Core set hero tier list

By avgzxc, in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

avgzxc said:

Kiwina said:


2 Questions
1. Do you plan on adding the new heroes to the tier as they come out or are you just sticking with the Core Set heroes. (I do realize the title is "Core set hero tier list)

I am curious to see where some of the new heroes stack up in your opinion. I imagine Bilbo Baggins would be somewhere in the middle. High A+ or low S tier.

2. Would the ranks you've given each hero change if you restricted your cards to only one core set?

I only own one core set, and while it's interesting to read about other players decks it's absolutely useless to me if I need another core set to create that deck and play with it.

1. Yes, I will try. I'm still waiting for my Hunt For Gollum. I know the fellowship cards but don't know anything about shadow. I hear it's easy so maybe the list won't change much, I don't know.
2. One core set for 2 players or for 1 player?

I would say one core set for one player, although I'm crazy enough to use my one set for up to four.

1 core set for 2 players it'd go for heroes: 2 Lore(Beravor, Denethor) + 1 Tactics(Gimli) and 2 Spirit(Stand and Fight -> Gandalf) + 1 Leadership(Theodred gives spirit resource to Eowyn). Steward goes to Eowyn, so Beravor should draw from Spirit/Leadership for heavy Gandalf play. So, in 1 core set play Gloin goes down a bit for sure. Too combo heavy. I'd put Gloin 2 places down and leave the rest.

1 core set for 1 player is much easier because only 1 best hero from each sphere is needed. It's Beravor, Eowyn, Theodred and Gimli but only 3 places so Gimli is out as he belongs to the worst(or rather least useful) sphere. Beravor draws Gandalf, Theodred makes Gandalfs happen faster, Eowyn just quests and gets resources from Theodred. The main difference in the solo game tier list is that Denethor is really good - he goes to the.. 2nd. Knowing exactly what's going to happen easily makes him a god tier. it's almost impossible to go wrong with Beravor, Denethor, Eowyn - the best team for trying to solo the 3rd scenario for sure: 3 sphere decks just suffers too much from imprisonment. Other good teams are Beravor-Eowyn-Gimli, Beravor-Eowyn-Legolas, Beravor-Eowyn-Aragorn, Beravor-Eowyn-Gloin. That would be lited in order, so the only change is Denethor. Also, it's funny how Glorfindel is quite strong because of his 3 willpower vs 3rd scenario but still horribly weak - Denethor and Beravor are just light years above him.

And just to be clear up this whole Glorfindel mess: Glorindel stats = great, gametext = horrible. Yes, Glorfindel *should* be a strong hero he just *isn't* because of his gametext. Strong heroes should have strong stats but more importantly: a strong gametext. Truth is, even if he would heal once per turn for free he would still be weaker than Beravor. In solo weaker than Denethor as well. Actually, in any deck: -1 Glorfindel, +1 Beravor is a simple move that just makes a better deck. And yes, It shouldn't be this way and if I were to choose which hero should get the fastest 2nd version it just has to be him. I mean, seriously some random-whatever-daughter can heal *twice* for free while 1 of the most powerful guys out there can do like *half* of it and has to *waste* 1 resource that could otherwise be used to play Protector, Hennermath, or some other. The only future hope that I see are cards that will utilize to the word "character" in Glorfindels' gametext. So maybe there is a hope for him, but most likely we will have to wait for a proper version of him so that everyone is happy.

Yeah. It's easier for newbies to get sucked into playing Glorfindel, but the Heroes are all about the abilities they possess and Glorfindel's ability is pretty crap compared to most others.

Isn't Gimli especially "less good" in a tri-sphere solo deck where it is quite difficult to buy him a Citadel Plate? And Legolas also better for he is cheaper, even though in solo game you cannot use his Ranged ability?

I am currently quite into solo deck building. I am torn between the following: a) Beravor, Dunhere, Eowyn b) Beravor, Theodred, Eowyn c) Dunhere, Eowyn, Theodred - aka Rohan ready team. Do you have much experience to say what is better? I have some but I would like to hear others.

And as for Glorfindel's upgrade, I think the easiest way would be to have some good card affecting Noldor trait. For Gondor! is great for Gondor trait. Haha. It could even be some elven weapon in case of Glorfindel or he could get his horse to get +1 Willpower and +1 Attack, or even +1 Defense.

Actually, I just wish Nate French reads this right now and makes up Asfaloth attachment card. Something like a cost of 3 that could only be attached to Glorfindel. Or to any one but Glorfindel would get more out of it. What say you?

ps: there is so much out there that could be done in this game, I just love its potential...just when you think of attachments we pretty much have seen nothing so far, no shields, no helmets, no bows, and they all could be great, both thematicaly and playing-wise

lleimmoen said:

And as for Glorfindel's upgrade, I think the easiest way would be to have some good card affecting Noldor trait. For Gondor! is great for Gondor trait. Haha. It could even be some elven weapon in case of Glorfindel or he could get his horse to get +1 Willpower and +1 Attack, or even +1 Defense.

Actually, I just wish Nate French reads this right now and makes up Asfaloth attachment card. Something like a cost of 3 that could only be attached to Glorfindel. Or to any one but Glorfindel would get more out of it. What say you?

ps: there is so much out there that could be done in this game, I just love its potential...just when you think of attachments we pretty much have seen nothing so far, no shields, no helmets, no bows, and they all could be great, both thematicaly and playing-wise

I think Asfaloth main funcion should be giving him "Aragorness". For example: each time Glorfindel heal a character you may ready him. Or maybe spot 3 Noldor characters to ready him. Probably, I would be most happy when he would be able to use 3+3 stats not just 3. I mean it's a mount, so it's supposed to help doing more things in a shorter period of time. So, attacking and questing in the same turn makes perfect sense.

Now changing the topic, I decided to write yet another 2p list. This time vs 3rd scenario and 3rd scenario only. Again it was annoying to get the results because imprisonment is a very important issue. Basically 1 sphere is lost, +1 sphere is needed to compansate and it turned out that tactics is.. out. Poof, gone. And by gone I mean completly gone from both decks. Lego and Gimli = great, their sphere is, ehem, not(to say the least).
I used Beravor, Theodred, Eowyn, Denethor, Aragorn, Eleanor.
Lore - 3 Dark Knowledge, 3 Protector, allies, ..
Leadership - 3 Sneaks, 3 Stone, drawing events, allies, ..
Spirit - UC, AToW, allies, ..

Becasuse of like 8-10 total threat strength Eowyn is easily god tier. Beravor still is overall a much better quester as she build up enourmous amount of +2 potential willpower. Sure Protector needs to be drawn but still drawing in general is just too nice for countering shadow. I'd say Eowyn is very close to Beravor but still slightly lower. One thing for sure: they are top 2. Gimli is still god tier but only because I do not punish him for his sphere. Theodred is even better than usual as the scenario by definition creates a resource unbalance. Aragorn moves up as he is pretty epic here - he can do very hardcore stuff 1st turn(quest, take undefended damage, kill orcs/guardians) and potentially can "save" a sphere with a Stone. Legolas is great but has a highly annoying tactics mark. Gloin can take some damage and here comes Faramir next turn. I moved Eleanor becasue of Aragorn has 12 and shadow can hit with Eyes and Webs. Denethor can catch 1st turn something really nice like a surge card or Spawn. Glorfindel is actually quite nice. If Eowyn gets imprisoned his 3 wp is nothing to really sneeze at. Also 3 str means those Orcs and Cavern Guardians get a nice head off trick from him. Thalin can take 1 off King Spider(by far the best minion in the game) so that it's killable by 3 str. Dunhere is just horrible - 1st turn he does like nothing and vs high threats monsters he can tickle Ungoliath Spawn or 3 turn kill a Beastmaster.

In order:
God tier: Beravor, Eowyn, Gimli*
S tier: Theodred, Aragorn, Legolas*, Gloin
A+ tier: Denethor, Eleanor
A tier: Glorfindel, Thalin
B tier: Dunhere

For clearer picture it's better to ignore *heroes while reading the list.

Just a few things now. King Spider, yes, I hate that sucker. Well, I like it from the game design, it is very annoying, probably the one I dread most in general as it has a nasty Shadow effect as well.

With the first expansion we get a great combo for Dunhere, and that is Dunedain Mark. It just makes him so much more effective as he can kill the above mentioned spiders, for instance in a single blow. Besides Leadership, Tactics is another sphere that makes use of Dunhere as it will allow him to Quick Strike enemies to decrease Threat in the staging area. I find the Quick Strike combo very effective as it both releases you from a trouble of dealing with an enemy (if he kills) and also decreases the Threat. All in all, Dunhere is surelly more effective in the Anduin quest though.