The Return of the King

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Siege of Gondor


The Return of the King
ID7
NameReturn of the King
CreatorDecipher
Release Date2003-11-05
Is Officialyes
PlatformsPaper LotR-O GEMP mLOTRO Tabletop Simulator Lackey gccg
Notes


Set Details

The Return of the King is the third base set of the Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game, and the seventh set overall. It was released on November 5, 2003. The table below describes the distribution of cards in booster packs; it does not include the two starter-only companions. | ^ Ring ^ [Dwarven] ^ [Elven] ^ [Gandalf] ^ [Gollum] ^ [Gondor] ^ [Raider] ^ [Ringwraith] ^ [Rohan] ^ [Shire] ^ [Sauron] ^ Sites ^ Total ^ ^ Common | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 22 | 0 | 121 | ^ Uncommon | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 35 | 121 ^ Rare | 1 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 121 ^ Total | 2 | 12 | 16 | 22 | 26 | 50 | 45 | 48 | 40 | 12 | 55 | 35 | 363

Themes and mechanics

New cultures

This was the first base set to not introduce a new culture. Instead it focused on previously established cultures, especially [Gondor], [Raider], [Ringwraith], and [Sauron]. Two prominent cultures from the previous block, [Dunland] and [Isengard], do not appear in the set.

New loaded keywords

Return of the King did not introduce any new loaded keywords.

New unloaded keywords

Return of the King introduced two new unloaded keywords:

  • Besieger, on Sauron minions
  • Engine, on Sauron conditions

Other mechanics

Return of the King introduced several other new mechanics:

  • Intitiative
  • Threats
  • A new site path, which completely replaced the Two Towers sitepath

Card Comparisons

Reprinted cards

  • The One Ring, The Ruling Ring (previously 1C2 and 4C2)
  • Dagger Strike (previously 1C102)
  • Defiance (previously 1C37)
  • Desert Soldier (previously 4C220)
  • Desert Spearman (previously 4C221)
  • Elite Rider (previously 4C265)
  • Have Patience (previously 4C93)
  • Hobbit Sword (previously 1C299 and 4C306)
  • Intimidate (previously 1C76)
  • Noble Intentions (previously 1C304)
  • Orc Butcher (previously 3C94)
  • Orc Pursuer (previously 5C108)
  • Their Power is in Terror (previously 1U226)
  • Wizard Staff (previously 2C29)

Functional reprints

Strictly better

Strictly worse

Similar sites

Notable Cards

  • The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry
  • Aragorn, Driven by Need
  • Eomer, Valiant Warchief

Starter decks

Aragorn Starter Deck

Gondor [Gondor] / Raider [Raider]

!Ring-bearer (2 cards)

  • Frodo, Hope of Free Peoples
  • The One Ring, The Ruling Ring

Adventure Deck (9 cards)

  • [1K] Steps of Edoras
  • [2K] West Road
  • [3K] Beacon of Minas Tirith
  • [4K] Osgiliath Fallen
  • [5K] City Gates
  • [6K] Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
  • [7K] Pelennor Grassland
  • [8K] Cross Roads
  • [9K] Dagorlad

Free Peoples (23 cards)

  • Aragorn, Driven by Need x2 (starting)
  • Faramir, Stout Captain
  • Madril, Faramir's Aide
  • Ranger of Minas Tirith x3
  • Targon
  • Hobbit Sword x2
  • Knight's Spear x3
  • Second Level x3
  • Third Level x2
  • City of Men x2
  • Great Gate x2
  • Stand to Arms

Shadow (26 cards)

  • Desert Fighter x3
  • Desert Nomad x3
  • Desert Villain x3
  • Easterling Blademaster x3
  • Easterling Ransacker x3
  • Southron Bandit x3
  • Southron Captain x2
  • Mumakil of the Harad x3
  • Red Wrath x2
  • War Towers

Eomer Starter Deck

Rohan [Rohan] / Sauron [Sauron]

!Ring-bearer (2 cards)

  • Frodo, Hope of Free Peoples
  • The One Ring, The Ruling Ring

Adventure Deck (9 cards)

  • [1K] Edoras Hall
  • [2K] Rohirrim Camp
  • [3K] Hall of the Kings
  • [4K] Anduin Banks
  • [5K] Pelennor Flat
  • [6K] Minas Tirith Fourth Circle
  • [7K] Osgiliath Crossing
  • [8K] Morgul Vale
  • [9K] Slag Mounds

Free Peoples (24 cards)

  • Eomer, Valiant Warchief x2 (starting)
  • Eowyn, Restless Maiden (starting)
  • Gandalf, Defender of the West
  • Rohirrim Guard x3
  • Theoden, Leader of Spears
  • Hobbit Sword x2
  • Long Spear x3
  • Riding Armor x2
  • Swift Steed x3
  • Knights of His House x2
  • Morning Came x2
  • Wind in His Face x2

Shadow (25 cards)

  • Mordor Defender x3
  • Mordor Regular x3
  • Mordor Savage x3
  • Mordor Trooper x2
  • Mordor Veteran x2
  • Orc Brood x2
  • Orc Officer x3
  • Orc Pursuer x2
  • Orc Savage
  • Anguish x2
  • Siegecraft x2
Sets
Official Decipher Sets Promotional Promotional
Fellowship Block The Fellowship of the RingMines of MoriaRealms of the Elf-lords
Towers Block The Two TowersBattle of Helm's DeepEnts of Fangorn
King Block The Return of the KingSiege of GondorMount Doom
War of the Ring Block ShadowsBlack RiderBloodlines
Hunters Block The HuntersRise of SarumanTreachery & Deceit
Non-Block Sets ReflectionsExpanded Middle-earthThe Wraith CollectionAge's End
Unreleased Sets The Great EyeShelob's Lair
Unofficial Fan Sets Player's Council PC Kitchen Sink (V0)Shadow of the Past (V1)
The Hobbit Draft Game Main DeckShadow PacksSupplementary Packs
mLOTRO MLOTRO Promo CardsMLOTRO Reflections II
The Journey Continues The Journey Begins