I'm a Rider! 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

Gimli proves that he can ride a horse.

Combat-centric deck here, focusing on bumping up Gimli's attack and giving him Firefoot, allowing him to dispatch two enemies per turn.

Gimli gets Citadel Plate and Firefoot. When he is at max attack power, he'll have 13 attack strength (10 damage on himself thanks to the Plate and Vigilant Guard, +2 native, +1 from Firefoot), enough to smash an enemy requiring 6 to kill and have 7 'trample' damage left over for direct damage on another (or 5 with 8 left over, etc).

Mablung gets a Gondorian Shield and Spear of the Citadel. The Spear softens up Gimli's targets for better trample effect.

Gimli can tank an early game attack undefended, with Balin as an insurance policy. He typically quests, but he can defend 1 attack or so. Later on, I've had success using Gimli as a damage soak to take undefended attacks and remove the need for defense, if the need should arise. I had Healing Herbs in a partner deck to remove all damage from him at once, enabling this.

Use Follow Me! to be the first player in order to engage 2 enemies. Tireless Hunters also works for the same purpose and removes a shadow card, as well as creating a good combo for Mablung's resource gain ability (while Follow Me! on the other hand draws you a card).

We Are Not Idle is just there for deck thinning, but since you actually have 2 Dwarf heroes, if you don't need to do combat, or hold Balin back from the quest, you can use it to get resources too.

With 2 enemies engaged, Quick Strike works as a sort of double-feint, allowing you to kill both enemies before either has a chance to attack.

Honour Guard can also help while trying to put undefended damage onto Gimli, and Vigilant Guard can siphon damage safely too.

Defender of Rammas with a Squire's Helm is a very solid defender. The sideboard includes various other defender+defender's attachment options. I would keep this to 3x one defender and 3x one attachment for that defender. Various combinations have different advantages and disadvantages. Derndingle Warrior with Hauberk of Mail is probably the most multiplayer-friendly. Defender of Rammas with either the Squire's Helm or Hauberk of Mail gives the most immediate return for the lowest cost. I chose Squire's Helm here to allow the Defender to take damage from a direct damage shadow effect and survive. The Defender can also have a Spear of the Citadel.

In 2-player, the deck has succeeded versus Journey Down the Anduin and The Treachey of Rhudaur.

I also piloted a tactics-spirit version of this concept, with Éowyn and using Westfold Horse-breeders to fish for Firefoot, as well as a tactics-lore version using Gather Information and Thurindir along with other draw effects to get the combo going. I liked the leadership version best, and it seems to be the most multi-player friendly due to the excellent utility that Balin brings to the table.