Editing User:Tunadan/forestguls

'''Forestguls''' is a strategy appearing in all post-[[Shadows]] [[formats]]. It is usually restricted to the {{C|Ringwraith}} culture, though a [[splash]] from other cultures is occasionally used. It uses [[site manipulation]] extensively, and aims to win with strength via {{Card|Lost in the Woods}}, though it is not a clear-cut [[beatdown]] strategy. 

The aim of the deck is to make as many sites on the [[adventure path]] [[forests]]. It usually does so by the [[Free Peoples]] side working in tandem with the [[Shadow]], which is a a unique concept to post-[[Shadows]] decks. This usually means that you play [[Smeagol]] or [[Gandalf]]'s bag of site tricks, then use [[Nazgûl]] that play around with sites, for example, {{Card|Ulaire Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders}}, and sometimes [[Gollum]] with {{Card|Led Astray}}.

The Forestgul strategy has also iterated itself as a [[swarm]] tactic, using {{Card|Dark Approach}} and {{Card|Ulaire Toldea, Black Shadow}}. 

= Getting Forests =
[[File:LOTR-EN11S222.0 card.jpg|right|frame]] 
The deck is usually paired with a Free Peoples side that can manipulate the site path, but it is good to have site manipulation on the Shadow side. There a quite a few ways to do this. {{Card|Ulaire Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders}} is a staple of most [[Nazgûl]] decks. {{Card|Ulaire Toldea, Eighth of the Nine Riders}} can work as well, but is unreliable and largely eclipsed by {{Card|Ulaire Toldea, Black Shadow}}, who can [[recur]] {{Card|Dark Approach}}, {{Card|All Life Flees}} (a powerful [[hate]] card), or {{Card|Too Great and Terrible}} (a must in [[Expanded]]). A [[Gollum]] splash for [[threats]] and [[recursion]] via {{Card|Evil-Smelling Fens}} can include {{Card|Led Astray}} to keep your sites out. 

= Core Cards =
[[File:LOTR-EN11S212.0 card.jpg|Right|Frame]]
Once you have [[forests]] on the site path, there are multiple ways to use them. There are two cards that capitalize on forests heavily; {{Card|Lost in the Woods}} and {{Card|Dark Approach}}. Lost in the Woods is only useful on higher-strength characters, so using Nazgûl like {{Card|Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman}} or {{Card|Ulaire Cantea, Black Assassin}} to get them where you want them is very helpful. Dark Approach is usually [[recurred]] by {{Card|Ulaire Toldea, Black Shadow}}, but can also be [[fetched]] by {{Card|Ring of Terror}} or {{Card|The Witch-King, Morgul King}}. Both of these can also [[recur]] Lost in the Woods in the event that it is discarded. Most Forestgul decks incorporate {{Card|Moving This Way}} to keep your deck cycling and to store Nazgûl for later. {{Card|Black Rider}} is a must for a potential swarm, as he is the only Nazgûl that is not [[unique]]. {{Card|The Witch-King, Captain of the Nine Riders}} is often used for his [[Toil]] discount as a free minion with good [[body]].

= Threat Incorporation =
Often [[Threatguls]] components are used in the deck, mainly as a [[meta]] call and to make the deck more versatile. {{Card|Ulaire Cantea, Faster than Winds}} is powerful [[possession]] [[hate]], and also punishes large fellowships. {{Card|They Feel The Precious}} is basic wound prevention, and is a powerful [[silver bullet]] against the [[Rise of Saruman]] duo, {{Card|Orophin, Silvan Elf}} and {{Card|Rumil, Silvan Elf}}, and answers {{Card|Aragorn's Bow, Ranger's Longbow}} very well. {{Card|Ring of Terror}} and {{Card|The Witch-King, Morgul King}} both are powerful [[recursion]] tools, and rely on threats. {{Card|Ulaire Lemenya, Eternally Threatening}} is powerful [[rainbow]] [[hate]], and can fuel these other Nazgûl.

The other benefit of adding threats is that you can outright stop Free Peoples strategies that add threats. With enough threats added, threat adding cards become useless. In addition, even large fellowships look with fear at a hefty stack of threats waiting for a companion to be killed. With exerting cards like {{Card|Ulaire Enquea, Sixth of the Nine Riders}}, you can easily exhaust their fellowship, then kill a companion with {{Card|Lost in the Woods}}.

= Filling out the Deck =
[[File:LOTR-EN03S085.0 card.jpg|right|frame]]
The rest of the deck is minions and [[meta]] cards. {{Card|Too Great and Terrible}} is a powerful answer to [[Gandalf]], be it {{Card|Gandalf, Wise Guide}} or {{Card|Gandalf, Powerful Guide}}. Gandalf's [[site manipulation]] tricks are a huge threat to your forests, and his condition sweeps like {{Card|Deep In Thought}} are a large problem. {{Card|Buckland Homestead}} is not a forest, but is powerful condition removal and can be swapped out with {{Card|Ulaire Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders}}. [[Followers]] like {{Card|Pallando, Far-Travelling One}} are a problem, so playing {{Card|All Life Flees}} can be a good solution, especially as {{Card|Ulaire Toldea, Black Shadow}} can recur it. {{Card|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}} is solid crowd control, and an alternate version, {{Card|Ulaire Enquea, Sixth of the Nine Riders}}, is equally strong. {{Card|Ulaire Otsea, Duplicitous Specter}} is solid card draw and is a cheap Nazgûl.

If you are going a swarm direction, {{Card|Ulaire Nertea, Servant of the Shadow}} is preferable to {{Card|Ulaire Nertea, Dark Horseman}}. [[Splashing]] Gollum also is a strong option, as he can [[recur]] your minions with {{Card|Evil-Smelling Fens}}, [[fetch]] minions with {{Card|Sudden Strike}}, and use {{Card|Shelob, Her Ladyship}} to keep your opponent's {{Card|Durin III, Dwarven Lord}} or {{Card|Elendil, the Tall}} from skirmishing.

= Weaknesses =
Forestguls does have some inherent weaknesses. For instance, any sort of condition removal is a threat, as well as {{Card|Gandalf, Wise Guide}} canceling your {{Card|Dark Approach}}, but these have workarounds. The more hardcore threats are these: 

* Smeagol or Gandalf Site Manipulation
Smeagol is adept at shifting the adventure path to fit his needs, and so is Gandalf. Any shadow that needs certain sites struggles to deal with this. The only real solution is to do the same with your fellowship side. 

* Madril
{{Card|Madril, Defender of Osgiliath}} and {{Card|Ithilien Blade}} will tear you apart. {{Card|What are they?}} will just make things worse. The only real way to fight a well-set-up Madril deck is by splashing {{Card|Ships of Great Draught}} and crossing your fingers they don't pack condition removal. {{Card|Ulaire Enquea, Sixth of the Nine Riders}} can stave off their Ithilien Blades, but is easily countered by cards like {{Card|Ranger's Cloak}} and {{Card|Houses of Healing}}. 

Apart from these, other threats are mainly annoyances that can be countered in some form or fashion. As long as you [[tech]] properly, you should have a solid deck.

= Example Decks =

* [https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=11943.0 A War of the Ring Block deck by Enduring]

* [https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=339.0 A Standard deck by SomeRandomDude]

* [https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=11029.0 An Expanded version by Orophoin]

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