Power of the Mind 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

This deck was really built to see if I could make Lore Bilbo viable. I love the idea of the wise elderly Hobbit with his love of Rivendell and its learning accompanying the Noldor, perhaps on his last voyage to the Grey Havens, encountering some enemies and meeting brawn with brain! This is a dizzying deck to play, as it is a bit of an 'Erestor on steroids' affair! Galdor helps you prune your opening hand, which will have eleven cards in the end. I did worry it would be squishy, but I dismantled Journey along the Anduin with it, killing both Hill Trolls, ending with eleven allies, eleven attachments, no damage and 26 threat! The key, usually, is to get Song of Travel early. That will allow the key cards to be played. To the Sea, to the Sea! allows you to get allies out efficiently, including the powerhouse Gildor Inglorion. Love of Tales before playing a Song card allows for resource generation too. It is imperative either to play Will of the West when you see it or to hold it back each round with Silver Harp to ensure you keep your deck rolling over. Knowing you have five cards in hand each round gives you such peace of mind once you get used to this deck. Once it is built up, it is wonderfully balanced, with offensive power from Mithlond Sea-watcher and defensive solidity from Guardian of Rivendell and Warden of the Havens, along with plenty of questing allies. Even Bilbo can become something of a tank once you have Boots from Erebor and Ring Mail on him. I defended the final Hill Troll attack using him! There is quite a lot of healing with Elrond, Lembas and most especially the Imladris Caregiver. The last of these is usually a great option as you often have two or three cards in hand that you don't need to or can't play in the mid- to late-game and so discarding them feels fine. This deck feels as though it is offering so much to think about, so it's tiring, but then that feels right for what I was going for! It's cerebral fun.