Sometimes, in order to truly appreciate a tale, one must first go back to its beginning. Grand adventures and strong fellowships are important and wonderful, but the first step of any journey is just as important as the last. With that in mind, it’s time to return to the beginning of one of the most epic adventures of all...

With increased contents and some quality-of-life improvements, this new version of the classic LCG’s core set is the perfect opportunity for a new player to dive into the game. The box comes with everything you may need to kick off your adventures, including enough cards and components for four-player games right out of the gate. Read on to learn more about The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game and why it has been a fan favorite for over ten years!

What is The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game?
For those of you who have never played The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game before, this game is a cooperative Living Card Game set in the fantastical world of Middle-earth. Players form Fellowships that undertake epic quests, travel through perilous locations, and battle vicious enemies such as Orcs, giant spiders, and the dreaded Nazgul.

Each player chooses up to three heroes and builds a deck of cards that represents the strengths, abilities, tools, and allies of those heroes. During each round, you will do things like play ally and attachment cards to strengthen your heroes, send your characters on quests, travel to various locations, and defend against enemy attacks before launching attacks of your own. All the while, you will need to keep your heroes healthy and carefully watch your threat value, the number that represents the influence of the Eye of Sauron upon you. Each round that passes will increase your threat value bit by bit, and if it ever reaches 50 or all of your heroes are defeated, you are eliminated from the game!

Each hero belongs to one of the four spheres of influence: leadership, lore, spirit, and tactics. Leadership heroes focus on abilities that bolster or defend other friendly characters, such as Aragorn (Revised Core Set, 1) using his Sentinel ability to defend allies or other heroes from enemy attacks. Lore heroes use their extensive skills and knowledge to support players in various ways, such as Beravor ’s (Revised Core Set, 12) ability to let a player draw 2 cards. Spirit heroes specialize in quests and facing the dark machinations of the encounter deck head-on; whether or not the players succeed on quests is determined by their characters’ willpower stats, and Éowyn (Revised Core Set, 7) has a whopping value of 4 in this stat and the ability to boost it even higher. Finally, tactics heroes are all about combat, with abilities that deal damage, reward them for dealing damage, or simply boost their attack strength so they deal even more damage, such as Gimli ’s (Revised Core Set, 4) ability to increase his attack for each point of damage he has suffered.

As you can see, each sphere of influence lends itself to a particular playstyle, and the best part is you are not limited to just a single sphere while building your deck! You can mix and match heroes of different spheres as much as you like to create your own unique deck; however, take careful consideration as you do so. During the game, in order to play a card you must pay its resource cost. Resources are generated by your heroes at the start of each round, and each hero has their own separate resource pool. You can only pay the cost of a card using resources from heroes of the same sphere of influence, which means that if you have only one hero of a certain sphere, then you can only use that hero’s resources to pay for that sphere’s cards. For example, if Gimli is your only tactics hero, then only his resources can be used to pay for the tactics cards in your deck—if you have a lot of tactics cards in your deck, then you may want to consider including a second tactics hero in your lineup.

While each scenario of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game plays out a little differently, the core mechanics remain the same in each game. Each round, you will decide which of your heroes and allies to commit to progressing the quest, which is how you complete the scenario. However, the more characters you commit to the quest, the fewer you will have ready to defend against enemy attacks. Even weaker enemies like the King Spider (Revised Core Set, 74) can deal significant damage when undefended, while powerful enemies like the Hill Troll (Revised Core Set, 82) could potentially take out an undefended hero in a single hit. Striking the right balance between questing and combat is key to emerging victorious against the forces of darkness.

What is New?
For the most part, this product is the same The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game that countless fans have known and loved for the past ten years. The rules are the same, and almost all of the cards included in the Revised Core Set are also the same. There are, however, three types of cards included in the Revised Core Set that were not part of the original release: campaign cards, boons, and burdens.

These three card types are all used in the new campaign mode that comes included with the Revised Core Set. In this mode, players can experience each of the core set’s scenarios in sequential order, and the results of each scenario can affect the outcome of the next one.

If you already own everything from The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, you do not need to buy the Revised Core Set to experience this campaign—instead, we are pleased to announce that all campaign cards, boons, and burdens will be made freely available as print-and-play content on FFG website. We will also be posting the campaign rules and campaign log to the site as well, which means anyone who owns a core set for this game—original or otherwise—will be able to fully experience this new mode.

If you already own a core set for this game, then the release of the Revised Core Set is the perfect opportunity to introduce your friends to the game. Alternatively, if you played this game using a friend’s copy but have yet to pick up your own, then now is an excellent time to jump in! And remember, this box comes with enough content and components to support up to four players, including plenty of materials to ensure you and your friends have everything you need to start your adventure with this classic game.

The Road Goes On
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game has been around for over ten years now, and the dedication of its fans has only proven that this game is something special. Because of this, the core set is not the only product getting a revised release; both new and existing fans can look forward to continued efforts to repackage and rerelease past popular content in the near future. Which is good news, because when the Revised Core Set arrives in early 2022, even more players will learn just why this game has stayed strong for over a decade and will remain so for years to come!

Your Fellowship of heroes have narrowly escaped from their ordeal in Dol Guldur. After a brief stay in Lórien, your party is on its way back to Thranduil when they see smoke billowing up from the eaves of Mirkwood. The black plumes lead you to the smoldering remains of a Woodman village, with bodies strewn about and black-feathered arrows sticking from their backs. This is clearly the work of Goblins, and the pained gasps of a dying Woodman tells you that the survivors were taken by the fiends to their lair within the forest. You swear an oath to rescue them if you can, or avenge them if you cannot, and so you draw your weapons and follow the trail into the woods.

This standalone scenario pack contains two adventures: The Oath and The Caves of Nibin-dûm. These scenarios were originally released as part of the Limited Collector’s Edition for The Lord of the Rings LCG. Now, with the inclusion of new boon and burden cards and the onset of the Revised Core Set, you and your fellow heroes can take on these two challenging scenarios as their own two-part adventure or as an extension of the core set’s Mirkwood Paths campaign. Will you track down the Goblins and rescue the captives? Or will you become lost in the dark of Mirkwood?

Swearing an Oath
The goal of the Dark of Mirkwood scenarios is to find the Goblin hideout within the forest of Mirkwood and rescue the captured Woodmen villagers before it is too late. Along the way, you will face giant spiders, the confounding paths of the forest, and, of course, the very Goblins that you are hunting.

Each scenario covers half of the journey, with The Oath depicting the quest to find the Goblins’ hideout and The Caves of Nibin-dûm covering everything that happens within it. In The Oath, you will fend off threats like the Spiders of Mirkwood (The Dark of Mirkwood, 8) as you search for the Goblin Trail (The Dark of Mirkwood, 14). When you eventually catch up to The Rearguard (The Dark of Mirkwood, 3), you will need to deal with the Goblin Troop (The Dark of Mirkwood, 19) before you can plunge into the depths of Nibin-dûm itself.

In The Caves of Nibin-dûm, you will explore abandoned Dwarven mines in search of the captive villagers. With your torch (The Dark of Mirkwood, 29) in hand, you will explore Lightless Passages (The Dark of Mirkwood, 33) while avoiding enemies like the Cavern Wargs (The Dark of Mirkwood, 31) and the looming threat of the Goblin Chieftain (The Dark of Mirkwood, 27). You and your fellow heroes must navigate the twisting tunnels of Nibin-dûm quickly and carefully if you hope to be Oathkeepers (The Dark of Mirkwood, 7) and rescue the captive Woodmen.

In addition to all of the cards that were originally part of these scenarios, The Dark of Mirkwood also comes with some brand-new boons and burdens to use in campaign play. Use potent boons like "No Time to Waste!" (The Dark of Mirkwood, 48) and The Power of Spirit (The Dark of Mirkwood, 46) when the time is right, but watch out for the Stalking Goblin (The Dark of Mirkwood, 41) and the occasional Shiny Distraction (The Dark of Mirkwood, 42) that may hinder you on your quest.

Just like with the Revised Core Set, all of the new campaign-related cards in The Dark of Mirkwood will be made freely available as print-and-play content on our website. That way, even if you already own these scenarios through the Limited Collector’s Edition, you will still be able to take part in this epic quest.

Traversing the Dark
Back when the Limited Collector’s Edition for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game first released, we made a promise to our players that we would one day make the scenarios included in that limited release widely available as their own separate product. Now, with The Dark of Mirkwood coming in the first quarter of 2022, we can finally say that we fulfilled that oath.

Every adventure begins with the first step. For many new fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, the Revised Core Set is that first step. But what about the next step? Or, beyond that, what if your friend is the one with the Revised Core Set, and you want a deck to call your very own? Not to worry, because there won’t just be one deck for you to choose from—there will be four!

These starter decks are Dwarves of Durin, Elves of Lórien, Defenders of Gondor, and Riders of Rohan. Each deck is built around a different theme and playstyle, and they all can provide the perfect jumping-off point for players who want to try the game with a friend or dabble in deckbuilding beyond what is available in the Revised Core Set. In addition to having fully pre-built player decks that are usable from the moment you open the box, each of these products also includes multiple additional cards that can be used to enhance any decks you build yourself. Whether you plan to use these decks yourself or lend them to a friend who’s trying the game for the first time, there is no doubt that you will want to add these starter decks to your collection!

Note: For longtime fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, if you already own all of the game’s expansions, you will not find any new cards in any of these starter decks. However, you may find it helpful to have one of these decks on hand when you introduce a friend to the game, since these decks have been tailor-made for new players.

The Kingdom of Gondor has been beset by enemies for centuries, and Defenders of Gondor builds upon that theme with a starter deck that thrives when your back is against the wall. In The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, you are eliminated if your threat ever reaches 50 or more, which means you normally want to keep your threat as low as possible. However, many cards in the Defenders of Gondor starter deck, such as Angbor the Fearless (Defenders of Gondor, 4) and Soldier of Gondor (Defenders of Gondor, 5), truly shine while your threat is 40 or higher. With threat that high, you’re going to be engaging a lot of enemies, but fortunately you have stalwart defenders like Gondorian Spearman (Defenders of Gondor, 12) and Defender of Rammas (Defenders of Gondor, 7) ready to hold the line. Bolster your defenses even further with Behind Strong Walls (Defenders of Gondor, 21) and Gondorian Shield (Defenders of Gondor, 16), and no matter how many foes you face, Gondor will never fall!

Of course, in order to truly keep the armies of the Enemy at bay, Gondor will need strong leadership, and fortunately the heroes of Defenders of Gondor can rise to the challenge. Prince Imrahil (Defenders of Gondor, 2) can avenge your fallen soldiers as they leave play, while Mablung (Defenders of Gondor, 3) gives you more resources to work with as you engage with enemies. Use the Envoy of Pelargir (Defenders of Gondor, 13) to ensure that Boromir (Defenders of Gondor, 1) has a resource in his pool, then use his innate ability in tandem with Visionary Leadership (Defenders of Gondor, 20) to power through quests and enemy forces alike!

Not a standalone product. A copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game core set is required to play.

Long have the Elves of the Grey Havens build majestic ships to sail into the West. No one knows the seas as well as they, but these Noldor sailrs and navigators must still be ever vigilant. The sudden threats of severe storms or fleets of pillaging Corsairs always lurk on the horizon.

The Dream-chaser Hero Expansion for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game includes 8 playable heroes and all of the player cards and customization options originally featured in The Grey Havens and the Dream-chaser cycle of content. With iconic characters such as Denethor, Glorfindel, and Círdan the Shipwright, this expansion is a must-have for players looking to complete their collection.

This expansion can be used to build or enhance player decks for any The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game scenario or campaign.

Every adventure begins with the first step. For many new fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, the Revised Core Set is that first step. But what about the next step? Or, beyond that, what if your friend is the one with the Revised Core Set, and you want a deck to call your very own? Not to worry, because there won’t just be one deck for you to choose from—there will be four!

These starter decks are Dwarves of Durin, Elves of Lórien, Defenders of Gondor, and Riders of Rohan. Each deck is built around a different theme and playstyle, and they all can provide the perfect jumping-off point for players who want to try the game with a friend or dabble in deckbuilding beyond what is available in the Revised Core Set. In addition to having fully pre-built player decks that are usable from the moment you open the box, each of these products also includes multiple additional cards that can be used to enhance any decks you build yourself. Whether you plan to use these decks yourself or lend them to a friend who’s trying the game for the first time, there is no doubt that you will want to add these starter decks to your collection!

Note: For longtime fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, if you already own all of the game’s expansions, you will not find any new cards in any of these starter decks. However, you may find it helpful to have one of these decks on hand when you introduce a friend to the game, since these decks have been tailor-made for new players.

A deck heavily featuring the Dwarves of Middle-earth and their signature deck-delving style of gameplay. Use allies like Ered Nimrais Prospector (Dwarves of Durin, 9) and attachments like King Under the Mountain (Dwarves of Durin, 16) to discard cards from the top of your deck (a practice often referred to as “delving”), then call upon the Erebor Hammersmith (Dwarves of Durin, 6) to add those cards to your hand. Some cards, such as Ered Luin Miner (Dwarves of Durin, 8) and Hidden Cache (Dwarves of Durin, 21) automatically come into play or grant bonus effects when they are discarded from the top of your deck, encouraging you to delve as much as possible while playing.

Outside of delving, this deck also heavily focuses on the kinship of the Dwarves, their strength, and their pride. Heroes like Dáin Ironfoot (Dwarves of Durin, 1) and Ori (Dwarves of Durin, 2) rely on having multiple Dwarf characters in play in order to truly excel, while the Erebor Record Keeper (Dwarves of Durin, 7) can make sure important characters like Dáin or Dori (Dwarves of Durin, 5) are always ready when you need them to be. By working together and building off of each other, it is clear that these Dwarves are a force to be reckoned with!

Not a standalone product. A copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game core set is required to play.

Every adventure begins with the first step. For many new fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, the Revised Core Set is that first step. But what about the next step? Or, beyond that, what if your friend is the one with the Revised Core Set, and you want a deck to call your very own? Not to worry, because there won’t just be one deck for you to choose from—there will be four!

These starter decks are Dwarves of Durin, Elves of Lórien, Defenders of Gondor, and Riders of Rohan. Each deck is built around a different theme and playstyle, and they all can provide the perfect jumping-off point for players who want to try the game with a friend or dabble in deckbuilding beyond what is available in the Revised Core Set. In addition to having fully pre-built player decks that are usable from the moment you open the box, each of these products also includes multiple additional cards that can be used to enhance any decks you build yourself. Whether you plan to use these decks yourself or lend them to a friend who’s trying the game for the first time, there is no doubt that you will want to add these starter decks to your collection!

Note: For longtime fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, if you already own all of the game’s expansions, you will not find any new cards in any of these starter decks. However, you may find it helpful to have one of these decks on hand when you introduce a friend to the game, since these decks have been tailor-made for new players.

A starter deck focused on the graceful adaptability of the reclusive Wood-elves. This deck is full of Silvan allies like Greenwood Archer (Elves of Lórien, 8) and Naith Guide (Elves of Lórien, 11) who have one-use abilities that trigger upon entering play, as well as cards like Orophin (Elves of Lórien, 12) and The Tree People (Elves of Lórien, 23) to help you get multiple uses out of those abilities. This can lead to some impressive combos, especially if you use the Galadhrim Minstrel's (Elves of Lórien, 5) ability to pull powerful events like Host of Galadhrim (Elves of Lórien, 24) into your hand. With that particular combo, you could trigger all of your current Silvan allies’ “enters play” abilities a second time, including the Minstrel’s, who then could allow you to find another Host of Galadhrim to repeat the combo on your next turn! Just make sure you have enough resources to pay for it.

The heroes of this deck also synergize with allies repeatedly entering play. Celeborn (Elves of Lórien, 1) increases the stats of any Silvan ally that enters play for the rest of the round, which means if you can return an ally to your hand and play them again on the next round, you can keep that boost going. Likewise, Galadriel (Elves of Lórien, 2) grants all of your allies the valuable ability to quest without exhausting on the round they entered play, and with Nenya (Elves of Lórien, 16) equipped, she can greatly increase an ally’s willpower during that quest. With quick wit and sharp strategy, you can use all the Elves of this starter deck to maximum effect!

Not a standalone product. A copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game core set is required to play.

The Fellowship has broken. During a fateful confrontation at Amon Hen, large Orcs bearing the White Hand of Saurman attacked the company, and in the chaos some members were captured, others killed. Now, Aragorn and the remainder of the Fellowship must let Frodo travel to Mordor while they pursue the Orcs that captured their friends.

Experience the next chapter of the journey to destroy the One Ring in The Two Towers Saga Expansion for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game! This expansion contains six scenarios that recreate the adventures featured in the second part of the legendary The Lord of the Rings saga. You’ll also find over 50 hero and player cards, which can be used to build or enhance your decks for any The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game scenario or campaign!

Note: For longtime fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, this expansion combines all of the contents from The Treason of Saruman and The Land of Shadow. If you already own those two expansions, you will not find any new cards or content in this product.