by Vardaen
- Card Talk Season 1 Episode 33
- Cycle
- Set
- Player Card Categories
- Attack Cancellation
Background
Let’s talk lore. Who is this guardsman, and what is the Andrath? The Andrath is a geographical feature in Arnor. Its a long defile between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs through which the North-South Road (or the Greenway) passed. Its south of Bree, and at various points it was controlled by both The Enemy and the Dunedain. It is a great tactical location that could control travel north-south in the region. The other option was to travel through the Barrow-downs, which as Frodo found out was not without great peril. In fact in Unfinished Tales the Black Captain stays at the Andrath setting up a camp rousing the Barrow-Wights from there and sending out patrols. So this Ranger is guarding this ‘pass’ keeping foes from reaching Bree and the Shire by bottle necking them there.
Card Theme
It is a theme home run for his effects. So for two resources (in Leadership!) you can effectively feint a non-unique enemy but also have an ally on the table to quest or defend with. Don’t be like the Hobbits and forget about the Rangers that have long kept the peace possible.
Card Synergies and Interactions
Vardaen’s Combo
Sneak Attack, in sphere feint for Leadership decks that don’t have Tactics. You get double duty, you can stop 1 enemy from attacking, and then block with him for another enemy!
Editor’s Note
Vardaen’s Combo doesn’t work as written. You would need to play Andrath Guardsman from your hand to cancel an attack. Born Aloft would let you reuse him to get an additional attack cancelation. You don’t get to cheaply chump block though. I’ve taken the liberty to create Bandrath Guardsman to enable Vardaen’s Combo.
Ring Rating
Card Talk uses the highly scientific yet arbitrary scale of 1 ring for the card to rule them all to 10 to be cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came.
- Dave – 3
- Grant – 4
- Ted – TBR
- Vardaen – 4
- Matt – 6
- Average – 4.25
External Links
Sample Decks
Dunedain reborn by dkayringsdb
Dunedain centric deck utilizing several attack cancelation cards to build up engaged enemies and leverage Heir of Valandil.
Main Deck
Hero (3)
Amarthiúl (The Battle of Carn Dûm)
Aragorn (The Watcher in the Water)
Beravor (Core Set)
Ally (20)
3x Andrath Guardsman (The Mûmakil)
1x Eldahir (The Thing in the Depths)
3x Fornost Bowman (The Dread Realm)
3x Guardian of Arnor (The Battle of Carn Dûm)
2x Halbarad (The Flame of the West)
3x Ranger of Cardolan (The Wastes of Eriador)
3x Sarn Ford Sentry (The Lost Realm)
2x Vigilant Dúnadan (The Sands of Harad)
Attachment (24)
3x A Burning Brand (Conflict at the Carrock)
3x Armored Destrier (Temple of the Deceived)
3x Dúnedain Warning (Conflict at the Carrock)
3x Forest Snare (Core Set)
3x Heir of Valandil (The Lost Realm)
2x Self Preservation (Core Set)
1x Steed of the North (Race Across Harad)
2x Sword that was Broken (The Watcher in the Water)
1x The Day’s Rising (The Antlered Crown)
3x The Long Defeat (The Battle of Carn Dûm)
Event (6)
3x Coney in a Trap (The Mûmakil)
3x Descendants of Kings (Escape from Mount Gram)
3 Heroes, 50 Cards
Cards up to Race Across Harad
Sideboard
Ally (11)
3x Dúnedain Hunter (The Lost Realm)
3x East Road Ranger (The Wastes of Eriador)
2x Northern Tracker (Core Set)
1x Vigilant Dúnadan (The Sands of Harad)
2x Warden of Annúminas (The Lost Realm)
Attachment (16)
3x Athelas (The Lost Realm)
3x Entangling Nets (Temple of the Deceived)
2x Silver Lamp (The Voice of Isengard)
2x Song of Travel (The Hills of Emyn Muil)
3x Steward of Gondor (Core Set)
3x Warrior Sword (The Ghost of Framsburg)
Decklist built and published on RingsDB.
Card Talk: A LOTR LCG Podcast and Blog 
Ah, now I’m imagining another great star-crossed Middle Earth love between Elf and Man: Beren and Luthien, Aragorn and Arwen, BAndrath Guardsman and Barwen…
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