The Friendship Deck 1.0

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• 1.0

I would add Favor of the Valar in place of the Songs. Then, swap Wandering Exile for Errand-rider or Legacy of Númenor. I would cut Stone of Elostirion. Guarded cards are rarely good. Daeron's Runes is an auto-include. I would cut Lords of the Eldar for Galadriel's Handmaiden or Silvan Refugee. Finally, I would swap a Spear of the Citadel for a Golden Belt.

I agree about the Stone, it is the weakest card in there and needs go. I like the concept but I agree the guarded cards are hardly ever good in the difficult quests. I used to run Legacy of Númenor, it is indeed useful here when you can manage the threat, which is usually a non-issue with Thorongil Beregond. Lords of the Eldar, on the other hand, has saved my arse more than I care to mention. Try it out, it is an amazing card, for three resources, and one event that fits Erestor perfectly. It is also why Wandering Exile is there but she is great on her own with Erestor, and with the Steward on Denethor, I often see both versions in my game, almost always at least one. I often even use White Council to get her back when I lose her and even put Rivendell Blade on. I do not find Daeron's Runes an auto-include. I often rue drawing it with Erestor. And I checked there is this super powerful deck called the BESTer deck, with a similar line-up to mine, and it does not use Runes either. I love the card with Gandalf and/or Beravor but it has been much less popular with Erestor or the Galadhrim, for instance. I had the Belt there, I really like the card. In the quests I play, the Spear is super valuable, I especially like the combo with Armoured Destrier, leaving an enemy with one hp left for the next round and then getting rid of two shadow cards, effectively. Also, the only quest that I play which is hard on threat is Dol Guldur solo, it was the reason why I put two Counsels in there. I have been using Beregond Thorongil mostly for the Spirit resource but I will consider attaching it to Denethor, it would make the Song of Wisdom less needed but the Song of Travel more.

While I have never used Lords of the Eldar, so I can't speak on how good it is, I am surprised. Paying three resources for a one-time effect is difficult, even when you have Beregond. Regardless, your justifications make sense.

Yes I have used it a lot, and to a good effect but it can also be that I have used other cards too little. I do tend to sometimes deckbuild around certain cards or strategies because I have a soft spot for them: like Noldor and Glorfindel, haha. I like the Lords because they are a nice safety thing. I think even with three resources if you get a boost to say six characters, then it is worth it, more so for those who can double duty, like Glorfindel (either hero or ally) or Wandering Exile. It can be that it is a win-more card. I find it very satisfying but as I said maybe I am lacking experience with some other cards...

I think I will try another version of the Friendship deck without Erestor (or Lords, of course) and keep him (and them) in a Noldor-only deck.