to spend large twilight pools with Ulaire Attea, Keeper of Dol Guldur or Wreathed in Shadow.  The big drawback of a deck like that is usually hand-clog problems if you don't have the twilight.
The Witch-King, Dark Lord, Ulaire Otsea, Black Specter, and Ulaire Lemenya, Servant of the Shadow are powerful ways to discard cards to prevent clog.  The result is heavy condition hate.  Ulaire Cantea, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur has possession hate as well.
All of this leads to Blade Tip transfers without needing Morgul Blades (they would dilute the strategy).

Ulaire Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders also allows you to replay Buckland Homestead, Woody-End, or Expanding Marshland more than once.
If you are behind on the site map, place down Crags of Emyn Muil, Doorway to Doom, or Sirannon Ruins; then use it to place a site that benefits your fellowship.

I would love to hear any feedback/suggestions.