The Horrid Druadan

By legolas18, in Strategy and deck-building

Okay. So, I'm not a stellar deckbuilder in the first place, but I wouldn't consider myself bad either. But I've tried The Druadan Forest about... 6 times now, and I've been absolutely destroyed. I mean, every game I've played I've ended up with next to nothing for progress on the first stage before I lose. Yeah. The FIRST stage. I got so frustrated I went on to Encounter at Amon Din, and I beat that first try. Anyway, my point is, I'd like to beat The Druadan Forest before I go on to Assault on Osgiliath, so does anyone have any suggestions or pointers?

Thanks!

Playing solo? This quest is way harder with more players. It's one quest where healing can really save you, thanks to all the Archery damage.

Elrond + Glorfindel (Lore) can help sustain you against early-game archery. That's a tall order for one deck, since you'll start with very high threat. But I usually play 2-player, so we split these heroes up into two different decks. Using these decks, we beat it without too much trouble:

Deck 1:

Elladan/Elrond/Bifur
Hero (3)
Elladan (RtR) x1
Elrond (SaF) x1
Bifur (KD) x1
Ally (22)
Gandalf (Core) x1
Gleowine (Core) x2
Bofur (OHaUH) x2
Attachment (16)
Vilya (SaF) x3
Song of Travel (THoEM) x3
Rivendell Bow (TWitW) x3
Event (15)
Hasty Stroke (Core) x2
Feint (Core) x2
Foe-hammer (OHaUH) x3

Deck 2:

Elrohir/Mirlonde/Glorfindel
Hero (3)
Elrohir (TRG) x1
Mirlonde (TDF) x1
Glorfindel (Core) x1
Ally (22)
Gandalf (Core) x3
Erestor (TLD) x3
Attachment (17)
Asfaloth (FoS) x3
Song of Kings (THFG) x2
Event (13)
Sneak Attack (Core) x2
Rear Guard (THoEM) x3

Really the tough part of this quest is stage 2, where your allies end up getting creamed due to Archery damage. You might also include some cards that eliminate enemies while they are in the staging area (like Hands Upon the Bow + a ranged character) so you can get rid of Archery enemies before you get to the combat phase.

Great Quest to use Gloin ...you have to heal anyway.

Thanks for the reply. I usually play two-player as well, and if solo, I play two-handed. So these are perfect. I didn't think about using the twins. And yes, I did play with Gloin, and he worked great... Until that one called Garden of Poisons comes out, which halts all resources from card effects.

Edited by legolas18

I played solo and used a Leadership deck focused on Outlands. It worked out fairly well, but took too long and my threat shot past 50 right at the last part of the quest.

Not sure I've experienced a quest where you literally have to use everything at your disposal to beat it; questing, attacking, defending, healing, resources, threat reduction, eliminating shadow effects, staging area mitigation... It truly is an amazing quest, but horrific. I have also tried half a dozen times and keep on getting beaten down. One day I'll figure it out...

@GrandSpleen

Those are some brilliant decks... never thought to break the twins up like that... I really like it...

The hamster wheel is turning now... thanks for the ideas...

I don't like having them in the same deck because I don't like tactics/leadership combos! These decks don't work so well in quests where you get split up.... Flies and Spiders, Foundations of Stone.