Orc War Band (1R272)
 Orc Soldier (1C271)
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The Ring's Oppression (1C273) 
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Orc War Band (1R272) is a 
Sauron Minion from the Fellowship of the Ring set.
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Strategy[edit]
Generic wounding Orc minion, the Orc War Band, like Orc Soldier, Orc Scouting Band, and Orc Hunters, contains the exert-to-wound skirmish special ability. These minions play best in the "Sauron Grind" Shadow, with support area conditions like Under the Watching Eye and Orc Bowmen causing uncomfortable assignment match-ups. The skirmish special ability allows for the Shadow player to place a wound on a free peoples character even when matched against a much stronger companion, and saves the Shadow player deck space, as the game text is effectively a built-in Mordor's Strength.
As with most Sauron minions, the high site number and roaming penalty can be cost-restrictive, although Orc Scouting Band reduces the roaming penalty for further Sauron Orcs played. Orc War Band, at [4], may be cost-restrictive compared to the [2] twilight Orc Soldier, although it has a higher base strength.
With skirmish phase game text, Orc Soldier, Orc Scouting Band, and Orc War Band can be countered by pre-skirmish wounding such as Quick As May Be or Legolas, Greenleaf; however, [Sauron] grind support offers powerful pre-skirmish wounding cards such as Hate.
In the Movie Block format, Gothmog's Warg can increase the vitality of these exert-to-wound minions, making assignment match-ups even more difficult for the Free Peoples player.
Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]
Strong Versus...[edit]
- Natural fit in [Sauron] Grind deck
- Best played with site-reducing Battle of Helms Deep Expansion Orcs, such as Grishnakh, Orc Captain and Orc Patrol
- Exhausted companions, even those with higher base strengths
Weak Versus...[edit]
- Armor or wound prevention
- [Rohan] Mounts and Shadowfax
- Pre-skirmish wounding
- Roaming punishments
See Also[edit]
Decks[edit]
Fellowship Block Sauron Grind deck by ket_the_jet
Shadow Draw Deck: 1x The Balrog, Durin's Bane 4x Orc Ambusher 4x Orc Assassin 4x Orc Scouting Band 4x Orc Soldier 2x Tower Assassin 2x Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul 1x Úlairë Nertëa, Messenger of Dol Guldur 4x Hate 4x Orc Bowmen 1x Our List of Allies Grows Thin 2x Spies of Mordor 4x Under the Watching Eye 3x You Bring Great Evil
