Stahleck Champion: The Bullies of the Realm 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

Hello there!

I wanted to share this incredible deck, that gave me the World Championship in Stahleck 2024.

I will try my best to give a full description on why the cards are here and how to use them. I would love to see your comments on this deck.

Why this deck?

When I saw the agenda, I thought that it would be kind of bad, just to create the themed decks that weren´t competitive (ladies, knights, bastards, bestow...). But since for me, the deckbuilding is one of the best parts of the game, I wanted to try to create a competitive deck with Uniting the Realm.

I always try to make off-meta decks, like the Drowned Gods deck, that gave me the Spanish Nationals.

I didn´t have any references, or any idea where to start (which makes me even prouder of being able to win worlds with a deck 100% original).

So I made a meta call. I saw the meta being very character focus, and wanted to create something to be able to control the board, and have answers to almost any deck.

I made the first version 2 days before the spanish nationals, and didn´t have time to test it. It went way better than expected, making it to top, but losing against my friend Lannister. The deck wasn´t good enough, it had a lot of cards that were just there to fill up empty spaces.

After A LOT of testing, I ended up removing almost 20 cards and replacing them by cards that had a true impact to the game.

This deck is harder to play than it looks. You are not going to make a lot of combos or crazy stuff, but if you make 1 mistake, you might lose the game.

So let´s go for it.

The Deck

Plots:

At the gates: The starter. Economy in Uniting the realm is tricky, you don´t have the in-faction economy locations, and you don´t play reducers, so I thought I needed to play at the gates to start with Gates of the moon. You don´t really mind giving 1 extra gold to your opponent, since most of the time you will either kill, discard or steal whatever he/she marshalls :). Warning: If you play against choke, martel 321, or any deck that might start with Varys Riddle or City Blockade, start with Time of Plenty better.

Late Summer Feast: I had problems with economy in my firsts versions, and had big problems against greyjoy winter, so I added Late Summer Feast as solution.

Marched: Not much to say. I wanted to have 2 marched, but I needed every single one of the other plots.

Return to the fields: Crazy plot, I love it. You usually know, when you are controlling the board, and expect a reset, you use this to save your characters and draw. You also can use it to recicle Yoren and Ramsay, or just to discard the cards you stole and draw. You NEED this draw in this deck, and this is one of the cards that will give it to you.

Siege Preparations: This plot is very important, and you need to knwo when to use it, right before Valar or when you have Queensguard in play.

Valar Morghulis: The reset in case you start behind, or don´t see the attrition guys.

The Main Deck:

Balerion: I wanted this card for his ability more than the undying. One of the worst enemy of this deck is Begging Brother, so this helps a lot, to remove gold from him or other important bestow card.

Erik Anvil Breaker: Crazy card for uniting the ream. The problem with attrition is that it doesn´t gain power, and I wanted to have other win conditions. Erik, plus the standing enigne, with all his keywords, makes him really good.

Last Hearth Scouts: Really good card. In this meta, I saw a lot of good jumping decks (dothrakis, shadows, clansman...), and I wanted to have the answer for that. Some games, this card gave me the win.

Kerwin: Some save, to keep the important guys on board.

Ramsay: Once you have remove, killed or stolen the smaller characters, here comes Ramsay to make you sacrifice the last one standing. Is a moral killer for your opponent.

Recruiter for the Watch: Insanely good card. Gives you control over the board really quick and gives you your military claim, spacially good agains aggro decks.

Ser Ilyn Payne: MVP. I had the crazyiest moves with this guy. You will wipe the board with the standing engines from Targaryen. I will tell you some of the best moments in the report section.

Ser William Wells: I LOVE this card. I believe is one of the most undrated cards from the latest packs. For 2 Gold, you make an opponent´s character useless... it´s incredible. I had 1 at first, but put the second because it´s too good, and I can use the copy for the standing engine.

3 Finger Hobb: One of the most important cards, make you draw 2 cards (usually, since you have high reserve value), and you really need the draw.

Varamyr: Great x1. Very versatil and can give you the extra draw you need.

Victarion: Like Erik, a card that makes you win a lot of power, close games, also intimidate, and can save himself.

Yoren: Incredibly good, after you have dealt with the smaller characters, take control of cost 4-5. Thats a cost 6 that gives you a 4-5 character and removes a 4-5 character from the opponent, the value is incredible.

OathKeeper: x3 in all Uniting the Realm. 1 gold, +2 str and you can search ANY character in your deck... it´s nuts. Depending on the status of the game, you look for one answer or the other.

Queensguard: Too good to stay around much longer. The combo with Ilyin Payne, Erik, Victarion, Varamyr...The fact that is not unique, and you can do it 3 times per round. I would say that this card is going to either be banned, or podded with the agenda (I hope is the second option, since this deck would be way worse without it).

Braavos: Extra economy. x1 is enough, since most of the time you won´t have a crazy board and is easily countered by Greyjoy.

Harrenhall: Really good card. You want to use it for the bigger characters 6+ cost, since you are able to deal with the rest. It puts a lot of preassure on the board.

When I woke: An off-meta card that I believe is insanely good. You dealt with the smaller characters and can attack with military, they either pay the claim with the remaining characters of or put them in the top of their deck. The fact that works in attack or defense is really good.

Conclusion: You have a deck with so many ways to deal with the board (characters), Ilyn, Ramsay, Yoren, recruiter, harrenhall, when I woke... In every game you will have an answer, and if you don´t find it , you may search for it with oathkeeper.

You might have trouble with location based decks, winter decks, and attrition decks.

Tournament report:

1) Win vs Thomas Fotiadis (Greyjoy - Rains): I had Ilyn Payne since the first turn with Queensguard. I used him 6 times in one phase (yes, times), using 2 queensguard. Thomas used 2 vince and 2 risen, but it was too much.

2) Win vs Alexander Maasik (Martell - House with the Red Door): Icon remove Martell, I had control over the board the whole game. Bad counter for Alexander.

3) Win vs alextrigw (Martell - Knight of the Hollow Hill): Probably my worst match-up. I was really scared of this game, and I was right. The whole game, Alex was controlling the board with Lysa Arryn, Varys, resets, vengance for elia... It came down to the last plot, that Alex chose to go first, couldn´t use an Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken, and I was lucky to take a Vengance for Elia in the intrigue challenge, and win the game. Great game, very close.

4) Win vs Reinhard Schefcik (Targa - Brotherhood): First of all, shout-out to Reinhard, super nice guy, great player, and very nice to play with/ against. He had a great set-up, but my deck counters his. He has all this small characters and cost 5. When I dealt with his board, he couldn´t make it back. Bad match-up for him.

5) Lose vs Francis Cote (Lannister - Rains): What a great guy. We had the chance to know each other during the tournament, and I really hope to see you next year. He started with the only copy he said he has of the Red Keep (like Begging brother, one of the worst enemies of this deck), had a lot of Lannister tech, like Lannisters Honor, treachery and of course the Rains. I made 1 big mistake, that could have change the game, but still, great game, great player, very deserving win for him.

6) Lose vs Anselme (Baratheon - House with the Red Door): Ansemle controled the game since turn one. No mistakes, really good choices with his black cells, milked Ilyn turn 1 and recruiter. Nothing to say, he destroyed me since turn 1. I was a little worried, because I had no more chances to lose if I wanted to make it to top.

7) Win vs Palpa (Targa - Sea of Blood): I have played against Palpa online few times. It´s always great to meet the players in person. This game was really good for me. I controlled the game since turn one, and didn´t let him cook.

8) Win vs Štěpán Kadlec (Stark - Battle of the Trident): I didn´t imagine that my last game before top would be soooo difficult. Great deck, he was consistenly replenishing his hand, and to be 100% honest, I won because of luck. He played 2 heads on spikes into 2 locations, while i had the rest of the hand full of characters (and he was 2 power away), so yes, got lucky there.

Top 32) vs Ricard Murillo (Lannister - Lord of the Crossing): Ricard is one of the nicest guys you can meet. We were playing the day before, and I am so happy that he made it to the top. He started with Cersei and Guntor, and I started with Ilyn Payne and another character. He let me go first, and i killed Gunthor and used Yoren to take his Cersei, he played Bronn, who got killed again with Ilyn, because I had Plaza of Pride, and the game was over from here. Too bad to eliminate a team mate, but so glad he made it to the top, eventhough he doesn´t play that much.

Top 16) vs Albert Lorenzo (Targaryen - Sea of Blood): Albert (Sazy), is a legend in this game. He has won a ton of tournaments, and he is an extremely good player and a friend. I was lucky to see the Last Heart Souts, the card that I want against a jumping deck, but making great choices, he managed to keep the game supertied. I ended up winning when the time run out, thanks to Victarion with Queensguard.

Top 8) vs SGE (NW - Wolf): I didn´t want to face attrition, since as I mentioned before, it can be bad for me. Luckely, he didn´t see the wall, and I was able to control the board all the game, thanks to harrenhall and the rest of the attrition cards.

SemiFinal) vs Alex France (Greyjoy - Fealty): Alex is one of the best players in this game, and I never had the chance to play against him in person. He is such a sweet guy, and an incredible player. I knew I had to be very focused in this game. I train with Harren, which I belive is one of the best players if not the best player in this game, and he also played Greyjoy - Fealty, so I knew the deck and I knew my deck had the upper hand. Alex started with Alannys duped and Murenmure. I know how important is Alannys in this deck. I decided to start with Marched and marshall yoren to take control of Alannys. Then Alex (who had bad draw), marshalled Balon, and some other small characters. I actually search for Balerion with Oathkeeper, to be able to deal with his begging brothers. I was able to play Ilyn Payne, with Queesnguard and kill 4 of his characters. The next plot, he marshalled Victarion, but I when he did the military challenge with balon, I used When I Woke and the game was over. Shouout to Alex, the best overall player. I can´t wait to play again against you.

Final) vs Reinhard Schefcik (Targa - Brotherhood): Reinhard kicked 2 of my teammates (Victor Marquina and Pulpozzilla), and won the semifinals agains Raius. I mean, that tells you how good this guy is. I honestly was really happy that he won, since I knew his deck and I knew that my deck countered his. I just needed to start good enough and I could win this. Unfortunatelly, on top of my deck being a really bad match-up for Reinhard, he was really unlucky with his mulligan, and started with 3 gold set-up. He marshalled Tormunt and Varamyr, wich I stole with yoren, removed the icons with ser william wells, and kill his tormunt and the final was over. Thanks again to Reinhard, for being such a sport, his attitude and congrats for making it to the final.

Final thanks

I want to thank the organizers, for another great year in Stahleck, I have no idea how you manage to organize this, and make it go smooth and perfect, but every single one of us is incredibly gratefull for your effort. THANK YOU.

I want to give a big shout out to the Catalan Meta. We are a very active meta, with one of the greatest players of this game, and this year we had so many players in the top. Big shoutout to Lannister, Hidra, Hansen, Martí Farrera, Ricard Murillo, Hector, Albert Lorenzo, Paul, Estupe, Reico, and the rest of you who make our Meta one of the strongest in the game.

Special thanks to the Thursday Club (we meet every thursay to play in person):

- Harren: Harren has been kind of my mentor/ coach, to take my gameto a very competitive level. Practicing with him, getting his tips and expertise, has been one of the keys to make me be able to win the world championship, so a big part of this win is yours too. - Pulpozilla: Pulpo is one of the players with the biggest improvement I have ever seen in this game. The last year, he has become a top player and you can see it in his results (6th in the world). Playing every week with this kind of level, makes you really good. - Eric: Matamagos is one of the most creative players I have met. Actually, he created the Ilyn Payne/ Queensguard combo. He is a deckbuilder legend and always brings very original stuff. He is also a good friend and my travel buddy. - Victor Marquina: I believe him to be one of the best players in the world. Very technical and very smart. I always ask him for tips to improve my decks. He was king of swiss in Stahleck, so you can see what kind of players I have around. - Charly: Charly couldn´t make it to Stahleck, but is also part of the Thrusday Club. Great player and I great guy, I really hope he can make it next year. - Ermengol: Ermen was the one that told me to put the 3rd Oathkeeper, and thank god I did. Thanks a lot.

Thanks a lot, I hope you enjoy this deck, and I would LOVE to see your comments, questions and recommendations.

Alex Bastarós (Ser Carter),