Longbeard Orc Slayer

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Background

The Longbeards are the only Dwarves introduced in The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings although there are other clans of Dwarves descended from the original 7 fathers created by Aule. The Longbeard Dwarves during both books lived in the Iron Hills or Dunland. The Hobbit saw the Longbeards reclaim Erebor from the Dragon Smaug during the Third Age not long prior to Sauron’s return.

The Longbeards had clashed with orcs since Durin’s Folk claimed the Grey Mountains in the First Age. In the Second Age after Morgoth’s defeat saw orcs coming from the East to attack Dwarven lands again. The Third Age saw orcs move into Khazad-dum after the Balrog drove out the Longbeards.

Card Theme

Longbeard Orc Slayer deals damage to all orcs in play. It is a pretty self-evident mechanical link to the theme.

Card Synergies and Interactions

Put Into Play

There are a few actions that can put an ally into play at any action window. Sneak Attack, To me! O my kinsfolk!, Horns! Horns! Horns!, and Reinforcements work great with the slayer. They allow putting it into play after staging to maximize the number of orcs it can hit. If using other direct damage effects, it could even destroy some orcs before quest resolution to lower staging area threat. Timely Aid and Stand and Fight still can get the slayer into play at an action window after staging, but they won’t go back to a player’s hand or deck to play again later. If slayer chump blocks, Stand and Fight and To me! O my kinsfolk! can bring it back for another round of damage.

synergies

Dwarf Tribal

Quest Specific

Intruders in Chetwood, Dungeson of Cirith Gurat, The Uruk-Hai, and Helm’s Deep are all ones to avoid using the Longbeard Orc Slayer in. Intruders in Chetwood enemies can’t be damaged while Orc War Party is in play. The quest starts with one in play and there are 2 others in the encounter deck. More often than not, enemies won’t be able to take direct damage. Dungeons of Cirith Gurat during the second stage when the players have to avoid engaging enemies for 2 turns, the slayer weakening them would be quite beneficial except they’re all immune to damage. The Uruk-Hai and Helm’s Deep many of the enemies have the toughness X keyword that cancels the first X damage any time damage is dealt to them. The slayer damage then will just get canceled every time it is used against them.

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.

I rate Longbeard Orc Slayer at 7 rings. There are a lot of orc enemies in the game. A player isn’t going face several at one time in true solo all that often. It is better in multiplayer when there will likely be more orcs in play and deal several points of damage. The hit point creep as the game develop made that 1 point of damage to each enemy less effective. The game also saw more enemy traits introduced with undead, werewolves, Harad, and more. Those early quests the slayer was a pretty useful toolbox ally for swarm quests. The high cost is also a barrier to play. Especially as more cost efficient allies like Treebeard and Legolas ally were introduced. The cost can be mitigated by put in play effects which work great with the enter play effect. Still a really strong ally that is intended to stick around will do more for a player than a one time blast of global damage.

• Dave – 9
• Grant – 8
• Ted – TBR
• Matt – 7
• Average – 8

External Links

• Tolkien Gateway
• Hall of Beorn
• Ringsdb

Sample Decks