Defeating the Balrog with Gandalf

[Shorogyth]

So it took a few tries but I made it. Very cool idea.

For those interested: I wrote down a few notes on how to do it in a guide.

One thing in the direction of the devs: please do not allow the revenant to spawn as a threat-event during the Balrog fight. (The spectre that heals up the enemies if your fate meter is not full). It can kill you if you get unlucky (and if he does not heal the Balrog exclusively). You cannot really avoid triggering the spectre and while it is possible to win anyway, you need to be quite lucky to do so.

Ah and I had a bug. I had a "spawn a random unit" card and the one that I spawned wanted to reduce one obstacle by 2. No obstacles present meant the game was broken.

[Farcast]

Thanks I'll check the guide.

What's the reward?
Is it a card?
I find it annoying that I can't keep track of the "missing" cards anymore.
I still have to do the Fords of Isen, Gundabad, and the Barlog on Expert.
I suppose I miss at least a couple of cards between these.

[Shorogyth]

The reward is a card. It is a "must have" in the sense that it is a straight upgrade to an existing card but still not all that relevant of a card.

You don't need to do the Fords first, but it helps to have the Dismounted Riders (and the Fords are by far the best content for this game imho). You can grab another powerful/expensive block minion. 2 attack are essential and 2 fate points are rather helpful.

[Farcast]

Thanks for the info!
The way cards are scattered and hidden definitely isn't helping completionists..

[Farcast]

Wow, I've been trying this challenge.
This is INSANE.

Also I have to express how I dislike how this was buried in the random challenges.
I mean if you want to beat specifically the Expert Barlog challenge you OBVIOUSLY need a custom deck and several tries, and try try try try UNTIL all the stars finally align.
If ever!
This forces the player to a completely unnecessary phase of entering-exiting-reentering the Mirror, countless times, JUST to get access to the Balrog challenge.

I mean if it had to be so specific and had to have a specific prize attached to it, they could've at least made this challenge singularly selectable.

As it is, it's insane.
I doubt I'll ever beat it.

[Shorogyth]

You are right, it should have been an Encounter that you can just choose.

You can absolutely beat it though! Restarting the Mirror is bothersome but does not take all that long. If you keep in mind that only the 2-2 minion is even mildly dangerous you can beat it.

Honestly, if you bring both Dis AND the ent you should have a 90% of beating the Balrog now that I think of it. No chance of a random "Dis is exhausted, you loose" situation...

[Farcast]

Ok I may have been a bit overdramatic, I finally beat it.
It did take several frustrating attempts though.
Still no fan of the random challenge mechanic.

Now I miss Galadriel and the rest....

[Farcast]

OUCH, do I have to unlock it TWICE?
I got just one copy of the card.
They definitely meant to mess with us with this one.

[Shorogyth]

I also just got one copy. I assumed there only IS one copy to be had. I don't know though... But once you know how to beat it, it is not really hard anymore. Next time I'd bring the ent as my third hero and would be very surprised if I did not win (with Gandalf).

[Portwills]

If you just use Dis to defend (she gains protect every time) to absorb all the damage done by the Balrog, that quest is actually a breeze