GalaDuneHan (2H): How Do I Improve This?

By Aaron Youngren, in Strategy and deck-building

These decks are working very well, but I really want to win more, and level up as a deck builder. How could I make them better? Also, I saw the 2 handed thread, but I'm really looking for feedback, which is why I posted here.

DECK 1: CASH AND GUNS

This deck uses some Dunedain tricks, resources, and Aragorn to put expensive allies into play and kill everything.

Total Cards: (50)

Hero: (3)

1x Aragorn (The Lost Realm)

1x Halbarad (The Lost Realm)

1x Mablung (The Nin-in-Eilph)

Ally: (24)

3x Legolas (The Treason of Saruman)

3x Gimli (The Treason of Saruman)

3x Dunedain Hunter (The Lost Realm)

3x Gandalf (Core Set)

3x Beorn (Core Set)

3x Errand-rider (Heirs of Numenor)

3x Faramir (Core Set)

3x Westfold Outrider (The Voice of Isengard)

Attachment: (16)

3x Steward of Gondor (Core Set)

3x Gondorian Shield (The Steward's Fear)

3x Sword that was Broken (The Watcher in the Water)

1x Spear of the Citadel (Heirs of Numenor)

3x Horn of Gondor (Core Set)

3x Gondorian Fire (Assault on Osgiliath)

Event: (9)

3x Quick Strike (Core Set)

3x Sneak Attack (Core Set)

3x Timely Aid (The Redhorn Gate)

Side Quest: (1)

1x Gather Information (The Lost Realm)

DECK 2: HORSES AND RIDERS

This deck defends, but also puts cheap, high WP Rohan allies into play, which can then chump, attack, or trigger abilities if need be.

Total Cards: (51)

Hero: (3)

1x Galadriel (Celebrimbor's Secret)

1x Theoden (The Treason of Saruman)

1x Beregond (Heirs of Numenor)

Ally: (23)

3x Escort from Edoras (A Journey to Rhosgobel)

3x The Riddermark's Finest (The Hills of Emyn Muil)

3x Rider of the Mark (Road to Rivendell)

2x West Road Traveller (Return to Mirkwood)

3x Westfold Horse-breeder (The Voice of Isengard)

3x Northern Tracker (Core Set)

3x Warden of Healing (The Long Dark)

3x Gandalf (Core Set)

Attachment: (20)

2x Mirror of Galadriel (Celebrimbor's Secret)

3x Nenya (Celebrimbor's Secret)

2x Arod (The Treason of Saruman)

2x Firefoot (The Dunland Trap)

2x Rohan Warhorse (The Voice of Isengard)

3x Unexpected Courage (Core Set)

3x Elf-stone (The Black Riders)

3x Ranger Bow (Assault on Osgiliath)

Event: (8)

3x A Test of Will (Core Set)

2x Elrond's Counsel (The Watcher in the Water)

3x Stand and Fight (Core Set)

Here are some suggestions. It's hard to say too much without seeing the deck in action.

Cards you might want to add:

Feint - so good against big enemies or when you don't want to chump

Ride to Ruin - if Northern Trackers and Arod don't give you enough location control

Astonishing Speed - for quest pushes with all your Rohan allies

Hama, Elfhelm, and/or Eomund - They are some solid Rohan allies that you can play for cheap

Forest Snare - if you want some more Dunedain goodness and free questing for Halbarad. Might be too expensive though since you are splashing Lore

Cards you might want to remove:

Third copies of your unique cards in the Aragorn deck - except for cards you really need to make your deck work. Do you really need 3 copies of Gimli, Beorn, and Horn of Gondor?

Escort from Edoras - Other than Horn of Gondor you don't have any leave play effects, so I'd rather have Arwen or Bilbo for a comparable questing ally.

Ranger Bow - Are you attaching this to your heroes? That's not a great use of their actions, especially considering you can't even play Ranger Bow until you get Nenya.

Good thoughts! You're right about the 3x's in the Aragorn deck. I'm nervous to get rid of them, but maybe replacing them all with feint would be helpful.

Quick question on Escort from Edoras: 4WP for 1 resource seems like an incredible bargain to me (free with Horn of Gondor! I play it on Galadriel). Is the thought that 2 consistent WP @ 2 resources is better than 4 for 1?

Quick question on Escort from Edoras: 4WP for 1 resource seems like an incredible bargain to me (free with Horn of Gondor! I play it on Galadriel). Is the thought that 2 consistent WP @ 2 resources is better than 4 for 1?

Right. Part of it depends on the pace of the quest and how many rounds are left in the game, but certainly early on I would rather how a constant 2 WP ally than just the one turn of 4 WP. Sure, Escort only costs 1 with Theoden (if you only play 1 ally that turn), but it still costs a card. If you get 5 turns of questing with the 2 WP ally, that's 10 willpower for 2 resources and 1 card instead of 4 willpower for 1 resource and 1 card. Plus you get the benefit of Arwen's ability.

Another card I thought about is Guthlaf. He would only cost 1 with Theoden and he'd have sentinel too.

Also, I just noticed the Timely Aids. I've never used them before in a non-secrecy deck. Do you find them to be worthwhile? I can't imagine spending 4 resources to play a Timely Aid and then whiff or only get an Errand Rider.

Escort: Yeah that makes sense. Maybe I'll try it both ways and see what happens.

Timely Aid was actually a late addition. I wanted to try them out because they function like deck digging at that point. They may totally whiff though.

Great feedback!

Wow. These decks are really cruising now!

  • The Galadriel / Theoden combo is absolutely amazing. Once I get Horn of Gondor on Galadriel, the whole thing goes simply banana balls.
  • Ride to Ruin was a fantastic call. Much thanks Teamjimby!
  • Favorite combo: Paying 1 for Escort from Edoras, Questing for 4, resolving the quest, playing Ride to Ruin to discard Escort from Edoras, triggering Horn of Gondor to pay 1 back to Galadriel. 4 WP + 3 Progress Tokens for 1 resource!

Here's the latest build:

SMASH AND GRAB:

Hero: (3)
1x Aragorn (The Lost Realm)
1x Halbarad (The Lost Realm)
1x Mablung (The Nin-in-Eilph)
Ally: (24)
3x Legolas (The Treason of Saruman)
2x Gimli (The Treason of Saruman)
2x Dunedain Hunter (The Lost Realm)
3x Gandalf (Core Set)
2x Beorn (Core Set)
2x Errand-rider (Heirs of Numenor)
3x Faramir (Core Set)
2x Westfold Outrider (The Voice of Isengard)
3x Snowbourn Scout (Core Set)
2x Descendant of Thorondor (The Hills of Emyn Muil)
Attachment: (16)
3x Steward of Gondor (Core Set)
3x Gondorian Shield (The Steward's Fear)
3x Sword that was Broken (The Watcher in the Water)
1x Spear of the Citadel (Heirs of Numenor)
3x Horn of Gondor (Core Set)
3x Gondorian Fire (Assault on Osgiliath)
Event: (9)
3x Quick Strike (Core Set)
3x Sneak Attack (Core Set)
3x Feint (Core Set)
Side Quest: (1)
1x Gather Information (The Lost Realm)
QUEST AND RUN:
Total Cards: (51)
Hero: (3)
1x Galadriel (Celebrimbor's Secret)
1x Theoden (The Treason of Saruman)
1x Beregond (Heirs of Numenor)
Ally: (25)
3x Escort from Edoras (A Journey to Rhosgobel)
3x The Riddermark's Finest (The Hills of Emyn Muil)
3x Rider of the Mark (Road to Rivendell)
2x West Road Traveller (Return to Mirkwood)
3x Westfold Horse-breeder (The Voice of Isengard)
3x Northern Tracker (Core Set)
3x Warden of Healing (The Long Dark)
3x Gandalf (Core Set)
2x Envoy of Pelargir (Heirs of Numenor)
Attachment: (16)
2x Mirror of Galadriel (Celebrimbor's Secret)
3x Nenya (Celebrimbor's Secret)
2x Arod (The Treason of Saruman)
2x Firefoot (The Dunland Trap)
2x Rohan Warhorse (The Voice of Isengard)
3x Unexpected Courage (Core Set)
2x Elf-stone (The Black Riders)
Event: (9)
3x A Test of Will (Core Set)
3x Stand and Fight (Core Set)
3x Ride to Ruin (The Hills of Emyn Muil)
Side Quest: (1)
1x Gather Information (The Lost Realm)
  • Favorite combo: Paying 1 for Escort from Edoras, Questing for 4, resolving the quest, playing Ride to Ruin to discard Escort from Edoras, triggering Horn of Gondor to pay 1 back to Galadriel. 4 WP + 3 Progress Tokens for 1 resource!

Doesn't work - once you resolve the quest, the Escort is automatically discarded by his forced effect before you have an action window to play Ride to Ruin.

Yeah, unfortunately you can't use Ride to Ruin on the Escorts. But they are still good on Snowborne scouts, Horse-Breeders, and Eomund (when you need to ready all your Rohan characters).

Ah nuts. I thought the Escort's discard was "at the end of the quest phase" for some reason. But Teamjimby, you're right, the possibilities are still pretty nutters.

Edited by eucatastrophe

Rohan is my favorite tribe and I have built more Rohan decks than any other type. I think that Galadriel is one of the best Rohan heroes out there because her card draw and ability to let allies quest without exhausting both work amazingly well with Rohan. Theoden/Galadriel is outstanding.

Personally, here are the changes I would make to the second deck (I don't have a lot of input on first deck). Cut Firefoot and reduce other horses to one copy. Increase Mirror to 3. Firefoot is not good enough for cost and with mirror and horse breeder you will find mounts. With 3 UC, you don't really need more than 1 warhorse. Then add 3 copies of Eomund, as he is awesome at discount, especially with ride to ruin as Teamjimby said. I would also swap 1 rider of the mark for 1 astonishing speed as you can fetch with side quest or mirror and at the right time it can just beat a quest.

"Galadriel is one of the best Rohan heroes out there" -- Exactly!

Great suggestions. Yeah, Firefoot has proven hard to justify. I haven't had the trample moment yet, and he really is too darn expensive. Great input! Thanks!

Edited by eucatastrophe