Sand Snakes in Melee (19th/76 at Stahleck 2025) 1.0

• Versiones
• 1.0

Stahleck was once a again amazing experience. Here's my melee deck that got me my best melee performance ever, 26 points and so just couple of points from getting to the cut.

Basic idea is the same same as last year: bastards in melee. Uniting the Realm got restricted (for good reason) so I needed to change my deck. MFG seemed like nice choice to with Sand Snakes & Bastards as you could copy those traits to your stuff if needed or get icons & keywords from others if needed. I send Johannes' the first draft, got couple of good advices from him and this version was born.

Second reason for bastard-tribal deck was my expectation of Tyrell Banner of the Stag. My Bastards could stand even with Delena Florentena on board, so why not go with this. During tournament I realised that removing Ellaria from the challenges stops her reaction to losing, which wasn't really an issue but a danger still.

Plots

I consider these pretty solid, pretty basic plots for this kind of deck. ' Often the games went: 1st: Behest -> Summer Harvest 2nd: Riddle 3rd: The Warrior 4th: Confiscation/The Father.

Characters

Sand Snakes & Bastards. One of my favorite cards is The Red Viper (OR). Also Tyene Sand (WK) + Red Viper seemed like strong combo. Thirdly, I've always liked Ellaria Sand (TRW) and idea of standing all of my characters after losing sounds too good to pass in melee. I didn't run Dorea Sand until Johannes said I needed to add at least two. Stealth giving Elia Sand (TIMC) was also Johannes's advice, I thought about the newer one but possibility of 2 claim (eventhough nice) would make me the enemy in many tables but stealth Elia could either discourage attacks or offer me possibility to get unopposed easier. So very good advice there! Also I didn't see Shadow City Bastards or Bastrad of Godsgrace in my games, can't comment how they work in this.

Key interactions:

• Ellaria Sand + MFG + Bastards: Whole point of this deck. Making Red Viper or Harmen Uller Bastard mid-challenge to stand them after losing is an good option too if Ellaria is with them.
• Tyene + Red Viper: "Yeah, Tyene is good in melee too." -Johannes 11/2025
• Red Viper + MFG + Bastards: Many players didn't seem to think I'd had this much rush potential. Three characters (2 natural bastards + Red Viper) and opponents knelt board means around 8 power (if there are no renowns or multiple challenges in calculation). After the tournament I think this is the core loop of this deck, not Ellaria. ^^"

Other stuff

The Bloodroyalyal is fun card in melee, as is War Scorpion. Getting stealth&renown is nice and Scorpion is good control with the agenda and all. Location base is more iffy I think. Hellholt did nothing when I saw it and Starfall is questionable also. Hellholt should be Ghaston Grey I think. Shandystone and Brimstone could work better here too. Events are basic melee stuff, nothing special, just solid.

Final words

I got two second places (10 power and 13 power) and won my last table (read Johannes's report, it's good!). Games often went with me having dupes for all of my important pieces and just staying around 4-6 power and then making my push at the 3rd or 4th round.

So, that is it. Thanks for all of my opponents and Finnish travelling companions. Special thanks to of course Schwaig and Philine! <3