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Core Set Cards

A Friendly Open review:

House Stark Fealty.

Goal:

Learn the basics of the game starting from the Core Set. We are reviewing decks that performed well, back in 2015, and why they were good back then. The idea is to help newer player understand the existent mechanics within a faction. Some of these mechanics are still strong today, many years later.

Themes:

Aggro, Rush, Stand, Renown.

The gameplan:

The main objective of the Stark player is to apply pressure on the board with cards like Winter Is Coming early, Ice (Core), Tears of Lys and then Marched to the Wall. Grey Wind (Core) can also kill low strength characters to squeeze the opponent into a Marched to the Wall.

Then, you get and renown.

• This Stark version (2nd place at Stahleck in 2015) is oriented with more icons then usual. With 3x Little Bird (Core), this deck plays A Game of Thrones. This is a great element of board presence which gives more flexibility in the challenges phase.
• Rush, stand and renown: Eddard Stark (Core) and Robb Stark (Core) will accelerate your number of with renown. Eddard will stand after each challenge initiated by your opponent. If your opponent attacks with a challenge, you can defend, kill a Stark character and stand all your characters to hit back.

Setup:

Try to get a combination of the following in your starting hand:

• Robb Stark (Core), Eddard Stark (Core), Catelyn Stark (Core)
• A combination of cards costing 6, 2 and 0
• A combination of cards costing 7, 1 and 0
• A combination of cards costing 5, 2, 1 and 0
• A combination of cards costing 3, 2 and 2
• The economy of the Core Set is limited. If you can setup Robb or Eddard without getting Marched to the Wall by your opponent, go ahead!

As in any deck, a starting hand with an economy card (limited locations, Heart Tree Grove, The Roseroad) is always advantageous. Optionally Littlefinger (Core) and Winterfell Steward are there to help. Note: Littlefinger (Core) would be better if used in marshalling for his draw ability.

Plots:

• If you have a Lord or a Lady in hand, open with A Noble Cause.
• The first turns are there for you to setup your deck's main game plan and going aggressively with the or challenge. Exceptionally here, you could push on the as well with Winter Is Coming.
• Keep the pressure on with Filthy Accusations as this plot may also benefit you to protect yourself against challenges if you don't found your Little Birds.
• A Game of Thrones will be excellent with Little Bird (Core).
• Heads on Spikes can be excellent to accelerate your and with a higher initiative, you usually get to decide if you go first or second.

Key cards:

• Robb Stark (Core) + Grey Wind (Core)
• During the challenges phase, you can also use Robb on your own character to stand everyone. To achieve this, use Grey Wind (Core) on a low strength character, and trigger Robb Stark (Core).
• Summer (Core) + Arya Stark (Core)
• Remove a Milk on your character with Confiscation.
• : multiple challenges with Eddard Stark (Core). Sansa Stark (Core), Robb Stark (Core) and the stealth from Arya Stark (Core) will always help. As always with Stark, more claim can be done via Winter Is Coming.
• Catelyn Stark (Core): An awesome control card since the Core Set and still played today. Use it appropriately during the challenges phase.

We inspired ourselves with decks that performed well in 2015, original list made by "Bragonlair". You can contact the Friendly Open on Discord where you'll find more advanced decks, discussion with other players and you'll find information on how to join our weekly tournaments. We hope this deck will help you learn more the basics of the game. Enjoy! :)