Deck 1 -Sneak Peek (Lord of the Rings LCG)

So I am giving this blogging thing a go and decided to make my articles about constructing my decks. First up is a deck for the LOTR LCG that I have been playing around with for awhile. The purpose of the deck is to try and manipulate the encounter deck itself. I would say it is a supportive deck meant to be played in a two or more player environment of Lord of the Rings LCG. So lets get on with the constructing shall we?

First up, Hero selection.

Well any deck that is going to manipulate the encounter deck is going to have to begin with Denethor (Core). I will want Denethor peeking at the encounter deck every single turn and I will need quite a bit of card draw to enact the rest of the deck. For card draw I would think most would turn to Beravor (Core). While she would be good with card draw, I am looking further into the combos of the deck. Instead I am going to bring in Bilbo Baggins (THFG). I am going to try and put in some Secrecy into the deck so I am going to stop with two Heroes.

Next up, card choices and combos.

Let's look at the Secrecy cards, since I talked about adding it in. The three cards I have in the deck with that keyword are Resourceful (TWitW), Needful to Know (TRG), and Out of the Wild (RtR). With a starting threat of 17 the clock is ticking on the "golden range" to use these cards. I have four turns to play these cards before the costs increase to the normal cost. I want Resourceful out asap and this is the card I will mulligan for if I do not see it in the initial draw. With Resourceful attached I now have effectively three Heroes again and should be able to pay for everything in the deck. Place Resourceful on Denethor as he has the strongest survival rate of the two Heroes and will also need it for the Spirit cards he will later be in charge of playing.

Denethor is going to be given a lot of support in the deck to try and use his ability as many times as possible in a round and during the game. Cards such as Unexpected Courage (Core), Westfold Horse-Breaker (THfG) and Common Cause (Core) are going to allow him to use it multiple times. Supportive cards such as Henamarth Riversong (Core) and Rumour from the Earth (RtM) will allow me to know when it is a good time to use Denethor's ability or when to play a Needful to Know or Gildor's Counsel. Denethor will also be my primary target for Song of Travel (THoEM) as he should be the first one with Resourceful on him.

Bilbo also comes with his fair share of support cards. Fast Hitch (TDM) which will be used to allow him to quest/defend with Protector of Lorien (Core) and be able to use Common Cause once I attach a Song of Kings (THFG) to him. Good Meal (TRG) will mainly be used for Gildor's Counsel (THoEM) or the secrecy event cards if I am no longer in the "golden range". He will also get the second Resourceful when it pops up.

Gandalf (Core) (played using Sneak Attack (Core) if possible) along with Needful to Know will help me curb the Threat and try and keep in the "golden range". He will also help me facilitate card draw along with Gleowine (Core), Bilbo and the best card draw in the game Daeron's Runes (FoS). I will pitch excess attachments and any attachment before certain cards to Daeron's discard effect. As my attachments can be regained through Erebor Hammersmith (Core).

One Will of the West (Core) rounds out the deck to let me recycle cards if I have gone through the key ones to quickly.

Here is the decklist:

Hero (2)
Denethor (Core) x1
Bilbo Baggins (THFG) x1


Ally (12)
Henamarth Riversong (Core) x2
Gleowine (Core) x2
Gandalf (Core) x3
Erebor Hammersmith (Core) x3
Westfold Horse-Breaker (THfG) x3


Attachment (17)
Good Meal (TRG) x2
Resourceful (TWitW) x3
Fast Hitch (TDM) x2
Protector of Lorien (Core) x2
Song of Kings (THFG) x2
Song of Travel (THoEM) x3
Unexpected Courage (Core) x2


Event (21)
Gildor's Counsel (THoEM) x3
Needful to Know (TRG) x3
Out of the Wild (RtR) x3
Rumour from the Earth (RtM) x2
Daeron's Runes (FoS) x3
Common Cause (Core) x3
Sneak Attack (Core) x3
Will of the West (Core) x1


So there you have it my first blog and hopefully a somewhat in depth look at why and what cards.I chose. Please give me any feedback you have and I look forward to your thoughts. If all goes well I should have another blog up real soon as I created four decks this past weekend and find it interesting to spew out my thoughts on them.