Here we go again - I don't care anymore 1.0

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• 1.0

Hi my friends,

I am sorry to start my report on a bit negative note. I decided to keep the name of the deck, cause that's how I felt it before the joust. After last year, I was burned out. I was struggling to find interesting decks for the whole year, unlike the year before. I just played what I enjoyed and was getting wrecked. Last week I played vs Johannes with my Lanni KoSh and got completely humiliated. At that point I mentioned "I always play my decks, but it is very tempting to copy that one." And I did, but it didn't felt right. Also my other deck wasn't ideal, so I just played one game with my Lanni. The deck I love and can play fairly well even while tired, drunk and against any opponent. I have changed few cards to lower the cost curve, upscale my draw and add some cancels and submited it even without further testing. Just ready to accept any result and hoped to have some decent games, trying not to be a joke.

But well... wheels of fortune are not predictable at all.

I don't know if I need to explain my deckbuilding decissions. Perhaps you can ask if you are interested. I will be happy to explain them. My whole strategy with my Shadows decks is to maintain the board position (My firt Lanni KoSh from 2018 was named "I won't hide in the shadow" for a reason). The main struggle is to build that kind of position.

The deck got hit pretty hard with redesigns (Agenda, Trade routes, Nighttime Marauders) but therefore even more challanging to play with. Personaly, that's the reason why I liked it even more.

Lets go to THE tournament.

I think it was most difficult start for me. I've been at Stahleck for 13th time, but I don't remember such huge games from T1.

1) Antii Kahra - Bara Summer This was the first time I saw this deck. I was so happy to play vs it, cause I felt absolutely safe. And it was the pain. We were fighting for each power. Antii had IKEA from the start. I was on 0 power for first 3 turns on purpose to not let him use it. And when he reached some, it went out for Set down our deeds. I don't even remember how I achieved to turn the game into my favor. Especialy when Antii got Laughing Lord. I discarded all 3 of my Cerseis on gold mine seconds after he marchalled it. I somehow managed the win, but it was tough.

2) Lennart Paga - Martell Trading with Braavos. Another great player. Former Stahleck winner and world champ. It was our first game ever offline. Lennart had better start. Econ, nope throne and was calling Bowels from T1. I was able to find Red keep and cancel it with Trade routes T3 and played it. As soon as I had my own Throne, I called Desert raider in challanges, killed Arianne with Roose Bolton (WK) and duped Ser Gulian Qorgyle with Bolton Flayer, which was basicaly over.

3) Albert Lorenzo - Targ SoB Another huge game. I was lucky enough to get Old Bill Bone and The Red Keep (R) from start to cancel Womb of the World (R). Alberto had nice start but since Roose killed Khal Drogo (DotE) I managed to get ahead at some point. Alberto triggered Womb in Draw and hoped to find Khal, but unfortunately it didn't happen. Great move!

4) Haruspex - Targ FC These decks are soo good and fun to play. I can imagine I would enjoy that a lot. I think this was one of my closest wins. I remember returning Ser Harry Stricklandto hand with Hound and it helped a bit to slow Haruspex down, but I don't remember the details. There was so much jumping with each character it was ridiculous. Nice game though. Somehow I managed to win.

5) Maximilian.proud - Targ Summer I think I Valared T1 to get rid of Khal Drogo (Core) into his Summer harvest. It was a huge hit. Max was still figting, but I felt like it is really difficult for him.

6) marti.farrera - Targ FC This was my first loss. I think it was the same deck as Haruspex played, but Marti mastered it. I don't think it was that one sided, but I didn't see my answers. In the end I had Red keep Seized and I had no chance. Well played Marti.

7) Palpa - Targ Crossing I have to admit I don't remember the details. As far as I remember I had fairly good hand and was able to take over the game quite quickly.

8) Hansen - Lanni Wolf This game was crazy. I was so paranoid about the interactions I know there are that I wasn't able to take the momentum. When I was finally able to had an adventage, Hansen took my duped KoF that was alone on table by Reek :D That was so cool I wasn't even mad. I had to return my duped Tyrion cause I was affraid of Ramsay Snow etc. I don't even know if he has it, but I felt like it is a good move. Game went on time. I had a second loss, but it was absolutly fair. Well played.

Thankfully I had a good SoS and got a bye for TOP 32.

TOP 16 - Miha Vrbanec - Bara Summer

Another great game. In the end I was able to get the board position also thanks to Bolton Flayer. I have discarded about 8 cards with Marauders. Drew into all 3 banks and 2 feints and somehow managed to take over the game on Dominance in last round with KoF having a few powers.

TOP 8 - Jim Hansen - Targ Battle of the trident

Jim didn't have great setup. I think it was Daario with income and Plaza of Pride. I was seriously considering VM T1, but I was worried I migth need it in a late game, so I went with classic income and tried to fight on the table. Jim had insane T1 and was leading the game, altought I was fighting for the board. The game took twisted around at the point when Jim played MKC after his Siege prep and I killed his Aegon with my Assassin while I had red keep in play. At this point I was able to kneel something with Priestess and go out with KoF who rushed to 15 power.

TOP 4 - Victor Marquina - Bara FC

I was a bit affraid of this matchup. Victor played Sala and Khorane who can both mess up with my cancels. He had a good start with Begging Brother and I was forced to Valar T3. Vicor had second Begging, but was a bit unlucky with econ and I kept canceling Iron bank with Red keep. Except one turn when I made a mistake and let him start I was always first. I think that was another game when Roose killed Robert Baratheon (FotS) and at that point I took over the game. In one of the latest turns I canceled Khorane with Red keep. In plot due to trade routes I was able to bring out Tyrion, hiddne knelt Red keep, pulled it out in draw and canceled Iron bank in Marshalling. At that point the game was over. Super intense. Altough I felt I had the edge most of the game, I was still afraid what may happen, cause his deck can be really fast. Thanks for the game and congratz to a great run. You have totally deserved to make it at least that far. Your deck is a master piece and I consider it one of the best deck building achievements within last years.

For me, it was a break through. This was my 4th game in TOP 4 within 13 years at Stahleck. In 2014 (Last 1st edition Stahleck?) I was completely crused with my summer deck. In 2018 I lost to SGE. He deserved the win, but I felt I could win if I played better. And 2024 with my NW Fealty was first time I knew the deck deserved it. It was one of the greatest decks I ever made and it lost only on time. If there was more time, I am confident I would had a good chance to make it. But now, with the deck I had no expectation It could make it, I was there. At that point, first time I started to think. Wow, I am so close. I could actualy make it. And when I looked at the other table, I saw Gabi shaking hand with Superduck, smile on his face. I knew it is even closer.

Finals vs Gabi - Martell Crossing

Gabi is one of the people I was always loosing to. I had one recorded win vs him. I had better stats even vs Rein whom I consider my Nemesis. I had really nice setup with 3 cards in shadow, roseroad and one more location. With Boros, Penny and Cersei in shadow I was confident to open Valar Morghulis. Kind of my signature. Move that won me a lot of games, but lost me TOP4 vs SGE 2018. And after my mistake vs Gabi, leaving him 2 unnecessary unopposed challanges I was shaking again, but I shaked the nervosity away and started to focus. Boros found Gregor, I have returned him with The Iron Bank Will Have Its Due, went out with both Cersei and Penny, discarded Doran and something else and I was in the game. Second turn Gabi tried HoS to pull my Gregor, but hitted Red Keep instead. I have knelt Myrcella with Priestess and killed her with Gregor. First snow in T3. Gabi had only small characters and tried to reestablish the board, but when I defended all challanges vs You Win Or You Die, it was over. I had KoF and all the answers I needed, together with Alchemists' Guildhall an Bolton Flayer and finished it this or next turn.

Gabi, thanks for the game and congratz on your awesome run. I owe you a world cause I believe the game vs Superduck would be really tough for me. You had an amazing run and your deck is simply awesome. You are the first one who was able to make Doran Martell (SoD) work on a big tournament. Truly amazing.

I would like to thank you all for the games. For all the support you expressed to me during the tournament. All the trust and kind words. I was really touched and had tears in my eyes, when it hiited me.

Thanks to all the people who contributed to make this awesome event to happen again. Especially Philine and Schwaig, cause I still don't understand how were you able to organize Stahleck with your little wizard. Love you guys.

Thanks to the DT / playtest members for everything you are doing for the only game that matters. I know how much time it takes to maintain the organization in a good shape.

Last but not least, thanks to all my meta mates, who are making Stahleck unforgottable for so many years.

Namely:

Congratz to Alex for his 2nd place in his first melee Tassos for his awesome Targaryen – Assault from the Shadows deck and 8th place in joust (+ overall winner) Thanks to Milan and his breakfasts (Slivovice with Honey) Martozar for brainstorming over KoSh deck since 2018 Congratz to Dimi who made a great run (5:3 with a chance to advance till the last round despite to almost no testing over the course of the year)

I am proud of you guys. Thank you and see you next year.