Southron Commander (4U249)

Southron Bowman (4C248)

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Southron Explorer (4U250)

	Set:		The Two Towers
	Kind:		Shadow
	Culture:		Raider
	Twilight:		5
	Card Type:		Minion • Man
	Strength:		10
	Vitality:		3
	Site Number:		4
	Game Text:		Southron. Ambush (1). Assignment: Spot 6 companions to assign this minion to the Ring-bearer. The Free Peoples player may discard an unbound companion to prevent this.
	Lore:		“‘Almost as bad as Orcs, and much bigger.'”
	Rarity:		U
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General Strategy

!Southron Commander represents one of the [Raider] culture's minions that handles big fellowships, the other being Southron Troop. Southron Commander is the weaker, yet cheaper of the two, and unlike Southron Troop, is not culturally enforced, thus it is often splashed in Towers Block decks as a substitute for Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul.

!Southron Commander's ability only has a spot cost, so it may be used until either the Shadow player cannot spot 6 companions or the Ring-bearer is assigned. This can potentially devastate a fellowship in one turn, forcing the Free Peoples player to discard up to 4 companions if they cannot afford to allow the Ring-bearer to skirmish. Because the Free Peoples must choose to discard an unbound companion in order to prevent assignment, Southron Commander is particularly effective against Ring-bound Rangers who often have no unbound companions in their fellowship. By including [Raider] events or items, the Shadow player can boost Southron Commander's strength and surprise the Free Peoples player with an overwhelm.

On the other hand, Southron Commander's 10 strength can struggle to overwhelm a well-prepared Frodo, as a hand weapon and any kind of Hobbit support (Such as Severed His Bonds), can easily allow Frodo to survive a skirmish. Mumak is doubly useful here, since Frodo will have to survive two separate skirmishes. Another weakness of the Commander is the fact that the Free Peoples player can choose who to discard, prioritising weak characters, wounded characters, unequipped characters and characters that they can play again later.

As with all assignment actions, Southron Commander's action will have no effect for a fierce assignment unless a card (such as Mumak) has allowed him to be fierce. When the Shadow player assigns Southron Commander, he will not gain twilight from his ambush ability.

In later sets, Southron Commander can be effective against alternate Ring-bearers who have the base strength to keep from being overwhelmed, but by skirmishing add potentially unplanned wounds, burdens, or threats.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Versus...

• Ring-bound fellowships
• Large fellowships

Weak Versus...

• Strong Ring-Bearer
• Wounding decks

Rules and Clarifications

• If the Shadow player assigns Southron Commander, he will not gain twilight from his ambush ability.