Santa's Elves 3.0

• Versions
• 3.0
• 2.0

I know we all think of Theoden as Santa, but Cirdan makes a pretty good-looking Santa Claus as well. Plus he's surrounded by elves! The Theoden-as-Santa thing is all a ruse, everybody, because I can tell you from experience that THIS Santa gives out gifts all game long.

For the last few years this has been my favorite deck and my go-to deck when I really want to beat something. This version has a few changes from my last one but the core is entirely intact. Santa and his elves are good at just about everything and have been for years.

I know there's an abundance of Noldor decks with these three heroes out there. What sets this one apart, I think, is its commitment to recycling disposable cards. So many of your cards are one shot uses that you'll get to see over and over again. It's really quite fun to spend the game handing out Cram and Lembas gifts to your teammates all game long as Santa Claus. A Test of Will, ally Elrond, and Elrond's Counsel will all make multiple appearances per game too. Make it a goal to see if you can play A Test of Will six or more times in a game sometime. Now that's powerful!

~Your key first round cards are Master of the Forge, Light of Valinor, Narya, and especially To the Sea, to the Sea!, which is the card I'm most likely to mulligan for. If you see an Elven Jeweler in your oversized first hand, and/or if To the Sea can get you a big ally in play right away you'll feel much safer should any unavoidable combat come your way. Being forced into early combat is the deck's biggest weakness so if you can keep them off of you for a few rounds you should be golden.

~These Noldor are all about recycling. It is ESSENTIAL for you to know where all three of your Will of the Wests are. Once the last one is in your hand make sure to play it.

~You only have one copy apiece of Glorfindel, Gildor Inglorion, and Galdor of the Havens. Glorfindel can be played from the discard pile but Gildor and Galdor should be played the turn you draw them if at all possible. If you know you'll be in for heavy combat you'll want to throw in a second copy of Glorfindel as he's your best option for killing anything.

~Lords of the Eldar is your safety net. Once you've found it you can afford it on any turn so long as you plan for it. It even can save your bacon if you somehow lose your last Will of the West and can no longer recycle. Once you reach the deck's bottom you can play it every turn.

~One of the best things about this deck is its flexibility. You can throw just about anything from three different spheres in here to tech against the toughest quests or to accompany other decks my friends are playing. Up against The Black Gate? Throw in all three Legacy of Númenor and Deep Knowledge and use the Dire keyword to your advantage. Need to find Thror's Map ASAP to have a shot against Attack on Dol Goldur. Done that. Does your fellowship's strategy depend on your buddy finding a specific card? Three recycling copies of Heed the Dream should do the trick. Could your mono-lore friend use Steward of Gondor, Santa to the rescue! You can tech for just about anything with this deck. I don't even remove cards when adding from the sideboard, because with Erestor deck size is hardly relevant.

I've seen this deck prove its worth against the very worst Sauron has to offer time and time again, andf all the decks I've made over the years this might be the one I'm most proud of making. Give your fellowship a gift this Christmas and bring this to your next game night.