Elven Archery / Glimpse of Fate - Twilight Corruption ____ Need Pointers

[Faelach]

Hey All,

Back in the Fellowship days I used to play Twilight Nazgul to great effect.  Things have changed a bit since then, not to mention a much larger card pool to choose from.  I thought I'd try to shoot for a corruption deck, centered around the Twilight-ers.  Here's what I've come up with.  The Fellowship side is Archery, but also uses Elven Sword to trigger Glimpse of Fate to battle the minions that make it past the arrows.

Any ideas?


Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom
The One Ring, Answer to All Riddles

Company of Archers x2
Double Shot x3
Elven Bow x4
Elven Sword x4
Lorien Swordsman x2
Aegnor, Elven Escort (Starting)
Arwen, Queen of Elves and Men x2
Bow of the Galadhrim
Calaglin, Elf of Lorien
Celeborn, Lord of the Galadhrim
Dinendal, Silent Scout
Glimpse of Fate x3
Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood (Starting)
Nenya x2
Orophin, Lorien Bowman
Rumil, Elven Protector
Shadow Between x2
The Splendor of Their Banners x2
The Tale of Gil-galad


The Witch-King, Lord of the Nazgul x3
Ulaire Enquea, Ringwraith in Twilight x3
Ulaire Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight x2
Ulaire Otsea, Ringwraith in Twilight x2
Morgul Brute x3
Gollum, Dark as Darkness x1
The Twilight World x3
It Wants to be Found x3
Wraith-world x4
Resistance Becomes Unbearable x4
Captured by the Ring x3
Fell Beast x3
His Terrible Servants x1

[legolas3333]

i think you should add more minions and take out the fell beasts

[Faelach]

Like what minions?
The reason the Fell Bests were in there was to at least help the witch-king and the others have a chance of winning a skirmish against somebody.  The fierce helps as well.

Do you think I should shoot MORE for the corruption, or the wounding?

[legolas3333]

i would say emphasis on corruption or else get rid of all the wraith world/twilight world, which means you can lose the stronghold of minas morgul, and bill ferny and add 4x it wants to be found

[Faelach]

Right.

So if I do that, and focus simply on corruption - wouldn't it probably be a better idea to add more of otsea and nelya, as they are cheaper to play.  I would practically only need to have them out to do the needed actions...

What about Thin and Stretched?

If I got that out (of course that brings up the question of which orcs to use), Bill Ferny would be immensely useful...

[tristelune]

Forget Thin and stretched. You would need to add useless sauron orcs just for that card, that would "dilute" your corruption efficacy.

[Faelach]

Yes, Tristelune, you are right.  Adding those would create problems that I really can't afford to face in a corruption deck.

I was thinking that since most of the burden-adding events and so forth simply need to spot (or exert a Twilight Nazgul, Otsea may be a great option because of his lower cost. 

I'm thinking for the sake of cycling (I'm really depending on drawing key corruption cards as sometimes you only have one go with the RB exhausted), I'll cut the deck down to 30 cards.

Anymore thoughts?

[Cw0rk]

OMG! Do not remove Fell Beast.

You will need some wound prevention. Try His Terrible Servants.

I would also remove all In the Ringwraith's Wake and 1 copy of Gollum to add 4 Captured by the Ring. Gollum does the same thing but doesn't force you to win skirmishes. You can also play him at site 8 to add 2 more burdens.

[Faelach]

Cw0rk,

Fell Beast certainly does help to cycle, but does it really matter if the Nazzies are fierce?  Being a corruption deck, most of the action happens before the skirmish phase anyways?  I would appreciate your thoughts, as I'm sure you had reasons for saying that!

Yes.  I was already thinking of His Terribe Servants.  It would definitely be useful to keep some of the Nazzies at least alive...

I totally agree with the Gollum thing.  Completely obsoletes the Ringwraith's Wake.

[Ulmo]

Forget Thin and stretched. You would need to add useless sauron orcs just for that card, that would "dilute" your corruption efficacy.

Not if you use Morgul Skulker to bring back It wants to be Found

[Cw0rk]

Cw0rk,

Fell Beast certainly does help to cycle, but does it really matter if the Nazzies are fierce?  Being a corruption deck, most of the action happens before the skirmish phase anyways?  I would appreciate your thoughts, as I'm sure you had reasons for saying that!

I didn't understand that your objective was pre-skirmish corruption. Anyway, a fierce WK always help to make the FP player put his ring on.

[tristelune]

I agree with Cw0rk here, fell beast on a twilight WK is really nice AND the cycling is great for getting key corruption cards. I would keep the beasts.

[tristelune]

Forget Thin and stretched. You would need to add useless sauron orcs just for that card, that would "dilute" your corruption efficacy.

Not if you use Morgul Skulker to bring back It wants to be Found

Morgul skulker is indeed a nice splash minion in that deck (one or 2 copies), but in my opinion, he will have to commit too much card slots to the thin and streched combo to make it worthy.

[Faelach]

Alright, guys.

All of your thoughts have been great and helpful.

Here's an updated shadow side...


The Witch-King, Lord of the Nazgul x3
Ulaire Enquea, Ringwraith in Twilight x3
Ulaire Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight x2
Ulaire Otsea, Ringwraith in Twilight x2
Morgul Brute x3
Gollum, Dark as Darkness x1
The Twilight World x3
It Wants to be Found x3
Wraith-world x4
Resistance Becomes Unbearable x4
Captured by the Ring x3
Fell Beast x3
His Terrible Servants x1

Looks pretty good to me.
Any other ideas?

[putridbreath]

If you needed maybe more minions perhaps Wisp of Pale Sheen would work? extra minions might help the ringbearer enter fights (take burdens or wounds) and discarding them to add burdens in the regroup phase is nice. It's up to you though.

You were running a twilight minion deck so this card popped to mind--I use a couple in my Mordor swarm deck that keys off burdens (The Eye of Sauron (to pull cards) and Enduring Evil to overwhelm key comps).

[Faelach]

That's not a bad idea.  I personally like the idea of using other Twilight minions than the Nazzies, but I'm not sure I want to go TOO far with it.  Wisp of Pale Sheen would work great in this deck, though.

The text is great in that you simply have to spot a Twilight minion.  Nice thought there.

[Faelach]

It's really bumming me out that Thin and Stretched doesn't simply need to spot a minion.  It would be highly effective!

[ket_the_jet]

I would suggest against corruption in most cases. Frankly, most decks just can't add enough burdens quicker than the freeps can strip them or get by.

I personally like the Ring-Bearer wounding deck with twilight ...Gollum, Dark as Darkness, Morgul Brute and Morgul Destroyer, Morgul Whelp in there too...some fun possibilities.
-wtk

[putridbreath]

I would suggest against corruption in most cases. Frankly, most decks just can't add enough burdens quicker than the freeps can strip them or get by.

Do you laugh inwardly when you discover you're facing a corruption shadow (like you would a four hobbits fellowship) or does some hint of fear/wariness still linger?

[Faelach]

I think the fear and wariness still linger.  It's like a wisp of the Black Breath.  Have a gold piece there  !

[ket_the_jet]

We'll put it this way. Out of the 200+ games I played on GCCG, I have only been corrupted twice not involving Boromir, Bearer of Council's choice of suicide or corruption.

I mean the Shadow actively trying to corrupt me. One was a game against Heije--we both decided to build decks with no rares and he destroyed me. The other was against Kralik's "surprise" Lost to the Goblins deck. Even though I knew what was coming, I only made it to site eight before he was able to do his trick.

Actually, I remember another game with my Knights deck where I got corrupted at site 9 and the very next two cards in my draw deck were Sam, Son of Hamfast and Scroll of Isildur--sure, you get bad draws in games but you never expect not to get either of them by site 9. Since I don't remember who I was playing against, I don't want to credit anyone.
-wtk

[Faelach]

You have very good points Ket.  What would you suggest for a deck list, then?

[Cw0rk]

On GCCG, I've been corrupted more times than ket, and I've corrupted a lot of people using Gorgoroth Stormer. Corruption decks using Ulaire Enquea, TOTO are quite effective as well. A well built corruption deck can win games. I've also been corrupted a few times by Wraith World. There is still hope for you.

[Faelach]

As I said, I have already won a couple times with this deck, I was just wondering if anyone had any further ideas.

@ Cw0rk.  I am definitely a big fan of the Twilight Nazgul, so I would like to focus on them.  I am just wondering if the deck I have listed a couple threads above is as effective as I can make it.  I like the idea of throwing some minions in there, but I'm concerned it will open up a whole 'nother ball game that will make the deck Thin and Stretched (if you catch my drift).

Any more hints?

[Cw0rk]

3 The Twilight World and 4 Wraith-World may be a bit too much. You could remove a few of these and add Morgul Skulker x2.

[Faelach]

I just corrupted a resistance 15 Frodo when playtesting this.  It actually works pretty well and cycles well due to what I pair it up with (Glimpse of Fate elves Elven Sword and Nenya in Regroup).

I'll post the Freep side soon and ask your guys' opinion on that.

Morgul Skulker may very well work great in this deck.  I'll think about it.

[Faelach]

Well, the deck is 3 - 0, so that's not too shabby.  Played against a solo-Smeagol choke in standard and corrupted at site 7.

The most effective combo, as people hinted at earlier, is the Witch-king, Lord of the Nazgul + Fell Beast + Wraith World.

Narchost sure helps a bit as well.

Do you really think Morgul Skulker is necessary?

[Cw0rk]

Do you really think Morgul Skulker is necessary?

As long as you keep winning without him, it is not.

[Faelach]

Hey All,

Here is the Free Peoples side of the deck.  I'm having a real difficulty narrowing down what cards are vital, and which aren't.  I'm not convinced it's a functional as it could be!  Your input would be appreciated!

The One Ring, Answer to All Riddles
Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom

Company of Archers x2
Double Shot x2
Elven Bow x4
Elven Sword x4
Lorien Swordsman x2
Aegnor Elven Escort (Starting)
Arwen, Queen of Elves and Men x2
Bow of the Galadhrim
Calaglin, Elf of Lorien
Celeborn, Lord of the Galadhrim
Dinendal, Silent Scout
Glimpse of Fate x3
Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood (Starting)
Nenya x2
Orophin, Lorien Bowman
Rumil, Elven Protector
Shadow Between x2
The Splendor of Their Banners x3
The Tale of Gil-galad

[Cw0rk]

How many cards do you want to remove?

You can remove 1 The Splendor of Their Banner for sure.

I'm also not sure of the choice of companions you made... Gil-Galad is much better than Lorien Swordsman. You could also put Glorfindel in your starting fellowship instead of Aegnor (he is good when you have a lot of archers, not at site 1 or 2).

[Faelach]

Well, the goal is Elven Archery.  To mow down the opponents minions.  Aegnor and the others are in there so I can survive when the archery doesn't work (which happens alot).

Gil-galad is great, but I would have to add other cards just for him...  Any suggestions there?

I'm trying to think of ways to maximize the archery while also having a fully functional skirmishing Fellowship.

Glorfindel is great.  I wish there were more archer companions, though for the start...

[ket_the_jet]

This is my brother's Glimpse of Fate deck. He uses Gandalf, Manager of Wizards to lose initiative, which seems to have become quite popular recently.

Starting:
Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom with The One Ring, Answer To All Riddles
Legolas, Fearless Marksman
Glorfindel, Revealed in Wrath

Free Peoples (32):
Gandalf, Manager of Wizards x3
Elrond, Venerable Lord x2
Cirdan, the Shipwright
Celeborn, Lord of the Galadhrim
Arwen, Queen of Elves and Men
Sam, Son of Hamfast

Glamdring
Elven Bow x3
Banner of Elbereth x2

Brooding On Tomorrow x2
Glimpse of Fate x2
Shadow Between

Gift of Foresight x3
Double Shot x3
Still Needed x4

I hope this helps. I can't remember if this is card-for-card what he runs, but it is close enough.
-wtk

[Faelach]

I modified the deck list in the first post to reflect the deck as it stands now...  Let the discussion continue.

Thanks for that, Ket! It provides some pretty good insight.

I wasn't really shooting for a complete Glimpse of Fate deck.  It was more so meant to be an archery deck with Glimpse of Fate thrown in to provide some skirmishing power to combat the minions that make it through the archery.  That is why I use Elven Sword.  It does not require the addition of an extra companion, but can be used to lose initiative.  It also helps a lot (along with Nenya) in cycling, which is vital as this is a larg-er deck.

That deck does look nice, though. It's just not what I was shooting for (pun intended).

That being said, does anyone have ideas on any changes I could make to have a more effective FP side?  I don't have much experience building archery decks, so anything is welcomed.

[ket_the_jet]

Well, if you want to go archery, go archery.

If you want to go Glimpse of Fate, go Glimpse of Fate.
-wtk

[Faelach]

I do want to go archery.  My question is whether anyone has any advice (or maybe even a decklist) on how to make the Freep side more effective.