Watchers of Cirith Ungol (10U120)

Steward's Tomb (10U119)

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Frodo, Resolute Hobbit (10P121)

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Data

Watchers of Cirith Ungol (10U120) is a King Block Site from the Mount Doom 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

Collection Info Title Watchers of Cirith Ungol Unique No Collectible Yes Set 10 - Mount Doom Rarity U - Uncommon Card Number 120 Language EN - English Revision 0 Collection Info Title Watchers of Cirith Ungol Unique No Collectible Yes Set 10 - Mount Doom Rarity U - Uncommon Card Number 120 Language EN - English Revision 0

Gameplay Info Playable Yes Culture Site Side None Card Type Site Site Style Standard Site Number 8 Block King Shadow Number 8 Arrow Direction Right Sanctuary No Game Text Skirmish: Spot your Orc and remove 2 threats to make that Orc strength +3.

Translations DE - German Card Name Wachtürme von Cirith Ungol Game Text Kampf: Entdecke einen deiner Orks und entferne 2 Bedrohungen, um diesem Ork Stärke +3 zu geben. FR - French IT - Italian

Technical Info Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN10S120.0 TLHH ID LOTR10120 GEMP ID 10_120 LOTRO Hex ID 68 6F 89 09 LOTRO Image ID 10_120 Technical Info Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN10S120.0 TLHH ID LOTR10120 GEMP ID 10_120 LOTRO Hex ID 68 6F 89 09 LOTRO Image ID 10_120

Strategy

Watchers of Cirith Ungol is one of the weakest choices for site 8 in King Block, paradoxically making it one of the best choices for many decks. Its gametext is fairly useless: Morgul Orcs would rather use threats for cards like Morgul Destroyer (7U190) or Morgul Ambusher (8C74) . However, this isn't much of a downside for Shadow decks don't benefit from any site 8, and what's unfavorable to all Shadow decks is favorable to your Free Peoples deck. While you'd ideally want to use a site 8 that benefits your Shadow deck, since the opponent is about to win, this is often the best alternative.

Every option for site 8 in King Block consumes threats to create some benefit for the Shadow player, ranging from relatively weak skirmish pumps to very strong effects like playing minions from your discard pile. In a vacuum, Watchers of Cirith Ungol is already on the weaker end. That weak skirmish boost is very often not worth it, because decks with orcs often have better uses for the threats. Moreover, these decks often play Gollum and/or Nazgul as well, and can instead use very strong sites like Northern Ithilien (7U359) or Morgulduin (7U358) . There's just no place for this site in Morgul Orc decks.

What makes this site popular is the fact that all of the site 8 cards in King Block are limited to one specific culture. If you're not playing Gollum or Sauron, Raider, or Nazgul minions, there's no site 8 that benefits your Shadow deck with its gametext at all. As a result, unless you've splashed Gollum or a utility Nazgûl like Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul (1U231) , this is often your best bet in a Dunland, Isengard, or Moria deck. It's not helping you out any, but at least it's almost certain not to help out your opponent.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Favorable to...

• Free Peoples decks. You chiefly use this site because there's no better alternative that benefits your Shadow deck. Dunland, Isengard, or Moria don't have any better options at site 8, unless you have a splash like Gollum or Nazgul.
• This is very weakly favorable to Morgul Orc decks over a site 8 that does nothing for them, but almost all of those decks prefer Northern Ithilien (7U359) or Morgulduin (7U358) .

Unfavorable to...

• Shadow decks using Gollum or Sauron, Raider, or Nazgul minions. They would all prefer some stronger site 8.