View source for Desperate Measures (1R245)

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{{NavBar|Lotr01245|Fellowship of the Ring Index|Desperate Defense of the Ring (1R244)|Enduring Evil (1R246)}}


{{LegacyCardInfoBox
| TLHHImage=LOTR01245
| WikiImage=LOTR01245
| SetNum=01
| CardNum=245
| SetName=Fellowship of the Ring
| Side=Shadow
| Culture=Sauron
| Twilight=2
| FullCardType=Event
| Stat1Name=
| Stat1=
| Stat2Name=
| Stat2=
| Stat3Name=
| Stat3=
| Stat4Name=
| Stat4=
| GameText=Maneuver: Spot a [SAURON] Orc and remove a burden to make the Free Peoples player discard top 5 cards from his draw deck.
| Lore=“‘Go back, Sam. You can't swim. I'm going to Mordor alone.'”
| Rarity=R
| Notes=Should read ?discard <i>the</i> top 5 cards...?
}}


= General Strategy =

The key event in a Sauron mill strategy, Desperate Measures can discard five cards for the removal of a single burden in the maneuver phase. Very few strategies function without a draw deck or the ability to replenish cards when reconciling, making the discarding strategy a borderline negative playing experience. Desperate Defense of the Ring, another powerful milling card, can add the burdens necessary to play Desperate Measures. The Irresistible Shadow is one of very few "win condition" cards, automatically granting the Shadow player the win if the opponent has five burdens and no draw deck.

With the addition of Frodo, Courteous Halfling in the Two Towers base set, the [Sauron] mill strategy took a nearly unrecoverable hit. Additionally, access to stronger companions and abilities left the Shadow discard strategy one of the least played archetypes beyond Fellowship block. With the expensive roaming penalties of the [relatively] weak minions, very little could stop a Free Peoples' player from simply outrunning his or her opponent.

= Strengths and Weaknesses =

=== Strong Versus... ===

* Anyone with a draw deck
* Pairs well with free peoples discard strategies, such as The White Arrows of Lorien or Nobody Tosses a DWarf

=== Weak Versus... ===

* Frodo, Courteous Halfling
* Preparations and Rest By Blind Night can recycle discarded cards
* Extremely large decks, or decks that play from discard such as [Moria] Swarm or Constantly Threatening [Dunland]

= Example Decks =

'''!Fellowship Block "Cruel Discard" by Kralik'''

Ring and Bearer:
Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure Deck:
1   The Prancing Pony*
2   Trollshaw Forest*
3   Rivendell Waterfall
4   Eregion Hills
5   The Bridge of Khazad-dum*
6   Valley of the Silverlode*
7   The Great River
8   Gates of Argonath
9   Tol Brandir

Free Peoples (35 cards):
1x   Arwen, Daughter Of Elrond (starting)
1x   Legolas, Son of Thranduil (starting)
1x   Aragorn, King in Exile
3x   Haldir, Elf Of The Golden Wood

3x   Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad

1x   Gwemegil
1x   Long-knives of Legolas
1x   Ranger's Sword
2x   Aragorn's Bow
1x   Bow of the Galadhrim
3x   Elven Bow'''

2x   Gift of Boats
2x   Songs of the Blessed Realm
1x   The Choice of Luthien
1x   The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
3x   The White Arrows of Lorien

2x   Hobbit Stealth
2x   Might of Numenor
2x   Secret Sentinels
2x   The Council of Elrond

Shadow (35 cards):
3x   Morgul Hunter
4x   Orc Ambusher
4x   Orc Inquisitor
4x   Orc Warrior
2x   Tower Assassin

3x   Desperate Defense of the Ring
3x   His Cruelty and Malice
2x   Thin and Stretched
3x   Tower of Barad-dur

3x   Desperate Measures
2x   Enduring Evil
2x   Shadow's Reach

= Extra Information =

* This card's game text contains an error; it should say “discard the top 5 cards” instead of “discard top 5 cards”.