The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Set Review - Allies and Shards
(Aragorn, the Uniter | Javier Charro)
White | Blue | Black | Red | Green | Artifacts & Lands | Allied Colors and Shards | Enemy Colors and Wedges | cEDH | Reprints
A Legendary Host
I've been eagerly awaiting details on The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth ever since the set was first announced. Finally it's here, so let's dig right in and take a look at the multi-colored cards in the set!
Mythics
Tom Bombadil
Tom Bombadil is the Oldest, a being who has apparently been alive for as long as the continents of Middle-earth have existed. During his brief appearance in the novels, Tom Bombadil tells Frodo and his friends many stories, jumping directly from one to the next. This makes him a perfect commander for a deck focused around Sagas, since every time one ends you'll get to flip through your deck and put another directly into play.
Any Saga deck is going to be an enchantress deck. Thanks to Tom Bombadil's ability, Eidolon of Blossoms and Setessan Champion are particularly useful, but this deck can also take advantage of some other unique enchantress effects; for instance, with Sagas constantly hitting the graveyard, Femeref Enchantress is a potent draw engine. It also makes enchantment recursion especially important, so you can re-use the more powerful Sagas multiple times. Starfield of Nyx brings a Saga back from the graveyard every turn, while Dance of the Manse brings many Sagas back at once.
Reusing key Sagas is your primary path to victory, and Goldberry, River-Daughter and Hex Parasite both help you keep key Sagas in play. Goldberry can also add counters back onto Sagas to accelerate the story and flip into a new Saga at instant speed. Keeping a Saga around also helps hit the threshold you need for Tom Bombadil to have hexproof and indestructible, ensuring your gameplan is nearly impossible to interrupt.
Aragorn, the Uniter
Aragorn, the Uniter presents a vision of a king just before he has won his kingdom. In his quest to defend the city of Minas Tirith, this Aragorn has just braved a path haunted by the vengeful dead to destroy a fleet of pirates invading from the south. He then leads a fresh Army to reinforce the beleaguered defenders of the city and finally break the siege.
Joining the ranks of other powerful 'color matters' commanders, Aragorn, the Uniter is perhaps the most flexible. White and green spells create and buff creatures to win through combat, while red spells damage an opponent directly, and blue spells scry through your deck to tie it all together. Multicolored spells will have the most impact with Aragorn, the Uniter, triggering multiple abilities with each cast. There are a ton of excellent multicolored cards to choose from in Magic, whether you prefer creature- or spell-based strategies. In particular, Rienne, Angel of Rebirth will benefit creature decks, while Mana Cannons helps to pile on the damage if you prefer to cast many spells in a turn. No matter what approach you take, Inga and Esika and Cryptolith Rite are excellent mana fixing for this deck, letting the tokens that Aragorn, the Uniter creates tap for any color of mana.
Of course, you don't have to focus on multicolored spells at all. Adding an additional benefit to every spell you cast is a powerful ability on its own. Choose the best removal and draw options without black, and Aragorn, the Uniter will build an Army of tokens while fixing your draws and pushing life totals lower and lower. Use Divine Visitation to turn those Soldiers into Angels and Ephemerate with Eternal Witness to never run out of spells to cast. If you want to aim for a higher power level, Food Chain and Squee, the Immortal let you deal infinite damage to your opponents.
Whatever you want to accomplish, Aragorn, the Uniter can help get you there.
Aragorn and Arwen, Wed
This version of Aragorn shows him after Sauron is defeated. Following in the footsteps of his distant ancestors, he marries an Elf, Arwen, Mortal Queen, and the two lead Gondor into an era of peace and prosperity. Aragorn and Arwen, Wed's abilities represent their strong leadership and care for the peoples of Middle-earth.
Aragorn and Arwen, Wed, in classic Selesnya fashion, reward you for going as wide as possible with creatures. You can lean into a particular creature type with Adeline, Resplendent Cathar or Elvish Warmaster, or just care about tokens with March of the Multitudes. Building around devotion, with Reverent Hoplite, is also a potent direction to take the deck. Attacking with Aragorn and Arwen, Wed and then blinking them doubles the number of +1/+1 counters and life you get in a turn.
The life gained from this commander can also supercharge your attacking creatures. Archangel of Thune may actually be outpaced by Nykthos Paragon in this deck, while Blossoming Bogbeast takes full advantage of a battlefield full of tokens. If you go the blink route, Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward and Armorcraft Judge are excellent additions as well.
Arwen, Mortal Queen
Arwen and Aragorn's relationship is a mirror of the love story which appears on Tale of Tinúviel, so it's only appropriate that her abilities are similar to the Saga. You can reuse Arwen, Mortal Queen's ability to protect your other creatures in two ways. Blinking her will reset the indestructible counter, but Proliferating her indestructible counters avoids any gap in your defenses at all. Evolution Sage is perhaps the best way to do this, especially in conjunction with bounce lands and Exploration effects. Focusing on Landfall effects also gives you key creatures to protect with all those indestructible counters. Rampaging Baloths and Avenger of Zendikar are both must-answer threats. Emeria Shepherd is also a powerful engine, especially in conjunction with Elspeth Conquers Death and Angelic Renewal.
Sauron, the Dark Lord
Sauron, the Dark Lord appears to depict Sauron at the moment of his temporary defeat by Isildur, moments after the Fall of Gil-galad. This would explain his powerful ward ability, as well as his overall focus on the Amass mechanic. With Sauron, the Dark Lord as your commander, your Orc Army grows every time your opponents cast a spell. Then, every time that Army deals combat damage to a player you'll discard your hand and draw four cards. You may not be refilling your hand completely, but it will ensure you'll usually have an answer when you need it, and because Sauron, the Dark Lord is difficult to get rid of, you'll almost always have an Army token to attack with. The Black Gate, Filth, and Archetype of Aggression will all be key effects to make sure your token connects.
In addition to keeping your hand full, Sauron, the Dark Lord also fills your graveyard, perfect for reanimator decks with Living End or Storm decks that want a big Underworld Breach turn. It's also worth remembering that the Ring tempts you whenever an Army deals damage, so you could build a deck around the Nazgûl as well.
Sauron, the Lidless Eye
This representation of Sauron is how he appears throughout most of the Lord of the Rings. Largely bereft of power, Sauron, the Lidless Eye operates through minions and pawns, turning allies against each other. In conjunction with Feign Death effects and sacrifice outlets, Sauron, the Lidless Eye helms an effective theft deck. Steal the best creature in play, use it for your own purposes, and then sacrifice it before it can be used against you. I'm also intrigued by Sauron's activated ability. Giving all your creatures two extra power is powerful, and two damage to each opponent adds up over time. He doesn't make tokens himself, but I could see Sauron, the Lidless Eye at the head of a Goblin deck as a finisher and outlet for infinite mana.
Saruman of Many Colors
Saruman was initially the most powerful of the Istari, charged with searching Middle-earth for the weakened Sauron and aiding in his destruction. Saruman of Many Colors depicts the character just after he falls to the temptations of The One Ring and betrays his original mission. Instead, he joins the ranks of Firja, Judge of Valor and The Council of Four as a commander that cares about the second spell cast in a turn. Specifically, Saruman of Many Colors cares about the mana value of the second spell you cast each turn, as that is what determines what instant, sorcery, or enchantment you can exile from among the six cards he makes your opponents mill. Saruman of Many Colors naturally works well alongside Rise of the Dark Realms and Shadow of the Enemy, which steals all of the cards from your opponents' graveyards. Whitemane Lion helps make sure you always have two spells to cast a turn, while As Foretold ensures you never run out of mana. Spells that reduce their own cost, like Dig Through Time or Into the Story, help you to cast bigger spells from your opponents without investing that much mana yourself.
Rares
Aragorn, Company Leader
For our third Aragorn card, we see him after Gandalf falls in the Mines of Moria. He is leading the Fellowship but still unsure of how to actually enter Mordor and approach Mount Doom. He has, however, not given up hope. Very appropriately for a leader, Aragorn, Company Leader is at his best when you have other creatures in play. Not only will he buff your team with whatever counters you place on him, you need other creatures to choose as your Ringbearer for Aragorn to gain ability counters and spread those same abilities amongst the rest of the creatures you control. Aragorn, Company Leader fits nicely into a deck alongside Arwen, Mortal Queen. As part of a deck, he doubles the number of ability counters Kathril, Aspect Warper puts on your creatures.
Gimli, Mournful Avenger
Gimli was the only member of the Fellowship who wanted to visit Moria, for his cousin Balin had set out to re-take the old Dwarf kingdom years ago. Unfortunately, the mines were once again overrun with orcs, and Balin was long dead. Gruul isn't usually an aristocrats color pair, but Gimli, Mournful Avenger is a solid payoff for sacrificing tokens. He quickly threatens to win via commander damage while also clearing potential blockers out of the way. Awakening Zone and From Beyond provide a steady stream of creatures that sacrifice themselves, while Conduit of Worlds lets you retrieve fallen creatures every turn. Tendershoot Dryad tends to attract a lot of attention, so being able to replay it easily ensures you stay in the game.
Faramir, Prince of Ithilien
Faramir, Prince of Ithilien shows us Faramir after the defeat of Sauron and Aragorn's coronation as king of Gondor. He helps bring peace to the lands that had been overrun by Orcs. As your commander, Faramir, Prince of Ithilien also rewards you for bringing peace to your Commander games. But if your opponents are unwilling to cooperate, he's still capable of mustering force to answer any threat. At four mana, you're likely to be able to cast Faramir, Prince of Ithilien before all of your opponents are able to attack, and there are plenty of tools to turn three 1/1 tokens into a formidable retaliatory force. Cathars' Crusade snowballs very quickly, but Divine Visitation is easier to track and puts more power in play initially. Faramir also fits neatly into existing politics and forced combat decks. Pramikon, Sky Rampart makes it easy to know who can and can't attack you.
Pippin, Guard of the Citadel
In preparation for the siege of Minas Tirith, Pippin joins the Citadel Guard and ultimately saves Faramir from the madness of his father, Denethor, Ruling Steward. Pippin, Guard of the Citadel is our second take on a legendary Mother of Runes, after Skrelv, Defector Mite. Pippin is excellent in Aragorn, the Uniter decks built around legendary creatures, or Jeskai Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker decks. Pippin, Guard of the Citadel's ability is also harder to work around than Mother of Runes, since a random colorless creature or removal spell in different colors won't ruin your day. If you did want to make Pippin your commander, he makes valuable creatures, like Serra Ascendant and Faerie Mastermind, hard to deal with, especially with Drumbellower and White Plume Adventurer to untap him every turn.
Samwise Gamgee
Samwise Gamgee depicts Sam after he returns home, reading the story of his adventure with Frodo Baggins to his children. Samwise Gamgee is a natural leader for a Selesnya blink deck. Alternately, you can add in new Food support, like Rosie Cotton of South Lane (Sam's wife), Peregrin Took, and Galadriel, Gift-Giver to sacrifice and revive powerful historic cards again and again. Loran of the Third Path, Elspeth Conquers Death, and Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines are powerful interactive cards, while Commander's Sphere, Solemn Simulacrum, and Emiel the Blessed ensure you never run out of cards or mana.
Doors of Durin
Although Dwarves and Elves have often been at odds in Middle-earth, Moria was once a bastion of trade between the two. Appropriately, Doors of Durin benefits you if you control a creature of each type, but is still powerful whether you control either, or neither. Lurking Predators is an appealing card, but also one that players quickly learn is unreliable. Doors of Durin improves on it in several ways, not least of which is costing one mana less. Perhaps most importantly, however, is the ability to scry before revealing your top card. Having a choice between effectively three cards makes this much more likely to hit than Lurking Predators. Sneaking Angrath's Marauders, Gishath, Sun's Avatar, or Quartzwood Crasher into play mid-combat will throw even the best defense into disarray.
Shagrat, Loot Bearer
Shagrat is one of two Orc captains who finds Frodo after he's been stung by Shelob, Child of Ungoliant. Of the two, Shagrat insists on properly delivering all of Frodo's belongings, including his Mithril Coat, to Barad-dûr. Shagrat, Loot Bearer is similar to Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist, ignoring the equip cost of only one Equipment whenever he attacks. But where Ardenn can thrust Equipment upon your opponents' creatures, Shagrat, Loot Bearer is eager to snatch Equipment from your opponents' creatures. Most often this will just be removing shroud from a creature by borrowing Lightning Greaves, but that is a devastating effect. Shagrat also lets you ignore the equip costs of Colossus Hammer, Argentum Armor, and Kaldra Compleat, making him a surprisingly fast Equipment deck.
The Balrog, Flame of Udûn
In the Mines of Moria, Gandalf the Grey faces off against a Balrog, a demon of shadow and flame. The Balrog, Flame of Udûn shows that initial confrontation. While a five-mana 7/7 with trample would normally be impressive, The Balrog, Flame of Udûn is shockingly easy to get rid of, especially as legendary creatures become more and more common. Keep an eye on The Balrog, Flame of Udûn though. Any future cards that play off the bottom of your library could make it very good.
The Balrog, Durin's Bane
After falling with Gandalf to the roots of the mountains, then climbing to the peaks of the Misty Mountains, The Balrog, Durin's Bane shows us the Balrog's full power. Thanks to a plethora of Treasure-generating cards, this version of the Balrog is easy to cast and even re-cast despite costing seven mana. Haste allows it to get in quickly, and your opponents will often have to consider blocking with their commander or nothing at all. They could also block with their Ringbearer, if the Ring has tempted them, and some decks will have plenty of legendary creatures to choose from but you'll likely not mind getting rid of those anyway, and get rid of them you shall. Even if The Balrog, Durin's Bane can't deal enough combat damage, its death trigger is guaranteed to take something out of play. If you sacrifice the Balrog yourself, you've already paid for half of its commander tax that turn. Phyrexian Altar and Genesis Chamber make it possible to continually re-cast The Balrog to keep all creatures and artifacts out of play. Pitiless Plunderer also makes looping the Balrog possible. Add in Terror of the Peaks to win, and Flamekin Herald to find it, and this could be a powerful deck.
Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire
After having his staff broken and being banished from Isengard, Saruman heads north to take his revenge on hobbits as Sharkey. He claims all of the lands and crops of the Shire for himself and rules through bitter force. Besides turning off fetchlands, it's difficult to say how impactful Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire will be in the commander. He shuts off Windbrisk Heights and Mosswort Bridge, and he makes it impossible to combo with Dark Depths, but that's just about it. Donate lands is a possibility, but why not just play Manascape Refractor? I do suspect, however, that there is something to be done with Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire and Command Beacon if you're into convoluted and unnecessary combos.
Uncommons & Commons
Strider, Ranger of the North
Our fourth, and final, Aragorn card shows him at the very start of the story. He is known as Strider, for little is known of him except that he has travelled the width and breadth of Middle-earth. Thus, Strider, Ranger of the North helps your creatures to find hidden paths through new lands, setting ambushes for your enemies. Especially compared to the other Aragorn cards in this set, Strider, Ranger of the North's ability may seem humble, but green has a surprising number of ways to give your creatures deathtouch, which interacts famously well with first strike. Ohran Frostfang, Bow of Nylea, and Saryth, the Viper's Fang all give your whole team deathtouch when they attack. This makes Managorger Hydra and other big tramplers basically unblockable. Give Strider a shot if you're looking for a fresh take on Gruul Landfall.
Frodo Baggins
In a desperate race towards the safety of Rivendell, Frodo faces the Nazgûl at the Fords of Bruinen, barely escaping alive. For any deck that benefits from the temptations of the Ring, such as Aragorn, Company Leader, Frodo Baggins is an excellent way to be tempted reliably. Outside of that, this version of Frodo doesn't seem to do much in Commander.
Butterbur, Bree Innkeeper
As the name suggests, Butterbur is the rather forgetful innkeeper of the Prancing Pony. Just like any respectable innkeeper, Butterbur, Bree Innkeeper is a shoe-in for any deck built around Food tokens. A steady stream of artifacts is impactful, and the incidental life gained from Food has been relevant in my games of Commander more than once.
Gwaihir the Windlord
Gwaihir is the lord of the giant eagles of Middle-earth, and he helps Gandalf escape captivity at the hands of Saruman of Many Colors. While Gwaihir the Windlord may not be Kangee, Sky Warden, if you like Birds in Magic he's still worth considering. Vigilance is an oft-underrated ability for aggressive decks, and Gwaihir the Windlord is easy to cast. There are a surprising number of good Birds in Azorius as well, with even more if you include Gwaihir in your Bant or Jeskai deck.
Prince Imrahil the Fair
Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth is Aragorn's other top counsellor and War Marshall, along with Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, and a major reason Minas Tirith survives the Witch-King's assault. Prince Imrahil the Fair fits nicely into The Council of Four and Gavi, Nest Warden, two decks that care about when players draw their second card.
The Mouth of Sauron
The Mouth of Sauron is, unsurprisingly, Sauron's chief Herald. He commands the armies of Mordor in their final clash against the forces of Gondor and Rohan. The Mouth of Sauron is an Advisor, so his mill effect is doubled by Bruvac the Grandiloquent. You can also easily trigger it repeatedly with Feign Death effects, quickly building a large Army token. This may not seem relevant for a mill deck, but Phenax, God of Deception loves a big creature, and moving those counters around with The Ozolith makes Towering-Wave Mystic, Mindcrank, and Crosstown Courier that much more dangerous.
Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain
Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain leads a band of reinforcements to the Uruk-hai taking Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took back to Isengard as they cross the fields of Rohan. He also serves to reinforce any Army you have in play. He also fits into more standard Goblin decks, although they don't tend to care about +1/+1 counters.
Uglúk of the White Hand
Uglúk of the White Hand was the leader of the Uruk-hai who attacked the Fellowship at Amon Hen. He kills a Moria goblin during their return trip to Isengard, who the Uruk-hai then eat. While his abilities are similar to Juri, Master of the Revue, Uglúk of the White Hand is much less impressive. Without a damage effect of his own he is less useful as a Fling commander, although he would be a solid addition to Goblin-focused builds of Korvold, Fae-Cursed King and in some Ziatora, the Incinerator decks.
Friendly Rivalry
Depicting the contest between Gimli and Legolas at the Battle of Helms Deep, Friendly Rivalry is an excellent removal spell for Gruul decks. Your creatures are already likely to be bigger than your opponents', so even just an additional one-sided fight effect should be good enough. Letting two of your creatures team up is even better, since you'll usually have your commander and another creature in play.
Ringsight
Putting on The One Ring pulls you into the world of the Ringwraiths, where you can see them, but they can also see you. Because your Ringbearer is always legendary, Ringsight can never actually miss, and because most of the cards in your deck will share a color with your commander, Ringsight is almost always going to be an extra Grim Tutor. You have to reveal the card you search for, but that's a small price to pay.
And that's all for this part of the multi-color Tales of Middle-earth set review. What cards are you most excited for? Stay tuned to both Commander's Herald and EDHREC as we round out the set reviews tomorrow.
