Start Gandalf, burn someone, play 3 Ancient Elven Warrior and you have 3 Archers (4 if you started with Galadriel).
5 if you started Galadriel, Gandalf, and 2x
Lorien Elf. Also note that the unburned
Lorien Elf will be strength 10 (but, alas, still vitality 2) due to the Ancient Elven Warriors (who stack). Even the Galadriel Ring-bearer will be strength 9, and if you get another Ancient Elven Warrior out there (maybe by burning the other
Lorien Elf), you have a strength 11 Ring-bearer (not counting any cards she bears). You can then kill Gandalf to get back down to 5 companions.
Maybe make it:
![2 [2]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/2.png)
Ancient Elven Warrior
![Elven [Elven]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/elven.png)
Companion • Elf
Strength 5
Vitality 3
While you can spot three non-unique
![Elven [Elven]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/elven.png)
companions, this companion is strength +3 and an
archer.
Three of these will still be three 8-strength archers.
![2 [2]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/2.png)
Dwarven Conscript
![Dwarven [Dwarven]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/dwarven.png)
Companion • Dwarf
Strength 5
Vitality 3
This companion is strength +1 for each
![Dwarven [Dwarven]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/dwarven.png)
condition you can spot that has a Free Peoples' card stacked on it (limit +4).
This companion is
damage +1 for each
![Dwarven [Dwarven]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/dwarven.png)
condition you can spot that has a Shadow card stacked on it (limit +4).