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sappidus 752
This multiplayer support deck was born out of an idiosyncratic urge to find another use for Erestor. Most builds naturally aim to generate some permanent board state as quickly as possible. While this is, of course, quite fun, I was wondering whether something functional could be made out of an event-heavy Erestor deck.
Once I got on that train, I figured I might as well use impactful events. But many are underplayed because of their cost, and I needed a way to pay. Well, the hero lineup here can generate 4 resources/turn from the get-go (a solid thing for that 10-card starting hand Erestor mandates). Bifur essentially always pulls Arwen's resource over unless one of the few events (that cost money) is in hand—what's nice is that you can wait until quite late in the round to do so, saving up for a Hasty Stroke until it's clear you won't need it.
So what are those expensive events? Gildor's Counsel and Risk Some Light are quite powerful effects that often aren't in decks because it's a feels-bad moment to draw one when you can't reasonably pay for it. But this deck is all about this situation, so, there you go. Out of the Wild is just straight up good even in the absence of other victory display shenanigans. The Evening Star I threw in because the synergy with Erestor is a nice bonus.
My favorite event here, though, is Message from Elrond, a truly mysterious card in most contexts but with some utility here:
- Got a Test of Will in hand that didn't have a use this turn? Message it away to another player just to get it shuffled back into your deck!
- Drew two of those expensive events and feeling sad you'll only get to play one of them this turn? Message can help you out! (especially with that huge starting hand)
- Way too early to play that 2nd copy of Will of the West? Message!
- Hate the Message? Arwen it!
The deck is seasoned with a pretty standard complement of solid allies. I never sweat it if I have to, say, discard that 1x Firyal or even A Test of Will—it's a sweet thing about Erestor, that he encourages a devil-may-care attitude about throwing things out, since in most decks you wouldn't have drawn those cards in the first place, so why worry? I did put in a pet card of mine, Mirkwood Explorer, as he's another one of those cards that is kind of expensive but best in play as early as possible. Erestor & Co. can get you there.
Obviously you'll need to put this in a fellowship that can handle questing (although the here isn't bad) and combat (although, as ever, Treebeard solves a lot of problems there). Like other support decks of this kind, it's probably best at 3–4 players… but it did surprisingly solidly during 2-handed playtesting (even being crucial during a Wastes of Eriador win), possibly because Gildor's Counsel and Risk Some Light are really good at that player count. Also, banishing copies of Intruders in Chetwood's Orc War Party to the VD is very satisfying.