Favorite card per sphere is somewhat broad. I choose to interpret this as the cards that I enjoy playing the most, rather than the cards that I find most powerful, or use most often.

Heroes

Tactics: Mablung

Why not Beorn?

I still enjoy playing Hero Beorn, but so many enemies have 4+ attack these days that I can't actually use him.

At some point I will put together a deck with Honour Guard and Horn's Cry so that I can keep the big bear alive. In any case, with all of the engagement-based effects in the new Dunedain archetype, Mablung is a lot of fun to play.

Leadership : Steward of Gondor
Spirit : Elrond's Counsel

Lore: Wingfoot

Tactics : Feint

Neutral : Core Gandalf

Not very original, but... I almost always end up including one of those in my deck (pure solo).

Leadership: Steward of Gondor, I love me some money!

Lore: Daeron's Runes, I like ditching uniques.

Spirit: A test of Will, cancelling those treacheries is just awesome!

Tactics: Eagles of the Misty Mountains, once buffed up and with two or three of these b*tches you can kick some ass! I quest with them also more then with other stuff in Tactics.

Neutral: Saruman. This doesn't require explanation. Together, my Lord, we shall rule this Middle-Earth.

We have same taste of the cards Gandalf

Hmm interesting thread. I think I need two from each sphere, fun and need.

Leadership:

Fun: Snowborn Scout ( best chump ever )

Need: Steward of Gondor

Spirit:

Fun: Northern Tracker (watch those locations)

Need: Galhadrims Greetings

Tactics:

Fun: Citadel Plate, with Gimli

Need: hmm. Maybe Gondirian Spearman as awesome chump

Lore:

Fun: Forest Snare (Haha! Gotcha)

Need: Daughter of Nimrodel (healness)

All quite core orientated but thats my progression.

All very Core oriented like you said, but that's kind of refreshing. Lets us remember some of those decent cards we don't play anymore even though they really are pretty good (I'm lookin' at you, Gondorian Spearman).

And Snowborn Scout IS an amazing chump, but I still think Squire of the Citadel JUST edges him out. You won't see him until next cycle though. But both of them together in a decent Imrahil deck? A thing of beauty And even better later with Eomer!

As for me...well, there is a big chasm between my FAVORITE cards and the best. But since the question is about favorites...

Tactics: This is a hard one. I love the drama of Black Arrow and the badassery of The Hammer-Stroke or Gimli. But in the end, I have to go with a card that exudes both--Beorn! Few things more fun or dramatic as triggering his ability in the last turn of the game to cut down a Big Bad.

Leadership: Lure of Moria. Me and my girlfriend played all the way from Core to Heirs (plus the Hobbit Boxes) with a pair of pure Dwarf theme decks. Loved the experience and it has forever skewed my appreciation of this card. So many great plays built on this card and so many fun memories.

Spirit: Eowyn. So, she's just mechanically amazing. And bonkers when you start talking about her sphere-match with cards like Herugrim, UC and Snowmane. But she's also just FUN. Her ability is powerful, but feels organic and fun rather than mechanical (Elrond especially come to mind here).

Lore: Ally Elrond. Not super-powerful but I love it thematically as he bounces in, heals some terrible wound or gives some sage advice (card draw), and then bounces out. Also--condition removal is always important.

Neutral: Okay--I'll say what everyone else is avoiding. GANDALF! He is just such a key part of the lore and the game ever since Core. The question is which Gandalf? Core is probably the most powerful if only because of his versatility and the existence of Sneak Attack. And while I didn't like him at first I have grown to appreciate OHaUH Gandalf in a post-Spirit Merry world. But the Gandalf I find myself having the most fun with recently is Hero Gandalf. His ability is interesting without feeling too mechanical, he's undeniably powerful (as he should be--and you pay for it in threat) and his attachments and spell are wonderfully thematic. Love him.

Barring obvious cards like Steward, Test of Will, Daeron's Runes, etc

Leadership: Sword that Was Broken. Except for Silvans and Dwarves, I build around this card in every Leadership deck I make. Also, Galadriel. Such an underrated card, she became a staple almost as soon as she was released.

Spirit: Gamling. I don't even own him yet, but he is so good in the Rohan deck. Kind of a shame you never end up using his stats, but he combos so well with so many allies.

Lore: Lembas quickly became a staple in many of my Lore decks. Maybe not as good as Wingfoot, but still a very good uility card.

Tactics: Rohan Warhorse. One of the most fun Tactics cards they've ever released. I would love to see one for blocking, but that's a bit weird thematically.

When sword thain comes out I will make Gamling a hero and put UC on him so I can use those stats or reuse his ability.

Neutral: Saruman. This doesn't require explanation. Together, my Lord, we shall rule this Middle-Earth.

March to Helms Deep!

Wish we could have played Helms Deep as the fighting Uruk-Hai!

It is my hope that some day we get a vs. version of the game.

I am cheating a bit but I'm gonna pick my favorite card of each sphere per card type (excluding heroes).

Leadership: Gimli (okay maybe Faramir too), Steward of Gondor, We Are Not Idle

Lore: Erebor Hammersmith, Legacy of Durin, Daeron's Runes

Spirit: Northern Tracker, Unexpected Courage (I suppose), A Test of Will

Tactics: Eagles of the Misty Mountains, Gondorian Shield, Feint

Neutral: Treebeard, Gandalf's Staff, A Good Harvest

Favorite card per sphere is somewhat broad. I choose to interpret this as the cards that I enjoy playing the most, rather than the cards that I find most powerful, or use most often.

Heroes

Tactics: Mablung

Why not Beorn?

Here you go. It uses both Beorn and Mablung - so it's a win, win.

https://hallofbeorn.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/deck-the-bears-revenge/

Leadership:

Fun: Snowborn Scout ( best chump ever )

And Snowbourn Scout IS an amazing chump, but I still think Squire of the Citadel JUST edges him out.

I would disagree actually. Snowbourn Scout is universal, whereas the Squire is only useful if you have a Gondor hero to receive the resource. OK, Steward grants the trait, but if a hero already has Steward attached they don't generally need even more resources. That point of progress continues to be ever-useful though. Snowbourn Scout I pretty much put in any deck with Leadership by default, but I can't say the same for the Squire.

Favorite card per sphere is somewhat broad. I choose to interpret this as the cards that I enjoy playing the most, rather than the cards that I find most powerful, or use most often.

Heroes

Tactics: Mablung

Why not Beorn?

Here you go. It uses both Beorn and Mablung - so it's a win, win.

https://hallofbeorn.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/deck-the-bears-revenge/

LIke the deck a lot. I have a similar deck, but with Elrond and Glorfindel (spirit), and plans for letting Beorn sacrifice himself in order to build the ent army quicker.

Leadership:

Fun: Snowborn Scout ( best chump ever )

And Snowbourn Scout IS an amazing chump, but I still think Squire of the Citadel JUST edges him out.

I would disagree actually. Snowbourn Scout is universal, whereas the Squire is only useful if you have a Gondor hero to receive the resource. OK, Steward grants the trait, but if a hero already has Steward attached they don't generally need even more resources. That point of progress continues to be ever-useful though. Snowbourn Scout I pretty much put in any deck with Leadership by default, but I can't say the same for the Squire.

Well, Snowbourn Scout is not THAT universal... you're still needing a location that can accept progress in play

Leadership: Citadel Custodian. When you play heavy-Gondor in multiplayer, this guy always his the table for 0 and then use him to Very Good Tale some more allies.

Lore: Ithilien Lookout. Just the art, the utility of the card even outside of secrecy is great, good stat overall, that guy swings for 3 when Leadership Boromir is on the table.

Spirit: Helm! Helm! (honorable mention to Light the Beacons). That event is SO thematic, just like Forth Eorlingas! Ride Them Down or Charge of the Rohirrim. Those three others being less playable than Helm! helm!

Tactics: Honour Guard. Repeatable damage cancellation in tactics, 'nough said.

Did I mention I like Gondor?

Leadership:

Fun: Snowborn Scout ( best chump ever )

And Snowbourn Scout IS an amazing chump, but I still think Squire of the Citadel JUST edges him out.

I would disagree actually. Snowbourn Scout is universal, whereas the Squire is only useful if you have a Gondor hero to receive the resource. OK, Steward grants the trait, but if a hero already has Steward attached they don't generally need even more resources. That point of progress continues to be ever-useful though. Snowbourn Scout I pretty much put in any deck with Leadership by default, but I can't say the same for the Squire.

I see where you're coming from but don't know if I agree. Think it really just comes down to deck-construction style

Personally, if I'm going to build a deck with chumping in mind, I'm gonna build it to CHUMP (and get maximum benefit from doing so). That means the deck will almost certainly have Prince Imrahil at the front (as well as Valiant Sacrifice and PROBABLY Eomer and some Eagles since they love to leave play). Now to be fair, I usually end up running both Snowbourn Scout AND Squire of the Citadel in this kind of deck, but I'm USUALLY happier to see Squire simply because there may or may not be a location in play but I can ALWAYS use the extra resource. And if I'm running Eomer, HE usually gets the Steward to pay for expensive Eagles so it can work as resource fixing too.

Otherwise I would rather just rely on strong utility defenders and readying effects to guard my board and try to avoid having to chump whenever possible.

Now if I was just running a generic deck and wanted to sprinkle in a little chumpyness as some added protection early game (and didn't have a Gondor hero, obviously) then I would probably agree with you. But it still sucks to drop a Scout and not have him fire because there's not a location in play (very possible in 1 or 2 player).

Leadership: Path of need (I always include it in my leadership deck, then always remove it after playtesting because it sucks in them

Tactics: Dúnedain Hunter (sooo many combo and deckbuilding possibilities)

Spirit: Norther Tracker (Just feels good having an awesome Dúnedain come and break your location lock. Thematicly very satisfying. Also often required since I boycot Sp. Glorfindel)

Lore: Ranger Spikes (so much satisfaction from a bit of cardboard)

Neutral 1: Radagast (the first cool 'everybody things he sucks so I'm going to make a deck with him to prove them wrong' card. Inspired me to make a very weird but potent eagle-secrecy deck.)

Neutral 2: Palantir (my ultimate deckbuilding goal is to make a deck with this and Denethor and make it work against most quests. It's still very weak so far, but you got to have your long-term goals!)

Leadership: Send for Aid - have loved the idea of side quests and this one is just fantastic.

Tactics: Beechbone - who you want me kill?

Spirit: Anchient Mathom - because I've waited 3 turns for it go get back to me being first player so I can draw some cards!

Lore: Ambush - just barely beats out Expert Treasure Hunter. This trap is too much fun!

Neutral: Keen As Lances - event version of Gandalf that is potentially free. yes please!

How to delete posts?

I think that you can't delete them. At least i don't know how.

I have noticed that many players seems to like that steward of Gondor card. I strongly disagree about this, not that it's a bad card, actually it's too good in my opinion (a lot of other people think same too). I think i have read somewhere about that this card should be errated but i don't remember where it was. Anyways here is why i don't like it: It costs only 2 resources which you will get right back when you have bought it, then next turn it starts to make a great amount of profit and after few turns you will swim in money. I think it would be better that it would give only 1 resource per turn unless it's attached to Denethor in which case it would give that 2 resources instead.

Also sorry if i explained kinda unclearly but you know what i mean.

Yeah... unless attached to a hero that doesn't even shares a sphere with it, great idea.

The problem of cards like Steward of Gondor is not that they are strong, but that they are universal at what they do, essentially hindering any further effort to add similar kind of effect.

Another fine example is the release of Dain Ifornfoot, sole existance of which put a huge dent on all dwarf ally attacks and willpowers, while making dwarf decks without leadership much harder to pull off.

I imagine if they knew then what they know now, the designers wouldn't have made Steward of Gondor anywhere near as powerful as it is. It would either be weaker, more expensive, or more restricted. I think it sticks out in the Core Set as particularly overpowered.

Staple cards like Test of Will, Hasty Stroke, Feint, are not exactly super overpowered, but they do have the problem that it's quite hard to make cards with similar effects that don't make you think "yeah, sure, but why not just play the Core Set card", because they are cheap and unrestricted.

I think Unexpected Courage is just about OK. The fact it costs 2 at least gives some space for cheap readying cards. But I might be deceived because we only have 2 core sets available to us, so we can't rely on getting Unexpected Courage.

Yeah... unless attached to a hero that doesn't even shares a sphere with it, great idea.

The problem of cards like Steward of Gondor is not that they are strong, but that they are universal at what they do, essentially hindering any further effort to add similar kind of effect.

Another fine example is the release of Dain Ifornfoot, sole existance of which put a huge dent on all dwarf ally attacks and willpowers, while making dwarf decks without leadership much harder to pull off.

100% agree on Steward. Dain...not so much.

Dain is crazy-powerful, no-doubt. But I think the difference is that Dain can encourages interesting deck-building and coordination between players where Steward usually doesn't.

I don't play Dwarves solo so maybe he feels more restricting in that setting but in multiplayer games I have never found him restraining. He's one hero slot, but there aren't a bunch of other great Dwarf cards that do the same thing that he is holding back. And while there ARE other really good Leadership Dwarf heroes, I don't see Balin or Thorin suffering that much as both can stand on their own merits.

And if the argument is just, it's hard to build a Dwarf deck without Leadership...well, yeah. But that would be true without him since their best cards are all Leadership. And the same can be said for Rangers/Ents and Lore.

Let me elaborate. Dain is a hero that buffs every dwarf across the board with +1 willpower and +1 attack.

The restriction is that every dwarf ally and hero being designed must take that into account. And it will result in an overall willpower/attack descrease across the dwarves to compensate for potential growth out of proportion. Which is not a problem by itself, but if you want to build a dwarf deck outside of leadership, you're stuck with underpowered (for the purpose of Dains sole existance) dwarf allies and no access to make up for it. And that's why Dain is restrictive, he literally nerfs every dwarf before their release.

And that's why Dain is restrictive, he literally nerfs every dwarf before their release.

In theory, yes. But have you seen this in practice? If you look at the list of dwarves we have, most of them follow the general "X cost 2X stats" curve that we see across the board, if not better. Sure, there are some duds (I'm looking at you Bombur ally), but every other trait has duds too.

That upcoming Dwarven Sellsword doesn't feel shortchanged for stats either...

Yeah, Dwarf allies are fine without Dain, and then Dain makes them better. And I strongly disagree with the claim that he encourages interesting deck-building. The 5 dwarf stuff from the Hobbit boxes, the deck-mining sub-theme of the trait, these encourage interesting deck-building. With Dain, you just spam a bunch of allies which were already good and they become even better with no effort on your part beyond that one hero choice.