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Core Set Cards

A Friendly Open review: House Greyjoy Fealty.

Goal:

Learn the basics of the game starting from the Core Set. We are reviewing decks that performed well, back in 2015, and why they were good back then. The idea is to help newer player understand the existent mechanics within a faction. Some of these mechanics are still strong today, many years later.

Themes:

Unopposed and Stealth

The gameplan:

The main objective of the Greyjoy player is to control locations, remove those locations and claim thru Unopposed challenges. With tools like Lordsport Shipwright, We Do Not Sow, Throwing Axe, stealth characters and Balon Greyjoy (Core), you can get there easily.

• Kneeling locations in marshaling: Lordsport Shipwright is a center piece of kneeling locations before your opponent can use them.
• Stealth: Asha Greyjoy (Core), Balon Greyjoy (Core), Theon Greyjoy (Core).
• Destroy, pillage and steel: We Do Not Sow, Black Wind's Crew, Euron Crow's Eye (Core).

Setup:

Try to get a combination of the following in your starting hand:

• Balon Greyjoy (Core), Asha Greyjoy (Core), Theon Greyjoy (Core).
• Iron Fleet Scout (as many as you can setup for re-draw)
• A combination of cards costing 6, 2 and 0
• A combination of cards costing 7, 1 and 0
• A combination of cards costing 5, 2, 1 and 0
• A combination of cards costing 3, 2 and 2
• The economy of the Core Set is limited, so if you can setup a big character (cost 6 and higher) without getting Marched to the Wall by your opponent, go ahead!

As in any deck, a starting hand with an economy card (limited locations, Sea Tower, The Kingsroad, The Roseroad) is always advantageous. Optionally Littlefinger (Core) and Iron Islands Fishmonger are there to help. Note: Littlefinger (Core) would be better if used in marshalling for his draw ability.

Plots:

• If you have a Lord or a Lady in hand, open with A Noble Cause.
• The first turns are there for you to setup your deck's main game plan.
• Keep the pressure on the opponent with Filthy Accusations as this plot may also benefit for unopposed challenges (kneel a big character on the other side).
• Apply pressure with The Winds of Winter
• A Clash of Kings will be your last plot to win the game (make sure your opponent has at least 2 on their faction card).

Key cards:

• Balon Greyjoy (Core) + Iron Fleet Scout + Great Kraken
• Balon Greyjoy (Core) + Fealty + We Do Not Sow
• Risen from the Sea to save your characters. Aeron Damphair (Core) is a backup if a big Ironborn character dies. Make sure you win dominance for that turn.
• Salty Navigator for the initiative
• Euron Crow's Eye (Core) + We Do Not Sow + steel that location from the discard pile :) .
• Remove a Milk on your character with Confiscation and/or We Do Not Sow.
• Triple kill on a challenge with Throwing Axe + Put to the Sword + regular claim
• Seal of the Hand on Balon Greyjoy (Core) or Euron Crow's Eye (Core).

We inspired ourselves with decks that performed well in 2015, original lists made by "Old Gods & The New" and "Bluebird503". You can contact the Friendly Open on Discord where you'll find more advanced decks, discussion with other players and you'll find information on how to join our weekly tournaments. We hope this deck will help you learn more the basics of the game. Enjoy! :)