It's like dr00 said, each tactics hero really does have his place. I still feel those three are the worst of them. I agree Brand's ability gets a lot more useful with what he is paired with - who would you put lower on the list for tactics heroes?

I don't think there are any actually bad tactics heroes, but I think these are my least favorites:

Elladan -- he has to be paired with his brother for his readying ability to be worth anything, and when he's with his brother I think his brother is far more valuable. If you have repeatable solid defense, repeatable offense isn't so important -- tactics can muster killing power easily and unlike defending you don't have to do it alone.

Thalin -- his ability forces him to quest, but his questing isn't very good. I don't like when abilities work against their stats.

Brand -- it's no shame for a hero to better multiplayer than solo, and lots of tactics heroes fit that description -- but I don't like having a main ability that is *absolutely worthless* to one-deck solo players. At least Bard's *almost* useless ability can still shine in solo with a Great Yew Bow. Brand in solo is a 2/3/2/3 tactics hero with blank text and the worthless Dale keyword.

for tactics, i'd say:

Thalin - stats work against ability, but the main thing that bugs me is the developers realised fairly early on how powerful his ability was and started adding weird effects to counteract him, like Toughness, making him almost necessary for some quests like Return to Mirkwood and completely useless in later quests

Brand - compared to Bard, i like Bard better, but i feel that there's fairly similar in that they're hard to utilise to their full potential. Bard gets the nod for being absolutely amazing with Tactics Merry though

Gimli - i didn't type out my rationale before, but basically, he needs a lot of support to get going, otherwise (or even with support) he's a high risk scenario with not necessarily a high reward, when you could just play some allies or attachments to help with attacking power. plus, he's still a liability, even when there isn't much to attack. Gloin is a dwarf with a similar ability who can actually be healed, unlike Gimli, who loses his boosts if he gets healed.

for the others:

Leadership:

Boromir: i always find that when i want to make a Gondor-themed deck, i end up just making things like Guard of the Citadel not terrible for their cost, but only if i can get all of my support pieces. and some Gondorian allies work against the trait and are better within their sphere, like Pelargir Shipwright. i also find that, in the end, Outlands just does it a lot better and can build itself with all the pieces you find.

Halbarad: i actually really like his ability to quest while engaged, but optionally engaging two enemies is useless, and Amarthiul just does this so much better if you want to stay engaged with enemies

Faramir: i like ally Faramir much more than any other Faramir, so all of them will be inferior imo. i also find that not many allies worth playing are worth readying when you would typically engage an enemy. combined with Aragorn, Mablung, or something, could be something there, but again, not many allies are worth the readying effect. that said, i've included him in an Outlands deck, and it's not terrible (he's likely getting completely replaced with Imrahil when City of Corsairs comes out though)

Tactics: (above)

Spirit:

Pippin - there's just nothing redeemable at all whatsoever except that you can do a mono-spirit Hobbit deck while still using fellowship Frodo for the saga quests.

Fatty Bolger - i actually like Fatty a lot and how he can work with Spirit Merry (and Hobbit ponies can get them to quest if they aren't needed), but until you get a Hobbit Pony, it's useless, and even then, only really helpful in multiplayer, not that helpful, etc. etc.

Dwalin - Nori exists. also only works on certain quests/enemies, and lowering your threat is often a way to avoid conflict, but his ability only works if you're actively engaging/killing things, so i'm not sure how useful the threat reduction really is, unless you're able to keep yourself below secrecy. again, only works on Orc enemies though

Lore:

Grima: i know he's in the top for a lot of lists, but i find him a huge liability for multiplayer (where i think the game truly shines). he's also one of only two Rohan-themed Lore cards, which annoys me to no end, even if it does make sense that he wouldn't exactly be helpful in a Rohan-themed deck

Bilbo: great for solo-deck single player. less and less useful after that, and his threat is super high for his super low stats. he doesn't synergise well with hobbit-themed decks either, especially since ally Bilbo is so good in that regard

Glorfindel: i just... meh.

My strongest 3 picks in no particular order and not including fun factor.

Tactics:

Legolas

Boromir

Beregond

Worst: Dori. Almost useless. He needs a attachment. Bad.

Leadership:

Erkenbrand

Denethor

Dain

Worst: None are really bad. But if I had to pick....Halbarad I guess.

Spirit:

Arwen

Glorfindel

Cirdan

Worst: pippin. He just sux so much donkey butts it is mesmerizing.

Lore:

Elrond

Aragorn

Erestor

Worst:

Faramir. Not unplayable, but what were they thinking designing him???

He could have so good in a trap deck with the right stat line & threat. Shame.

To me:

The best tactics: Legola

The worst tactics: Brand

The best leadership: Sam

The worst leadership: Halbarad

The best lore: Pippin

The worst lore: Grima

The best spirit: Frodo

The worst spirit: Dwalin

3 hobbits are the best options between the 4 spheres: the best trait --> HOBBiTS ^^

To me:

The best tactics: Legola

The worst tactics: Brand

The best leadership: Sam

The worst leadership: Halbarad

The best lore: Pippin

The worst lore: Grima

The best spirit: Frodo

The worst spirit: Dwalin

3 hobbits are the best options between the 4 spheres: the best trait --> HOBBiTS ^^

Grima worst Lore? You play multi-player only?

Yes, 98% is multiplayer (80% of them 3 players at least)

My Take on the worst in each sphere.

Leadership:

Halbarad - I have played a deck with him and he did ok, but he is niche and again there are better options.

Faramir - I think he is counter intuitive, ranged but wants to engage?!

Prince Imrahil - He's on here because leadership does not have a lot of bad heroes and there are too many other options that are better. I have never used him in a deck and doubt I ever will.

After all the comments here I am seeing the use for Balin so he no longer on my bad list.

Spirit:

Fatty - I dont think I will every use him

Pippin - Same

Dwalin - simply because I had to put a third on here.

Lore:

Bilbo Baggins - For 1 threat more you get Beravor and she is just so much better.

Faramir - He is again counter intuitive

Glorfindel - He has a great stat line but there are always better healing options that what he provides so never finds a place.

Tactics:

Dori - Sure he has a place but it is far to niche and still not a great ability.

Brand son of Bain - I cant believe he is on this list but there are too many other options that are better so he is never used.

Beorn - I really like the idea but I always end up taking another hero instead.

Best spirit hero is Eleanor.

Treachery kills all your 1hp allies? Eleanor.

Treachery screws over your whole game? Eleanor.

No treachery? Eleanor with Blood of Numenor / Gondorian Shield defends, with Sword of Numenor / Gondorian Fire she can poke things and get resources (to pay for Blood or trigger Heir of Mardil, to poke more things).

Might as well put her on something like Arod so she can destroy locations too.

And thats for only 7 threat...

Best spirit hero is Eleanor.

Treachery kills all your 1hp allies? Eleanor.

Treachery screws over your whole game? Eleanor.

No treachery? Eleanor with Blood of Numenor / Gondorian Shield defends, with Sword of Numenor / Gondorian Fire she can poke things and get resources (to pay for Blood or trigger Heir of Mardil, to poke more things).

Might as well put her on something like Arod so she can destroy locations too.

And thats for only 7 threat...

i find i don't user her often enough but feel that she is one of the most underrated heroes in the game, even for myself

now with Spirit Beregond, i may try to find a Tactics / Spirit deck that makes liberal use of Gondorian Shield

maybe Mablung as my third for resource acceleration (who can also benefit from the Shield)