Core Set Decks - Mirkwood Zero Defeat

banania 1813

Description

Heroes

Why those heroes?

Well, it starts from a few considerations.

  1. In the early game the combinations of sphere that worked the best were - because the latter was severely lacking in but could already punch some combat out, and - because you know "resources and cards" in a card game... So this one possible selection of heroes below threat 30 within that sphere combination.
  2. Why threat 30? Because of the infamous Hill troll of course! And also because it gives you time. Turtling was definitely the go-to strategy in the early life of the game.
  3. Thalin is under-estimated just because he can get rid of the pesky surging re-shuffling Eastern Crows. It should also help with combat as the decks are requiring that allies pull their weight on the department. They will.
  4. It just includes the best comboes of the Core Set Sneak Attack+Gandalf (probably still the best combo in the game), and the hard control A Test of Will+Dwarven Tomb+Eleanor+Strength of Will (if you don't use Eleanor). Yeah. Don't ignore Eleanor! Treachery cancellation, defending in a pinch, she's cool.
  5. Glóin was probably underrated (by myself) back then. He's crazy good.
  6. cards are really good in that cycle. Forest Snare enemies, help questing with Radagast's Cunning and Secret Paths, discard Conditions with Miner of the Iron Hills, draw cards with Gléowine... what else do you need?
  7. Faramir...

Piloting

Piloting is global.

Results

Our results:

  • Passage through Mirkwood: 1/1
  • Voyage Along the Anduin: 1/1
  • Escape from Dol Guldur: 1/1 (thankfully, Théodred was the prisoner, so we were a bit lucky yeah, Eowyn as a prisoner would be a definite loss)
  • The Hunt for Gollum: 1/1
  • Conflict at the Carrock: 1/1
  • Voyage to Rhosgobel: 1/1 (three copies of Lore of Imladris were included)
  • The Hills of Emyn Muil: 1/1
  • The Dead Marshes: 1/1
  • Return to Mirkwood: 1/1

We're having so much fun with those two decks that we have decided to keep using them until we lose! So far:

  • Into the Pit: 1/1
  • The Seventh Level: 1/1
  • Flight from Moria: 1/1
  • The Redhorn Gate: 1/1 I really thought it would be impossible but in the end it was disturbingly easy. Turtle, save on your 3 Test of Will, while exploring Caradhras in the staging area with your Trackers and Snowbourne scouts. Then breeze through last quest stages canceling those stupid treacheries. Faramir helps too.
  • Road to Rivendell: 1/1
  • The Watcher in the Water: 1/1 not difficult to resolve the gate of Moria riddle with Henamarth Riversong...
  • The Long Dark: 1/1 Eleanor cancelled all the Locate test treacheries haha
  • Foundations of Stone: 1/2 (see in the comments for defeat explanation)
15 comments

Feb 06, 2021 AlistairB 107

I'd been considering the challenge of putting together a Shadows-of-Mirkwood fellowship to tackle each quest in the first cycle, so I feel a bit one-upped to see this core set fellowship pop-up ;)

Apr 05, 2021 mtngrown 52

These are monster decks. I've been playing through Mirkwood progression style with a friend, we haven't done quite as well. Cards like Secret Paths and Radagast's Cunning can be literal game winners.

Apr 07, 2021 penninck 57

Wow, that is an impressive record.

Apr 07, 2021 LifezAGame 1

These look great. I am new to the game. I have quite a bit of content but I've been waiting to open most of it until I acquaint myself to the core systems. I will be building 2 decks out of 2 cores and playing through with a friend. This seems like a solid foundation!

Apr 07, 2021 LifezAGame 1

Any thoughts on what to replace -1xUC and -1xDT?

Apr 08, 2021 banania 1813

Probably more Wandering Took and/or The Favor of the Lady (two copies of that card is ok in that context).

Apr 08, 2021 banania 1813

@penninck thanks! We just had our first loss last night, because of a stupid turn 2 Sudden Pitfall that got rid of Glóin because I couldn't play any allies in the first two turns. Overly lame, we still carried on the quest but couldn't deal with the so we had to scoop and retry.

Apr 11, 2021 LifezAGame 1

Successfully completed the first 2 quests last night. Great fun. The second one was pretty epic. Thalin was MVP. Now to attempt Escape from Dolgoldur...

Apr 11, 2021 LifezAGame 1

Cracked open Return to Mirkwood and added +2 West Road Traveller.

Apr 23, 2021 LifezAGame 1

2 attempts at Escape from Dol Guldur last night. Failed miserably. We will reshuffle and escape the necromancer's grasp!

Apr 23, 2021 nelloianiro 995

After Nurn and Carn Dum, Dol Guldur is the hardest quest in the game, in my opinion

Apr 23, 2021 nelloianiro 995

I suggest Unexpected Courage for the deck, and Steward of Gondor for the deck.

Apr 23, 2021 LifezAGame 1

Both of those are already in the decks. I only have 2 copies of unexpected courage and dwarven tomb. I replaced them with 2x West Road Traveller.

Apr 23, 2021 LifezAGame 1

I'll probably try Dol Guldur another few times then just dive into my other content (Kazadum cycle and then all of the sagas) to tackle those quests and increase my card pool. I'm a noob but loving the game.

Apr 23, 2021 nelloianiro 995

oh man, I didn't see that looks like a good fellowship