Morgul Orcs

Morgul Orcs (often just shortened to Morcs) are a subculture of Ringwraith-culture orc minions. They include both the orc garrison of Cirith Ungol as well as the army that marches out from Minas Morgul to storm Osgiliath. In this game, they were first introduced in King Block, and as such they often interact with the new rules from that block, placing or spotting or consuming threats or initiative. They also interact with burdens, wounds on the ring-bearer, and Free Peoples possessions.

This subculture only appears in King Block. After that block, Shadow cultures were rearranged. In later sets, the cards representing the orcs of Minas Morgul are no longer a subculture of their own and are instead part of Orc culture. That said, since the King Block Morc cards still work with many later Wraith cards, the deck continues on into later formats.

Unlike most other subcultures, they work well with the rest of Ringwraith culture, often spotting or buffing Nazgûl. Nazgûl have always wounded the ring-bearer or placed burdens, so while a card like Morgul Whelp (7U202) doesn't mention Nazgûl by name, it meshes well with the same gameplan as older cards like Úlairë Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight (2R84) . Likewise, a number of Nazgûl-focused cards from this block benefit from going into a deck with more of a swarm gameplan, such as Úlairë Lemenya, Assailing Minion (7R213) , Flung Into the Fray (8U71) , and Black Marshal (10U53) .

There are two chief Morgul Orc decks: the more-popular Morc deck, a semi-swarm deck that plays many efficient minions that force the Free Peoples player to choose between wounding the ring-bearer or suffering some other consequence, and the less-popular Morc Archery deck, which plays minions that add to the archery total under certain circumstances. Except for Morgul Squealer (8R77) (which occasionally sees play in all sorts of Nazgûl-focused decks), most of the other Ringwraith orc minions, particularly the ones that buff Nazgûl by name or interact with Free Peoples possessions, are too expensive or too weak to see much play.

Morc swarm

Morc swarm, usually just called "Morcs" by default, focuses on wounding the ring-bearer with cards like Morgul Brute (7R188) , Morgul Destroyer (7U190) , Flung Into the Fray (8U71) , and Gollum, Dark as Darkness (9R+28) (always with Captured by the Ring (7C53) ). Since these minions are cheap, the plan is also to swarm, forcing weaker support companions into skirmishes and possibly scoring an overwhelm here or there. Since the Brute and Destroyer need to spot a Nazgûl, the deck also runs cheap efficient Nazgûl minions.

This deck starts in Movie Block. In that format, the most popular Nazgûl are cheap efficient choices like Úlairë Cantëa, Faster Than Winds (7R211) , Úlairë Lemenya, Assailing Minion (7R213) , Úlairë Otsëa, Thrall of the One (8R81) , and sometimes Úlairë Nertëa, Thrall of the One (8U80) . It focuses more on a swarming strategy, often using cards that benefit from spotting wounds on the ring-bearer, like Morgul Whelp (7U202) , Morgul Hound (7C192) , Úlairë Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight (2R84) , and occasionally Ten Times Outnumbered (10C66) . The rest of the deck is rounded out with utility cards like Morgul Skulker (1U258) , Morgul Squealer (8R77) , Ring of Asperity (9R42) and Black Marshal (10U53) , as well as occasionally more-expensive utility Nazgûl like Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul (1U231) or The Witch-king, Morgul King (7R221) .

Example decks:

• My old Dwarves / Morcs deck, a Movie Block deck by Freya on The Last Homely House forums.
• Enola's Knights and Morcs deck, on The Last Homely House forums. This deck uses several Enduring Nazgûl to help counter Éomer, Third Marshal of Riddermark (4R267) , which was popular at the time.

In later formats like Expanded, there are more options for strong, efficient, cheap Nazgûl like Úlairë Lemenya, Eternally Threatening (15R185) , The Witch-king, Captain of the Nine Riders (11R226) , Úlairë Cantëa, Black Assassin (12R174) , and Úlairë Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders (11S222) . Captain of the Nine Riders makes higher-vitality orcs like Morgul Hound (7C192) and Morgul Spearman (7C201) a bit more attractive than the Whelp. Because the deck runs Morgul Destroyer (7U190) , Captured by the Ring (7C53) , and threat-adding Nazgûl like Eternally Threatening and Faster than Winds, it can also use some of the Threatguls tools like They Feel The Precious (15U183) or Ring of Terror (17R143) .

Example deck: Morgul Orcs: Wounds on the Ring-bearer, part of a guide to building Wraith decks in Standard format shortly after the release of Rise of Saruman, posted by Celebrimbor on the Cobracards forums. While the deck is for a now-obsolete Standard format, the advice applies equally well to Expanded.

Morc Archery

This deck uses cards like Morgul Ambusher (8C74) , Morgul Creeper (8C75) , Morgul Lurker (8C76) , and/or Gothmog, Morgul Commander (8R72) to set up bomb turns with huge archery totals to sweep companions right off the board. Threats and burdens can come from a variety of Ringwraith or Gollum cards; standouts include Captured by the Ring (7C53) , Fat One Wants It (7R57) , and Heavy Burden (7U60) . You can also get them from the site path, with sites like City Gates (7U344) , Pelennor Flat (7U345) , Northern Ithilien (7U359) , Dagorlad (7U360) , Courtyard Parapet (13U188) , and City Gates (15S189) . Initiative usually comes from Streaming to the Field (8U78) . Because this deck runs more orcs and relatively fewer Nazgûl, it has more room for expensive orc-focused support cards like Gorbag, Covetous Captain (10R59) .

Due to the relatively high cost of Gothmog and the difficulty of getting sufficient threats and burdens and initiative as well as the right cards all at the right time, the deck is less consistent, less powerful, and consequently less popular.

Due to their lack of cultural enforcement, these minions are often more popular as a splash in archery decks focused on other cultures: for example, Morgul Ambusher (8C74) fits right into Southron Archery, a threat-heavy archery deck.

Example decks:

• MORC archery, a Movie Block deck by hrcho on The Last Homely House forums.
• Getting Morc Archery to Work, a Movie Block deck by jcb213 on The Last Homely House forums.
• Gothmog Archery, part of a guide to building Wraith decks in Standard format shortly after the release of Rise of Saruman, posted by Celebrimbor on the Cobracards forums. While the deck is for a now-obsolete Standard format, the advice applies equally well to Movie Block (except for Sixth of the Nine Riders and the site path) and Expanded.

List of Morgul Orcs

Portrait	Card Name	Culture	Card Type	Game Text
	Gorbag, Lieutenant of Cirith Ungol (7R180)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot a Nazgûl, Gorbag is strength +2 and damage +1.
	Morgul Brawler (7U187)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While the Ring-bearer is exhausted, this minion is strength +3, fierce and damage +1.
	Morgul Brute (7R188)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	When you play this minion, you may spot a Nazgûl to add a burden. The Free Peoples player may wound the Ring–bearer to prevent this. Skirmish: Remove a burden to make this minion strength +3.
	Morgul Cur (7C189)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot a Nazgûl, this minion is strength +2.
	Morgul Destroyer (7U190)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	When you play this minion, you may spot a Nazgûl to add 2 threats. The Free Peoples player may wound the Ring–bearer to prevent this. Skirmish: Remove a threat to make this minion strength +3.
	Morgul Detachment (7R191)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot a Nazgûl, this minion is fierce and damage +1.
	Morgul Hound (7C192)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot 2 wounds on the Ring–bearer, this minion is strength +4 and fierce.
	Morgul Lackey (7C193)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or Orc strength +1.
	Morgul Mongrel (7C194)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot 3 wounds on the Ring–bearer, this minion is fierce and damage +1.
	Morgul Predator (7C196)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or Orc strength +1.
	Morgul Regiment (7R197)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	For each Nazgûl you can spot, the Free Peoples player must exert a companion to assign this minion to a skirmish. Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or Orc strength +1.
	Morgul Ruffian (7C198)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot a Nazgûl, this minion may only take wounds during skirmish phases.
	Morgul Soldier (7C199)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Nazgûl are strength +1.
	Morgul Spawn (7C200)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot a Nazgûl, the Free Peoples player must exert a companion to assign this minion to a skirmish.
	Morgul Spearman (7C201)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot a Nazgûl, the Free Peoples player must exert a companion to assign this minion to a skirmish.
	Morgul Whelp (7U202)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot a wound on the Ring–bearer, this minion is strength +6.
	Gothmog, Morgul Commander (8R72)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you have initiative, each minion is an archer.
	Morgul Ambusher (8C74)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot 3 threats, the minion archery total is +2.
	Morgul Creeper (8C75)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you can spot 3 burdens, the minion archery total is +2.
	Morgul Lurker (8C76)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you have initiative, the minion archery total is +2.
	Morgul Squealer (8R77)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Shadow: Discard this minion to play a minion from your discard pile. Shadow: Spot 6 companions and discard this minion to play up to 2 minions from your draw deck; their twilight costs are each –1.
	Cirith Ungol Scavenger (10U54)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may exert it to discard a possession borne by a character this minion is skirmishing.
	Cirith Ungol Soldier (10C55)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Shadow: Spot a possession to make this minion fierce until the regroup phase.
	Cirith Ungol Warrior (10C56)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Shadow: Spot a possession to make this minion fierce until the regroup phase.
	Cirith Ungol Watchman (10U57)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Each companion skirmishing this minion loses all damage and strength bonuses from possessions.
	Gorbag, Covetous Captain (10R59)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	For each wound on the Ring-bearer, each Orc is strength +1.
	Morgul Banner-bearer (10C62)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While the total number of other minions and twilight tokens is 3 or fewer, this minion is strength +3 and an archer.
	Morgul Vanguard (10R63)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Assignment: Assign this minion to an unbound companion bearing a hand weapon. ​

List of Cards that interact with Morgul Orcs

This only includes cards that specifically mention orcs, or apply to all minions without a qualifier that disqualifies Morgul Orcs, such as requiring the Enduring or Twilight keywords or a different race.

Portrait	Card Name	Culture	Card Type	Game Text
	Úlairë Otsëa, Lieutenant of Morgul (1U235)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Shadow: Exert Úlairë Otsëa to make a minion fierce until the regroup phase.
	Morgul Axe (7C186)	Ringwraith	Possession • Hand Weapon	Bearer must be a Orc. While you can spot 2 wounds on the Ring-bearer, bearer is damage +1.
	Morgul Lackey (7C193)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or Orc strength +1.
	Morgul Predator (7C196)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or Orc strength +1.
	Morgul Regiment (7R197)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	For each Nazgûl you can spot, the Free Peoples player must exert a companion to assign this minion to a skirmish. Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or Orc strength +1.
	Nazgûl Scimitar (7U203)	Ringwraith	Possession • Hand Weapon	Bearer must be a minion. While you can spot 5 threats, bearer is damage +1.
	Stronghold of Minas Morgul (7R206)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	Response: If your minion wins a skirmish, place a token here (limit 1 per site). Regroup: Spot 3 tokens here to exhaust the Ring–bearer. Discard this condition.
	Úlairë Attëa, Wraith on Wings (7R210)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Fierce. Shadow: If you have initiative, exert Úlairë Attëa and spot another minion to add a burden.
	Úlairë Cantëa, Faster Than Winds (7R211)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Fierce. When you play Úlairë Cantëa, add a threat for each companion over 4. Maneuver: Remove 2 threats and spot another minion to discard a possession.
	Úlairë Lemenya, Assailing Minion (7R213)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Úlairë Lemenya is strength +1 for each other minion you spot. While you can spot 3 minions Úlairë Lemenya is fierce. While you can spot 4 minions Úlairë Lemenya is damage +1.
	Úlairë Nelya, Assailing Minion (7R215)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Fierce. Skirmish: Discard a minion to make Úlairë Nelya strength +2.
	War Long Planned (7C220)	Ringwraith	Event • Skirmish	Make a Orc strength +2 (or +4 if you spot 2 wounds on the Ring-bearer).
	Flung Into the Fray (8U71)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	When you play a minion stacked here, you may exert a companion. Regroup: If no minion is stacked here, spot your minon to stack it here. Shadow: Spot 2 minions to play a minion stacked here as if played from hand.
	Gothmog, Morgul Commander (8R72)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you have initiative, each minion is an archer.
	Morgul Squealer (8R77)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	Shadow: Discard this minion to play a minion from your discard pile. Shadow: Spot 6 companions and discard this minion to play up to 2 minions from your draw deck; their twilight costs are each –1.
	Streaming to the Field (8U78)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	For each Orc you can spot, the Free Peoples player must have an additional card in hand to have initiative. Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a Orc strength +2.
	Úlairë Attëa, Thrall of the One (8U79)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Enduring. Regroup: Exert Úlairë Attëa and spot your minion to return that minion to your hand.
	Úlairë Nertëa, Thrall of the One (8U80)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Enduring. Fierce. The site number of each minion is –1.
	Ring of Ire (9R+43)	Ringwraith	Artifact • Ring	Bearer must be The Witch-king. Skirmish: Exert bearer twice to make a minion damage +1. Response: If a player reconciles, return bearer to his owner’s hand.
	Black Marshal (10U53)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	Shadow: Exert a Nazgûl and play a minion to add (or if you have initiative).
	Gorbag, Covetous Captain (10R59)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	For each wound on the Ring-bearer, each Orc is strength +1.
	Gorbag's Sword (10R60)	Ringwraith	Possession • Hand Weapon	Bearer must be a Orc. When you play this possession, you may discard a possession. Its owner may place it on top of his or her draw deck instead. If bearer is Gorbag, he is fierce.
	Houses of Lamentation (10C61)	Ringwraith	Event • Skirmish	Make a minion strength +2 (or +4 if skirmishing a companion of the same culture as a card in the dead pile).
	Stooping to the Kill (10C64)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	While you have initiative, each of your minions is damage +1. Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a minion strength +2.
	Swarming Like Beetles (10C65)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	Maneuver: Spot a Orc and remove a threat to wound an unwounded companion.
	Ten Times Outnumbered (10C66)	Ringwraith	Event • Skirmish	Make a Orc strength +2 for each wound on the Ring-bearer.
	Úlairë Lemenya, Thrall of the One (10U69)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Enduring. Fierce. Shadow cards cannot exert Úlairë Lemenya during a skirmish phase. Skirmish: Heal Úlairë Lemenya to wound up to 3 other minions.
	Dark Wings (11U208)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	Each time your minion wins a skirmish, you may discard this condition to discard a Free Peoples condition from play.
	Hatred Stirred (11U210)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	Each time a companion loses a fierce skirmish involving a minion, you may shuffle a card from your discard pile into your draw deck.
	Lost in the Woods (11U212)	Ringwraith	Condition • Support Area	Skirmish: Transfer this condition from your support area to a companion your Nazgûl is skirmishing. Limit 1 per companion. Each minion skirmishing bearer is strength +1 for each forest site you can spot.
	Riders in Black (11S215)	Ringwraith	Event • Skirmish	Reveal your hand to make a minion strength +1 for each minion in your hand.
	Sense of Obligation (12U170)	Ringwraith	Condition	To play, spot a minion. Bearer must be an unbound companion. Limit 1 per bearer. At the end of each assignment phase, if bearer is not assigned to a skirmish and a companion who does not bear a condition is, add a burden.
	Úlairë Nelya, Fell Rider (15R186)	Ringwraith	Minion • Nazgul	Fierce. While you can spot 6 companions, minions cannot take wounds (except during skirmish phases). Skirmish: If this minion is mounted, exert him twice to wound a companion bearing a condition.
	All Life Flees (18U132)	Ringwraith	Event • Shadow	To play, spot a Nazgûl. Remove to choose one: discard a follower from play that has a twilight cost of X; or play from deck a minion that has a twilight cost of X.
	Pull of the Ring (18R133)	Ringwraith	Event • Assignment	Remove a burden to choose one: assign a minion to a companion who has resistance 0; or have a minion lose fierce and gain hunter 2.
	In Twilight (19P34)	Ringwraith	Condition	Bearer must be a minion. When you play this, you may draw a card. Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may transfer this condition to another minion. ​