Gandalf Ramp (Group 7) 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

Pairs with my "Bronco-Rangers (Group 7)" deck for the BEST 2-Player deck combo!

This deck combo is UNDEFEATED through every scenario I've tried including "Escape from Dol Guldur", "Return to Mirkwood", "Murder at the Prancing Pony", "The Massing at Osgiliath", "Shadow and Flame", "Flight from Moria", "A Shadow of the Past" and MORE!

Please let me know if you have any feedback, suggested edits, questions, or scenario performance updates, as these decks are my own original inventions!

Hero Description:

• Arwen can give resources to herself, Erestor, or Aragorn. She will always quest.
• Erestor is the lifeblood of this deck. Remember his ability. He will quest and/or defend.
• Gandalf is the powerhouse and tower for the table. He will do anything but will become the table’s defender later in the game. Yet he’s a very complicated hero. Feel free to try another deck with him to get used to his trickery which is VERY powerful if you know how to use him correctly.

Opening: It’s important to remember that you will have 10 cards in your hand (11 if counting Gandalf’s top-deck stuff) for your first turn, however Erestor will discard EVERYTHING. You will only be able to play 1-3 cards max so try to only play cards from your HAND, not the top of the deck because it's not getting discarded. If you are out of options, using Wizard Pipe to reserve an important card at the top is not a terrible idea.

Opening Hand: (Try to have any number of these cards in your OPENING HAND and will use 4 resources that you will get from start of round and 1 from Arwen)

• Galadhrim Weaver (1 Spirit): Will allow you to reshuffle a discarded card from Arwen’s ability back into your deck on the first turn. This is the ideal.
• Gandalf’s Staff (2 Neutral): The most IMPORTANT Gandalf card (yes, even over Shadowfax). This card gets both decks moving very quickly with cards(generally for the “Bronco-Rangers (Group 7)” deck or top-deck Gandalf trickery) and resources(generally for you) and can help with shadow cards.
• Heed the Dream (1 Lore): You can use your remaining lore resource from Erestor to play Heed the Dream. Play it for the “Bronco-Rangers (Group 7)” deck, as it will help them get important cards such as Galadriel, Steward of Gondor, Warrior Sword, or Foe-Hammer.

Remember to keep track of how many Will of the Wests have been discarded. Always play the third one you draw unless you REALLY need to save the resource. I tend to play 1-2 of them per game.

Ideal Board State:

• Gandalf: Gandalf’s Staff, Protector of Lorien, Shadowfax, Wizard Pipe, 1 or 2 Unexpected Courages, 1 or 2 Dúnedain Warning (from the “Bronco-Rangers (Group 7)” deck)
• Erestor: Light of Valinor, 1 or 2 Healing Herbs, Steed of Imladris
• Arwen: Silver Circlet, Silver Harp

Indiv. Card Descriptions:

• Galadhrim Weaver: (See above)
• Fast Hitch: Attach to Sam Gamgee Hero from the “Bronco-Rangers (Group 7)” deck.
• Forest Snare: I like to keep this at the top of my deck with Gandalf’s ability and Wizard Pipe until I need it.
• Healing Herbs & Light of Valinor: Both of these on Erestor are a great combo.
• Protector of Lorien: Great on a tower Gandalf in the late game when you’re set up and all your extra cards are basically fueling this ability, making Gandalf an elite quester and defender every round.
• Silver Harp: Good with keeping cards in your hand that would be discarded from Erestor AND also can give you bonus cards to discard when using Steed of Imladris or Protector.
• Wizard Pipe: The underrated engine for Gandalf’s top-deck trickery that can help you avoid the downside of Erestor’s discarding. You can reserve cards such as Heed the Dream, Forest Snare, or A Test of Will until you need them. Don’t be afraid to ignore this card early. It’s not necessary but is very helpful in many scenarios.
• A Test of Will: A GREAT target for Wizard Pipe’s card reversing strategy (see above). Remember to keep a resource in Gandalf’s pool to play this card off the top of your deck!
• Heed the Dream: (See above)
• Stand and Fight: Good for any character in either discard pile. I generally use it to make the most of the Escort from Edoras’s willpower boosts.
• Tale of Tinúviel: Multiple combos with the “Bronco-Rangers (Group 7)” deck, such as Aragorn.

Please let me know if you have any feedback, suggested edits, questions, or scenario performance updates, as these decks are my own original inventions!