HULK SMASH!!! (Grima's Hour of Wrath) 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

Like Bruce Banner, this deck is unassuming at first, but can suddenly explode into a giant rage monster that demolishes all in its path. Playing Grima's Hour of Wrath feels like strapping a nuke to your chest, lighting yourself on fire, and riding Smaug into the Pit of Doom.

This is an aggro deck, built around Grima, Gimli, and Hour of Wrath. It can generate a respectable amount of willpower, and wreck waves of big enemies in a single round. However, the more explosive feats it performs, the faster it runs out of steam, leaving you at the mercy of the topdeck and the threat dial.

General Strategy: Eowyn and Grima should pretty much always be questing. Frequently Gimli can too, since it is often beneficial for him to take undefended attacks in the early game, particularly when you have insurance through cards like Honour Guard, Close Call, and Warden of Healing.

Keys of Orthanc, Master Ironsmith,and Citadel Plate make for an ideal opening hand. The Ironsmith's ability procs if one hero pays "all of its resource cost. Not "all of its printed resource cost." At 3 cost, it's arguably too pricey. However, when Grima drops that cost to 2, it gets a lot more attractive. When Keys of Orthanc reduces that to an effective cost of 1... well, that's just ridiculous tempo and value.

I like to mulligan for Keys, but might not if I have enough damage-mitigators and/or healing.

Gimli is the prime target for Hour of Wrath's non-valour action. With Grima and Keys making its effective cost 2, it doesn't feel as bad to burn it on a single hero in the early/mid game. In fact, it can be a great way to get yourself out of an early combat jam, and bulk Gimli up at the same time. It is worth noting that the doomed effect triggered by Grima's ability activates before Hour of Wrath's other effects, meaning you can use Grima to trigger Valour mode while paying for H.o.W.

Valour Hour with Gimli and Eowyn is a sublime thing. If there is a more satisfying experience than flattening multiple hale-and-healthy Hill Trolls in a single round...well, there just isn't.

Westfold Outrider can take the heat off of allies, contribute to questing, or maximize H.o.W. value.

Secret Vigil and Favor of the Valar are included so that you can convince people to play with you and your Grima deck...maybe.

Still testing the deck out. Strongly considering the 3rd H.o.W. and Ironsmith (probably removing a Secret Vigil and a Close Call), but my draws have been good in the games I've played. Suggestions welcome!