I have a thing for high-statted allies, so I want to like this guy. But my problem with it is that its ability makes it look like it's meant to be a questing ally, but the amount of work you have to do to make it worth 4 resources and a deck slot is too much. Let's compare it to Ranger of Cardolan from the same cycle.
- They have the same traits, cost and stats apart from .
- Ranger of Cardolan's stats don't require any setup. In order to get Warden of Annúminas to have the same , you need to be engaged with 2 enemies. And in order for it to be higher, you have to be engaged with 3 enemies, which isn't easy even in a Dúnedain deck. And even then, you're spending resources/defenders on dealing with 3 enemies, while you could be using those defenders to quest instead and make up for the difference in anyway.
- Ranger of Cardolan, being neutral, can be paid for with any resources while this has to be paid for with .
- Ranger of Cardolan's ability is an upside that allows it to be brought into play more cheaply. Warden of Annúminas' ability is... usually a downside.
So in conclusion, if you're playing and you want a Dúnedain with good questing stats, you're better off picking Ranger of Cardolan. And if you're playing and you want a Dúnedain with good battle stats, you're better off picking... yep, Ranger of Cardolan.
PS: Warden of Annúminas even loses when you compare it to Guardian of Arnor and Fornost Bowman, which are the other Dúnedain from this cycle with a similar ability. The Guardian and Bowman each have base 1 in all of their stats, so comparing the Warden to them, you're paying 1 extra resource for 1 extra point in and , but you also get base 0 instead of 1 for the stat that its ability increases; and if you're playing an ally for its questing ability, then and aren't what you want to be paying for. If Warden of Annúminas had 3 cost, 1 and 1 , even if it still had 0 base , I would feel much better about putting it in a deck.