Pair of decks that defeated all the Core and Mirkwood quests (for solo 2-handed or 2-player)

By TwiceBorn, in Strategy and deck-building

Posted at

This thread will most likely be of greater interest to newer players, less so for veterans.

A few months ago, I defeated all of the Core/Mirkwood quests using the following pair of decks 2-handed. The decks are built using only cards available in the Core set and Mirkwood cycle (I own 2 Core sets and also bought additional Core player cards through e-Bay… you can always copy/proxy the relevant cards if you don't want to buy them). Beating all 9 of these quests with the same 2 "Core/Mirkwood only" decks can be a real challenge, given the specific deck-building challenges presented by each quest.

I've had the following success ratio with the decks when playing solo two-handed (all games played in standard mode):

Passage Through Mirkwood: 1/1

Journey Along the Anduin: 1/1

Escape from Dol Guldur: 1/4 (Thalin was randomly selected prisoner in the successful game)

The Hunt for Gollum: 1/1

Conflict at the Carrock: 1/1

Journey to Rhosgobel: 1/3

The Hills of Emyn Muil: 1/1

The Dead Marshes: 1/1

Return to Mirkwood: 1/3

DECK 1

Heroes

Eowyn (Spirit)
Denethor (Lore)
Bilbo (Lore)
Starting threat: 27
Allies (19)
Northern Tracker x2
The Riddermark’s Finest x2
Daughter of the Nimrodel x2
Haldir of Lorien x1
Erebor Hammersmith x3
Gildor Inglorion x1
Gleowine x2
Henamarth Riversong x1
Miner of the Iron Hills x2
Gandalf x3
Attachments (18)
Ancient Mathom x2
Self-Preservation x2
A Burning Brand x3
Protector of Lorien x1
Forest Snare x2
Dark Knowledge x1
Fast Hitch x1
Song of Kings x1
Song of Wisdom x3
Song of Travel x2
Events (13)
Sneak Attack x2
A Test of Will x3
Hasty Stroke x2
Dwarven Tomb x1
The Galadhrim’s Greetings x2
Stand and Fight x1
Lore of Imladris x2
DECK 2
Heroes
Aragorn (Leadership)
Eleanor (Spirit)
Thalin (Tactics)
Starting threat: 28
ALLIES (20)
Snowbourn Scout x3
Faramir x2
Northern Tracker x3
Gondorian Spearman x2
Horseback Archer x2
Beorn x1
Vassal of the Windlord x1
Winged Guardian x1
Descendent of Thorondor x1
Landroval x1
Gandalf x3
Attachments (16)
Steward of Gondor x2
Celebrian’s Stone x2
Dunedain Cache x2
Unexpected Courage x3
Horn of Gondor x1
Citadel Plate x2
Song of Kings x2
Song of Battle x2
Events (14)
Sneak Attack x3
A Test of Will x3
Dwarven Tomb x1
The Galadhrim’s Greetings x1
Fortune or Fate x1
Feint x3
Lore of Imladris x2
Note: player/hand 1 would need to play Song of Wisdom on player/hand 2 for the latter to be able to make use of Lore of Imladris. I found that it was essential for both players/hands to have access to Lore of Imladris in Journey to Rhosgobel.
Giving both players/hands access to the Gandalf/Sneak Attack combo (player/hand 1 via Song of Kings) can be especially handy for reducing threat or dealing with Attercop, Attercop in Return to Mirkwood.