Expanded Meta (Top Tier and/or Commonly Seen Deck Strategies)

[sgtdraino]

I've decided to document, as comprehensively as possible, every Expanded Format strategy I see on a regular basis. I'm also documenting statistics on frequency of encounters, ratings, descriptions, weaknesses, links to deck lists, you name it. If you are seeking to understand the meta of Expanded Format, I hope to make this thread the go-to reference for you! And the more people who participate, the better this information will be, so your assistance and suggestions are greatly appreciated! Here we go...

DECK STRATEGIES

FREE PEOPLES
 
Powerful Guide
-Normally sets up with Saved from the Fire. Very tough, once established.
-Weaknesses: Skipping Maneuver, Cavern Entrance, Too Great and Terrible, site manipulation, direct wounding, and minions with lots of vitality.
-Link: Powerful Guide Revisited
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: *********`9.67
Bearer of Obligation
-Can be tricky to do effectively, but can also be surprisingly strong.
-Weaknesses: Corruption
-Link: Bearer of Obligation/Northmen Rohan
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: ******`6.33
SFTF Tanks
-Normally sets up with Saved from the Fire, often uses G for Grand, Gandalf, Leader of the Company, Grimbeorn, and Treebeard, but may also be done with other cultures. Big powerful fellowship.
-Weaknesses: Big twilight pool, condition hate.
-Link: SFTF Tanks/Fierce Nazgul
-Encounters: /////////9
-Rating: *****`5.33
Snuffler Support
-Setup designed primarily to support the Little Snuffler Shadow strategy, to get a Shadow win by site 3. Often uses Saved from the Fire to burn Smeagol and take Gollum and 2x Little Snuffler into hand.
-Weaknesses: Everything. Other than setting up a Little Snuffler strategy, it's not much good at anything.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: **2
Ent Horde
-Starts a huge Ent fellowship with Merry, In the Bloom of Health, Pippin, In the Bloom of Health, Fredegar Bolger, Fatty (or Farmer Maggot, Hobbit of the Marish), Quickbeam, Bregalad, Skinbark, Fladrif, Host of Fangorn, and Ent Horde. May discard hobbits to play more companions later. May use Mellon! to keep opponent off guard.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Ulaire Enquea, Sixth of the Nine Riders, Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul, Morgul Squealer, Rapid Reload.
-Link: Ents Swarming Across the Battlefield w/ Evil Men Archery
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *******7

 
Telepathy
-Generally combined with at least one other Elf strategy.
-Weaknesses: Any strategy which skips the maneuver phase, when most of the telepathy occurs.
-Link: Telepathy Rapetrain
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ******6
Archery
-Generally combined with at least one other Elf strategy, sometimes mixed with Gondor and/or Lady of Ithilien.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, and any strategy which skips the archery phase.
-Encounters: ////////8
-Rating: ***`3.67
Gil-galad Looping
-Uses Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor to loop events and conditions endlessly. Generally combined with at least one other Elf strategy.
-Weaknesses: Direct wounding. Little healing. Slightly prone to condition hate. Tends to be slow-moving.
-Link: High King loop/telepathy - Nazgul
-Encounters: ///////7
-Rating: *********`9.33
The Twins
-Elladan, Elrohir, and a bunch of skirmish events. Often paired with Gil-galad looping and Cirdan.
-Weaknesses: Archery and other forms of direct wounding. Dark Horseman.
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: *****`5.67
Elf Discard
-Uses Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor to recycle Ancient Enmity to discard cards from opponent's hand. Often paired with Sauron Discard.
-Weaknesses: Opponents with large decks. Fellowship is also often slow-moving, with a relatively weak Shadow, so outrunning them is possible.
-Encounters: 0
-Rating: *******7

 
Token Tanks
-Often sets up with Saved from the Fire. Gears up about 5 super-strong companions, and runs.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Dark Horseman, direct wounding.
-Link: 1st Tier deck gondor - evil men archery
-Encounters: ////4
-Rating: *****`5.33
Madril
-Uses Madril, Defender of Osgiliath and Ithilien Blade to discard minions.
-Weaknesses: Ships of Great Draught, Ulaire Enquea, Sixth of the Nine Riders.
-Link: The Ultimate Madril
-Encounters: ////////8
-Rating: *********`9.33
Three Hunters
-Tanks up Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn with gear and conditions.
-Condition hate, archery.
-Encounters: ///////7
-Rating: *`1.33
Wraiths
-Uses Wraiths and their various conditions to power through.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Archery.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: **`2.33
Knights
-Recycles fortifications and tanks up Gondor Knights.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate.
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: *****`5.33
Last Ruling Steward
-Removes possessions with Denethor, Last Ruling Steward to exert minions, then finishes them off with Archery or direct wounding.
-Weaknesses: Skipping Maneuver. Killing Denethor.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *******`7.5
Driven by Need
-Features Aragorn, Driven by Need, Aragorn's Bow, Ranger's Longbow, and Sting, Elven Long Knife to manipulate threats and Archery.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, skipping maneuver.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ******6
Gondor Choke
-Similar to Smeagol Choke, but without Smeagol. Usually runs a Ring-bearer with 1 or 2 Gondor guys, often Faramir, Son of Denethor, Aragorn, Strider, or Aragorn, Well-traveled Guide.
-Weaknesses: Grima, Wormtongue, Condition hate, swarm, archery, Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman, etc.
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: *****5
Anarion
-Usually a fairly small fellowship with lots of events to tank up Anarion, Lord of Anorien.
-Weaknesses: Archery, swarm, Grima, Wormtongue.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ******6

 
Merry Men
-Uses Merry's Sword, Sword Rack, and Lady of Ithilien to recycle archery, exertions, and direct wounding.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, possession hate, direct wounding.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: *****`5.33
Horn Filter
-Uses Gamling, Defender of the Hornburg, Erkenbrand's Horn, and New Chapter to play a bunch of Followers. Sometimes paired with The Number Must Be Few Tentacles, Fool of a Took!, or Lost to the Goblins.
-Weaknesses: Archery, Rapid Reload, Grima, Wormtongue, and skipping the maneuver phase.
-Link: Horn Filter - Lost To The Goblins
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: ******`6.33
Rohan Hunters
-Tanks up Rohan Hunters with gear and conditions.
-Weaknesses: Twilight generation, condition hate.
-Link: Bearer of Obligation/Northmen Rohan
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *****`5.33
Rohan Archery
-Recycles Riddermark Javelin and/or other possessions that increase Archery, teams up with Gondor for more Archery, kills with Lady of Ithilien, may also incorporate Leowyn and Aldor.
-Weaknesses: Grima, Wormtongue, Shelob, Her Ladyship, Corsair Marauder.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ****4

 
Dwarf Choke
-Plays just a few Dwarfs, and generates almost no twilight.
-Weaknesses: Dark Horseman, Grima, Wormtongue.
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: *******`7.67
Dwarf Discard
-Often paired with Sauron Discard. Lots of Nobody Tosses a Dwarf, Dwarven Warrior, and Dwarven Axe.
-Weaknesses: Dark Horseman, Grima, Wormtongue, and Shotgun Enquea.
-Encounters: /////5
-Rating: ******6
Condition Dwarfs
-Tank up characters and use conditions to heal and become stronger. Often employ Dain Ironfoot, King Under the Mountain for doubling, may employ Gimli, Feared Axeman to protect conditions.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate.
-Encounters: /////5
-Rating: ******`6.67
Counter of Foes
-Centers on turning Gimli, Counter of Foes into a berserker. Often paired with Legolas, Companion of the Ring. Uses battlegrounds.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Grima, Wormtongue
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *1
Lively Combatant
-Tanks up Gimli, Lively Combatant and draws cards.
-Weaknesses: Grima, Wormtongue.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ****4
Dwarf Tanks
-Tanks up a number of Dwarfs with things like Axe of Khazad-dum to be high strength, high damage.
-Weaknesses: Puts out more twilight than traditional dwarf decks.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: *****5

 
Hobbit Hospital
-Uses Scouring of the Shire and lots of conditions to actually get stronger whenever you play minions.
-Weaknesses: Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman, Saruman's Power. Massive condition hate is important for defeating this deck.
-Encounters: ////////////12
-Rating: *******`7.33
Brave Decoy
-Pumps up Pippin, Brave Decoy to massive proportions, and has him fight everybody, or else cancels the skirmish. Sometimes uses the new pipeweed cards.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Cavern Entrance.
-Link: Pacifistic Pippin
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *****5
Hobbit Alliance
-Similar setup to Hobbit Hospital, but uses lots of allies, and either Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir or Sam, Bearer of Great Need.
-Weaknesses: Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman, Mauhur, Relentless Hunter, Cavern Entrance, Ally hate.
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: ****`4.67
Shadowplay
-Uses cards like Shadowplay, Home and Hearth, No Visitors, and Unheeded to kill minions, remove burdens, and cancel skirmishes.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, minions with 1 vitality.
-Link: Unheeded Tentacles
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *****`5.33
No Visitors
-Recycles No Visitors with Daddy Twofoot, Next-door Neighbor, cancels skirmishes, and removes burdens by various means.
-Weaknesses: Skipping Maneuver.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *****`5.33
Pipeweed
-Multicultural deck that uses lots of Pipes and Pipeweed to heal, remove burdens, and other things.
-Weaknesses: Grima, Wormtongue.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ***3
Bilbo Choke
-Uses Bilbo, Bearer of Things Burgled, Consorting with Wizards, and Sudden Fury to create a situation where Bilbo loses skirmishes but can't be killed.
-Weaknesses: Condition bombs.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: *****5

 
Bearer of Great Secrets
-Tanks up Smeagol, then chokes. Often paired with some version of Ninja Gollum.
-Weaknesses: Archery, condition hate, Cavern Entrance.
-Link: Smeagol Morgul Orc
-Encounters: ////4
-Rating: *******`7.33
Smeagol Choke
-Runs a Sam or Frodo Ring-bearer, with Smeagol and usually either Faramir, Son of Denethor or Aragorn, Heir to the Throne of Gondor. Often employs followers, and lots of sneaky events.
-Weaknesses: Archery, condition hate, Cavern Entrance.
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: *******`7.67
Smeagol Ents
-A clever variant of solo Smeagol that starts Bearer of Great Secrets and 7 unbound companions: Merry, In the Bloom of Health, Pippin, In the Bloom of Health, Fredegar Bolger, Fatty (or Farmer Maggot, Hobbit of the Marish), Quickbeam, Bregalad, Skinbark, Fladrif, Host of Fangorn, and Ent Horde. May start Prancing Pony or another site which plays a 9th companion right away. All the extra companions are simply meat shields which allow Smeagol to move very quickly.
-Weaknesses: Threat-adding. Since Smeagol will kill a companion with every move, adding threats means more wounds. Once Smeagol is the only one left, he is weak to archery.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ********8


SHADOW
 
Condition Ninja Gollum
-Uses a bunch of conditions, Gollum, Shelob, and a few events to kill your guys.
-Weaknesses: Gladden Homestead and condition hate.
-Encounters: /////////9
-Rating: ********8
Event Ninja Gollum
-Uses a bunch of events (especially Little Snuffler), Gollum, Shelob, a few conditions, and extreme site manipulation to kill your guys (preferably in Region 1).
-Weaknesses: Wise Guide, and the ability to heal the Ring-bearer in Region 1.
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: ******`6.67
Sudden Strike
-Uses Gollum, Sudden Strike, and Evil-smelling Fens to unleash and recycle a rainbow of magic bullet minions to counter any FP strategy. The Swiss Army Knife of Shadows.
-Weaknesses: Twilight choke, Wise Guide, condition hate, Shadowplay.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: **********10
Little Snuffler
-Unlike Event Ninja Gollum, this deck is VERY focused on using Little Snuffler and Gollum, Dark as Darkness to kill the Ring-bearer by site 3. If they fail, the deck tends to be weak after that.
-Weaknesses: This deck needs at least 10 twilight to kill at site 2, and at least 8 twilight to kill at site 3, so the best defense is often to just play nothing for those first two sites. Also auto-fail against any deck that uses The Ring of Rings or Isildur's Bane.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: *****5

 
Freca Site Control
-Controls sites, uses Hides, and beats down your guys.
-Weaknesses: Many. Prone to condition hate and possession hate.
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: ***3
Constantly Threatening
-Cycles minions out as fast as possible, to set up for a Constantly Threatening bomb whenever the Fellowship doubles. May incorporate Dunlending Rampager to gain initiative to play Gollum, Plotting Deceiver to activate Evil-smelling Fens, and/or Black Sails of Umbar as a one-shot swarm increaser for late in the game.
-Weaknesses: Doesn't swarm as well as some other strategies. Condition hate.
-Encounters: 0
-Rating: ******6

 
Forest Nazgul
-Uses Dark Approach, conditions like Lost in the Woods, and key Nazgul to wreck your guys.
-Weaknesses: Choke, small tank fellowships, condition hate.
-Encounters: ////////////12
-Rating: *********9
Enduring Nazgul
-Stars Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One, often with Morgul Destroyer, Morgul Brute, Morgul Squealer, and Between Nazgul and Prey. Sometimes paired with a version of Ninja Gollum.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Stewards' Legacy, Cavern Entrance, Steward's Tomb
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ******`6.67
Twilight Nazgul
-Normally win through corruption, or direct-wounding the Ring-bearer to death.
-Weaknesses: Burden removal, most Twilight Nazgul are not fierce.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: ***`3.5
Fierce Nazgul
-Similar to Forest Nazgul, but not reliant on Forests.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, flaming brand.
-Links: Gondor + Nazguls, SFTF Tanks/Fierce Nazgul
-Encounters: ///////7
-Rating: *******7
Assignment Nazgul
-Centers on using cards with assignment actions or limitations, such as Ulaire Toldea, Messenger of Morgul, Morgul Vangard, Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman, Sense of Obligation, etc. May have support from other cultures that also do things in assignment.
-Weaknesses: Burden removal, since much of the assignment stuff is connected to spotting burdens or adding burdens.
-Encounters: /1
-Ratting: *******7
Morcs
-Combined with one of the other Nazgul strategies. Centered around Morgul Brute, Morgul Destroyer, and wounding the Ring-bearer.
-Weaknesses: Canceling special abilities, direct wounding, condition hate.
-Link: Smeagol Morgul Orc
-Encounters: ////4
-Rating: *****5

 
Goblin Armory
-Recycles possessions to add twilight and swarm you.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate.
-Link: powerful guide pipeweed - moria
-Encounters: /////////9
-Rating: *****5
Fool of a Took!
-Uses Fool of a Took!, Ted Sandyman, and some filtering to set up a massive Moria Orc bomb.
-Weaknesses: Wise Guide, Power According to His Stature, discarding.
-Link: An Idea with Fool of a Took
-Encounters: 0
-Rating: *******7
Tentacles
-Uses Tentacles often in conjunction with The Number Must Be Few to reduce your move limit to 1, and/or swarm you with Tentacles.
-Weaknesses: Choke, small fellowships, or the ability to kill off down to 6 companions without any skirmishing (SFTF, etc.).
-Link: Unheeded Tentacles
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: ******6
Lost to the Goblins
-Uses fast cycling and filtering to set up a corruption bomb with Lost to the Goblins.
-Weaknesses: Wise Guide, a Ring-bearer with high resistance.
-Link: Horn Filter - Lost To The Goblins
-Encounters: 0
-Rating: ******`6.33
The Balrog
-Centers around playing The Balrog over and over, usually The Balrog, Demon of Might. Recycles with Evil-smelling Fens, adds twilight with Goblin Runner and Led Astray, may manipulate sites and/or use minions to add the "Underground" keyword.
-Weaknesses: Twilight choke, direct wounding, counter-site manipulation w/ Mount Doom.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: ******`6.5

 
Demoralized Bomb
-Uses Demoralized, Mountain-troll, and various minions to exert all your guys, add lots of twilight, and play every minion they've got.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, A New Light, Traveled Leader.
-Link: The Ultimate BOMB Deck
-Encounters: ////4
-Rating: *********`9.33
Warg Super Swarm
-Uses Orkish Scout, Orkish Runner, Mountain-troll, and a bunch of Wargs to add lots of twilight, and play every minion they've got. May employ direct wounding.
-Weaknesses: Possession hate, Condition hate, A New Light, Traveled Leader.
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: *********9
Troll Swarm
-Uses Orkish Scout, Orkish Runner, and Troll's Keward, Keeper of the Beast to add lots of twilight to play lots of trolls.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Faithful Stone.
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: ******6
Bound to Its Fate
-Recycles Bound to Its Fate endlessly with Isengard Underling and Goblin Hordes. Often paired with one of the Super Swarm strategies.
-Weaknesses: Burden removal, condition hate.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: *******`7.67
Orc Direct Wounding
-Recycles Pitiless Orc and other direct wounding or archery minions.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, super healing.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: ******`6.67
Goblin Hordes
-Uses Goblin Hordes to recycle Orcs that work underground, especially Frenzied Orc
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, site manipulation.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: *****`5.5
Demoralized Rapid Reload
-A hybrid of and that uses Rapid Reload in conjunction with 4x Demoralized to exhaust your entire fellowship.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, super healing.
-Encounters: 0
-Rating: *****`5.5

 
Corsairs
-Uses support area possessions to play Castamir and Corsair Marauder over and over. Watch for Fierce in Despair and recycling Wind That Sped Ships.
-Weaknesses: Possession hate and direct wounding.
-Link: Elven Telepathy - Corsairs
-Encounters: /////5
-Rating: *******`7.67
Southron Direct Wounding
-Gains initiative via Ships of Great Draught and Corsair War Galley, then plays Southrons that wound with initiative.
-Weaknesses: Possession hate, super healing.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ********8
Beasterlings
-Recycles Easterling Captain, Easterling Lieutenant, Easterling Guard, and Easterling Pillager to burden and kill you.
-Weaknesses: Burden removal, Archery, direct wounding, possession hate.
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: ******`6.67
Easterling Corsairs
-A hybrid that discards your possessions with Corsair Marauder and then recycles the worst Easterlings to corrupt and kill you.
-Weaknesses: Burden removal, super possession discard.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ****`4.67

 
Skull Men Super Archery
-Uses The Mouth of Sauron, Messenger of Mordor, Howdah, Rapid Reload, Precision Targeting, and Elevated Fire to blast your guys with absurd amounts of archery.
-Weaknesses: Healing, condition hate, and bouncing Hobbits back and forth from your hand.
-Link: 1st Tier deck gondor - evil men archery
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: *******7
Lurker Men
-Combines Lurkers with Stragglers to do some damage.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: ****4
Hard Core Site Control
-Controls sites very quickly with minions like Engrossed Hillman, Rapt Hillman, and Wandering Hillman, then takes advantage with cards like Southron Archer, White Hand Invader, and Gothmog, Lieutenant of Morgul.
-Weaknesses: Super site liberation, super healing.
-Link: Hard Core Site Control
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ********8
Stacking Men
-Revolves around using minions that discard in Maneuver and stack on cards like Ceremonial Armor.
-Weaknesses: Possession hate, condition hate.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ***3

 
Wizard Conditions
-Uses Saruman paired with conditions that temporarily turn into minions. Often paired with Uruk Hunters.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate.
-Link: the men of Wizards
-Encounters: ////4
-Rating: *****5
Uruk Site Control
-Often a mix of and minions and conditions to gain advantage via controlling sites.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate.
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: ****4
Uruk Swarm
-Uses Uruks that make each other cheaper as you play them.
-Weaknesses: Large fellowships.
-Link: Uruk-Hai Swarm
-Encounters: //2
-Rating: ****4
Isengard Wargs
-Uses the warg-riders of to cancel skirmish special abilities, recycles wargs with Saruman, Master of Foul Folk and other minions.
-Weaknesses: Possession hate, requires multiple card combos, can be costly.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: **`2.5

 
Uruk Hunters
-Uses Saruman and key powerful Uruk Hunters to beat down your guys. Likes Broken in Defeat. Often includes Greed for good measure.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Wise Guide.
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: *******7
Assignment Uruks
-Uses Uruks who have assignment special abilities, in conjunction with other minions who have similar abilities.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ******6
Uruk Tanks
-Plays a variety of large damage + Uruks, often with weapons, that have various special abilities.
-Weaknesses: Choke.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ******6

 
Besiegers
-Controls sites, then uses key conditions and minions to completely kick your arse.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, site liberation, other site control decks.
-Link: Sauron Besiegers
-Encounters: ///3
-Rating: ******`6.67
Tracker Orcs
-Stars Grishnakh, Orc Captain, Orc Cutthroat, and various Orcs who do things with threats, roaming, and card drawing. Will also Hate your guys to death.
-Weaknesses: Wise Guide, wound prevention, Stewards' Legacy.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: ******`6.67
Sauron Discard
-Aims to deck you out using various conditions and events. Often paired with Discarding Dwarfs.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, burden removal, moving quickly.
-Encounters: //////6
-Rating: ****4
Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding
-Ups Archery with Orc Bowmen, exerts your guys with Under the Watching Eye, direct wounds with skirmish special abilities.
-Weaknesses: Condition hate, Steward's Legacy, cards that exert minions.
-Encounters: /////5
-Rating: ****`4.67
Sauron Tank Maneuver Wounding
-Plays powerful minions like Orc Slaughterer to overwhelm guys, and uses Hate and/or A Host Avails Little to wound companions in Maneuver.
-Weaknesses: Gandalf, Wise Guide, twilight choke.
-Encounters: /1
-Rating: *******7
DECK STRATEGY PAIRING STATISTICS
This section shows how often I encounter one strategy paired with a particular other strategy.

Archery/Assignment Uruks
-/1
Archery/Demoralized Bomb
-/1
Archery/Forest Nazgul
-/1
Archery/Lurker Men
-/1
Archery/Morcs
-/1
Archery/Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding
-//2
Archery/Wizard Conditions
-/1
Bearer of Great Secrets/Condition Ninja Gollum
-//2
Bearer of Great Secrets/Event Ninja Gollum
-/1
Bearer of Great Secrets/Freca Site Control
-/1
Bearer of Obligation/Corsairs
-/1
Bearer of Obligation/Forest Nazgul
-/1
Bearer of Obligation/The Balrog
-/1
Bilbo Choke/Fierce Nazgul
-/1
Brave Decoy/Beasterlings
-/1
Condition Dwarfs/Besiegers
-/1
Condition Dwarfs/Bound to Its Fate
-/1
Condition Dwarfs/Demoralized Bomb
-/1
Condition Dwarfs/Fierce Nazgul
-/1
Condition Dwarfs/Troll Swarm
-/1
Counter of Foes/Corsairs
-/1
Counter of Foes/Uruk Site Control
-/1
Driven by Need/Goblin Armory
-/1
Dwarf Choke/Condition Ninja Gollum
-/1
Dwarf Choke/Demoralized Bomb
-/1
Dwarf Choke/Enduring Nazgul
-/1
Dwarf Choke/Freca Site Control
-/1
Dwarf Choke/Goblin Armory
-/1
Dwarf Choke/Morcs
-/1
Dwarf Discard/Sauron Discard
-/////5
Dwarf Tanks/Fierce Nazgul
-/1
Ent Horde/Hard Core Site Control*
-/1
Ent Horde/Skull Men Super Archery
-/1
Gil-galad Looping/Beasterlings
-/1
Gil-galad Looping/Threat Orcs
-/1
Gil-galad Looping Archery/Condition Ninja Gollum
-/1
Gil-galad Looping Archery/Forest Nazgul
-//2
Gil-galad Looping Archery/Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding
-/1
Gil-galad Looping Archery/Warg Super Swarm
-/1
Gondor Choke/Orc Direct Wounding
-/1
Hobbit Alliance/Condition Ninja Gollum
-/1
Hobbit Alliance/Event Ninja Gollum
-/1
Hobbit Alliance/Goblin Armory
-//2
Hobbit Alliance/Morcs
-/1
Hobbit Hospital/Condition Ninja Gollum
-//2
Hobbit Hospital/Corsairs
-/1
Hobbit Hospital/Fierce Nazgul
-/1
Hobbit Hospital/Forest Nazgul
-//2
Hobbit Hospital/Goblin Armory
-/1
Hobbit Hospital/Skull Men Super Archery
-//2
Hobbit Hospital/Stacking Men
-/1
Horn Filter/Besiegers
-/1
Horn Filter/Goblin Hordes
-/1
Horn Filter/Troll Swarm
-/1
Knights/Evil Men Lurkers
-/1
Knights/Golbin Armory
-/1
Knights/Sauron Discard
-/1
Knights/Twilight Nazgul
-/1
Knights/Wizard Conditions
-/1
Last Ruling Steward/Fierce Nazgul
-/1
Last Ruling Steward/Twilight Nazgul
-/1
Lively Combatant/Besiegers
-/1
Madril/Corsairs
-/1
Madril/Fierce Nazgul
-/1
Madril/Goblin Armory
-//2
Madril/Morcs
-/1
Madril/Uruk Hunters
-/1
Madril/Sudden Strike
-/1
Merry Men/Uruk Hunters
-/1
No Visitors/Easterling Corsairs
-/1
No Visitors/Goblin Hordes
-/1
Pipeweed/Forest Nazgul
-/1
Powerful Guide/Forest Nazgul
-//2
Powerful Guide/Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding
-/1
Powerful Guide/Sauron Tank Maneuver Wounding
-/1
Powerful Guide/Sudden Strike
-/1
Powerful Guide/The Balrog
-/1
Rohan Archery/Tentacles
-/1
Rohan Hunters/Uruk Hunters
-/1
Rohan Hunters/Uruk Swarm
-/1
SFTF Tanks/Beasterlings
-/1
SFTF Tanks/Corsairs
-/1
SFTF Tanks/Fierce Nazgul
-/1
SFTF Tanks/Forest Nazgul
-/1
SFTF Tanks/Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding
-//2
SFTF Tanks/Warg Super Swarm
-/1
Shadowplay/Freca Site Control
-/1
Shadowplay/Southron Direct Wounding
-/1
Smeagol Choke/Beasterlings
-/1
Smeagol Choke/Event Ninja Gollum
-/1
Smeagol Choke/Tentacles
-/1
Smeagol Ents/Uruk Tanks
-/1
Snuffler Support/Little Snuffler
-/1
Telepathy/Forest Nazgul
-/1
The Twins/Condition Ninja Gollum
-/1
The Twins/Isengard Wargs
-/1
The Twins/Uruk Hunters
-/1
Three Hunters/Demoralized Bomb
-/1
Three Hunters/Skull Men Super Archery
-/1
Three Hunters/Tentacles
-/1
Three Hunters/Troll Swarm
-/1
Three Hunters/Uruk Hunters
-/2
Three Hunters/Wizard Conditions
-/1
Token Tanks/Condition Ninja Gollum
-/1
Token Tanks/Skull Men Super Archery
-/1
Token Tanks/Uruk Site Control
-/1
Token Tanks/Wizard Conditions
-/1
Wraiths/Assignment Nazgul
-/1
Wraiths/Forest Nazgul
-/1

STATISTICS BY PREDOMINANT CULTURE
This section shows how often I encounter each culture. I determine the culture of a deck by whatever culture they use the most of, and/or whatever culture is central to the deck's strategy. These statistics are for distinct decks; if I play the same player's same deck more than once, it still only gets counted one time.

 
-///////////////////19
 
-///////////////////19
 
-///////////////////////////////////35
 
-//////////10
 
-////////////////////20
 
-///////////////////////////27
 (Free Peoples)
-////////8
 (Shadow)
-///////////////15
 
-///3
 
-///////////////////////////27
 
-//////////////14
 
-////////////////16
 
-/////////////13
 
-///////////11
 
-//////////10
 
-////////8
 
-////////////////16

STRATEGY RATINGS
You can now submit ratings for each deck strategy, using a scale 1 to 10 stars (10 being strongest, 1 being weakest). No fractions please, that makes it too complicated! Each person to submit ratings will receive 1 gold. The average rating of each deck strategy can be found in the DECK STRATEGIES section. To submit your ratings, simply copy and paste this current ratings card with your rating listed for each strategy:

GANDALF
Powerful Guide
Bearer of Obligation
SFTF Tanks
Snuffler Support
Ent Horde

ELF
Telepathy
Archery
Gil-galad Looping
The Twins
Elf Discard

GONDOR
Token Tanks
Madril
Three Hunters
Wraiths
Knights
Last Ruling Steward
Driven by Need
Gondor Choke
Anarion

ROHAN
Merry Men
Horn Filter
Rohan Hunters
Rohan Archery

DWARF
Dwarf Choke
Dwarf Discard
Condition Dwarfs
Counter of Foes
Lively Combatant
Dwarf Tanks

SHIRE
Hobbit Hospital
Brave Decoy
Hobbit Alliance
Shadowplay
No Visitors
Pipeweed
Bilbo Choke

GOLLUM (Free Peoples)
Bearer of Great Secrets
Smeagol Choke
Smeagol Ents

GOLLUM (Shadow)
Condition Ninja Gollum
Event Ninja Gollum
Sudden Strike
Little Snuffler

DUNLAND
Freca Site Control
Constantly Threatening

NAZGUL
Forest Nazgul
Enduring Nazgul
Twilight Nazgul
Fierce Nazgul
Assignment Nazgul
Morcs

MORIA
Goblin Armory
Fool of a Took!
Tentacles
Lost to the Goblins
The Balrog

ORC
Demoralized Bomb
Warg Super Swarm
Troll Swarm
Bound to Its Fate
Orc Direct Wounding
Goblin Hordes
Demoralized Rapid Reload

RAIDER
Corsairs
Southron Direct Wounding
Beasterlings
Easterling Corsairs

EVIL MEN
Skull Men Super Archery
Lurker Men
Hard Core Site Control
Stacking Men

ISENGARD
Wizard Conditions
Uruk Site Control
Uruk Swarm
Isengard Wargs

URUK
Uruk Hunters
Assignment Uruks
Uruk Tanks

SAURON
Besiegers
Tracker Orcs
Sauron Discard
Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding
Sauron Tank Maneuver Wounding

Just copy and paste this ratings card into your post, and type your rating next to each deck strategy. Thanks!

OTHER RESOURCES

Expanded Format Gemp Players List
-A constantly-updated list of players I encounter, and the deck strategies they use!

Currently updated through: 11/15/2014

STRATEGY TOTALS
Total FP Strategies: 39
Total Shadow Strategies: 44
Total Strategies: 83

[ThornyB]

I'd love to see some sample lists. Especially the Powerful Guide deck. I have versions of some of the above that I'll post as well if anyone cares.
Thorny

[sgtdraino]

I'd love to see some sample lists. Especially the Powerful Guide deck. I have versions of some of the above that I'll post as well if anyone cares.
Thorny

Often someone will post a thread for their deck, including a decklist. Give me some URLs for threads on some of these various deck strategies, and I'll add those links to post #1!

[sgtdraino]

Post #1 updated with links to a number of different deck lists for the strategies!

[xXx]

Powerful Guide does have some weaknesses, namely minions with lots of vitality and/or also skipping maneuver phase (also Balrog, Demon of Might). Forrest Nazgul are another problem I've encountered with PG (and really any other kind of fellowship that doesn't choke haha). Direct wounding can also cause problems.

[Shelobplayer]

You name archery as one of the Gil-Galad loop decks weakness and I thinkit is the exact opposite. Hosts of the Last Alliance and Elven Armaments give a very strong general defense against archery and everyone but Gil-Galad is expendable if you are playing against someone trying to reuse  Anduin Banks or something. Never had problem against any archery shadow so far playing my version, pretty sure I never lost to one actually.

[sgtdraino]

Powerful Guide does have some weaknesses, namely minions with lots of vitality and/or also skipping maneuver phase (also Balrog, Demon of Might).

My experience playing against these, is that one or two turns of skipping maneuver normally doesn't hurt them much, because they also have skirmish phase tricks to recycle spells and/or wound guys. They also generally have one or two tanks capable of at least surviving a Balrog hit. However, I've updated post #1 with your suggestions!

You name archery as one of the Gil-Galad loop decks weakness and I thinkit is the exact opposite. Hosts of the Last Alliance and Elven Armaments give a very strong general defense against archery and everyone but Gil-Galad is expendable if you are playing against someone trying to reuse  Anduin Banks or something. Never had problem against any archery shadow so far playing my version, pretty sure I never lost to one actually.

Those are good points. When I said archery, I believe I was thinking of the Gil-galad loop deck's one primary disadvantage, which is its lack of healing ability. But you are absolutely right, their anti-archery cards tend to make it very difficult for archery decks to have much effect at all. I have updated post #1 with your suggestions!

[Shelobplayer]

Killing minions with wounds is not the only way Powerful Guide builds can kill minions, it is pretty easy to overwhelm stuff with Grimbeorn/ Treebeard/ SotSF/ Dale Counselor. The weakness of those builds imo is direct wounding, Orkish Lackey + Black Land Overlord in particular in my experience.

[sgtdraino]

Post #1 has been updated big time!

[dmaz]

Last night I spent some time developing a new Fellowship for expanded with beefy Gondor companions.

The general strategy has been used before, but for this deck in particular I wanted to not invest too heavily in one particular venue, so that if I run into condition hate or possession hate, I should still be able to absorb it, more or less.

Here's a replay of a win from the final product.
http://www.gempukku.com/gemp-lotr/game.html?replayId=dmaz$40aberowwapqpcmg

As I generally like adding "cute" little gimmicks to my decks, this one runs Boromir, Steward's Heir, and tries to trick him out with every toy possible, as he can't be targeted by Grima (quite fun).

I've always seemed to find Faramir to be the Gondor Ringbearer with the least drawbacks, so I used him.

Basic strategy is start Denethor and one of the disposable rangers to help you with sites early on a little. You should be able to get the Prancing Pony going to pull either Aragorn or Boromir, depending on what your hand looks like.

Noble Leaders and stacking excess Noble Leaders on Shards works nice.

Anyway, I'll post the deck soon. In this game I got everything out so you can see what it has. Shadow is basically just a super-cycle Nazgul shadow.

Overall it was a fun deck to play. I might need to tweak it to add some healing mechanics tho...

[Vordan]

watched the rep Dmaz, i like the idea and seems pretty solid, except the usual weakness mono gondor has:

- heavy condition shadow;
- monoculture hate;
- heavy swarms;
- heavy site manipulation; (as i saw you have only 1 anduril  and 2 or 3 ranger to change/play   your site) maybe some Pathfinder or Well-traveled could help as you have many ranger.
- and to some extent heavy archery (as you already noticed some more healing may be needed)

[sgtdraino]

Last night I spent some time developing a new Fellowship for expanded with beefy Gondor companions.

Nice! Looks like a variation of what I've been calling Token Tanks.

Post #1 has been updated big time! Players can now submit ratings for each deck strategy, and I'll average them in. Here are my own ratings:

GANDALF
Powerful Guide 5
Bearer of Obligation 3
G for Grand Tanks 3

ELF
Telepathy 3
Archery 2
Gil-galad Looping 5
The Twins 4

GONDOR
Token Tanks 3
Madril 4
Three Hunters 1
Wraiths 1
Knights 1

ROHAN
Merry Men 3
Horn Filter 3
Rohan Hunters 3

DWARF
Dwarf Choke 4
Dwarf Discard 4
Condition Dwarfs 4

SHIRE
Hobbit Hospital 4
Brave Decoy 3
Hobbit Alliance 3
Shadowplay 3
No Visitors 3

GOLLUM (Free Peoples)
Bearer of Great Secrets 4
Smeagol Choke 4

GOLLUM (Shadow)
Condition Ninja Gollum 4
Event Ninja Gollum 4

DUNLAND
Freca Site Control 1

NAZGUL
Forest Nazgul 5
Enduring Nazgul with Morcs 4

MORIA
Goblin Armory 3
Fool of a Took! 4
Tentacles 4
Lost to the Goblins 4

ORC
Demoralized Bomb 5
Warg Mountain-troll Super Swarm 4
Troll Swarm 3
Bound to Its Fate 4
Orc Direct Wounding 3
Goblin Hordes 3

RAIDER
Corsairs 4
Southron Direct Wounding 4
Easterlings 3

EVIL MEN
Skull Men Super Archery 3
Evil Men Lurkers 2

ISENGARD
Wizard Conditions 3
Uruk Site Control 2
Uruk Swarm 2

URUK
Uruk Hunters 4
Assignment Uruks 3

SAURON
Besiegers 4
Threat Orcs 4
Sauron Discard 3
Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding 3

[Shelobplayer]

Cool, here are my ratings:

GANDALF
Powerful Guide 5
Bearer of Obligation 3
G for Grand Tanks 3

ELF
Telepathy 3
Archery 2
Gil-galad Looping 5
The Twins 2

GONDOR
Token Tanks 2
Madril 5
Three Hunters 1
Wraiths 1
Knights 4

ROHAN
Merry Men 2
Horn Filter 4
Rohan Hunters 2

DWARF
Dwarf Choke 3
Dwarf Discard 2
Condition Dwarfs 3

SHIRE
Hobbit Hospital 3
Brave Decoy 2
Hobbit Alliance 2
Shadowplay 2
No Visitors 2

GOLLUM (Free Peoples)
Bearer of Great Secrets 4
Smeagol Choke 4

GOLLUM (Shadow)
Condition Ninja Gollum 4
Event Ninja Gollum 3

DUNLAND
Freca Site Control 1

NAZGUL
Forest Nazgul 4
Enduring Nazgul with Morcs 3

MORIA
Goblin Armory 2
Fool of a Took! 3
Tentacles 3
Lost to the Goblins 3

ORC
Demoralized Bomb 5
Warg Mountain-troll Super Swarm 5
Troll Swarm 3
Bound to Its Fate 4
Orc Direct Wounding 4
Goblin Hordes

RAIDER
Corsairs 4
Southron Direct Wounding 4
Easterlings 3

EVIL MEN
Skull Men Super Archery 4
Evil Men Lurkers 2

ISENGARD
Wizard Conditions 2
Uruk Site Control 2
Uruk Swarm 2

URUK
Uruk Hunters 3
Assignment Uruks 3

SAURON
Besiegers 3
Threat Orcs 2
Sauron Discard 1
Orc Bowmen Direct Wounding 2

EDIT: I think Denethor, LRS strategies should be listed here somewhere.

[sgtdraino]

Cool, here are my ratings:

Thanks! I've averaged them in.

EDIT: I think Denethor, LRS strategies should be listed here somewhere.

You're absolutely right, I've now added it. What would you rate the strategy?

And I'm adding more strategies all the time, as I think of them or encounter them. If anyone has any that need to be added, please let me know!

[Shelobplayer]

You're absolutely right, I've now added it. What would you rate the strategy?

I'd rate it as a solid 4, maybe could be even taken to 5 if someone puts in the time, the card's raw power is huge.