The Balrog, Durin's Bane (0P10)

Phial of Galadriel (0P9)

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Saruman, Servant of the Eye (0P11)

Strategy

Collection

History

Data

The Balrog, Durin's Bane (0P10) is a Moria Minion from the Promotional set. It was distributed in January/February 2002 as a promotional magazine insert. Inserts were included in Scrye Magazine, InQuest Magazine, Kartefakt (in Germany), and Arena (in Spain).

EN Promo Nonfoil First Edition EN Nonfoil First Edition

Collection Info Title The Balrog Subtitle Durin's Bane Unique Yes Collectible Yes Set 0 - Promotional Rarity P - Promotional Card Number 10 Language EN - English Revision 0 Collection Info Title The Balrog Subtitle Durin's Bane Unique Yes Collectible Yes Set 0 - Promotional Rarity P - Promotional Card Number 10 Language EN - English Revision 0

Gameplay Info Playable Yes Culture Moria Side Shadow Card Type Minion Race Balrog Twilight Cost 12 Strength 17 Vitality 5 Site Number 4 Game Text Damage +1. Fierce. While you can spot The Balrog, discard all other minions. Skip the archery phase. Discard The Balrog if not underground. Lore “‘Indeed I saw upon the bridge that which haunts our darkest dreams....'”

Technical Info Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN00S010.0 TLHH ID LOTR00010 GEMP ID 0_10 LOTRO Hex ID 0A LOTRO Image ID 02_051 Technical Info Wiki Base Card ID LOTR-EN00S010.0 TLHH ID LOTR00010 GEMP ID 0_10 LOTRO Hex ID 0A LOTRO Image ID 02_051

Strategy

This was the first incarnation of the Balrog brought out as a promo to preview the Mines of Moria, and it was included in the set as a common. This Balrog is designed as what people call a "splash minion" aka a minion that can go in any deck. Given the fact that in the days of Fellowship block everybody had to pass The Bridge of Khazad Dum he was included a lot, especially during the beginning. Eventually people started teching versus the balrog by playing more stealths, armor, and other cancelling effects, which resulted in the general opinion that the Balrog was doing too little, and his appearance dwindled near the end. And when the Bridge was rotated out he practically became useless.

If you do want to use the Balrog, consider using some support cards such as The Balrog's Sword and Whip of Many Thongs, as they can make a big difference to his effectiveness. It's possible to use this Balrog in The Two Towers at Caves of Aglarond, Cavern Entrance or Caverns of Isengard, although it might be more prudent to use Terror of Flame and Shadow, who does not have to be played at an underground site.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Versus...

Archery decks. He skips the archery phase.

Weak Versus...

Site paths that dont go underground, cancellers.

Alternate Personas

Portrait	Name	Game Text
	The Balrog, Flame of Udun (2R52)	Damage +1. Fierce. To play, spot a Orc. Discard The Balrog if not underground. Shadow: Exert The Balrog and remove to play a Orc from your discard pile.
	The Balrog, Terror of Flame and Shadow (6R76)	Damage +2. The twilight cost of The Balrog is –3 if you can spot a minion. The Balrog cannot be assigned to skirmish companions or allies of strength less than 6.
	The Balrog, The Terror of Khazad-dum (12R79)	Damage +1. While The Balrog is at an underground site, it is fierce and cannot take wounds or be exerted.
	The Balrog, Demon of Might (19P18)	Damage +2. Fierce. While at an underground site, skip the archery phase, the maneuver phase, and The Balrog cannot be assigned to skirmish companions of strength 6 or less. ​

See Also

Decks

Not really a deck specific minion, it could be found in all kind of decks.