LotR TCG Card Strategies - #2 (The Sequel)

Uruk-Hai Rampage

"So what?" you say? "It lets them fight twice. I'd rather just play another Uruk-hai and try to put two Minions against Frodo, and have a little more Vitality to soak up Archery fire." Well, in many ways, making an Uruk Fierce is better than playing a second Uruk.

This card has different strategies depending on when it's played. In the early-game, it's better than a second Uruk-hai because it's cheaper. All the Uruks roam until Site 5, so they cost 4 at minimum, up to 6 for the bigger ones. You may not have enough Twilight at those early sites to play another Uruk, but you can use just (3) to make one Uruk fight twice. In the late-game, you are more limited by the number of cards in your hand than by the Twilight Pool. 18 Twilight does you no good if you only hold 4 Uruks. Being able to remove (3) to re-use an Uruk makes your army a lot more powerful at the last sites.

The timing of the Response can be useful. Perhaps you can't afford a second Uruk in the Shadow Phase, but there may be enough Twilight for using Rampage after the opponent plays Intimidate or Border Defenses.

There's also a card advantage. You can always get this card in play quickly, even if you can't use it. If you draw an Uruk you can't afford, you have to hold it in hand or discard it. Playing a Rampage, even if you won't use it that turn, lets you draw an extra card at the end of your turn. Always remember: the more you play, the more you can draw. It's just as easy to play a second copy, so you can get a useless card out of your hand quickly without a limit of discarding just one card a turn.

What could go wrong? Well, you have to win the first Skirmish to use the ability. But if you lose the first Skirmish, your Uruk is probably dead anyways, so that's not a real drawback. If the opponent does happen to have one really large Companion who could take down your Fierce Minion (like Aragorn with his Sword) then just save the (3) and hope to use it at the next Site. The only real annoyance to watch out for is Hobbit Stealth, because you don't actually win that Skirmish.