These are more thematic than powerful, but they should work well together. The primary goal was just to use the new Heirs of Numenor cards, along with some older, more over-looked cards to make two theme-rich Gondor/Rohan decks to represent this epic battle. I especially enjoy interactions like playing “Dark Knowledge” on Denethor, not only is it perfect thematically, but it really works out strategically to help you decide how to block an enemy. Anyway, I know that these won’t be top-tier decks, at least until we get into the next Chapter Pack cycle, but they were quite fun to build.
Deck #1: Ride to Ruin
Heroes:
Aragorn (Core)
Prince Imrahil
Eowyn
Allies: 24
Errand-Rider x3
Snowbourn Scout x3
Westfold Horse-Breaker x2
Escort from Edoras x3
The Riddermark’s Finest x2
Dunedain Watcher x3
Son of Arnor x1
Elfhelm x2
Faramir x2
Gandalf (Core) x3
Attachments: 11
Steward of Gondor x3
Dunedain Warning x2
Celebrian’s Stone x2
Blood of Numenor x1
Unexpected Courage x1
Sword That Was Broken x2
Events: 15
Wealth of Gondor x2
Sneak Attack x3
A Test of Will x3
For Gondor! x2
Hasty Stroke x1
Mutual Accord x1
Astonishing Speed x1
We Do Not Sleep x1
Light the Beacons x1
Deck #2: And The World’s Ending
Heroes:
Denethor
Beregond
Gimli (I know that he fought in the fields, but we don’t have Pippin yet)
Allies: 24
Envoy of Pelargir x3
Defender of Rammas x3
Gondorian Spearman x3
Horseback Archer x3
Warden of Healing x3
Ithilien Tracker x3
Gleowine x3
Gandalf (Core) x3
Attachments: 11
Horn of Gondor x2 (technically sundered by this point)
Citadel Plate x2
Spear of the Citadel x3
Blade of Gondolin x1
A Burning Brand x1
Dark Knowledge x1
Song of Battle x1
Events: 15
Feint x3
Behind Strong Walls x3
Foe-Hammer x3
Quick Strike x2
Swift Strike x2
Thicket of Spears x1
Peace, and Thought x1
Hall of Beorn 
Love the theme!
Do you find that 1x is enough for some of those unique cards (Sword, Éomund, Elfhelm)? I hate having dead uniques in my hand, but I generally prefer that to finding myself saying, “Man, I wish Faramir would show up”.
You’re absolutely right, having only one of a unique means there is a good chance of it never showing up, especially in a deck like this with limited card draw. I’ve actually cut Eomund (he died long before this battle, and if I’m going to take thematic liberties of that magnitude I could just run Boromir, which would feel bizarre) and one Dunedain Warning so that I can have two each of Faramir and Sword That Was Broken. I will continue to tweak these decks, as I too love the theme, and at the same time I want to find in exactly which configuration they can be strategically successful.
One last thought on duplicates: though in most decks, drawing a duplicate would be a dead card, the great thing about Eowyn is that any duplicates drawn can just be pitched to fuel her questing. The bitter irony is that the shield-maiden of Rohan would be utterly useless in many stages of the new Heirs of Numenor quests. This is where I am looking forward to the new spirit card that lets characters use willpower for their defense, I like the idea of using Rohan characters as super-blockers, this even makes sense thematically as they essentially defended Gondor during this battle.
Yeah, COTR hinted that there is a Théoden card coming so hopefully we’ll see some other Rohan all-stars like Grimbold and Erkenbrand to replace cards like Éomund thematically.
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