| Card draw simulator |
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| Derived from |
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| None. Self-made deck here. |
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marti.farrera 1
Hello everyone,
This was my 3rd Stahleck, and I want to start with an immense thank you to Philine, Schwaig, and the whole team for delivering a better tournament every single year. A big thanks as well to the entire community for keeping the game alive in such an open, friendly environment. And of course, to all my mates: Mario, Riki, Hector, Marcel, Arnau and Carles from the Meta Farró, and everyone from the Catalan Meta – absolutely TOP players.
I never dreamed of finishing King of Swiss at 8–0, nor of making Top 16, nor of winning the Team Event on Sunday with Riki and Marcel… So I didn’t take a single note during my games, and this report will be more of a “thank you”.
A few words about the deck: Faction: I’m a Targa loyalist. Not a single question or doubt here.
Agenda: I’m not gonna lie… I love burn and Trading With Qohor decks, but after Daenerys Targaryen (TFM)Targ Queen got restricted again ;( I decided to try Free Companies. During testing I quickly realised that the number of tricks you can pull with Targ mercenaries is absolutely insane. Too good not to play-and like me seems that there were so many players over the seven kingdoms thinking the same :D
List: I tested several versions, from very “one-shot” aggressive builds to this one, which already felt extremely resilient during testing and the tournament confirmed it. Probably main thing is including Meereen (R) as core of the deck, and Freedmen+Return to the Fields (R) (I am a bit ashamed but there is not a single Missandei).
Gameplay: Nothing revolutionary here, keep the board small (Marched to the Wall, The Mad King's Command, Valar Morghulis) and abuse all the jumpers — Aegon Targaryen (TSC), Tyrion Lannister (JS), Flea Bottom (R), Our Word Is Good as Gold… — to maintain board advantage.
I usually open with Late Summer Feast (or Bran the Builder vs Martell or Naval Superiority). Aegon, Brave Companions, Strong Belwas, Septa Lemore and Flea Bottom (R) help set up a strong Valar Morghulis if needed. Freedmen + Return to the Fields give you another saving plot and card draw (choose wisely when to bring Freedmen into play — ideally in your The Mad King's Command followed by Return to the fileds to recover hand). Honestly, I don’t think I’d change any plot. At one point Marched to the Wall was a claim-2 plot or even Battle on the Green Fork… but I told you, I’m a burn player — marching a big guy on setup feels too good. Also marching your Septa, Viserys or Freedmen isn’t that bad, and sometimes even saves your key character from the opponent’s Valar Morghulis. Last note: during testing I changed how I played around The Iron Bank (R) — better to spend gold than to hoard it and risk Lay Waste, We Do Not Sow, Frozen Solid, etc.
Highlights: Besides the usual stars — Aegon Targaryen (TSC), Tyrion Lannister (JS), Daario Naharis, Vargo Hoat, Golden Company…
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Meereen (R) (usually triggered in marshalling) gives the deck absurd resilience. Most cards except Beneath the Gold, the Bitter Steel can be played during marshalling. Always check your discard pile to know your odds to find what you are looking for.
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Septa Lemore saves Aegon and enables recursion. ALSO! I was extremely happy with Aegon’s Insight all weekend.
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Haldon Halfmaester — I know, 3x? He could be 2x, but people underestimate his reaction and he rarely whiffs in this deck. And I still remember the three times he put Aegon into play from the top of my deck…
Doubts / Flex slots: I ran Meereenese Market for some discard pile control as I was obsessed with GJ Winter-Balon Greyjoy (KotI) or in mirror games (but The Highroad could be an option). Varys (TTS), Strong Belwas and the 3rd Haldon all jumped in and out during testing. Had a long list of guys waiting at the bench: The Titan's Bastard, Ser Jorah Mormont (Core), Brown Ben Plumm, the third Golden Company... But probably adding the 3rd Our Word Is Good as Gold (as Jim showed me in Top 16) or even The Hand's Judgment are valid ideas. Try your versions and let me know ;)
Tournament Report Round 1 – Garlic (Bara–Qohor) — WIN: Lucky for me, Garlic didn’t see that many attachments, while I found Aegon and Septa early (and as far as I remember I also found Shadow of the east). He only managed to stick Milk of the Poppy + Hunting Accident, both of which disappeared on plot 3 thanks to MKC. Aegon + Flea Bottom + Second Sons closed the game on plot 3. I didn’t know it yet, but this match started my Hungarian-way facing: Garlic, Sassanid, and Rakowsky — all of them giving cool proxy cards with their faces. Thanks guys!
Round 2 – Daviduk91 (Stark–Fealty) — WIN: Scary. Classic fun-police Stark Fealty is one of the worst matchups for this deck (Catelyn Stark (Core), Last Hearth Scouts, Barring the Gates, Rickon Stark, Frozen Solid…). But David was on Direwolf aggro — not bad if I can survive the push. He baited my Marched on round 1 with lonely direwolf-Bran Stark (OR), then marshalled him again… Luckily I had Milk of the Poppy and Aegon with Daario dupes in hand. Belwas + Flea Bottom bringing dead buddies let me survive two 2-claim plots (he never saw Winter Is Coming, phew). MKC wiped the wolf board. On plot 3 he marshalled Robb Stark (Core), who became a mercenary after signing the Mercenary Contract I offered him — this gave me the game (50% credit of the victory to Marcel for insisting I should include 1x Merceneray contract). I resisted his first player push, hit back, stole Robb with Daario, and reached 15 power with unopposed + renown.
Round 3 – Sassanid (Bara–Trident) — WIN: I knew Jim’s version of the deck: aggressive and fast. I somehow survived the early push and timed resets well. I remember sniping Robert Baratheon (LMHR) with intrigue claim, and also naming him with Varys (TTS) during marshalling of my MKC turn (Sassanid confirmed the hit after the game). I didn't know it back then but here started my "Snipe the Bob" part of my tournement. That let me stabilise and take over reaching 15 power.
Round 4 – Aljosha (Bara–Summer) — WIN: A classic! Aljosha was my first opponent ever at Stahleck 3-years ago, and he also kicked my ass in the Spring at the Wall final. Great to play him again and see how much he’s grown as a player. However, Bara kneel is a good matchup for this deck with all the stand + jump tools. I controlled the board, hit Big Robert Baratheon (FotS) twice with intrigue claims (and saved Milk for the third copy- "Snipe the Bob"). MKC again was pretty harsh for him controling his draw and economy, letting me close at 15 power.
Round 5 – Connor Hardie (Martell–Knights) — WIN: Connor was flying, and I had no idea what to expect until I realised it was knight rush. Flea Bottom + Second Sons + Tyrion helped me to block most challenges despite his Former Champion stealth. My MKC hitting his A Tourney for the King was crucial. Followed by my VM next turn cleared his non-unique knights board leaving pretty useless his You Win Or You Die turn and let me ahead in power when time was called.
Round 6 – Raius (Lannister–KoS) — WIN: Playing on table 1 for the cut against one of the best players in the game… I was shaking. But I knew MKC was strong in the matchup, and finding Seized by the Guard for his The Red Keep (R) would be key — and thanks to Topdeck God I did find it. Slow start from Raius, setting eco with Bowels + Red Keep, Boros and Ser Robert Strong in shadows. I found Aegon + Septa on setup. I started fast, then he VM’d on plot 2, but I Marched to the Wall my Septa and saved+recycled Aegon. I was terrified of his Hired Assassin, but he never saw it. With Aegon recursion + MKC and his seized Red Keep, I closed at 15 power even forgetting renown on Vargo...Congrats again to Raius for the title! And I made the cut :D
Round 7 – Rakowsky Márton (Lannister–SoB) — WIN: Rakowsky is great player, and with his deck things could get rough. But I managed to block his intrigues and militaries, only letting the agenda trigger once — where he found Treachery. Then he decied to play MKC, (I guess hoping to interrupt) my Aegon in shadows or Flea Bottom. But during my Meereen in marshalling I found Varys (TTS) and sent him to the discard pile ready for challenges. He had a tough choice what to cancel. I brought Varys with Flea Bottom and named Treachery, then party started Aegon to find Tyrion who found Vargo… 7-character board vs his 3char. Concede and end of my Hungarian-way. Thanks for the cards!
Round 8 – Miha (Bara–Summer) — WIN: I knew Miha’s deck was next-level with insane draw (King's Landing Mob…). But kneel is not a terrible matchup for me, and I was extremely lucky he never found his domination tech (no Iron Throne, no Chamber). That let me stay ahead in power from the start. Before time was called, I played MKC and he played Grand Melee (perfect match for me). Aegon was in shadows, and I knew he likely had two Shadow Priestess (two warships had hit the deck bottom in MKC). So I passed challenges, forcing him to bring both out shadows kneeling nothing to try to make the challenge — then eventually Aegon could pop out find a friend and block easily. So he conceded just when time was called: I won with 9 power and became undefeated King of Swiss. Not even in my best dreams. Miha got his revenge in the team event final game though, where he did find the Domination tech…
I went up to the castle more like flying than walking... Top 32 – Bye — WIN: Best matchup of the day for my tired brain. Easy win dominated from the beggining.
Top 16 – Jim Hansen (Targ–Trident) — LOSS: If there’s one game I remember in detail, it’s this one. I’ve replayed it 1000 times in my head. Jim is an excellent player with an excellent deck — basically I got kind of "my own medicine". I knew whoever found Tyrion, Milk or Begging Brother first would take the game. Great setup from my side (I though): Meereen (R), A Pinch of Powder, The Roseroad, Haldon Halfmaester, with Aegon Targaryen (TSC) + Daario Naharis in hand. I marshalled Aegon, found Daario, and duped him. Jim had two Golden Companies and Brown Ben Plum with Vanguard Leader after marshalling. I made intrigue with Daario + Aegon, stole his bestowed Golden Company, pinched the other one. And here is where greed punished me: I attacked with the stolen Company to kill Brown Ben Plumm, but he had Our Word Is Good as Gold, found Daario, blocked (I had Waking the Dragon in hand, probalby I should have stood my Daario instead and secured the board wipe). Then he stood his Daario with Plaza of Pride, recovered his Golden Company, and saved his Daario stabilising board. My second mistake(?) I probably should have Valar Morghulis on turn 2, with my duped Daario, and killed his Daario knowing he couldn’t have Close Call. But I thought there were more guys to come and I’d find a better VM window. Wrong. He milked my Daario, duped him, and played Begging Brother, and the game snowballed from there. I remember he also saw all 3 copies of Our Word in 3 turns. So lesson learnt from the best Battle of the Trident player in the Seven Kingdoms→ Play 3x Our Word Is Good as Gold or include The Hand's Judgment. From there, I couldn't do much and he reached 15 power easily. Congrats to Jim for the amazing performance and deck!
If you made it this far — thank you! Feel free to try it and ask/suggest/comment whatever you want I am happy to discuss. See you all next year. The Catalans will return to reclaim the crown! ;P
Cheers, Martí Farrera