Grima, Chief Counselor (5M2)
 Gollum, Stinker (5M1)
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Grima, Chief Counselor (5M2) is an Oversized 
Isengard promotional card from the Battle of Helm's Deep set. It was released via the Convention Store in Summer 2003.
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Strategy[edit]
Grima, Chief Counselor is a splash minion, often used as a counter to multi-cultural decks. Although multi-cultural fellowships are not inherently overpowered, there are some combos players can use that make such fellowships very difficult to beat. The effect of his ability is fairly similar to Wormtongue; he returns cards to hand, which greatly restricts card flow and makes more twilight the subsequent turn. However, a major advantage of this Grima is his ability to return up to 2 companions to hand, which often leads to a RB overwhelm unless the Fellowship is incredibly large. Note that when you are spotting 4 cultures you need only spot a card of that culture, such as a condition or ally - you don't necessarily have to spot companions of 4 cultures. This can often be used to your advantage; if your opponent has 4 cultures and you can return a companion to hand, but still spot a card of that companion's culture, you can then return another companion to hand. This Grima is particularly effective in The Two Towers because the opponent will always have the [shire] culture, even though Frodo is often the only hobbit. In subsequent sets, alternate Ring-Bearers often allow players to ensure their fellowship is at most 3 cultures. The counters to deal with Wormtongue are all effective against Chief Counselor, but often the easiest solution is not to use 4 cultures, as it's not really necessary in most decks. The exception to this is the Three Hunters + Frodo, but this is only a problem in The Two Towers, since thereafter you can use alternate Ring-Bearers.
Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]
Strong Versus...[edit]
- Multi-Cultural/Multi-Racial Fellowships
- Small Fellowships
- Gandalf, FotS
- The Nine Walkers
- Fellowships with splashed cards, such as Elrond, HtGG
Weak Versus...[edit]
- Maneuver Wounding and card discard - see Grima, Wormtongue
Alternate Personas[edit]
| Portrait | Name | Game Text |
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Gríma, Son of Galmod (4C153)
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Each unbound companion (or ally) bearing a Shadow condition is strength -1. |
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Gríma, Wormtongue (4R154)
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Maneuver: Exert Gríma and spot an unbound companion bearing 3 or more cards to return each Free Peoples card that companion bears to its owner’s hand. |
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Gríma, Betrayer of Rohan (12R68)
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Lurker. (Skirmishes involving lurker minions must be resolved after any others.)
Each time a companion loses a skirmish involving a |
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Gríma, Footman of Saruman (13U92)
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Lurker. (Skirmishes involving lurker minions must be resolved after any others.)
Each time a Free Peoples character is killed, you may spot another |
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Gríma, Witless Worm (18R67)
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Regroup: Exert Gríma to add  .
Regroup: Remove a Regroup: Remove |
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Gríma, Servant of Another Master (19P16)
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When you play Gríma, you may remove  to exert an unbound companion. That companion cannot use special abilities until the regroup phase.
Assignment: Exert Gríma to assign him to an unbound companion. That companion may exert to prevent this. |
