Quick smash & grab 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

Intro

This deck was born from a desire to see how to use Quickbeam. The first idea most people have with him is to pair him up with Elrond and Wellinghall preservers for tons of readying. But while Quickbeam benefits from this arrangement, he has nothing to offer Elrond, who is better off looking for Vilya. Besides, even if you can ready him a lot, Quickbeam is no Boromir. Without restricted attachments and with only 1 defense he cannot solo combat for you no matter how many times you ready him.

Quickbeam can do two things: quest and stomp on enemies. So instead of thinking about how to ready him many times I tried to make a deck that uses his double action to quest and keep the staging area clear of enemies during the first few turns. This gives you a relatively quick start.

To get the most of that is by using side quests. And so this deck was created: quest like crazy, kill enemies during the first two turns and survive to clear the first quest. Use that momentum for another side quest and now you should move into the mid game with a relative clean staging area, plenty of card draw and plenty of board presence.

Which side quests to start with?

In solo I reccommend Scout Ahead. By stacking the encounter deck for whatever you are ready for (and this deck can deal with some problems much easier than others) you will be able to build up fairly safely for the next two turns. Bonus if you can stack the deck to minimise threat and clear more sidequests. In multiplayer it depends on the other player and what he/she needs. If Gather Information or The Storm Comes benefits their deck by a lot, do that instead.

What to look for in my opening hand?

Entangling Nets is the ultimate Quickbeam card. It let's you take an undefended attack and decreases the enemies defense enough for you Quickbeam to stomp him.

Quick strike is another beast of a card with Quickbeam provided the enemies in this quest have 4 total defense/hitpoints. Starting the game by killing an Umbar Sentry, then questing, then readying again to kill another enemy is very satisfying.

Feint is another given in a deck that starts with no dedicated healers but wants to engage enemies.

Ent Draught gives Quickbeam another turn of 2 actions which is useful in the beginning. A second one let's you take more undefended damage on Thurindir.

The Long Defeat can undo undefended attack damage and ready-damage or draw cards.

The Road Goes Ever On ensures follow up quests.

East Road Rangers are the ticket to massive questing in the early game. Try to play one on turn 2.

Strider's Path helps clear side quests in turn 1 or 2.

How to play the opening

Quest with everybody, take undefended damage on Thurindir and stomp the enemy with Quickbeam . Dúnedain Hunter can be used to build up a board state and can defend against his own enemy while Quickbeam kills it. Then you have 7 attack power. (Use this only if you have no other enemy to deal with or you need the extra attack power for an enemy in the staging area.)

You will take damage, you do not have to heal that yet. Focus on minimising threat in the staging area so you can grab those side quests!

Use 1 Lore resource during turn 1 and play a 3 cost ally turn 2. After exploring Scout Ahead you can stack the deck in your favor. More enemies if you are not full on damage yet, many treacheries are not so deadly against this deck early on so they make for decent choises as well. Now you can build up your board state.

Consolidate your boardstate

Once you're over the start, get out the allies that help you finish the quest. Wellinghall Preserver give questing and healing.

Derndingle Warrior protects against the bigger enemies and helps put Dúnedain Hunters into play in turns without enemies.

Mirkwood Explorer helps break open any location lock that might have build up.

Peace and Thought is the ultimate card to refill your hand.

Final thoughts

Quickbeam is not a bad hero, but between Boromir and Éowyn he is easily overshadowed. And to be honest, Éowyn could probably fill his role in this deck. But I'd argue Quickbeam does nearly as well a job as she does and in this game that's a pretty big badge of honor. If anybody figures out a way to use him in another role that makes him shine, I'd love to hear about it.

Quest fast, smash those ors and grab the side quests!