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{{NavBar|Battle of Helm's Deep|[[Main Page]]|[[The Two Towers]]|[[Ents of Fangorn]]}}
{{SetTabs}}
{{Set
{{Set
|ID=5
|ID=5
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|Notes=
|Notes=
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= Set Details =


Set 5, '''Battle of Helm's Deep''' (or '''BOHD''') is the first expansion of [[Towers Block]], and the fifth set overall. It was released on March 12, 2003 and included many of the block's core concepts that Decipher wasn't able to release before The Two Towers movie came to theaters.  
Battle of Helm's Deep is the first expansion of the Two Towers block, and the fifth set overall. It was released on March 12, 2003 and included many of the block's core concepts that Decipher wasn't able to release before The Two Towers movie came to theaters. The table below describes the distribution of cards in booster packs; it does not include the two starter-only companions, nor the alternate-image rares included in starter decks.


== Notable Cards ==
| ^ Common ^ Uncommon ^ Rare ^ Total ^
^ Dunland [Dunland] | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4
^ Dwarven [Dwarven] | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5
^ Elven [Elven] | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5
^ Gandalf [Gandalf] | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6
^ Gollum [Gollum] | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10
^ Gondor [Gondor] | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13
^ Isengard [Isengard] | 8 | 9 | 9 | 26
^ Raider [Raider] | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9
^ Rohan [Rohan] | 7 | 4 | 5 | 16
^ Sauron [Sauron] | 6 | 5 | 5 | 16
^ Shire [Shire] | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7
^ Sites | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3
^ Total | 40 | 40 | 40 | 120


* {{Card|Evil-smelling Fens}}
= Themes and mechanics =
* {{Card|Gollum, Stinker}}
* {{Card|Citadel of the Stars}}
* {{Card|Grima, Chief Counselor}}
* {{Card|Dead Marshes}}
* {{Card|Sting, Baggins Heirloom}}


== Starter Decks ==
== Cultures ==
For this set, Decipher decided to experiment with removing the 3 random Rare cards that normally came in a [[Starter Deck]], and replacing them with fixed Alternate Image "rares" which thematically suited the deck.  While the power level of the decks as playable specimens increased, the perceived value of these decks took a nosedive as there was no longer any reason for collectors to buy more than one.  Decipher tried once more with [[Ents of Fangorn]], and after that restored the random rares with [[The Return of the King]] and all following sets.


* [[Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Eowyn_Starter_Deck|{{Eowyn}} Starter Deck]]: {{C|Rohan}} / {{C|Isengard}}
This set contained the release of the {{C|Gollum}} culture, as Decipher was not licensed to spoil images of Smeagol/Gollum before The Two Towers released in theaters. It also marked the re-introduction of the {{C|Sauron}} culture, which had been absent in the base set.
* [[Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Legolas_Starter_Deck|Legolas Starter Deck]]: {{C|Elven}} / {{C|Raider}}


== Cultures ==
== New loaded keywords ==


This set contained the debut of the {{C|Gollum}} culture, as Decipher was not licensed to spoil images of {{Smeagol}}/Gollum before The Two Towers released in theaters.  This culture broke new ground by being the first (and so far, only) culture to have both [[Free Peoples]] ''and'' [[Shadow Alignment|Shadow]] cards, centrally the inclusion of both the [[Minion]] Gollum and the [[Companion]] {{Smeagol}}.  Mechanically, this captured the internal struggle of the character perfectly; not only could {{Smeagol}} help the Fellowship while Gollum attacked it, but you could even assign {{Smeagol}} to skirmish Gollum, and watch his internal war play out on the table.
Battle of Helm's deep did not introduce any new loaded keywords.
 
BOHD also marked the re-introduction of the {{C|Sauron}} culture, which had been absent in the base set.


== New unloaded keywords ==
== New unloaded keywords ==


* [[Knight]], a new subculture for {{C|Gondor}} representing the soldiers of Minas Tirith.
* Knight
* [[Fortification]], a type of condition representing defensive structures.  While it is used a bit by {{C|Rohan}}, this is really a {{C|Gondor}} staple.
* Fortification
* [[Warg-rider]], a subculture of {{C|Isengard}} [[Orc]]s which can ride [[Warg]] [[Mount]]s.
* Warg-rider


== Other mechanics ==
== Other mechanics ==


* [[Uruk-hai]] [[Berserker]]s, which prefer to be close to exhaustion and have ways of self-exerting to enable that.
* Uruk-hai Berserkers
* Widely expanded the number of cards with or referencing the [[Machine]] and [[Valiant]] keywords
* Widely expanded the number of cards with or referencing the Machine and Valiant keywords
* Mumakil and [[Warg]] mounts
* Mumakil and Warg mounts
* {{C|Sauron}} [[Tracker]]s that lower site numbers rather than roaming costs
* {{C|Sauron}} Trackers that lower site numbers rather than roaming costs
 
= Card Comparisons =
 
== Reprinted cards ==
 
== Functional reprints ==
 
== Strictly better ==
 
== Strictly worse ==
 
= Starter decks =
 
===Eowyn Starter Deck===
Rohan [Rohan] / Isengard [Isengard]
 
(''This deck contained no random rares'')
 
!Ring-bearer
* Frodo, Tired Traveller (2 cards)
* The One Ring, The Ruling Ring
 
Adventure Deck (9 cards)
* [1T] Horse-country
* [2T] Plains of Rohan Camp
* [3T] Stables
* [4T] Westemnet Hills
* [5T] Helm's Gate
* [6T] Hornburg Armory
* [7T] King's Room
* [8T] Nan Curunir
* [9T] Palantir Chamber
 
Free Peoples (25 cards)
* Eowyn, Daughter of Eomund x2 (starting)
* Household Guard x3
* Elite Rider x3 (starting)
* Hobbit Sword x2
* Rohirrim Bow x3
* Rider's Mount x3
* Rider's Spear x3
* Rohirrim Helm
* Thundering Host
* Work for the Sword x3
* Severed His Bonds
 
Shadow (24 cards)
* Foul Horde
* Isengard Flanker x4
* Isengard Rider x3
* Warg-rider x4
* Warg-master x3
* Warg x3
* War-warg x3
* Wolf-voices x3
 
===Legolas Starter Deck===
Elf [Elf] / Raider [Raider]
 
(''This deck contained no random rares'')


!Ring-bearer (2 cards)
* Frodo, Tired Traveller
* The One Ring, The Ruling Ring


Adventure Deck (9 cards)
* [1T] Plains of Rohan
* [2T] Wold of Rohan
* [3T] Barrows of Edoras
* [4T] White Rocks
* [5T] Hornburg Parapet
* [6T] Hornburg Armory
* [7T] Hornburg Causeway
* [8T] Wizard's Vale
* [9T] Palantir Chamber


----
Free Peoples (25 cards)
* Balglin, Elven Warrior
* Gimli, Unbidden Guest (starting)
* Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood x2 (starting)
* Lorien Swordsman x3
* Elven Bow x3
* Elven Sword x3
* Hobbit Sword x2
* Break the Charge
* Baruk Khazad
* Khazad Ai-menu x2
* Quick as May Be x2
* Severed His Bonds
* Valor x3


Shadow (24 cards)
* Army of Haradrim
* Desert Soldier x2
* Desert Spearman x3
* Desert Warrior x2
* Southron Marcher x3
* Southron Traveler x3
* Southron Runner x3
* Mumak x3
* Whirling Strike
* On the March x3


{{Set Table}}
{{Set Table}}
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