Oh Come On, We Can Take 'Em 2.0

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• 2.0
• 1.0

"Oh, come on, we can take them!" -Gimli, The Two Towers (film)

Intro

If you enjoy Gimli's little line from PJ's "The Two Towers," when our favorite Dwarf proclaims to Aragorn that they can handle an overwhelming force of Uruk-hai banging down the doors of the Hornburg, then this deck is for you.

Lately I've been going for fun over power. Now, I think it's fair to say that for some people fun does indeed equal power, and for me it does as well... sometimes. Just not lately.

In this particular list (which I posted sometime earlier this year), Gimli has teamed up with Beorn himself along with a little financial assistance from Mablung, Ranger of Ithilien.

Opening Hand and Mulligans

The most important card in this deck is Vigilant Guard. With VG out on the table, Gimli can lessen the combat strain on Beorn while simultaneously boosting his attack. Gone are the days of Gimli needing to ride the razor's edge of undefended attacks. Let the Bear do all the hard work.

If you don't find Vigilant Guard then Honour Guard or Boots from Erebor can act as substitutes. While Dwarrowdelf Axe and Khazâd! Khazâd! don't do anything to help Beorn, their attack boosting capabilities can simulate Gimli's inherent effect and hopefully kill off early enemies in time for you to draw into VG.

Strategy

My favorite thing about this deck is that the strategy is pretty straightforward. Beorn is going to do all of the defending and Gimli is going to do all of the attacking. All of this thanks to Vigilant Guard and other cards like Honour Guard, Boots from Erebor and Horn's Cry.

This deck is absolutely abysmal in the questing realm, even if another player were to run Théoden. In case your friends are glaring at you form across the room when you commit Mablung for his measly 2 willpower, you have the option of tossing Grappling Hook on Gimli. Assuming his damage is high enough (which it can get hilariously lofty), you can pop the hook to power quest when needed.

It will probably be inevitable that at some point, Beorn will fall. He can only take so many defenses and you can only mitigate so much damage. In that light, Landroval can be found in the deck to pull the Bear back from the brink. While another copy or two might help the chances of drawing into the life-saving eagle, I decided to go a different route and offer alternative support options. Horn's Cry and Keep Watch can render a swarm of enemies close to useless if timed right while Thicket of Spears can flat out save a player's life (even you're own if you wish to keep your Bear alive). If you have the resources, which is surprisingly possible with the combination of Mablung and Proud Hunters, you can even play a well-timed Hour of Wrath to just lay waste to your foes with a rage-induced Gimli.

Conclusion

This is one of my favorite decks. It plays fast and loose and it is just fun to pilot.