The Blessing of Galadriel 1.0

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THE BLESSING OF GALADRIEL

"And Aragorn answered: 'Lady, you know all my desire, and long held in your keeping the only treasure that I seek. Yet it is not yours to give me, even if you would; and only through darkness shall I come to it.'

'Yet maybe this will lighten your heart,' said Galadriel; 'for it was left in my care to be given to you, should you pass through this land.' Then she lifted from her lap a great stone of a clear green, set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings; and as she held it up the gem flashed like the sun shining through leaves of spring. 'This stone I gave to Celebrían my daughter, and she to hers; and now it comes to you as a token of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!'"

--LotR II, p.485-486

DECK OVERVIEW

This deck resulted from trying to find good couples for 2-hero decks. I'm a big fan of Tale of Tinúviel so hit on the symbiosis Aragorn & Galadriel could have with it. I was sold on the idea when I realized Galadriel's effect could drop the heroes into Secrecy mode on the first turn. Otherwise, it's a pretty straightforward Noldor-Secrecy-Small Company deck. Check it, as they say, out.

PLAYING THE DECK

Mulligan for Timely Aid, Strider, and either Resourceful or Captain's Wisdom+a readying card (Cram/Unexpected Courage/Swift and Silent/The White Council). On the first turn, use Galadriel's effect to lower your threat to 20, then play Timely Aid & Resourceful or Captain's Wisdom+a readying card.

Galadriel, Gandalf & Elrond's Counsel keep the heroes in Secrecy. Resourceful & Captain's Wisdom provide resources. Timely Aid & Sneak Attack muster allies. And tons of action advantage let the small company accomplish several feats of greatness each round.

HEROES & ATTACHMENTS

Aragorn 6(13) 3(7) 2(6) 7 Leadership/Lore/Spirit
Attachments: Resourceful, Strider, Celebrían's Stone, Ring of Barahir
Strider lets him quest at +2 , then defend. Galadriel can play Tale of Tinúviel after he commits to defend to give him +4 and ready him to attack at +4 .

Galadriel 4 0 0 4 Spirit/Lore
Attachments: Resourceful, Nenya, Unexpected Courage, Cram, To the Sea, to the Sea!
Unexpected Courage & Cram, as well as Swift and Silent & The White Council, ready her after receiving resources from Captain's Wisdom, and/or let her use her action effect, and/or boost Aragorn's with Nenya, and/or ready & boost Aragorn's and for combat. Since Tale of Tinúviel is so key to this deck, The White Council can recycle it for up to 6 uses. Don't forget that Dúnedain & Noldor allies can also play or be targets for Tale of Tinúviel.

ALLIES & EVENTS

Muster Gildor Inglorion, Glorfindel & Gimli with Timely Aid; Gandalf & Elrond with Sneak Attack; and Ranger of Cardolan with his put-into-play effect. In this way, the permanent company size never goes above 5 characters: Aragorn, Galadriel, Gildor Inglorion, Glorfindel & Gimli. Since Elrond, Gandalf & Ranger of Cardolan are transient, Aragorn will usually get the +2 from Strider.

With a small company, action advantage becomes even more important. As noted above, Aragorn & Galadriel can take several actions each round. Additionally, Gimli & Glorfindel also have their own readying effects.

In the late game, discard duplicate allies accumulated to your hand to play Elrond, Gildor Inglorion, or Glorfindel with To the Sea, to the Sea!. By then, either Aragorn or Galadriel should have a icon to play Elrond & Gildor Inglorion from your hand. Dupes can also be discarded for Glorfindel's effect.

VARIATIONS

Swap Gimli for Halbarad to take advantage of the latter being a Dunadan, his cost discount, and his engagement control. They have identical stats and either fits the theme of the deck. Eldahir or Galdor of the Havens can work, too. Or use a mixture of Eldahir, Galdor of the Havens, Gildor Inglorion, Gimli, Glorfindel & Halbarad and let the luck-of-the-draw determine the heroes' companions.

With the high cost of all of the allies and duplicate copies of each, Taking Initiative could be an option for card drawing & direct damage. It's a very effective card, but kind of a crap-shoot in a deck with no player deck scrying.

CARDS BY FUNCTION

4 Resource Acceleration: Resourceful, Captain's Wisdom

3 Resource Smoothing: Celebrían's Stone, Nenya, Ring of Barahir

8 Card Drawing: Galadriel, Elrond, Gandalf, The White Council

6 Threat Reduction: Galadriel, Gandalf, Elrond's Counsel

8 Mustering: Ranger of Cardolan, Sneak Attack, Timely Aid

11 Willpower Boost: Celebrían's Stone, Strider, Courage Awakened, Elrond's Counsel, Tale of Tinúviel

3 Attack Boost: Tale of Tinúviel

3 Defense Boost: Tale of Tinúviel

1 Hit Point Boost: Ring of Barahir

2 Treachery Control: A Test of Will

2 Shadow Control: Hasty Stroke

19 Readying: Aragorn, Galadriel, Glorfindel, Cram, Strider, Unexpected Courage, Swift and Silent, Tale of Tinúviel, The White Council

2 Healing: Elrond

2 Condition Control: Elrond

5 Card Recycling: Courage Awakened, Swift and Silent, The White Council

7 Secrecy: Resourceful, Courage Awakened, Swift and Silent, Timely Aid

TOTAL COSTS

Actual costs with Secrecy & mustering:
8
12
0-6
10-20