Legolas and Gimli - Keeping count 1.0

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• 1.0

I got some inspiration from Mr Underhill here. I liked the thematic fit of a deck with Gimli and Legolas and Keeping Count. However, I couldn't help noticing it ended up with Legolas keeping count with Glorfindel, so I wanted to do my own take on it.

The deck is pretty allround and should work well both in solo and in multi. It's not very heavy on tough, so a partner can't be too light on it.

For a starting-hand I mostly look for at least one Keeping Count. Various other cards are good early (Light of Valinor, Weapons, Elven-light and some carddraw). None of them are an absolute need, but if I don't get any of them I'd muligan even with a Keeping count.

The early strategy is pretty simple. Legolas gets the first Keeping Count, some weapons and Light of Valinor. Everybody quests, Legolas uses his ability on Gimli who defends. Legolas kills. Keep the second copy of keeping count in hand if you draw it, so Gimli can help to kill early on should you need it. An early undefended attack on Gimli can also sometimes be usefull (especially if you didn't draw Light of Valinor in the starting-hand) If you're not getting the Light of Valinor you can put one Unexpected Courage on Legolas instead, though I prefer them on Elrond.

With only 2 and no buffs Gimli will take damage, which is sorta the point. That, combined with the Keeping count on Legolas should easly make Gimli around 10 in the late-game.

When you're ready to enter the late-game put the second Keeping count and Firefoot on Gimli and put him on the attack. He shouldn't have much trouble killing up to two enemies singlehanded, and Legolas can take a third.

Elrond develops into your main defender for the late-game. He picks up the slack when Gimli changes roles so that you're not left defenceless. With Arwen Undómiel, A Burning Brand and some healing he should be just about unkillable. At this point you should have enough questing allies (Arwen Undómiel, West Road Traveller and Northern Tracker) to keep him out of the quest, and preferably at least one Unexpected Courage on him. If you only got one Unexpected Courage on him you can heal up Gimli and then take an undefended hit on him if you need to cover a third attack.

The deck has quite a few dead-draws (more than one of Uniques, more than two weapons, more than one burning brand etc). They go to fuel Legolas ability so he doesn't have to pay for elven-light every turn and free up his resources (and offcourse Elrond helps to pay for the allies). Errand-rider shifts Gimlis money around as needed.