Morgul Vanguard (10R63): Difference between revisions
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'''Morgul Vanguard''' is a [[splash]]able [[minion]] that exists to assassinate weak support [[companion]]s that your opponent hoped to protect with a [[hand weapon]], or take up the attention of a well-armed, high-strength [[tank]] companion. These are relatively powerful effects, but Morgul Vanguard is very expensive for what it does, and it relies on your opponent to play weapons in the first place. As a result, it's only played occasionally, and even then mostly in [[Movie Block]] | '''Morgul Vanguard''' is a [[splash]]able [[minion]] that exists to assassinate weak support [[companion]]s that your opponent hoped to protect with a [[hand weapon]], or take up the attention of a well-armed, high-strength [[tank]] companion. These are relatively powerful effects, but Morgul Vanguard is very expensive for what it does, and it relies on your opponent to play weapons in the first place. As a result, it's only played occasionally, and even then mostly in [[Movie Block]] | ||
The best but rarest use case for Morgul Vanguard is immediately [[overwhelm]]ing a low-strength support character in a skirmish. Some common possible targets are {{Card|Merry, Friend to Sam}}, any version of [[Merry]] with {{Card|Merry's Sword}}, or occasionally {{Card|Galadriel, Lady Redeemed}}. That's pretty close to an exhaustive list! There are relatively few characters with base [[strength]] of less than six, and almost all of them are [[ring-bound]] or rarely if ever use hand weapons. Even when you do get a juicy target like that, you may run into issues with {{Card|Escape}} or {{Card|Everyone Knows}} on Merry, or | The best but rarest use case for Morgul Vanguard is immediately [[overwhelm]]ing a low-strength support character in a skirmish. Some common possible targets are {{Card|Merry, Friend to Sam}}, any version of [[Merry]] with {{Card|Merry's Sword}}, or occasionally {{Card|Galadriel, Lady Redeemed}}. That's pretty close to an exhaustive list! There are relatively few characters with base [[strength]] of less than six, and almost all of them are [[ring-bound]] or rarely if ever use hand weapons. Even when you do get a juicy target like that, you may run into issues with {{Card|Escape}} or {{Card|Everyone Knows}} on Merry, or {{C|Elven}} skirmish [[event]]s like {{Card|Valor}}, {{Card|Forearmed}}, or {{Card|Still Needed}} on Galadriel. | ||
It's nice to score overwhelms like that, but you can't count on it. | It's nice to score overwhelms like that, but you can't count on it. When you're targeting other support companions, they generally have about six strength, with another +1 to +3 from the weapon they're using. {{Card|Legolas, Greenleaf}} with {{Card|Long-knives of Legolas}}, {{Card|Eowyn, Lady of Ithilien}} (or sometimes {{Card|Eowyn, Lady of Rohan}}) with {{Card|Dernhelm's Blade}}, pretty much any [[Knight]] in [[Gondor Knights]] with {{Card|Banner of Westernesse}}, many support elves with {{Card|Elven Sword}}, etc. are all good targets, especially if they're already [[exhaust]]ed. Morgul Vanguard is very pricey if you're only notching a single wound on one of these support characters, but securing the kill on a key character like Greenleaf is definitely worth it. | ||
Morgul Vanguard falls off very hard in post-[[Shadows]] formats like [[Expanded]] and [[Standard]], mainly because of [[Follower]]s. Fewer decks rely on hand weapons to protect support characters, instead using followers for that role. Even when there is a juicy target, oftentimes attaching a follower or two can easily protect that character from being overwhelmed. | Morgul Vanguard falls off very hard in post-[[Shadows]] formats like [[Expanded]] and [[Standard]], mainly because of [[Follower]]s. Fewer decks rely on hand weapons to protect support characters, instead using followers for that role. Even when there is a juicy target, oftentimes attaching a follower or two can easily protect that character from being overwhelmed. | ||
Revision as of 11:54, 23 March 2022
 Morgul Banner-bearer (10C62)
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Stooping to the Kill (10C64) 
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Morgul Vanguard (10R63) is a 
Ringwraith Minion from the Mount Doom set.
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Strategy
Morgul Vanguard is a splashable minion that exists to assassinate weak support companions that your opponent hoped to protect with a hand weapon, or take up the attention of a well-armed, high-strength tank companion. These are relatively powerful effects, but Morgul Vanguard is very expensive for what it does, and it relies on your opponent to play weapons in the first place. As a result, it's only played occasionally, and even then mostly in Movie Block
The best but rarest use case for Morgul Vanguard is immediately overwhelming a low-strength support character in a skirmish. Some common possible targets are Merry, Friend to Sam (1R302)
, any version of Merry with Merry's Sword (7R242)
, or occasionally Galadriel, Lady Redeemed (10R11)
. That's pretty close to an exhaustive list! There are relatively few characters with base strength of less than six, and almost all of them are ring-bound or rarely if ever use hand weapons. Even when you do get a juicy target like that, you may run into issues with Escape (4R300)
or Everyone Knows (9R50)
on Merry, or 
Elven skirmish events like Valor (4C87)
, Forearmed (6U16)
, or Still Needed (7C29)
on Galadriel.
It's nice to score overwhelms like that, but you can't count on it. When you're targeting other support companions, they generally have about six strength, with another +1 to +3 from the weapon they're using. Legolas, Greenleaf (1R50)
with Long-knives of Legolas (3R21)
, Éowyn, Lady of Ithilien (10R72)
(or sometimes Éowyn, Lady of Rohan (4C270)
) with Éowyn's Sword, Dernhelm's Blade (7R230)
, pretty much any Knight in Gondor Knights with Banner of Westernesse (6U51)
, many support elves with Elven Sword (4C64)
, etc. are all good targets, especially if they're already exhausted. Morgul Vanguard is very pricey if you're only notching a single wound on one of these support characters, but securing the kill on a key character like Greenleaf is definitely worth it.
Morgul Vanguard falls off very hard in post-Shadows formats like Expanded and Standard, mainly because of Followers. Fewer decks rely on hand weapons to protect support characters, instead using followers for that role. Even when there is a juicy target, oftentimes attaching a follower or two can easily protect that character from being overwhelmed.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Synergizes With...
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Strong Versus...
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Weak Versus...
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Rulings
In this section:
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- Also put quotes if a particular rule commonly affects the outcome of a card in a subtle manner (such as quoting the Rule of 4 for Saved From the Fire (8R20)
) - Link to rules discussions on TLHH
See Also
- Add links to the wayback machine (or wiki archival links) for official Decipher articles regarding the card
- Link to decks that use this card
