Saruman SoTE is a deadly version of Saruman, although he isn’t too fearsome in the format he’s released in. In Fellowship Block, SoTE is overshadowed by KoI, and there is usually too much archery and too little twilight for him to be effective. Even then, a well-timed SoTE can easily assign a tough minion to a support companion such as Legolas, which could result in easy kill. He can also put pressure on Merry, Friend to Sam or Sam, Son of Hamfast, each of whom must exert 3 times to prevent SoTE’s assignment attempts. Or assure the vitality of Isengard Smith at regroup phase in order to discard Free Peoples weapons (by assigning the Smith to a companion with low strength or no damage bonus, while Isengard Warrior can prevent directed and massive archery).

In Towers Standard, Saruman, SoTE becomes extremely dangerous due to the introduction of Saruman's Staff. This allows him to assign himself to a companion. A strength 10 Damage + 1 Fierce minion will usually clean out your opponent’s support companions with ease, and cards like Saruman's Snows make the process even easier. Use Men Will Fall (or Bill Ferny, SSF) if you’re struggling with Saruman’s base strength being too low, but remember he will usually not beat the opponent’s tank (E.g. Eomer, Third Marshal of Riddermark; Gandalf, Mithrandir). Don’t forget he can assign other minions too; there is more twilight in The Two Towers than Fellowship, so it may be possible to play Saruman in conjunction with Lurtz, another strong Uruk or a mounted Warg-rider.

His skill is especially strong against companions with 3 or less vitality, so exerting cards like One of You Must Do This, Orthanc Berserker, No Dawn for Men, Unferth or splashed Southron archers can pave the road for much easier kills. Such skill can also stack with the assignment abilities of other cards, like Orthanc Champion or Many Riddles, so the skirmishes are arranged exactly as you want.

• Support Companions
• Low Vitality Companions
• Self-exerting Companions

• Maneuver Wounding (in FOTR block, only Betrayal of Isengard and Hobbit Sword-play)
• Archery Wounding (If using Saruman's Staff)
• Foul Creation and A New Light (can discard Saruman from your hand)
• Eomer, Third Marshal of Riddermark (If using Saruman's Staff)
• Arwen, Queen of Elves and Men