There's Elves and Elves

"'What do you think of Elves now, Sam?' he said. 'I asked you the same question once before — it seems a very long while ago; but you have seen more of them since then.'

'I have indeed!' said Sam. 'And I reckon there's Elves and Elves. They're all Elvish enough, but they're not all the same. Now these folk aren't wanderers or homeless, and seem a bit nearer to the likes of us: they seem to belong here, more even than Hobbits do in the Shire. Whether they've made the land, or the land's made them, it's hard to say, if you take my meaning. It's wonderfully quiet here. Nothing seems to be going on, and nobody seems to want it to. If there's any magic about, it's right down deep, where I can't lay my hands on it, in a manner of speaking.'"

This is a Fellowship to highlight many of the things the two Elven traits, Noldor and Silvan, can do, made from a single playset of cards (no more than 3x of any one card used). A brief description of how to play them, and some of the things that are being played across the table, is given. Click on any of the decks for a fuller account.

The Wise Silvans are based on one of my favorite decks, altered somewhat for 4p. They really need Lore access to function properly, so mulligan for Nenya, Song of Wisdom, or Wizard Pipe. Eventually, resource generation can be had with Hidden Cache, Expert Treasure-hunter, and Wizard Pipe, so draw lots of cards and use Word of Command if that will help get this combo going. This deck also starts with the highest threat, so use Galadriel and the contract to reduce it to safe levels.

The Sniping Silvans have a boatload of ranged allies. Destroying enemies should not be a problem. O Lórien! will mainly be used to play allies in this deck, though it can be used at action speed to help either Silvan deck. Argalad can help reduce threat, or he can participate in a ranged attack. Haldir of Lórien will get the Bow of the Galadhrim and Black Arrow from the Descendants of the Half-Elven, and Legolas can draw lots of cards. There is the potential to loop Host of Galadhrim; however, I have yet to do so. The Elvenking can go on Thranduil for some smaller defenses, but it's often not needed.

Glory of the Eldar days is a more conventional Noldor (read: Erestor) deck and relies on To the Sea, to the Sea! to play allies, and this is thus the mulligan target. Without all three Elven-light and Arwen Undómiel, it's not as explosive as it could be, but it can handle early willpower and still contribute a lot of stats with Gildor Inglorion, Galdor of the Havens, Elven Jewelers, and Eregion Survivors. The Survivors form a bit of a nonbo with Lindon Navigator, but the main need is to get some bodies out. I really like playing Elrond to get everybody a card, kind of like a Campfire Tales with stats, and he can emergency heal a hero or remove a condition attachment as needed too.

The Children of the Half-Elven deck focuses on all the attachments that are specific to the Noldor and Silvans. Elrohir is the main defender for the table, so mulligan for Elven Mail and/or Elven-light. Remember that Arwen Undómiel can give a resource to any Noldor hero, not just her brothers, so use her ability strategically (like funding the very important Asfaloth when drawn). I like to put Steward of Gondor on Círdan the Shipwright so you can spam Lords of the Eldar later (also boosting this deck!), but Elrohir isn't a bad choice either so he can defend repeatedly. Try to get Forth, The Three Hunters! flipped quickly for healing and willpower purposes. This may require an Elven Spear or Dagger of Westernesse on a sub-optimal character, but these can be discarded later when a fourth (or fifth with Golden Belt) restricted card is played on that character.

Other notes: originally I had a lineup of Arwen Undómiel, Glorfindel, and Erestor, and had Elrohir, Elladan, and Aragorn in the other Noldor deck, Aragorn being thematically justified by his long journeyings and association with the twins. This was a lot of fun. However, although I enjoy decks without treachery cancellation (at least in cycles where this won't instantly kill you), in 4p many treacheries are much worse, and I found it necessary to run 3x A Test of Will, so Arwen Undómiel moved on over to have a deck with stable access to A Test of Will. The increased questing power didn't hurt either. Alternatively, this may've been a good opportunity to run the widely-panned Aragorn, who would help location control from the beginning and be able to use his toys (and Thorongil) well. My only concern would be decreased card draw, but perhaps 3x Keen as Lances would be enough. In that case, adding Leave No Trace, None Return, and The Door is Closed! to the Wise Silvans deck would probably work quite well. However, I never explored this avenue.