One wizard to draw them all (ultimate edition) 3.0

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you woud beat the most quests in nightmare. only about 3-6 will be difficult.

Geez dude give that poor encounter deck a break, what did it ever do to you?

Nice Deck! Played it a few times aginst Ered Mithrin and Angmar Awakened quests in normal mode to learn all the interactions and won them all. Been a while since I played Glorfindel hero, and had forgotten just how good Asfaloth is. Only times I ran into problems was when Knights of the Swan didn't show within the first couple of rounds. Quests that needs early attack power will be difficult for this deck. Also, there was sometimes a bottle-neck effect to get the six cards without rescource match into play and also doing the Hidden Cache trick (which was new to me). I simply swapped cram for Lembas after a while. Burning brand also got replaced, since G-boy can't have three restricted (One Ring, Staff, Brand, which is restricted in its current printing) and you also don't need 3 shadow cancellation effects most of the times. Now, trying some nightmare quests.

in carn dum the brand is needed, all other quests, the ring/inner strenght is enough.

@doomguard I guess I am going to buy some in the next pod cycle :)

@Jtothemac Hehe. I guess I just lost so many times in Carn Dum that I had to create such a deck one day.

@Tegyrius Thank you! But I have one question. I did not know any errata for A Burning Brand? I heard rumors about a card, which make it restricted and does allow only one cancel per round, but this isn't official, is it?

A tip can be to carefully select the cards you play from your hand. When a 0-cost card is on the top of your deck you will always play it, but when you have a card in your hand, you have to keep it unless you really need it. The reason is simply because more cards increase efficiency of Drinking Song. Therefore, typically you don't use the pipe to get a Cram into play, but instead shuffle it back. For instance, in Carn Dum (very -heavy) you do not need threat reduction in the beginning of the game. Therefore, Elrond's Counsel and Woodmen's Clearing do a better job in getting shuffled back from your hand to draw into Asfaloth, Wizard Pipe or Knights of the Swan and play threat reduction later from the top of the deck. This does not grant you to play your ringwraits, but it increases the chances a lot.

A question about Gandalf: Can he play allies or attachments outside the planning phase? I thought so at first, but then guessed that "you may play the top card of your deck as if it was in your hand" means you can only play events from the top of your deck outside the planning phase.

@maedhros Yes, you can play allies and attachments outside of the planning phase with his ability. There is no rule preventing you from doing it.

It's my understanding that you cannot play allies or attachments outside of the planning phase unless the the card text specifically allows the playing of allies or attachments outside of the planning phase (Hirgon, Thranduil come to mind). Gandalfs text allows you to play the top card as if it were in your hand, but does not allow a special window for playing allies outside of planning. Thus, @maedhros's second analysis is correct.

@Jtothemac Yes, that's exactly how I interpreted his effect as well. Of course, Gandalf is still very powerful and offers lots of indirect card draw, but you might want to build a low cost, event-heavy deck to take full advantage of his ability.

OK. Actually, after some research, I am not really sure about this.

On page 12 of the rules instruction, it says under the planning phase is "the only phase in which a player may play ally or attachment cards from his hand." You are still able to marry this rule with Gandalf's text without attempting to Golden Rule the text.

The language is a bit narrow, because Sneak Attack allows you to "put into play" but not "play" (which is an important difference when determining triggers from card text). Also, as previously mentioned, Thranduil is a direct contradiction of the rule, so the Golden rule applies.

Still, that hardly effects the power of the deck. You just need to be a little choosy about the cards you play in planning.

Yes. I read that. But the point is more the wording of Gandalf. "play a card as if it was in your hand" can be read as "play a card if it meets the criteria of cards, that can be played out of your hand" or "play a card and consider it to be played from the the hand" (e.g. West Road Traveller).

Interpretation number 1 would not allow to play allies and attachments, because it does not overwrite the general limitation. Interpretation 2 would overwrite the general ruling, because it allows you to play any card. I totally see your point, though.

@Jtothemac : well, in this case you should drop Cram, Galion, Spare Hood and Cloak and Woodmen's Clearing by 0-cost events. Non of these cards is really important to fulfill your destiny, but do block your draw.

Gandalf reads: "Once per phase, you may play the top card of your deck as if it was in your hand." This is not a put into play effect like sneak attack or a phase action like Thranduil. So when can you play allies, side quests and attachments? Only in the planning phase. So, Gandalf doesn't allow you to play cards only playable in the planning phase in other phases due to his card text.

"Gandalf’s ability does not combo with Hirgon or Thranduil because they only target allies in your hand. Gandalf’s ability only makes the top card of your deck count as if it were in your hand at the time that you play it. That means it only works when you would normally play that card. To play an ally with Gandalf’s ability requires you to play it during the planning phase." --caleb community.fantasyflightgames.com

It's a devastating ruling in its own right, but towards the end it's pretty clear.

@Tegyrius Still, you could read the card "once per phase, you may play the top card of your deck. Period. This card is played as if it was in your hand". So it is not that clear in general as you say. But totally agreed with "Gandalf’s ability only makes the top card of your deck count as if it were in your hand at the time that you play it." both of you are totally right.

This means I had to create a fourth version of the deck. :(

if u want recommendations which Nightmare are challenging for this deck:

Escape from dol guldur (extreme hard solo, hardest ever for solo) mount gram (best way is NOT starting with gandalf) Return to Mirkwood A Journey to Rhosgobel (perhaps not doable with this deck, to few healing)

1. of hobbitsaga Stewards fear

would be interesting how your deck stand against These ones ;)

@doomguard first I am going to optimize it to the correct interpretation of Gandalf. If I am still able to bear Carn Dum 3 out of 3 times, I will think about trying these quests (except for Journey to Rhosgobel, because this is worst quest that has ever be created in my oppinion). But thank you for sharing your recommendations. I will take them into account! :)

Actually, after changing some cards and playing it correctly I beat Carn Dum two out of four games today. Both close wins. Also it takes MUCH longer until the deck gets its desired board state. I am going to wait until all six packs have been released. Maybe, I will find something else and then release the fourth (and final) version of the deck.

put in the other ringattachements and you should be fine.

and perhaps considr 1-2 zigilminer. with gandalf they ara good even without stargazer, specially when u have the hidden cache.