
- BGG rank
- BGG #309
- BGG rating
- 8.4
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core Set
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2022

Expansion for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
Rules assistance for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck is an expansion for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game released in 2022 for 1–4 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Nate French and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Variable Set-up.
The Kingdom of Gondor has been beset by enemies for centuries. Constantly under the threat of Mordor, the people of Gondor have grown into stalwart defenders of the Free Peoples, and now players can experience the unyielding will of the Gondorians as they arrive in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game. These proud warriors stand tall in the face of adversity, which is reflected in their high-risk, high-reward abilities and tendency to be strongest while threat is high. For players who enjoy come-from-behind victories and never backing down, they will love the Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck! This expansion comes with a 53-card pre-built deck, giving players the chance to start playing right out of the box. -description from publisher
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck supports 1–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck is 60–90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Collectible Components. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Variable Set-up. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck are: Nate French. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core: Defenders of Gondor Starter Deck as an expansion for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game to use it. Check that your edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.