Archer

Perhaps the most infamous archer in the game, Greenleaf has the ability to sacrifice his normal archery contribution to directly wound a minion of your choice․

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

From the Comprehensive Rules:

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

Portrait	Card Name	Culture	Card Type	Game Text
	Legolas, Greenleaf (1R50)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. Archery: Exert Legolas to wound a minion; Legolas does not add to the fellowship archery total.
	Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood (1U51)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. While skirmishing a Nazgûl, Legolas is strength +3.
	Orophin, Lorien Bowman (1U56)	Elven	Ally • Home 6 • Elf	Archer. Archery: Exert Orophin to wound an Uruk-hai.
	Rúmil, Elven Protector (1U57)	Elven	Ally • Home 6 • Elf	Archer. Archery: Exert Rúmil to wound an Orc.
	Calaglin, Elf of Lorien (3U10)	Elven	Ally • Home 6 • Elf	Archer. Regroup: Exert Calaglin to wound a minion.
	Dínendal, Silent Scout (3U12)	Elven	Ally • Home 6 • Elf	Archer. Regroup: Exert Dínendal to remove .
	Legolas, Son of Thranduil (3P121)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. While Legolas is at a river or forest, add 1 to the fellowship archery total.
	Legolas, Dauntless Hunter (4R73)	Elven	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)	Elven	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)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. Each time Legolas wins a skirmish, you may heal a Dwarf companion or another Elf companion.
	Legolas, Fearless Marksman (7R25)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. Archery: If you have initiative, discard 4 cards from hand to wound a minion.
	Legolas, Nimble Warrior (7C26)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. Archery: If you cannot spot a threat, add a threat to make the fellowship archery total +1.
	Legolas, Elven Stalwart (8C10)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. While you can spot 3 wounded minions, each minion skirmishing Legolas is strength –3.
	Legolas, of the Grey Company (13R18)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Archer. At the start of each archery phase, you may reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is an card, wound a minion.
	Legolas, of the Woodland Realm (15R19)	Elven	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)	Elven	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)	Elven	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)	Gondor	Companion • Man	Archer. Knight. To play, spot 3 companions. While you can spot a fortification, Garrison of Gondor is defender +1. ​

List of Minions with Archer

Portrait	Card Name	Culture	Card Type	Game Text
	Lurtz, Servant of Isengard (1R127)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Archer. Damage +1. Maneuver: Spot another Uruk-hai to make Lurtz fierce until the regroup phase.
	Orthanc Assassin (1R131)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Archer. Damage +1.
	Band of Uruk Bowmen (4U138)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Archer. Damage +1. While you control a site, the minion archery total is +1.
	Elite Crossbowmen (4R150)	Isengard	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)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Archer. The twilight cost of each archer is -1. 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)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Archer. When you play this minion, you may place an token on a machine.
	Uruk Crossbowman (4C183)	Isengard	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)	Men	Minion • Man	Archer. While you can spot a companion who has resistance 4 or less, the minion archery total is +1.
	Ferocious Haradrim (11U80)	Men	Minion • Man	Archer. Each time a Free Peoples character is killed, each of your minions is strength +3 until the regroup phase.
	Mûmak Rider (12R74)	Men	Minion • Man	Archer. When you play this minion to a battleground or plains site, you may spot another minion to discard a possession from play.
	Southron Murderer (13U98)	Men	Minion • Man	Archer. While you can spot 4 or more culture tokens, this minion cannot take wounds except during skirmishes.
	Goblin Archer (1R172)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Archer. While you can spot another Orc, the fellowship archery total is -6.
	Goblin Marksman (1C176)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Archer. (Add 1 to the minion archery total.)
	Archer Commander (2R49)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Archer. Each other archer is strength +2.
	Goblin Bowman (2C60)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Archer.
	Moria Archer Troop (2U67)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Archer. While you can spot another archer, add 1 to the minion archery total.
	Desert Lord (4R219)	Raider	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)	Raider	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)	Raider	Minion • Man	Southron. Archer. While you can spot another Southron, the minion archery total is +1 for each site you control.
	Southron Bowman (4C248)	Raider	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)	Raider	Minion • Man	Southron. Archer. Ambush . To play, spot a Southron. 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)	Raider	Minion • Man	Southron. Archer. Archery: Remove to add 1 to the minion archery total for each companion over 4 (limit +4).
	Southron Conquerer (7R164)	Raider	Minion • Man	Southron. Archer. While you can spot 6 twilight tokens, other Men are damage +1. While you can spot 9 twilight tokens, other Men are damage +1.
	Southron Intruder (7R165)	Raider	Minion • Man	Southron. Archer. While you can spot 3 twilight tokens, all Men are strength +1. While you can spot 6 twilight tokens, all Men are strength +1. While you can spot 9 twilight tokens, all Men are strength +1.
	Southron Marksmen (7R167)	Raider	Minion • Man	Southron. Archer. Fierce. To play, spot a Man. Archery: Exert this minion and remove a threat to make the minion archery total +1.
	Suzerain of Harad (7R170)	Raider	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)	Raider	Minion • Man	Southron. Archer. While you can spot another Man, Ring-bound companions cannot take archery wounds.
	Orc Archer Troop (7U294)	Sauron	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)	Uruk-hai	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)	Uruk-hai	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)	Uruk-hai	Minion • Uruk-hai	Archer. Damage +1. Response: If Lurtz is about to take a wound or be exerted, remove (or exert another Uruk-hai) to prevent that wound or exertion. ​

List of Cards that Interact with the Archer Keyword

Portrait	Card Name	Culture	Card Type	Game Text
	Border Defenses (1C32)	Elven	Event	Skirmish: Make an Elf strength +2 (or +4 if skirmishing an archer).
	Double Shot (1R38)	Elven	Event	Archery: Spot an Elf archer companion to make the fellowship archery total +1.
	Elven Bow (1C41)	Elven	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be an Elf. Bearer is an archer.
	The Splendor of Their Banners (1R62)	Elven	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)	Elven	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)	Elven	Event	Response: If an Elf archer wins a skirmish, make an opponent choose a minion to discard. That opponent may remove to prevent this.
	Elven Bow (4U62)	Elven	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be an Elf. Bearer is an archer.
	Aegnor, Elven Escort (10U4)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Skirmish: Exert Aegnor to make a minion skirmishing an unbound companion strength –1 for each archer you spot.
	Legolas' Bow (11R23)	Elven	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be an Elf. Bearer is an Archer. If bearer is Legolas, each time you exert him to play an condition or event, you may heal him (limit once per phase).
	Orophin, Brother of Haldir (12C20)	Elven	Companion • Elf	While Orophin is at a forest site and you can spot another Elf, Orophin is an archer.
	Rúmil, Brother of Haldir (12C22)	Elven	Companion • Elf	Maneuver: Reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is an card, Rúmil is an archer until the regroup phase.
	Standing Tall (13C25)	Elven	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)	Elven	Condition • Support Area	Toil 2. (For each character you exert when playing this, its twilight cost is –2.) Archery: Discard this from play and spot 3 Elf archers to discard a minion from play. Each of those archers loses archer and cannot gain archer.
	Gildor Inglorion, of the House of Finrod (14R4)	Elven	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)	Elven	Follower	Aid – . (At the start of the maneuver phase, you may add to transfer this to a companion.) Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an  companion, exert bearer. Bearer is an archer.
	Elven Bow (15C13)	Elven	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be an Elf. Bearer is an archer.
	Haldir, Sentry of the Golden Wood (15U17)	Elven	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)	Elven	Condition • Support Area	To play, spot 3 Elves. While you can spot an follower, the twilight cost of each Shadow possession is +1. Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an companion strength +1 for each archer companion you can spot.
	Rúmil, Silvan Elf (17S12)	Elven	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 hunter and add a threat to wound a minion.
	Weapons of Lothlórien (17U14)	Elven	Event • Archery	Spot an archer and add a threat to wound a minion (or add 3 threats to exert 3 minions).
	Let Fly the Darts of Lindon (V1_10)	Elven	Condition	Tale. Bearer must be a unique companion. Archery: Exert bearer to make all Free Peoples archers lose archer and gain damage +1 until the regroup phase.
	Aragorn’s Bow (1R90)	Gondor	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)	Gondor	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)	Gondor	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)	Gondor	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a ranger. If bearer is Faramir, he is an archer. The site number of each minion skirmishing a ranger is +1. Skirmish: Exert bearer twice to exhaust a minion Faramir is skirmishing.
	Aragorn, Well-traveled Guide (19P12)	Gondor	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)	Isengard	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)	Isengard	Event	Archery: Exert an archer to make the minion archery total +1 and the fellowship archery total -1.
	Ranged Commander (4R169)	Isengard	Minion • Uruk-hai	Archer. The twilight cost of each archer is -1. 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)	Isengard	Condition	Machine. Shadow: Play an archer to place an token on this card. Archery: Remove 2 tokens from this card to make the minion archery total +2. Discard this condition.
	Fletcher of Harad (11R81)	Men	Minion • Man	While this minion is at a plains site, it is an Archer. While you can spot 6 companions, each minion is an Archer.
	Long Battle Bow (11C89)	Men	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a minion. Bearer is an Archer. When you play this possession, you may make the Free Peoples player exert his or her man.
	Howdah (13U94)	Men	Condition • Support Area	When you play this, add a token here for each archer you spot. 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)	Men	Minion • Man	To play, spot a minion. While the fellowship is in region 1, each minion cannot take wounds. While the fellowship is in region 2, each minion is an archer. While the fellowship is in region 3, each minion is fierce.
	Enraged Herdsman (15U79)	Men	Minion • Man	While you can spot more companions than minions, each hunter is strength +2 and is an archer.
	Swarthy Hillman (15C93)	Men	Minion • Man	While you control a site, this minion is an archer.
	Corsair Bow (18U61)	Men	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a minion. Bearer is an archer. Each time a companion is killed during the archery phase, you may control a site.
	Bitter Hatred (1U164)	Moria	Event	Archery: Spot a archer to wound an Elf.
	Pinned Down (1C192)	Moria	Condition	While you can spot a archer, the fellowship archery total is -1.
	Unfamiliar Territory (1C201)	Moria	Event	Skirmish: Make a Orc strength +2 (or +4 if skirmishing an archer).
	Archer Commander (2R49)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Archer. Each other archer is strength +2.
	Cave Troll's Chain (2R53)	Moria	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)	Moria	Minion • Orc	Archer. While you can spot another archer, add 1 to the minion archery total.
	Malice (3U79)	Moria	Event	Archery: Spot a Orc and a Orc to wound an archer.
	Gruesome Meal (18R83)	Orc	Event • Skirmish	Make a companion skirmishing an minion strength -2 (or -3 if he or she is an archer).
	Arrow From the South (4U216)	Raider	Condition	Each time a companion or ally loses a skirmish involving a Man, you may place a token here. Archery: Heal a archer for each token here. Discard this condition.
	Rapid Fire (4R243)	Raider	Event	Archery: Exert a archer to make the minion archery total +1 for each burden (limit +5).
	Southron Bow (4R247)	Raider	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a Man. Bearer is an archer. While you can spot another Man, the minion archery total is +1.
	Raider Bow (7C155)	Raider	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a Man. Bearer is an archer and Ambush .
	Troop of Haradrim (7C172)	Raider	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)	Raider	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a corsair. While you have initiative, bearer is an archer and fierce.
	Relentless Charge (1U223)	Ringwraith	Event	Maneuver: Exert a Nazgûl to wound every archer companion.
	Gothmog, Morgul Commander (8R72)	Ringwraith	Minion • Orc	While you have initiative, each minion is an archer.
	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.
	Mordor Enraged (1R254)	Sauron	Condition	Plays on a minion. Shadow: Exert bearer to add for each archer companion.
	Orc Archer Troop (7U294)	Sauron	Minion • Orc	Archer. If you have initiative, the minion archery total is +1 and Orc Archer Troop is fierce.
	Orc Ambush Troop (V1_48)	Sauron	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)	Uruk-hai	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)	Uruk-hai	Possession • Ranged Weapon	Bearer must be a minion. While bearer is at a battleground site, it is an Archer.
	Cleaved (18R114)	Uruk-hai	Condition • Support Area	Regroup: Exert an hunter twice to transfer this condition from your support area to an unbound companion. Archery: Spot an minion to transfer this condition from your support area to a Free Peoples archer.
	Brown Lands (1U357)	Site	Site	River. For each minion archer at Brown Lands, the minion archery total is +1 (limit +4).
	Great Chasm (2U118)	Site	Site	Underground. The twilight cost of the first archer played each Shadow phase is -2. ​

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