View source for Haunting Her Steps (4U155)

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{{NavBar|Lotr04155|The Two Towers Index|Grima, Wormtongue (4R154T)|Kill Them Now (4C156)}}


{{LegacyCardInfoBox
| TLHHImage=LOTR04155
| WikiImage=LOTR04155
| SetNum=04
| CardNum=155
| SetName=The Two Towers
| Side=Shadow
| Culture=Isengard
| Twilight=0
| FullCardType=Event
| Stat1Name=
| Stat1=
| Stat2Name=
| Stat2=
| Stat3Name=
| Stat3=
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| GameText=Response: If a special ability of an ally or unbound companion is used, exert Grima to cancel that action.
| Lore=“‘What was the promised price? When all the men were dead, you were to pick your share of the treasure and take the woman you desire?'”
| Rarity=U
| Notes=
}}


= General Strategy =

Along with Where Has Grima Stowed It?, Haunting Her Steps is one of two events released in The Two Towers which specifically require Grima to be in play in order to be used. While certain to surprise a Free Peoples player, there are many good reasons neither of these events are often seen. Along with the innate pitfalls of Haunting Her Steps, until later sets the effect is simply done better by Leechcraft despite Leechcraft's restriction.

Shadow events are hard enough to play as it is, and having to exert Grima puts a player wanting to use it stuck wanting to include more copies of Haunting Her Steps to ensure it is available in the small window it may be used, but not wanting to clog his or her hand with an otherwise unplayable card. Additionally, the effect is lackluster: it only prevents abilities from allies and unbound companions, meaning all items, conditions, and events (i.e., all main sources for actions) - along with abilities from Ring-Bound companions - remain unhindered.

Even when playable, the exertion on Grima is a more valuable resource for Grima's innate game text for most versions of him. Grima has a mere 4 strength, and since many players choose to complete the easiest skirmishes first Grima won't often live past the first skirmish to prevent useful abilities such as Merry, Friend to Sam. For the phases which remain (Maneuver, Archery, Assignment), there simply aren't many actions which come from characters. Of that number, only a rare handful are worth trying to prevent at all and Haunting Her Steps becomes deadweight.

Sets 12 and 13 introduce Lurker versions of Grima, expanding the utility of this card somewhat by more consistently allowing him to block Skirmish actions. [Man] versions of Grima are also considerably easier to keep alive through skirmishes, even until the Regroup phase. There are also more powerful special abilities in the later sets (Cirdan; Erland, Dale Counselor; Elrond, Witness to History etc.) but these are generally better stopped by Treachery or Servant of Another Master when available. Working in a similar vein, the set 17 Grima's Dagger can be used to cancel events.

= Strengths and Weaknesses =

=== Strong Versus... ===

* Pre-skirmish actions on non-Man, non-Ring-bound characters. Before Shadows this is a very slim number, most notably the Ents' assignment phase actions and Thrarin, Dwarven Smith's maneuver phase action.
* Later versions of Grima, especially in War of the Ring Standard where Treachery is not available

=== Weak Versus... ===

* In Pre-Shadows formats, the opportunity cost of holding this event in your hand will be greater than its effect
* Highly situational to the Fellowship your opponent uses