Beauty Is Fading (1R205)
 All Veils Removed (1R204)
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Bent on Discovery (1R206) 
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Beauty Is Fading (1R205) is a 
Ringwraith Event from the Fellowship of the Ring set.
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Strategy[edit]
Beauty is Fading is a very expensive, rarely-played tool to remove a troublesome Free Peoples condition or possession. While there are a number of better tools in Ringwraith culture for dealing with bothersome possessions, the only other cards in this culture that can deal with conditions are either comparably restrictive, or else aren't available until later formats like Expanded. Don't expect it to ever discard a companion or ally.
You're paying for the luxury of versatility. Barring any discounts from cards like Morgul Gates (1R217)
, playing Beauty is Fading is going to cost you at least nine twilight: four for the cheapest Nazgul like any version of Úlairë Otsëa, Lieutenant of Morgul (1U235)
or Úlairë Lemenya, Lieutenant of Morgul (1U232)
, then five for Beauty is Fading itself. This is especially difficult in Fellowship Block, where choke decks are common and sites have generally low shadow numbers.
However, if your deck really is undone by a particular condition, there aren't a lot of better options. The only alternative in Ringwraith culture are The Pale Blade (1R221)
and Stricken Dumb (2R80)
, both of which are powerful and versatile but cost a total of 10 twilight, since you need the Witch-King to make use of them. And that means it's clogging up your hand until you draw and play the Witch-King. In Fellowship Block, the only cheaper alternatives in other cultures are very limited, like Goblin Warrior (1C185)
and Goblin Scrabbler (2C64)
, or have fairly strong cultural enforcement, like Shadow's Reach (1C277)
and Saruman's Power (1U136)
. After Fellowship Block, Saruman, Black Traitor (4R173)
is a pricey splashable option, but Ringwraith culture is stuck with overpriced and limited cards like Sword of Dol Guldur (6R85)
and Morgul Answers (7U185)
. There isn't an in-culture option better than Black Traitor until Expanded, with cards like Dark Wings (11U208)
, Minas Morgul Answers (12U167)
, and Úlairë Lemenya, Servant of the Shadow (13U183)
.
If all you want to do is discard possessions, there are better alternatives. Úlairë Cantëa, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur (1R230)
is generally your best bet for the most troublesome possessions, although your opponent can play around him. Stricken Dumb (2R80)
also works on weapons, but is dependent on the Witch-King. Later, there are strong options like Úlairë Cantëa, Faster Than Winds (7R211)
, Gorbag's Sword (10R60)
, and Úlairë Cantëa, Thrall of the One (10R67)
.
You will almost never get a chance to use Beauty is Fading to discard a character. It's so expensive that you generally won't be able to play it at all until about site 5 unless your opponent floods the twilight pool. However, your opponent will generally play at least one condition or possession as part of any play like that. If your opponent goes half the game without playing any conditions or possessions at all, it's most likely that you'll simply be able to win the game on the back of the high strength of your Nazgûl minions, without needing Beauty is Fading at all.
Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]
Strong Versus...[edit]
- Nearly unparalleled ability to discard a card from play
Weak Versus...[edit]
- Very expensive, in a culture that already has problems with affording minions in the first place.
