To Catch An Orc with a Minimum Purchase Deck 4 & 5 – January 19, 2020

Introduction

It’s a minimum purchase To Catch An Orc double feature!

Decklist

Attempt 4

Setup: Methedras in the staging area. Threat is 28. Time is 2.

Starting Hand: Keys of Orthanc, Blade of Gondolin, Isengard Messenger, Westfold Horse-breeder, Lórien Guide, and Gondorian Spearman

Turn 1: Spearman #2 drawn. Play Keys of Orthanc on Eowyn. Play Westfold Horse-breeder, find Rohan Warhorse, and add to hand. Play Spearman with Doomed 1. Exhaust keys for a resource on Eowyn and threat is 29. Grima and Eowyn quest for 6. Prowling wolf added to the staging are for 5 threat. Time is 3. Travel to Methedras and engage wolf. Take attack undefended, no shadow, one damage dealt to Eomer. Eomer and Spearman attack and kill the wolf. Refresh, threat is 30, and time is 2.

Turn 2: Dwarven Tomb drawn. Play Blade of Gondolin Doomed 1 on Eomer, exhaust keys for a resource, and threat is 31. Play Rohan Warhorse on Eomer. Play Lórien Guide. Grima, Eowyn, and guide quest for 7 and a progress on the active location. Broken lands added for 2 threat. Active location explored, search 3, no enemies, and add Lórien Guide #2 to hand. Time is 3. Travel to Broken Lands. Refresh, threat is 32, time is 2.

Turn 3: Gandalf drawn. Play Isengard Messenger. Play second Spearman with doomed 1, exhaust keys, and threat is 33. Eowyn, Grima, messenger, and guide quest for 9 and a progress on the active location. Staging adds Orc Hound and Mugash’s Lair for 5 threat. 4 progress placed on active location. Lair adds Mugash to the staging area. Mugash and Orc Hound engage, breeder exhausted, and they attack. Orc Hound attack defended by Spearman, deals a damage, shadows gives another attack, and Spearman dies. 2nd attack undefended, shadow adds 1 attack, and Grima dies. Mugash attack defended by 2nd Spearman, deals a damage, and dies. Eomer attacks hound and kills it. Blade puts last progress on broken lands. Eomer readies with warhorse and attacks Mugash dealing 2 damage.

I pretty much scoop at this point. It is going to be difficult to muster the willpower to get through the last stage without Grima to capture Mugash and let Eowyn still quest.

Attempt 5

Setup: Methedras in staging area. Threat is 28 and time is 2.

Starting hand: Westfold Horse-breeder, Gandalf, Stand and Fight, Northern Tracker, Keys of Orthanc, and Henamarth Riversong.

Turn 1: Stand and Fight #2 drawn. Play Keys of Orthanc on Eowyn. Play Westfold Horse-breeder with Doomed 1, fail to find a mount, exhaust keys for a resource, and threat is 30. Play Henamarth Riversong. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Take cover deals them a damage. Orc skirmisher added to staging area for 5 threat. Time is 3. Travel to Methedras. Skirmisher optionally engaged and time is 2. Breeder defends and shadow adds another attack.

I just scoop on that. The shadows adding extra attacks and exhausting characters keep messing with my ability to plan for battles.