The Hills are almost impossible to beat in Round 1, due to the need to actually see 20 VP worth of locations, and be able to put 18 progress on them. The most card efficient way to do this is to reveal 2x The Outer Ridge and 2x The East Wall of Rohan, for a total of 20 VP alongside Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw. We'll be using Legolas again to blow up some Eastern Crows to help clear out locations.
Setup:
Add Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw to the staging area
Deck 1:
Legolas
Dunhere
Eleanor
Hand:
Blade of Gondolin
Northern Tracker
Stand and Fight
Stand and Fight
Strength Of Will
?
Deck 2:
Eowyn
Gloin
Theodred
Hand:
Steward of Gondor
Unexpected Courage
Northern Tracker
Sneak Attack
Snowbourn Scout
Snowbourn Scout
Round 1 Planning:
Draw ? and Sneak Attack
Attach Blade of Gondolin to Legolas
Attach Steward of Gondor to Eowyn, and exhaust it.
Attach Unexpected Courage to Legolas
Round 1 Quest:
Commit Dunhere, Eleanor, Eowyn (Deck 1 discards), Gloin, Theodred (resource to Eowyn) (10 Willpower)
Reveal 2x Eastern Crows, surging into 2x The Outer Ridge (10 total Threat)
Round 1 Travel
Travel to Amon Hen
Round 1 Engagement:
Both Crows engage, one on each deck
Round 1 Combat:
Both attacks go undefended (no shadow effects). Dunhere and Gloin each take 1 damage. Gloin gains a resource.
Legolas kills both crows, clearing Amon Hen, and adding the needed progress to the quest.
Round 1 Refresh:
Raise Threat to X and Y
Round 2 Resource/Planning:
Draw ? and ?
Exhaust Steward of Gondor (5 resources total)
Play Northern Tracker
Deck 1 Play Northern Tracker
Round 2 Quest:
Quest with 2x Northern Tracker (clearing 2x The Outer Ridge, Amon Lhaw at 2/5 progress), Gloin, Theodred (resource to self), Eowyn (Both decks discard), and Dunhere. (12 total Willpower)
Reveal 2x Eastern Crows, surging into 2x The East Wall of Rohan (12 total Threat)
Round 2 Travel:
Travel to Amon Lhaw, exhaust Eleanor to play Strength of Will (4/5 progress).
Round 2 Engagement:
Optionally engage 1 crow, and the second also engages Deck 2.
Round 2 Combat:
Sneak Attack x2 puts Snowbourn Scout x2 into play, clearing one Wall
Each scout blocks a crows, and dies due to a shadow effect boosting attack
Deck 1 plays 2x Stand and Fight to put the scouts back into play (clearing the other Wall)
Legolas attacks and kills a crow, putting the last 2 progress needed on Amon Lhaw
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Dead Marshes (Solo, Round 1)
The Dead Marshes fall, beaten in Round 1 by a single Core set (as released):
Heroes (30 Threat)
Legolas
Glorfindel
Gloin
Hand:
Blade of Gondolin
Protector of Lorien
Sneak Attack
Gandalf
Sneak Attack
?
Draw: ?
Setup: reveal Evil Storm (no effect)
Planning:
Play Blade of Gondolin on Legolas
Play Protector of Lorien on Glorfindel
Quest:
Play Sneak Attack to bring in Gandalf. Draw 3 cards, which are discarded to Protector of Lorien.
Commit Gandalf, Gloin, and Glorfindel to the quest (12 Willpower)
Reveal Eastern Crows, which surges into Despair (no effect).
Discard a 4th card to Protector of Lorien, since this takes place before the errata.
Place 12 progress on stage 1, completing it.
Escape test:
Exhaust no-one, fail the test, add 2 resources to Gollum
Engagement:
Wolf Rider engages
Combat:
Take Eastern Crows attack undefended. Gloin takes 1 damage (and gains 1 resource)
Sneak Attack to bring out Gandalf again, reducing Threat by 5.
Legolas dispatches the crows, adding three progress to Stage 2, and completing the quest.
Exhaust Gandalf for the final Escape test, discarding 2 cards that do not beat Gandalf's Willpower.
Final Score: 25 (Threat) + 1 (damage) + 0 (rounds) - 0 (VP) = 26!
Heroes (30 Threat)
Legolas
Glorfindel
Gloin
Hand:
Blade of Gondolin
Protector of Lorien
Sneak Attack
Gandalf
Sneak Attack
?
Draw: ?
Setup: reveal Evil Storm (no effect)
Planning:
Play Blade of Gondolin on Legolas
Play Protector of Lorien on Glorfindel
Quest:
Play Sneak Attack to bring in Gandalf. Draw 3 cards, which are discarded to Protector of Lorien.
Commit Gandalf, Gloin, and Glorfindel to the quest (12 Willpower)
Reveal Eastern Crows, which surges into Despair (no effect).
Discard a 4th card to Protector of Lorien, since this takes place before the errata.
Place 12 progress on stage 1, completing it.
Escape test:
Exhaust no-one, fail the test, add 2 resources to Gollum
Engagement:
Wolf Rider engages
Combat:
Take Eastern Crows attack undefended. Gloin takes 1 damage (and gains 1 resource)
Sneak Attack to bring out Gandalf again, reducing Threat by 5.
Legolas dispatches the crows, adding three progress to Stage 2, and completing the quest.
Exhaust Gandalf for the final Escape test, discarding 2 cards that do not beat Gandalf's Willpower.
Final Score: 25 (Threat) + 1 (damage) + 0 (rounds) - 0 (VP) = 26!
How to beat Journey Down the Anduin in Round 1
The best solution I've come up with to this challenge is three players, and using a third Sneak Attack. For a single core set, it is relatively trivial to beat it solo in 2 rounds, using the same hero lineup and technique as Passage Through Mirkwood.
3 players, 2 core sets, 1 round:
Deck 1:
Legolas
Gimli
Thalin
Hand:
2x Blade of Gondolin
Horn of Gondor
2x Quick Strike
Blade Mastery
Draw: Veteran Axehand
Deck 2:
Aragorn
Theodred
Gloin
Hand:
3x Sneak Attack
2x Son of Anor
Gandalf
Draw: Steward of Gondor
Deck 3:
Eowyn
Dunhere
Eleanor
Hand:
Unexpected Courage
Stand and Fight
(other cards are irrelevant)
Staging: Reveal Hill Troll, Despair x2.
Planning:
Play Steward of Gondor on Eowyn & exhaust it
Play 2x Blade of Gondolin on Legolas
Play Horn of Gondor on Gimli
Play Unexpected Courage on Legolas (3 Spirit resources left on Eowyn)
Use Sneak Attack to put Gandalf into play, dealing 4 damage to the Hill Troll (5/9 HP remaining)
End of phase, return Gandalf to hand, Gimli gains a resource.
Quest:
Discard Son of Anor, Veteran Axehand, and an irrelevant card to boost Eowyn.
Use Stand and Fight to put Son of Anor into play, engaging the Hill Troll.
Commit Gimli, Thalin, Aragorn, Theoden (resource to Gimli), Gloin, Eowyn, and Dunhere to the quest (16 willpower), along with the Son of Anor.
Reveal 2x The Necromancer's Reach (Gimli gains a resource when the Son of Anor dies (total of 3), Gloin gains 2 resources, 14 total damage on heroes)
Reveal Goblin Sniper
Play 2x Sneak Attack to put Gandalf (deal 4 damage to Hill Troll, 1/9 HP remaining) and Son of Anor (engage Goblin Sniper) into play.
Play Blade Mastery to give Legolas +1 Attack
Play Quick Strike and have Legolas ranged attack the Hill Troll, defeating it and adding 4 progress to the quest.
Ready with Unexpected Courage
Play Quick Strike and have Legolas ranged attack the Goblin Sniper, defeating it and completing Stage 1.
Resolve the quest, adding 16 progress and completing stage 2.
Reveal 6 locations for the Forced effect on Stage 3, completing the quest!
3 players, 2 core sets, 1 round:
Deck 1:
Legolas
Gimli
Thalin
Hand:
2x Blade of Gondolin
Horn of Gondor
2x Quick Strike
Blade Mastery
Draw: Veteran Axehand
Deck 2:
Aragorn
Theodred
Gloin
Hand:
3x Sneak Attack
2x Son of Anor
Gandalf
Draw: Steward of Gondor
Deck 3:
Eowyn
Dunhere
Eleanor
Hand:
Unexpected Courage
Stand and Fight
(other cards are irrelevant)
Staging: Reveal Hill Troll, Despair x2.
Planning:
Play Steward of Gondor on Eowyn & exhaust it
Play 2x Blade of Gondolin on Legolas
Play Horn of Gondor on Gimli
Play Unexpected Courage on Legolas (3 Spirit resources left on Eowyn)
Use Sneak Attack to put Gandalf into play, dealing 4 damage to the Hill Troll (5/9 HP remaining)
End of phase, return Gandalf to hand, Gimli gains a resource.
Quest:
Discard Son of Anor, Veteran Axehand, and an irrelevant card to boost Eowyn.
Use Stand and Fight to put Son of Anor into play, engaging the Hill Troll.
Commit Gimli, Thalin, Aragorn, Theoden (resource to Gimli), Gloin, Eowyn, and Dunhere to the quest (16 willpower), along with the Son of Anor.
Reveal 2x The Necromancer's Reach (Gimli gains a resource when the Son of Anor dies (total of 3), Gloin gains 2 resources, 14 total damage on heroes)
Reveal Goblin Sniper
Play 2x Sneak Attack to put Gandalf (deal 4 damage to Hill Troll, 1/9 HP remaining) and Son of Anor (engage Goblin Sniper) into play.
Play Blade Mastery to give Legolas +1 Attack
Play Quick Strike and have Legolas ranged attack the Hill Troll, defeating it and adding 4 progress to the quest.
Ready with Unexpected Courage
Play Quick Strike and have Legolas ranged attack the Goblin Sniper, defeating it and completing Stage 1.
Resolve the quest, adding 16 progress and completing stage 2.
Reveal 6 locations for the Forced effect on Stage 3, completing the quest!
How to beat Escape From Dol Guldur on Round 2
In this case, we will need to use 2 decks, but can still use only 1 core set worth of cards (and perfect draws). It might be possible to get a slightly better score by using smaller heroes - but less than 2 rounds is still insane!
Setup: Add 3 objectives to the staging area. Reveal 3 treacheries with no effect.
Deck 1 (29 Threat):
Legolas
Gimli (Held Prisoner)
Gloin
Opening Hand:
Blade of Gondolin
Sneak Attack
Son of Anor
Blade of Gondolin
Feint
For Gondor
Deck 2 (26 Threat):
Eowyn
Eleanor
Beravor
Opening Hand:
Unexpected Courage
Protector of Lorien
Henamarth Riversong
3 other cards
Round 1 Resource/Planning:
Each deck draws a card.
Attach Unexpected Courage to Legolas
Attach Blade of Gondolin to Legolas
Play Henamarth Riversong
Round 1 Quest:
Commit Eowyn (discard 1 card), Eleanor, Beravor, Henamarth, and Gloin (11 total willpower)
Reveal Tower Gate and Iron Shackles (2 total Threat)
Attach Gandalf's Map to Eowyn (26 Threat)
Make 9 progress, completing Stage 1.
Round 1 Travel:
Travel to Tower Gate. Each player puts a 1 ATK Orc Enemy into play
Round 1 Engagement:
No action
Round 1 Combat:
Let both orc attacks go undefended. No Shadow effects.
Gloin takes 1 damage (2 resources)
Elanor takes 1 damage
Legolas attacks each Orc (ranged & unexpected courage), placing 1 progress on Tower Gate, and 5 progress on Stage 2 (5/15)
Free Gimli (1 damage), and add Nazgul (3 def, 9 hp) to the staging area
Pay 1 resource to Sneak Attack Son of Anor into play, engaging the Nazgul
Attack Nazgul with Gimli (3 attack) and Son of Anor (2 attack), dealing 2 damage (7hp remain)
Return Son of Anor to hand
Round 1 Refresh:
Deck 1 to 30 Threat, Deck 2 to 29 Threat. Deck 2 becomes first player.
Round 2 Resource/Planning:
Deck 1 discards Iron Shackles
Deck 2 draws a card (4 arbitrary cards in hand).
Play Blade of Gondolin on Legolas
Play Protector of Lorien on Beravor
Round 2 Quest:
Commit Eowyn (Discard a card), Elanor, Beravor (discard 3 cards), Henamarth (12 total willpower)
Reveal Tower Gate and Iron Shackles (2 total Threat)
Raise Deck 2 Threat by 4 to attach Dungeon Torch and Shadow Key to Beravor (33 Threat)
Make 10 progress, completing stage 2.
Round 2 Travel:
Travel to Tower Gate. Each player puts a 1 ATK Orc Enemy into play
Round 2 Engagement:
No action
Round 2 Combat:
Let both orc attacks go undefended. No Shadow effects.
Gimli takes 1 damage (2 damage)
Elanor takes 1 damage (2 damage)
Play Feint on the Nazgul, no attack.
Legolas attacks an Orc, and readies (ranged & unexpected courage), placing 1 progress on Tower Gate and 3 progress on Stage 3 (3/7)
Play For Gondor!
Attack Nazgul with Gimli (5 attack), Gloin (3 attack) and Legolas (4 attack), dealing 9 damage, defeating the Nazgul, and placing the final 4 progress on Stage 3.
Final Score: 30 (deck 1 Threat) + 33 (deck 2 Threat) + 5 (damage) + 20 (1 round, 2 players) - 0 VP = 83 - or 42 on average! Or 73 with normal counting.
Setup: Add 3 objectives to the staging area. Reveal 3 treacheries with no effect.
Deck 1 (29 Threat):
Legolas
Gimli (Held Prisoner)
Gloin
Opening Hand:
Blade of Gondolin
Sneak Attack
Son of Anor
Blade of Gondolin
Feint
For Gondor
Deck 2 (26 Threat):
Eowyn
Eleanor
Beravor
Opening Hand:
Unexpected Courage
Protector of Lorien
Henamarth Riversong
3 other cards
Round 1 Resource/Planning:
Each deck draws a card.
Attach Unexpected Courage to Legolas
Attach Blade of Gondolin to Legolas
Play Henamarth Riversong
Round 1 Quest:
Commit Eowyn (discard 1 card), Eleanor, Beravor, Henamarth, and Gloin (11 total willpower)
Reveal Tower Gate and Iron Shackles (2 total Threat)
Attach Gandalf's Map to Eowyn (26 Threat)
Make 9 progress, completing Stage 1.
Round 1 Travel:
Travel to Tower Gate. Each player puts a 1 ATK Orc Enemy into play
Round 1 Engagement:
No action
Round 1 Combat:
Let both orc attacks go undefended. No Shadow effects.
Gloin takes 1 damage (2 resources)
Elanor takes 1 damage
Legolas attacks each Orc (ranged & unexpected courage), placing 1 progress on Tower Gate, and 5 progress on Stage 2 (5/15)
Free Gimli (1 damage), and add Nazgul (3 def, 9 hp) to the staging area
Pay 1 resource to Sneak Attack Son of Anor into play, engaging the Nazgul
Attack Nazgul with Gimli (3 attack) and Son of Anor (2 attack), dealing 2 damage (7hp remain)
Return Son of Anor to hand
Round 1 Refresh:
Deck 1 to 30 Threat, Deck 2 to 29 Threat. Deck 2 becomes first player.
Round 2 Resource/Planning:
Deck 1 discards Iron Shackles
Deck 2 draws a card (4 arbitrary cards in hand).
Play Blade of Gondolin on Legolas
Play Protector of Lorien on Beravor
Round 2 Quest:
Commit Eowyn (Discard a card), Elanor, Beravor (discard 3 cards), Henamarth (12 total willpower)
Reveal Tower Gate and Iron Shackles (2 total Threat)
Raise Deck 2 Threat by 4 to attach Dungeon Torch and Shadow Key to Beravor (33 Threat)
Make 10 progress, completing stage 2.
Round 2 Travel:
Travel to Tower Gate. Each player puts a 1 ATK Orc Enemy into play
Round 2 Engagement:
No action
Round 2 Combat:
Let both orc attacks go undefended. No Shadow effects.
Gimli takes 1 damage (2 damage)
Elanor takes 1 damage (2 damage)
Play Feint on the Nazgul, no attack.
Legolas attacks an Orc, and readies (ranged & unexpected courage), placing 1 progress on Tower Gate and 3 progress on Stage 3 (3/7)
Play For Gondor!
Attack Nazgul with Gimli (5 attack), Gloin (3 attack) and Legolas (4 attack), dealing 9 damage, defeating the Nazgul, and placing the final 4 progress on Stage 3.
Final Score: 30 (deck 1 Threat) + 33 (deck 2 Threat) + 5 (damage) + 20 (1 round, 2 players) - 0 VP = 83 - or 42 on average! Or 73 with normal counting.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
How to beat Passage Through Mirkwood on Round 1.
With a perfect draw, it is possible to beat the first quest on the first round of the game, using only the cards from a single Core Set.
Heroes (27 starting threat):
Legolas
Eowyn
Gloin
Starting Hand:
Sneak Attack
Sneak Attack
Son of Anor
Gandalf
Stand and Fight
Horn of Gondor
Top of Deck:
Valiant Sacrifice
Beoren
Brok Ironfirst
Setup:
Add Forest Spider (2 threat, 1 def, 4 HP) and Old Forest Road (1 threat, 3 QP) to the staging area.
Planning Phase:
Play Horn of Gondor on Eowyn.
Quest Phase:
Pay 1 Leadership resource to Sneak Attack Gandalf into play, killing the Forest Spider.
Quest with Gloin, Gandalf, and Eowyn, discarding Son of Anor to boost Eowyn's Willpower (11 total willpower)
Reveal Dol Gondor Orcs (dealing 2 damage to Gloin, Gloin gains 2 resources)
Place 8 progress on Stage 1, completing it. (11 willpower - 3 threat)
Return Gandalf to hand. Eowyn gains 1 resource (2 total).
Play Valiant Sacrifice, drawing Beoren and Brok
Travel Phase:
No Action
Engagement:
Engage Dol Gondor Orcs (0 def, 3 HP)
Combat Phase:
Play Sneak Attack to put Beoren into play.
Take attack undefended (no shadow effect), letting Gloin die. Eowyn gains 1 resource (3 total).
Put Brok Ironfist into play.
Exhaust Legolas to attack and defeat the Dol Gondor Orcs.
Place two progress on Stage 2, completing it.
Reveal "Don't leave the path!" - search for Ungoliant's Spawn (2 Def, 9 HP) and put it into play.
Play Stand and Fight to put Son of Anor into play. Engage Ungoliant's Spawn.
Attack Ungoliant's spawn with Beoren (activated for 8 ATK), Son of Anor (2 ATK), and Brok IronFist (2 ATK), dealing 10 damage and winning the game.
Final Score: 27 threat + 9 cost defeated hero + 0 damage + 0 rounds = 36!
Heroes (27 starting threat):
Legolas
Eowyn
Gloin
Starting Hand:
Sneak Attack
Sneak Attack
Son of Anor
Gandalf
Stand and Fight
Horn of Gondor
Top of Deck:
Valiant Sacrifice
Beoren
Brok Ironfirst
Setup:
Add Forest Spider (2 threat, 1 def, 4 HP) and Old Forest Road (1 threat, 3 QP) to the staging area.
Planning Phase:
Play Horn of Gondor on Eowyn.
Quest Phase:
Pay 1 Leadership resource to Sneak Attack Gandalf into play, killing the Forest Spider.
Quest with Gloin, Gandalf, and Eowyn, discarding Son of Anor to boost Eowyn's Willpower (11 total willpower)
Reveal Dol Gondor Orcs (dealing 2 damage to Gloin, Gloin gains 2 resources)
Place 8 progress on Stage 1, completing it. (11 willpower - 3 threat)
Return Gandalf to hand. Eowyn gains 1 resource (2 total).
Play Valiant Sacrifice, drawing Beoren and Brok
Travel Phase:
No Action
Engagement:
Engage Dol Gondor Orcs (0 def, 3 HP)
Combat Phase:
Play Sneak Attack to put Beoren into play.
Take attack undefended (no shadow effect), letting Gloin die. Eowyn gains 1 resource (3 total).
Put Brok Ironfist into play.
Exhaust Legolas to attack and defeat the Dol Gondor Orcs.
Place two progress on Stage 2, completing it.
Reveal "Don't leave the path!" - search for Ungoliant's Spawn (2 Def, 9 HP) and put it into play.
Play Stand and Fight to put Son of Anor into play. Engage Ungoliant's Spawn.
Attack Ungoliant's spawn with Beoren (activated for 8 ATK), Son of Anor (2 ATK), and Brok IronFist (2 ATK), dealing 10 damage and winning the game.
Final Score: 27 threat + 9 cost defeated hero + 0 damage + 0 rounds = 36!
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