Kings in the North - Cdn Nats top 16 - Stark Monsters 1.0

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• 1.0

Huge thanks to Ryan from the Southron Bannermen podcast for building this wonderful deck and being a gentleman in helping me tweak it out for this tournament.

For a more detailed tournament report, listen to the 2nd episode of the Kings in the North podcast at www.kingsinthenorth.com. https://soundcloud.com/user-302837482?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

Round 1: Pat from Toronto playing Martell Summer (Win 1-0)

That game almost went to time as he was slowing me down with icon removal. Ended the game with 7-8 power on the Blackfish and a couple of House Tully characters.

Round 2: Peter from Moncton playing Martell Fealty (Loss 1-1)

He marshaled Tyene on turn one and I couldn’t find an answer (Winterfell) before turn 6. She got at least 4 kills through including Eddard, King Robb’s Host and Jon Snow. I still managed to put up a fight (surprisingly) and I Got up to 12 power. Oh and 2x Heads on Spikes was good against my deck.

Round 3: Michel from Montréal playing Lanni Dragon (Win 2-1)

He wasn’t able to get any kill off and eventually my huge board was gaining power very fast.

Round 4: Cole from Toronto playing Targ Lion (Loss 2-2)

I thought I had the dream start and that this game was mine when I setup Winterfell and chud and then Marshall Syrio and Catelyn on turn one after opening with Calm on military. He had Mirri in play so I hang back with Cat and Winterfell thinking I’m golden… Well 2x Nightmares later, Catelyn is dead and I’m sad. He follows with a Winter plot on turn 2 and marshalls Gregor. It was quickly over and the tilt is real.

Now I need to win my last 2 games to make it into the cut…

Beer break: A small break is announced between the rounds and because I lost quickly I have half an hour ahead of me. I take my best decision of the day and go up to my room, pop a beer open and relax on my bed for a good fifteen minutes. Because that’s what we do, we drink and we know things.

Round 5: Lanny Da Silva from Toronto playing Lanni Stag (Win 3-2)

He sets up Tywin and a Dragonstone port and gets rewarded because I don’t run Marched. When he Wildfires he is left with Tywin, Tyrion and Selmy facing my Robb (duped), his Host (duped) and Arya (unduped). He marshalls Gregor and I marshall Fast Eddy. He intrigues with Tyrion and then Military with the 3 others for 25 wich I defend for 25 (Winterfell Castle) to avoid a potential PttS, claim Arya to stand everyone and dodge Gregor’s pillage. I then gain the 8 power I was missing to close the game out (uo power with Eddy and Robb and uo military with the host, yes Wildfire is indeed a war plot.)

Round 6: Guillaume C. from Montréal playing NW Kings of Winter (Win 4-2)

Local meta mate, he knows my list and I know his. We played once with those decks and both know the odds are with me. Choke doesn’t work as well against 2x 9 gold plots and a 10 gold one.

I setup Cat, KR and Gates against Arry, White Tree and Practice Blade. I feel my setup is great because it has economy and draw to refill after he opens with Wraiths (and he does). Catelyn isn’t key in this matchup so I don’t really mind getting her Marched. I open with Marching Orders and drop a Host (duped) and a couple of chuds, discarding 2x Winterfell to reserve (don’t care). I later discard Varys on intrigue and close it out the turn he Wildfires. Yes, it is a war plot.

My SoS is low and I have to wait till the final match is over to confirm I make the cut in 16th place.

Mission accomplished!

Top 16: Kyle from Toronto playing Lanni Dragon

I would really like to be able to replay this game or at least turn 5 where I feel I totally blew it up in a tight match. Props to Kyle for playing flawlessly, he deserved that win.

I setup Winterfell and Maester Luwin having chosen to keep this hand because I also had Catelyn in hand and would be able to setup my defenses on the first turn. That works quite well as the only kill he got through was a Tears on Eddy after using Nightmares on Winterfell. I sacked Eddy to Jon Snow to prevent him from dying.

Turn 5 is where he Wildfires leaving me with Blackfish (duped), King Robb’s Host and Catelyn against Tywin, Mirri and Tyrion. I played Wardens of the North.

Mistake #1: I have Jory Cassel in hand but draw into Robb and get greedy and marshall Robb instead.

Mistake #2: I overcommit on the military challenge sending Blackfish, the Host and Robb, totally forgetting that my plot allows me to react to what he defends with.

Mistake #3: I use Winterfell on his intrigue challenge leaving me totally open for a PttS on Catelyn that allows Mirri to get a kill on the Host.

In retrospect those feel really bad but time was an issue and I was behind on power. I felt I needed another round to complete the comeback and I rushed through my decisions.

That was the biggest tournament of my life and the pressure got the best of me. Lots to learn from it.

Still proud to have made top 16! Until next time!