Hardy Garrison is part of a cycle of cards that all focus on losing initiative to aid the free peoples (other cards in the cycle include Brooding on Tomorrow, A Light In His Mind, Glimpse of Fate, Memories of Darkness and Fell Deeds Awake).

The cycle is typically combined with cards that allow for manipulating the number of cards in hand after the shadow phase. Gandalf, Manager of Wizards is a favorite, since cards don't actually get discarded and a Gandalf splash gives access to easy condition discarding with Brooding on Tomorrow. Decks focused specifically on Hardy Garrison favor cards that can also dish out wounds or exertions, such as Madril, Faramir's Aide and Rohirrim Guard. Pippin, Wearer of Black and Silver can be used to gain and lose initiative multiple times per turn, and typically finds himself combined with Faramir, Bearer of Quality in standard and expanded format decks.

The card is devastating towards strength based decks, as it prefers outright killing over resolving skirmishes. When paired with A Light In His Mind and Brooding on Tomorrow, it also fares well against corruption or condition heavy shadows. Rainbow variants can typically be run with various packages for dealing with a number of different decks.

The entire cycle is highly susceptible to condition discarding. It is also weak against cards that give the shadow initiative automatically (such as Harsh Tongues or a well-played Streaming to the Field). Having a fall-back strategy (such as Daddy Twofoot and No Visitors with Pippin, or Ranger's Longbow with Aragorn, Driven by Need) or using Hardy Garrison as a small component of a greater strategy can minimize damage from such cards.

Wound-Wound (Standard Format)

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