Easterling Swarm (Free Peoples added!)

[Gerontius]

I have to start posting decks some time, so here goes.....

Shadow (35)

Easterling Skirmisher x3
Desert Sneak x2
Easterling Axeman x4
Easterling Attacker
Easterling Infantry x4
Easterling Lieutenant x4
Easterling Blademaster
Easterling Sergeant x2
Easterling Footman x2
Easterling Guard x4
Easterling Captain x2
Easterling Polearm x2
Haradwaith
Under Foot
Vision From Afar x2

I use this with a dwarf deck with multiple copies of Delving and Tidings of Erebor which I use the turn before the swarm so I have plenty of minions.

I've only tested this deck twice and both times I swarmed my opponent several times, so I'm hoping it'll do well against alternate ring-bearers. Tell me what you think!

[GarrisonofGondor]

 Nice shadow. I like it. My only comment is that in your Dwarf deck you could also run Calculated Risk and Gimli's Battle Axe, Trusted Weapon.

[Gerontius]

Thanks. The Battle axe looks pretty amazing...

[Gerontius]

I added Reckless pride to the free peoples side recently, as well as more copies of Tidings of Erebor and a few cards that use muster, meaning technically this is an expanded deck now. I tested it yesterday, and I drew 7 cards during the regroup phase which were added to the 2 I had drawn when I moved..... I had to discard a lot of cards, but my opponent was facing an 8 minion swarm next turn regardless of how much twilight he gave me, thanks to easterling skirmisher. Hopefully future battles will work out the same way.

[Imrahil]

yup...good times...sigh

[Gerontius]

Okay, months after I made it I still have this deck. It kills the free peoples player at site 5 75% of the time, and after that Easterling Captain is amazing. However, my free-peoples side for this hasn't been doing too well. Does anyone have any suggestions? (And could a mod move this to expanded please? )

Site Path

West Gate of Moria
The Bridge of Khazad-Dum
Helm's Gate
Moria Guardroom
Heights of Isengard
Slag Mounds
Fortress of Orthanc
Barazinbar
Starkhorn

RB
Isildur, BoH with The One Ring, RoR

Gimli, CoF (Starting)
Farin, EoE (Starting)
Durin III, DL x2
Linnar, DL
Uri, DL
Grimir, DE
Gimli's Battle Axe, Vicious Weapon
Dwarven Axe x3
Hand Axe x3
Dwarven Bracers
Ring of Retribution
Belt of Erebor
Stalwart Support
Endurance of Dwarves
Reckless Pride
A Clamour of Many Voices
Delving x2
Tidings of Erebor x3
Flurry of Blows x4
Battle to the Last x2
Honed
Disquiet of Our People

Before anyone asks, I have cards from sets 1-13 only.

[SomeRandomDude]

<thread moved>

Needs more Vision From Afar, and the strategy is referred to as Beasterlings. Its technically a bomb deck, but very powerful anyways. If you want to swarm, I'd recommend Southrons. For this deck, also consider Men of Rhun or Discovered.

I recommend Gloin, Son of Groin on the dwarf side, he's worth trading for, Gimli RB and starting Durin III. If you can't get Gloin, Linnar is good.

Cut
Ring of Retribution
Stalwart Support
Endurance of Dwarves
Reckless Pride
A Clamour of Many Voices
Battle To The Last x 2
Disquiet of our People
Tidings of Erebor x 3

Run Ring of Guile (actually, I'd run 2 or 3), a full set of Delving and 1 or 2 Proud and Able w/ also a full set of Honed. Then you can load Uri up and make him kill, combo off Linnar to heal, or bash face straight up with Durin III. Run more possessions, another Dwarven Axe, Hand Axe, and some Bracers would be good. You can afford to expand both sides by a couple cards if you're running a full set of Delving with a couple Ring of Guile. Alternate to the Proud and Able, you can run Sindri/Here Lies Good Rock to combo with Honed, I like it because you can also save your events for later and cycle more which allows for an even bigger deck. In place of Grimir, you might also consider Thrarin, Smith of Erebor, he rocks with Ring of Fury and Honed (of which I think you should run a copy of Ring of Fury). Also, you're running 7 companions right now, which is not very smart. Run either 9 or less than 5 companions is my rule of thumb. In expanded, I recommend getting it down to 5 (hence why you should get Gimli RB for more compact synergy) and so I would just cut Farin and Grimir right off, then possibly swap Uri for Thrarin.

[Gerontius]

Right now the point of Tidings of Erebor, Reckless Pride, and Stalwart Support is to draw as many cards as possible during the regroup phase, so I can avoid the rule of four. With them I can draw some 8-10 cards in one turn, and then I have plenty of minions to choose from. However 4x Delving would probably help as well. Gloin SoG would be good, but we use sets 1-13 only. Ring of Guile is probably a good idea. I'm avoiding the Gimli RB because I try not to have a ridiculously strong Durin III and nothing else, and Counter of foes can easily become my main fighter. A few companions should probably cut, I'd like to keep Battle to the Last (Good combo with Honed, Counter of Foes, or Uri), and Ring of Fury should probably be added.

[SomeRandomDude]

Well, you're getting shadow-killed because your freeps is all dedicated to helping your shadow and not doing a good enough job of surviving, hence cutting the Tidings of Erebor, etc.

[Gerontius]

I wouldn't mind cutting a few cards (Reckless Pride, 1 Tidings of Erebor) to make room for support cards, but cutting all of it seems a little extreme. It normally only has to survive to site 4-6 before I get a shadow kill, but occasionally the swarm doesn't kick in until later. Often I get swarmed. I think I'll run 3-4 Delving and I'll find room for some Ring of Guile and Ring of Fury.

[SomeRandomDude]

If you want a filter deck that can bash face, I suggest Gimli Ring-Bearer with Calculated Risk and a HIDAN deck. I ran one that killed pretty well. You use Simbelmyrne and Gamling, Defender of the Hornburg to filter out your deck and Calculated Risk to draw cards, I ran it with Sword Racks and Riddermark Javelins + Aragorn, Driven by Need and Aragorn's Bow, Ranger's Longbow.

[Smeagollum]

Why the:

Desert Sneak x2
Haradwaith
Under Foot

?

instead I rather would use:

Raider's bow
and 4x Easterling captain instead of 2

[Gerontius]

Desert Sneak- Cheap minion.
Haradwaith- Great for twilight, if you get it at the right time.
Under Foot- +2 pump, and if you're lucky you can reconcile.

Easterling Captains only really help if the swarm didn't work, and I don't really have Raider's Bow.

[Imrahil]

75% of the time!!!!!?

You mean of the battles you survive to site 5? :-)

Or do you battle imaginary opponents while I'm not around...cause those dont' count.

[Gerontius]

It used to be 75% of the time..... except when you where using your site 5 swarm deck. Then things just went weird.