Sam, Faithful Companion (1R310)
 Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)
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Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311) 
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Sam, Faithful Companion (1R310) is a 
Shire Companion from the Fellowship of the Ring set.
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Strategy[edit]
Referencing a card that would not be released until the Realms of the Elf-lords expansion (although a promotional copy was also available), Sam, Faithful Companion can tutor the site Shadow number reducing Bill the Pony (3U106)
from the draw deck. At first glance, this makes Faithful Companion a suitable option for choke strategies, although there may be more to this hobbit than meets the eye.
With two copies of Bill the Pony (3U106)
in the draw deck, the Free Peoples player can usually ensure having one available for sites 2-4 and 7-9 (as long as they are not both drawn very early). Alternatively, a player may opt to rely on Bilbo, Retired Adventurer (1R284)
or Dear Friends (2U98)
to recycle Bill after it has been discarded. In either case, to get the most out of Faithful Companion's ability a player should include him in the starting fellowship (or tutor him via Green Dragon Inn (1U322)
) and then keep him alive at least to site 6.
In the Fellowship block, Faithful Companion thus stands in stark contrast to the other two incarnations of Sam, namely burden-removing Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)
and minion-attracting Sam, Proper Poet (2C114)
. While the other two come into their own through self-sacrifice, there is a subtle boon to Faithful Companion's ability in that it comes at no cost to vitality, making him prime candidate for use with A Promise (2R112)
in the given format.
Living up to his subtitle, this Sam is best utilized when kept alive through most of the journey, which in turn makes his potential to carry the Ring after Frodo's death arguably more meaningful and possible investment into Hobbit Sword (1C299)
and/or Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)
more enticing.
Through Bill the Pony (3U106)
, Faithful Companion is complemented by Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race (2P121)
, as together the two of them can reduce the shadow number for essentially the entire site path. Gimli may turn the inclusion of an underground site 4, which would normally hinder the potency of Sam's ability, into an advantage, not only saving more twilight, but also giving the Free Peoples player more time, if needed, to recycle their discarded Bill before moving to site 7.
The Frodo signet is of note, as Sam himself can exert for the aforementiond Dear Friends (2U98)
, recycling two cards instead of one, or to heal Frodo, Son of Drogo (1C290)
. It also allows access to healing via Frodo's Pipe (3U107)
. Later sets introduced skirmish wounding with Mind Your Own Affairs (4U312)
and No Use That Way (5R113)
, but also Sam, Frodo's Gardener (4R315)
and Sam, Resolute Halfling (7R327)
, who generally offer more with the same signet.
Note that with Bill the Pony (3U106)
being X-listed in Movie Block, Sam, Faithful Companion is only usable in Fellowship Block, Towers Standard and Expanded formats.
Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]
Synergizes With...[edit]
- Dear Friends (2U98)
or Bilbo, Retired Adventurer (1R284)
- Green Dragon Inn (1U322)
- A Promise (2R112)
- Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race (2P121)
- Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass (1U309)
- Shadow stacking
Strong Versus...[edit]
- Expensive minions
- Wounding
- Frodo being killed
- Corruption
Weak Versus...[edit]
- Formats where Bill the Pony (3U106)
is X-listed
- Site 1 that is not Green Dragon Inn (1U322)
while being in the draw deck
- Helpless (2U76)
- Underground sites (unless paired with Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race (2P121)
)
Alternate Personas[edit]
| Portrait | Name | Game Text |
|---|---|---|
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Sam, Son of Hamfast (1C311)
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Fellowship: Exert Sam to remove a burden.
Response: If Frodo dies, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Proper Poet (2C114)
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Maneuver: Exert Sam twice to make him defender +1 until the regroup phase.
Response: If Frodo dies, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Frodo's Gardener (4R315)
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Ring-bound.
Fellowship: Play Sam’s Pack from your draw deck. Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Samwise the Brave (4C316)
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Ring-bound.
Response: If a Shadow card is about to add any number of burdens, spot Frodo and exert Sam to prevent this. Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Nice Sensible Hobbit (5U115)
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Ring-bound.
While you can spot Frodo and Sméagol, Sam may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled. Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Needer of Vittles (7C326)
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Ring-bound.
Fellowship: Play a Hobbit companion to remove a burden. Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Resolute Halfling (7R327)
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Ring-bound.
Fellowship: If you have initiative, discard a card from hand to heal Sam. Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Great Elf Warrior (10P122)
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Ring-bound.
Sam is strength +1 for each Response: If Frodo dies, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
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Sam, Steadfast Friend (11U172)
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Ring-bound. Each other companion is resistance +1. |
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Sam, Bearer of Great Need (13R156)
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Ring-bound.
Sam is resistance +1 for each Hobbit you can spot. Regroup: Exert Sam and transfer a follower he is bearing to your support area to discard a minion from play. |
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Sam, Innocent Traveler (15U153)
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Ring-bound. While Sam bears the One Ring, he is resistance –4.
Maneuver: If Sam is bearing a follower, exert him to heal another Hobbit. Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer. |
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Sam, Loyal Friend (19P32)
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Fellowship. Ring-bound.
While Sam bears The One Ring, he is resistance -4. While you can spot 3 Response: If Frodo dies, make Sam the Ring-bearer. |
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Sam, Of Bagshot Row (V1_54)
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Each time a companion with the Frodo signet wins a skirmish, you may exert Sam or add a burden to heal that companion.
Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5). |
See Also[edit]
Decks[edit]
Fellowship Block "A Promise" Choke Deck by ket_the_jet
Starting Fellowship Ring-bearer: Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir Ring: The One Ring, Isildur's Bane 1x Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race 1x Sam, Faithful Companion
Free Peoples Draw Deck 1x Aragorn, Ranger of the North 1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith 1x Bilbo, Well-spoken Gentlehobbit 1x Bounder 1x Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal 1x Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass 1x Dwarven Armor 1x Dwarven Axe 1x Gimli's Helm 1x Hand Axe 2x Bill the Pony 1x Hobbit Sword 1x Sting 1x Mithril-coat 2x Hobbit Intuition 2x Hobbit Stealth 1x Greatest Kingdom of My People 2x Till Durin Wakes Again 4x A Promise 1x A Talent for Not Being Seen 1x Consorting With Wizards 1x O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! 1x There and Back Again 2x Three Monstrous Trolls
