Swift Traps 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

This is my favorite type of deck in the game. I've been successfully playing a very similar one in solo and have had some great success against a lot of Nightmare decks. It's amazing how good this archetype got when Damrod showed up, and nobody else seems to have noticed. I haven't taken it up against Carn Dum yet, kind of intimidated to in solo play.

My version has Haldir swapped out for Mirlonde to go for much lower threat (helpful for keeping enemies in staging longer). I also threw in some Rivendell minstrels so I can get a song of battle, which I can then use to play secret vigil for staging threat/threat reduction and put blades of Westernesse on Faramir to make him truly a beast when he gets going.

I've also found this is a fun archetype to experiment with. Sometimes I'll swap in some Ranger bows and Expecting Mischiefs to emphasize direct damage, other times I'll swap in some more deck manipulation cards, etc. The possibilities are endless with Lore.

`@mduckworth83I also really enjoy traps and rangers (and play primarily solo). If you would be up for it, I would really like to see the list for the deck you mentioned above. Thanks!

Follow up question....When playing a deck like this in solo where are you getting your questing power from?

I can't speak for @mduckworth83, but there's a few options if you want to go solo. Throwing in some of the Ents can definitely help with willpower, as they provide great questing for a cheap cost, and the traps can keep enemies at bay while they get ready. Protector of Lorien is also helpful and there's plenty of draw to feed it. Finally, anything that cancels enemy or location threat is like an alternative form of willpower.

@TrialusI will try to remember to post the deck this weekend when I have some time. It's fairly similar to the one @TalesftCards posted here except I use Mirlonde instead of Haldir to bring my threat down, and use Rivendell Minstrel/SoBattle to splash in some tactics (Blade of Westernesse to give Faramir some more sting, and secret vigil to help reduce enemy threat and keep my own threat low).

Strangely enough, I've never had too many issues with willpower with these decks, even though I expected to. I rely on the Rivendell Minstrels and Mablung (both 2 wp each) for ally wp support.

As mentioned above, Protector of Lorien helps, the event cards that block out staging threat helps, and believe it or not, the Mirkwood Pioneer really helps. This is the deck that really taught me his worth.... when you can drop him to blot out the highest threat card in staging and then use him to quest/chump block. And of course, the Ranger Traps and Secret Vigil both reduce enemy threat.

One great thing about these decks that I didn't realize at first, is that because you tend to be locking enemies in the staging area and dealing with them there, you typically don't need near as many heroes and allies reserving there actions for the combat phase. As a result, I tend to quest with everybody, and use Faramir alone to take down enemies via Ithilien pit or Ambush. It's amazing how you don't really need to rely on the high willpower allies/cards when you don't have to worry about defense and everybody is questing.

I've actually only ever played these decks in solo... I figured that they would be tougher in multi since you can't control the staging area as easily with other players having high threat. Apparently, it's effective there too if this was being used against Carn Dum!!!

It's amazing how well these decks control enemies when well built and played.

@mduckworth83 thanks for the advice!! I look forward to checking out your deck, but no worries if you don't get around to posting it...the advice both of you gave above should get me on the right track.