When browsing the forums or the CotR Discord channels, I often see Rossiel placed into specific deck archetypes: secrecy and victory display control. Whole decks are formed around one or both of these concepts. A common frustration is that it takes time for Rossiel and her control cards to take effect and hard to make consistent use of her boosted stats. You know… it’s all valid. Rossiel can be very tricky to use effectively.
What if I told you that it didn’t need to be this way…
Rossiel and Her Ranger Escort
Damrod (The Land of Shadow)
Mablung (The Nîn-in-Eilph)
Rossiel (Escape from Mount Gram)
Ally (17)
1x Booming Ent (The Antlered Crown)
2x Defender of Rammas (Heirs of Númenor)
2x Derndingle Warrior (Escape from Mount Gram)
2x Henneth Annûn Guard (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
2x Ithilien Lookout (The Dunland Trap)
3x Master of the Forge (Shadow and Flame)
2x Quickbeam (The Treason of Saruman)
3x Warden of Healing (The Long Dark)
Attachment (19)
2x A Burning Brand (Conflict at the Carrock)
2x Ambush (The Land of Shadow)
2x Cloak of Lórien (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
2x Gondorian Fire (Assault on Osgiliath)
3x Gondorian Shield (The Steward’s Fear)
3x Lembas (Trouble in Tharbad)
3x Ranger Spikes (Heirs of Númenor)
2x Secret Vigil (The Lost Realm)
Event (14)
3x Feint (Core Set)
3x Keen as Lances (Escape from Mount Gram)
3x None Return (Across the Ettenmoors)
2x Secret Paths (Core Set)
3x Tireless Hunters (The Lost Realm)
Sideboard
Attachment (3)
3x Forest Snare (Core Set)
What I love about this deck is that Rossiel and the victory display cards are slotted into an auxiliary role. She is a “nice to have” element within the deck but the deck will survive without her input. Meanwhile there is a great combination of ents, rangers, and traps to keep this deck thriving.
The theme is great too. Two rangers of Ithilien struggle against the shadows of Mordor. But, the grace and beauty of the elves sweeps in at their hour of need with a army of ents roused for battle.
This deck is actually part of a very nice fellowship used by WanderTook (and you should definitely check it out). I opted not to spotlight both decks because of just how good his Rossiel inclusion is. Rossiel mixed with the tactics sphere is very rare on ringsDB and it’s refreshing to see how well they mesh together in this deck.
– thanatopsis
Cardboard of the Rings 