Aegnor, Elven Escort (10U4)
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Aegnor, Elven Escort (10U4) is a Elven Companion from the Mount Doom set.
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Strategy[edit]
Aegnor is well-suited to Elven telepathy decks that reduce minions' strength to win skirmishes, although he only works in a deck with archery as a secondary strategy. He isn't as strong as Círdan, The Shipwright (10R8) (especially in conjunction with Galadriel, Lady Redeemed (10R11) ), but he is more versatile, and there's no reason you can't use both strategies together! In Movie Block, he works well as the centerpiece of your deck, supported by many archers to power his ability and fend off swarms of low-vitality minions. He also works in Expanded, either on his own or supplementing a strategy where Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor (18R12) reuses Forearmed (6U16) and various Elven token conditions.
An Aegnor deck needs two things: Elven archers, and a source of healing. One companion who can do both is Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood (5P121) . Aegnor can exert to make sure Legolas wins his skirmish, then Legolas heals the exertion from Aegnor. Legolas isn't usually much of a skirmisher, but has some other decent effects that trigger when he wins a skirmish, like Bow of the Galadhrim (1R33) . Elrond, Venerable Lord (10R9) can also heal Aegnor at the start of a skirmish to fuel an Aegnor exertion that protects him in that skirmish, but this isn't perfectly reliable, and Elrond isn't an archer.
Aside from Legolas, there are surprisingly few Elven archers, especially in Movie Block! Your best bet is to pack four copies of Elven Bow (1C41) , as well as Elven archer allies like Rúmil, Elven Protector (1U57) , Orophin, Lorien Bowman (1U56) , Dínendal, Silent Scout (3U12) , and Calaglin, Elf of Lorien (3U10) . The allies don't contribute to the archery total, but Aegnor can still spot them. Rúmil, Silvan Elf (17S12) and Dínendal, Mirkwood Archer (15R12) are also options in Expanded.
Like any companion that exerts to produce an effect, Aegnor needs healing. Elven decks have plenty of options, though. In addition to Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood, you can use Shadow Between (7R28) , Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad (3R13) , and/or Nenya, Ring of Adamant (9R20) (generally multiple copies plus The One Ring, The Binding Ring (9R+1) ). Aegnor decks are unusual in that they have lots of archers but don't care overmuch about Archery Phase abilities, so they can get some use out of A Grey Ship (8U9) .
Such a deck has no trouble with swarms, because they tend to get thinned out by archery wounds, but also does well against single tough enemies, since Aegnor can activate against them multiple times in extremis. Aegnor has trouble against decks that have enough possession and ally hate to keep him from having any archers to spot, or decks that can pressure his wound pool directly (ideally without needing to skirmish him personally). He's also a bit vulnerable early on, when you'll often only have one or two other archers to spot.
Remember that Aegnor cannot protect the ring-bearer, even if it's Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom (9R+14) . The ring-bearer is always ring-bound. So while you'll want to run mainly Elven companions, there's no reason you can't use one of the Gondor ring-bearers for a bit more muscle, or Gimli, Bearer of Grudges (9R+4) to enable Shoulder to Shoulder (1C59) (and to benefit from Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood's healing).
Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]
Synergizes With...[edit]
- Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood (5P121) . Aegnor exerts to help Legolas win the skirmish, then Legolas heals Aegnor.
- Elven archer allies like Rúmil, Elven Protector (1U57) , Orophin, Lorien Bowman (1U56) , and Calaglin, Elf of Lorien (3U10) .
- Elven Bow (1C41)
- Healing from other sources. Popular strategies include Shadow Between (7R28) , Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad (3R13) , Elrond, Venerable Lord (10R9) , Shoulder to Shoulder (1C59) , and recurring Nenya, Ring of Adamant (9R20) using The One Ring, The Binding Ring (9R+1) .
- More vitality, from Aiglos (9R+12) and/or The Tale of Gil-galad (1R66) . Be careful about exhausting him if he's bearing either of these cards, because removing one of them will kill him.
- Other Elven telepathy cards, especially ones that work well with archers. Feathered (4U66) , Arwen, Queen of Elves and Men (10R6) , and Círdan, The Shipwright (10R8) are standouts.
Strong Versus...[edit]
- Minions that interfere with skirmish assignment, like Shelob, Her Ladyship (10R23) or Úlairë Nertëa, Dark Horseman (19P38) , as long as those minions aren't skirmishing the ring-bearer. He can protect weaker companions from an uneven skirmish when necessary.
Weak Versus...[edit]
- Direct wounding strategies
- Decks with enough ally and possession hate to prevent him from having archers to spot
- Archery hate, especially if it does something other than affect the archery phase or archery total. A good example is Relentless Charge (1U223)
- Early game rush, before he has any archers to spot