Editing Ambush

'''Ambush''' is a [[loaded keyword]] that appears only on [[minion]]s. If a [[minion]] with '''Ambush''' {{Twilight|X}} is assigned to a [[skirmish]] in the [[assignment phase]] by the [[Free Peoples]] player, the [[Shadow Alignment|Shadow]] player may add X [[twilight cost|twilight]] to the pool. First introduced in [[The Two Towers]], it's the signature keyword of the {{C|Raider}} [[Southron]] subculture, although it appears on a handful of cards in other Shadow cultures.

In theory, Ambush was meant to allow Southron Shadow decks to afford powerful, expensive [[skirmish phase|skirmish]] [[event]]s like {{Card|On The March}} and {{Card|Whirling Strike}}, or pricey card effects like {{Card|Desert Warrior}}, {{Card|Southron Spear}}, and {{Card|Army of Haradrim}}. Decipher also meant for it to synergize with Southron oliphaunt [[mount]]s like {{Card|Mumak}}: if you give a minion [[Fierce]], that means it can activate Ambush twice per site. In practice, it did not work out that way.

Ambush was one of several mechanics in [[Towers Block]] that did very little on its own unless the player had both halves of a combo. Ambush minions are generally overpriced up front, but partially refund that cost later in the turn. However, that partial refund comes late in the turn, making it only useful for the [[Skirmish Phase]] and [[Regroup Phase]] at that site, as well as all of the phases of any subsequent site if the opponent makes a [[double move]]. If the Shadow player doesn't have a card in hand or in play that can use excess twilight in those specific phases, and their opponent doesn't move again this turn, that twilight will very likely go to waste.

Many of the cards that purport to use this excess twilight, like {{Card|Howl of Harad}} and {{Card|Harsh Tongues}}, require the Shadow player to win skirmishes or keep their minions alive. That's unreliable, because Ambush minions are just not very good. Even in a [[swarm]], a minion like {{Card|Southron Scout}} isn't likely to contribute very much at all, especially compared to {{Card|Goblin Runner}}. Ambush didn't end up particularly useful to deter double moves, either, because a bit of extra twilight is nowhere near as good as minions that actually survive the skirmish phase. In practice, players ended up finding a use for the few reliable twilight dump cards, like {{Card|Whirling Strike}} and {{Card|Red Wrath}}, but mainly used them against opponents that [[flood]]ed rather than pairing them with the relatively weak Ambush minions.

Ambush also has a key weakness in that it triggers only when the Free Peoples player assigns the Ambush minion to one of their characters. The Free Peoples player can simply choose not to do that, and let the Shadow player assign their minion freely if it's too weak to make a big difference anywhere. A clever opponent can guess that the Shadow player is winding up to use {{Card|Red Wrath}} simply by looking at the twilight pool, or, when faced with a [[swarm]], can choose to assign the (generally stronger!) non-Ambush minions and leave the Ambush minions for the Shadow player to assign. This doesn't come up too often, but it does mean that Southron swarm strategies couldn't count on Ambush triggering, making Ambush-based decks that much more unreliable.

Ambush largely came and went with the Southron subculture as a whole. It only appears on a small handful of cards after [[Return of the King|set 7]].

==Comprehensive Rules 4.0==
{{RulesQuote
|source=ambush
|text=When the Free Peoples player assigns one of his characters to skirmish a minion with the keyword "'''Ambush''' {{Twilight|X}}," the Shadow player who owns that minion may add {{Twilight|x}}. (See [[assignment phase]].)

''If your minion with '''Ambush''' {{Twilight|2}} is assigned by the Free Peoples player, you may add two tokens to the twilight pool. The Free Peoples player may decide not to assign any characters to your minion with ambush, allowing you to assign it later in the assignment phase.''

When a minion with the keyword '''Ambush''' {{Twilight|X}} is given the keyword '''Ambush''' {{Twilight|X}} by another card or special ability, each of those instances of ambush is resolved separately. When that minion is assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player, the Shadow player has the option to add pool for each instance in the minion's text.

''{{Card|Desert Scout}} ("'''Ambush''' {{Twilight|1}}.") is equipped with {{Card|Raider Bow}} ("Bearer is ... '''Ambush''' {{Twilight|5}}."). When it is assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player, the Shadow player may add {{Twilight|1}}, {{Twilight|5}}, neither, or both (as separate actions).''}}

==Cards with Ambush==

This includes cards like {{Card|Raider Bow}} that grant a minion Ambush. 

{{ThumbnailTable
|filter= CR.GameText LIKE '%Ambush \\(%' AND {{PromoFilter}}
|sort= {{CultureSort}}
}}

==Cards that interact with Ambush==

This includes cards that interact with Ambush without granting it, as well as cards that do not mention Ambush by name but can prevent the Ambush trigger.

{{ThumbnailTable
|filter=(CR.GameText LIKE '%with Ambush%' OR CR.GameText LIKE '%any number of Twilight tokens%') AND  {{PromoFilter}}
|sort= {{CultureSort}}
}}

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