Saruman The Magnificent! 4.0

• Versions
• 4.0
• 3.0

This deck, is a tribute to the most misunderstood and historically oppressed hero of them all. Saruman the Great! Saruman the Magnificent! Leading his host of Men of the West, wielding the Ring of Power, using the power of the secret flame to defeat all! Saruman as Tolkien secretly intended.. (he told me).

This deck requires a methodical approach. You'll need to build some comfort around knowing when to take risks and when to play it safe. The large sideboard is really for flavour depending on the number of players and scenario nuances.

Very playable solo, but even more fun supporting the minor characters in your story (those other players and their supporting cast/heroes like Aragorn, Galadriel, Frodo and the like - remember, you are the main character).

Heavily recommended you immerse yourself in the experience by embracing that "main-character energy". Roleplaying your superiority and being in character has a very high correlation with scenario success rate... and bonus points if you manage to doom-out or threat-eliminate a colleague during the last turn, ensuring victory is undeniably yours and yours alone if possible. Classy move for the classiest of heroes!

EDIT: I see some of you how doubted the veracity of Tolkien's secret writings entrusted to me... so I have included select passages:

The air was heavy with the weight of doom as Frodo Baggins stood at the edge of the Land of Shadow, the dark fires of Mount Doom flickering in the distance, casting an ominous glow upon the desolate plains of Mordor. He had come so far, through perils uncounted, through trials that had tested the very marrow of his being. The fires of Mount Doom called to him, but they were distant, and his legs felt weak beneath him. The weight of the Ring was too much, and his heart quailed before its dark power. He faltered, sinking to his knees upon the ashen ground, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. As he sat there, consumed by despair and weariness, a shadow fell upon the land, a figure approaching from the east. Saruman of Many Colours, lost but not wholly fallen, walked toward Frodo. "Frodo Baggins," Saruman’s voice rang out, "I see the burden you carry, and the weight that presses upon your heart. You have borne this evil longer than any other could. But now, I see you falter, and I know that this task is beyond you. No mortal can carry such a burden alone."

Frodo lifted his head slowly, his eyes hollow with weariness. "I cannot do it," he whispered. "I cannot destroy it. The Ring is too strong, and I... I am too weak."

Saruman stood before him, "You are not weak, Frodo. You have endured more than any could have expected. But now the time has come for another to take up this burden. You are not meant to carry the Ring alone. The time has passed for you. The time has come for the Free Peoples to stand together."

Frodo looked down at the Ring in his hand, its power thrumming in his palm. The thought of giving it away was painful, yet a strange sense of relief washed over him. "You..." Frodo hesitated, struggling to find the words. "You would take it from me?"

Saruman nodded, his eyes dark with understanding. "I have sought the power of the Ring before, Frodo, and I know its danger. But I have learned much in my fall." Saruman donned the Ring, and its power surged through him. He could feel the darkness of the land around him bend to his will. But he also felt the weight of the Ring’s history and the danger it posed. Saruman knew he had to use it carefully—never to be consumed by it. Instead of seeking dominion, he sought the strength to unite the fractured forces of the West, to forge an alliance that could stand against the ever-growing shadow of Mordor.

<...>

As the battle at the Black Gate raged, Saruman stood at the forefront. His eyes glowed with an unnatural fire, the Ring whispering its promises of dominion, but he ignored its calls. Instead, he used its power to bind Sauron’s gaze upon him, drawing the Dark Lord's attention away from the true threat. The forces of Sauron, distracted and disoriented, faltered. In that moment, when the armies of the West pressed forward, Saruman led the charge. He wielded not just the power of the Ring, but his mind—tactical, cunning, and focused on the greater good. The war was long, but with the Ring in his grasp, Saruman used it to turn the tide. The Men of the West, now galvanized by his leadership and strength, struck hard at the heart of Sauron’s armies.

As the final confrontation neared, Saruman faced Sauron’s might in the depths of Mordor. The One Ring, now at the height of its power, clashed with the Dark Lord’s malice. But it was Saruman’s will, unbroken and clear, that shattered Sauron’s hold. With a final strike, he banished the Dark Lord's spirit, and with it, the power of the Ring began to crumble.

Saruman, standing victorious over Sauron’s broken army, realized the price of victory. The Ring, once a source of unimaginable power, now threatened to consume him as it had every other bearer before him. Knowing he could not keep it, Saruman cast it into the fires of Mount Doom himself, ensuring it would never again threaten the world.

Jokes aside... I think the start is fairly normal, with Grey Wanderer fishing out Strider, and the One Ring allowing you to start with Strength and Courage in your hand. So you've got a 47 Card deck with 3 Daeron's Runes, and 3 Deep Knowledge and other cards to really help you pick out the exact cards you need. The Evening Star has been crucial addition to address pesky locations that you can't annihilate with sheer force. And of course, with the addition of You Cannot Pass!, your ability to Flame of Anor and attack with 15 allows you to confidently handle most enemies.

As I mentioned... this deck has to be learned (unless you're familiar with Grey Wanderer Saruman). You want to carefully plan out what you use your first planning-phase resources for (as they dont require a resource match if they're not unique). Remember to Word of Command during planning so you can ready again using The Grey Wanderer. I've also found Scroll of Isildur to be excellent, despite it's cost, in multiplayer games where you can recycle The Wizards's Voice - but I did not include it because it is not something you want to see early or in solo games.