Ocean's Elven 3.0

• Versions
• 3.0

This is mainly a Noldor-focused deck, 2 of the 3 rings are here... and there is a pirate too! She doesn't share their trait but she does her love for boats and seas.

I've tested this deck against the Temple of Doom, Carn Dûm, and Dol Guldur... and I was able to beat the 3 scenarios. Having Vilya in the early game is something that we still want, but this deck can perform pretty well without finding it so soon.

Na'asiyah is our best response against nasty enemies, and much more if we have other 3 heroes generating resourses for taking care of our deck. Na'asiyah is not here to share the income. Every resource of hers will be more valuable as fuel for her ability.

Finally I also included some non-noldor/istari allies that I believe are a good companion for them (the eagles are good for Radagast, Beorn is a stapple for Vilya, Faramir and Henamarth fit nicely in any deck).

Heroes:

• Elrond
  • Vilya
  • A Burning Brand
  • Protector of Lórien
  • Unexpected Courage
• Galadriel
  • Nenya
  • Unexpected Courage
• Na'asiyah
  • Bow of Yew x2
  • Cram x2

Notes:

• The three noldor heroes are fairly straightforward.
  • If rings didn't show up, use Galadriel and Gildor's abilities to improve card-draw.
• Elrond is our main defender.
  • We need to find his courage and defensive gadgets as soon as possible.
  • In the meantime, defensive tasks will be performed by Na'asiyah.
• Resources from Na'asiyah only will be used to: activate her action or paying for events.
  • Vilya and Nenya should be paid by the elves (they are their owners after all).
• Ring finders:
  • Imladris Stargazer + Galadriel's (or Gildor's) action.
  • Master of the Forge.
  • Gandalf's draw response, in the worst case scenario.
• Saruman's doomed penalty is not as bad as it looks.
  • He's usually my MVP in The Battle of Carn Dûm.
  • Besides, this deck has several ways for threat reduction:
    1. Galadriel's action.
    2. Gandalf's response.
    3. The Galadhrim's Greeting
    4. Pillars of the Kings.
• If the deck is out of cards, Beorn + Vilya is a killer combo.
  • We can boost Beorn's each round and then put him back for free with Vilya on each refresh phase.
• Born Aloft and Bulwark of the West are great to be used with Gandalf or Saruman, right before their discard forced effect takes place.

Improvements:

• If you don't want duplicates of unique allies, replace each extra copy with Angbor, Firyal, Jubayr, and Yazan.
• Peace, and Thought could be a good option for card drawing, but the only replacement I see for this event are the Masters of the Forge. However, I like them more, since they are also useful as:
  • deck shufflers (if there are not good choices for the Stargazer),
  • targets for the Bulwark of the West,
  • chump blockers.
• Radagast and Saruman are here just because I like the idea of having a deck with the 3 istari allies.
  • Radagast will be useful to pay/heal eagles. He's a nice complement to Elrond's abilities.
  • Play Saruman when his response is really needed (he never liked that nasty troll in the banks of the Anduin). Another reason can be found right below...

If Na'asiyah cannot be used:

• Remove her together with Gildor, Gandalf (x2), and the contract.
• Then include Gandalf, as a hero, and his mount (x2).
  • The Cram should go to Elrond.
  • The Bows of Yew can go to Beorn and/or Glorfindel.

With those few changes here is some strategy to go through the Raid on the Grey Havens.

• Mulligan for Saruman.
  • Once played, in round 1, he can nullify the aflame location and go questing without exhaustion.
  • In combat phase, Gandalf can absorb ravager's undefended 4 attack.
  • Finally Saruman and Gandalf can kill the ravager together.