Saruman Containment Unit

Questlogs using this decklist
None.
Fellowships using this decklist
None.
Derived from
Tame & Flame: a Radagast + Gandalf Deck 39 25 11 2.0
Inspiration for
None yet.
Card draw simulator
Odds: 0% – 0% – 0% more
The gameplay simulator is an experimental feature and is currently only available for those that support RingsDB development on Patreon.
Gameplay simulator
Round
0
Threat
0
Hand
In Play
Deck
Discard Pile
Log a Quest
Play on DragnCards

Glamcrist 1207

This is an extremely efficient magically themed Saruman deck with three heroes capable of keeping him in check by lowering your threat by 1 three times each round. I built this deck to pair with Tame and Flame for when we felt like having a true Istari Party.

Can be played solo (in quests where 15 cap willpower is all you need) but great for multiplayer by spreading those free Doomed card bonuses across the table. This deck convinced me Saruman is one of the best multiplayer heroes in the game.

Saruman gets Strider, Song of Hope, Saruman's Staff, Keen Longbow, Nor am I a Stranger, Wizard Pipe, Expert Treasure-hunter, Golden Belt, and Herugrim. With this set-up he can do 9 ranged damage a turn, 15 if you want to expend the cards and resources (feels very magic-y). The Wizard Pipe is to give perfect knowledge to your first Expert Treasure-Hunter a round.

Beregond gets Helm, Spear, Shield, Golden Belt, Song of Wisdom, Burning Brand, Thorongil, Unexpected Courage, Hauberk of Mail, and the Cram for emergencies. What's cooler than a wizard's bodyguard with a flaming spear? (how I picture the Brand + Spear combo)

Frodo gets the Red Book of Westmarch (usually this has to be Bartered, make sure you barter a free spear or helm), Rune-master, and Expert Treasure-Hunter. Use his ability on Saruman each round you can.

Galadriel gets Nenya, Unexpected Courage, Silver Harp, and Mirror of Galadriel.

The 1x Errand-rider is there to help smooth out resources. It is the only ally in order to preserve Strider and increase the probability of the attachment treasure hunt.

The Dunedain Remedies are the deck's healing (magic potions clearly).

Word of Command is foremost for the staff but after that can start completing the next most necessary combo. Use the Staff to play free Doomed cards across the table, see how powerful and fun they are, and watch your fellow players convert to the White Hand (or at least into Saruman sympathizers).

10 comments

Jan 27, 2022 Turgon 557

Have you thought about something like Master of the Forge or Haleth? I know they would decrease the effectiveness of Strider, but with all those attachments, you'd probably draw 4 attachments every turn if they were all in play!

Jan 27, 2022 Glamcrist 1207

@Turgon Haleth would be super fun in the deck! The reason I ended up with the ally being leadership is because the other spheres were too tight.

Jan 28, 2022 Turgon 557

Oh! didn't think of that. I guess you don't have much room in Lore. Maybe lose the Expert Treasure Hunter combo and the Keen Longbow? I think those allies would make up for the treasure hunter at least, not sure how much you need the longbow...

Jan 28, 2022 Progression 1

Isn't it a bit fiddly when you need Nor am I a Stranger before you can make use of Herugrim (and there is only one copy each)? Same for Song of Wisdom/A Burning Brand, Silver Harp/Mirror of Galadriel (you could use Mirror but as basically all cards are singles, so you always would discard something you need). Is your drawing engine (2x Deep Knowledge, 2x Power of Command and the combo of Wizard Pipe and Expert Treasure-hunter) so effective that you gather all your things fast and reliable?

Jan 28, 2022 doomguard 1963

Rune-master for only 2 signs seems a bit ineffective for me.

Jan 28, 2022 Flrbb 170

@doomguard It isn't. Dúnedain Remedy heals when jumping from one hero to another. That way it attaches to a(nother) hero, generating a resource. So basically it is one free heal per round (and a shift in the resource balance).

@Progression Galadriel will draw cards, too. But I also doubt that that is enough to get all the cards in time.

Jan 28, 2022 Glamcrist 1207

As long as I have a staff I usually use the first word of command to complete the mirror/harp combo. Then I can start completing the rest of combos. Two treasure hunters, Mirror, and Galadriel's ability is drawing up to five cards a turn, with Deep Knowledge and Staff draw scattered throughout. Might not be fast enough for some but I do find it a very fun and effective support Saruman deck.

Jan 29, 2022 doomguard 1963

its nevertheless only 2 signs. you can use them more often, but get both one of the signs and the runemaster on the table seems not very likely (or lateame-ish) to me. and if, mostly late in the game, you have both out do you need so much healing with an equipped beregond at your side?

Jun 14, 2022 VinnyBrasco 9

This deck looks superfun and creative!

I think you guys are underestimating the power of mirror of Galadriel... Top 10 cards with all the cards draw in there seems to me like a good % to get exactly what you're looking for... The reshuffle after action insure to get at least every turn a card you need for the ideal setup.

I think the Thorongil / Spirit Beregorn combo is brillant! Especially in a much needed threat reduction deck. Props

Jun 14, 2022 Seastan 42133

It would be a totally different deck, but in a multiplayer setting an Aragorn+Desperate Alliance combo might be an even more efficient way to circumvent Saruman's restriction. Maybe something like Saruman/Aragorn/(MotK) Galion. With no other setup, 1 copy of DA would let you send Saruman to someone else and clear 25 threat from doomed off the table, which takes this deck at least 8 rounds to do. Then when you draw a second copy, you can send Aragorn so someone else and clear out another 25 threat.