Editing Seeing Stone of Orthanc (9R38)
From LOTR-TCG Wiki
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
'''Seeing Stone of Orthanc''' is paradoxically a very weak, situational card, but also a staple of {{C|Gondor}} decks in [[Movie Block]]. It's chiefly played as part of a whole package of {{C|Gondor}} [[artifact]]s, to strengthen {{Card|Narsil, Blade of the Faithful}} and {{Card|Scroll of Isildur}}. | '''Seeing Stone of Orthanc''' is paradoxically a very weak, situational card, but also a staple of {{C|Gondor}} decks in [[Movie Block]]. It's chiefly played as part of a whole package of {{C|Gondor}} [[artifact]]s, to strengthen {{Card|Narsil, Blade of the Faithful}} and {{Card|Scroll of Isildur}}. | ||
The Stone isn't very strong on its own. Drawing cards in the [[Regroup Phase]] is only useful if you're about to make a [[double move]], since otherwise you [[Reconcile|reconcile]] and refill your hand anyway. Even in those circumstances, it's weak: {{C|Gondor}} culture generally does not play a great many cards after the [[Fellowship Phase]] in [[Movie Block]] (or later [[format]]s) as it is. Removing [[Twilight (Cost)|twilight]] in preparation for a [[double move]] is generally more useful, but a [[threat]] is a very high price to pay. Regaining [[initiative]] against a Shadow deck that wants initiative but doesn't run a card that grants initiative regardless of your hand size{{--}}most common with {{C|Sauron}} decks running {{Card|Tower of Barad-dur}} and minions like {{Card|Orc | The Stone isn't very strong on its own. Drawing cards in the [[Regroup Phase]] is only useful if you're about to make a [[double move]], since otherwise you [[Reconcile|reconcile]] and refill your hand anyway. Even in those circumstances, it's weak: {{C|Gondor}} culture generally does not play a great many cards after the [[Fellowship Phase]] in [[Movie Block]] (or later [[format]]s) as it is. Removing [[Twilight (Cost)|twilight]] in preparation for a [[double move]] is generally more useful, but a [[threat]] is a very high price to pay. Regaining [[initiative]] against a Shadow deck that wants initiative but doesn't run a card that grants initiative regardless of your hand size{{--}}most common with {{C|Sauron}} decks running {{Card|Tower of Barad-dur}} and minions like {{Card|Orc Siege Troop}} and {{Card|Orc Stalker}}{{--}}can be useful but is very situational. The Seeing Stone can also fix your hand size to activate the game text on {{Card|Derufin}}. When it does get used, it's usually discarding the Seeing Stone to remove two twilight on a do-or-die double move. | ||
What makes the Seeing Stone actually useful is the fact that it's a {{C|Gondor}} [[artifact]] that is almost always free. (It's almost never worth playing at the cost of two threats.) It increases the strength of {{Card|Elendil, the Tall}} or {{Card|Isildur, Bearer of Heirlooms}} while [[bear]]ing {{Card|Narsil, Blade of the Faithful}}, and increases the [[resistance]] of the [[ring-bearer]] when {{Card|Scroll of Isildur}} is in play. (Later [[format]]s add two new noteworthy Narsil bearers: {{Card|Elendil, High-King of Gondor}} and {{Card|Isildur, Sword-bearer}}.) Elendil, the Tall can also discard it to [[liberate]] a site. Narsil and Scroll of Isildur are useful cards on their own that benefit from other useful cards like {{Card|The Shards of Narsil}}, {{Card|Ring of Barahir}}, {{Card|Anduril, Flame of the West}}, {{Card|Sapling of the White Tree}}, and {{Card|Throne of Minas Tirith}}, so it's easy to include the Seeing Stone and possibly its counterpart {{Card|Seeing Stone of Minas Anor}}. In [[Movie Block]], this {{C|Gondor}} artifact package is common in {{Card|Noble Leaders}} and [[Elfman]] decks, and sometimes appears in [[Gondor Knights]]. In later formats like [[Expanded]] and [[Standard]], it sometimes appears in [[Token Tanks]] or other {{Card|Stewards' Legacy}} decks. | What makes the Seeing Stone actually useful is the fact that it's a {{C|Gondor}} [[artifact]] that is almost always free. (It's almost never worth playing at the cost of two threats.) It increases the strength of {{Card|Elendil, the Tall}} or {{Card|Isildur, Bearer of Heirlooms}} while [[bear]]ing {{Card|Narsil, Blade of the Faithful}}, and increases the [[resistance]] of the [[ring-bearer]] when {{Card|Scroll of Isildur}} is in play. (Later [[format]]s add two new noteworthy Narsil bearers: {{Card|Elendil, High-King of Gondor}} and {{Card|Isildur, Sword-bearer}}.) Elendil, the Tall can also discard it to [[liberate]] a site. Narsil and Scroll of Isildur are useful cards on their own that benefit from other useful cards like {{Card|The Shards of Narsil}}, {{Card|Ring of Barahir}}, {{Card|Anduril, Flame of the West}}, {{Card|Sapling of the White Tree}}, and {{Card|Throne of Minas Tirith}}, so it's easy to include the Seeing Stone and possibly its counterpart {{Card|Seeing Stone of Minas Anor}}. In [[Movie Block]], this {{C|Gondor}} artifact package is common in {{Card|Noble Leaders}} and [[Elfman]] decks, and sometimes appears in [[Gondor Knights]]. In later formats like [[Expanded]] and [[Standard]], it sometimes appears in [[Token Tanks]] or other {{Card|Stewards' Legacy}} decks. | ||
