A Fairy Tale of Builders and Valar - Winner Regiona Amiens 2.0

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• 2.0

So it took me a good amount of time to decide if I should publish this decklist or not. I've seen Wamma's version being really played on Ironthrone.net just after he published it, and people started, with reason, complaining about playing versus it ( and I had hard time training with my own builder deck).

This is my 3rd result after a 2nd place in a Store Tournament (23 players) and my 5th place in Hand's Tourney (121 players), bringing me to the 14th rank on IsleofRavens (http://isleofravens.com/).

I've started to play this deck 1 month ago, with the help of a French player, Marquis de Swag. Then Wamma's deck went out, with some nice ideas, but I think I didn't try to copy it, because some choices were not pleasant for me, and I wanted to make my own way with Builders. It performed well on Ironthrone.net, with 85% win versus C3 decks.

Main difference is the presence of Valar Morghulis. I think we can point out 2 major strenghts for Builders:

• The more they are, the stronger they become (it's Marquis and Wamma's idea)

• They are really cheap in midgame ( it's my basic idea for this deck).

So, with Builders costing 1 and 2 in midgame, Valar should not be a problem. More than that, it's a solution versus some rush decks, and very often, you'll find a turn to play it with good efficiency. I included of course Maester Aemon and Here to Serve in this perspective.

Summer was a logical choice for Agenda. +1 Reserve, +1 gold with Summer plots, and I can keep the House faction standing for Dolorous Edd.

About some choices:

• Arry is a good ambush with my 2 lacking icons. Thanks to Argento for this idea.
• Aemon is amazing on Valar, saving an Eastwatch Carpenter to have a great eco on Valar turn.
• Samwell is good in 1x, for Reserve, draw and icon.
• I only put 2x Abandoned Stronghold, because with Valar, their value change a lot from one turn to the next.

For the other choices, I think they are close from Wamma's deck ( they are not plenty of options for a Builder deck), and he explained it really well.

Main difference: Wamma's deck was in C3 (with Duel and Underground Vault), mine in C2 ( because Fall of Astapor isn't released yet in France)

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Report:

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Game 1: BYE ( Got a bye from a previous Store Championship)

Game 2: Zeskavenger RoC: A difficult game. He got Tywin, then Ilyn Payne, killed Halder in the first turn. Then, turn 2, he knelt Aemon with Ilyn, then killed him with the 7 cost Joffrey. But my Valar resets everything, and after it, I start winning by putting little cost Builders.

2-0

Game 3: NormandWizard LOTC: I really fear this match-up, but it went well for me. I got really fast my attachments, and Balon - Euron - Esgred got Craven. With my Haunted Forest, he was unable to make an unopposed challenge, and I won it fast.

3-0

Game 4: Courteous Corsair RoC: Good start for him with Tywin, Jaime and Ilyn T1. But my Valar T2 versus Marched to the Wall, left him only 4 golds, and he only played Harrenhal. With The Wall, The Haunted Forest, Iron Throne and Castle Black, plus Aemon and Halder, he didn't come back and conceded after 4 turns.

4-0

Game 5: Arutho Fealty: Bad start for me and good for him with Balon King and Dagmer. I Craven Dagmer, but he gets Rattleshirt Raiders and start putting a lot of pressure. T4, he makes a huge mistake with a big military challenge vs For The Watch ! And then, I Valar T5 and he loses a lot of his board, and finally lose with his own Valar on T7.

5-0

Game 6: Gabryel LOTC: We both are in 5-0, so it's the match for the 1st place. He starts well with Margaery and 2 Knights of the Reach, and my beginning is slower. Randyll make the job T2 before I Craven him, but I can't stop the rush. T5, I have the choice between Valar and Counting Coppers. I hesitate a lot, and finally choose C.C to have more dupes... Varys Riddle for him, and I lose on this. With Valar, both boards would have been totaly reset...

5 - 1

A little stress for me with the deck check, because I got a game loss in my last tournament for a mistake in my decklist. But this time, it's ok and I can play in this Top 8.

Top 8: Courteous Corsair RoC: Second match versus him and its Clansmen deck. This time, he starts really well with Tywin, Jaime and Ilyn, killing Aemon with Treachery. But T2, I valar one more time and he has no save, and I keep a duped Halder. But he attacks a lot with Timett and clansmen, and I have no Wall. Finally, the Iron Throne gives me the Dominance each turn, and I often win Power challenges, refilling the board each turn with 2-3 builders and blockin intrigue with Edd. I get to 13 powers versus 4, and finally get the Wall, defending it in the final turn !

Top 4: Vizzo Winter: I fear less Winter Greyjoy than Fealty or LOTC because of my Agenda and plots. He has a really bad start with 2 Drowned Men, and I have a lot of economy with 3 Roseroads really fast. He puts some pressure and leads 6-1 after 3 turns, but my board is in place and I will finally win, not losing challenges after turn 4.

Final: Gabryel LOTC: Revenge versus this player who finished with 6-0 in rounds ( and same in the previous Regional - really solid Tyrell player). This time, I have a lot of attachments. He has Margaery and 2 Knights of the Reach, but I put a poppy on Margaery so that he can't win with his knights alone. He climbs up to 8 powers to 1, but my board is in place. My Valar T6 kills all his chuds, and Renly, Knight of Flowers and Renly have a Craven on them, while Brienne and Margaery have a Poppy. He finally concedes T7 when I take the lead, 11 - 8.