Challenge of the Wainriders Solo Progression 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

DECK NAME - Dark Horse Boromir

OVERVIEW - Just won this scenario 10 times straight using this deck. Basically, Boromir uses his readying ability along w Unexpected Courage and saves all his resources for the and Race Tests using Gondorian Fire and Blood of Númenor. Boromir is often able to win 3 consecutive Race Tests on the final lap. It's a thing of beauty. I usually win in 10-12 rounds with a huge come-from-behind win. Boromir is the definition of a "dark horse."

HEROES

• Arwen Undomiel - attach Celebrían's Stone, Light of Valinor, Silver Circlet, and Steward of Gondor. When she gets up to 7 she is able to effectively handle the Race Tests.
• Boromir - Boromir is the hero of this deck. Attach The One Ring, Inner Strength, Blood of Númenor, Gondorian Fire, Gondorian Shield, and 3X Unexpected Courage. He is used for attack and defense and for the and Race Tests.
• Galadriel - keeps threat low and accelerates card draw; also helpful that allies do not exhaust to quest on the round they enter play

STRATEGY

• SETUP - mulligan for Gondorian Shield and grab Inner Strength per the The One Ring. Also great to have A Test of Will, Bofur, or Long Lake Fisherman.
• FIRST ROUND - Optimally you can attach Gondorian Shield and Inner Strength to Boromir to get his defense up to 5. Discard a card for Arwen's resource ability and hang onto 1 resource if you have A Test of Will in hand. The worst early encounter card is Easterling Horse. A Test of Will is only ever used to cancel this treachery. A good first round play is to use Bofur's quest action and purposefully fail the quest (0 or worse) to get him in for cheap. DO NOT advance to 2B. It's okay to turtle on 1B for a few rounds. Even if your threat gets up near 40.
• RACE TESTS - Around round 10, you'll be making major progress (20 or so) and Boromir will have 10 resources in his pool. He will stomp his Race Tests (even 3rd in a chain). Use Boromir's ready action and his attached 3X Unexpected Courage to use him for multiple tests in one round. Arwen handles Race Tests.
• IMPORTANT - Do not try and carry over progress onto 2B the first time around. Make sure you only have to Race Test for 1 and that Gondorian Fire is attached to Boromir.
• DO NOT PANIC - I've had games where Wainrider Champion nearly lapped me before I started moving forward. When you get your board state up, Boromir will annihilate the Race Tests and whiz past. It's normal to not be past the second stage even 7 rounds in.
• CHUMP BLOCKING - do NOT chump block with 1-health allies; there is a shadow effect that deals a damage to the defender. I've included 2-health allies for chump blocking
• CARD DRAW - Long Lake Fisherman, Ancient Mathom, Galadriel, and Elven-light will nearly draw your entire deck by the end of the game
• Reforged - get Steward of Gondor attached to Arwen asap; use Elven-light and Long Lake Fisherman to push for it; you don't want to advance past 1B for a few rounds anyway, so no worries if you threat creeps up a bit. Obviously this is how you attach Celebrían's Stone to Arwen. 3rd copy can recycle a Thrór's Key or Ancient Mathom.
• Knight of Belfalas - one of the best early allies to play as he can help Boromir to kill enemies that engage early; don't put out your weak questing allies over this guy early; don't quest with these guys; save them for combat.
• Envoy of Pelargir - always use her response to add a resource to Boromir; Knight of Belfalas can recycle her from the discard pile at times.
• Thrór's Key - attach to hero as soon as you can (A Test of Will is more important early) and use exclusively on Crowded Track location (maybe Rocky Outcrop if it comes out early)

Enjoy!