Striding towards Victory 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

This is a secrecy victory display deck that can handle all facets of the game. It's designed as a multiplayer deck, but can work in solo (quest-dependent, of course).

Background / Theorycrafting:

Ever since Strider was released, I have toyed around with several 2-hero decks that make the most of it. Unfortunately all of the decks have the same problem - if you don't see Strider, they are strictly worse than an equivalent 3-hero deck. Then along came a lowly Hobbit by the name of Folco Boffin that problem went away. With Folco, you now have the safety net of running a 3-hero deck with the option of pivoting into a 2-hero Strider deck. Even if you do drop to two heroes on the first turn, you get to spend Folco's resource and net an additional threat reduction of 1 (or more if you have other Hobbits).

My Strider decks have typically focused on Glorfindel, since between Strider and Light of Valinor you now have two options to negate his downside. Also, Strider decks are best suited for secrecy, and Glorfindel's low threat plus access to Elrond's Counsel makes him the perfect hero for such a deck. For the second hero, I've focused on Silvan and Noldor heroes so they can make use of Light of Valinor in case Strider goes on Glorfindel. Ideally they would be a lore hero - to grant access to more secrecy cards - and ideally they should be able to both quest and attack/defend effectively. The two targets that shine for me are Argalad and Rossiel. Maybe I'll post an Argalad deck another time, but this deck is about Rossiel and her victory display shenanigans.

Purpose of the Deck:

This deck takes advantage of secrecy and victory display cards to create a well rounded deck. With the exception of healing, it covers all of the bases you want to see:

• Resource generation: Resourceful, Leaf Brooch
• Card draw: Gléowine, Daeron's Runes, Keen as Lances, Lórien's Wealth
• Encounter Deck Manipulation/Cancellation/Scrying: Out of the Wild, A Test of Will, The Door is Closed!, Celduin Traveler, Ithilien Lookout
• Double Digit Willpower: Strider, Celduin Traveler, Arwen Undómiel
• Modest Attack Power: Glorfindel and Ithilien Lookout
• A Strong Defender: Rossiel defending for 4 with A Burning Brand, Cloak of Lórien and Arwen Undómiel to potentially boost to 6
• Location Control: Asfaloth

The victory display shenanigans are much better suited for multiplayer because (A) you cycle through the deck more, and (B) all players can take advantage of Keen as Lances and the card becomes exponentially more powerful.

In multiplayer, this deck is best paired with at least one ranged attacker to ensure that Glorfindel has enough attack power to kill enemies in one go. Alternatively, if someone has Rivendell Bow he can lend his strength. It just makes me sad when he is still ready at the end of the round and his 3 has gone to waste.

Strategy:

The big decision will be what to do with Folco Boffin. The great part of this deck is that it starts at 19 threat even if you don't sacrifice Folco, so if you see Light of Valinor in your opening hand there is no need to get rid of him too quickly. If you don't see Valinor or Strider, then you can keep Folco around until you need to drop back into secrecy. If you only see Strider, it becomes a situational decision. Either way, Valinor/Strider always goes on Glorfindel First.

There are very few spirit cards in the deck, so Resourceful almost always goes on Rossiel. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd resourceful can go on Glorfindel if you have an abundance of spirit cards and/or you've used his resources to pay for neutral cards. Otherwise, prioritize playing the secrecy cards on the first few turns in case you get knocked out of secrecy later.

By the time you have played 2 total copies of Out of the Wild, None Return, and Leave No Trace, Keen as Lances becomes an amazing card. Sometimes this can be achieved on turn 1. I generally use Keen as Lances for the card draw, but threat reduction and resource generation may be appropriate at times.

You generally don't need to play more than one copy each of Leave No Trace and None Return. Once Rossiel and Keen as Lances are activated, they don't contribute a whole lot unless you are getting rid of a particularly nasty location/enemy. They tend to be the cards that I pitch to Daeron's Runes, especially if I ever have a second copy of either event.

Leaf Brooch always goes on Rossiel can be nice in the early game, but don't play it if you're not going to stay in secrecy. There are plenty of lore events to use it on, but beware of Daeron's Runes since it wastes your brooch for the turn. Try to play an event like Out of the Wild first before you use Daeron's Runes.

Lórien's Wealth is a card that rarely sees play, but it can work in this deck. Between Resourceful and Leaf Brooch, it's very possible that you will have more resources than you know what to do with. Lorien's Wealth is great in those situations and helps you dig for the key attachments in the deck. It can also be played on anyone, so it can be great in multiplayer if someone else is stuck with an empty hand and resources to burn.

Ideal First Few Turns:

Look for the secrecy cards and Light of Valinor in your opening hand. Strider is also good, but Valinor is better and having both only becomes important after Rossiel is ready to defend. Valinor should always be played if available, then Resourceful and the secrecy allies. Out of the Wild and None Return are the next priorities to get Rossiel and Keen as Lances turned on.

If you get above 20 threat and still have secrecy cards in hand, that's when it's time to say goodbye to Mr. Boffin. Just don't forget to use his resource on Strider, Asfaloth, or Gléowine before he departs. By this point, you can reasonably have Light of Valinor, Strider, a Resourceful or two, one of each secrecy ally, and 4+ cards in the victory display. With just those cards (which is not uncommon by turn 2), you can quest for 11, defend for 4, and attack for 5. A second Lookout gets you to 7 attack, which is enough to kill most enemies in one swing. By turn 4, it's very reasonable to be questing for 13, defending for 5 (with sentinel and/or no shadow cards), and attacking for 7-9. Not to mention Asfaloth handling locations.

Sideboarding:

Depending on the quest, the lack of healing in this deck can be problematic. If playing solo, you might want to include Self Preservation, Lembas, or Silvan Tracker. Try to avoid the allies if possible because they make Strider less effective.

If playing solo, scrying becomes more powerful. Risk Some Light is excellent, and Scout Ahead or Henamarth Riversong are also great.

Final Thoughts:

Before Folco came along this deck lacked consistency. If it didn't see Strider and Resourceful on turn 1 it could stall out. Even with Resourceful, it still took several turns to come online. Now, it is much more resilient and consistent, and can contribute effectively from turn 1. Just having Folco's resource on turn 1 makes a big difference, but the backup plan of sticking with 3 heroes (while still getting the boost from secrecy cards) is crucial.

A side benefit of this deck is that it feels thematically like a secrecy deck should. You might only have 2 heroes and 3 allies in play, but still have enough firepower to handle a quest. I find it much more enjoyable than the leadership-based secrecy decks that tend to spit out allies via Timely Aid and A Very Good Tale.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes! I'd love to hear what other decks other people have crafted with Folco Boffin and Strider.