One of the things that I love best about this game is the unlikely bedfellows it makes. Elrohir and Elladan are not unlikely bedfellows– there are 58 decks on RingsDB featuring the twins, making it one of the most popular hero pairings around, (for obvious reasons). But the problem with building a Twins deck is one of economy. How do you afford to use their expensive abilities while still paying for the cards you need to get on the table?

Ebb and Flow of Threat

by Esh

http://ringsdb.com/fellowship/view/38/ebb-and-flow-of-threat

Do You Even Doom, Bro?

Hero (3)
Elladan (Road to Rivendell)
Elrohir (The Redhorn Gate)
Gríma (The Voice of Isengard)

Ally (21)
3x Erebor Hammersmith (Core Set)
3x Errand-rider (Heirs of Númenor)
2x Galadhon Archer (The Nîn-in-Eilph)
1x Gléowine (Core Set)
3x Honour Guard (The Wastes of Eriador)
1x Quickbeam (The Treason of Saruman)
3x Vassal of the Windlord (The Dead Marshes)
2x Warden of Healing (The Long Dark)
3x Weather Hills Watchman (The Lost Realm)

Attachment (20)
3x Dúnedain Mark (The Hunt for Gollum)
3x Dúnedain Warning (Conflict at the Carrock)
2x Elven Mail (The Three Trials)
3x Keys of Orthanc (The Voice of Isengard)
1x Protector of Lórien (Core Set)
3x Rivendell Blade (Road to Rivendell)
2x Rivendell Bow (The Watcher in the Water)
3x Steward of Gondor (Core Set)

Event (10)
3x Daeron’s Runes (Foundations of Stone)
3x Deep Knowledge (The Voice of Isengard)
3x Feint (Core Set)
1x Legacy of Númenor (The Voice of Isengard)

Threat Relief Valve

Hero (3)
Aragorn (The Watcher in the Water)
Glorfindel (Foundations of Stone)
Merry (The Wastes of Eriador)

Ally (20)
1x Arwen Undómiel (The Watcher in the Water)
3x Ethir Swordsman (The Steward’s Fear)
3x Galadriel’s Handmaiden (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
2x Master of the Forge (Shadow and Flame)
2x Northern Tracker (Core Set)
1x Treebeard (The Antlered Crown)
3x Wandering Ent (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
2x West Road Traveller (Return to Mirkwood)
3x Westfold Horse-breeder (The Voice of Isengard)

Attachment (16)
2x Asfaloth (Foundations of Stone)
1x Hobbit Pony (The Wastes of Eriador)
3x Light of Valinor (Foundations of Stone)
2x Ranger Spikes (Heirs of Númenor)
3x Song of Eärendil (Road to Rivendell)
2x Unexpected Courage (Core Set)
3x Wingfoot (The Nîn-in-Eilph)

Event (16)
3x A Test of Will (Core Set)
3x Elrond’s Counsel (The Watcher in the Water)
3x Hasty Stroke (Core Set)
2x Radagast’s Cunning (Core Set)
2x Secret Paths (Core Set)
3x The Galadhrim’s Greeting (Core Set)

Which is where the unlikely bedfellow comes in. A certain… shall we say “morally ambiguous”… adviser of the Rohirrim seems like a perfect way to fill our pockets, both through his own benefit and repeated use of the Keys of Orthanc. And yet, of those 58 Twins decks, Grima only appears in one, which on the one hand is surprising and on the other makes perfect sense, because I would never have thought to pair him with them.

With the Twins poised to handle combat, (and Grima all set to bankroll them), the only need is a means to deal with all of that pesky doomed flying around the table, and perhaps some extra willpower wouldn’t be amiss. By pairing with a second deck, Esh solves both issues at once. (Though, as an aside, I think a couple copies of Desperate Alliance might not be amiss, so the partner deck can loan Aragorn for a quick threat reduction.)

A hero lineup that is at once totally intuitive and counterintuitive? That’s certainly something worth a closer look…