Please Doom Responsibly 3.0

• Versions
• 3.0
• 2.0
• 1.0

Introduction

While thinking about a Saruman solo deck that could work in practice (and not only on the paper ;-), I built this one. I found 2 other decks in ringsdb.com which are using that heroes configuration without any contract, but none included only official cards, nor tempered Saruman engine as this deck do.

The starting point is to try fixing two major problems I've experienced with Saruman in solo :

1) The propensity to include a catalog of Doomed events ("Oh ! Look ! I've forgotten this one that deals 2 damage HP !") to the detriment of the general balance of the deck and, in particular, of the number of allies and early defenders

2)... The propensity to include a catalog of Doomed events up to the threat explosion ! The important thing is the second part of the first sentence on Saruman's card : "When a player card effect would reduce your threat by any amount, reduce that amount to 1". Duly acknowledged...

Strategy

First, even though Doomed events brings economy and settling's speed, I used them here only when no other option exist or if Saruman (or other character) could benefit from an advantage (readying or whatever).

I like combos such as : Beregond defends > Saruman's Staff is exhausted to reduce by 2 the Doom value X2 to the next event > Beregond should be dealt 2-damage > Close Call's response cancels the 2-damage (you choose that value for "X1" canceling) while final Doom value (X2 = X1 - 2) is 0 (you know what I mean ? ;-) > Beregond's response reduces the threat by 1 (which is not by-passed by the Saruman limitation) and Saruman's readying response is triggered, so he will be free to attack.

If you're not facing ennemies able to damage Beregond, you can use Close Call to mitigate undefended attacks, or, thanks to Fast Hitch, to cancel damage dealt to defender Frodo.

Frodo's response helps Saruman to trigger Word of Command without any opportunity cost, or simply slow down the threat inflation.

Other threat reduction : Galadriel's Handmaiden, Elfhelm (great to mitigate the threat pressure of the quest or the scenario itself).

Sam Gamgee is an auto-include here, with its 1 real cost, its built-in readying response after threat raising, and its versatile stats.

Attachments to :

• Saruman : Saruman's Staff, Keys of Orthanc, Glamdring, The Fall of Gil-Galad.

• Beregond : Armored Destrier, Steward of Gondor and Unexpected Courage.

• Frodo : Stone of Elostirion and Fast Hitch.

Steward of Orthanc is thematic, easy to pay (neutral), quests at 2, feeds the Doomed mechanics and Saruman's readying engine, and draws.

The Ents serve the Fangorn / Isengard theme, help the heroes in quest and combat, and synergizes with Defiant Challenge. Treebeard echoes the readying sub-theme.

Errand-rider is Gondorian thematic and always handy in tri-sphere.

That deck is one of those rare ones which can conveniently include the combo The Fall of Gil-Galad + Fortune or Fate, in order to allow the Istari to go on-the-merry-go-round again.

Adjustments

Power of Orthanc and Waters of Nimrodel are good facing scenarios with Condition attachment or lot of direct damage. Stone of Elostirion is an auto-include against Temple of the Dupes. Legacy Blade is an interesting alternative for Glamdring when you're facing many encounter side-quests (cycle 5). Ancestral Armor is a little expensive for my taste in that deck in true solo, since the leadership resources are first spent to trigger the Frodo's response. However it could be nice in a multiplayer canvas.

I did not include Staff of Lebethron in the side-board, but if you're afraid of some bad shadow effect it could be a handy attachment (in complement to Armored Destrier), since it has the Gondor and Hobbit traits.

Mithril Shirt is sometimes appreciated by Beregond. Here I prefer using Close Call and the Arwen Undómiel bonus.

Feel free to adjust the number of copies to your likes and scenarios specificities.

Have fun !