DECIPHER.com > The Lord of the Rings > Expansions > Shadows

A New Path Through the Shadows

After following the Fellowship on their journeys from the Shire to Mount Doom, The Lord of the Rings TCG sets out on a new path this fall. The "War of the Ring" block launches in November with Shadows, and it's filled with new strategies, mechanics, and cultures.

A new site path mechanic adds incredible strategic flexibility to the game – along with new uncertainties. All Free Peoples characters now have resistance numbers tied to the Ring-bearer's burdens, with dire consequences when their resistance drops. New keywords – Lurker, Muster, and Toil – affect skirmish resolution, enhance card cycling, and allow character exertion to reduce certain twilight costs. Many minions are grouped by race into three new Shadow cultures – Men, Orcs, and Uruk-hai – while the Ringwraiths have been renamed the Wraith culture.

The 266-card expansion includes 60 rare, 60 uncommon, and 60 common cards, plus 86 cards found only in starter decks. In addition, 18 of the rare cards also appear in foil versions. Shadows will be available in four different 63-card starter decks featuring starter-only versions of Aragorn, Éowyn, Gandalf, and Legolas. Each deck will contain 3 random rare cards, 60 fixed cards, and a revised starter rulebook. Also available will be 11-card booster packs containing 1 rare, 3 uncommon, and 7 common cards. A rare foil from the 18-card subset replaces the regular rare card in approximately one in seven booster packs. MSRP is $10.99 per starter deck and $3.69 per booster pack.

A street date of November 3, 2004 is anticipated. Watch the Shadows home page for more information, spoilers, and strategy to guide you along your new path!

Kathy McCracken
Web Writer

September 27, 2004