Editing Aragorn

Ranger of the North and heir to the throne of Gondor, '''Aragorn''' is one of the protagonists of ''the Lord of the Rings''. In this game, he is a versatile and powerful [[Free Peoples]] [[companion]], one of the main characters of {{C|Gondor}} culture. There are many different versions of Aragorn, as he appears in most [[set]]s, and different versions appear in both {{C|Gondor}} decks and [[splash]]ed into other decks.

Most versions of Aragorn sport 8 strength and 4 vitality. He's usually hard to fit into a starting [[Fellowship]], because of his high [[Twilight]] cost, but he's a hardy companion that stays on the table. In fact, he was at least tied for the highest-vitality companion in the game until [[Reflections]] introduced his ancestor, {{Card|Elendil, the Tall}}. Most versions of Aragorn emphasize his prowess in battle, like {{Card|Aragorn, Ranger of the North}}, or his ability to heal his allies, with cards like {{Card|Aragorn, King in Exile}}.

Aragorn is especially popular in [[Fellowship Block]]. This is in part simply because of his [[body]]: there are few [[Fat|hardier]] companions in a skirmish in the first block. It's also because of {{Card|The Prancing Pony}}, which can cheaply [[download]] him early in the game even if he isn't in your starting hand or Fellowship. Even if you aren't using the Prancing Pony yourself, it's so common that it's often a good idea to include Aragorn (and maybe {{Card|Ranger's Sword}} and {{Card|Aragorn's Bow}}) just on the chance that your opponent might be using it.

He has an interesting relationship with [[cultural enforcement]]. There are many versions of Aragorn that you can [[splash]] into any deck. For example, {{Card|Aragorn, Ranger of the North}} is a solid skirmisher that, if needed, can hold off many [[minion]]s, if only for a turn. On the other hand, nearly every set-wide {{C|Gondor}} [[culture]] gimmick has an accompanying version of Aragorn. It's hard to say if being a '''[[ranger]]''' is a Gondorian gimmick that Aragorn shares, or an Aragorn gimmick he shares with the rest of the culture, and he can use cards like {{Card|No Stranger To The Shadows}}, {{Card|Pathfinder}}, or {{Card|What Are They?}}. {{Card|Aragorn, Driven By Need}} helps {{C|Gondor}} [[wraith]] decks manage [[threat]]s. {{Card|Aragorn, Captain of Gondor}} is a [[knight]] for knight decks, and helps them heal off the [[exertion]]s from using [[fortification]]s, and so on.

Aragorn is also often a key card in decks that run two main cultures, befitting his eventual role as the leader of the [[Free Peoples]]. There are versions of Aragorn made specifically to support other cultures, like {{Card|Aragorn, Wingfoot}}. He's also the only Free Peoples character to appear in a different culture, appearing once in {{C|Rohan}} with {{Card|Aragorn, Defender of Rohan}}, a card that buffs other [[Valiant]] companions. Cards like {{Card|Aragorn, Defender of Free Peoples}} and {{Card|Aragorn, Elessar Telcontar}} affect many other Free Peoples cultures at once, allowing them to fit in either decks that run both cultures -- perhaps using cards like {{Card|The Last Alliance of Elves and Men}}, {{Card|Gift of the Evenstar, Blessed Light}}, or {{Card|Help In Doubt And Need}} -- or simply in [[Rainbow]] decks running many cultures. There's even a rainbow deck focused on Aragorn in particular: {{Card|Aragorn, King in Exile}} can heal characters of any culture as long as they have an [[Aragorn signet]], and that includes at least one version of all of the main Free Peoples unique characters.

Aragorn also has powerful [[artifact]] and [[possession]] cards that only he can use. {{Card|Aragorn's Bow}} and {{Card|Aragorn's Bow, Ranger's Longbow}} are each one of the strongest [[direct wounding]] tools in their respective [[format]]s. {{Card|Anduril, Flame of the West}} is a strong weapon just from its base stats and only becomes more important in [[Expanded (Format)|Expanded]] with its [[Site Manipulation|site manipulation]] ability, although it cannot be played with either version of his bow. ({{Card|Anduril, Sword That Was Broken}} is compatible with his bow, but has much weaker game text.) {{Card|Ring of Barahir}} is a cheap, versatile healing tool that can be [[download]]ed by {{Card|The One Ring, The Binding Ring}}. Most of the rest of his exclusive equipment consists of unremarkable hand weapons like {{Card|Ranger's Sword}}, {{Card|Anduril, King's Blade}}, or {{Card|Ranger's Sword, Blade of Aragorn}}, which are unremarkable but better than most generic {{C|Gondor}} [[hand weapon]]s except for {{Card|Ithilien Blade}}.

==See Also==

* [[Aragorn signet]]