Lorien Swordsman (4C78)

Lorien Is Most Welcome (4U77)

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Night Without End (4R79)

Strategy

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History

Data

Lorien Swordsman (4C78) is a Elven Companion from the The Two Towers set.

EN Nonfoil First Edition EN Foil First Edition EN Nonfoil Revision 1 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 Lórien Swordsman Unique No Collectible Yes Set 4 - The Two Towers Rarity C - Common Card Number 78 Language EN - English Revision 0

Gameplay Info Playable Yes Culture Elven Side Free Peoples Card Type Companion Race Elf Twilight Cost 2 Strength 5 Vitality 3 Game Text Each minion skirmishing this companion is strength -2 for each wound on that minion. Lore Long, curved Elven steel cut down Uruks already weakened by Elven arrows.

Translations DE - German Card Name Schwertkämpfer aus Lórien Game Text Jeder Diener, der gegen diesen Gefährten kämpft, erhält Stärke -2 für jede Wunde, die dieser Diener hat. Lore Langer, geschwungener Elbenstahl hieb die bereits durch die Pfeile der Elben geschwächten Uruks nieder. ES - Spanish Card Name Espadachín De Lórien Game Text Cada siervo que esté en una escaramuza contra este compañero es fuerza -2 por cada herida en ese siervo. Lore Largo y curvado acero Élfico segó a los Uruks ya debilitados por las flechas Élficas. FR - French Card Name Épéiste de la Lórien Game Text Pour chaque blessure se trouvant sur un séide qui combat ce compagnon, ce séide a -2 en force. Lore L'acier elfique, long et recourbé, terrassait les Ourouks déjà affaiblis par les flèches des Elfes. IT - Italian Card Name Spadaccino di Lórien Game Text Sottrai -2 alla forza di ogni servitore che stia schermagliando con questo compagno, per ogni ferita su quel servitore. Lore Il lungo e curvo acciaio elfico abbatté gli Uruk già indeboliti dalle loro frecce.

Technical Info Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN04S078.0 TLHH ID LOTR04078 GEMP ID 4_78 LOTRO Hex ID 6E 94 D0 03 LOTRO Image ID 04_078

Strategy

While a majority of the [Elven] companions released in The Two Towers sacrificed archery for skirmish strength, Lorien Swordsman has the benefit of both. Though at a modest 6 strength even with Elven Sword, his game text along with the heavy wounding Elves are able to access turn him into a very efficient fighter. He is able to contribute to the archery total with an Elven Bow, and finish off minions whose vitality allows them to survive the Archery Phase.

Because Horse of Rohan may be borne by an Elf, a mounted Lorien Swordsman can be particularly dangerous and guarantee at least one wound in a skirmish against minions with a vitality greater than one. Unlike the similar [Rohan] companion Elite Rider, Lorien Swordsman's ability is more effective the more a minion is wounded and has easy access to [Elven] events such as Sword Wall. He also has access to the Elves' strength reducing abilities which, combined with his passive text, can overwhelm some minions outright. Blades Drawn in particular is a natural fit for decks which rely on Lorien Swordsman, enabling him to overwhelm even Nazgul (An exhausted Witch King will have a strength of 2) without using skirmish events.

When facing Lorien Swordsman, the shadow player will often elect to kill off minions in the Archery Phase and keep one or two minions healthy rather than spread the wounds. This may be problematic if Lorien Swordsman if the fellowship's only fighter, as he is nearly helpless against unwounded minions. Because he reduces a minion's strength rather than adding to his own, his low base strength may require additional skirmish events to keep an enduring minion or a minion with very high strength from overwhelming him. Skirmish healing abilities effectively become strength buffs against Lorien Swordsman, and the Free Peoples should be cautious assigning him when playing against Wargs (who often use Wolf Voices) or if a condition such as Scaling Ladder or Surging Up is in a Shadow player's support area.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Versus...

• Wounded minions

Weak Versus...

• Unwounded minions
• Skirmish healing
• Enduring minions

Rulings

In this section:

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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