Saruman's Power (1U136)

Saruman's Frost (1U135)

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Saruman's Reach (1R137)

	Set:		Fellowship of the Ring
	Kind:		Shadow
	Culture:		Isengard
	Twilight:		2
	Card Type:		Event
	Game Text:		Spell. Shadow: Exert a [ISENGARD] minion to discard all conditions.
	Lore:		The Uruks of Saruman are bred to be the instruments of his will, destroying his enemies with foul cruelty.
	Rarity:		U
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General Strategy

The Shadow version of Sleep, Caradhras, Saruman's Power is the most powerful tool for condition removal available to Shadow players. For the cost of [2] and the exertion of an [Isengard] minion, Saruman's Power discards every active condition, including the Shadow player's own Shadow conditions as well as the Free Peoples player's Free Peoples conditions. With the double-edged effect of discarding the Shadow player's own Shadow conditions, playing this card in condition-heavy Shadow is not ideal. That said, [Isengard] condition Saruman's Ambition can reduce the cost of this event, making it even more potent for its cost. With such a powerful effect, Saruman's Power remains relevant in all formats, even ones where [isengard] itself is not prominent.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Versus...

• Condition-based Free Peoples, including:

 * Dauntless Hobbits (Escape, Fearing the Worst, A Talent for Not Being Seen)
 * Trust Me As You Once Did
 * [Gondor] Knights
 * [Rohan] Army (We Left None Alive, Arrow-Slits, Thundering Host)
 * [Dwarven] condition
 * Shadowplay Hobbits
 * Expanded Hobbits

• Saruman's Ambition can reduce the twilight cost of this event; however, the event will discard the condition
• Versatile splash event with splash minions like Grima or Saruman, Black Traitor as well as [Isengard] Uruk-Hai, Orc, or Man
• Best in decks that do not rely on many conditions, such as [Isengard] Wargs or Uruk beatdown

Weak Versus...

• Foul Creation
• Decks that do not rely upon conditions
• Condition shielding, such as Pippin, Friend to Frodo or Gimli, Feared Axeman

Rules and Clarifications

• This card affects active conditions only, so it won't affect your free peoples conditions or your opponent's Shadow conditions.