make beorn great (again?)

this fellowship tries to make use of the big bad bear.

you cannot boost his defense, but you can reduce the attack of enemies and you can cancel damage, (and if needed revive him)

you get a -1 attack for most enemies from the start with Keep Watch taken and played by Thurindir explored by the ability of Alatar (with readying from Thurindir at cost of a wound as the contract At the End of All Things allows, or use the Blue Staff together with Rods of the Five)

then you can build a boardstate with Honour Guard and Loyal Hound that can cancel damage. the Loyal Hound can be payed with Radagast's Staff

Rods of the Five cost you +2 thread because of 3 istari around

if you do not have 6 Galadriel's Handmaiden replace 3 of them with Ethir Swordsman might be the better option overall.

do not hesitate to get sidequests into play (Blue Staffhelps) you can the most of them explore with wizardtricks the phase they come in (and beside their effect they boost Thurindir )

the biggest weakness of this fellowship is perhaps the overall willpower, the eagles are a bit slow of increasing these, try to get the Flight of the Eagles early (with Wilyador or Vassal of the Windlord)

if you know you need much willpower from the start, choose Rally the West as startingsidequest.