Please check the deck out. I am especially proud of this one. It takes a lot from other decks but combines it in a fun way. The link is at the bottom and you can read a description there. Thanks :-)

Noldor and Narya

Main Deck

Hero (3)

Arwen Undómiel (The Dread Realm)

Círdan the Shipwright (The Grey Havens)

Galdor of the Havens (The Grey Havens)

Ally (24)

3x Gandalf (Core Set)

3x Gildor Inglorion (The Hills of Emyn Muil)

3x Glorfindel (Flight of the Stormcaller)

1x Gléowine (Core Set)

3x Imladris Stargazer (Foundations of Stone)

3x Lindir (The Battle of Carn Dûm)

1x Quickbeam (The Treason of Saruman)

1x Treebeard (The Antlered Crown)

3x Warden of Healing (The Long Dark)

3x Zigil Miner (Khazad-dûm)

Attachment (11)

1x A Burning Brand (Conflict at the Carrock)

2x Light of Valinor (Foundations of Stone)

3x Narya (The Grey Havens)

2x Protector of Lórien (Core Set)

3x To the Sea, to the Sea! (The Grey Havens)

Event (15)

3x Deep Knowledge (The Voice of Isengard)

3x Elrond's Counsel (The Watcher in the Water)

3x Elven-light (The Dread Realm)

3x Lords of the Eldar (The Battle of Carn Dûm)

3x Will of the West (Core Set)

3 Heroes, 50 Cards

Cards up to Flight of the Stormcaller

Deck built on http://ringsdb.com.

I have played this trio for ages. I would think a few cards from your list were not necessary. Have you found the Gazer/Miner couple the appropriate engine here? I haven't tried them much since the errata actually… Also, instead of Warden, wouldn't Caregiver be appropriate being Noldor and all? I understand the former is in general a much more efficient healer but I have often found Caregiver was a good fit in this deck that usually heals archery, having built up a resilient defense with Narya and Gildor. Guardian of Rivendell is also a great card for the deck.

Good thoughts, and valid points. I think that you can tweak the deck for the quest and to your tastes. I went with gazer/miner combo because the deck needs resources badly and I didn't want to splash for steward, but also the combo helps cycle through the deck to play cards from discard. Often I end up actually using Narya to ready the combo because it works so well, so I think it is perfect for this deck. The caregiver is a totally fine replacement for warden, but I actually didn't like discarding cards to heal. I found that I never had enough cards. I think the warden works better, but honestly, the defense is so strong and the recycle so consistent that the healers could be cut altogether. I tried Guardian of Rivendell, and it is a great card, especially with Narya, but again I foubd myself just not having enough cards in hand. After more experience I was never playing the card, just discarding it. I think in another devk that didn't rely so heavily on discard for other things it would be better, but I doubt it works in this particular build. However, I wouldn't criticize anyone who disagreed because it is a good card.

Thanks for the explanation. I think I understand now. I actually never had more than one of Caregiver/Guardian in the deck. I like both, though also just a copy, in the Elrond deck I posted a few days ago. The Guardian is a good target for Vilya.

Your deck makes me want to go back and try the Gazer/Miner again. I know it is a great sifting mechanism as well. And the Gazer herself helps Círdan a great deal, not to mention it Elven-light. With Zigil, how often have you been able to net both resources instead of just the one?

Your link seems to just point to the ringsDB homepage.

Did you decide to cut Daeron's Runes? I find it's quite good at putting extra Elven-lights in the discard. Even if you can't cut anything to make room for it, a 53 card deck with Daeron's Runes is more consistent than a 50 card deck without it.

Did you decide to cut Daeron's Runes? I find it's quite good at putting extra Elven-lights in the discard. Even if you can't cut anything to make room for it, a 53 card deck with Daeron's Runes is more consistent than a 50 card deck without it.

Oh, is this always true, math-wise? I seem to be too slow at the present to think it through...

I often not use the Runes just because I do not want to have them in every Lore deck. And there were times I really rued having used them because I was pushed to discard a card I immediately needed after.

Not sure why the link does that. Quite frustrating. I can't seem to get the right link on my phone.

I did cut daeron's runes, preferring deep knowledge. In experiance I found that daerons just sifts and I needed to increase my handsize. Also, it is just a personal pet peeve, but I always run decks of exactly 50 cards. Don't judge me. If I were to cut deep knowledge I would probably replace with peace and thought before the runes. The deck just simply doesn't need more ways to discard.

SInce I began the trend, I also ONLY play decks of 50. I would't have it otherwise.

I agree, I always try to cut down to 50 for consistency. But mathematically, a 53 card deck with 3 Daeron's Runes is equal to a 47-card deck (assuming you generally have cards that you are able to toss). So by cutting Daeron's Runes to get a more consistent 50 card deck, it ends up having the opposite effect, that's all.

I agree, I always try to cut down to 50 for consistency. But mathematically, a 53 card deck with 3 Daeron's Runes is equal to a 47-card deck (assuming you generally have cards that you are able to toss). So by cutting Daeron's Runes to get a more consistent 50 card deck, it ends up having the opposite effect, that's all.

I see that now. But hasn't it happened to you also, that you ended up losing a valuable card? I guess it shouldn't really with the Noldor deck, but in other instances?

ps: Some of the newer quests (like Cross-roads) you gotta be careful even about discarding a unique double, because they can discard attachments or cards in hand in no time.

I agree, I always try to cut down to 50 for consistency. But mathematically, a 53 card deck with 3 Daeron's Runes is equal to a 47-card deck (assuming you generally have cards that you are able to toss). So by cutting Daeron's Runes to get a more consistent 50 card deck, it ends up having the opposite effect, that's all.

I see that now. But hasn't it happened to you also, that you ended up losing a valuable card? I guess it shouldn't really with the Noldor deck, but in other instances?

ps: Some of the newer quests (like Cross-roads) you gotta be careful even about discarding a unique double, because they can discard attachments or cards in hand in no time.

True, which is why I threw in that caveat that your should have cards that you're able to toss.

And yes, sometimes Dearon's Runes forces you into a tough choice. But in the long run the deck will be more consistent.

Discarding from Daeron's Runes has been painful sometimes, but for every valuable card that I discarded because of it, I got two cards I thought were even more valuable out of the deck and into my hand. Outside of a few niche quests or decks, I would expect a 53-card deck with Daeron's Runes to be better than 50-card deck without them.

As a counterexample, I cut Daeron's Runes from the Dwarven mining deck I've been working on because I felt that it watered down my chances of discarding Hidden Cache. But that's very much the exception.

Managed to find the deck and description on ringsdb here: http://ringsdb.com/decklist/view/2158/noldor-and-narya-1.0

Not sure if I'll have the time these days to give it a try, but it looks solid.

Thanks. I designed it to defeat Ruins of Belegost, which it can beat with luck but it is not the best deck against that quest. It just happens to be super fun to play.

Can we talk about Ruins of Belegost though. I mean for months we had so much complaining about Carn Dum, most of which I disagreed with, but Ruins of Belegost is clearly much harder and nobody says anything about it. I mean that quest is more difficult than like 75% of nightmare quests. Carn Dum was pretty easy by comparison.

I built a dwarf deck that repeatedly put grappling hook on Erebor Battlemaster and that deck owns Carn Dum, just makes the quest a joke. It has a 0% win percentage agains Belegost. I mean some decks styles favor certain quests but jeez.

Now I do know that part of the reason is that Carn Dum is more difficult two handed and Belegost is hardest in solo, but even two handed it's rather brutal. I just never hear anything, so is this just me?

It's most likely because everyone expects the GenCon quests to be soul-crushingly hard. Massing at Osgiliath and Battle of Lake-Town (at the time of release) are also much harder than many Nightmare quests. It's to be expected. Quests in the regular cycles are much more likely to be bought by the average/casual player, who might even be getting it mostly for the player cards. Then they try the quest and are blind-sided, and come to the forums to complain.

As for me, I'd rank the two quests about even for the solo player, although they require different types of decks.

I have said this before but I love to make the point. I think that quest difficulty is often impacted a great deal by personal style. Deckbuilders, especially in LOTR, use the excercise to explore snd express themselves just as much as for solving a puzzle. Players will eventually come up against a quest that just counters their particular idiosyncratic tendancies. That's why I don't care for it when people complain. I find Carn Dum very easy, but Belegost is harder for me then what I see people describe. I have been able to defeat it now rather decisively (with the deck featured here) so I'm good.

So I sleeved this one up and gave it a roll in the dungeon. There’s no way I am getting the most out of it yet as it has a lot of subtleties, but I agree it is fun and powerful. I would love to see a demo of it if possible. I think I might bag Ziggy and just throw in Stewart. I agree that Test of Will would be a nice addition too, and A Very Good Tale wouldn’t be out of place. Not many free slots available though…

Thanks for trying it. Sadly, although I would love to post a video demo, such an undertaking is way beyond my capacity at this time. However, I would recommend more practice because it is a deck that vastly improves performance with skillful play. It is a lot like 2 combo decks put together, one early game and one late game. You ignore the combo pieces that don't apply and discard them aggressively. In the early game I focus on using Galdor's ability to draw 6 by the first 2 turns. I want Gildor, Glorfindel, Narya, and LoV in play. Then I switch to the second combo. I want 2 copies each of stargazer/zig combo and I want to play Lords of the Eldar as much as possible, or Gandalf as a second option. Personally I find that the Stargazer/zig combo is central to the deck and one of the main resons it works. I often generate 6 extra resources by activating two sets then using Narya to get a third. I think it's much better than Steward. The best discard with zig is Lords of Eldar, ussually with Lindir, then play it. Speaking of Lindir, he is super important to the deck. After Galdor is used, he becomes the primary card draw. I play him and then chump block with him. He is basically the best blocker because you want him to die. When I play the deck the best I play all three copies of Will o the West and cycle through the deck four times. That's when you see the real power. It absolutely destroys everything. I've beaten Belegost now 3 times, but the last time was not even close. You do need a little luck in the first stage with encounter deck. The dragon only attacked twice because I was smashing through the stages and I killed him in one attack. The last round I playes Lords of Eldar 3 times. I even attacked with my stargazers for 3 attack a piece. I hope, even without a demo, that the description can give you some insight.

Thanks for trying it. Sadly, although I would love to post a video demo, such an undertaking is way beyond my capacity at this time. However, I would recommend more practice because it is a deck that vastly improves performance with skillful play. It is a lot like 2 combo decks put together, one early game and one late game. You ignore the combo pieces that don't apply and discard them aggressively. In the early game I focus on using Galdor's ability to draw 6 by the first 2 turns. I want Gildor, Glorfindel, Narya, and LoV in play. Then I switch to the second combo. I want 2 copies each of stargazer/zig combo and I want to play Lords of the Eldar as much as possible, or Gandalf as a second option. Personally I find that the Stargazer/zig combo is central to the deck and one of the main resons it works. I often generate 6 extra resources by activating two sets then using Narya to get a third. I think it's much better than Steward. The best discard with zig is Lords of Eldar, ussually with Lindir, then play it. Speaking of Lindir, he is super important to the deck. After Galdor is used, he becomes the primary card draw. I play him and then chump block with him. He is basically the best blocker because you want him to die. When I play the deck the best I play all three copies of Will o the West and cycle through the deck four times. That's when you see the real power. It absolutely destroys everything. I've beaten Belegost now 3 times, but the last time was not even close. You do need a little luck in the first stage with encounter deck. The dragon only attacked twice because I was smashing through the stages and I killed him in one attack. The last round I playes Lords of Eldar 3 times. I even attacked with my stargazers for 3 attack a piece. I hope, even without a demo, that the description can give you some insight.

That's really helpful. I hadn't thought about Stargazer/Zig combo being non-unique.