Editing Telepathy

'''Telepathy''' is an {{C|Elven}} strategy, usually meshed with other strategies like [[Elvents]] or [[Gil-Galad Looping]]. It originated in [[Movie Block]], but remains strong throughout the rest of the [[formats]]. Telepathy focuses on manipulating the top cards of the deck with tools like {{Card|Gandalf, Manager of Wizards}} and {{Card|Back to the Light}}, then using your tailored top cards to win skirmishes with {{Card|Forearmed}} and similar cards.

== Core Cards == 

[[File:LOTR-EN06S016.0 card.jpg|right|thumb|The basic core of every telepathy deck]]

Most versions of telepathy rely on the classic {{Card|Gandalf, Manager of Wizards}} and {{Card|Forearmed}} [[combo]]. Paired with a high-costing [[shadow]] like [[Sauron Besiegers]] and [[Sudden Strike]], you can place a high-cost minion such as {{Card|Sauron, The Lord of the Rings}} on top of your deck. Usually the starting fellowship in [[Movie Block]] consists of {{Card|Glorfindel, Revealed in Wrath}} and {{Card|Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood}} so you can forego {{Card|Forearmed}} against [[Nazgul]] and keep your fellowship healed.

Once you get to post-[[Shadows]] formats, however, the starting companions become more varied. With the rise of {{Card|Gil-Galad, High King of the Noldor}}, meshing telepathy with his token [[looping]] abilities became the standard telepathy deck. As a bonus, he can [[recur]] your {{Card|Forearmed}} at the cost of threats. As such, threat removal such as {{Card|Glorfindel, Eldarin Lord}} or {{Card|Into the West}} is necessary. In addition, the powerful {{Card|Elrond, Witness to History}} can help to fuel {{Card|Into the West}} or even [[recur]] your {{C|Elven}} cards.

== Building the Deck ==

===Movie block===
For a strong [[Movie Block]] telepathy deck, you generally will want either {{Card|Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom}} or {{Card|Frodo, Courteous Halfling}} as your [[Ring-bearer]]. If you start with Frodo and intend to run other {{C|Elven}} events, {{Card|Galadriel, Lady Redeemed}} can be helpful. You will also want to start {{Card|Glorfindel, Revealed in Wrath}}. That leaves you room for a two-cost starting companion. [[Legolas]] (e.g. {{Card|Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood}} or {{Card|Legolas, Greenleaf}}) and [[Arwen]] (e.g. {{Card|Arwen, Echo of Luthien}} or {{Card|Arwen, Queen of Elves and Men}}) are both popular. Some decks incorporate {{Card|Saved from the Fire}}-based strategies by starting with {{Card|Gandalf, Leader of Men}}, then burning him to retrieve {{Card|Sent Back}} and Manager of Wizards.

{{Card|Gandalf, Manager of Wizards}} is the core of the deck, as are four copies of {{Card|Forearmed}}, since there are no practical [[recursion]] methods for the latter in this format. {{Card|Nenya, Ring of Adamant}} is a useful supplementary tool for rigging your deck. {{Card|Vilya, Ring of Air}} can serve as additional copies of Forearmed, but the fact that it discards the revealed card makes it less useful, and forces you to use it after any copies of Forearmed in your hand.

This deck is also a good candidate to (ab)use {{Card|Glimpse of Fate}}. Manager of Wizards allows you to activate Glimpse of Fate at will. {{Card|Banner of Elbereth}} can even let you refill your hand for more activations of Manager and Glimpse. 

The rest of the deck is typically high-power, generally-useful {{C|Elven}}-culture cards. {{Card|Cirdan, the Shipwright}} is popular and powerful if you're running many events, and you probably are. {{Card|Gil-Galad, Elven High King}} and {{Card|Aiglos}} are always strong, and Gil-Galad is a high-Twilight card in a pinch. {{Card|Elf-Song}} may be more useful than the typical {{Card|Sam, Son of Hamfast}} because of Cirdan and Lady Redeemed, or you may want to go with {{Card|Narya}}. Depending on your [[meta]], playing [[counters]] to popular Shadow strategies like [[Southron Archery]], [[Nazgul Corruption]], or [[Corsairs]] can be beneficial, if you can find the space.

A variant of this deck also includes cards that want to find {{C|Elven}} cards on top of your deck, such as {{Card|Elrond, Venerable Lord}}, {{Card|Celeborn, Lord of the Galadhrim}}, and {{Card|Into the West}}, along with cards that place themselves or another Free Peoples card on top of your deck, like {{Card|Still Needed}}, {{Card|Fleet-footed}}, and {{Card|On Your Doorstep}}. However, placing Free Peoples cards on top of your deck is not very useful with {{Card|Forearmed}}, so this version of the deck ends up being more complicated and more vulnerable to misplays or [[interaction]].

=== Post-[[Shadows]] formats===
In formats such as [[Expanded]] and [[Standard]], the archetype changes dramatically. {{Card|Forearmed}} and {{Card|Gandalf, manager of wizards}} are still keystones, but there are more options for the other cards. {{Card|Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom}} is usually the [[Ring-bearer]], and you start {{Card|Gamling, Defender of the Hornburg}} to [[tutor]] {{Card|Erkenbrand’s Horn}} to grab {{Card|Celebring, Elven-Smith}} (which in turn grabs {{Card|Galadriel's Silver Ewer}}) and {{Card|Woodhall Elf, Exile}}. Arwen is usually the other starting companion, either {{Card|Arwen, She-Elf}} or {{Card|Arwen, Royal Maiden}}. Most cards from the [[Gil-Galad Looping]] strategy are incorporated, covering burden and condition removal, plus an infinite card draw loop. {{Card|Cirdan, The Shipwright}} is rarely used, as you rely only on a few events, namely, {{Card|Forearmed}} and {{Card|Attunement}}.

However, if you choose to mesh telepathy with Elvents, you often will take a different route. Most likely, you will start a similar fellowship, or you will play {{Card|Elladan, Son of Elrond}} and {{Card|Elrohir, Son of Elrond}}. While you will probably still use {{Card|Gil-Galad, High King of the Noldor}}, you will probably not use his loopable ability. After that, you will pack your deck with {{C|Elven}} events, plus [[Gandalf]] and {{Card|Cirdan, The Shipwright}}.

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