Second Breakfast challenge #11: Spirit, Shadow control, Arti

Questlogs using this decklist
None.
Fellowships using this decklist
None.
Derived from
None. Self-made deck here.
Inspiration for
None yet.
Card draw simulator
Odds: 0% – 0% – 0% more
The gameplay simulator is an experimental feature and is currently only available for those that support RingsDB development on Patreon.
Gameplay simulator
Round
0
Threat
0
Hand
In Play
Deck
Discard Pile
Log a Quest
Play on DragnCards

Ageolite 48

This deck was created as part of the Second Breakfast challenge, and the atributes had to be Spirit, Shadow control and Artifacts. If I had a free hand, the deck might have looked bit different. Also I only own one single copy of the original core-set, so I cannot include more than 1 or 2 copies of certain cards.

The heroes I decided to use were selected for the following reasons: Aragorn makes sense as some of the artifacts are meant for him, primarilly. In the end I decided to use only the in sphere Ring of Barahir as the others are off sphere and I did not want to go the obvious route using Bard son of Brand to get around it. Also Aragorn offered the most chances to get Lore into play. So I could include some of the artifacts in Lore sphere.

Glorfindel was mainly used to keep the initial threat bit down, the Spirit is not too strong when it comes to defenders, although Beregond did come to my mind, but I could not find a way to boost him that much. So I dediced to go keep the threat lower early on route. Plus with Thorongil he presents another way to get Lore, although one I would not normally pick. Unless I am forced for the healing.

Arwen Undómiel was selected as a means to draw a card plus to get extra resources. Plus she is a good for questing.

For shadow control, I decided to use the core set Hasty Stroke , along side the Silver Lamp which allows you to see what shadows you are dealing with and what you can let go and what to watch out for. Glorfindel is the ideal target because with Light of Valinor he should be easily ready at the start of the combact phase. A Burning Brand goes on Aragorn as soon as he has the Lore sphere. Finally for the shadow control, I included the Shadow of the Past as you can use it both to quest and know what you will reveal (I play solo), or to know what shadown effect you will get. And Jubayr also works as a shadow control mechanic.

Artifacts were bit tricky one, since I only have access to two spheres, I tried to include those in the deck, often just as one offs, as they are unique, unless I felt they are really that helpful or needed. Another issue is that some of them are guarded, which may make playing them more tricky, but I was able to get some of them into play anyway.

Good opening hand is with some card draw, ideally Elven-light which with Arwen makes for the perfect combination. Ancient Mathom is also good especially if teamed with the Light of Valinor.

Overall, I tested the deck against few quests and it is not the strongest one, but I won in the Peril in Pelagir, plus few other I tried. I admit Escape from Umbar took several tries, but I managed to beat that one, the trick was to have healing and be lucky not to get enemy swarmed in first few rounds. Other ones I tried are Across the Ettenmoors or Fords of Isen and few others. It does depend on first few rounds, but the deck seems to be working with the limitations imposed on it.

As always, feedback is welcome. I am still learning!

7 comments

Aug 22, 2022 doomguard 1976

base idea is solid for monospirit-notsecrecy

but there are many cards that can boost your deck, if you have them:

consider the The One Ring with Inner Strength, then you have a real solid defender from the start. if including Elrond's Counsel you will never rech the threadlimit. if doing so, you do not need the Silver Lamp

i like that you use 2 Song of Wisdom in addition to the 2 Ring of Barahir

hope there is something for you in my response ;)

Aug 22, 2022 NERD 808

It is a fan card, but don't forget about Glorfindel. He is a great option for Thorongil.

Aug 22, 2022 doomguard 1976

the original Glorfindel is also good for thorongil (if not better in this case) because he has many lore-cards

Aug 22, 2022 Ageolite 48

I do have Glorfindel in the sidedeck, alongside Aragorn and I mentioned it in the description, so it s an option.

@doomguard Thanks for the mentioned cards, I admit I was doing it on holiday, without a binder to look at the cards, mainly doing it by memory, so yes, some cards like the Tale of Tinúviel completely skipped from my mind! Although I do have a deck with it. And so did Miruvor. I do have it, but I never really used it, maybe I should start to consider it, thank you for the tip!

Dwarven Tomb is something I considered, but decided to skip, to avoid too many cards.

Silver Circlet I considered, but as I mentioned, the deck was built as part of the challenge and to beat Peril in Pelagir, and the quest is mainly battle quest, so I was like not worth the deck space. For that very reason. I hope it explains why I skipped it.

Silver Lamp I agree, it would not be needed, but again, this deck is a challenge response, and part of it is shadow control, which means this card fits that atribute of the deck, you can see the shadows incoming and act accordingly.

Shadow of the Past - very same reason as above, I felt I needed to meet the challenge atributes, otherwise I do not really include it. It can be a shadow control.

Master of the Forge and Gléowine I like, but the I thought it too risky, like what if I got them early on but had no access to lore? They would be dead cards in my hand.

Glamdring YEP very risky, I do not like guarded, but hey, I needed artefacts and it is artefact. So I just went with it. Normally I tend to stay away.

And I added the 2 Song of Wisdom to ensure I have access to Lore and did not feel I need 3 Ring of Barahir to hava dead cards in my hand. Light of Valinor I could justify 3 copies of.

And I love Elrond's Counsel and normally include 3, I mainly went with what I did due to deck space.

But thank you for the comments, I hope I bit explained in details some of the reasonings behind my choices.

And I am still definitely learning, so any tips are welcomed! Tbh, until recently I was too scared or shy to even post these decks.

Aug 22, 2022 Ageolite 48

Oh and the Rhovanion Outrider is great tip, and pity I forgot about it!

Aug 23, 2022 kjeld 641

Where are these Second Breakfast Challenges posted??

Aug 23, 2022 Ageolite 48

@kjeld youtube byweekly on Sunday, it is on the cardtalk youtube channel. It is always two decks, I am working on the second one right now, plus a quest you should beat.