Page values for "Data:Relics of Moria (1R195)/Data"

Relics is one card that doesn't seem to match Decipher’s analysis so much. Even in FOTR where it is permitted, it seldom seems to kick-start the Moria twilight engine, which instead is usually triggered by Goblin Scavengers (1C179)START_WIDGET"'-ce78061fb900e083END_WIDGET–either played from hand, from Goblin Swarms (1R183)START_WIDGET"'-6cf37da477d41b3dEND_WIDGET, Hosts of Thousands, or They Are Coming (1C196)START_WIDGET"'-cbe34c88916c851dEND_WIDGET. Far more often Relics is used in a secondary respect to pull weapons that Scavengers can’t get–Cave Troll's Hammer (1R166)START_WIDGET"'-c2987f3e78e4beb1END_WIDGET, for instance.

In this case the PC has decided to experiment with releasing it with the game text unchanged. Instead, the card is given a very slight nerf by making it unique. This isn't likely to have much of an impact, but then if we're right, neither will re-releasing the card.

Decipher Notes:

Relics of Moria – I’m sure there are a lot of people who would be glad to see less of Moria in the coming year, but most would not have considered this the lynchpin of the deck. What prompted this card being added to the X-list?

Trevor: We knew going into this that Relics of Moria would be the most controversial decision to be included on the list. Moria is an incredibly popular strategy for players the world over. Removing something that players are accustomed to including in every Moria deck is bound to stir some controversy. But the bottom line is Relics is far too efficient, it just does too much. Moria can still do what it did before; the goal wasn’t to kill Moria. But now they have to work at it, a permanent way to start the cycle was just too much.

Geoff: The core of Moria is its ability to extend the Shadow player’s hand. That theme was never really expanded upon after FotR was released for obvious reasons: too much of a good thing can be bad. Without the Goblin Scimitar (1C180)START_WIDGET"'-6553e80011cac395END_WIDGET, there really is no reasonable way for Moria’s hand extension to happen, except through the use of 1 event (Threat of the Unknown (1C197)START_WIDGET"'-0173d0f05007e595END_WIDGET). Just so we’re clear, when I say ‘hand extension’ in relation to Moria, I’m referring to the Shadow player being able to have drawn cards from their deck in the Shadow phase.

They Are Coming (1C196)START_WIDGET"'-9071321b13276c2aEND_WIDGET, on the other hand, is Relics’ partner in crime. What do you do with all those extra cards you get from the four copies of the Scimitar you can play each turn? Play more minions. This, in turn, allows you to cycle your deck so that you’re able to dig for an even greater number of minions on subsequent turns.