Black Rider Promo & Post King Block

[ArtificerAlf]

Can anybody please explain when this promo came out? I'm typically focused on sets 1-10, but if this was a promo in place/legal in Movie block, I may look to pick some up for my collection.

Additionally, when the Shadow cultures changed after Mount Doom, why are there still cards from older cultures being included. I look through some of the later set lists and see things like The Mouth of Sauron, Lieutenant of Barad-dur and wonder why only one card is included in later sets.

Even the Wraiths from the Wraith collection look like something to consider getting, despite my set 1-10 focus.

Thanks!

[leokula]

I can't recall exactly when it came out, but it was sometime before Return of the King.

As for the older cultures being included after Shadows, I think it was just for certain cards that didn't fit any other culture, or to just add some flavor and uniqueness to a few special cards.

[Phallen Cassidy]

The first mention of Black Rider is in February 2003: https://web.archive.org/web/20040812070930/http://www.decipher.com/content/2003/02/020503fierceblackrider.html

Based on the articles which followed, the first stop in the promo tour was in April while set 6 wasn't released until July. There was mention of the card being legal a year after release, meaning promo holders would've been able to play the card as soon as set 8! When the time was near, though, they released this table: https://web.archive.org/web/20040821144137/http://dgma.com/resource/default.asp?id=31

You'll notice that Black Rider doesn't have a real release date, just "whenever we put the card in packs." My guess is Decipher found the card playing stronger than they thought it would. As an aside, the Weta cards would've been tournament legal at the end of what we call Movie Block (simply Standard at the time), but whether they should be legal for Movie Block has the subject of debate around here.

[ArtificerAlf]

Cool, thanks! It seems like a fun card to get with its history started in the original Movie Block. Now to add them to my list to acquire.....

[ket_the_jet]

I always thought Black Rider was a cool way to make Nazgul more playable on a budget in the early blocks. After all, how different is it from Morgul Hunter?

I also think that Nazgul should have gotten a generic version of Ancient Chieftain, Morgul Warden, or Uruk Lieutenant.
-wtk

[Jerba]

The Black Rider Tour was awesome. LOTR TCG designers came to our little store and played a tournament with us. Our player base was mostly teenagers and they absolutely loved it. I even beat the designer, Mike Reynolds (it was sealed and he probably let me win, but hey!). The Fierce shirt and hat I won were so great, I still have the shirt but not sure about the hat. Great memories.

[ArtificerAlf]

The Black Rider Tour was awesome. LOTR TCG designers came to our little store and played a tournament with us. Our player base was mostly teenagers and they absolutely loved it. I even beat the designer, Mike Reynolds (it was sealed and he probably let me win, but hey!). The Fierce shirt and hat I won were so great, I still have the shirt but not sure about the hat. Great memories.

This is a great story, thank you so much for sharing! Reading it made me smile.

[menace64]

Once upon a time I collected LotR promo cards and I got one of my Black Rider cards signed by Kyle Heuer during the Tour. Very happy memory.