[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":348},["ShallowReactive",2],{"game-en-lotr-duel":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"accent":6,"age":7,"backdrop":8,"bggUrl":9,"body":10,"categories":27,"components":31,"cover":24,"description":16,"duration":32,"extension":35,"faq":36,"firstGame":31,"industryLegend":31,"lastReviewed":72,"locale":73,"manualUrl":74,"mechanics":75,"meta":80,"navigation":81,"path":82,"players":83,"publisher":85,"quickStart":86,"resourceLegend":31,"rulesVersion":307,"seo":308,"sourceFiles":309,"sourceNotes":311,"stem":312,"strategies":313,"summary":344,"videoLanguage":31,"videoUrl":31,"weight":345,"year":346,"__hash__":347},"games\u002Fen\u002Flotr-duel.md","The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth","#6D28D9","10","\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fmiddle-earth.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fboardgamegeek.com\u002Fboardgame\u002F421006\u002Fthe-lord-of-the-rings-duel-for-middle-earth",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":23},"minimark",[13,17,20],[14,15,16],"p",{},"Duel for Middle-earth compresses the trilogy into three chapters of cards and\ndecisions. There are no dice: each turn you pick a visible card or a tile, and\nhow the central cards are laid out shapes what both of you can buy.",[14,18,19],{},"The tension comes from three clocks running at once: the Quest of the Ring, the\nrace alliances and military presence across the seven regions. Every purchase\npushes one of them forward, and the cards you discard for coins also change what\nis left for your opponent.",[14,21,22],{},"It is a short, highly replayable duel with open information: everything is on the\ntable, so the game is won by reading the pace and by not running out of\nresources at the key moment.",{"title":24,"searchDepth":25,"depth":25,"links":26},"",2,[],[28,29,30],"Duel","Strategy","Middle-earth",null,{"min":33,"max":34},25,30,"md",[37,41,45,49,52,55,58,61,65,69],{"category":38,"question":39,"answer":40},"setup","How many coins does each player start with?","The Fellowship takes 3 coins and Sauron 2. The remaining coins form a shared reserve used for payments and effects during the game.",{"category":42,"question":43,"answer":44},"turn","How many things can I do on my turn?","One: take an available chapter card and play or discard it, or take a faceup Landmark tile and pay for it. At the end of the turn, reveal any cards that have become available.",{"category":46,"question":47,"answer":48},"special","How does chaining work?","From chapter 2, if you have a card in your play area with the same chaining symbol as the card you want to play, you may play it for free without the required skills. If you do not match, you can still pay normally.",{"category":46,"question":50,"answer":51},"Is each skill symbol used only once?","Yes. Each skill symbol in your play area may be used once on each of your turns. Cards showing two skills separated by a bar give you only one of them per turn, your choice.",{"category":46,"question":53,"answer":54},"How do I form race alliances?","With 2 matching race symbols, take the top 2 tokens of that race and keep 1. Once per game, with 3 different race symbols, take the top token of each of those races and keep 1. Tokens are revealed to both players.",{"category":46,"question":56,"answer":57},"Can one race symbol count for both alliances?","Yes. A single symbol can serve both the 2-matching-symbols alliance and the 3-different-races one. The Eagle token is an extra race symbol that counts for the support of the races victory.",{"category":42,"question":59,"answer":60},"What happens when a chapter ends?","It ends when the last card of the chapter is taken. Set up the next chapter, reveal Landmark tiles until there are 3 if possible, and keep playing. The player who ended the chapter does not start the next one unless they have an extra-turn effect.",{"category":62,"question":63,"answer":64},"scoring","Who wins if nobody meets a victory condition at the end of chapter 3?","The player present in most regions with a fortress or at least one unit wins. A tie is shared.",{"category":66,"question":67,"answer":68},"end","Can I win before all three chapters are over?","Yes. The three victory conditions are immediate: reach Mount Doom, catch Frodo and Sam with the Nazgûl, gather 6 different races or be present in all 7 regions.",{"category":46,"question":70,"answer":71},"What do purple cards add in chapter 3?","Purple cards let you perform maneuvers: move one unit to an adjacent region, make your opponent lose 1 coin, or remove one enemy unit from any region.","2026-10-23","en","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rprod.com\u002Fen\u002Fgames\u002Fduel-for-middle-earth",[76,77,78,79],"Card drafting","Area majority","Tableau building","Modular board",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Flotr-duel",{"min":25,"max":25,"best":84},[25],"Repos Production",{"pitch":87,"pitchCheck":88,"setup":95,"turn":188,"mistakes":272,"winning":300,"winningCheck":301},"One player leads the Fellowship of the Ring, the other plays Sauron. The game runs over three chapters, and on your turn you take a chapter card or a Landmark tile and pay its cost in coins and skills. Grey cards give skills, yellow cards give coins, blue cards advance the Quest of the Ring, green cards add allied races, red cards place units in regions, and purple cards — chapter 3 only — let you perform maneuvers. You win instantly if Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom, if the Nazgûl catch them, if you gather 6 different races or if you are present in all 7 regions. If nobody does by the end of chapter 3, the player present in most regions wins.",{"question":89,"options":90,"answer":93,"explanation":94},"How can you win instantly?",[91,92],"By taking Frodo and Sam to Mount Doom or gathering 6 races","Only on points at the end",0,"There are several instant wins: the Quest, the races and presence in all 7 regions.",[96,109,121,138,151,164,175],{"text":97,"images":98,"check":103},"Randomly choose, or agree, who plays the Fellowship and who plays Sauron. Each player places their unit and fortress pawns in front of them.",[99],{"src":100,"alt":101,"label":102},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fsetup.webp","Duel for Middle-earth setup with the central board, chapter cards and pawns.","Setup on the table",{"question":104,"options":105,"answer":93,"explanation":108},"How are the sides assigned?",[106,107],"One player takes the Fellowship and the other Sauron","Both play the Fellowship","Each player controls one side for the whole game.",{"text":110,"images":111,"check":115},"Place the central board between both players with the two play areas around it. On the board, put 2 Fellowship units in Arnor and 2 Sauron units in Mordor.",[112],{"src":8,"alt":113,"label":114},"Central board showing the seven connected regions of Middle-earth.","Central board",{"question":116,"options":117,"answer":93,"explanation":120},"How many units start in Arnor and Mordor?",[118,119],"Two each","Three each","Two units of each side start in their home regions.",{"text":122,"images":123,"check":132},"Assemble the Quest of the Ring track and place it below the central board, with the Fellowship at one end and Sauron at the other.",[124,128],{"src":125,"alt":126,"label":127},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fquest-track.webp","Quest of the Ring track with Frodo and Sam's spaces and the Nazgûl's space.","Quest track",{"src":129,"alt":130,"label":131},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fquest-detail.webp","Quest track diagram with the Nazgûl's starting space, bonus spaces and the One Ring.","Quest spaces",{"question":133,"options":134,"answer":93,"explanation":137},"Where is the Quest track built?",[135,136],"Below the board","On top of the board","The track sits below the central board.",{"text":139,"images":140,"check":145},"Take coins: the Fellowship starts with 3 and Sauron with 2. The rest forms a shared reserve.",[141],{"src":142,"alt":143,"label":144},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fcoin-cost.webp","Coin cost panel from the rulebook with the coin symbol and the Reserve.","Coins",{"question":146,"options":147,"answer":93,"explanation":150},"How many coins does Sauron start with?",[148,149],"2","3","The Fellowship starts with 3 and Sauron with 2.",{"text":152,"images":153,"check":158},"Sort the Alliance tokens by their backs, one stack per race, shuffle each stack and place them facedown.",[154],{"src":155,"alt":156,"label":157},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fcard-effects.webp","Reference panel with the seven race symbols: Elves, Ents, Hobbits, Humans, Dwarves and Wizards.","Race symbols",{"question":159,"options":160,"answer":93,"explanation":163},"How are the Alliance tiles prepared?",[161,162],"Shuffled per race and face down","All face up","Each race has its own shuffled, hidden pile.",{"text":165,"images":166,"check":170},"Shuffle the Landmark tiles and place 3 faceup; the rest form a facedown stack.",[167],{"src":155,"alt":168,"label":169},"Landmark tile effect: it lets you place a Fortress in a region and use a unique effect.","Landmark tiles",{"question":171,"options":172,"answer":93,"explanation":174},"How many Location tiles are revealed during setup?",[149,173],"5","Three tiles are revealed and the rest form a face-down pile.",{"text":176,"images":177,"check":182},"Sort the chapter cards into three decks by rune (1, 2 and 3) and shuffle each. Set up chapter 1 in the central area following the diagram and put the 3 leftover cards facedown in the discard.",[178],{"src":179,"alt":180,"label":181},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fchapters.webp","Chapter 1, 2 and 3 layouts with faceup and facedown cards.","Chapter decks",{"question":183,"options":184,"answer":93,"explanation":187},"How many chapter decks are prepared?",[185,186],"Three, one per rune","Just one","Cards are split into three decks by rune.",[189,203,219,232,246,259],{"title":190,"text":191,"images":192,"check":197},"Take a card or a tile","On your turn, take an available card from the centre (one not covered by another card) or a faceup Landmark tile. Sauron starts the game.",[193],{"src":194,"alt":195,"label":196},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fchapter-layout.webp","Chapter 1, 2 and 3 layouts showing which cards are available and which are covered.","Available cards",{"question":198,"options":199,"answer":93,"explanation":202},"Who starts the game?",[200,201],"Sauron","The Fellowship","Sauron takes the first turn.",{"title":204,"text":205,"images":206,"check":213},"Pay the cost","Pay the coins and skills the card requires. If you lack a skill, pay 1 coin per missing        symbol. From chapter 2, matching chaining symbols let you play certain cards for free.",[207,210],{"src":142,"alt":208,"label":209},"Coin cost panel: pay the coins shown to the reserve.","Paying with coins",{"src":155,"alt":211,"label":212},"Skill symbols and card colours explained, including the chaining costs.","Skills and chaining",{"question":214,"options":215,"answer":93,"explanation":218},"If you lack a skill to pay for a card, what happens?",[216,217],"Pay 1 coin per missing symbol","Discard the card","Each missing symbol is paid with 1 coin.",{"title":220,"text":221,"images":222,"check":226},"Resolve the effect","Grey cards give skills (each symbol once per turn), yellow cards give coins, blue advance the Quest, green add races, red place units and purple let you perform maneuvers.",[223],{"src":155,"alt":224,"label":225},"Every card colour and its effect: skills, coins, Quest, races, units, maneuvers and Landmarks.","Card effects",{"question":227,"options":228,"answer":93,"explanation":231},"How often can each skill symbol be used per turn?",[229,230],"Once","Twice","Each symbol is used once per turn.",{"title":233,"text":234,"images":235,"check":240},"Place units and resolve conflicts","If you place or move units into a region with enemy units, a conflict triggers: each player removes one unit and you repeat until one side has none left there. Enemy fortresses neither fight nor block.",[236],{"src":237,"alt":238,"label":239},"\u002Fimages\u002Fgames\u002Flotr-duel\u002Fmovement.webp","Example of moving units between regions and resolving a conflict in Rohan.","Conflict in a region",{"question":241,"options":242,"answer":93,"explanation":245},"What happens when you place units in a region with enemies?",[243,244],"A conflict removes units alternately","Nothing, they coexist","Conflict removes one unit from each player in turn until one side runs out.",{"title":247,"text":248,"images":249,"check":253},"End the turn and the chapter","End your turn by revealing any cards that are now available. When the last card of the chapter is taken, set up the next chapter and reveal Landmark tiles until there are 3 if possible.",[250],{"src":194,"alt":251,"label":252},"Layouts used to prepare chapters 1, 2 and 3.","Next chapter",{"question":254,"options":255,"answer":93,"explanation":258},"What happens when the last card of a chapter is taken?",[256,257],"The next chapter is prepared","The game ends","Taking the last chapter card sets up the next chapter.",{"title":260,"text":261,"images":262,"check":266},"Discard for coins if you cannot use it","You may discard the card facedown and take coins from the reserve: 1 in chapter 1, 2 in chapter 2 and 3 in chapter 3.",[263],{"src":142,"alt":264,"label":265},"Coins taken from the reserve when a card is discarded face down.","Discard for coins",{"question":267,"options":268,"answer":93,"explanation":271},"What do you get for discarding a card face down?",[269,270],"Coins from the supply","A victory point","Discarding a card gives coins depending on the chapter.",[273,282,291],{"title":274,"text":275,"check":276},"Using the same symbol twice","Each skill symbol may only be used once on each of your turns. Two equal symbols on different cards do not double the effect: each card's symbol counts on its own, never the same one twice.",{"question":277,"options":278,"answer":93,"explanation":281},"Can you use the same symbol twice in a turn?",[279,280],"No, each symbol is used once","Yes, if two cards show it","Two identical symbols do not double the effect.",{"title":283,"text":284,"check":285},"Thinking the Nazgûl can fall behind","The Nazgûl piece sits on top of Frodo and Sam. Whenever the Fellowship advances, Sauron advances with it: the distance between them can only shrink, never grow.",{"question":286,"options":287,"answer":93,"explanation":290},"Can the Nazgûl move away from the Fellowship?",[288,289],"No, it only closes in","Yes, if Sauron wants","The Nazgûl advances with the Fellowship: the gap only shrinks.",{"title":292,"text":293,"check":294},"Forgetting fortresses in the count","A fortress counts as presence in its region for the conquest victory and the final tiebreak, even though it does not fight and does not stop the opponent from placing units there.",{"question":295,"options":296,"answer":93,"explanation":299},"Do fortresses count for the region victory?",[297,298],"Yes, as presence in their region","No, they do not count","A fortress gives presence even though it does not fight or block.","You win instantly if Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom (Fellowship), if the Nazgûl catch them (Sauron), if you gather 6 different race symbols or if you are present in all 7 regions with a fortress or at least one unit. If nobody has won by the end of chapter 3, the player present in most regions wins; a tie is shared.",{"question":302,"options":303,"answer":93,"explanation":306},"What if nobody has won at the end of chapter 3?",[304,305],"Whoever is in more regions wins","It is always a draw","The final tiebreak is presence in more regions.","Official EN rulebook (Repos Production, 2024)",{"title":5,"description":16},[310],"reglamentos-pdf\u002F7DUME_EN01_Rules.pdf","Summary built from the official English rulebook in the rules folder. Illustrations cropped from that same manual.","en\u002Flotr-duel",[314,318,321,324,328,331,334,338,341],{"level":315,"title":316,"text":317},"beginner","Do not buy what you cannot pay for","Before taking a card, count the skills you already have and the coins you hold. Paying 2 coins for missing skills often leaves the turn without resources for what actually matters.",{"level":315,"title":319,"text":320},"Discard with intent","Discarding gives 1, 2 or 3 coins depending on the chapter, but it also reveals new cards to your opponent. Discard when the money lets you chain a better purchase, not out of habit.",{"level":315,"title":322,"text":323},"Watch the Quest of the Ring","It is the fastest race. If the Fellowship piles up blue cards, Sauron must answer with his own or lose by arriving at Mount Doom too late.",{"level":325,"title":326,"text":327},"intermediate","Set up chains for chapter 2","Chaining symbols let you play cards for free from chapter 2 on. Draft cards in chapter 1 that share symbols so you can open chapter 2 with two plays for the price of one.",{"level":325,"title":329,"text":330},"Claim alliances early","Alliance tokens give permanent effects and move you towards the race victory. With two matching symbols you can already pick a token; do not wait for three different races to start looking at them.",{"level":325,"title":332,"text":333},"Presence over power","Winning by conquest only needs presence in all 7 regions, not a pile of units. A fortress adds presence without conflicts and also counts for the final tiebreak.",{"level":335,"title":336,"text":337},"advanced","Force profitable conflicts","A conflict makes both players remove one unit per round. Attack when you have more units in the region than your opponent, or when removing theirs opens a key connection.",{"level":335,"title":339,"text":340},"Close the game through races","The 6-race victory needs green symbols of six different types. If your opponent neglects green cards, a hand with three new races plus the Eagle token can end the game in one move.",{"level":335,"title":342,"text":343},"Control the final chapter","Chapter 3 adds purple cards and the last tiles. Save coins for the endgame: a maneuver moving a unit into the seventh region, or a well-placed conflict, decides more than any early purchase.","A duel for two: destroy the Ring, rally six races or dominate all seven regions of Middle-earth.",2.5,"2024","pwUltvhE1Qtrag6XQPyUZbbnff6o58RogGAqzhk1NBw",1792754232736]