Editing Sauron Grind

'''Sauron Grind''' is a [[Shadow]] {{C|Sauron}} [[culture]] deck strategy that focuses on a mix of [[indirect wounding]] and [[direct wounding]]. It is a strategy vulnerable to [[condition]] [[hate]], as most of the [[grinding]] is done by conditions, namely, {{Card|Under the Watching Eye}} and {{Card|Orc Bowmen}}. The other key component is the [[direct wounding]] card {{Card|Hate}}, which is used to snipe a companion at low health. 
==Core Cards==

[[File:LOTR-EN01S264.0 card.jpg|right|frame]]

The core of the deck is a cycle of [[Fellowship Block]] {{C|Sauron}} cards, all focusing on [[wounding]]. {{Card|Under the Watching Eye}} slowly [[exhausts]] your opponent's [[fellowship]], making them more vulnerable to your other tools. {{Card|Orc Bowmen}} capitalizes on those [[exertions]] with [[archery]] to finish off companions. {{Card|Hate}} is icing on the cake, assasinating a key companion like [[Aragorn]] or [[Gandalf]], or potentially killing a healer like {{Card|Elrond, Venerable Lord}} or {{Card|Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood}}. 

==Fleshing Out the Deck==

[[File:LOTR-EN01S270.0 card.jpg|right|frame]]

To play your {{Card|Under the Watching Eye}}, you'll need {{C|Sauron}} [[trackers]]. Some of the most popular trackers are {{Card|Orc Scouting Band}}, {{Card|Orc Cutthroat}}, {{Card|Orc Patrol}}, and {{Card|Grishnakh, Orc Captain}}. Additionally you can play the [[initiative]] [[trackers]] from [[Return of the King]], on the off chance that you have [[initiative]]. 

To deal with [[condition]] [[hate]] like {{Card|Secret Sentinels}}, {{Card|Galadriel, Lady Redeemed}}, and {{Card|Grown Suddenly Tall}}, you can [[recur]] your conditions with {{Card|Dead Marshes}} and deal with either the healing {{Card|Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood}}, or the condition-tossing {{Card|Galadriel, Lady Redeemed}}, you can play {{Card|Terrible as the Dawn}} to either kill [[Galadriel]] or cripple their fellowship. As a bonus, if they're playing {{Card|Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom}}, a well-timed {{Card|Terrible as the Dawn}} can even win you the game. 

You will also need high-[[vitality]] minions to play {{Card|Hate}} in the [[maneuver phase]]. Some good choices would be {{Card|Orc Archer Troop}} with its inherent [[archery wound]], {{Card|Orc Seeker}} with the added bonus of being a [[tracker]], or even {{Card|Orc Slaughterer}} for the strength. 

Finally, an answer to a [[Rainbow]] [[Freeps]] is an option. {{C|Sauron}} is not strong in the realm of [[multicultural]] [[hate]], but [[splashing]] a minion like {{Card|Southron Leader}} or {{Card|Grima, Chief Counselor}} is an option. To combat large fellowships like [[Ents]] or [[Noble Leaders]], you can play a classic {{Card|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}} to put pressure on them.

==Example Decks==

* [https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12044.msg98620#msg98620 A Fellowship Block Sauron Grind deck by Merrick_H]
* [https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=8209.msg79896#msg79896 A Movie Block version by Odin]
* [https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=692.msg11224#msg11224 An Expanded version by TheJord]

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