Beauty Is Fading (1R205)

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Beauty Is Fading (1R205) is a Ringwraith Event from the Fellowship of the Ring set.

Collection Info
Title Beauty Is Fading
Unique No
Collectible Yes
Set 1 - The Fellowship of the Ring
Rarity R - Rare
Card Number 205
Language EN - English
Revision 0
Gameplay Info
Playable Yes
Culture Ringwraith
Side Shadow
Card Type Event
Twilight Cost 5
Game Text Maneuver: Exert a Nazgûl to discard a Free Peoples possession or Free Peoples condition. If you can spot no such card, discard an ally or companion (except the Ring-bearer) instead.
Lore “‘...the Three will fail, and many fair things will fade and be forgotten.'”
Translations
DE - German
Card Name Schönheit verblasst
Game Text Manöver: Strenge einen Nazgûl an, um eine Freie Völker Ausrüstung oder einen Freie Völker Effekt abzulegen. Wenn du keine solche Karte entdecken kannst, lege stattdessen einen Verbündeten oder Gefährten (ausser dem Ringträger) ab.
Lore "Doch mag es auch sein, dass die Drei... dahinschwinden, und viele schöne Dinge verblassen und vergessen sein werden.“
ES - Spanish
Card Name La Belleza Se Desvanece
Game Text Maniobra: Esfuerza un Nazgûl para descartar una posesión o una condición de Gentes Libres. Si no puedes avistar ese tipo de carta, descarta en su lugar un aliado o un compañero (excepto el Portador del Anillo).
Lore “...los Tres se malogren, y que junto con ellos se marchiten y olviden muchas cosas hermosas.”
FR - French
Card Name La Beauté Passera
Game Text Manœuvre : Affaiblissez un Nazgûl pour défausser une possession ou une situation des Peuples Libres. Si vous ne pouvez désigner une telle carte, défaussez plutôt un allié ou un compagnon (excepté le Porteur de l’Anneau).
Lore “‘...les Trois feront défaut et beaucoup de belles choses passeront et seront oubliées.'”
IT - Italian
Card Name La Bellezza Sta Svanendo
Game Text Manovra: Sforza un Nazgûl per scartare un bene dei Popoli Liberi o una condizione dei Popoli Liberi. Se non puoi avvistare tali carte, scarta invece un alleato o un compagno (eccetto il Portatore dell’Anello).
Lore “‘...i Tre perdano ogni loro potere, e molte cose belle svaniscano e cadano nell'oblio.'”
PL - Polish
PT - Portuguese
ZH - Chinese


Technical Info
Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN01S205.0
TLHH ID LOTR01205
GEMP ID 1_205
LOTRO Hex ID 4D 30 F4
LOTRO Image ID 01_205


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.