Category: To Catch an Orc

Introduction

I didn’t get a chance to continue my Angmar Awakened campaign yet. That just means everyone gets the next installment of To Catch An Orc with my minimum purchase deck. I think everyone will be glad to read this one right after the one posted on Monday.

Decklist

Attempt 7

Setup: Methedras selected to be in the staging area. Stage 2b has 2 time. Threat is 28.

Starting Hand: The Galadhrim’s Greeting x2, Stand and Fight, A Test of Will, Keys of Orthanc, Gondorian Spearman

Turn 1: Draw Blade of Gondolin. Play Keys of Orthanc on Eowyn. Play Gondorian Spearman with doomed 1. Threat is 29. Exhaust keys to put a resource on Eowyn. Eoywn and Grima quest for 6. Prowling Wolf added for 5 threat. Time is 3. Travel to Methedras. Wolf engages and attacks, do not defend, no shadow, 1 damage assigned to Grima. Eomer and Spearman attack for 4 killing the wolf. Refresh, threat is 30, and time is 2

Turn 2: Draw Westfold Outrider. Play Blade of Gondolin on Eomer with doomed 1 and exhaust keys to add resource to Eowyn. Staging adds Orc Cave for 4 threat. Discard a The Galadhrim’s Greeting to place 3 progress on the active location exploring it. Search 3, no enemies, and add Erebor Hammersmith to hand. Time is 3. Travel to Orc Cave and discard Methedras from top of the encounter deck. Refresh, threat is 32, and time is 2.

Turn 3: Draw A Test of Will. Play Westfold Outrider with doomed 1, threat is 33, and add resource to Eowyn. Play Erebor Hammersmith. Eoywn, Grima, and Hammersmith quest for 7. Methedras added to the staging area for 2 threat. Orc Cave explored, search 5, add Mugash’s Guard to staging area, and Lórien Guide added to hand. Travel to Methedras. Optionally engage guard. Gondorian Spearman defends, deals a damage, shadow removes a time counter, and spearman dies. Eomer and outrider attack for 8 killing the guard. Refresh, threat is 34, and time is 1.

Turn 4: Rohan Warhorse drawn and played with doomed 1 and threat is 35. Exhaust keys for a resource. Play Lórien Guide. Eowyn, Grima, and guide quest for 7 and a progress on the Methedras. Take Cover deals a damage to the questers. Surge adds Methedras Orc for 3 threat. Methedras explored, search 3, no enemies, and add Gléowine to hand. Time is 2. Orc engages, attacks, hammersmith defends, no shadow, and hammersmith dies. Eomer and Outrider attack the orc for 8 killing him. Refresh, threat is 36, and time is 1.

Turn 5: Westfold Outrider drawn and played with doomed 1. Threat is 37 and exhaust keys for a resource. Play Gléowine and exhaust him to draw Rohan Warhorse. Eowyn, Grima, and guide quest for 7. Mugash’s Lair added to the staging area for 4 threat. Time is 2. Travel to the Lair. Lair discards Northern Tracker from out of play deck. Refresh, threat is 38, and time is 1.

Turn 6: Veteran Axehand drawn and played with doomed 1. Threat is 39 and exhaust keys for a resource. Draw with Gléowine to get Gondorian Spearman and play it. Quest for 7 and a progress on the Lair with Eowyn, Grima, and guide. Another Lair added to the staging area for 4 threat. Lair #1 explored and time is 2. Travel to Lair #2. Lair discards Isengard Messenger from out of play deck. Refresh, threat is 40, and time is 1.

Turn 7: Lórien Guide #2 drawn and played. Draw Stand and Fight #2 with Gléowine. Eowyn, Grima, and Gudies quest for 8 plus guides’ progress explores Lair #2. Orc Hunter added to the staging area and his when revealed adds Broken Lands for 4 threat. Time is 2. Travel to Broken Lands. Hunter engages, attacks, axehand defends, shadow adds 1 attack, and axehand dies. Eomer attacks for 6 killing the hunter and placing a progress on Broken Lands. Refresh, threat is 41, and time is 1.

Turn 8: Westfold Horse-breeder drawn and played. Draw Keys of Orthanc with Gleowine. Eowyn, Grima, guides, and breeder quest for 9 and 2 more progress on active location. Broken Lands #2 added to the staging area for 2 threat. Active location explored and time is 2. Travel to Broken Lands. Refresh, threat is 42, and time is 1.

Turn 9: Isengard Messenger drawn and played. Draw Gandalf with Gleowine. Eowyn, Grima, guides, and messenger quest for 9 and 2 progress on Broken Lands #2. Staging adds Orc Hunter which adds Prowling Wolf for 5 threat. Active location explored and time is 2. Both enemies engage. Breeder defends vs hunter, no shadow, and dies. An outrider defends vs wolf, no shadow, and no damage dealt. Eomer attacks for 6 on the wolf killing it. Eomer attacks again thanks to warhorse killing hunter. Refresh, threat is 43, and time is 1.

Turn 10: Isengard Messenger #2 drawn and played. Draw Deep Knowledge with Gleowine and play it, threat is 45, and exhaust keys for a resource. Northern Tracker and Westfold Outrider drawn and played. Eowyn, Grima, guides, and messengers quest for 12. Orc Hound and Methedras Orc added to the staging area for 5 threat. Time is 2. Play The Galadhrim’s Greeting during Travel phase action window to reduce threat to 37. Both enemies engage. Exhaust an Outrider for hound forced effect. Tracker defends hound attack, shadow adds 1 attack, and 1 damage taken. An outrider defends the orc’s attack, warhorse shuffled into out of play deck, shadow adds 1 attack, and outrider dies. Eomer attacks and kills hound then readies with warhorse. Eomer and last outrider attack and kill the orc. Refresh, threat is 38, time is 1.

Turn 11: Blade of Gondolin drawn. Exhaust Gléowine and draw Lórien Guide. Play the guide with doomed 1 and exhaust keys for a resource. Threat is 39. Eowyn, guides and messengers quest for 11. Staging adds Methedras for 2 threat. Time is 2. Travel to Methedras. Refresh, threat is 40, and time is 1.

Turn 12: Deep Knowledge drawn. Westfold Horse-breeder drawn with Gleowine and played. Eowyn, guides and messengers quest for 9 and 3 progress on Methedras exploring it. Search 3, no enemies, and Gandalf #2 added to hand. Take Cover deals 1 damage to Gleowine, Eowyn, guides, and messengers killing a guide. Orc Hunter and Prowling Wolf added to the staging area for 5 threat. Time is 2. Enemies engage. Wolf attacked defended by tracker, no shadow, and no damage dealt. Breeder defends the hunter’s attack, no shadow, and dies. Eomer kills both thanks to warhorse. Refresh, threat is 41, and time is 1.

Turn 13: Feint drawn. Gleowine draws last card in my deck which is The Wizards’s Voice. Eowyn, guides and messengers quest for 8. Staging adds Orc Hound. Surge reveals Orc Territory and add Orc Cave to the staging area for 4 threat. Time is 2. Travel to Orc Cave and discard Orc Hunting Party from the encounter deck. Hound engages. Tracker defends, shadow discards keys from Eowyn, and no damage dealt. Eomer kills hound placing a progress on Orc Cave. Refresh, threat is 42, and time is 1.

Turn 14: No cards left to draw. Eowyn, guides and messengers quest for 8 plus 2 progress on Orc Cave. Staging reveals Orc Territory and add Methedras to the staging area for 2 threat. Orc Cave explored, search 5, Mugash added to the staging area, and advance to stage 3. Time is 3. Travel to Methedras. Mugash engages. Spearmand defends the attack, deals 1 damage, no shadow, and dies. Eomer, outriders x2, and tracker attack for 12 defeating Mugash. Exhaust Grima to capture Mugash. Refresh, threat is 43, and time is 2.

Turn 15: No cards left to draw. Play Keys of Orthanc on Eowyn. Play Stand and Fight to get 3rd Isengard Messengerfrom discard pile. Play 2nd Stand and Fight with doomed 1 to put Lórien Guide #3 back into play. Exahust keys for a resource. Play Gandalf and lower threat by 5 to 38. Eowyn, guides, messengers, tracker, and Gandalf quest for 18 plus 3 progress on the active location which explores it. Search last 2 cards to get another Gandalf added to my hand. Methedras Orc added to the staging area for 3 threat resulting in 15 progress exactly for the win.

Score 185 = 15*10 + 38 threat + 4 hero damage + 0 heroes killed – 3 victory display

Postmortem

I noticed much later that I missed the Methedras Orc forced effect to shuffle in one of my cards to the out of play deck on turn 4. I don’t think it that much of difference because I had a pretty good board state through most of the game and several cards I held onto throughout the whole game without playing just in case I needed them later.

Introduction

A little break in reviews due to other obligations. Also, hopefully the podcast review of Sarn Ford Sentry that I reviewed already will be coming out this week. In the meant time here is another To Catch an Orc Minimum Purchase playthrough!

Decklist

Attempt 6

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

Starting Hand: Gandalf, Keys of Orthanc Westfold Horse-breeder, Westfold Outrider x2, and Secret Paths

Turn 1: A Test of Will drawn. Play keys on Eowyn. Play Westfold Outrider with Doomed 1, threat is 29, and Eowyn gains a resource. Play Westfold Horse-breeder and find Rohan Warhorse to add to hand. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Staging adds Orc Hound. Surge reveals Take Cover dealing a damage to Eowyn and Grima. Orc Hunter added to the staging area for 5 threat and removes a time. Time is 2. Travel to Methedras. Hound engages and attacks. Outrider defends, shadow adds an attack, and he dies. Eomer attacks and kills hound. Refresh, threat is 30, and time is 1.

Turn 2: Northern Tracker drawn. Play Outrider 2 with Doomed 1 and Eowyn gets a resource. Threat is 31. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Staging adds second Methedras and play secret paths to ignore its threat. Active location explored, search 3, no enemies, add Lórien Guide to my hand, and time is 2. Optionally engage hunter and defend with breeder, shadow removes a time, and breeder dies. Eomer attacks and kills the hunter. Refresh, threat is 32, Methedras Orc and Orc Cave added to staging area, and time is 2 again.

Turn 3: Gondorian Spearman drawn and played with Doomed 1, threat s 33, and Eowyn gets a resource. Play Gandalf dealing 4 damage to Orc. Eowyn, Grima, and Gandalf quest for 10. Prowling Wolf added to the staging area for 10 threat. Discard warhorse for a willpower. Time is 3. Enemies engage. Wolf defended by Outrider, no shadow, and no damage dealt. Orc defended by Spearman which deals a damage killing the Orc. Test of Will shuffled into out of play deck. Eomer attacks and kills the wolf. Refresh, threat is 34, Gandalf discarded, and time is 2.

Turn 4: Westfold Outrider drawn. Play guide with Doomed 1, threat is 35, and Eowyn gets a resource. Eowyn, Grima, and guide quest for 7 and a progress on active location. Methedras Orc added for 6 threat. 1 progress on active location and time is 3. Orc attacks and tracker shuffled in. Spearman defends, deals a damage, shadow discards keys, and Spearman dies. Eomer and Outrider attack for 7 killing the orc. Refresh, threat is 36, and time is 2.

Turn 5: Westfold Horse-breeder drawn and played. No mount found. Play Outrider #3. Quest for 7 with same people and active location explored. Search 3, no enemies, and Erebor Hammersmith added to hand. Staging adds Orc Hunter, Orc Hound, and Orc Skirmisher. Plus take cover deals a damage to questers.

Postmortem

I sciop because I keep just falling behind in board state. I’m thinking the deck can beat the quest, but it’s going to take several plays to get the right draws to build up a stable board similar to one of my earlier games and get Mugash out. I’m probably going to have to either play a power deck against this or come back to it. I just don’t have the time to play this a dozen or so times for the right draws, and get to play all the other quests in the cycle.

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.

Introduction

Sorry for another interlude from my Angmar Awakened campaign.

I made some minor tweaks to avoid threating out again. I added another Galadhrim’s Greeting and 3 copies of Core Set Gandalf for threat reduction. No more Wizard’s Voices and Saruman.

Decklist

Play by Play

Setup: Methedras selected to be in the staging area. Stage 2b has 2 time. Threat is 28.

Starting Hand: Deep Knowledge, Westfold Horse-breeder, Rohan Warhorse, Strength of Will, Gondorian Spearman, and Lórien Guide.

Turn 1: Westfold Horse-breeder drawn. Play deep knowledge to draw Stand and Fight and Secret Paths. Threat is 30. Use Grima ability to help play Gondorian Spearman and threat is 31. Play Westfold Horse-breeder and no mount found. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Staging adds Orc Hound and Mugash’s Lair for 7 threat. Play Secret Paths to ignore Lair threat and quest successfully. Time is 3. Travel to the Lair. Stand and Fight discarded from out of play deck for Lair. Orc Hound engages and exhaust breeder. Spearman defends, deals a damage, shadow exhausts Eomer, and Spearman dies. Refresh, threat is 32, and time is 2.

Turn 2: Westfold Outrider drawn. Use Grima ability to play Westfold Horse-breeder and threat is 33. Rohan Warhorse #2 found and played on Eomer. Grima and Eowyn quest for 6. Take cover deals a damage to them and Methedras Orc added to the staging area from surge for 5 threat. Discard the second warhorse to explore the Lair. Time is 3. Travel to Methedras. Orc engages, attacks, and Lórien Guide shuffled into out of play deck. Breeder defends, shadow exhausts 2nd breeder, and 1st one dies. Hound attack undefended, no shadow, and Eomer takes 2 damage. Eomer attacks and kills the hound, readies via warhorse, and attacks orc for 2 damage. Refresh, threat is 34, and time is 2.

Turn 3: Strength of Will drawn. Use Grima ability to play Stand and Fight and put Gondorian Spearman back into play. Threat is 35. Play Westfold Outrider. Grima and Eowyn quest for 6. Staging adds Orc Skirmisher for 3 threat. Methedras explored, search 3, no enemies, and add Gandalf to hand. Time is 3. Orc Skirmisher engages. Remove a time and time is 2. Spearman defends Methedras orc, deals a damage, no shadow, and dies. Breeder defends the Skirmisher, dies, and shadow removes a time. Time is 1. Eomer attacks the Methedras orc for 5 dealing 2 damage to kill it. Then readies with warhorse. Eomer and Outrider attack Skirmisher for 7 killing it. Refresh, threat is 36, last time removed. Broken lands and Skirmisher added to the staging area. Time is 2.

Turn 4: Gondorian Spearman drawn and played with Doomed 1. Threat is 37. Play Gandalf lowering threat by 5 to 32. Eowyn, Grima, and Gandalf quest for 10. Staging adds Orc Cave for total threat of 8. Time is 3. Travel to the cave and discard Orc Territory from the encounter deck. Skirmisher engages and deals 3 damage to Gandalf. Spearman defends, deals 1 damage, shadow exhausts Outrider, and Spearman dies. Eomer attacks Skirmisher for 5 killing it. Discard Gandalf, refresh, threat is 33, and time is 2.

Turn 5: Blade of Gondolin drawn and played for Doomed 1. Threat is 34. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Orc Territory adds Methedras to the staging area for 4 threat. 2 progress on Orc Cave and time is 3. Refresh, threat is 35, and time is 2.

Turn 6: Deep Knowledge drawn and played drawing Veteran Axehand and Northern Tracker. Threat is 37. Play Axehand with Doomed 1 and threat is 38. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Broken Lands #2 added to the staging area for 6 threat. Time is 1. (This is looking like game over.) quest forces effect adds 4 threat to the staging area and my next draw will only add 2 more willpower. Scoop to location lock.

Gandalf definitely helps with threat management. The shadows that exhaust a character are tough to deal with. Hesitant to put in Hasty Stroke because the deck for trisphere is already pretty spirit heavy. Losing Lórien Guide to out of play deck hurt. Those were awesome in my earlier plays.

Introduction

I was traveling last weekend and didn’t a chance to try The Weather Hills again. Instead I have another attempt at To Catch An Orc with my minimum purchase deck for that quest. If you missed my earllier attempts, they are linked below.

• Attempt 1
• Attempt 2

I made a few changes to the deck after the first couple attempts. I replaced Saruman with Gandalf. I often found when I might play Saruman that he wouldn’t have a target for his ability. Also the deck needed more threat reduction which Gandalf can do. The Wizards’s Voice replaced with Rohan Warhorse x2 and a The Galadhrim’s Greeting. More threat reduction and hopefully a way for Eomer to attack twice since it is easy in the quest to get 2 enemies engaged.

Decklist

Play by Play

Setup: Methedras selected to be in the staging area. Stage 2b has 2 time. Threat is 28.

Starting Hand: Deep Knowledge, Westfold Horse-breeder, Rohan Warhorse, Strength of Will, Gondorian Spearman, and Lórien Guide.

Turn 1: Westfold Horse-breeder drawn. Play deep knowledge to draw Stand and Fight and Secret Paths. Threat is 30. Use Grima ability to help play Gondorian Spearman and threat is 31. Play Westfold Horse-breeder and no mount found. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Staging adds Orc Hound and Mugash’s Lair for 7 threat. Play Secret Paths to ignore Lair threat and quest successfully. Time is 3. Travel to the Lair. Stand and Fight discarded from out of play deck for Lair. Orc Hound engages and exhaust breeder. Spearman defends, deals a damage, shadow exhausts Eomer, and Spearman dies. Refresh, threat is 32, and time is 2.

Turn 2: Westfold Outrider drawn. Use Grima ability to play Westfold Horse-breeder and threat is 33. Rohan Warhorse #2 found and played on Eomer. Grima and Eowyn quest for 6. Take cover deals a damage to them and Methedras Orc added to the staging area from surge for 5 threat. Discard the second warhorse to explore the Lair. Time is 3. Travel to Methedras. Orc engages, attacks, and Lórien Guide shuffled into out of play deck. Breeder defends, shadow exhausts 2nd breeder, and 1st one dies. Hound attack undefended, no shadow, and Eomer takes 2 damage. Eomer attacks and kills the hound, readies via warhorse, and attacks orc for 2 damage. Refresh, threat is 34, and time is 2.

Turn 3: Strength of Will drawn. Use Grima ability to play Stand and Fight and put Gondorian Spearman back into play. Threat is 35. Play Westfold Outrider. Grima and Eowyn quest for 6. Staging adds Orc Skirmisher for 3 threat. Methedras explored, search 3, no enemies, and add Gandalf to hand. Time is 3. Orc Skirmisher engages. Remove a time and time is 2. Spearman defends Methedras orc, deals a damage, no shadow, and dies. Breeder defends the Skirmisher, dies, and shadow removes a time. Time is 1. Eomer attacks the Methedras orc for 5 dealing 2 damage to kill it. Then readies with warhorse. Eomer and Outrider attack Skirmisher for 7 killing it. Refresh, threat is 36, last time removed. Broken lands and Skirmisher added to the staging area. Time is 2.

Turn 4: Gondorian Spearman drawn and played with Doomed 1. Threat is 37. Play Gandalf lowering threat by 5 to 32. Eowyn, Grima, and Gandalf quest for 10. Staging adds Orc Cave for total threat of 8. Time is 3. Travel to the cave and discard Orc Territory from the encounter deck. Skirmisher engages and deals 3 damage to Gandalf. Spearman defends, deals 1 damage, shadow exhausts Outrider, and Spearman dies. Eomer attacks Skirmisher for 5 killing it. Discard Gandalf, refresh, threat is 33, and time is 2.

Turn 5: Blade of Gondolin drawn and played for Doomed 1. Threat is 34. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Orc Territory adds Methedras to the staging area for 4 threat. 2 progress on Orc Cave and time is 3. Refresh, threat is 35, and time is 2.

Turn 6: Deep Knowledge drawn and played drawing Veteran Axehand and Northern Tracker. Threat is 37. Play Axehand with Doomed 1 and threat is 38. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Broken Lands #2 added to the staging area for 6 threat. Time is 1. (This is looking like game over.) quest forces effect adds 4 threat to the staging area and my next draw will only add 2 more willpower. Scoop to location lock.

Postmortem

Gandalf definitely helps with threat management. The shadows that exhaust a character are tough to deal with. Hesitant to put in Hasty Stroke because the deck for trisphere is already pretty spirit heavy. Losing Lórien Guide to out of play deck hurt. Those were awesome in my earlier plays.

Introduction

I didn’t get a chance to build the revised card pool minimum purchase deck I wanted to try for the Angmar Awakened campaign. I got the campaign cards printed a few weeks ago, and got them sleeved. Just need to find the time to play it. In the meantime, here is a game from a few years ago with a very different minimum purchase deck.

Decklist

Play by Play

Setup: Methedras selected to be in the staging area. Stage 2b has 2 time. Threat is 28.

Starting Hand: Deep Knowledge, Veteran Axehand x2, Blade of Gondolin, Strength of Will, Westfold Outrider

Turn 1: Lórien Guide drawn. Play Deep Knowledge and draw Keys of Orthanc and Feint. Threat is 30. Play keys on Eowyn. Play Veteran Axehand using Grima’s ability, exhaust keys to add a resource to Eowyn. Threat is 31. Grima and Eowyn quest for 6. Broken lands added to the staging area for 4 threat. Time on the quest is 3. Travel to broken lands. Refresh, time is 2, and threat is 32.

Turn 2: Isengard Messenger drawn. Play Lórien Guide and Blade of Gondolin on Eomer. Eowyn, Grima, and guide quest for 7 and 1 progress on the active location. Orc Cave added to the staging area for 5 threat total. 2 progress placed on the active location and time is 3. Refresh, time is 2, and threat is 33.

Turn 3: Westfold Horse-breeder drawn. Play Isengard Messenger and Westfold Horse-breeder. Use Grima ability to play Veteran Axehand #2, exhaust keys, add a resource to Eowyn, messenger gets a willpower, and threat is 35. Eowyn, Grima, messenger, and guide quest for 9 and place a progress on the active location. Methedras #2 added to the staging area for 7 threat. Active location explored and time is 3. Travel to the Orc Cave and play Strength of Will exhausting breeder to put 2 progress on it. Mugash’s Lair discarded for travel effect. Refresh, time is 2, and threat is 36.

Turn 4: Strength of Will drawn. Play Veteran Axehand #2. Eowyn, Grima, guide, and messenger quest for 8 and 1 progress on active location. Methedras #3 added to the staging area via Orc Territory. Active location explored, search 5, no enemies revealed, A Test of Will added hand, and time is 3. Travel to Methedras, play Strength of Will and exhaust breeder. Refresh, threat is 37, and time is 2.

Turn 5: Lórien Guide drawn and played. Eowyn, Grima, guides, and messenger quest for 9 and 2 progress on the active location exploring it. Search 3, no enemies, and Northern Tracker added to hand. Prowling wolf added to the staging area for 7 threat and time on quest is 3. Travel to another Methedras. Wolf engages and attacks. Axehand defends, shadow adds an attack, and Axehand dies. Eomer attacks the wolf for 5 killing it and placing a progress on the active location due to Blade of Gondolin. Refresh, threat is 38, and time is 2.

Turn 6: Westfold Horse-breeder drawn. Eowyn, Grima, and guides quest for 8 and place 2 progress on the active location exploring it. Search 3, no enemies, and A Test of Will added to hand. Broken Lands added to the staging area for 4 threat. Travel to Methedras. Refresh, threat is 39, and time is 2.

Turn 7: Veteran Axehand drawn and played. Same questers for 8 and 2 active location progress. Methedras Orc added to the staging area for 6 threat. Active location explored, search 3, no enemies, add Gondorian Spearman to hand, and time is 3. Travel to Broken Lands. Orc engages. Play Feint to avoid shuffling in a random card to out of play deck. Eomer and Axehands attack for 8 killing the orc and placing a progress on the active location. Refresh, threat is 40, and time is 2.

Turn 8: Henamarth Riversong drawn and played. Exhaust him to look at top encounter card which is a prowling wolf. Eowyn and guides quest for 6 and 5 active location progress for guides and questing successfully. Time is 3. Wolf engages and attacks. Messenger defends, no shadow, and no damage dealt. Eomer and Axehands attack and kill the wolf. Refresh, time is 2, and threat is 41.

Turn 9: Gondorian Spearman drawn and played. Play Northern Tracker. Exhaust Henamarth to look at top encounter card which is an Orc Skirmisher. Eowyn quests for 4 and time is 3. Skirmisher engages, 3 damage dealt to messenger, and attacks. Breeder defends, dies and shadow removes a time counter. Eomer and Axehands kill the Skirmisher. Refresh, threat is 42, and time is 1.

Turn 10: The Galadhrim’s Greeting drawn. Exhaust Henamarth and see Take Cover is top card. Eowyn quests for 4 and takes a damage from Take Cover. Mugash’s Lair added to the staging area for 4 threat. Discard breeder from hand to quest successfully and time is 2. Travel to the lair. Discard Mugash’s Guard from out of play deck from lair forced effect. Guard engages and attacks. Spearman defends, deals a damage, no shadow, and dies. Eomer and Axehands attack for 8 killing the guard, putting him in the victory display, and 1 progress on the lair. Refresh, threat is 42, and time is 1.

Turn 11: Keys of Orthanc drawn. Play Gondorian Spearman. Exhaust Henamarth and top card is an Orc Hound. Eowyn, Grima, and guides quest for 8 and 2 active location progress. Lair explored. Orc Hound added to the staging area, surge adds Orc Hunter, and Orc Hunting Party added for Orc Hunter. Time is 2. Enemies engage and attack. Tracker defends hound attack, no shadow, and no damage. Spearman defends the hunter, deals it a damage, shadow gives it another attack, and Spearman dies. Axehand defends the 2nd attack, dies, and shadow removes a time. Time is 1. Eomer attacks and kills the hunter. Remaining Axehand attacks hound deing 1 damage. Refresh, threat is 43, and last time removed. Shuffle in encounter discard and reveal Orc Skirmisher and Take Cover. Take Cover deals no damage but it surges into Broken Lands. Time is 2 again.

Turn 12: Stand and Fight drawn. Exhaust Henamarth and Methedras is on top. Play Outrider using Grima to make it Doomed 1 and exhaust keys to give Eowyn a resource. Threat is 44. Eowyn, Grima, and guides quest for 8 resulting in 3 time. Travel to Methedras. Orc Skirmisher engages removing a time. After shadows dealt, play Stand and Fight for 2 to get Gondorian Spearman. Spearman defends the hounds attack killing it. Skirmisher attack defended by Outrider, shadow adds 1 attack, and Outrider dies. Eomer attacks Skirmisher, kills it, and places a progress on Methedras. Refresh, threat is 45, and time is 1.

Turn 13: Erebor Hammersmith drawn and played. Exhaust Henamarth and Take Cover is top encounter card. Eowyn, Grima, and guides quest for 8 and Methedras explored. Search 3, no enemies, and add Saruman to hand. Take cover cancelled with A Test of Will. Surge adds prowling wolf. Time is 2. Travel to Broken Lands. Wolf engages and attacks. Tracker defends, shadow exhausts Spearman, and no damage. Eomer and Axehand kill the wolf and place a progress on Broken lands. Play The Galadhrim’s Greeting to lower threat to 39. Refresh, threat is 40, and time is 1.

Turn 14: Dwarven Tomb drawn. Exhaust Henamarth and see Orc Skirmisher is on top. Eowyn and guides quest for 6 and 5 progress on active location exploring it. Time is 2. Orc Skirmisher engages and removes a time. Spearman defends, no shadow, and dies. Eomer attacks for 6 killing Skirmisher. Refresh, threat is 41, and last time removed. Mugash’s Lair and Methedras added to the staging area. Time is 2.

Turn 15: Blade of Gondolin drawn and played. Exhaust Henamarth and Methedras is top card. Eowyn, Grima, guides, and tracker quest for 9 and put progress on the 2 locations in the staging area. Time is 3. Travel to first Methedras. Saruman discarded by Lair. Refresh, threat is 42, and time is 2.

Turn 16: Westfold Outrider drawn and played. Henamarth sees Orc Hunting Party on top. Eowyn, guides, and tracker quest for 7, place 2 progress on active location exploring it, and 1 on staging area locations exploring the Lair. Search last 3 cards and finally get Mugash. Orc Hunting Party gives Mugash a shadow card. Advance to stage 3. Time is 3. Mugash engagement and gets 2nd shadow card. Play Dwarven Tomb to get Stand and Fight and replay Spearman. Spearman defends, deals a damage, shadow gives Mugash 2nd attack, and Spearman dies. Hammersmith defends, shadow exhausts Outrider, and hammersmith dies. Grima, Eomer, and Axehand attack for 10 dealing 6 damage. Refresh, threat is 43, and time is 2.

Turn 17: Gondorian Spearman drawn and played. Eowyn and guides quest for 6. Active location explored. Methedras added to the staging area. Travel to it. Mugash attacks, Spearman defends, and Mugash defeated. Exhaust Grima to attach Mugash. REFRESH, threat is 44, and time is 1.

Turn 18: Secret Paths drawn. Eowyn, guides, tracker, and Henamarth quest for 9 and 2 active location progress. Methedras Orc added to the staging area for 3 threat. 5 quest progress and active location explored. Orc engages and attacks. A Test of Will shuffled into out of play deck. Spearman defends, deals a damage, no sahdow, and dies. Eomer and Axehand easily kill the orc. Refresh, threat is 45, and Mugash back in staging area. Time is 3.

Turn 19: Lórien Guide drawn and played. Eowyn, guides, and tracker quest for 8. Orc hunter added and remove a time. Both enemies engage. Henamarth defends vs Mugash and dies. Shadow discards Keys of Orthanc. Axehand defends hunter attack and dies. Eomer and Outrider attack Mugash for 5 damage. Refresh, threat is 46, and time is 1.

Turn 20: Isengard Messenger drawn and played. Play Keys of Orthanc on Eowyn. Eowyn quests for 4. Take Cover deals a damage to Eowyn. Orc Hunter added from surge. Orc Hunter engagement removes a time putting Mugash back into Staging area. Then Mugash engages. Tracker defends hunter attack, no shadow and takes 1 damage. Messenger defends Mugash attack, dies, and sahdow removes a time. Grima defends Skirmisher attack, shadow gives it another attack, and 2 damage dealt. A guide defends the 2nd attack, no shadow, and dies. Eomer kills the Skirmisher. Guides and Outrider kill the hunter. Refresh, threat is 47, and time is 1.

Turn 21: Stand and Fight drawn. Eowyn quests for 4. Methedras orc added to staging. During Travel Stand and Fight 2nd tracker (discarded from out of play deck.) Orc engages and attacks. Secret Paths put into out of play deck. Guides defend and die but 1 shadow gives Mugash a second attack that kills the Outrider and removes the last time counter. Mugash in staging area. Eomer and trackers kill orc. Refresh, threat is 48, and time is 2.

I’m going to threat out pretty sure at this point.

Introduction

After the successful completion of The Dunland Trap with Dave’s minimum purchase deck, I decided to try one of my own. I went back to To Catch An Orc since I didn’t beat with the Silvan deck.

Decklist

Play by Play

Setup: Methedras selected to be in the staging area. Stage 2b has 2 time. Threat is 28.

Starting Hand: Westfold Outrider x2, Northern Tracker, Secret Paths, Feint, and The Wizards’s Voice

Turn 1: Gondorian Spearman drawn and played using Grima’s ability to give it doomed one. Threat is 29. Grima and Eowyn quest for 6. Another Methedras added to the staging resulting in 4 threat in the staging area. 3 time on the quest. Travel to a Methedras. Refresh, time is 2, and threat is 30.

Turn 2: A Test of Will drawn. Play a Westfold Outrider and threat is 31. Same questers for 6. Orc Skirmisher added to the staging area for 6 threat. Play Secret Paths to ignore Methedras #2. Active location explored, search 3, add Henamarth Riversong to hand, and time on quest is 3. Travel to Methedras #2. Optionally engage Skirmisher and deal 3 damage to outrider which dies. Spearman defends the Skirmisher attack, deals a damage, Shadow exhausts Eomer, and Spearman dies. Refresh, time is 2, and threat is 32.

Turn 3: Stand and Fight drawn. Play Northern Tracker and threat is 33. Play Henamarth Riversong Eowyn, Grima, and tracker quest for 7. Prowling wolf added to the staging area for 3 threat. Active location explored, search 3, add Saruman to hand, and time on quest is 3. Wolf engages. Feint the Skirmisher. Henamarth defends the wolf attack, shadow adds no attack because no locations in the staging area, and Henamarth dies. Eomer attacks the Skirmisher for 5 and kills it. Ready, time is 2, and threat is 34.

Turn 4: Veteran Axehand drawn. Eowyn and Grima quest for 6. Orc Cave added to the staging area for 3 threat. Time on the quest is 3. Northern Tracker defends the wolf attack, shadow adds 1 attack, tracker takes 1 damage. Eomer attacks dealing 2 damage to the wolf. Refresh, time is 2, threat is 35.

Turn 5: Veteran Axehand drawn and played. Eowyn, Grima, and tracker quest for 7. 1 progress placed on Orc Cave. Take cover deals each quester 1 damage. 2 Orc Hounds and a Orc Hunter added to the staging area for 7 threat.

Postmortem

I scoop because I would need Eomer and axehand to defend but they will exhaust when hounds engage. Too bad because I could stand and fight the Spearman to kill wolf and wizards voice the hunter but undefended hound attacks would kill a hero.