Hidden Gems - Lords of the Rings: Tales of Mr. Moth

29 May
by Adam Berg

Magic’s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is just around the river bend, beyond the shore!

Today we’re talking about what cards in Magic already fit the flavor of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic tale about Elijah Wood and green screens. I’m sure plenty of 100% LOTR themed decks will find their way to Commander, so here are some cards that will fill out those decks without sacrificing the theme.

#1 – Luminous Broodmoth

The unsung hero of Middle Earth is the bravest, little creature/best friends with Gandalf. Frodo who? No! Moth. All moth, all the time. Why wasn’t Mr. Moth at Minas Tirith when King Aragorn made everyone bow to the hobbits? It should have been Moth. It makes no sense. Without Moth, everyone would have died.  #TeamMoth

Hopefully we get a super-mythic-serialized-one-of-a-kind card to represent Moth in the set, because that’s what he deserves. But if not, we can always settle for this substitute. It’s got a million and one uses. Slap this baby in an aristocrats build and watch him take your creatures to new heights.

Luminous Broodmoth
Luminous Broodmoth (Extended Art)
Mothra, Supersonic Queen

#2 – Glaring Spotlight

Sauron knows you’re afraid of public speaking and wants to put you in the spotlight. This is his true power. Fear him.

This one-mana trinket makes your spot removal not only work around hexproof, but also threatens to protect your own creatures—be they orcs, wraiths, or an eyeball. And if you’re ready to swing in for the win, activate it to make them all unblockable. What’s not to love? If you really want to lean into the card, bring a flashlight with you and shine it into your opponents’ faces. It makes winning easy.

Glaring Spotlight

#3 – Rude Awakening

The ents aren’t putting up with any of Sauron’s malarkey. This old gem works as a surprise win-con, a weird mana ritual, or both. It’s a wonderful inclusion in land-based decks and is such a strange way to end a game that your opponents probably won’t see it coming.

Extra points to anyone who deals the last bit of damage with a River of Tears. ‘Cause, you know, “Release the river!”

Rude Awakening
Rude Awakening
Rude Awakening

#4 – Bloodforged Battle-Axe

I know Gimli’s axe doesn’t self-replicate, but put this card into your deck and every time you get a copy, scream, “And my axe!”, in whatever voice imitation of the creature it’s going to equip.

“And my axe!”

“Aaaand MY AAAAAXE!”

There’s no end to the fun. Plus, it’ll help you win games, and at life in general. It might even be a way to intimidate your foes. I mean, who would possibly ever want to fight against Mr. Moth wielding thirty axes while you shriek in your most moth-like tone, “And my axe!”?

Bloodforged Battle-Axe
Bloodforged Battle-Axe
Bloodforged Battle-Axe (Borderless)
Bloodforged Battle-Axe (Foil Etched)

That’s all for this time. Good luck in your journey taking a small piece of jewelry from one location to another. Don’t forget to pick up these cards before they spike, especially once everyone realizes how much we owe our lives to Mr. Moth and his heroism.

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Adam Berg
Adam Berg

Adam started playing Magic on his 14th birthday, when Judgment just released and the game's first Gorgon was born (It's a girl!). Since then, he's delved deep into Commander, written for television and film, and learned how to drive. He's published two YA Fantasy novels, Rainbringer and The Broken Pantheon. His favorite card is Repay In Kind, which is really all you need to know.


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