Adaptations of literary works to other media are always accompanied by a mixture of excitement and tension. Excitement to see the characters coming to life, taking shape in a way we could never have imagined, with the story unfolding before our eyes in a different way than we had experienced it before. Tension, too, because it implies facing the unknown of whether they will know how to adapt it, whether they will understand what makes it special, whether it will really be a good adaptation or, as so many times before, it will be an absolute disaster.
The Lord of the Rings was not spared from this mixture of illusion and tension. Fortunately, the adaptation was fantastic. Peter Jackson and his team knew how to not only adapt the books, but also adapt them to contemporary sensibilities, making them more accessible, vibrant and current. Almost as if they were a work of the present, not the past.
Its only problem is that, being a movie and having a limited space, many mythical and beloved characters could not make their way into it. Something that has not happened in another adaptation as meritorious as the movies, such as The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth. That is why today we are going to review all the cards that represent characters that appear in the books and do not appear in the movies and how they are represented on the cards, seeking to characterize them through the game mechanics themselves. Because Peter Jackson did an amazing job, but so has Wizards of the Coast.
Tom Bombadil
One of the great missing from Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings was Tom Bombadil; someone so powerful that, during the Council of Elrond, the Fellowship of the Ring considered giving him the One Ring for safekeeping, as not even Sauron would have dared to enter his domain. To his misfortune, Tom Bombadil was more interested in naps, smoking, eating, drinking, and being with his wife, Goldberry, and that made it a logical cut in the movies. Even if it is an excellent card for Commander players.
Having the five colors of the game in his cost, his abilities are related to the Sagas: cards that represent ancient stories and events that happened in the past. The more sagas there are on the battlefield the more powerful Tom Bombadil is, thus demonstrating his power. He is old, wise and always has knowledge to fall back on. Something that in terms of how to build the deck makes it very easy how to build a Tom Bombadil deck. Sagas of all sorts of colors, creatures and enchantments to ensure we have all five colors, and good old Tom Bombadil will show us why even Sauron himself feared him.
Gold Berry
Known as the Daughter of the River, named more than once as the most beautiful woman in Middle-earth, Goldberry is the wife and companion of Tom Bombadil, and lives with him in his shelter in the Old Forest. Although it is true that her role in the book is more anecdotal, acting as support for her husband, that does not detract from the fact that she is a character that many fans of the franchise are fond of, and have a lot of respect for all the power that she has always been understood to possess.
In playable terms, this is shown by her nymph abilities. With minimal cost, she is able to move counters of any type between other permanents and Goldberry and from Goldberry to other permanents. If left unanswered and we have other cards that create synergies with Goldberry, being able to straighten it after turning it, it can become an infinite value machine very much to be reckoned with. One that does nothing on its own? Perhaps not. But as in the novels, even if Goldberry is not by herself the most powerful person in Middle-earth, without her support it is inconceivable that the Company of the Ring would have even made it to the Council.
Beregond
Beregond was the first captain of the White Company of Gondor, the guard of Faramir, brother of Boromir. Ignored in the films, Beregond was the one who accompanied Pippin when he arrived at Minas Tirith, and also the one who confronted the city’s Guards during the chapter of Denethor’s Pyre. He was also the one who marched alongside Aragorn in the battle of the Black Gate, which means that although it is understandable his lack of importance in the movies, the reality is that he is a capital character for the story: he was always there, acting as a leader and protector for his troops.
In fact, that’s its function as a card. Beregon of the Guard is a 3/3 for four mana, which isn’t too impressive, but when it enters the battlefield it gives +1/+1 and vigilance to all your creatures. Why? Because it inspires them. It gives them strength. When Beregond arrives, everyone knows that they are facing a reliable leader with whom nothing bad can happen. If they lead them, they will succeed. That’s why, every time a Human-type creature enters the battlefield, the same thing happens again. It grants +1/+1 and vigilance to all your creatures. Because reinforcements, when you are leading the Beregond army, you know they make you unstoppable.
Prince Imrahil
The uncle of Boromir and Faramir also makes an appearance in Tales of Middle-earth. During the War of the Ring, Imrahil accompanied Gandalf out of Minas Tirith to rescue Faramir on his suicidal crusade from Osgiliath, and also took part in the defense of the city against the Nazgul. He survived all this and, in fact, it was he who brought Eowyn to the Houses of Healing after the battle of the Pelennor Fields. Something that translates in a very peculiar way within the game.
Prince Imrahil the Fair is an azorius creature, white and blue in color, that every time you draw your second card each turn, creates a white 1/1 Human Soldier creature token. It is he who at all times believes that Aragorn is the true rightful heir to the kingdom of men and puts his armies at his disposal. That is why he seeks to create as much advantage as possible. Drawing more cards, to have more strategic options, and thus have more soldiers, thanks to his passive ability. A demonstration of Prince Imrahil’s dedication to his king.
Ramaviva the Ent
Among the most peculiar creatures created in The Lord of the Rings are the Ent, sentient trees that are just another race like humans, elves, or dwarves. Among these, Ramaviva, affectionately known by fans of Tolkien’s universe as the fastest Ent, was one of the youngest Ent among those who participated in the House of Ents, the meeting in which they decided to put an end to Saruman’s nefarious influence over their lands. In fact, it was Ramaviva who was the first to attack Isengard and who took charge of Merry and Pippin during the conflict, both of whom were unharmed thanks to him.
When it comes to translating this in terms of gameplay, Wizards of the Coast wanted to bring these two facets together. To show that he is an Ent that cares about others, but at the same time, that he has an impulsive and brutal side. That’s why every time he enters the battlefield, or when another Arboreal-People does, up to two target creatures get +2/+2 and gain the ability to run over until the end of the turn. Something that makes it a protector, in its own way, but above all a real bulldozer capable of finishing many games if there are other sides on the field to help it pass over the enemy troops.
Erkenbrand
If there is one character that even many fans of the Lord of the Rings books would not know who he is, it is Erkenbrand. Lord of the West Folk in Rohan during the War of the Ring, he was in charge of defending the West Folk from the Orc invasion until Gandalf’s arrival, then joining him in the battle of Helm’s Deep. Although he does not appear in the movies and in fact, all his actions are transferred to Éomer, he is a very important character in the books, as he was the one who restrained Saruman, preventing Rohan from falling.
In Magic: The Gathering’s Tales of Middle-earth collection, he stars as a red monkey creature that every time he or another Human enters the battlefield, he makes all your creatures get +1/+0 until the end of the turn. This is explained by the fact that he spent a very long time defending himself against Saruman’s orcs, but also because it took him three days to march with Gandalf to Helm’s Deep. Not on a whim, but because they spent three days searching for every last person in Folde West who could still wield a weapon to fight in the bloodiest battle so far of The War of the Ring; a battle in which they were victorious, thanks to Gandalf’s power, but also to Erkenbrand’s steely leadership.
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