Night's Watch Rains Top 8 Thrones WAR 2018 1.0

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This is the completely unoriginal deck I ended up taking to the top 8 at Thrones WAR 2018. I went 5-2 in the swiss, made the t32 cut at the 27th seed.

Going into the tournament, I was fairly certain I didn't want to play a pure defense/builder deck, since they aren't my style. I was between Rains and Wolf, and while I liked the Wolf version (Frozen Solid is super good right now,) I had many more reps with Rains. I was discouraged when I went 1-3 at a Store Championship with a different version of Rains, but ended up playing this version at another SC the next week and got 3rd place, losing only to both Targ players.

I don't remember every single detail on my games played, but I'll try to summarize the best I can.

Round 1 vs. Simon Hansen Stark The Conclave

Simon had Robb Stark (Core)b and Grey Wind out first turn, I was able to weather the wolf chomps with some dupes and Maester Aemon (Core). I Dohaeris'd next turn, Morghulis'd turn 3 or 4 and he wasn't able to keep a board. 1-0

Round 2 vs Luis Gustavo Bretas Baratheon Banner of the Sun

I had a good lead at the beginning, but Luiz was able to pick out some key cards with Seen In Flames and Queen's Men and come back. 1-1

Round 3 vs Sandy Barnabas Greyjoy Banner of the Dragon

Sandy had a good turn 1-2 where he had Theon Greyjoy (TFoA), Balon Greyjoy (Core), Salt Wife, and some other chuds, and one Iron Mines. I was able to flip into The Red Wedding to burn the save and Valar Morghulis the next turn. He was able to stay in the game with Theon and Flea Bottom, and at one point I used Halder to kneel The Wall to boost Qhorin Halfhand so he could kill a Second Sons. Totally worth it. 2-1

Round 4 vs Edward Kim Targaryen "The Rains of Castamere"

Edward had beaten me pretty soundly in the past two SCs, so I was not looking forward to this matchup. He was able to get a duped Khal Drogo early, and I didn't draw many characters. I was able to keep some semblance of a board with dupes or Craster and Aemon, but it was just delaying the inevitable. I lost the game, but to my surprise team Night's Watch managed to break .500 against team Targ 7-6, in what I thought was going to be a real bad round for us. 2-2

Round 5 vs Tony Clifford Tyrell The Lord of the Crossing

Before the game, Tony and all his Tyrell teammates offered a Gift of Arbor Red to drink to all of my Sworn Brothers, which I gladly accepted, more than once. (The wine was delicious!) Tony was able to get the The Hightower and Mace Tyrell turn 1, but unprotected. I tried to flip into Red Wedding, but with some smart ambushing, I wasn't able to win by 5. Turn 2 I flip Valar Morghulis to kill Mace, which Tony said after the game he wasn't expecting. Protip: if your opponent has the Macetower up, kill Mace immediately, you will not regret it. Tony wasn't able to establish a board presence after that (Red Wedding on The Knight of Flowers (Core) didn't do him any favors either) 3-2

Round 6 vs Frank "Hot Sauce" Rodriguiz Martell Banner of the Dragon

Frank was playing an aggresive Martell Dragon deck with Mag the Mighty, The Red Viper (OR), Darkstar, and Tears of Lys, along with the Plaza of Pride, Flea Bottom, Second Sons combo. I was able to stave off Mag with Aemon, before Mag had to eventually kill himself. Highlight for me was taking his Second Sons with Yoren, bestowing it with 1, then burying it with Valar Dohaeris the next turn. 4-2

Round 7 vs Murdock MacAskill Lannister "The Rains of Castamere"

Win and in. My setup was something silly. I think it was Yoren with Noble Lineage and Dragonglass Dagger, Isle of Ravens, and Underground Vault. Murdock was way ahead almost all game as I had to play any character I drew to keep his power total from getting too high. I had two Walls in my hand, but needed to keep a board down. He had Tywin Lannister (Core) with a Bodyguard turn one, and I ended up burying Ser Gregor Clegane with Dohaerys, killing Cersei Lannister (LoCR) with my Morgulis. Turn 6 I was down 12-1, and I thought I was dead in the water. I was able to play the Wall that round. Murdock was forced to Valar M his unprotected Ser Jaime Lannister (Core) and Tywin Lannister (Core), while I kept Craster and Jon Snow (WotN). A few turns and a few Cravens later, I somehow finished the epic comeback. 5-2, and in the cut, and Team NW had a good lead on everyone else.

t32 vs Jim Hansen Baratheon The Lord of the Crossing

Going in, I was worried about this match, as Jim got 2nd at US Nationals last year, and is a very good player. Crossing can win real fast if they get a jump on you, but I felt okay with both Valars. I setup Aemon and considered playing Here to Serve to find a dupe, and in case he had Summer Harvest. I decided against it and went with Late Summer Feast. Sure enough, he had Summer Harvest and flooded the board. I played Craster and the Wall and others, and played full defense to slow the rush while my resets did the work. I was able to survive the valars thanks to Craster and saves. Red Wedding on Littlefinger with 2 power (thanks to Disputed Claim) was big. In the final turn, I Cravened Beric in order to kneel Cressen so he couldn't win a power challenge.

t16 vs Jon "Darknoj" Andrews Baratheon Banner of the Dragon

Talk about a gauntlet! I set up a Haunted Forest and played the Wall early. Daario Naharis kept stealing my Littlefinger until I VMed. It was a very close game that went to time. In the last round, Noj won a power challenged with Beric and a Fickle Bannerman (from Flea Bottom), and I had to defend and lose with Qhorin and Ranging Party to stop a potential Superior Claim (which he didn't end up having anyway, but it would have won him the game there.) In the end, I won 13-12 after the Fickle Bannermen left play at the end of challenges. Super fun and intense game.

At this point, team NW had locked up the team victory, so the rest was about getting to the finals.

t8 vs Nick Hansen Martell Banner of the Rose

With two very close games in the books, I figured this one might not be the case. Nick played very well, and I only drew 9 characters over 4 turns, 6 of which were removed from play in 2 rounds. Alas, my Watch had come to an end. Nick ended up winning the whole thing in a crazy final, so I can't be mad. Congrats Nick!

Last year at Thrones WAR, I went 3-4. My goal this year was to beat that, I never imagined I would make t8, let alone be on the winning team! Thrones WAR is so much fun every year, and this was the best yet. Thanks to Neil for drafting me, and to all my teammates for kicking ass! Last but not least, to Ryan Jones and everyone for making Thrones WAR a complete blast!