Black Rider (12U161)

Worthy of Mordor (12C160)

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Dark Approach (12R162)

Strategy

Collection

History

Data

Black Rider (12U161) is a Ringwraith Minion from the Black Rider set.

EN Nonfoil First Edition DE Nonfoil First Edition FR Nonfoil First Edition IT Nonfoil First Edition

Collection Info Title Black Rider Unique No Collectible Yes Set 12 - Black Rider Rarity U - Uncommon Card Number 161 Language EN - English Revision 0

Gameplay Info Playable Yes Culture Ringwraith Side Shadow Card Type Minion Race Nazgul Twilight Cost 5 Strength 8 Vitality 3 Site Number 3 Game Text Fierce. This minion is strength +1 for each companion you can spot. Lore “‘The Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are moving westward. They have taken the guise of riders in black.'”

Translations DE - German Card Name Schwarzer Reiter Game Text Erbittert. Dieser Diener erhält Stärke +1 für jeden Gefährten, den du entdecken kannst. Lore "Die Neun sind wieder unterwegs. Heimlich haben sie den Fluss überschritten und ziehen nach Westen. Sie haben sich als schwarze Reiter verkleidet.“ FR - French IT - Italian

Technical Info Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN12S161.0 TLHH ID LOTR12161 GEMP ID 12_161 LOTRO Hex ID 61 BA 71 0B LOTRO Image ID 12_161

Strategy

No, you didn't misread the title - he's not unique. This represents a turning point for the Nazgul culture which, up until now, was the only culture that had to make a deck of solely unique minions. What's that you say? It's a promo? Alas, you are correct. Although, the Black Rider is scheduled to appear the block after the Return of the King, the card (in foiled promo form) is being made available to players across the world as part of the current Fierce Black Rider Tour. In honor of this tour, where Decipher employees compete in booster drafts and give away prizes to players, I present this card in all of its glory.

So what makes this a worthy addition to a Nazgul deck? Given that each starting fellowship will have at least 2-3 companions, the Black Rider plays as a 10-11 strength, Fierce minion for 5 twilight. This is a strong match up, one which is very much in line with the cost/benefit ratio of popular Nazgul such as Ulaire Cantea, Ulaire Enquea, and Ulaire Toldea. The special ability of the Black Rider is that it gets stronger for each free peoples companion your opponent plays. With the current Two Towers site path being shadow intensive, shadow swarms are very popular and these, in turn, result in rather large fellowships. Thus, it will not be unusual to see your 5 twilight Black Rider be strength 14 or greater. It can stand neck and neck with the infamous Witch-King - for 3 less twilight - and it doesn't have to stand there alone - it's not unique!

Of course, the playing field may be quite different when year four rolls around and the Black Rider becomes legal for tournament play, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it now. Try it out in casual play, or your local Race to Mount Doom League, and remember . . . be Fierce. >by Hayden-William Courtland

Strengths and Weaknesses

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Rulings

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See Also

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