Gandalf, Powerful Guide (0W38)

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Gandalf, Powerful Guide (0W38) is a Gandalf Companion from the Promotional set. Copies were distributed digitally on the Lord of the Rings Online TCG platform as a holiday promo. During December 23, 2005 to January 7, 2006, any copies of Gandalf, Powerful Guide (15R29) that would be opened in digital booster packs would instead be this holiday version[1]. This version of the card was never produced physically.


"They began to call him well-preserved, but unchanged would have been nearer the mark."
This card is a digital-only equivalent of Gandalf, Powerful Guide (15R29) . Gameplay is identical to that card, whose strategy article is shown below.
Collection Info
Title Gandalf
Subtitle Powerful Guide
Unique Yes
Collectible No
Notes Holiday Promo.
Set 0 - Promotional
Rarity W - World's Apart Digital
Card Number 38
Language EN - English
Revision 0
Collection Info
Title Gandalf
Subtitle Powerful Guide
Unique Yes
Collectible No
Notes Holiday Promo.
Set 0 - Promotional
Rarity W - World's Apart Digital
Card Number 38
Language EN - English
Revision 0
Gameplay Info
Playable No
Culture Gandalf
Side Free Peoples
Card Type Companion
Race Wizard
Twilight Cost 4
Strength 8
Vitality 4
Resistance 7
Game Text To play, spot 2 Hobbits.

Each time you play a spell, you may add a burden to wound a minion.

At the start of each skirmish involving Gandalf, you may draw a card and then discard a card from your hand.

Technical Info
Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN00W038.0
TLHH ID LOTR00W38
GEMP ID 0_38
LOTRO Hex ID 46 6C 18
LOTRO Image ID 00_100038
Technical Info
Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN00W038.0
TLHH ID LOTR00W38
GEMP ID 0_38
LOTRO Hex ID 46 6C 18
LOTRO Image ID 00_100038


Strategy[edit]

Gameplay Strategy[edit]

In this section, describe:

  • General usage
  • Unorthodox or subtle usage
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Deckbuilding Strategy[edit]

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  • Cards and strategies this card works well with
  • Cards and strategies this card works particularly well or poorly against
  • Alternate cards you might consider picking instead of this one, depending on the situation, including alternate version of characters

Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]

Synergizes With...[edit]

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Strong Versus...[edit]

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Weak Versus...[edit]

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Rulings[edit]

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  • Also put quotes if a particular rule commonly affects the outcome of a card in a subtle manner (such as quoting the Rule of 4 for Saved From the Fire (8R20) )
  • Link to rules discussions on TLHH

Alternate Personas[edit]

Portrait Name Game Text
Gandalf, Friend of the Shirefolk (1R72) Gandalf is strength +1 for each of these races you can spot in the fellowship: Hobbit, Dwarf, Elf, and Man.
Gandalf, The Grey Wizard (1P364) Fellowship: Exert Gandalf to play a companion who has the Gandalf signet. The twilight cost of that companion is -2.
Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim (2P122) At the start of each of your turns, you may draw a card.
Gandalf, Greyhame (4R89) Fellowship: If the twilight pool has fewer than 2 twilight tokens, add to play a character from your discard pile.
Gandalf, The White Wizard (4C90) While you can spot 3 twilight tokens, Gandalf is strength +3.
Gandalf, Mithrandir (6R30) Damage +1. Each time the fellowship moves, wound Gandalf.
Gandalf, Defender of the West (7C36) While you cannot spot 3 companions of the same culture, Gandalf is strength –2.
Gandalf, Manager of Wizards (7R37) Skirmish: Place 3 cards from hand on top of your draw deck to make a minion skirmishing an unbound companion strength –3. Any Shadow player may place 3 cards from his or her hand on top of his or her draw deck to prevent this.
Gandalf, Leader of Men (8R15) When Gandalf is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -2.
Gandalf, Leader of the Company (11S33) While Gandalf is in region 1, each other companion is strength +2. While Gandalf is in region 2, each companion is strength +1. While Gandalf is in region 3, he is strength +2.
Gandalf, The White Rider (12R27) Skirmish: If Gandalf is not assigned to a skirmish, exert him and another unbound companion skirmishing a minion to make Gandalf strength +3 and have him replace that companion in that skirmish.
Gandalf, Bearer of Obligation (13R33) While Gandalf is the Ring-bearer, each time the fellowship moves, add 3 burdens unless you spot 2 other companions and discard 2 cards from hand.
Gandalf, Returned (17R17) When you play Gandalf (except in your starting fellowship), you may play a possession on him from your draw deck or discard pile.

Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may reinforce a Free Peoples token.

Gandalf, Wise Guide (19P8) Fellowship.

Response: If an event is played, exert Gandalf twice to cancel that event.

Gandalf, Stormcrow (0P64)
Gandalf, Stormcrow (0D17) Damage +3. Defender +3. Skirmish: Exert Gandalf to make a companion strength +1.
Gandalf, Stormcrow (0W17)
Gandalf, Returned (0W32) When you play Gandalf (except in your starting fellowship), you may play a possession on him from your draw deck or discard pile.

Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may reinforce a Free Peoples token.

Gandalf, Powerful Guide (0W38) To play, spot 2 Hobbits.

Each time you play a spell, you may add a burden to wound a minion.

At the start of each skirmish involving Gandalf, you may draw a card and then discard a card from your hand.

Gandalf, Olorin (V1_14) At the start of your fellowship phase, you may spot 2 allies and exert Gandalf to shuffle a or card from your discard pile into your draw deck.

While you can spot 3 allies, Gandalf is strength +2.

While you can spot Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn, Gandalf is strength +2. ​


See Also[edit]

  • Add links to the wayback machine (or wiki archival links) for official Decipher articles regarding the card
  • Link to decks that use this card