A dùnhere secrecy deck

This is a solo deck based on 2 different but similar decks, brought together by the underestimated Folco Boffin: Seastan's Dùnhere solo and beorn's Dùnhere strider. Those decks are a bit old but this version uses the same strategy with new cards.

Seastan's deck: https://ringsdb.com/decklist/view/2482/dnhere-solo-with-tactics-eowyn-1.0

Beorn's deck: https://ringsdb.com/decklist/view/4391/dnhere-strider-1.0

I've tried this deck against multiple quests and it is fun to play, with a strategy that varies a lot depending on quest and card draw.

The strategy

The main goal of the deck is to use and abuse Dúnhere's ability to attack ennemies in the staging area. For that strategy to work we need ennemies to be in the staging area during the attack phase, which is achieved here by having a very low threat.

not having to engage ennemies has the advantage of (almost) removing the need for defense, letting us focus more tempo on questing, control, and growth.

The cost we have to pay is needing very low threat, which Éowyn's 6 starting threat and Folco Boffin's discard ability provide. Starting at 20 threat (and being able to lower it) lets us play Resourceful.

One aspect of the deck is the use of Strider, and the whole 2-hero strategy. In this deck, Folco's ability is optionnal. Often as not, Folco stays on the board until the end of the game. But sometimes it will be sacrificed, and the presence of strider and resourceful allows us to make that sacrifice without losing too much.

In that regard Folco Boffin often behaves like a Pippin with The Fall of Gil-Galad attached but without the occasionnal card draw, rarely like an empty slot.

Strider should be compared to Silvan Refugee and Light of Valinor, sometimes giving us both bonus and sometimes giving neither (but unlike Silvan Refugee, strider's bonus is available when we need it the most, and can come back if things go bad! It also boosts Golden Shield). It's just a 1-cost unrestricted attachment, we are not pressed to play around it that much, although it leads to some complicated and interesting decisions.

mulligan & early game

Since our starting threat is 20, we should look for Resourceful in opening hand, and try to play it on the first turn. Afterwards, it can only be played when folco has been sacrificed (or on turn 2 after successful questing and playing Galadriel's Handmaiden). Given the heavy emphasis on spirit in our costs, it should be put on Dùnhere

second priority is to play Strider on Eowyn, as an efficient 1-cost 2 for questing in the early game.

Third priority is to play attachments (Dagger of Westernesse, Spear of the Mark) on Dúnhere, to get him at 5 attack while attacking in the engagement area.

Afterwards we try to get down one of our 2-cost allies. We aim to get some attack on dunhere and good to start clearing the area, as well as getting down Master of the Forge or Gléowine to start digging for more tools.

midgame

We should soon have 2 attack attachments on Dunhere for 7 attack, as well as an Unexpected Courage for multiple attacks. Golden Shield lets Eowyn defend if necessary (Necklace of Girion and Strider or a copy of Unexpected Courage can help as well while still questing)

For card draw, we have Gléowine, Master of the Forge, Foe-hammer, Ancient Mathom and Daeron's Runes which can discard of extra copies of Golden Shield, Strider, and Dagger of Westernesse (extra Spear of the Mark can be discarded or put on Elfhelm).

lategame

in late game, engaging ennemies can become unavoidable. For those situations, we need some more defending and attacking potential, which are provided by Treebeard and Gandalf, which are flexible.

eventually getting down Warden of Healing is crucial against occasional damage. If folco is gone, Song of Wisdom on Eowyn lets her play lore cards and equip A Burning Brand to reduce shadow effects.

Dealing with stuff

locations

The deck has a lot of to deal with locations while dunhere clears ennemies. Staging area should not get crowded if the deck works well. But if locations stack up, Northern Tracker can help unlock the situation.

engaging ennemies

Sometimes ennemies will be engaged, because of very low engagement cost or because we have no choice. Sacrificing Folco can help avoid engagement, but it is also possible to assign an undefended attack to him and then use his action. Eowyn's ability can then be used to destroy the ennemy.

Once a few chumping allies or a golden shield hit the board, occasional defending shouldn"t be an issue. Quick strike can also be used to let Dunhere attack an ennemy before engagement checks, if the ennemy is about to engage and pose a problematic attack.

In late game treebeard and warden of healing can defend on demand.

treachery

this deck gets absolutely destroyed by certain effects, and A Test of Will should be kept available at all time if possible.

Folco being disposable is very advantagous in a lot of situations, taking all the bad conditions to the grave.

considered changes

cuts

Ancient Mathom might be overkill, Daeron's Runes can get stuck if folco is dead but Song of Wisdom hasn't showed up yet.

tweaking the number of extra copies of uniques to balance consistency versus redudancy

inclusions

Magic Ring for extra readying/flexibility

The Galadhrim's Greeting for threat reduction, in some situations lets us play a Resourceful or avoid engagement without sacrificing Folco.

A Good Harvest could replace song of wisdom (at the cost of A Burning Brand) and let us play Steward of Gondor, which is boringly strong)

Honour Guard can improve on the occasionnal emergency defense and protect Warden of Healing from direct damage.

Celduin Traveler could often be played turn 1 and might make a worthy inclusion.

Conclusion

This deck is very fun and interesting to play, creating complicated decisions and different games. It can come back from surprisingely difficult situations. It has the potential to make work my favorite hero Folco Boffin but could use tweaking from more experienced player, so don't hesitate to comment or make suggestions!