Constructing Tales of Middle Earth

Nazgul card art

Continuing this month's theme, today I look at constructing decks using almost exclusively Tales of Middle Earth cards. All play was done in Arena in the Alchemy format.

Because this set is a straight-to-modern release, the only formats in Arena that supports its use (aside from special events) are Alchemy and Historic. A summary:

Arena

Per the official site, Alchemy is:

- a digital-only experience (only on Arena)

- "based on the Standard format," so it is a rotating format that has sets of cards that are legal for deck construction

- New-to-Digital Cards. It has some "mechanics designed specifically for digital play," and they release some of these "new cards alongside every Standard set release."

- Rebalanced Magic Cards. Since it is digital-only, it "features rebalanced versions of existing Standard cards to shake up the meta for digital play." In other words, if a card is too powerful (or weak) in paper formats, they might adjust its cost or abilities to balance things out.

Historic

- non-rotating

- can include any card ever released on Arena

Both formats feature extremely powerful decks. This would present a problem.

Constructing Decks for Tales of Middle Earth

I attempted to make decks using only cards from Tales of Middle Earth, for a 'pure' Lord of the Rings experience. It didn't go well for two reasons:

1) The set's power level is low; not incorporating cards from other sets makes it almost impossible to win.

2) Alchemy and Historic are both high-power formats. 

In short, I lost a ton. It was really frustrating. I tried the following decks, all of which were a mess:

UG Elves

This deck is based on the scrying mechanic. Sometimes that combo worked, but never to victory.

3 Arwen Undómiel (LTR) 194

2 Elrond, Master of Healing (LTR) 200

2 Galadhrim Guide (LTR) 168

3 Shower of Arrows (LTR) 188

2 Celeborn the Wise (LTR) 156

2 Chance-Met Elves (LTR) 157

1 Glorfindel, Dauntless Rescuer (LTR) 171

2 Lothlórien Lookout (LTR) 175

4 Elven Farsight (LTR) 161

1 Horses of the Bruinen (LTR) 55

3 Grey Havens Navigator (LTR) 53

2 Arwen's Gift (LTR) 39

2 Council's Deliberation (LTR) 46

2 Hithlain Knots (LTR) 54

1 Lost Isle Calling (LTR) 61

4 Nimrodel Watcher (LTR) 63

12 Forest (LTR) 271

12 Island (LTR) 265

WG Second Breakfast

Who doesn't love second breakfast? This foods-based deck had potential, but still couldn't hold up.

2 Hobbit's Sting (LTR) 20

4 Eastfarthing Farmer (LTR) 8

2 Shire Shirriff (LTR) 30

1 Second Breakfast (LTR) 29

1 The Battle of Bywater (LTR) 2

2 Rosie Cotton of South Lane (LTR) 27

2 Bill the Pony (LTR) 3

2 Pippin's Bravery (LTR) 182

4 Meriadoc Brandybuck (LTR) 177

4 Mushroom Watchdogs (LTR) 180

2 Revive the Shire (LTR) 185

4 Brandywine Farmer (LTR) 155

4 Peregrin Took (LTR) 181

2 Samwise Gamgee (LTR) 222

2 Frodo Baggins (LTR) 205

11 Plains (LTR) 263

11 Forest (LTR) 271

B SacBats

Sacrifice is a staple mechanic in black, but again, it fell short against cards from other sets.

4 Haunt of the Dead Marshes (LTR) 90

2 Shelob's Ambush (LTR) 108

1 Call of the Ring (LTR) 79

2 Gorbag of Minas Morgul (LTR) 86

2 March from the Black Gate (LTR) 94

3 Mordor Muster (LTR) 96

4 Dunland Crebain (LTR) 82

4 Mordor Trebuchet (LTR) 97

4 Mirkwood Bats (LTR) 95

3 Lobelia Sackville-Baggins (LTR) 93

4 Oath of the Grey Host (LTR) 101

2 Cirith Ungol Patrol (LTR) 80

1 Voracious Fell Beast (LTR) 113

24 Swamp (LTR) 267

B Nazgul

Potentially my best option, the Nazgul, when combined with Call of the Ring, made things interesting.

9 Nazgûl (LTR) 100

2 Sauron, the Necromancer (LTR) 106

2 Witch-king of Angmar (LTR) 114

2 Ringwraiths (LTR) 284

2 Voracious Fell Beast (LTR) 113

4 Claim the Precious (LTR) 81

4 Haunt of the Dead Marshes (LTR) 90

3 Call of the Ring (LTR) 79

3 Gollum, Patient Plotter (LTR) 84

2 The One Ring (LTR) 246

3 Nasty End (LTR) 99

1 Barad-dûr (LTR) 253

23 Swamp (LTR) 267

UR Spellslinger

Getting Fiery inscription out fast is key here. Gandalf's Sanction can be a fun game-ender. I won at least once with this one with that combo (and plenty of instants/sorceries in the graveyard).

1 Gandalf, Friend of the Shire (LTR) 50

1 Ranger's Firebrand (LTR) 143

1 Cast into the Fire (LTR) 118

1 Smite the Deathless (LTR) 148

4 Fiery Inscription (LTR) 126

2 Fear, Fire, Foes! (LTR) 125

2 Gandalf the Grey (LTR) 207

4 Gandalf's Sanction (LTR) 208

2 Flame of Anor (LTR) 203

2 Bilbo, Retired Burglar (LTR) 196

2 Lórien Revealed (LTR) 60

1 Horses of the Bruinen (LTR) 55

1 Press the Enemy (LTR) 65

1 Arwen's Gift (LTR) 39

1 Dreadful as the Storm (LTR) 48

3 Soothing of Sméagol (LTR) 70

4 Birthday Escape (LTR) 43

2 Stern Scolding (LTR) 71

2 Glorious Gale (LTR) 51

12 Island (LTR) 265

11 Mountain (LTR) 269

WU Gondor

This "go wide" deck is about card draw and tokens.

2 Faramir, Prince of Ithilien (LTR) 202

4 Prince Imrahil the Fair (LTR) 219

2 Pippin, Guard of the Citadel (LTR) 218

2 Rangers of Ithilien (LTR) 66

2 Knights of Dol Amroth (LTR) 59

2 The Bath Song (LTR) 40

3 Captain of Umbar (LTR) 45

4 Birthday Escape (LTR) 43

2 Stalwarts of Osgiliath (LTR) 33

2 Now for Wrath, Now for Ruin! (LTR) 24

4 Errand-Rider of Gondor (LTR) 11

1 Boromir, Warden of the Tower (LTR) 4

3 Reprieve (LTR) 26

3 Esquire of the King (LTR) 13

10 Island (LTR) 265

9 Plains (LTR) 263

2 Deserted Beach (MID) 260

2 Skybridge Towers (SNC) 256

1 Minas Tirith (LTR) 256

BR Amass

Amass your army of Orcs here. Didn't work.

2 Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain (LTR) 214

2 Uglúk of the White Hand (LTR) 235

1 Sauron, the Lidless Eye (LTR) 288

1 Assault on Osgiliath (LTR) 285

2 The Balrog, Durin's Bane (LTR) 195

1 Warbeast of Gorgoroth (LTR) 152

2 Swarming of Moria (LTR) 150

1 Olog-hai Crusher (LTR) 140

1 Fire of Orthanc (LTR) 127

2 Foray of Orcs (LTR) 128

2 Grishnákh, Brash Instigator (LTR) 134

2 Book of Mazarbul (LTR) 116

2 Mordor Trebuchet (LTR) 97

1 Gothmog, Morgul Lieutenant (LTR) 87

1 Grond, the Gatebreaker (LTR) 89

1 Gríma Wormtongue (LTR) 88

4 Orcish Bowmasters (LTR) 103

2 Mordor Muster (LTR) 96

2 March from the Black Gate (LTR) 94

3 Haunt of the Dead Marshes (LTR) 90

1 Orcish Medicine (LTR) 104

12 Mountain (LTR) 269

12 Swamp (LTR) 267

BG Sac

I don't think this one worked either. I don't even remember.

2 Old Man Willow (LTR) 217

2 Sméagol, Helpful Guide (LTR) 231

2 Rise of the Witch-king (LTR) 221

1 Shelob, Child of Ungoliant (LTR) 230

1 The Shire (LTR) 260

1 Cirith Ungol Patrol (LTR) 80

1 Witch-king of Angmar (LTR) 114

1 Mirkwood Bats (LTR) 95

1 Mordor Trebuchet (LTR) 97

1 Gríma Wormtongue (LTR) 88

4 Nasty End (LTR) 99

4 Orcish Bowmasters (LTR) 103

2 Gollum, Patient Plotter (LTR) 84

2 Gorbag of Minas Morgul (LTR) 86

4 Haunt of the Dead Marshes (LTR) 90

2 Elven Farsight (LTR) 161

2 Bombadil's Song (LTR) 154

3 Shower of Arrows (LTR) 188

1 Stew the Coneys (LTR) 189

13 Swamp (LTR) 267

10 Forest (LTR) 271

Incorporating Other Sets

Having been soundly flummoxed, I turned to the 'hive mind' of the Internet and looked for successful decks using *mostly* LOTR cards. 

WB Shadow

This was about the spirits in Return of the King (the Grey Host). I think this was mostly my construction . . . it didn't work.

4 Shadow Summoning (LTR) 226

11 Swamp (LTR) 267

11 Plains (LTR) 263

3 King of the Oathbreakers (LTR) 211

3 Blood Pact (MID) 88

4 Oath of the Grey Host (LTR) 101

1 Soldier of the Grey Host (LTR) 32

2 Fog on the Barrow-Downs (LTR) 16

2 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11

2 Valorous Stance (VOW) 42

4 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198

1 Feast of the Victorious Dead (MAT) 30

1 Fleshtaker (MID) 222

1 Rite of Oblivion (MID) 237

2 Shattered Sanctum (VOW) 264

4 Homestead Courage (MID) 24

2 Benalish Sleeper (DMU) 8

2 Cut Down (DMU) 89

Nazgul2

Finally, a winner. Incorporating the better removal spells from NEO, DMU, MID, and BRO sets, plus Sheoldred, the Apocalpyse, made all the difference here.

9 Nazgûl (LTR) 100

1 The One Ring (LTR) 246

2 Witch-king of Angmar (LTR) 114

4 Orcish Bowmasters (LTR) 103

3 Invoke Despair (NEO) 101

4 Call of the Ring (LTR) 79

3 Gollum, Patient Plotter (LTR) 84

1 Cut Down (DMU) 89

3 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (DMU) 107

2 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107

4 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102

23 Swamp (LTR) 267

1 Barad-dûr (LTR) 253

Thoughts on Constructed

I really want to try Tales of Middle Earth in a limited constructed event. In the formats mentioned above, the decks fall apart unless you incorporate other cards. I'm disappointed overall, outside of the Nazgul2 deck.