Glorfindel Boost 15.0

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Here is a strategy for equipping Glorfindel and managing the early game for the "Foundations of Stone" scenario of Cycle 2:

Core Strategy: Empowering Glorfindel

The primary goal is to fully equip Glorfindel with the following attachments to make him a powerful all-around hero capable of questing, defending, and attacking effectively, able to defeat most enemies:

• Ancestral Armor
• Asfaloth
• Dúnedain Cache
• Dúnedain Mark
• Dúnedain Warning
• Light of Valinor
• Protector of Lórien
• Unexpected Courage

Attachment Timing and Resource Management:

• Initial Attachments (Phase 1): Play all non-Item, non-Armor, non-Weapon, and non-Light attachments on Glorfindel early.

• Dúnedain Cache: Can be attached later, but ideally before Phase 3 for maximum benefit.

• Ancestral Armor:

  • Option 1 (Early Play): Play it in Phase 1, costing 4 resources. However, it will be discarded at the start of Phase 3, requiring another 4 resources to replay if redrawn.
  • Option 2 (Delayed Play - Preferred): Avoid playing it in Phase 1. Instead, discard it before Phase 3 (along with other Item, Armor, Weapon, and draw cards).

• Protector of Lórien: Before Phase 3, discard 3 or 6 cards (prioritizing Item, Armor, Weapon, and draw cards) using Protector of Lórien to boost questing or defense.

• Will of the West: Play this event just before resolving Phase 3. This is a contingency for discarding your hand due to encounter card effects, which you have experienced frequently.

Allies strategies

• Arwen Undómiel: Play this ally quickly so that Glorfindel's defense is boosted, counting all the Goblin enemies that pop up quite regularly.
• Erebor Hammersmith: Play him after phase 3 to recover some of the attachments discarded by the phase 3 effect as quickly as possible. Therefore, check your discard pile to ensure there is at least one attachment there; otherwise, use Protector of Lórien and Will of the West at the end of phase 2.
• Faramir: He's an expensive ally, so avoid using his action before Phase 3. Ideally, try to delay playing him until the end of Phase 2, even if it means failing a few quests to gain enough resources to play him. Then, starting from Phase 4, you must use his action systematically to quest as quickly as possible and avoid the big enemies.
• Gandalf: Primarily played with Sneak Attack to give a boost to the quest if there's a stack of locations, or to kill a Nameless enemy from Phase 3 onwards during the combat phase.
• Snowbourn Scout: Allows for defense in the early game. Glorfindel is too fragile, and Beravor needs to draw when she's not defending.
• Gildor Inglorion: He's the multitasker. He helps recover a card faster, he quests, defends, and attacks, a very good support for Glorfindel. His drawback is that he is very expensive, but in my opinion, his price is worth his stats and his action.
• Bombur: Very useful when locations stack up; he's saved me several times. Contrary to what some think, he's useful in 6 scenarios of Cycle 2, in a few scenarios of Cycle 5 and Cycle 8, and one scenario from the Saga expansion "The Fellowship of the Ring."

Supporting Heroes:

• Beravor: Equipped with Song of Travel and Steward of Gondor. Her sole purpose is to draw cards each turn and accelerate the playing of Lore allies and Spirit cards. Use Steward of Gondor on Beravor initially.
• Théodred: Equipped with Celebrian's Stone to quest each turn and generate 1 additional resource. Initially, this resource is given to Beravor to play allies faster. Once Steward of Gondor is in play on Beravor, transfer the additional resource to Théodred. Théodred's resource can then be used to help play the attachments on Glorfindel. His primary actions are questing and resource generation.

Card Drawing and Phase Management:

• Maximize Phase 1 Drawing: Aim to empty your deck by drawing as many cards as possible during Phase 1.
• Delay Phase 2: Only proceed to Phase 2 once your draw pile is empty, as Phase 2 forces you to discard two cards from the draw pile.
• Pre-Phase 3 Discard: Before resolving Phase 3, discard the cards you strategically want to redraw after Phase 2.
• Play Will of the West: As mentioned earlier, play Will of the West just before resolving Phase 3 to mitigate potential hand discard.

Expected Outcome:

Following this strategy should lead to consistent wins, with the primary threat being a rapid succession of enemies appearing before Glorfindel is fully equipped. Your win rate has been approximately 10 out of 11 games.