Battleground

Battleground is an Unloaded Keyword appearing on Sites. Initially, Battlegrounds predominantly provided bonuses for Uruk-hai, but this was expanded to other cultures, good and evil, later on.

List of Battleground Sites

Portrait	Card Name	Culture	Card Type	Game Text
	Uruk Camp (4U335)	Site	Site	Plains. Battleground. Each time an Uruk-hai is played, that minion must exert.
	White Rocks (4U346)	Site	Site	Battleground. The Shadow number of this site is +1 for each mounted companion.
	Deep of Helm (4U347)	Site	Site	Plains. Battleground. The twilight cost of the first Uruk-hai played at Deep of Helm each turn is -3.
	Deeping Wall (4U348)	Site	Site	Battleground. Shadow: Play Saruman from your draw deck.
	Helm's Gate (4U349)	Site	Site	Battleground. Each companion and minion bearing a hand weapon is strength +2.
	Hornburg Courtyard (4U350)	Site	Site	Battleground. While you can spot Aragorn, the Shadow number of Hornburg Courtyard is -2.
	Hornburg Parapet (4U351)	Site	Site	Battleground. The fellowship archery total is +1. The minion archery total is ?-1.
	Great Hall (4U353)	Site	Site	Sanctuary. Battleground.Each ally may participate in archery fire and skirmishes at Great Hall.
	Hornburg Causeway (4U356)	Site	Site	Battleground. The minion archery total is +2 for each unbound companion over 3.
	Fortress of Orthanc (4U360)	Site	Site	Battleground. The Shadow number of Fortress of Orthanc is +2 for each companion over 4.
	Orthanc Balcony (4U361)	Site	Site	Battleground. Shadow: Play Saruman from your discard pile; his twilight cost is -2.
	Fortress of Orthanc (11S241)	Site	Site	Battleground. When the fellowship moves to the site, add for each companion over 5.
	Heights of Isengard (11U244)	Site	Site	Battleground. Each time a companion wins a skirmish, the Free Peoples player may discard a condition from play.
	Helm's Gate (11S245)	Site	Site	Battleground. Each character bearing a hand weapon is strength +2.
	Osgiliath Reclaimed (11S252)	Site	Site	Battleground. When the fellowship moves from this site, the Free Peoples player may spot 3 burdens to remove a burden.
	Slag Mounds (11S258)	Site	Site	Battleground. Each time a companion is killed, add a burden.
	The Bridge of Khazad-dûm (12U186)	Site	Site	Battleground. Underground. The Balrog is twilight cost –3.
	Hill of Sight (12S188)	Site	Site	Battleground. Forest. While you can spot 3 minions (or 6 companions), each unbound companion is resistance –2.
	Northern Pelennor (12S190)	Site	Site	Battleground. Plains. Shadow: Make your lurker minion lose lurker until the regroup phase.
	City of Kings (13U187)	Site	Site	Battleground. When the fellowship moves to this site during the regroup phase, the Free Peoples player may draw a card.
	The Great Gates (13S192)	Site	Site	Battleground. While a player can spot more companions than minions, each minion is strength +1.
	Isenwash (13U193)	Site	Site	Battleground. Plains. At the start of the regroup phase, each Shadow player may exert a minion to exert a companion.
	Gate of Mordor (15S191)	Site	Site	Battleground. Each time the fellowship moves to this site, add for each culture you can spot.
	Isengard Ruined (15U192)	Site	Site	Battleground. Each time a follower is transfered to a character, the first Shadow player may exert a companion twice.
	Mount Doom (15R193)	Site	Site	Battleground. Mountain. Underground. Until the end of the game, sites in this region cannot be replaced.
	Morannon Plains (18U137)	Site	Site	Battleground. Plains. When the fellowship moves to this site, each player may reinforce a culture token.
File:HDG-EN30S057.0 portrait.jpg	Battle of the Five Armies (30S57)	Site	Site	Mountain. Battleground. Shadow: Remove 2 doubts to play a minion from your discard pile (except Smaug).
File:HDG-EN32S049.0 portrait.jpg	Northern Slopes (32HB49)	Site	Site	Mountain. Battleground. Shadow: Exert a [Dwarven] character for each Shadow culture you can spot (limit once per turn).​

Cards That Interact with the Battleground Keyword

Portrait	Card Name	Culture	Card Type	Game Text
	Best Company (4C42)	Dwarven	Event	Skirmish: Make a Dwarf strength +2 (or +4 if at a battleground).
	Horn of Helm (5U8)	Dwarven	Possession	Plays to your support area. Maneuver: Exert a Dwarf companion to make each minion at a battleground lose all damage bonuses until the regroup phase.
	Farin, Emissary of Erebor (11C7)	Dwarven	Companion • Dwarf	While Farin is at a battleground or underground site, he gains muster. (At the start of the regroup phase, you may discard a card from hand to draw a card.)
	Gimli's Battle Axe, Vicious Weapon (11R9)	Dwarven	Possession • Hand Weapon	Bearer must be a Dwarf. Bearer gains muster. (At the start of the regroup phase, you may discard a card from hand to draw a card.) Skirmish: If bearer is Gimli and he is at a battleground site, exert him to wound a minion he is skirmishing.
	Durability (12C4)	Dwarven	Event • Skirmish	Make a Dwarf strength +2. Then, if that Dwarf is at a battleground or mountain site, draw a card.
	Haldir, Emissary of the Galadhrim (4C71)	Elven	Companion • Elf	While no opponent controls a site, Haldir is strength +2. Regroup: Exert Haldir at a battleground and exert another Elf to liberate a site.
	Legolas, Companion of the Ring (11S21)	Elven	Companion • Elf	While Legolas is at a battleground or forest site, he is strength +2 and resistance +2.
	Haldir, Sentry of the Golden Wood (15U17)	Elven	Companion • Elf	To play, spot an Elf. While the fellowship is at a battleground site, Haldir is strength +2. While the fellowship is at a forest site, Haldir is an archer.
	Inspiration (11C36)	Gandalf	Event • Skirmish	Spot a Wizard to reveal your hand and make a minion strength –3 for each companion in your hand (or –4 for each if the fellowship is at a battleground site).
	Gandalf’s Hat (12R28)	Gandalf	Possession	Bearer must be Gandalf. Each time the fellowship moves from a battleground site, add a burden. Regroup: Add 2 burdens to remove all twilight tokens from the twilight pool.
	Introspection (12U29)	Gandalf	Event • Fellowship	Spell. Choose one: Spot a Wizard to choose an opponent who must discard one of his or her conditions from play; or spot a Wizard at a battleground site to discard a condition from play.
	The Terror of His Coming (12C33)	Gandalf	Event • Skirmish	Make a companion strength +2. Then, if that companion is at a battleground or dwelling site, you may take a condition from your discard pile into hand.
	With Doom We Come (12U36)	Gandalf	Condition • Support Area	While Gandalf is at an underground site, he gains muster. (At the start of the regroup phase, you may discard a card from hand to draw a card.) While the fellowship is at a battleground site, each character gains muster.
	Armor of the Citadel (11U55)	Gondor	Possession • Armor	Bearer must be a Man. Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all damage bonuses. While bearer is at a battleground site and unwounded, he or she is defender +1.
	Bow of Minas Tirith (11U58)	Gondor	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a Man. At the start of the archery phase, if bearer is at a battleground site, you may exert him or her to make the fellowship archery total +1.
	Faramir's Sword (12R48)	Gondor	Possession • Hand Weapon	Bearer must be Faramir. He is damage +1. Each minion skirmishing Faramir at a battleground or forest site is roaming.
	Tireless (12C52)	Gondor	Condition • Support Area	Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a Man strength +1 for each of the following that is true: he or she is at a battleground site; he or she has resistance 4 or more; he or she is bearing a hand weapon; he or she is skirmishing a roaming minion.
	Théoden, King of the Eorlingas (11U159)	Rohan	Companion • Man	While you can spot a companion, Théoden gains muster. (At the start of the regroup phase, you may discard a card from hand to draw a card.) While Théoden is at a battleground or plains site each Man is strength +1.
	Éored Warrior (12S113)	Rohan	Companion • Man	While this companion is at a battleground or plains site, he is strength +3.
	Wind-swept Homestead (13R139)	Rohan	Condition • Support Area	To play, spot 2 companions. When you play this, add a token here for each plains site and each battleground site on the adventure path. At the start of each regroup phase, add a token here for each of your companions that has muster.
	Diversion (12R120)	Shire	Event • Regroup	Discard a Hobbit not assigned to a skirmish from play to discard a minion from play. If the fellowship is at a battleground site, you may add 2 burdens to play this event during a skirmish involving a Hobbit.
	Advance Uruk Patrol (4U136)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. While at a battleground, this minion is fierce. While you control a battleground, this minion is strength +4.
	Ferocity (4C151)	Isengard	Event	Skirmish: Make an Uruk-hai strength +2 (or +3 if at a battleground).
	Uruk Assault Band (4R179)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. To play, spot an Uruk-hai. While at a battleground, this minion is fierce. While you control a battleground, this minion is strength +6. While you control 2 battlegrounds, this minion may not take wounds.
	Uruk Defender (4C184)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. Skirmish: Exert this minion at a battleground to make another Uruk-hai strength +2.
	Uruk Rear Guard (4C191)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. Skirmish: Exert this minion at a battleground to make another Uruk-hai strength +1.
	Uruk Vanguard (4R200)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. (or damage +2 if at a battleground). To play, spot an Uruk-hai. While at a battleground, this minion is fierce.
	Suffered Much Loss (10U35)	Isengard	Condition • Support Area	Each site on the adventure path is a battleground. While you have initiative, each Uruk-hai is strength +1.
	Corps of Harad (11C73)	Men	Minion • Man	While this minion is at a battleground site, it is Fierce.
	Horde of Harad (11C85)	Men	Minion • Man	While this minion is at a battleground site, it is Fierce.
	Overrun (11S92)	Men	Event • Skirmish	Make a minion strength +2 (or +4 if that minion is at a battleground or plains site).
	Whistling Death (11U104)	Men	Event • Skirmish	Wound a character skirmishing a minion. If the fellowship is at a battleground site, you may remove to wound that character again.
	Dunlending Zealot (12U62)	Men	Minion • Man	While this minion is exhausted, each unbound companion is resistance –1 (or –2 if the fellowship is at a battleground site).
	Goaded to War (12C67)	Men	Condition • Support Area	To play, spot a minion. Each time the fellowship moves to a battleground or plains site, add .
	Mûmak Rider (12R74)	Men	Minion • Man	Archer. When you play this minion to a battleground or plains site, you may spot another minion to discard a possession from play.
	Mûmakil Commander, Bold and Grim (18R71)	Men	Minion • Man	While at a battleground, this minion is strength +2. Each mounted Man is strength +1. Regroup: Shuffle any number of your mounts in play into your draw deck.
	Armed for Battle (11U106)	Orc	Event • Shadow	Spot your minion to play an possession from your discard pile (or, if that minion is at a battleground site, from your draw deck or discard pile).
	Orc Artisan (12R91)	Orc	Minion • Orc	Each time you play an possession on an Orc, you may add (or if that Orc is at a battleground or underground site).
	Rallying Orc (12R100)	Orc	Minion • Orc	Lurker. (Skirmishes involving lurker minions must be resolved after any others.) Each time you play another lurker at a battleground or underground site, you may make the Free Peoples player exert a companion.
	Taunt (12U104)	Orc	Event • Skirmish	Reveal the top 5 cards of your draw deck (or, if the fellowship is at a battleground site, the top 7 cards) to make an minion strength +1 for each card revealed.
	Destroyers and Usurpers (18U78)	Orc	Condition • Support Area	Each companion loses all defender bonuses and cannot gain defender bonuses. Maneuver: Spot 2 minions to make the fellowship's current site gain battleground until the regroup phase.
	Orkish Aggressor (18C85)	Orc	Minion • Orc	While at a battleground, this minion is strength +2.
	Orkish Defender (18C88)	Orc	Minion • Orc	While the fellowship is at a battleground or underground site, this minion cannot take wounds in the archery phase.
	Echo of Hooves (12C164)	Ringwraith	Event • Shadow	Toil 2. (For each character you exert when playing this, its twilight cost is –2.) Spot your Nazgûl at a battleground or forest site to play a mount on him from your draw deck.
	Nazgûl Blade (12C168)	Ringwraith	Possession • Hand Weapon	Bearer must be a Nazgûl. While bearer is at a battleground or forest site, he is strength +1.
	Shadowy Mount (12R171)	Ringwraith	Possession • Mount	Bearer must be a Nazgûl. While bearer is at a battleground or forest site, he is fierce. Assignment: Make the Free Peoples player assign bearer to an unbound companion bearing a condition.
	Unimpeded (12C182)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a Nazgûl strength +1 for each of the following that is true: he is at a battleground or forest site; he is skirmishing a companion who has resistance 4 or less; he is bearing a possession; he is in a fierce skirmish
	Brutality (11S180)	Uruk-hai	Event • Skirmish	Make an minion strength +1 for each battleground site you can spot.
	Feral Uruk (11S183)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	While this minion is at a battleground site, it is strength +1 and Damage +1.
	Force of Uruk-hai (11R184)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. Each time this minion is about to take a wound at a battleground site, you may spot another card to make the Free Peoples player draw a card instead.
	Intimidating Uruk (11U189)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. When you play this minion at a battleground site, spot an unbound companion to make that companion resistance –2 until the end of the turn.
	Invincible Uruk (11S190)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. While this minion is at a battleground site, it cannot take wounds. While you can spot 6 companions, each minion cannot take wounds.
	Isengard Siege Bow (11U191)	Uruk-hai	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a minion. While bearer is at a battleground site, it is an Archer.
	Lookout Uruk (11S193)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. The fellowship's current site gains battleground.
	Watchman Uruk (11C206)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. When you play this minion at a battleground site, you may draw a card.
	Uruk Common (12C149)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. Each time this minion is assigned to a skirmish, if it is not at a battleground site, remove or discard this minion.
	Uruk Decimator (12R150)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	While this minion is at a battleground site, it is strength +2. While this minion is bearing a possession, it is damage +1.
	Endless Assault (13C161)	Uruk-hai	Condition • Support Area	Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an minion strength +1 for each of the following that is true: it is at a battleground site; it is skirmishing a companion who has resistance 4 or less; it is bearing a possession; you can spot an minion not assigned to a skirmish.
	Fearless Approach (13C164)	Uruk-hai	Condition • Support Area	To play, spot an minion. When you play this, if you spot a battleground site on the adventure path, reinforce 3 tokens. Each time the Free Peoples player plays the fellowship’s next site, you may discard a condition from play.
	Uruk-hai Scout (14R15)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. When you play this, choose one of the following keywords: battleground, mountain, plains, or underground. The fellowship’s current site gains that keyword until the end of the turn.
	Hunting Uruk (15C161)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	While this minion is at a battleground site, he gains hunter 1 (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +1.)
	White Hand Attacker (18C124)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Damage +1. While at a battleground, this minion is strength +2.
File:HDG-EN30S041.0 portrait.jpg	Watchful Orc (30S41)	x20px Gundabad	Minion • Orc	When you play this minion, you may play the fellowship's next site (replacing opponent's site if necessary). Shadow: Exert this minion twice to make each site on the adventure path gain battleground, mountain, forest or underground until the end of the turn.
File:HDG-EN31S061.0 portrait.jpg	Vicious Warg (31S261)	Moria	Possession • Mount	Bearer must be an Orc Bearer is fierce When you play this possession at a battleground site, you may add [4] (except at site 9)
File:HDG-EN32S027.0 portrait.jpg	Assaulting Goblin (32S227)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Response: If another Orc is about to take a wound at a battleground, exert this minion to prevent that wound
File:HDG-EN32S028.0 portrait.jpg	Azog, Commander of the Wolves Army (32S228)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Damage +1 Maneuver: Exert Azog at a battleground to play a [Moria] minion from your discard pile Its twilight cost is -2
File:HDG-EN32S059.0 portrait.jpg	Were-worms (32S259)	Moria	Condition • Support Area	Each time a Moria minion wins a skirmish, you may place a [Moria] token here Shadow: If the fellowship is at a battleground, discard this condition to add [2] for each [Moria] token here (limit [8])​

---

Unloaded Keywords
Race	[Raceless]	Balrog	Creature	Dwarf	Elf	Ent	Half-troll	Hobbit	Maia
	Man	Nazgûl	Orc	Spider	Tree	Troll	Uruk-hai	Wizard	Wraith
Site	Battleground	Dwelling	Forest	Marsh	Mountain	Plains	River	Underground
General	Besieger	Corsair	Easterling	Engine	Fellowship	Fortification	Knight	Machine	Pipeweed
	Ranger	Ring-bound	Search	Southron	Spell	Stealth	Tale	Tentacle	Tracker
	Twilight	[Unbound]	Valiant	Villager	Weather	Warg-rider