Gimli, Skilled Defender (5R7)
Defending the Keep (5C6) | Back to Battle of Helm's Deep Index |
Horn of Helm (5U8) |
Gimli, Skilled Defender (5R7) is a Dwarven Companion from the Battle of Helm's Deep set.
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Strategy
Properly supported, Skilled Defender can be a central spotlight-character for a strong Free People's build. Taking Gimli's standard damage-bonus into account, the ability to wound a minion assigned to an unbound companion means that Gimli can dish out 3 wounds for each skirmish he wins. This can have all sorts of applications--sparing your other companions from bad matchups, preventing powerful shadow special abilities, or even just setting up minions for a final blow (see Bow of the Galadrahim for comparison). But whatever way you stack then, 3 wounds from a single companion will really start to add up. Combine this with additional damage bonuses from dwarven events and possessions, and perhaps further targeted-wounding potential from Gimli's Battle Axe (1R14) , and Gimli can turn into a one-dwarf wrecking crew.
However! In order to take advantage of Gimli's ability, you must, of course, win your skirmishes. For this reason, Axe of Erebor (4R41) may be a better option for Gimli's primary weapon, particularly when supported by Ever My Heart Rises (4R46) . Skilled Defender also teams up well with Legolas, Elven Comrade (4C74) , who can be there for Gimli right from the beginning in your starting fellowship. Using Legolas' ability to fuel Gimli's skirmish-phase dominance provides something of a risk-free investment (if Gimli loses, Legolas is still safely out of the line of fire--an upgrade over the gamble of Gimli, Son of Gloin (1R13) ), but Legolas also has the understated benefit of throwing out yet another wound into the pool--being, as a matter of course, an Archer. So between the two of them--even keeping Legolas away from fighting minions as much as can be avoided--you're set up with a 4-wound engine before you've even drawn your opening hand.
Beyond that, the sky is the limit for dwarven skirmish-pumping cards. Khazâd Ai-mênu (4C51) , Flurry of Blows (2C5) , Best Company (4C42) , Hand Axe (2C10) , Dwarven Bracers (2U3) . As always, make sure to save enough room in your deck to support the rest of your fellowship! But because Skilled Defender can help out your other companions with their skirmishes, he will already being doing some of that support on his own.
Gameplay Strategy
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- General usage
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Deckbuilding Strategy
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- Cards and strategies this card works well with
- Cards and strategies this card works particularly well or poorly against
- Alternate cards you might consider picking instead of this one, depending on the situation, including alternate version of characters
Strengths and Weaknesses
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Rulings
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Alternate Personas
Portrait | Name | Game Text |
---|---|---|
Gimli, Dwarf of Erebor (1U12) | Damage +1.
Fellowship: Add to place a card from hand beneath your draw deck. | |
Gimli, Son of Gloin (1R13) | Damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Gimli to make him strength +2. | |
Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race (2P121) | Damage +1.
Each underground site's Shadow number is -2. | |
Gimli, Lockbearer (4R48) | Damage +1.
Gimli is strength +1 for each unbound Hobbit companion you can spot. | |
Gimli, Unbidden Guest (4C49) | Damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Gimli to make an unbound companion strength +1 (or +2 if that companion is Legolas). | |
Gimli, Faithful Companion (7C6) | Damage +1.
While you have initiative, Gimli is strength +2. | |
Gimli, Feared Axeman (7R7) | Damage +1.
Response: If a condition is about to be discarded by an opponent, exert a Dwarf or discard a card from hand to prevent that. | |
Gimli, Counter of Foes (8C5) | Damage +1.
For each wound on Gimli, he is strength +1 and damage +1. | |
Gimli, Bearer of Grudges (9R+4) | Damage +1.
While Gimli is the Ring-bearer, at the start of each skirmish involving him, add 2 burdens or 2 threats. While Gimli is damage +X, he is resistance +X. | |
Gimli, Lively Combatant (11U8) | Damage +1. Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may draw a card. | |
Gimli, Lord of the Glittering Caves (13R5) | Damage +1.
Gimli is strength +1 for each minion assigned to a skirmish. Assignment: Exert Gimli and spot a lurker minion to make that minion lose lurker until the regroup phase. | |
Gimli, Eager Hunter (15C5) | Damage +1. Hunter 3. (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +3.) | |
Gimli, Sprinter (18R1) | Damage +1. Hunter 1 (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +1.)
Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may add a threat to wound a minion (or wound a hunter minion twice). | |
Gimli, Opinionated Guide (19P2) | Damage +1. Fellowship. | |
Gimli, Dwarven Delegate (0P62) | Damage +1. | |
Gimli, Dwarven Delegate (0W15) | ||
Gimli, Sprinter (0W34) | Damage + 1. Hunter 1 (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +1.)
Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may add a threat to wound a minion (or wound a hunter minion twice). | |
Gimli, Vengeful Naugrim (V1_3) | Damage +1.
While Gimli bears 2 items, he is strength +2. While Gimli bears 3 items, he is damage +1. |
See Also
- Add links to the wayback machine (or wiki archival links) for official Decipher articles regarding the card
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