1 attack is laughable. It's simply not worth the fuss. He obviously can't defend anything but crows ( and crows would be a big risk ). I'd rather be off with something else than bother to give this one another action.

Your argument seems to be independent of fast hitch. You are arguing that he isn't worth keeping ready because his ability might not trigger. Therefore, you are just better off questing for 2 instead of hoping to trigger the ability. Everyone else assumes that you would use his ability regardless, so fast hitch just means he can quest and you are getting 2 WP every turn from a 1 cost attachment.

i want a similar jacket for me ^^

Fast Hitch also is good for Peace and Thoughts, Ravens of the Mountain... Short Cut!!!

My initial arguement is that he is not worth getting a fast hitch. In my eyes - he still isn't. But you're free to do with him whatever you wish

I really like that they were able to create this new Merry to still complement the existing Hobbit archetype yet still stand alone as a very good individual spirit hero as well. I also like that they made his ability a bit more balanced by having it be a response rather than a quest action so that if your intent was to have him quest AND use his ability you have to use your readying effect before you actually know if an enemy will be revealed or not (assuming you're not running don't be hasty...which lets be honest...you're probably not..) A very subtle yet influential touch by the designers.

I will agree with those that say fast hitch is the most logical way for him to perform both functions of questing and potentially lowering threat. Is he the best candidate? I'd say no, that would still likely go to Sam...but when/if I drew a second copy he would definitely be my second target. Assuming you're running fast hitch in the first place (which i'd think you're running if you have 2 or 3 hobbits...only 1 not sure i'd bother taking up the space in my deck either). He's the most logical hobbit to put your second copy on. Pippin (regardless of version) isnt going to get it, you're obviously not using the tactics Merry which would have otherwise been a good candidate, Frodo is good but if you're using Frodo and spirit Merry it means you're probably not using Sam AND fast hitch unless you were also running songs which would be annoying so Merry can still get the second copy and Frodo. Fatty can take a hitch but dont think i'd give it to him before Merry, and lastly, Bilbo might be an ok pick but that "might" is heavily dependent on if you already have him loaded up with attachments to be a capable defender.

I've likely already gone on too long, but with my final point i'd like to say that I do like the artwork. A bit unconventional compared to the style of our other hobbit heroes thus far, but it reminds me a lot of the theme of the old forest scenario encounter cards. Variety is always a good thing.

Have people completely forgotten the hero version of Bilbo?

Have people completely forgotten the hero version of Bilbo?

While I personally did mention him, he's getting easier and easier to forget about since he doesn't really fit in with the other hobbits and his greatly exaggerated threat cost is hard to swallow as we experience small steps forward in power creep and increasingly more useful heroes with less drawbacks

It seems to me Merry is a very good hero. Repeatable threat reduction is not something to be taken lightly, and such a low threat cost makes him easily splashable, I see a lot of potential in this card. BTW, I was expecting a non-saga version of Merry to make its appearence.

I love the artwork too, very interesting style (even though I'm a bit worried since so far I haven't seen anything new from Giacobino, who is my favorite of the FFG artists).

Bilbo isn't just good enough for 9 threat: Beravor is a much better hero for that spot, while if you want hobbit synergy Pippin is clearlt the superior choice, IMO.

I know he can defend well with brand + fast hitch + cloak, but it's too many cards to have only medium defensive capabilities: 2 hp and 2 def require too many improvements IMO.

Merry is overpowered because it is not limited, using Fast Hitch and things like Dunedain Hunter... would take a Boromir I Merry II Pippin II deck for sure.

The Leadership event could be abused... you can have Emery played in loop to ensure you discard all your deck (Men of the West, Caldara, Stand and Fight, etc...) with unlimited ressource via Horn of Gondor... nice! I hope we are missing some essential words, like "the first time"... otherwise...

I hope we are missing some essential words, like "the first time"... otherwise...

I bet the Valour text says 'Rohan' ally.

Merry is overpowered because it is not limited, using Fast Hitch and things like Dunedain Hunter... would take a Boromir I Merry II Pippin II deck for sure.

The Leadership event could be abused... you can have Emery played in loop to ensure you discard all your deck (Men of the West, Caldara, Stand and Fight, etc...) with unlimited ressource via Horn of Gondor... nice! I hope we are missing some essential words, like "the first time"... otherwise...

I thought that at first, but I don't believe there are many situations where you can use him twice in one round. He specifically says when an enemy is revealed from the top of the encounter deck. So that would rule out Dunedain hunter, anything that searches the encounter deck, and anything that adds enemies to the staging area without reveal. There normally aren't action windows during staging, so you can't ready him. One exception would be at the start of the game during setup. You could theoretically use him then, play a fast hitch first turn, and use him again.

The only non-setup example I can think of is if there is a "When Revealed" effect that creates an attack during staging. That creates an action window where you could ready Merry. There may be some other similar scenarios like Hide tests that create action windows, but I think they are all scenario-specific.

The only non-setup example I can think of is if there is a "When Revealed" effect that creates an attack during staging. That creates an action window where you could ready Merry. There may be some other similar scenarios like Hide tests that create action windows, but I think they are all scenario-specific.

oo, oo, I've got one. Put the Tireless Ranger boon on Merry. Now give him Wingfoot. Boom! Now, for the rest of the saga, Wingfoot reads: "Attach to Merry. Each time an enemy is revealed from the top of the encounter deck, lower threat by that enemy's threat."

The only non-setup example I can think of is if there is a "When Revealed" effect that creates an attack during staging. That creates an action window where you could ready Merry. There may be some other similar scenarios like Hide tests that create action windows, but I think they are all scenario-specific.

oo, oo, I've got one. Put the Tireless Ranger boon on Merry. Now give him Wingfoot. Boom! Now, for the rest of the saga, Wingfoot reads: "Attach to Merry. Each time an enemy is revealed from the top of the encounter deck, lower threat by that enemy's threat."

Oh man... that would be legit. I would totally do that even though it's completely wasting the +1 defense. Although if you give him a Hobbit Cloak, your threat will certainly be low enough to give him the +2 defense.

I also realized that you could possibly trigger his ability twice if you reveal an enemy during staging and advance to a new quest phase that reveals cards from the top of the deck.

Well there's your Fast Hitch use, with Tireless Ranger and Hobbit Cloak he's a fairly stout defender.

Well there's your Fast Hitch use, with Tireless Ranger and Hobbit Cloak he's a fairly stout defender.

Pull this one out outside of the saga and you'll be my hero until the end of days <3

With a Dagger of Westernesse, he can also hit for 3 and you should get the full bonus most of the time given that your threat should be low.

I am very excited to finally replace Spirit Glorfindel in my Hobbit deck. Repeatable threat reduction makes a card like Leaf Brooch a much more compelling option.

With a Dagger of Westernesse, he can also hit for 3 and you should get the full bonus most of the time given that your threat should be low.

Spirit/Tactics Secrecy deck?! That would be a sight to see!

Risk Some Light or Shadows of the Past might be good choices for a combo. And let's not forget about good ol' Denethor, who seems like an obvious choice. Even the widely despised Palantir might be working with Merry.

Risk Some Light or Shadows of the Past might be good choices for a combo. And let's not forget about good ol' Denethor, who seems like an obvious choice. Even the widely despised Palantir might be working with Merry.

Yeah, he'll probably replace Splorfindel in my legendary Palantir support deck.

Here's a fun Hobbit Secrecy deck that I built with Merry:

https://hallofbeorn.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/deck-for-the-shire/

Here's a fun Hobbit Secrecy deck that I built with Merry:

https://hallofbeorn.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/deck-for-the-shire/

How could you not put Beorn in that deck? He should be in every deck you make, especially decks with Timely Aid and Elf Stone!

Merry is overpowered because it is not limited, using Fast Hitch and things like Dunedain Hunter... would take a Boromir I Merry II Pippin II deck for sure.

The Leadership event could be abused... you can have Emery played in loop to ensure you discard all your deck (Men of the West, Caldara, Stand and Fight, etc...) with unlimited ressource via Horn of Gondor... nice! I hope we are missing some essential words, like "the first time"... otherwise...

And how do you intend to have infinite ways to discard Emery?

Risk Some Light or Shadows of the Past might be good choices for a combo. And let's not forget about good ol' Denethor, who seems like an obvious choice. Even the widely despised Palantir might be working with Merry.

Yeah, he'll probably replace Splorfindel in my legendary Palantir support deck.

I'd like to hear about that deck (I am a a member of the SSSP aka Society of the Secret Supporters of Palantir). DId you post it somewhere?

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/113888-ultimate-support-deck/

Thanks!