Expanded is broken.

[Kralik]

At least, that's what people have been telling me. But having never really played it, what sort of brokenness are we talking about here? How does the introduction of FotR/TTT cards to Standard break it? I'm curious for some examples.

[Cw0rk]

I have to say that most post shadow cards are better than the pre-shadow ones... like the hunter aragorn or the new balrog are really better than the others. We all know there are some broken combos or loops (Namarie and Gil-galad) but they just exist because decipher don,t give a **** about LOTR anymore and they can't ban cards or do more erratas.

Personally, I don't really think that the use of FOTR or TT cards make expended that much broken compared to standard.

[Elrohir]

Terrible as the dawn, Sleep Caradhras, Elf-Song (Elves are not meant to remove burdens anymore) and Goblin Runner are just a few strong cards, that can cause a nasty combo with newer cards.

[Kralik]

Terrible as the dawn, Sleep Caradhras, Elf-Song (Elves are not meant to remove burdens anymore) and Goblin Runner are just a few strong cards, that can cause a nasty combo with newer cards.

Could you give any examples on how those cards would be more powerful in Expanded than they are currently as played in Movie? (though I rarely if ever see Elf-Song, and I don't see how it is even remotely more powerful than Watch and Wait)

[Elrohir]

Elf-Song: This is for elves that, what discarding conditions for hobbits is. (I hope, this is the correct word order   ).

Terrible as the dawn (and similar cards): Galadriel is a frequently used ring-bearer. There is a difference between killing an ally and killing/wounding/discarding  Bilbo, Gandalf, Galadriel and Boromir as Ring-bearer.

Goblin Runner: Without spotting an underground site, or an other   you could really missuse this minion in every culture. Think at Rapid reloaded, or Balrog, Sauron etc...

But that is just me  

[Ringbearer]

Expanded allows broken Madril/Ithilien Blade.

[Not a Zombie]

as well as having an 8 companion starting fellowship with faramir, CoG. My personal favorite is the tentacle swarm with all 16 tentacle there is also the auto-corrupt nazgaul deck involving lingering shadow, Gates of the dead city, and dark fell about him. These are the most broken that I've come across.

[MR. Lurtzy]

THe auto-corrupt deck is lovely.

[macheteman]

THe auto-corrupt deck is lovely.

i just wish there was a deceit for nazgul cards... so you can be sure to keep those gates of the dead city in play. oh well, you can't have a completely unbeatable deck in expanded...

[Elessar's Socks]

IMO Ithilien Blade decks are grossly overpowered (if not broken ) in Expanded, thanks to Madril, DoO and What Are They? Grab Thorongil with The Prancing Pony and generate as many threats as needed to make minions roaming. Then proceed to use Ithilien Blade and WAT to discard minions. With Radagast and Last Throw you could win in 2-3 turns, which gives your opponent very little time to come up with a defense, especially with hand clog.

But by and large, I'd need more convincing that Expanded is home to t3h brokenness when Standard isn't.

[Malachi]

I think that the possibility to have 9 companion starting fellowships (RoS Merry and Pippin with TTT Ents, Faramir, Captain of Gondor with Rangers) is broken enough.

[Elessar's Socks]

I don't think a 9-companion starting fellowship is broken. Like one that reaches that size later, it can be punished by Enquea, Anduin Banks, and of course a Shadow that has plenty of twilight to work with. Cycles better than when facing a choke deck, too. I'd probably be happier dealing with mass Ents at the starting line than rainbow wounding or Elven hunters, both of which can reach 9 companions soon enough.

[Elrohir]

A nine-companion starting fellowship (ring-bearer included) supports a high-percentage shadow deck.

[Thranduil]

I have quite a lot of expanded decks and in general I find power level is a little bit lower, apart from when you can use the more powerful newer cards that are X-ed in standard like Madril and Demoralized. All in all, there are some silly things you can do, but it doesn't feel broken to me - not in my experience.

Thranduil

[Kralik]

For those who like Standard but not Expanded... why not X those particular cards? Or, just take the current Standard X-list and merge it into Expanded's. This goes into PC territory, but just a thought. Similar to those of us who play Movie but don't use Lady Redeemed (unspoken agreement it seems).

Also, Anduin Confluence should go. In FotR block it's a site 7, so you have time to use your allies at least.