good deck types

[Haszor]

I tried playing this block and got my butt whooped.  So I'm trying to come up with good shadow and free side to make a deck that won't get me killed pronto.  Any good deck types?

[jcb213]

I'm sure you'll get different responses from different people, but in my opinion Man/Elf, Knights, and Dwarves are the strongest Free Peoples (and Elves if you don't ban Galadriel LR).  In my opinion Southron Archery, Morgul Orc Swarm (with nazgul), and Corsairs are the strongest Shadows.

Here's one of my favorite decks:
Isildur, Bearer of Heirlooms
The One Ring, ATAR

Alcarin
Ingold

Aragorn, Captain of Gondor
Garrison of Gondor
Imrahil
Faramir, Defender of Osgiliath
Turgon
Derufin x2
Banner of Westernesse x3
Gondor Bow x3
Fourth Level x3
Fifth Level x4
Sixth Level x4
Citadel of the Stars x3
Stone Tower
Last Throw

Desert Lord x4
Southron Bowman x4
Elite Archer
Haradrim Marksman x3
Southron Marksmen x2
Morgul Ambusher x3
Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul
Seasoned Leader x4
War Towers x4
Rallying Call x3
Quelled
Whirling Strike

Steps of Edoras
West Road
Base of Mindolluin
Pelennor Plain
Steward's Tomb
Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
Osgiliath Channel
Morgulduin
Dagorlad

Bid 0 and you usually end up going 2nd, which is fine.  You want to be playing on your sites and you can always triple 3-6 or 6-9 (or even 4-7 if you get your site 6) once you are set up.

The Free Peoples can handle just about everything once it's set up, unless you face a deck that can play Saruman's Power multiple times.  (If you play against a deck that does play Saruman's Power you play your forts carefully and hold onto one or two Sixth Level to set up again once they play it, but it's rough).  Fourth Level + Citadel kills anything.  Fourth Level + Stone Tower kills anything.  Fourth Level + Gondor Bow is really good too.  Fifth Level is beastly once you get most of your fortifications on the table.  The Banners let you heal the wounds you get from using 6th level, and you can also pitch them against site control decks if necessary.  This deck also just rolls Corsairs and I really hate Corsairs.  Wounding decks (like the shadow this is paired with) can be difficult too, you just need to play careful, kill companions and replace them with fresh ones at opportune times, and try for a shadow kill.

The Shadow can kill just about anything.  Desert Lord + Seasoned Leader will do 3 wounds and not much can kill it.  You use you exert to wound guys to exhaust out their companions, then use Haradrim Marksman plus a few other guys to get kills.  Morgul Ambushers are fun too since you add so many threats.

[macheteman]

ring-bound rangers can be a good start. they are pretty simple but they get the job done. as for shadows, i see too many initiative orcs... way too many initiative orcs...

[Haszor]

Thanks for the ideas, I'll have to try them out.  Oh and btw my current deck (untested) is a ninja gollum attempt with  wraiths.

[MuadDib85]

http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/topic,6620.0.html