The Rains of Pyke 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

I took this to a local Trident event this weekend and would have won the whole thing were it not for two shocking play mistakes in the final round (miscalculated STR on my "I'm going to flip wildfire when I trigger the agenda" intrigue challenge and then I left an open board against an opponent who I knew ran PTTS).

This deck jumped out as me as a valid idea thanks to JCWamma's spectacular write up of his Tyrell Rains deck. It was his insight in particular about what made his deck work that started me down this path. Wamma credits the ability for Tyrell to mess with challenge STR as the key to his Rains build. This got me thinking: Who else can mess with challenge math? Greyjoy, of course. From that central point I tried to port Wamma's build into a Greyjoy shell and managed to get Wamma himself on board with the first few drafts. What became clear was that I was forcing the deck into a mould that just wouldn't work without the Arbor and Varys. So, I pressed reset on the whole thing and just went from the ground up but kept to the central premise at all times: Mess with math. This was the end result.

The main thrust of the deck itself is little different to a typical "go first" Greyjoy fealty and for the most part that is exactly how it should be played. Hammer any opening that presents itself, valar when the time is right don't be afraid to flip Rise early. It's the agenda that really makes the difference here. It serves two important functions here and the first is mind games. Just like Wamma mentioned in his write up, Rains introduces an extra layer of threat that your opponent has to consider when you announce any intrigue challenge. Beyond that is the general snort of derision when people see it set up. My first round opponent yesterday asked (in good nature, I might add) if I was taking a mulligan because I didn't see the one intrigue icon in my deck. Needless to say... This deck catches people out wonderfully. I haven't seen reactions to a deck like this since I took Lannister White Book to Stahleck. Worrying about intrigue challenges is not something that most people have in mind when seeing a Greyjoy house card. The second is simply the utility it brings to this kind of deck. Both Power/Filthy activate more opportunities for unopposed challenges where as being able to flip into something with claim on your Valar turn is the cherry on top for the house best placed to leverage it in the first place. Riddle got me handfuls of cards from either coppers or Summons. Littlefingers Meddling really just brings the numbers up here and it isn't all that great to be honest, where as Wildfire is simply sensational if you get the go off with it before you start with military challenges/anything involving Victarion.

My only concerns are a relative lack of draw. I had no real cause to trigger We Do Not Sow all day, so one of those could become a Support of the People I guess, but lowering the amount of WDNS starts to press on my other nagging concern which is attachment control. I was given absolute fits by a Martell player yesterday due to negative attachments. This element of the deck definitely needs more refining.

Anyway, consider this version 1 of the build. This is currently my baby, so expect to see more of it as time goes on. I will talk about it on Banter Behind the Throne at the earliest opportunity!