Sam, Faithful Companion (1R310) - Revision history

Rono: Expanded, added synergies, some parts rewritten

2025-11-24T22:11:08Z

Expanded, added synergies, some parts rewritten

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:11, 24 November 2025
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	= Strategy =		= Strategy =

	Referencing a card that would not be released until the Realms of the Elf-lords expansion (although a promotional copy was also available), Sam, Faithful Companion can tutor the site ~~twilight~~ number reducing {{Card\|3U106}} from the draw deck. With two copies of Bill the Pony in the draw deck, the Free Peoples player could usually ensure having one available for sites 2-4 and sites 7-9 (As long as they are not both drawn very early). With Bill the Pony X-listed in Movie Block, Sam, Faithful Companion ~~only offers~~ a ~~boon in Fellowship Block~~, ~~Towers Standard and Expanded formats~~.		Referencing a card that would not be released until the Realms of the Elf-lords expansion (although a promotional copy was also available), Sam, Faithful Companion can tutor the site Shadow number reducing {{Card\|3U106}} from the draw deck. At first glance, this makes Faithful Companion a suitable option for choke strategies, although there may be more to this hobbit than meets the eye.

	~~The Frodo signet allows access~~ to ~~Frodo~~'s ~~Pipe~~, ~~Dear Friends recycling~~, and ~~skirmish wounding of Mind Your Own Affairs and No Use That Way~~, ~~though~~ in ~~later blocks~~ Sam, Frodo's ~~Gardener~~ and Sam, ~~Resolute Halfling offer significantly~~ more ~~while~~ also ~~possessing~~ the Frodo signet. ~~Like all Pre~~-~~shadows versions of~~ Sam, ~~this character~~ is ~~Ring-Bound~~ and ~~can take the Ring from Frodo upon his death~~.		With two copies of {{Card\|3U106}} in the draw deck, the Free Peoples player can usually ensure having one available for sites 2-4 and 7-9 (as long as they are not both drawn very early). Alternatively, a player may opt to rely on {{Card\|1R284}} or {{Card\|2U98}} to recycle Bill after it has been discarded. In either case, to get the most out of Faithful Companion's ability a player should include him in the starting fellowship (or tutor him via {{Card\|1U322}}) and then keep him alive at least to site 6.

			In the Fellowship block, Faithful Companion thus stands in stark contrast to the other two incarnations of Sam, namely burden-removing {{Card\|1C311}} and minion-attracting {{Card\|2C114}}. While the other two come into their own through self-sacrifice, there is a subtle boon to Faithful Companion's ability in that it comes at no cost to vitality, making him prime candidate for use with {{Card\|2R112}} in the given format.

			Living up to his subtitle, this Sam is best utilized when kept alive through most of the journey, which in turn makes his potential to carry the Ring after Frodo's death arguably more meaningful and possible investment into {{Card\|1C299}} and/or {{Card\|1U309}} more enticing.

			Through {{Card\|3U106}}, Faithful Companion is complemented by {{Card\|2P121}}, as together the two of them can reduce the shadow number for essentially the entire site path. Gimli may turn the inclusion of an underground site 4, which would normally hinder the potency of Sam's ability, into an advantage, not only saving more twilight, but also giving the Free Peoples player more time, if needed, to recycle their discarded Bill before moving to site 7.

			The Frodo signet is of note, as Sam himself can exert for the aforementiond {{Card\|2U98}}, recycling two cards instead of one, or to heal {{Card\|1C290}}. It also allows access to healing via {{Card\|3U107}}. Later sets introduced skirmish wounding with {{Card\|4U312}} and {{Card\|5R113}}, but also {{Card\|4R315}} and {{Card\|7R327}}, who generally offer more with the same signet.

			Note that with {{Card\|3U106}} being X-listed in Movie Block, Sam, Faithful Companion is only usable in Fellowship Block, Towers Standard and Expanded formats.

	= Strengths and Weaknesses =		= Strengths and Weaknesses =
			== Synergizes With... ==

			* {{Card\|2U98}} or {{Card\|1R284}}
			* {{Card\|1U322}}
			* {{Card\|2R112}}
			* {{Card\|2P121}}
			* {{Card\|1U309}}
			* Shadow stacking

	== Strong Versus... ==		== Strong Versus... ==

	* Expensive minions		* Expensive minions
	* ~~Seen primarily in Choke Decks~~		* Wounding
	* Frodo ~~signet allows access to Frodo's Pipe, Dear Friends recycling, and skirmish wounding of Mind Your Own Affairs and No Use That Way~~		* Frodo being killed
			* Corruption

	== Weak Versus... ==		== Weak Versus... ==

	* ~~Useless in formats~~ where ~~Bill the Pony~~ is X-listed		* Formats where {{Card\|3U106}} is X-listed
	* ~~Helpless~~		* Site 1 that is not {{Card\|1U322}} while being in the draw deck
	* Underground sites		* {{Card\|2U76}}
	* Does not offer as much utility as Sam, Son of Hamfast or Sam, Proper Poet		* Underground sites (unless paired with {{Card\|2P121}})

	= Alternate Personas =		= Alternate Personas =

Rono: Corrected the original reference to Mines of Moria as the set Bill the Pony was released with. A couple stylistic edits.

2025-10-24T17:32:00Z

Corrected the original reference to Mines of Moria as the set Bill the Pony was released with. A couple stylistic edits.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:32, 24 October 2025
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	= Strategy =		= Strategy =

	~~Hearkening~~ a card that would not be released until the ~~Mines~~ of ~~Moria~~ expansion (although a promotional copy was also available), Sam, Faithful Companion can tutor the site twilight number reducing ~~Bill the Pony~~ from the draw deck. With two copies of Bill the Pony in the draw deck, the Free Peoples player could usually ensure having one available for sites 2-4 and sites 7-9 (As long as they are not both drawn very early). With Bill the Pony X-listed in Movie Block, Sam, Faithful Companion only offers a boon in Fellowship Block, Towers Standard and Expanded formats.		Referencing a card that would not be released until the Realms of the Elf-lords expansion (although a promotional copy was also available), Sam, Faithful Companion can tutor the site twilight number reducing {{Card\|3U106}} from the draw deck. With two copies of Bill the Pony in the draw deck, the Free Peoples player could usually ensure having one available for sites 2-4 and sites 7-9 (As long as they are not both drawn very early). With Bill the Pony X-listed in Movie Block, Sam, Faithful Companion only offers a boon in Fellowship Block, Towers Standard and Expanded formats.

	The Frodo signet allows access to Frodo's Pipe, Dear Friends recycling, and skirmish wounding of Mind Your Own Affairs and No Use That Way, though in later blocks Sam, Frodo's Gardener and Sam, Resolute Halfling offer significantly more while also possessing the Frodo signet. Like all Pre-shadows versions of Sam, this character is Ring-Bound and can take the Ring from Frodo upon ~~the latter's~~ death.		The Frodo signet allows access to Frodo's Pipe, Dear Friends recycling, and skirmish wounding of Mind Your Own Affairs and No Use That Way, though in later blocks Sam, Frodo's Gardener and Sam, Resolute Halfling offer significantly more while also possessing the Frodo signet. Like all Pre-shadows versions of Sam, this character is Ring-Bound and can take the Ring from Frodo upon his death.

	= Strengths and Weaknesses =		= Strengths and Weaknesses =

Teltura: reducing extra space at the top of each article

2022-12-01T01:55:54Z

reducing extra space at the top of each article

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:55, 1 December 2022
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	[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{C\|Shire}} [[Companion]] from the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set.		[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{C\|Shire}} [[Companion]] from the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set.

	{{CardInfobox\|1R310}}		{{CardInfobox\|1R310}}

	{{QueryCardCategories\|1R310}}</noinclude>		{{QueryCardCategories\|1R310}}</noinclude>
	= Strategy =		= Strategy =

Teltura: mass editing card pages to make inclusion for reprints snazzier

2022-11-19T05:42:04Z

mass editing card pages to make inclusion for reprints snazzier

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:42, 19 November 2022
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	__NOTOC__		<noinclude>__NOTOC__
	{{NavBar\|1R310\|[[Fellowship of the Ring Index]]\|[[Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)\|Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)]]\|[[Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)\|Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)]]}}		{{NavBar\|1R310\|[[Fellowship of the Ring Index]]\|[[Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)\|Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)]]\|[[Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)\|Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)]]}}
	{{CardTabs\|Shire}}		{{CardTabs\|Shire}}
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	{{CardInfobox\|1R310}}		{{CardInfobox\|1R310}}

	{{QueryCardCategories\|1R310}}		{{QueryCardCategories\|1R310}}</noinclude>
	= Strategy =		= Strategy =

Teltura: Fixing the generated stinger using the culture icon rather than the full culture name + icon

2021-10-14T08:29:08Z

Fixing the generated stinger using the culture icon rather than the full culture name + icon

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:29, 14 October 2021
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	{{CardTabs\|Shire}}		{{CardTabs\|Shire}}

	[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{CI\|Shire}} [[Companion]] from the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set.		[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{C\|Shire}} [[Companion]] from the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set.

	{{CardInfobox\|1R310}}		{{CardInfobox\|1R310}}

IstariBot: IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

2021-10-12T11:54:09Z

IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 __NOTOC__
-{{NavBar|Lotr01310|Fellowship of the Ring Index|Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)|Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)}}
+[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{CI|Shire}} [[Companion]] from the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set.
-{{LegacyCardInfoBox
+{{QueryCardCategories|1R310}}
-| TLHHImage=LOTR01310
+= Strategy =
 Hearkening a card that would not be released until the Mines of Moria expansion (although a promotional copy was also available), Sam, Faithful Companion can tutor the site twilight number reducing Bill the Pony from the draw deck. With two copies of Bill the Pony in the draw deck, the Free Peoples player could usually ensure having one available for sites 2-4 and sites 7-9 (As long as they are not both drawn very early). With Bill the Pony X-listed in Movie Block, Sam, Faithful Companion only offers a boon in Fellowship Block, Towers Standard and Expanded formats.
@@ Line 36: / Line 15: @@
 = Strengths and Weaknesses =
 == Strong Versus... ==
 * Expensive minions
@@ Line 43: / Line 21: @@
 * Frodo signet allows access to Frodo's Pipe, Dear Friends recycling, and skirmish wounding of Mind Your Own Affairs and No Use That Way
-=== Weak Versus... ===
+== Weak Versus... ==
 * Useless in formats where Bill the Pony is X-listed
@@ Line 50: / Line 28: @@
 * Does not offer as much utility as Sam, Son of Hamfast or Sam, Proper Poet
-= Example Decks =
+= Alternate Personas =
 '''Fellowship Block "A Promise" Choke Deck by ket_the_jet'''
@@ Line 85: / Line 70: @@
 x There and Back Again
 x Three Monstrous Trolls

imported>IstariBot: IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

2020-08-23T11:06:08Z

IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

New page

__NOTOC__

{{NavBar|Lotr01310|Fellowship of the Ring Index|Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)|Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)}}

{{LegacyCardInfoBox
| TLHHImage=LOTR01310
| WikiImage=LOTR01310
| SetNum=01
| CardNum=310
| SetName=Fellowship of the Ring
| Side=Free Peoples
| Culture=Shire
| Twilight=2
| FullCardType=Companion • Hobbit
| Stat1Name=Strength
| Stat1=3
| Stat2Name=Vitality
| Stat2=4
| Stat3Name=Resistance
| Stat3=5
| Stat4Name=
| Stat4=
| GameText=Fellowship: Play Bill the Pony from your draw deck. Response: If Frodo dies, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5).
| Lore=“‘Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!'”
| Rarity=R
| Notes=
}}

= General Strategy =

Hearkening a card that would not be released until the Mines of Moria expansion (although a promotional copy was also available), Sam, Faithful Companion can tutor the site twilight number reducing Bill the Pony from the draw deck. With two copies of Bill the Pony in the draw deck, the Free Peoples player could usually ensure having one available for sites 2-4 and sites 7-9 (As long as they are not both drawn very early). With Bill the Pony X-listed in Movie Block, Sam, Faithful Companion only offers a boon in Fellowship Block, Towers Standard and Expanded formats.

The Frodo signet allows access to Frodo's Pipe, Dear Friends recycling, and skirmish wounding of Mind Your Own Affairs and No Use That Way, though in later blocks Sam, Frodo's Gardener and Sam, Resolute Halfling offer significantly more while also possessing the Frodo signet. Like all Pre-shadows versions of Sam, this character is Ring-Bound and can take the Ring from Frodo upon the latter's death.

= Strengths and Weaknesses =

=== Strong Versus... ===

* Expensive minions
* Seen primarily in Choke Decks
* Frodo signet allows access to Frodo's Pipe, Dear Friends recycling, and skirmish wounding of Mind Your Own Affairs and No Use That Way

=== Weak Versus... ===

* Useless in formats where Bill the Pony is X-listed
* Helpless
* Underground sites
* Does not offer as much utility as Sam, Son of Hamfast or Sam, Proper Poet

= Example Decks =

'''Fellowship Block "A Promise" Choke Deck by ket_the_jet'''

'''Starting Fellowship'''
Ring-bearer: Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir
Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane
1x Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race
1x Sam, Faithful Companion

'''Free Peoples Draw Deck'''
1x Aragorn, Ranger of the North
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
1x Bilbo, Well-spoken Gentlehobbit
1x Bounder
1x Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal
1x Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass
1x Dwarven Armor
1x Dwarven Axe
1x Gimli's Helm
1x Hand Axe
2x Bill the Pony
1x Hobbit Sword
1x Sting
1x Mithril-coat
2x Hobbit Intuition
2x Hobbit Stealth
1x Greatest Kingdom of My People
2x Till Durin Wakes Again
4x A Promise
1x A Talent for Not Being Seen
1x Consorting With Wizards
1x O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
1x There and Back Again
2x Three Monstrous Trolls

= Extra Information =
== Other Versions of Sam ==

* [[lotr00078|Steadfast Friend (P)]]
* [[lotr00w13|Lover of Trees (W)]]
* [[lotr01311|Son of Hamfast]]
* [[lotr02114|Proper Poet]]
* [[lotr02m03|Proper Poet (M)]]
* [[lotr04315|Frodo's Gardener]]
* [[lotr04316|Samwise the Brave]]
* [[lotr05115|Nice Sensible Hobbit]]
* [[lotr07326|Needer of Vittles]]
* [[lotr07327|Resolute Halfling]]
* [[lotr10122|Great Elf Warrior]]
* [[lotr10122t|Great Elf Warrior (T)]]
* [[lotr11172|Steadfast Friend]]
* [[lotr13156|Bearer of Great Need]]
* [[lotr13156t|Bearer of Great Need (T)]]
* [[lotr13f16|Bearer of Great Need (F)]]
* [[lotr15153|Innocent Traveler]]
* [[lotr19032|Loyal Friend]]