Gimli, Skilled Defender (0P46)
 Eomer, Third Marshal of Riddermark (0P45)
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Aragorn, Defender of Free Peoples (0P47) 
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Gimli, Skilled Defender (0P46) is a 
Dwarven Companion from the Promotional set. Copies were distributed as part of The Countdown Collection.
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Strategy[edit]
Properly supported, Skilled Defender can be the featured character of a strong Free People's build. Taking Gimli's standard damage-bonus into account, the ability to wound a minion assigned to an unbound companion means that Gimli can dish out 3 wounds for many of the skirmishes he wins. This can have all sorts of applications--sparing your other companions from bad matchups, preventing powerful shadow special abilities, or even just setting up minions for a final blow (see Bow of the Galadhrim (1R33)
for comparison). But whatever way you stack them, 3 wounds from a single companion will really start to add up. Combine this with additional damage bonuses from dwarven events and possessions, and perhaps further targeted-wounding potential from Gimli's Battle Axe (1R14)
, and Gimli can turn into a one-dwarf wrecking crew.
However! In order to take advantage of Gimli's ability, you must, of course, win your skirmishes. For this reason, Axe of Erebor (4R41)
may be a better option for Gimli's primary weapon, particularly when supported by Ever My Heart Rises (4R46)
. Skilled Defender also teams up well with Legolas, Elven Comrade (4C74)
, who can be there for Gimli right from the beginning in your starting fellowship. Using Legolas' ability to fuel Gimli's skirmish-phase dominance provides something of a risk-free investment (if Gimli loses, Legolas is still safely out of the line of fire--an upgrade over the gamble of Gimli, Son of Gloin (1R13)
), but Legolas also has the understated benefit of throwing out yet another wound into the pool--being, as a matter of course, an Archer. So between the two of them--even keeping Legolas away from fighting minions as much as can be avoided--you're set up with a 4-wound engine before you've even drawn your opening hand.
Beyond that, the sky is the limit for dwarven skirmish-pumping cards. Khazâd Ai-mênu (4C51)
, Flurry of Blows (2C5)
, Best Company (4C42)
, Hand Axe (2C10)
, Toss Me (6R11)
. As always, make sure to save enough room in your deck to support the rest of your fellowship! But because Skilled Defender can help out your other companions with their skirmishes, he will already being doing some of that support on his own.
Rulings[edit]
Gimli's ability allows him to wound one of the minions he has just beaten in a skirmish. Per the rules, "A skirmish phase ends after all actions triggered by winning or losing that skirmish have resolved." In Gimli's case, this means that any skirmish he wins is not ended until the Free Peoples player has chosen whether to wound a minion assigned to skirmish an unbound companion. Therefore, any minion that loses a skirmish to Gimli is still considered to be assigned to him until that wound is placed--and since Gimli is, himself, an unbound companion, this means that Gimli can use his ability to wound one of the losing minions assigned to him.
Gameplay Strategy[edit]
In this section, describe:
- General usage
- Unorthodox or subtle usage
- Common pitfalls of using this card
Deckbuilding Strategy[edit]
In this section, describe:
- 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]
- List friendly cards that work well with this card
Strong Versus...[edit]
- List enemy cards this card does well against
Weak Versus...[edit]
- List enemy or friendly cards to avoid playing this card with
Alternate Personas[edit]
| Portrait | Name | Game Text |
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Gimli, Dwarf of Erebor (1U12)
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Damage +1.
Fellowship: Add |
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Gimli, Son of Gloin (1R13)
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Damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Gimli to make him strength +2. |
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Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race (2P121)
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Damage +1.
Each underground site's Shadow number is -2. |
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Gimli, Lockbearer (4R48)
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Damage +1.
Gimli is strength +1 for each unbound Hobbit companion you can spot. |
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Gimli, Unbidden Guest (4C49)
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Damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Gimli to make an unbound companion strength +1 (or +2 if that companion is Legolas). |
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Gimli, Faithful Companion (7C6)
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Damage +1.
While you have initiative, Gimli is strength +2. |
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Gimli, Feared Axeman (7R7)
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Damage +1.
Response: If a |
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Gimli, Counter of Foes (8C5)
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Damage +1.
For each wound on Gimli, he is strength +1 and damage +1. |
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Gimli, Bearer of Grudges (9R+4)
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Damage +1.
While Gimli is the Ring-bearer, at the start of each skirmish involving him, add 2 burdens or 2 threats. While Gimli is damage +X, he is resistance +X. |
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Gimli, Lively Combatant (11U8)
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Damage +1. Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may draw a card. |
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Gimli, Lord of the Glittering Caves (13R5)
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Damage +1.
Gimli is strength +1 for each minion assigned to a skirmish. Assignment: Exert Gimli and spot a lurker minion to make that minion lose lurker until the regroup phase. |
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Gimli, Eager Hunter (15C5)
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Damage +1. Hunter 3. (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +3.) |
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Gimli, Sprinter (18R1)
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Damage +1. Hunter 1 (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +1.)
Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may add a threat to wound a minion (or wound a hunter minion twice). |
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Gimli, Opinionated Guide (19P2)
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Damage +1. Fellowship.
Each time you play a |
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Gimli, Dwarven Delegate (0P62)
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Damage +1. |
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Gimli, Vengeful Naugrim (V1_3)
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Damage +1.
While Gimli bears 2 items, he is strength +2. While Gimli bears 3 items, he is damage +1. |
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
