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| {{QueryCardCategories|1R205}}</noinclude> | | {{QueryCardCategories|1R205}}</noinclude> |
| = Strategy = | | = Strategy = |
| '''Beauty is Fading''' is a very expensive, rarely-played tool to remove a troublesome [[Free Peoples]] [[condition]] or [[possession]]. While there are a number of better tools in {{C|Ringwraith}} [[culture]] for dealing with bothersome possessions, the only other cards in this culture that can deal with conditions are either comparably restrictive, or else aren't available until later formats like [[Expanded]]. Don't expect it to ever discard a [[companion]] or [[ally]].
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| You're paying for the luxury of versatility. Barring any discounts from cards like {{Card|Morgul Gates}}, playing Beauty is Fading is going to cost you at least nine [[twilight cost|twilight]]: four for the cheapest [[Nazgul]] like any version of {{Card|Ulaire Otsea, Lieutenant of Morgul}} or {{Card|Ulaire Lemenya, Lieutenant of Morgul}}, then five for Beauty is Fading itself. This is especially difficult in [[Fellowship Block]], where [[choke]] decks are common and [[site]]s have generally low [[Shadow Number|shadow number]]s.
| | A twilight restrictive card, Beauty is Fading is one of the few cards in the game that can discard a companion (with Fierce in Despair being another well known method) from play. That said, Beauty is Fading suffers from a huge twilight cost. It's restrictive twilight cost falls in line with its "Swiss Army Knife" ability to discard anything of the Shadow player's choosing. With the cheapest Nazgul at [2] twilight (with Morgul Gates), the twilight pool would need [7] to play the card, and the option of discarding a companion or ally is only achieved without a Free Peoples condition or possession in play. |
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| However, if your deck really is undone by a particular condition, there aren't a lot of better options. The only alternative in {{C|Ringwraith}} culture are {{Card|The Pale Blade}} and {{Card|Stricken Dumb}}, both of which are powerful and versatile but cost a total of 10 twilight, since you need the [[Witch-King]] to make use of them. And that means it's [[clog]]ging up your hand until you draw and play the Witch-King. In Fellowship Block, the only cheaper alternatives in other cultures are very limited, like {{Card|Goblin Warrior}} and {{Card|Goblin Scrabbler}}, or have fairly strong [[cultural enforcement]], like {{Card|Shadow's Reach}} and {{Card|Saruman's Power}}. After Fellowship Block, {{Card|Saruman, Black Traitor}} is a pricey [[splash]]able option, but {{C|Ringwraith}} culture is stuck with overpriced and limited cards like {{Card|Sword of Dol Guldur}} and {{Card|Morgul Answers}}. There isn't an in-culture option better than Black Traitor until [[Expanded]], with cards like {{Card|Dark Wings}}, {{Card|Minas Morgul Answers}}, and {{Card|Ulaire Lemenya, Servant of the Shadow}}.
| | Ulaire Cantea, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur, Stricken Dumb, Fear, and to a lesser extent, Loathsome, Ulaire Cantea, Faster than Winds, Mastered By Madness, and Black Dart are all more cost-effective Nazgul cards with more direct results. Of course, Grond, Hammer of the Underworld is the best card for dismantling a Free Peoples player's support cards. |
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| If all you want to do is discard possessions, there are better alternatives. {{Card|Ulaire Cantea, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur}} is generally your best bet for the most troublesome possessions, although your opponent can play around him. {{Card|Stricken Dumb}} also works on weapons, but is dependent on the Witch-King. Later, there are strong options like {{Card|Ulaire Cantea, Faster than Winds}}, {{Card|Gorbag's Sword}}, and {{Card|Ulaire Cantea, Thrall of the One}}.
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| You will almost never get a chance to use Beauty is Fading to discard a character. It's so expensive that you generally won't be able to play it at all until about site 5 unless your opponent [[flood]]s the twilight pool. However, your opponent will generally play at least one condition or possession as part of any play like that. If your opponent goes half the game without playing any conditions or possessions at all, it's most likely that you'll simply be able to win the game on the back of the high strength of your Nazgûl minions, without needing Beauty is Fading at all.
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| = Strengths and Weaknesses = | | = Strengths and Weaknesses = |
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| == Weak Versus... == | | == Weak Versus... == |
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| * Very expensive, in a culture that already has problems with affording minions in the first place. | | * Very expensive - at [5] twilight a shadow player could play another large minion, or several smaller minions |
