The Great Eagles 2.0

• Versions
• 2.0
• 1.0

This update adds Song of Battle so now it is legal to play Support of the Eagles on Erkenbrand by using it.

The Eagle deck is rising again thanks to a few new cards added to its selection pool. This deck follows the long tradition of so many Eagle decks before it. It uses Hirgon to play the Eagles cheap and bounces them off to Eagles of the Misty Mountains which grows to be a huge ally. Then, Support of the Eagles makes either Bard the Bowman or Erkenbrand Voltron massively. This will be a fun and strong deck to play in a multiplayer game, especially with 3 or 4 players.

Opening Hand

The best cards to start with are Eagles of the Misty Mountains, Steward of Gondor, or ally Legolas. Those three cards give the best start to the deck. The Eagles Are Coming! definitely helps bring more Eagles out of the deck while Campfire Tales digs into the deck a little while benefitting the other players at the table. Valiant Sacrifice also grants card draw since this deck will often have allies leaving play.

Gameplay

The Heroes

Erkenbrand gets Hauberk of Mail, Armored Destrier, and Song of Battle so he can have Support of the Eagles. Bard the Bowman gets Support of the Eagles and Rohan Warhorse, to hit hard twice. Hirgon is the most thematic target for Steward of Gondor.

Early, Mid, and Late Game

The early game is mostly spent on getting Eagles of the Misty Mountains in play and shoving Eagles under it power it up. There are several ways to do that. Sneak Attack has myriad targets in this deck, but it can allow an Eagle to go under Eagles of the Misty Mountains instead of returning to hand. Flight of the Eagles is a new addition to the Eagle shell, and similarly to Sneak Attack it can also shove an Eagle under Eagles of the Misty Mountains. It also puts an Eagle of the North in the encounter deck to maybe be revealed later.

Lastly, aside from Vassal of the Windlord and Winged Guardian which make themselves leave play, Eagles can be used as chumps to get them under Eagles of the Misty Mountains if necessary. At some point you will have drawn a Support of the Eagles or two, and you should be set for combat basically. Gandalf is also there to reduce your threat or draw cards, whatever you need him for.

Tricks and Tips

• Always consider the different ways Sneak Attack can be used. Depending on the game state, great things could happen from sneaking in Gandalf, Meneldor, or Gwaihir.

• This deck doesn't put restricted weapon attachments on Bard the Bowman, so he can ride two Rohan Warhorses and attack 3 times with the Support of the Eagles boost.

• Bard the Bowman can be switched for Brand son of Bain if necessary. His readying ability can pair well with Warden of Healing and other utility allies.

Success

This deck has worked successfully as a combat deck in multiple games with other players. Once the Eagles are built up and Support of the Eagles hits the table, combat is pretty well handled. The deck can also quest for a bit in a pinch, with 6-12 being the range it might typically contribute. So it is a fun and solid combat deck with a little flexibility. It's enjoyable if you like the unique way that Eagles play.