Steadfast champion

[Olorin]

Hi guys,

I wonder if anyone of you can remember why Steadfast Champion was put onto the X-list? ...or just know a good argument why?

Perhaps in tournaments it has shown that this card was to strong, etc. 

I am asking because

Ancient blade or
unexpected visitor

never has been taken onto the X-list; but it is way easier to overwhelm Gandalf than an like Arwen or companion like Aragorn.

[TheJord]

Have a look at Open format - Fruit Loops, you will soon understand

[Olorin]

Have a look at Open format - Fruit Loops, you will soon understand

Oh, I see... but then Ancient Blade, Leaving forever, Namarie or Gil-Galad HkotN has to be x-listed too.

[TheJord]

Erm I dont think so... Steadfast Champion + Ent Draught + Treebeard, KotW = No conditions or minions for Shadow, all companions healed EVERY regroup phase and all the conditions you need back. That is OP.

[Gerontius]

Also, Steadfast Champion is cheap even without Fruit loops. Gandalfs Staff?

[Olorin]

Also, Steadfast Champion is cheap even without Fruit loops. Gandalfs Staff?

yeah... I see... but then it need not to be x-listed in standard tournament...

[MR. Lurtzy]

Ent Draught and Keeper of the Watchwood could also be used in standard though.

[TheJord]

Also, Steadfast Champion is cheap even without Fruit loops. Gandalfs Staff?

yeah... I see... but then it need not to be x-listed in standard tournament...

Did you miss my post stating what the combo does? It doesnt matter if the cards get discarded because Treebeard pulls BOTH of them back, meaning he can always have enough vitality to heal himself and everyone else!

And The Old Took Steadfast Champion isnt a spell so Gandalf's Staff wont cheapen it.

[MR. Lurtzy]

But it will discard all minions.

[Thranduil]

But it will discard all minions.

Discarding all minions is not the issue - Out of the High Airs does that and no one complains that it's broken. And anyway, without Steadfast Champion, the combo doesn't work.

To see the fruit loops combo in detail, take a look at this link.

Thranduil

[MR. Lurtzy]

But it will discard all minions in the skirmish phase with the gandalf's staff combo, and fully heal Gandalf, which is much worse than out of high airs.

[Thranduil]

But it will discard all minions in the skirmish phase with the gandalf's staff combo, and fully heal Gandalf, which is much worse than out of high airs.

I don't understand, what cards are you talking about?

Thranduil

[MR. Lurtzy]

Gandalf bearing steadfast champion and staff from fellowship block. All minions get assigned to him, he cancels skirmish, then discards steadfast champion to heal fully.

[Thranduil]

Gandalf bearing steadfast champion and staff from fellowship block. All minions get assigned to him, he cancels skirmish, then discards steadfast champion to heal fully.

No, the Shadow player has the option of assigning one minion to Gandalf. If a companion is assigned, you can't assign another minion to that companion except when the left over minions are assigned. So, the Shadow player chooses which minion Gandalf fights, and then he gets to cancel the skirmish, then heals. This is not a game-winning combo - it's alright.

And anyway it doesn't matter because Steadfast Champion is on the X-list.

Thranduil

[TheJord]

I made the same mistake with these RotK conditions, thinking all minions automatically got assigned to Gandalf. But Thran is right, assignment actions can only assign unassigned minions and companions.

The reason it got banned is the Regroup loop it causes, healing everyone. Very few Shadow decks can throw out the damage in one turn without some setup, which this loop demolishes.

The x-list is for INFINITE loops, this is one of them.