Gondor Ithilien Blade - Free Peoples (Expanded)

[wrigh516]

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.