Gimli, Skilled Defender (5R7)

Defending the Keep (5C6)

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Gimli, Skilled Defender (5R7) is a Dwarven Companion from the Battle of Helm's Deep set.

EN Nonfoil First Edition EN Foil First Edition DE Nonfoil First Edition DE Foil First Edition FR Nonfoil First Edition FR Foil First Edition IT Nonfoil First Edition IT Foil First Edition ES Nonfoil First Edition ES Foil First Edition

Collection Info Title Gimli Subtitle Skilled Defender Unique Yes Collectible Yes Set 5 - Battle of Helm's Deep Rarity R - Rare Card Number 7 Language EN - English Revision 0

Gameplay Info Playable Yes Culture Dwarven Side Free Peoples Card Type Companion Race Dwarf Twilight Cost 2 Strength 6 Vitality 3 Signet Theoden Game Text Damage +1. Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may wound a minion assigned to skirmish an unbound companion. Lore Despite Théoden's preparations, Gimli found it necessary to warn him of the advancing Uruk army.

Translations DE - German Game Text Schaden +1. Jedes Mal, wenn Gimli einen Kampf gewinnt, darfst du einen Diener, der einem nicht-verbundenen Gefährten zugewiesen ist, verwunden. Lore Gimli befand es für nötig, Théoden trotz seiner Vorbereitungen vor der anrückenden Uruk Armee zu warnen. ES - Spanish Game Text Daño +1. Cada vez que Gimli gana una escaramuza, puedes herir un siervo que esté en una escaramuza contra un compañero no-vinculado. Lore Al pesar de los preparativos de Théoden, Gimli creyó necesario advertirle sobre el ejercito Uruk-hai. FR - French Game Text Dégâts +1. Chaque fois que Gimli gagne un combat, vous pouvez blesser un séide affecté au combat d’un compagnon dissocié. Lore Malgré les préparations de Théoden, Gimli vit qu'il était nécessaire d'alerter Théoden quant à l'arrivée de l'armée Ourouk. IT - Italian Game Text Danno +1. Ogni volta che Gimli vince una schermaglia, puoi ferire un servitore assegnato a schermagliare con un compagno Non Legato. Lore Nonostante i preparativi di Théoden, Gimli capì che era necessario avvisarlo dell'attacco degli Uruk-hai.

Technical Info Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN05S007.0 TLHH ID LOTR05007 GEMP ID 5_7 LOTRO Hex ID 67 B4 C4 04 LOTRO Image ID 05_007

Strategy

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

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

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Alternate Personas

Portrait	Name	Game Text
	Gimli, Dwarf of Erebor (1U12)	Damage +1. Fellowship: Add to place a card from hand beneath your draw deck.
	Gimli, Son of Gloin (1R13)	Damage +1. Skirmish: Exert Gimli to make him strength +2.
	Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race (2P121)	Damage +1. Each underground site's Shadow number is -2.
	Gimli, Lockbearer (4R48)	Damage +1. Gimli is strength +1 for each unbound Hobbit companion you can spot.
	Gimli, Unbidden Guest (4C49)	Damage +1. Skirmish: Exert Gimli to make an unbound companion strength +1 (or +2 if that companion is Legolas).
	Gimli, Faithful Companion (7C6)	Damage +1. While you have initiative, Gimli is strength +2.
	Gimli, Feared Axeman (7R7)	Damage +1. Response: If a condition is about to be discarded by an opponent, exert a Dwarf or discard a card from hand to prevent that.
	Gimli, Counter of Foes (8C5)	Damage +1. For each wound on Gimli, he is strength +1 and damage +1.
	Gimli, Bearer of Grudges (9R+4)	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.
	Gimli, Lively Combatant (11U8)	Damage +1. Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may draw a card.
	Gimli, Lord of the Glittering Caves (13R5)	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.
	Gimli, Eager Hunter (15C5)	Damage +1. Hunter 3. (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +3.)
	Gimli, Sprinter (18R1)	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).
	Gimli, Opinionated Guide (19P2)	Damage +1. Fellowship. Each time you play a possession, you may draw a card.
	Gimli, Dwarven Delegate (0P62)	Damage +1.
	Gimli, Vengeful Naugrim (V1_3)	Damage +1. While Gimli bears 2 items, he is strength +2. While Gimli bears 3 items, he is damage +1. ​

See Also

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