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Lord of the Falathrim, ruler of Forlond, Mithlond and Harlond and bearer of Narya from Gil-galad's departure to pursue his doom to Mithrandir's arrival on the shores of Lindon, Cirdan is the embodiment of elven wisdom. He has earned such wisdom at the cost of three ages, being older than nearly all other elves, and older than all known elves residing in Middle-earth. He and his folk journeyed from Cuivienen to the western shores of middle-earth, and there rested until the forces of Morgoth forced a desparate fighting withdrawl with Gil-galad. He and his folk conversed regularly with Ulmo, and loved the sea. They became shipwrights.

In the second age, he and Gil-galad were nearly pushed into the sea yet again, this time by the forces of Sauron, but the might of Numenor came in their (and Elrond's) time of need and combined, all three eradicated Sauron's fighting forces from Eriador for that age.

In the third age, his kingdom was both a refuge for the remanents of Arnor and a launching point for the joint elven and Gondorian breakout and anihilation of the Witch-king's forces; even if too late for Arvedui and his defunct kingdom of Arthedain.

Lord of the Haven :: MEAS :: Hazard Creature or Short-event :: 3* :: r2 13/9

Unique. Elf. Manifestation of Cirdan. One strike. Detainment against hero companies.

As a creature, may be played keyed to Lindon or any Coastal Sea region; or at sites in these regions.

As a short-event, tap up to two target characters in one company at a site in, or moving through, a Coastal Sea region.

Art by David A. Cherry.

Cirdan as a hazard is really best played in either a hero or fallen wizard deck. Against heroes, both his abilities are great in slowing down your opponent's pursuit of victory. The only problem is if your opponent (or you) have Cirdan in play as a character. Against a fallen-wizard, the same hobbling effect works, and should your opponent be pursing a headhunting policy against * creatures, a body of nine means there is little chance of collecting this wily old elf's head!

On the other hand, playing him seriously in an anti-minion hazard strategy just is too unlikely to be bring off. For minions, even in the sideboard, you would need a nazgul to get him into the discard pile from your sideboard, and then either Mouth of Sauron, Uvatha the Horseman, Master of the House or Returned Beyond All Hope to get him into your hand, and then still have a hazard left in the limit to play him. How often do you see minions running through coastal regions? Or even trying to put the torch to Mithlond? Sure it happens, but not frequently enough to warrant placing him in your deck or sideboard absent other factors.

These factors are namely a hostile land evironment (Snowstorm, Long Winter, etc. and dragons ahunt, Nameless Things and Durin's Bane) or an elven hazard theme (Chill Them With Fear, Master of the House, Returned Beyond All Hope, etc.) The first may either miss its timing or backfire in your face. The second is loads of fun to play, but against those lieutenants armed with a Thong of Fire and an Ancient Black Axe, you are likely to be handing over some significant amounts of marshalling points.

Two modes of playing: as a hazard creature or as a short-event.

First, the strongest applicable use of Cirdan: short-event. This is the strongest, hitting anyone using starer movement from the Grey Havens to Edhellond (and vice versa), anyone using starter movement from Edhellond to a site in Khand or Harondor, or any site in the four coastal regions that have sites, or my well worn path from Rivendell to the Stones in my first round if I get Orcrist, Wormbane or other greater item in my starting hand. Note that you can even play this card on guard.

Second is as a hazard creature. One strike at 13/9 is respectable, but not fearsome. Chill him without DoN in play and three strikes at 15 is something to fear. He can hit anyone in or moving through Lindon, coastal seas, and sites in these regions: the Grey Havens, Himring, Isles of the Dead that Live, Isle of the Ulond, and Tolfalas. When he stops a hero company to ask them to explain themselves, they have little option but to obey this lord in his backyard. Unlike the maiar with whom he shares the same prowess and body, he has no penalty imposed on his prowess in facing heroes (true, he has less strike(s) but with Chill, he can match or surpass them in number of strikes and in terms of terminal prowess.)

Also, Lord of the Haven's art is cool, though why Cirdan would be standing out amongst the breakers is puzzling. Also, is that a decoration on his tunic or is he wearing a massive torque?

So, for collectors of elves, he is a must. For players who love elves, he is a must. For decks designed against heroes, he belongs in your deck or sideboard depending on how your other strategems interplay. And for fun, always.

Ohtar


Original card review taken from : http://fan.theonering.net/morgulrats/
With the authorization of the webmaster.

The reviewing team consisted of Gwaihir (Chris Farrell), Gimli (Nathan Bruinooge), Ohtar (Charles E. Bouldin, Esq.), Radagast (James Kight), Joshua B. Grace (Beorn), Martijn Steultjens (Fram Frumgarson), Jason Klank (Saruman) and Jeffery Dobberpuhl (Wormtongue)