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I’m a fan of Silvan decks, though with all of their toys and effects, I usually just end up jamming everything together in a quad-sphere deck that’s some variant of this. Even that doesn’t really cut it. If we want to capture the full breadth of Silvan capabilities, we need a Silvan fellowship.

Join us today, as CoTR shines a spotlight on…

Silvan Fellowship

by theredeagle

Silvan Fellowship – Questing/Event Shenanigans

Hero (3)
Arwen Undómiel (The Dread Realm)
Celeborn (The Dunland Trap)
Galadriel (Celebrimbor’s Secret)

Ally (20)
3x Galadhrim Minstrel (Trouble in Tharbad)
3x Galadhrim Weaver (The Treachery of Rhudaur)
3x Galadriel’s Handmaiden (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
3x Greenwood Archer (The Sands of Harad)
1x Haldir of Lórien (A Journey to Rhosgobel)
3x Naith Guide (The Dunland Trap)
1x Orophin (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
3x Silvan Refugee (The Drúadan Forest)

Attachment (9)
3x Nenya (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
3x O Lórien! (Trouble in Tharbad)
3x Unexpected Courage (Core Set)

Event (21)
3x Captain’s Wisdom (The Thing in the Depths)
3x Children of the Sea (The Blood of Gondor)
3x Elven-light (The Dread Realm)
3x Feigned Voices (The Three Trials)
3x Island Amid Perils (The Nîn-in-Eilph)
3x The Tree People (The Dunland Trap)
3x Valiant Sacrifice (Core Set)

Silvan Fellowship – Ranged/Healing

Hero (3)
Beravor (Core Set)
Elrond (Shadow and Flame)
Legolas (Core Set)

Ally (16)
3x Defender of the Naith (Trouble in Tharbad)
3x Greenwood Archer (The Sands of Harad)
3x Marksman of Lórien (The Drowned Ruins)
3x Master of the Forge (Shadow and Flame)
1x Rúmil (The Three Trials)
3x Warden of Healing (The Long Dark)

Attachment (20)
3x A Burning Brand (Conflict at the Carrock)
3x Bow of the Galadhrim (The Nîn-in-Eilph)
3x Cloak of Lórien (Celebrimbor’s Secret)
3x Elven Mail (The Three Trials)
3x Lembas (Trouble in Tharbad)
2x Protector of Lórien (Core Set)
3x Vilya (Shadow and Flame)

Event (14)
3x A Test of Will (Core Set)
3x Daeron’s Runes (Foundations of Stone)
3x Deep Knowledge (The Voice of Isengard)
2x Elrond’s Counsel (The Watcher in the Water)
3x Hands Upon the Bow (Shadow and Flame)

This is one of the more cordial fellowships that I’ve seen. Scan the list for yourself, and note the number of effects and attachments that can target characters across the table. Those elves are a cooperative bunch!

Though both decks are based around the Silvan trait, only the Quest/Event deck makes use of the silvan-bounce mechanic. The Ranged/Healing deck prefers to dabble in attachments; thus, it is more beneficial for that deck to gear-up their Silvan allies, and keep them around. Both decks sprinkle in some Noldor, both for thematic flavour, and for access to Vilya and Nenya, resource acceleration (Arwen), and card draw (Elven-light and Galadriel). Beravor and the Wardens of Healing are the only thematic concessions, but for the sticklers among us, Mirlonde and the Galadhrim Healers are waiting in the Sideboard.

A major theme in this fellowship is getting the most out of your heroes. The solid stats of Elrond, Beravor, and Celeborn, and the wonderful effects of Captain’s Wisdom, Vilya, Beravor’s ability, and Galadriel’s ability all compete for those precious hero actions. Thankfully, we are well stocked, as Lembas, Naith Guide, Unexpected Courage, and a whopping six(!) Greenwood Archers help ensure that the heroes are used to their full potential.

There are some fun combos to be had: Silvan Refugee is a great pick with Celeborn around, especially with Children of the Sea in hand. Defender of the Naith, already a decent ally, becomes a defensive beast when geared out with Elven Mail and a Cloak of Lorien. Legolas, with two Bows of the Galadhrim, can wreck havoc with Hands Upon the Bow. If you’re a fan of the Silvan archetype, then you will appreciate this fellowship.

– WanderingTook