Orc Inquisitor (1C268)

Orc Hunters (1U267)

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Orc Scimitar (1C269)

	Set:		Fellowship of the Ring
	Kind:		Shadow
	Culture:		Sauron
	Twilight:		3
	Card Type:		Minion • Orc
	Strength:		9
	Vitality:		3
	Site Number:		6
	Game Text:		When you play this minion, you may make the Free Peoples player discard a card at random from hand.
	Lore:		Cruel questioners of Mordor tore the secret from poor Gollum, that Sauron's most prized possession once again was found.
	Rarity:		C
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General Strategy

With the ability to discard a card at random from the Free Peoples player's hand, Orc Inquisitor can be the difference between a win and a loss. Possibly discarding a crucial event like Power According to His Stature or Hobbit Stealth, Orc Inquisitor is almost always an unpleasant surprise. Like many [Sauron] minions, Orc Inquisitor's three vitality make him a helpful minion with the exertion costs of many events and conditions. Desperate Defense of the Ring, Thin and Stretched, Tower of Barad-Dur, Ithil Stone, and Hate are all commonly played Mordor cards with an exertion cost.

Like all [Sauron] Orcs (besides Besiegers), the site number makes the minion a bit cost-prohibitive when roaming. Trackers from the Battle of Helms Deep expansion, such as Grishnakh, Orc Captain or Orc Patrol can help reduce the site number and roaming penalty of these minions.

With the addition of Frodo, Courteous Halfling in The Two Towers base set, the mill strategy took a nearly unrecoverable hit. Additionally, access to stronger companions and abilities left the Shadow discard strategy one of the least played archetypes beyond Fellowship block. With the expensive roaming penalties of the [relatively] weak minions, very little could stop a Free Peoples' player from simply outrunning his or her opponent.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Versus...

• An opponent with a hand
• Pairs well with free peoples discard strategies, such as The White Arrows of Lorien or Nobody Tosses a DWarf

Weak Versus...

• An opponent without a hand
• Effects that punish or prevent discarding (Old Noakes, Purveyor of Wisdoms; Frodo, Courteous Halfling; Frodo, Little Master)
• Preparations and Rest By Blind Night can recycle discarded cards
• Extremely large decks, or decks that play from discard such as [Moria] Swarm or Constantly Threatening [Dunland]

Example Decks

!Fellowship Block "Cruel Discard" by Kralik

Ring and Bearer: Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Adventure Deck: 1 The Prancing Pony* 2 Trollshaw Forest* 3 Rivendell Waterfall 4 Eregion Hills 5 The Bridge of Khazad-dum* 6 Valley of the Silverlode* 7 The Great River 8 Gates of Argonath 9 Tol Brandir

Free Peoples (35 cards): 1x Arwen, Daughter Of Elrond (starting) 1x Legolas, Son of Thranduil (starting) 1x Aragorn, King in Exile 3x Haldir, Elf Of The Golden Wood

3x Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad

1x Gwemegil 1x Long-knives of Legolas 1x Ranger's Sword 2x Aragorn's Bow 1x Bow of the Galadhrim 3x Elven Bow

2x Gift of Boats 2x Songs of the Blessed Realm 1x The Choice of Luthien 1x The Last Alliance of Elves and Men 3x The White Arrows of Lorien

2x Hobbit Stealth 2x Might of Numenor 2x Secret Sentinels 2x The Council of Elrond

Shadow (35 cards): 3x Morgul Hunter 4x Orc Ambusher 4x Orc Inquisitor 4x Orc Warrior 2x Tower Assassin

3x Desperate Defense of the Ring 3x His Cruelty and Malice 2x Thin and Stretched 3x Tower of Barad-dur

3x Desperate Measures 2x Enduring Evil 2x Shadow's Reach