C – core set M – Shadows of Mirkwood cycle M1 – Hunt for Gollum M2 – Conflict at the Carrock M3 – Journey to Rhosgobel M4 – Hills of Emyn Muil M5 – Dead Marshes M6 – Return to Mirkwood K – Khazad-dûm deluxe D – Dwarrodelf cycle D1 – Redhorn Gate D2 – Road to Rivendell D3 – Watcher in the Water D4 – Long Dark D5 – Foundations of Stone D6 – Shadow and Flame H – The Hobbit saga H1 – Over Hill and Under Hill H2 – On the Doorstep N – Heirs of Númenor deluxe S – Against the Shadow cycle S1 – Steward’s Fear S2 – Drúadan Forest S3 – Encounter
at Amon Dîn S4 – Assault on Osgiliath S5 – Blood of Gondor S6 – Morgul Vale
Attack Strength
Beorn (H1) is understandably the
strongest hero when it comes to attack; the lack of interactions with player
cards makes deck-building around him quite difficult, however.
Gimli (C) can get outrageously strong
as it comes to attack when built up (and damaged) but it takes time and effort,
so one has to decide whether to invest this way.
Bard the Bowman (H2), Bard Son of Bain (M4) and Legolas (C) are worth mentioning as
their attack is high (not exceptionally, given their sphere) and they are
ranged, which opens up certain possibilities, not only in multiplayer.
Vassal of the Windlord (M5) costs 1 and
attacks for 3 (being ranged too).
Knights of the Swan (S1) are the ground to the Outlands offensive.
Erebor Battle Master (D4) is an absurd
card, and this entry will gladly be removed when the card is from the game.
Eagles of the Misty Mountains (M6) get stronger the
more Eagles you’ve got, and are able to attach to them; it is a bit riskier to
defend than to attack with them, and since a Tactics deck might lack willpower,
it may often be they will be exhausted when a chance to strike or block arises.
Beorn (C) can do quite a bit of
damage, or more actually, if only not that reliably, even in his ally form;
pricy but not to be overlooked (the shuffle response can even be quite useful
for other strategies).
Black Arrow (H2) costs 0 and
boosts an attack by 5; one more reason to include a ranged hero.
Keeping Count (D1) is certainly
intriguing, if not entirely practical. If you have a couple of constant hero
attackers, two or three free slots in a deck (two copies is a minimum here –
unless another deck steps in), a good search or draw engine to fetch the second
copy soon enough, and if you know there will be enough enemies and rounds to
make the boost (for the less frequent attacker) substantial, then you might
want to experiment with this card. Considering all the “ifs”, one might as well
just forget the card but it is intriguing nonetheless.
Support of the Eagles (M6) takes a bit of
time to prepare, you need an Eagle first to make anything out of it, but it is
a very potent way to boost a Tactics hero’s attack or defence.
If Tactics is your sphere and there are Dwarves in play, Khazad! Khazad! (K) is a card you
don’t want to miss.
Unseen Strike (D1) is obviously
great if you can keep your threat low, or lower than enemies’ engagement cost
that is; it may be less famed than the above but it is universally more useful
(but it only boosts an attack in Combat, not in a battle questing, for instance).
Boromir (N) is Gondorian
attacking leader, boosting each of the numerous Gondor allies by 1 if he has but
a resource in his resource pool. Boromir possesses attack strength of 3 himself
on top of that.
Dáin Ironfoot (M6) is the basis to
the Dwarven attack swarm strategy, a strategy that gets stronger with every
Dwarf that enters play (including heroes and characters of other players).
Dúnedain Mark (M1) is perhaps the
most direct way to boost a hero’s attack, a mere resource for +1 attack is a
good deal, the ability of switching attached hero is a clear (and often useful)
bonus.
Grave Cairn (D3) has a great
potential, but one needs find ways to employ it. Sneak Attack with Gandalf for
the Quest phase is a way to then boost a character’s attack by 4 for the Combat
phase.
For Gondor! (C) may be a
defensive card for Gondorians but it is an offensive card for every character.
Glorfindel (D5) would be nothing
special with his attack of 3 in any other sphere but it is a clear winner in
Spirit.
Damrod (N), Elfhelm (M5) and Northern Tracker (C) are useful ally attackers in the Spirit
sphere.
Aragorn (D3) and Glorfindel (C) stick out as good
attacking choices among the Lore heroes.
Mirkwood Runner (M6) possesses a
special ability to cut through enemies never minding their defence when
attacking alone; if only his attack was higher, or was more easily boosted
(especially within the sphere).
Haldir of Lórien (M3) is a Lore ally
master all-rounder whose ranged attack is very neat.
Gandalf (C) and Gandalf (H1) are useful neutral additions to any deck that lacks
attacking strength.