2nd place Leiden Regionals 6-1 (4-0 in swiss) 1.0

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Wow, I did not expect anyone to derive a deck from mine! ^^ Good to see that it brought you to the finals!

I have a question about your experiences with it: how often did you go 2nd player and was that bad at all? I went surprisingly often second and it really helped me to choose to deny whatever I want to deny and then go for my 3 attacks, almost always stealthing the remaining dudes for 2 to 3 up challenges... I made almost no use of Raiding Longship and The Kraken's Grasp even though I am a big fan of them... now I might test lists without them and add some other stuff giving me more options...

Good job!

@RoflRoyI usually go second the first 2 turns, unless I can win on turn 2 using Balon. Milk is a big help there to remove opponents stealth characters from the equation. Counting coppers is great in GJ, thats what really drew me to your deck, however if you face any Bara players, this deck falls flat on its face. Very fun deck :)

Won a small store competition using this. The poppies were the cards of the tournament. Helps a LOT

I like the look of this. I need a deck for next weekend, and don't have a lot of time to test :( Might have to borrow this :)

Doesn't playing Pentoshi cause major issues though? I mean a typical opening is A Noble Cause. So you're gaining 10 gold, but the opponent is getting 8 gold PLUS his discount of 2 on a Lord/Lady. So essentially all you have done is had both of you gain 10 gold. How is your board state supposed to be much better than their one after that?

I also don't get how you can possibly win on Plot 2 unless the opponent literally drew no characters in setup or in two turns. Even winning on Plot 3 seems a little optimistic.

not really, if you have a kingsroad out it can be even more resources and it also depends whats in their hands, some people summons because they have no characters to play. If the pentoshi can get balon/Euron & asha out its worth it. as you normally Noble to get one good guy out. even if you cant get 2 main charachters out it will help you get fodder and ships out which are essential to your strategy for unopposed. you can rack up like 6-10 power by round 2 easily if all goes well. Balon is amazing with the LotC. If you have seastone out you just for your 3rd challenge of 7 STR without buffs. If not then . Worked amazingly well for me yesterday.

@TheBrokenMeepleYou play pentoshi because it allows you put the pieces you need to win into play as fast as possible. For example during 1 game I had a setup of balon, 2 fishmongers and a roseroad (probably the best setup the deck can have) Then with pentoshi and a kingsroad I had 15g on turn 1. I played great kraken, seal of the hand, theon, iron mines and a priest of the drowned god. I proceed to get 3 unupposed challenges resulting in 9 power on the first turn. My opponent stole 1 in an unopposed power challenge when he hit back, leaving me at 8. Turn 2 I play rise of the kraken, making a power challenge first with balon and theon, going unopposed gaining 7 power and winning the game. Now this is unusual yes, but with a turn 2 coppers, I usually have the tools I need to win on turn 3. If an opponent is very lucky and forces me to play defensively sure it will take longer, but the goal is to outrush them, meaning you prefer getting more power even at the cost of taking 3 unopposed challenges in return. However, Iron mines and risen allow you to take these calculated risks :)

@Zeyar and @RoflRoy...your decks just inspired me to rehash my GJ deck. Will be using this during a Store Championships this Sunday (Manila, Philippines).

Sounds like if Balon doesn't come out first turn, the rush has a problem though. Also from practice if the opponent started off with a good hand, all you're doing is allowing them to put down everything they need to stop you.

Mhh, so my list was pretty similar to this one, but my games turned out to end later than turn 3 or even went into time. I rarely try to rush with it. The good thing with this deck is that you can be sure to have a good setup or at least play like 4 - 5 cards. If you dont see Balon, Euron, Theon nor Asha, you usually get out Drowned Men and/or Priest of the Drowned God. I had so many games where the Drowned Men did Balon's job (with [The Kraken's Grasp] and / or Raiding Longship). The same mechanics that buff Balon are also good in buffing chuds to get uo or defend challenges of your opponent. Apart from that I went second quite often to defend stuff and still be able to get my 3 attacks... if you have Asha or Theon and Syrio Forel, then you dont rely on Grasp or Longships. (I wouldnt start with Pentoshi though.)

Can't handle the concept of GJ not going first! :P Half your cards rely on going first! Go second, you got no cool tricks and you're forced to block with the guys you want to attack with!

:D I see your point. I just updated and published my list... feel free to critisize it, that would help me to improve it. You are right, there are quite some cards that benefit or only trigger if you go first. But sometimes you just dont draw them or even triggering them will give you a weaker turn than going second and let ur opponent use some of his chars/events and gold... you usually loose (uo) challenges yourself... (at least I do ^^)

Going second isn't too bad as long as you don't loose mil too badly and kill off like 2-3 people you should be ok. Usually it allows my opponent to kneel most of his board and I wont defend all of the challenges but i will defend everything i can and try to leave enough people to still do my 3 challenges. giving an opponent an unopposed power isn't too bad if you know you will be getting it back and more on your turn. since half their board is knelt it makes chalennges easier to win and Asha Greyjoy's reactions easier to achieve. allowing her to do more than one challenge for you

Also having things like The Seastone Chair make your opponents play very differently because unless they have saves/attachments on their characters they have to leave enough opponents to defend your Unopposed forcing them to be conservative and not go all out. sometimes not even do a military or only do a chump challenge just to try and kneel you out.