A Nightmare of Riddles: 1 Lore 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

Like the name says: I used this to beat Nightmare Riddles in the Dark, solo.

There are 21 different Lore Events that cost 1, more than any other type and sphere for cost 0 or 1, and a surprising amount of synergy among them. The only other type/sphere/cost with more options is Lore Allies for 2, which there are 24 of, but most of those either are unique, or are logistical support with very low stats. (I mean, I'm not gonna run Master of the Forge in a deck with no attachments.)

To run this solo I needed a bit of a boost. Originally I chose Pippin and Thurindir, to enable Short Cut and Quick Ears to get rid of whatever I don't want. Then I added Glorfindel as the only Lore Warrior available, so that I can Coney in a Trap. As a bonus, Thurindir lets me pull one non-event card out of my deck right from the start. As another bonus, I don't need to block, because Glorfindel just heals me, and the 5 hp soaks up plenty.

After one try, I found I can't ever exhaust anyone for Cuts or Ears. Every turn, all my heroes are either questing, waiting to attack, or Peace, and Thought. It was just barely enough, right up until Riddles ended, and then it wasn't enough. I cut Cuts and Ears, and thus did not need Pippin. I figured I'd probably never trigger Rossiel's boost, but that I may as well try. (As it turns out, I got +2 from it, one time.)

With the space created, I added the best allies I could. Quickbeam and Treebeard are good questers with amazing attack, and Treebeard can ready them both. Mablung is a quester and can send one enemy back to staging. I expect to lose one or two while answering Riddles, but I think I'm okay if I can just draw one. (Turns out I was correct, on both counts.) Other good questers are in the sideboard, but Ents lose a turn and the others are either too expensive or less useful.

Once I reach Stage 3, things become terrible, and I spend all the resources I've saved. Two Expecting Mischief right before I move on is VERY useful. Two or three Noiseless Movement at once lets me use Arrows from the Trees, and Mablung can help with this. My one Song of Battle is for Bilbo Baggins, so that I can double down on Arrows and hopefully clear some enemies. I also have The Door is Closed!... Infighting that can help in a pinch... Ravens of the Mountain is entirely unreliable, but interesting once I get Bilbo back... Secret Paths and Radagast's Cunning, and etcetera. I don't need all of them to work out, but if I can get a few to work out, I can stagger through Stage 3 of the quest.

If this is run in a multi-player fellowship, many things can be done differently. I can go back to Cuts and Ears. Someone can play Mighty Warrior, and I can run someone cheaper than Glorfindel. Someone can run Denethor, or Leadership in general, and make Heed the Dream more useful. Plenty of other options.