Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)
 Whip of Many Thongs (2R74)
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Helpless (2U76) 
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Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75) is a 
Ringwraith Minion from the Mines of Moria set.
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Strategy[edit]
Because of his assignment restriction, the shadow player can assign Bill Ferny to any companion, even one already in a skirmish. This is helpful because it means Ferny can act as a strength + 4 pump for one of your Nazgul. Alternatively, assign him to hobbits like Merry, FtS (To hinder his ability), Sam, SoH (To wound/kill him, as he's often exhausted from removing burdens) or even Frodo himself. Bill Ferny is often vulnerable to archery however, and many players will use Aragorn's Bow or Greenleaf to snipe him before he can act. The fact that he prevents Nazgul from roaming is useful only at site 2 in Fellowship Block (And rarely helps Ulaire Nelya, whose site number is typically 2), but in later sets it's helpful against Rangers that try to make minions roaming (With cards such as Ancient Roads in The Two Towers and Madril, DoO in Expanded). You can combine Bill Ferny with Weatherhills for a very cheap Nazgul attack at site 2; bear in mind his ability does not stack with Bree Streets. Bill Ferny can also assign himself to Alternate Ring-Bearers to force their assignment penalties to trigger.
Although Bill Ferny is generally used as a support card to boost Nazgul strength and give them more of an early game kick, one strategy which centres around Bill Ferny in Fellowship Block uses [isengard] Weather conditions such as Saruman's Frost and Saruman's Snows to immobilise Frodo, and then kill him with Ferny.
In Movie Block, with the appearing of initiative-dependant bonuses, Bill Ferny became not only a strength +4 aid to your minion of choice, but also with Stooping to the Kill a Damage +1 bonus too if the Shadow has initiative (or a strength +2 to Ferny if you discard such condition). Considering he's usually packed in [Wraith] decks, Stooping to the Kill will grant a cumulative damage +1 to any other Wraith minion for easy kills. Unhindered comes in handy to get initiative directly if you use Nazgûl. Keep in mind that such a disruptive combo is mostly used in Movie Block, as the other formats that have access to Stooping (which is a Set 10 card) are Standard (doesn't include Bill Ferny's Set 2) and Expanded (where Ferny is R-listed).
Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]
Strong Versus...[edit]
- Feeble companions (Can assassinate)
- Average Strength companions (Can an assist an overwhelm when combined with another Nazgul)
- Powerful companions (Can help win the skirmish when combined with another Nazgul)
Weak Versus...[edit]
- Direct Wounding
- Underground sites
- Caras Galadhon* (doesn't allow Ferny to assist another minion)
Alternate Personas[edit]
| Portrait | Name | Game Text |
|---|---|---|
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Bill Ferny, Agent of Saruman (15R72)
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If Bill Ferny is unwounded, the Free Peoples player cannot assign him to skirmish a companion.
Shadow: Exert Bill Ferny twice and spot a site you control to add |
