Category: Core Set Combos

Dunhere + Quick Strike is questing and combat twofer combo. Quick Strike being an action let’s a character attack an eligible enemy during any action window. Dunhere because he can attack into the staging area makes it possible to attack an enemy revealed during staging in the subsequent action window. Dunhere then can kill the enemy and remove its threat from the staging area. This pseudo questing by removing staging area is one of the few ways to the Core Set has to adjust the outcome of the quest phase like Eowyn’s and ally Faramir’s abilities. The second benefit is then a player doesn’t have to defend against an attack from the enemy. Some enemies that are better to target than others. Dol Guldur Orcs have no defense and only 3 hitpoint so Dunhere doesn’t need help to kill them. Hummerhorns can kill a hero when it engages a player and killing it in the staging avoids the 5 direct damage effect. Chieftan Ufthak gets more attack power every time he attacks and keeping him from attack because a player never has to engage him can be a huge benefit.

Gloin + Self Preservation creates a resource acceleration engine that rivals or even can exceed Steward of Gondor. Gloin gains a resource for each point of damage taken. Self Preservation heals 2 damage from him each turn. Many of the enemies have 2 attack in the core set. Gloin defending or even being assigned damage from undefended attacks can generate 1 – 3 resources per turn with one Self Preservation. Self Preservation doesn’t a limit per character or Restricted keyword. This means you can have multiple copies on him and generate more resources. Attachments like Citadel Plate also in the Core Set make this even easier. He then can take up to 7 damage before needing to heal. This let’s player do the healing more efficiently since there might be times when Gloin only has 1 damage but it is prudent to heal him before taking another attack considering shadows might add attack power to an enemy.

Of course there are other cards in the Core Set that can heal too. Daughter of Nimrodel is a solid alternative because it also can heal 2 damage on a hero per turn. It is just vulnerable to direct damage and ally discard effects. Lore of Imladris also works for a one time heal. It’s value is best when Gloin has a Citadel Plate or 2, and it can heal a lot of damage netting more resources than the 2 cost to play it. The Revised Core Set also has the Valor Boon card that can heal a damage when attached hero attacks. Gloin can take an undefended attack, attack the enemy, and heal 1 damage while also gaining resources!

One thing to be aware of in using this combo is when to heal Gloin since Self Preservation, Daughter of Nimrodel, and Lore of Imladris are all actions. There are 2 action windows during an enemy attack but before damage is place you can heal. The distinction between the two is very important if he’s already damaged and what shadow effect you might face. The 6.4.1 action window is right before you reveal the shadow card and the other is right after. Right before is important if there are shadow effects that deal damage to the defending character. Direct damage on a shadow effect is placed as soon as it is revealed. If Gloin only has 1 hit point left, best to heal him before chancing that the Shadow could deal that 1 damage. If there’s attack boosts but no direct damage, a player can heal him after the Shadow is revealed in the 6.4.2 action window. This is because the 6.4.3 step is when damage is calculated from enemy’s attack + shadow + less defender’s defense and then placed.

Another consideration in using Gloin with the Core Set and Shadows of Mirkwood cycle is being careful in taking undefended attacks. It’s a great value to get resources and action advantage, but in the first cycle there’s a large risk. Many of the shadow effects are worse if the attack is undefended. Shadow cancelation like Hasty Stroke or shadow scrying with Dark Knowledge can make it safer to take those undefended attacks.

Eowyn + Stand and Fight is a way to smooth resources or “splash” an off-sphere card or cards (this means include cards that don’t match any of your heroes) in the Core Set. Eowyn’s ability let’s any player discard any card from your hand for +1 willpower. If a non-neutral ally is discarded, it can be targeted by Stand and Fight and put into play. They don’t have to be Spirit, but you have to use Spirit resources to pay for them.

For example, you can include ally Beorn in Leadership & Spirit decklist from the Revised Core rulebook. Discard him to give Eowyn +1 willpower during the quest phase. Later during the combat phase, play Stand and Fight for 6 Spirit resources to put Beorn into play ready to defend or attack. There is another example that can be a great tactical play to counter the 5 threat 1 quest point location Brown Lands. In the action window after staging, discard Snowbourn Scout to Eowyn’s ability, then play Stand and Fight targeting Snowbourn Scout, and place a progress on Brown Lands to explore it.

Another important rules distinction is that Stand and Fight puts the ally into play but it is not considering “playing” the ally. The combo then is very helpful in quests like Escape from Dol Guldur that limit the number of allies you can play per round. It also means that cards like Erebor Hammersmith that have effects that trigger when you play the card, putting them into play with Stand and Fight doesn’t trigger the ability.

A core set combo with Thalin worth mentioning is Gondorian Spearman. If an enemy has 2 hit points Thalin will damage them for 1. Then Gondorian Spearman can block that enemy and kill it with its direct damage ability before step 6.3 when it would deal damage to the spearman.

Aside from Beravor and Gleowine, this combo provides the best one time card draw effect prior to Foundation of Stone’s Daeron’s Runes. The other options within the core set are relatively expensive or conditional. Lorien’s Wealth in Lore costs 3 to draw the same 3 cards. Gandalf’s Search also a Lore event costs at least 1, but no matter how much you spend you only draw 1 card. In the same Leadership sphere as Sneak Attack, there is Valiant Sacrifice. It is similar in cost but it only draws 2 cards and an ally has to leave play. While this condition makes it more difficult to play, it combos with Sneak Attack + Gandalf. It can be played when Gandalf returns to hand at the end of the phase for Sneak Attack.

The direct damage is an incredibly useful effect and the flexibility on the timing of playing Gandalf makes it more so. You can play the combo at the beginning of the quest phase to kill an enemy and then quest with Gandalf. You can also play them at the action window after staging to kill an enemy and reduce staging area threat. It is less efficient since you can’t commit Gandalf to the quest and use his willpower. Still it can mean the difference between questing successfully or not. Another good time to play it after staging is when you are short a few progress to clear an active location or quest stage. Finally, another great time to play this combo is the action window at the beginning of the combat phase. You can potentially kill an enemy so it doesn’t have to be defended, or at least get it down to where you can kill it that turn. This also works well with Gondorian Spearman. If Gandalf can get the enemy down to 1 hit point, then the Spearman’s ability will kill it before its attack resolves. On top of it all, Gandalf can bring his 4 defense or attack to bear against an enemy.

The threat reduction particularly is important as Leadership is easier to pair with other spheres thanks to the resource acceleration of Steward of Gondor. One Leadership resource for 5 threat reduction is much cheaper than the only other big threat reduction card in the core set, Galadhrim’s Greeting.