Unexpected indeed! V.2

Card draw simulator
Odds: 0% – 0% – 0% more
Derived from
None. Self-made deck here.
Inspiration for
None yet.

Diomedes 3294

My / deck featuring 2x Unexpected Delay received a lot of attention. I want to explore the possibilities of this deck type, so here it goes: locations + characters

What's better?

What's worse?

Let me know what you think! :-)

17 comments

charlie 9

How about a "Varys' Riddle" ? If you set up only Asha with a attachment and the opponent Tywin / reductor, would you still go for Unexpected delay ?

Anyway, well done, i like your UD decks !

Diomedes 3294

Thanks!

I think I would go for it. I wouldn't know which plot to drop for Varys's Riddle. And if the opponent doesn't reveal Marched in your scenario and his Tywin gains 1 power for renown, my "unexpected" strategy is kinda screwed. ;-)

But I see your point that always opening Unexpected Delay even if I don't have means to win initiative or enough attachments for my characters is an issue. My similar /Kings of Winter deck is more flexible in this regard having Wraiths in Their Midst in the plot deck. And no opponent wants to open Marched to the Wall vs. Wraiths. :-)

Stenb74 65

I took a similar, but GJ/x-ing, deck to stahleck with some success. I used Fortified Position turn 1 in order to stop renown and to give me time to build a board and find my attachments. Might be something for this deck also. Thanks for a very interesting deck.

AssortedNeedles 58

Seems interesting! Will test out myself.

Diomedes 3294

@Stenb74 Thanks for your comment. I agree that is the best faction for this kind of decks. Did you consider Kings of Winter instead of Crossing?

Your Unexpected Joy deck is running a pretty common cost curve (3x cost 7, 6x cost 6, 6x cost 5). In my opinion, decks featuring 2xUD should focus on low-cost characters.

My strategy is opening with this plot all the time. You should have the lead from the start, so Fortified Position would do more harm than good actually. Renowned characters must be bounced or get marched. In the Name! is also an option to stop renown. If you fall behind, revert to Valar Morghulis or your second UD. :-)

Stenb74 65

In the Name of Your King! is a really good option to stop renown, i like the concept. The reason i went with crossing was that i had some problems against rushdecks and needed to speed up my powergain. About the cost-curve, i never really had problems with that, the big guys are a good option when you see few attachments since you have few character on the board and they do great work. Euron for president! :-)

Diomedes 3294

@AssortedNeedles Let me know how it goes! :-)

@Stenb74 Thanks for your insight! Aren't rush decks your best match-up, though? They usually focus on characters instead of locations or attachments. Bouncing 2 characters back to hand on turn 1 is a severe blow to any rush deck. :-)

Argent 1

Might I suggest adding some Vanguard Lancer? You can use him to discard any renown your opponents pick up, and he's cheap enough to be affordable on a Unexpected Delay turn.

This is a very interesting deck, with so few characters! Really bucking conventional deck building traditions. I bloody love it. Kudos for trying something different. Have you tried it out much yet? Has it done well?

It seems like you've put a lot of effort into winning initiative. Could you explain why its worth throwing in so many cards?

Diomedes 3294

@Argent Thank you! You want to open Unexpected Delay, and Vanguard Lancer doesn't really help on turn 1. I can't use any of my econ locations (well, Kingsroad works but it is kinda wasted on him) to reduce his cost. Same goes for Maester Cressen, but he can be valuable on turn 1.

Winning initiative is crucial! If you're first player on turn 1, you can only bounce 1 character back to your opponent's hand even if all of your characters are protected because the opponent can simply choose the same character as second player. So you definitely want to win initiative to be able to be second player on turn 1.

servetz 30

`@DiomedesThank you for this awesome deck. I've tried this at my local tournament in Turin and i went 3-2. It's very funny to play and all the people love this deck.

Some changes I made:

-1 Iron Islands Fishmonger for another Lordsport Shipwright (Ironborn character for Aeron Damphair (Core))

-1 The Kingsroad for another Tobho Mott's Armory (a draw strategy better of The Red Keep in this deck imo)

-1 Disputed Claim for another In the Name of Your King!

I'd like to add 2x Even-Handed Justice and remove 1 In the Name of Your King! and 1 Risen from the Sea

Diomedes 3294

@serve Thank you! What were the issues in the 2 games you lost? Duplicates or attachments on the opponent's big guys? Not drawing your attachments? Were you able to win initiative on turn 1?

I made some similar changes myself:

  • +2 Theon Greyjoy −Syrio -Fishmonger (more Ironborn)
  • +Drowned God's Blessing −Syrio's Training (more +1 initiative)
  • +Sea Tower −Chamber of the Painted Table (more econ)

Switching the Red Keep for another Armory might be a good idea, thanks! Not sure about Even-Handed Justice, though. :-)

servetz 30

Well, the first one against Lannister - Kraken pillage: a lot of cards went out with pillage. I tried to resist but The Mountain kicked me out.

The second one I lost was against a Stark - KoW based on direwolves. Mil challenges and Summer, double Catelyn and Arya made it so difficult.

I will try your changes and add Justice. Then I'll report for sure :D

servetz 30

Sorry for commenting again: surely duplicates on opponent's "big guys" brign some troubles. Attachments came out normally and made me use UD on first turn.

What do you think to modify with Tyrion's Chain? Would you like to change Asha Greyjoy for Esgred? And what about Battle of the Blackwater?

Diomedes 3294

Ashas Reaction is too good, I would keep her over Esgred. I'm not sure about Battle of the Blackwater, does it fit into this deck?

I made these small changes by the way:

  • +1 Lordsport Shipwright −1 House Maester
  • +1 Disputed Claim −1 Noble Lineage

servetz 30

Yes, Asha is better. Battle of the Blackwater could be interesting for removing dupes before UD or Valar Morghulis, but I'm not sure too. Testing I realised that Vanguard Lancer could be an interesting card for UD, couldn't it?

Diomedes 3294

Vanguard Lancer comes up a lot in the comments. :-) You want to open Unexpected Delay, and Vanguard Lancer doesn't really help on turn 1. I can't use any of my econ locations (well, Kingsroad works but it is kinda wasted on him) to reduce his cost. Same goes for Maester Cressen, but he can be valuable on turn 1.

Sea Bitch could be an addition worth considering, though.

Anyway, I think I prefer to play this deck idea as Winter. I like the flexibility to open Wraiths in Their Midst if the opponent has a wide board or protected characters. UD is great with reduced reserve, too. To support this, there's Frostfangs or Alannys Greyjoy. Maybe she even makes the opponent choose to go first, then you play attachments on all your characters. :-D Will post this deck soon.

servetz 30

I will tell you: Targaryen with merchant prince.

I think that this is the best and funny deck i had ever tried. Thank you so much :D