{"ops":[{"insert":"A Middle-Earth Immersion Deck"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe Lord of the Rings is probably the place where what I call \"immersion decks\" started. Tolkien wrote such a watertight and thought-through world that even today, his setting is still obsessed over. This deck focused around "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dáin of the Ancient Halls"}},{"insert":" contains cards from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit sets exclusively. The deck feels like it belongs together, and runs well without being overwhelmingly powerful. Playing decks like these is a great way to help balance the power levels between players. I highly recommend building this deck or one like it and having it as a more creative deck that fills similar roles as a precon does.\n\nThe game plan for this deck is to spend some early turns ramping and tossing out some early dwarves. We want to cast Dain on turn 4, or 3 if we can get a sol ring, because he is big enough to be safe on his hasty attack and the trigger to burn our opponents is going to put pressure on that just ramps up. Our commander will be able to deal a lot of damage, but cannot overcome a strong blocker without a few specific cards. We want to end our opponents before their value engines turn into a sturdy board state, or luck into a card that can break a stalemate and let us win the day for Durin's-Folk!\n\nCards we want to see on turns 1-4: (Besides mana rocks)"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dáin, Lord of the Iron Hills"}},{"insert":" - Good protection as Dáin makes us look threatening.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fíli and Kíli, Joyous"}},{"insert":" - Put this out and use it for a dwarf, then Dáin on the next turn.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Glóin the Mighty // Easy Pickings"}},{"insert":" - Guarantees Dáin on the next turn.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fíli the Pathfinder"}},{"insert":" - Dáin arrives on the next turn and makes a dwarf and a bigger burn trigger.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gimli of the Glittering Caves"}},{"insert":" - A great defender from hate against Dáin.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kíli the Resourceful"}},{"insert":" - Good card draw, which is badly needed.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Horn of the Mark"}},{"insert":" - We need card draw and the discount helps.\n\nCards that help make the deck work without Dáin:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Eagles Are Coming!"}},{"insert":" - Board wipe insurance.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Unbreakable Formation"}},{"insert":" - Board wipe insurance.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ori, Plate Stacker"}},{"insert":" - Slow opponents way down.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vanquisher's Banner"}},{"insert":" - Card draw and giving the dwarves a little presence.\n\nCards that work really well with Dáin: "},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bifur, Melodic Rider"}},{"insert":" - Dáin burns twice\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Whispersilk Cloak"}},{"insert":" - Dáin needs safety from removal and blockers.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Call for Aid"}},{"insert":" - Pick a player you can easily beat and get rid of the real competition.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver"}},{"insert":" - Dáin loves trample and treasures will be needed to recast him.\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"An Unexpected Party // At the Door"}},{"insert":" - Make dwarves, pump dwarves\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shared Animosity"}},{"insert":" - Pump dwarves\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Taunt from the Rampart"}},{"insert":" - Even your opponents' life totals out and let them kill each other, Dáin should be able to burn the last life away aftwer.\n\nThese notable cards are probably what we are hoping to see in each game, the rest of the deck is largely staples that fit around our archetypes and pretty straightforward. I hope you feel like this deck is worth playing or playing against! I appreciate having some vulnerabilities but also some backbreaking synergy.\n"}]}