This is my second favorite solo deck to use. It can beat most of my solo-playable quests (untested against Journey Down the Anduin; protip: threat raising against the Hill Troll is a bad strategy). Kind of luck reliant, but it has a pretty good win rate. Sadly, now that I have Boromir, this deck isn't nearly as good as my doomed deck.

The Strategy

Treebeard. Just Treebeard.

What to Bring in From Sideboard

• [Forest Snare](/card/01069) in quests with giant/annoying enemies or for !&*# Methedras Orc
• [Protector of Lórien](/card/01070) in quests with 6+ attack enemies. Goes on [Erkenbrand](/card/08137)
• [Power of Orthanc](/card/07014) in quests with condition attachments
• [Waters of Nimrodel](/card/08145) is used for quests with bombs of direct damage (Rockslide from Emyn Muil, Wasted Provisions...) where I need healing as quickly as possible.

Starting hand

You'll want to mulligan for Treebeard, for the deck cannot attack without him. The only exception is for quests where you desperately need willpower fast (To Catch an Orc or The Antlered Crown for example), at which point Isengard Messenger, Galadriel's Handmaiden, and Celebrían's Stone are great. Quite possibly the best starting hand you can get is Treebeard, 2 Isengard Messangers, Ever Vigilant, and Legacy of Númenor. If you don't get Treebeard in your starting hand, you can use Ithilien Lookout to discard any enemies waiting to pounce on you.

Card Draw

Ancient Mathom is a cheap way to draw into Treebeard if you haven't drawn him yet, and Deep Knowledge is good for thinning the deck. The Seeing-stone is used to retrieve Power of Orthanc in quests with bad conditions, or Legacy of Numenor if you want a bomb turn. Once you get a couple of attacking and questing allies out, you don't need to bother with card draw: the deck has reached just about its maximum power.

Resource Acceleration

Grima makes this deck super good. Some examples of what you can do:

• 1 cost +2 willpower with Celebrian's Stone or Isengard Messanger
• 2 cost 2 healing per turn with Daughter of the Nimrodel of Self Preservation
• Turn 1 Treebeard

Keys of Orthanc usually goes on whoever needs it most when I draw it, usually Gríma. Legacy of Numenor isn't necessary, just play it if it would allow you to play a bunch of cards. The deck is rather expensive, but Grima makes stuff affordable, and once you have 6-8 and 8-10 on the table, you don't need much more outside of the occasional boss enemy or location.

Questing

Usually, questing for 8 with Éowyn, Grima, and an Isengard Messenger is enough. Once you get two Messengers in play, you can hold Grima back for "exhaust a hero" encounter card effects. Discard duplicate cards to fuel Eowyn if you need to empty out your hand or just want more .

Travel / Engagement

This deck has no location control (outside of Mirkwood Pioneer), and too much in the staging area spells doom. Travel always. Engage often.

Defending

Erkenbrand is guaranteed to survive any attack from an enemy with 5 or less , as he can cancel shadows. Healing allows him to survive 6 or less by canceling any shadow, then applying the healing before resolving the attack. Orthanc Guard is there for enemies who make 1000 additional attacks or when Erkenbrand can't cancel shadow cards that cause enemies to make 1000 additional attacks. Treebeard can also block in a pinch.

Attacking

Kill it with Treebeard and 1-2 allies with 2.

Most of the sideboarded cards here are the ones I'm trying in the deck to see if it works better with them.