Archer

Archer is a loaded keyword appearing on characters skilled with a bow. At the end of the Archery Phase, each player tallies up the total number of archers on their side (plus or minus any bonuses or penalties), and "fires" that many arrows onto their opponent, which are placed as wounds on eligible targets.
Although archers are the "default" way of increasing the archery total, there are quite a few cards that increase the archery total directly without increasing the number of archers (see Double Shot (1R38)
). Most archery-based deck strategies will revolve around those alternate bonuses rather than relying on archers to succeed on their own.
The Elven culture is the most prominent user of archers in the game, with most other Free Peoples cultures struggling to put arrows in the air and needing to spend resources to only temporarily harry their foes (see Hand Axe (2C10)
, Rohirrim Bow (5C88)
, and Gondor Bow (7U94)
). Most Shadow cultures have access to at least a limited contingent of archers, notably
Moria,
Isengard, and
Raider.
Rules Entries[edit]
All Shadow players count the number of all their minions with the keyword archer to determine the "minion archery total." No matter how many Shadow players there are, there is only one minion archery total.
As the Free Peoples player, you also count the number of your Free Peoples archer companions to determine the "fellowship archery total." (See ally.)
The Free Peoples player then assigns a number of wounds equal to the minion archery total to his companions (and participating allies), in any way he wishes.
He then chooses one Shadow player who must assign a number of wounds equal to the fellowship archery total to his minions, in any way he wishes.- archery_phase section
List of Companions and Allies with Archer[edit]
Portrait | Card Name | Culture | Card Type | Game Text |
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Legolas, Greenleaf (1R50)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
Archery: Exert Legolas to wound a minion; Legolas does not add to the fellowship archery total. | ||
Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood (1U51)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
While skirmishing a Nazgûl, Legolas is strength +3. | ||
Orophin, Lorien Bowman (1U56)
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Ally • Home 6 • Elf | Archer.
Archery: Exert Orophin to wound an Uruk-hai. | ||
Rúmil, Elven Protector (1U57)
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Ally • Home 6 • Elf | Archer.
Archery: Exert Rúmil to wound an Orc. | ||
Calaglin, Elf of Lorien (3U10)
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Ally • Home 6 • Elf | Archer.
Regroup: Exert Calaglin to wound a minion. | ||
Dínendal, Silent Scout (3U12)
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Ally • Home 6 • Elf | Archer. | ||
Legolas, Son of Thranduil (3P121)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
While Legolas is at a river or forest, add 1 to the fellowship archery total. | ||
Legolas, Dauntless Hunter (4R73)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
The twilight cost of each Shadow event and Shadow condition is +1 for each unbound Hobbit you can spot. | ||
Legolas, Elven Comrade (4C74)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
Skirmish: Exert Legolas to make a minion skirmishing an unbound companion strength -1 (or -2 if that companion is Gimli). | ||
Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood (5P121)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
Each time Legolas wins a skirmish, you may heal a Dwarf companion or another Elf companion. | ||
Legolas, Fearless Marksman (7R25)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
Archery: If you have initiative, discard 4 cards from hand to wound a minion. | ||
Legolas, Nimble Warrior (7C26)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
Archery: If you cannot spot a threat, add a threat to make the fellowship archery total +1. | ||
Legolas, Elven Stalwart (8C10)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
While you can spot 3 wounded minions, each minion skirmishing Legolas is strength –3. | ||
Legolas, of the Grey Company (13R18)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
At the start of each archery phase, you may reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is an | ||
Legolas, of the Woodland Realm (15R19)
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Companion • Elf | Archer. Hunter 1(While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +1.).
Archery: Exert Legolas to make the fellowship archery total +1 for each hunter minion you can spot.(Limit +3) | ||
Legolas, Skeptical Guide (19P7)
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Companion • Elf | Archer. Fellowship.
Archery: Add two threats to wound a minion; Legolas does not add to the fellowship archery total. | ||
Legolas, Keen-eyed (V1_9)
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Companion • Elf | Archer.
Archery: Make the fellowship archery total -X (to a minimum of 0) to make Legolas strength +X until the regroup phase. You cannot use archery special abilities. | ||
Garrison of Gondor (8R36)
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Companion • Man | Archer. Knight.
While you can spot a fortification, Garrison of Gondor is defender +1. |
List of Minions with Archer[edit]
Portrait | Card Name | Culture | Card Type | Game Text |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lurtz, Servant of Isengard (1R127)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer. Damage +1.
Maneuver: Spot another Uruk-hai to make Lurtz fierce until the regroup phase. | ||
Orthanc Assassin (1R131)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer. Damage +1. | ||
Band of Uruk Bowmen (4U138)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer. Damage +1.
While you control a site, the minion archery total is +1. | ||
Elite Crossbowmen (4R150)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer. Damage +1.
Archery: Exert Elite Crossbowmen to make the Free Peoples player wound an unbound companion; this minion does not add to the minion archery total. | ||
Ranged Commander (4R169)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer.
The twilight cost of each Archery: Exert Ranged Commander to make the Free Peoples player wound an unbound companion; this minion does not add to the minion archery total. | ||
Uruk Crossbow Troop (4U182)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer.
When you play this minion, you may place an | ||
Uruk Crossbowman (4C183)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer.
Archery: Exert this minion to make the Free Peoples player wound an unbound companion; this minion does not add to the minion archery total. | ||
Archer of Harad (11U67)
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Minion • Man | Archer. While you can spot a companion who has resistance 4 or less, the minion archery total is +1. | ||
Ferocious Haradrim (11U80)
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Minion • Man | Archer. Each time a Free Peoples character is killed, each of your | ||
Mûmak Rider (12R74)
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Minion • Man | Archer.
When you play this minion to a battleground or plains site, you may spot another | ||
Southron Murderer (13U98)
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Minion • Man | Archer.
While you can spot 4 or more culture tokens, this minion cannot take wounds except during skirmishes. | ||
Goblin Archer (1R172)
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Minion • Orc | Archer. While you can spot another | ||
Goblin Marksman (1C176)
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Minion • Orc | Archer. (Add 1 to the minion archery total.) | ||
Archer Commander (2R49)
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Minion • Orc | Archer. | ||
Goblin Bowman (2C60)
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Minion • Orc | Archer. | ||
Moria Archer Troop (2U67)
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Minion • Orc | Archer.
While you can spot another | ||
Desert Lord (4R219)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
Archery: Exert Desert Lord to exert a companion (except the Ring-bearer); Desert Lord does not add to the minion archery total. | ||
Elite Archer (4U232)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
Archery: Exert this minion to exert a companion (except the Ring-bearer); this minion does not add to the minion archery total. | ||
Southron Archer (4R245)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
While you can spot another Southron, the minion archery total is +1 for each site you control. | ||
Southron Bowman (4C248)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
Archery: Exert this minion to exert a companion (except the Ring-bearer); this minion does not add to the minion archery total. | ||
Southron Troop (4R256)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer. Ambush Assignment: Spot 7 companions to assign this minion to the Ring-bearer. The Free Peoples player may make you discard a companion (except the Ring-bearer) to prevent this. | ||
Southron Archer Legion (6R80)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer. Archery: Remove | ||
Southron Conquerer (7R164)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
While you can spot 6 twilight tokens, other While you can spot 9 twilight tokens, other | ||
Southron Intruder (7R165)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
While you can spot 3 twilight tokens, all While you can spot 6 twilight tokens, all While you can spot 9 twilight tokens, all | ||
Southron Marksmen (7R167)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer. Fierce. To play, spot a Archery: Exert this minion and remove a threat to make the minion archery total +1. | ||
Suzerain of Harad (7R170)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
While you have initiative, the Ring-bearer may not take wounds during the archery phase and this minion is ambush | ||
Haradrim Marksman (8U60)
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Minion • Man | Southron. Archer.
While you can spot another | ||
Orc Archer Troop (7U294)
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Minion • Orc | Archer.
If you have initiative, the minion archery total is +1 and Orc Archer Troop is fierce. | ||
Lurtz, Minion of the White Wizard (11R194)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer. Damage +1. Muster. (At the start of the regroup phase, you may discard a card from hand to draw a card.) Lurtz is strength +3 for each exhausted companion you can spot. | ||
Lurtz, Halfling Hunter (18R118)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer. Damage +1.
Maneuver: Spot 6 companions to make Lurtz fierce until the regroup phase. Assignment: Exert Lurtz twice to assign it to an unbound companion. The Free Peoples player may exert that companion or add a burden to prevent this. | ||
Lurtz, Resilient Captain (19P33)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer. Damage +1.
Response: If Lurtz is about to take a wound or be exerted, remove |
List of Cards that Interact with the Archer Keyword[edit]
Portrait | Card Name | Culture | Card Type | Game Text |
---|---|---|---|---|
Border Defenses (1C32)
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Event | Skirmish: Make an Elf strength +2 (or +4 if skirmishing an archer). | ||
Double Shot (1R38)
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Event | Archery: Spot an Elf archer companion to make the fellowship archery total +1. | ||
Elven Bow (1C41)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be an Elf.
Bearer is an archer. | ||
The Splendor of Their Banners (1R62)
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Condition | Tale. Bearer must be an Elf companion.
Archery: If bearer is an archer, exert bearer to make the fellowship archery total +1. | ||
The White Arrows of Lórien (1C68)
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Condition | Tale. Bearer must be an Elf companion.
Archery: If bearer is an archer, exert bearer to make an opponent discard 2 cards at random from hand. | ||
Dismay Our Enemies (2U17)
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Event | Response: If an Elf archer wins a skirmish, make an opponent choose a minion to discard. That opponent may remove | ||
Elven Bow (4U62)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be an Elf.
Bearer is an archer. | ||
Aegnor, Elven Escort (10U4)
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Companion • Elf | Skirmish: Exert Aegnor to make a minion skirmishing an unbound | ||
Legolas' Bow (11R23)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be an Elf.
Bearer is an Archer. If bearer is Legolas, each time you exert him to play an | ||
Orophin, Brother of Haldir (12C20)
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Companion • Elf | While Orophin is at a forest site and you can spot another Elf, Orophin is an archer. | ||
Rúmil, Brother of Haldir (12C22)
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Companion • Elf | Maneuver: Reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is an | ||
Standing Tall (13C25)
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Condition • Support Area | Skirmish: Discard this condition from play to make a minion skirmishing an Elf strength –1 for each of the following that is true: it is skirmishing a companion who has resistance 4 or more; it is wounded; you can spot an Elf archer; the fellowship is at a forest site. | ||
Take Up the Bow (13R26)
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Condition • Support Area | Toil 2. (For each | ||
Gildor Inglorion, of the House of Finrod (14R4)
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Companion • Elf | At the start of each archery phase, if you can spot more minions than companions, each of your companions is an archer. | ||
Dínendal, Mirkwood Archer (15R12)
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Follower | Aid – Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an Bearer is an archer. | ||
Elven Bow (15C13)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be an Elf.
Bearer is an archer. | ||
Haldir, Sentry of the Golden Wood (15U17)
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Companion • Elf | To play, spot an Elf.
While the fellowship is at a battleground site, Haldir is strength +2. While the fellowship is at a forest site, Haldir is an archer. | ||
Spied From Afar (15R24)
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Condition • Support Area | To play, spot 3 Elves.
While you can spot an Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an | ||
Rúmil, Silvan Elf (17S12)
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Companion • Elf | Hunter 1. (While skirmishing a non-hunter character, this character is strength +1.)
While you can spot a wounded minion, Rúmil is strength +1 and gains archer. Archery: Exert another | ||
Weapons of Lothlórien (17U14)
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Event • Archery | Spot an | ||
Let Fly the Darts of Lindon (V1_10)
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Condition | Tale.
Bearer must be a unique Archery: Exert bearer to make all Free Peoples archers lose archer and gain damage +1 until the regroup phase. | ||
Aragorn’s Bow (1R90)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be Aragorn.
He is an archer. Archery: Exert Aragorn to wound a minion; Aragorn does not add to the fellowship archery total. | ||
Faramir's Bow (4R118)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be Faramir.
He is an archer. Skirmish: If Faramir is skirmishing a Man or a roaming minion, exert Faramir to wound that minion. | ||
Aragorn’s Bow, Ranger's Longbow (15R56)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be Aragorn.
He is an archer. Archery: Add a threat to wound a minion with the lowest strength. | ||
Faramir's Bow, Ithilien Longbow (17R29)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be a If bearer is Faramir, he is an archer. The site number of each minion skirmishing a Skirmish: Exert bearer twice to exhaust a minion Faramir is skirmishing. | ||
Aragorn, Well-traveled Guide (19P12)
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Companion • Man | Fellowship. Ranger.
While the Ring-bearer is the only other companion you can spot, Aragorn is an archer, defender +1, and can take no more than 1 wound each skirmish. | ||
Their Arrows Enrage (1C141)
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Condition | To play, spot Saruman or an Uruk-hai. Plays to your support area.
Each archer companion and archer ally is strength -1. | ||
Cloud of Arrows (4C145)
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Event | Archery:
Exert an | ||
Ranged Commander (4R169)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Archer.
The twilight cost of each Archery: Exert Ranged Commander to make the Free Peoples player wound an unbound companion; this minion does not add to the minion archery total. | ||
Weapons of Isengard (4R211)
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Condition | Machine.
Shadow: Play an Archery: Remove 2 | ||
Fletcher of Harad (11R81)
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Minion • Man | While this minion is at a plains site, it is an Archer. While you can spot 6 companions, each | ||
Long Battle Bow (11C89)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be a Bearer is an Archer. When you play this possession, you may make the Free Peoples player exert his or her man. | ||
Howdah (13U94)
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Condition • Support Area | When you play this, add a At the start of the archery phase, you may discard this condition from play or remove 2 tokens from here to make the minion archery total +1. | ||
Voice of the Desert, Southron Troop (13R101)
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Minion • Man | To play, spot a While the fellowship is in region 1, each While the fellowship is in region 2, each | ||
Enraged Herdsman (15U79)
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Minion • Man | While you can spot more companions than minions, each | ||
Swarthy Hillman (15C93)
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Minion • Man | While you control a site, this minion is an archer. | ||
Corsair Bow (18U61)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be a Bearer is an archer. Each time a companion is killed during the archery phase, you may control a site. | ||
Bitter Hatred (1U164)
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Event | Archery: Spot a | ||
Pinned Down (1C192)
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Condition | While you can spot a | ||
Unfamiliar Territory (1C201)
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Event | Skirmish: Make a | ||
Archer Commander (2R49)
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Minion • Orc | Archer. | ||
Cave Troll's Chain (2R53)
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Possession | Bearer must be Cave Troll of Moria.
The Free Peoples player may choose for the archery phase to be skipped. Each time Cave Troll of Moria takes a wound during the archery phase, you may wound an archer companion. | ||
Moria Archer Troop (2U67)
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Minion • Orc | Archer.
While you can spot another | ||
Malice (3U79)
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Event | Archery: Spot a | ||
Gruesome Meal (18R83)
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Event • Skirmish | Make a companion skirmishing an | ||
Arrow From the South (4U216)
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Condition | Each time a companion or ally loses a skirmish involving a Archery: Heal a | ||
Rapid Fire (4R243)
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Event | Archery: Exert a | ||
Southron Bow (4R247)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be a Bearer is an archer. While you can spot another | ||
Raider Bow (7C155)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be a | ||
Troop of Haradrim (7C172)
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Minion • Man | Southron.
While you can spot 2 threats, this minion is an archer. While you can spot 3 threats, this minion is fierce. While you can spot 4 threats, this minion is damage +1. | ||
Corsair Ballista (8C52)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be a corsair.
While you have initiative, bearer is an archer and fierce. | ||
Relentless Charge (1U223)
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Event | Maneuver: Exert a Nazgûl to wound every archer companion. | ||
Gothmog, Morgul Commander (8R72)
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Minion • Orc | While you have initiative, each | ||
Morgul Banner-bearer (10C62)
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Minion • Orc | While the total number of other minions and twilight tokens is 3 or fewer, this minion is strength +3 and an archer. | ||
Mordor Enraged (1R254)
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Condition | Plays on a | ||
Orc Archer Troop (7U294)
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Minion • Orc | Archer.
If you have initiative, the minion archery total is +1 and Orc Archer Troop is fierce. | ||
Orc Ambush Troop (V1_48)
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Minion • Orc | Tracker.
While you can spot an exhausted companion, this minion is an archer. While you can spot 3 exhausted companions, this minion is strength +3. | ||
Army of Uruk-hai (11R177)
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Minion • Uruk-hai | Damage +1. Each Free Peoples archer who has resistance 5 or less does not add to the Free Peoples archery total. | ||
Isengard Siege Bow (11U191)
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Possession • Ranged Weapon | Bearer must be a While bearer is at a battleground site, it is an Archer. | ||
Cleaved (18R114)
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Condition • Support Area | Regroup: Exert an Archery: Spot an | ||
Brown Lands (1U357)
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Site | River. For each minion archer at Brown Lands, the minion archery total is +1 (limit +4). | ||
Great Chasm (2U118)
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Site | Underground. The twilight cost of the first |
Loaded Keywords | ||
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Numeric | Decipher | Damage + X • Defender + X • Ambush X • Hunter X • Toil X |
Non-numeric | Decipher | Aid • Archer • Enduring • Fierce • Lurker • Muster • [Roaming] • Sanctuary • Ring-bearer • Unhasty |
Item Class | Decipher | [Classless] • Support Area • Armor • Box • Bracers • Brooch • Cloak • Gauntlets • Hand Weapon • Helm • Mount • Palantír • Phial • Pipe • Ranged Weapon • Ring • Shield • Staff |