LOTR04063

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	Set:		The Two Towers
	Kind:		Free People
	Culture:		Elven
	Twilight:		1
	Card Type:		Possession • Brooch
	Game Text:		To play, spot an Elf. Bearer must be a companion. Response: If another possession borne by bearer is about to be discarded by a Shadow card, discard this possession instead.
	Lore:		"'Not idly do the leaves of L�rien fall.'"
	Rarity:		U
	Notes:		Game text is a clarification.
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General Strategy

Perhaps designed to help protect the new Naith Elves and their possessions from cards such as War Club as well as existing Fellowship cards like Ulaire Cantea, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur and Isengard Smith, Elven Brooch has the potential to save important possessions from being lost. Because the Elf spotted does not have to be a companion, it is easy to include in many decks and can also keep Pipes from being lost or[Rohan] mounts from being discarded by Uruk Spear.

In practice, Elven Brooch is more often the third-most important possession a companion will have and allows Grima, Wormtongue (introduced in the same set) to send each card borne by a companion back into the Free People's hand. Its discard protection is wholly ineffective against Twisted Tales, and many items such as Rohirrim Bow or Dwarven Bracer have "discard this possession" listed as a cost, meaning that using Elven Brooch will cancel the effect of those cards rather than enable a player to use them twice. Elven Brooch will also only save possessions, so artifacts such as Anduril, Flame of the West will not be protected from weapon discard. As there are not many ways to replay Elven Brooch once discarded and each companion may bear only one brooch (Elven Brooch being the only possession of this class) at a time, most players view Elven Brooch as more of a minor inconvenience than a preventative barrier, especially when considering the persistent discarding available to the[Dunland] culture in Towers Block and the[Raider],[Wraith], and[Sauron] cultures in King block.

Because of the prevalence of Grima, Wormtongue and the strong possession discard of[Dunland] in Towers Block followed the numerous Shadow cards released in King Block which target possessions more freely than in previous blocks, Elven Brooch never had an opportunity to shine. It is likely best used on a Ring-Bound companion who will bear a keystone possession in the Free Peoples player's deck. Elven Brooch also synergises with Durin III and Rohirrim Doorwarden.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Versus...

• One-time possession discard

Weak Versus...

• Grima, Wormtongue, Twisted Tales, and other cards which remove possessions without discarding them
• Persistent possession discard
• Cards which benefit from Free Peoples possessions, such as Troll of Cirith Gorgor or Covetous Uruk