Ally Treebeard made a big impact when he arrived on the scene, and deservedly so. Even today, he is a contender for the most powerful neutral card. When it came time to design a hero version, the developers had big shoes to fill, but they sure came through! Hero Treebeard is a powerhouse. Even in simple builds, Treebeard can pack a punch; throw in some action advantage, and he pulls his weight in both the questing and combat phases. Now, that’s fun and all, his but how can you truly push the limits with him? Well, why don’t you ask the elves?

Join us today, as CoTR shines a spotlight on…

When Elves Talk to Trees

by Zatara

http://ringsdb.com/fellowship/view/1116/when-elves-talk-to-trees

Treebeard: Elf Friend

Hero (3)
Haldir of Lórien (Trouble in Tharbad)
Mirlonde (The Drúadan Forest)
Treebeard (The Treason of Saruman)

Ally (20)
1x Elrond (The Road Darkens)
2x Galadhrim Healer (The Dread Realm)
2x Galadhrim Minstrel (Trouble in Tharbad)
1x Gléowine (Core Set)
1x Henamarth Riversong (Core Set)
2x Quickbeam (The Treason of Saruman)
3x Silvan Tracker (The Dead Marshes)
3x Wandering Ent (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
2x Warden of Healing (The Long Dark)
3x Wellinghall Preserver (Across the Ettenmoors)

Attachment (19)
2x A Burning Brand (Conflict at the Carrock)
2x Cloak of Lórien (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
3x Elf-friend (The Treachery of Rhudaur)
3x Ent Draught (The Treason of Saruman)
2x Healing Herbs (Foundations of Stone)
3x Lembas (Trouble in Tharbad)
2x Protector of Lórien (Core Set)
1x Self Preservation (Core Set)
1x Wingfoot (The Nîn-in-Eilph)

Event (11)
3x Entmoot (The Treason of Saruman)
2x Heed the Dream (Flight of the Stormcaller)
3x Lore of Imladris (Core Set)
3x Mithrandir’s Advice (The Steward’s Fear)

Elves among the trees

Hero (3)
Celeborn (The Dunland Trap)
Galadriel (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
Legolas (Core Set)

Ally (19)
3x Galadhon Archer (The Nîn-in-Eilph)
2x Galadhrim Weaver (The Treachery of Rhudaur)
2x Galadriel’s Handmaiden (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
2x Marksman of Lórien (The Drowned Ruins)
2x Naith Guide (The Dunland Trap)
2x Orophin (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
2x Rúmil (The Three Trials)
2x Silvan Refugee (The Drúadan Forest)
2x Woodland Courier (The Drowned Ruins)

Attachment (20)
3x Bow of the Galadhrim (The Nîn-in-Eilph)
1x Dúnedain Cache (The Dead Marshes)
1x Hithlain (The Drowned Ruins)
2x Light of Valinor (Foundations of Stone)
3x Mirror of Galadriel (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
3x O Lórien! (Trouble in Tharbad)
3x Rivendell Blade (Road to Rivendell)
2x Rivendell Bow (The Watcher in the Water)
2x Unexpected Courage (Core Set)

Event (11)
3x A Test of Will (Core Set)
3x Feigned Voices (The Three Trials)
1x Island Amid Perils (The Nîn-in-Eilph)
3x Pursuing the Enemy (Trouble in Tharbad)
1x Revealed in Wrath (Temple of the Deceived)

What I love about this fellowship is how effectively Zatara gets around Treebeard’s “No restricted attachments” clause. It is worth mentioning that Treebeard’s innate stat benefits last until the end of the phase, so he can go far if you build him up appropriately.

The goal of When Elves Talk to Trees, isn’t just to load Treebeard up with non-restricted attachments; synergy and overall deck strategy is important too. If the title of the deck hasn’t given it away, the linchpin of the strategy is Elf-friend.

As a Noldor and Silvan hero, the options really open up. Now, Treebeard has an option other than Dunedain Cache for becoming ranged: Rivendell Bow. His drawback, of course, is that to maintain an effect attack power, Treebeard has to damage himself. Well, as a Silvan-Ent, he has access to the healing powers of Wellinghall Preservers and Silvan Trackers. And hey, check out that defense stat: pretty good, isn’t it? Put a Cloak of Lorien on him and he’s on par with Beregond; and, wouldn’t you know it, A Burning Brand isn’t restricted, and it’s in-sphere too! Furthermore, since you’ve already got him decked out with healing effects, he can handle the odd point of damage from enemy attacks.

Let’s put this all together: Imagine that you’ve pimped out Treebeard with Elf-friend, Cloak of Lorien, Rivendell Bow, and some action advantage. He becomes a 2-7 willpower, 4-5 defense, 3-8 ranged attack hero, that auto-heals for up to 6 damage every turn from allies alone. That is just bonkers.

I purposely focused on Treebeard in the article, but I would be remiss if I did not mention that the companion deck, Elves among the trees, is a fairly standard Silvan build. This may seem arbitrary, but remember that synergy is key. The Silvans can make use of duplicate attachments once Treebeard has had his fill, and Treebeard: Elf Friend can benefit from O Lorien for a discount on Silvan Trackers. It’s a tight little package, and definitely worth a second look.

– WanderingTook