Uncle Tywin bought a Wall (5-2 Dutch Nationals, Top4) 1.0

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• 1.0

The day Called to Arms came was available in my local gamestore Ruben and I decided to play some games. Both of us came up with a similiar Lannister banner of the Watch deck. Those few mirror matches were weird, but the more I played with the deck it proved reliable in a lot of matchups. I decided to take it to the Dutch Nationals last weekend. Here is the (somewhat hazy) report for those who are interested.

Game 1 versus Menno with Lannister banner of the Wolf

Menno, a first edition veteran from my local meta, went first on turn 1 and we both got our Tywins out. He also had a Jaime and some chuds, while I marshalled a Syrio. Syrio helped me to stealth Jaime so I could PttS his Tywin. The turns after I was taking advantage of my better board and quickly got a healhty lead. Then, on my counting coppers turn, I forgot that my opponent had is gold next to its plot instead of on the card (he told me he prefered it that way and I agreed; brainfart...). So instead of marshalling Yhe Hound and playing around a PttS I did something else. That turn my (milked) Twyin, with 3 power on it, died. Luckily I had a lot of cards in hand and Menno didn't. I managed to win it in the end. Big mistake, but a win is a win. 1-0

Game 2 versus Sjoerd with Lannister banner of the Wolf

Just like I expected A lot of the field was Lanni/Wolf or Lanni/Dragon. I build my deck for those matches. So I was happy to see another one. I was also happy to play Sjoerd, who is from my local meta and is a great guy. I had the better start with Tywin out on turn 1 and a craven and a milk in hand. Sjoerd tried to summon for his Tywin but didn't find him. I managed to get the Wall in play and a Seal of Tywin. I grabbed power quickly. Craven took care of his attacking power. From then on it was an uphill battle for him. 2-0

Game 3 versus Thijs with Baratheon banner of the Kraken

Playing against Thijs, from my local meta (yes, this is a recurring theme), is always fun. We knew each others decks a bit because of some testing. What I didnt know was that he had put in Pyromancers to take care of this 'Night Watch problem' of late. I had a decent setup and marshalling. I had the Wall, quite a few characters and a craven on pesky Theon. Then Thijs put his pyromancers in play. The first turn I kept him from having a power on his house card and the turns after that I had a Treachery or Nightmares in hand. I had Milked Maester Cressen early on and on his Confiscation turn he let me go first, which I used to put another Milk on him. In the meanwhile I was gathering power fast. He tried to turn the tide with Fat Bob, but he got craven and then there was nothing he could do. 3-0

Game 4 versus Jamie with Night Watch banner of the Wolf

Jamie (yes also from my local meta) and I had done some testing the week before so I knew he was playing a very aggressive NW/Wolf deck with Varys, Taking the Black, Ward and double marched. I knew I was in for a tough game, because I know Jamie's deckbuilding and piloting skills. I wasn't wrong. He quickly took the initiative and kept my board small. It also didn't help that the only characters I found were 5-cost or higher. I probably made a mistake by milking fast Eddie, instead of milking syrio who came out a turn later. I couldn't keep the wall standing, the lack of chuds kept me focussing on not losing military. Even that failed in the end and Jamie comfortably won the game. 3-1

Game 5 versus Stefan with Lannister banner of the Dragon

I knew that if I wanted to make the cut I needed to win this game. Stefan is a newer 2.0 player from another meta in the Netherlands (yay!). I setup a Cersei, Maester Aemon and a Kingsroad, while after his mulligan he started with a lone Tywin with a roseroad. I was sad that I didn't play marched and thought he would probably play Varys' Riddle to counter a potential marched from me. I choose Trading and he popped out a Marched to the Wall(!), promptly sending his Tywin away. Turn one he marshalled Mirri. I Put a craven on her, marshalled Tywin and kept enough money for a PttS. Mirri died and Stefan conceded. 4-1

Top 8 versus Onno with Baratheon banner of the Kraken

This game was probably the tightest I played all day. I had the 'god setup' while Onno's setup was rather meager. He summoned for Cressen who got milked. In the meanwhile I used Tywins gold to get the Wall in play with some extra golden haired defenders. The next turn Onno got the Red keep in play, but I succesfully managed it (he triggered it only once in our 7plot game). My PttS were useless due his two Iron mines and Mellisandre was keeping my Tywin and the raven he stole from Old Bear Mormont knelt most of the game. I timed my wildfire correct on this confiscation turn. This way I could milk Cressen again. Fat Bob joined the fray, but I put a Craven on him. I got a good amount of power thanks to the Wall. On turn five I thought I could close the game with my Winter Festival. He, however, managed to keep me on 14 power, while also getting his Painted Table out. That card in combination with Gendry and the Iron Throne gave me squeaky bum time. The last turn (13-12) I played my Trading and he topdecked Selmy and Asha This looked great, but we both agreed that a R'hllor card would have been better . I keept most of my gold to feed my Stealthy Tywin. He had to do a power challenge which I won with Tywin. On my challenges I won the game with an unopposed intrigue. Great game against a sturdy deck. Thanks Onnno!

Top 4 versus Jamie with Night Watch banner of the Wolf

Jamie again! :) This game was better balanced that the Swiss one. In the first few turns we were pretty even, although Ghost gave me a headache. He milked my Syrio, I milked his Syrio. Characters were killed and power was taken. He discared Ilyn Payne from my hand , which could have made a differnce. I closely kept an eye on his money, taking my ranging party for claim when he had 3 gold left and the like. Jamie gained an advantage in power beacause I had to focus on his military challenges. I suffered from a lack of economy, made worse by the White Tree. Yet I still managed a decent board prescence. I think I made a mistake by not playing a treachery on Yoren, because I wanted to PttS Ghost. Jamie played around that all the time though with Castle Black doing him a great favor when it was needed. It looked bleak for me, but when I had a kingsroad out and his Marched to the Wall ran into my Wildfire he went down 3 characters while I only had to march 1. Jamie however got more characters out than me and on our 7th plot (both winter festival) time was called. I was 5 power behind and never was able to claw that back on one turn. To be fair, I probably woudn't have won this game anyways.

Key Cards and Notes I build this deck to counter the Lanni/Dragon. Craven sort shuts quite a few characters down. I thought it would also do reasonably well against any other tier 1 deck. I will comment on some cards other than the obvious 'tywin is great'.

Craven and Milk

Brilliant all day. Most decks can't handle so 6 cards that can shut a character down. Obviously not as good against NW or Targ, with all their no attackments

Nightmares and Treachery

These cards were crucial too and I should probably add another Nightmares. They stalled my opponent while I could grab more power with the Wall. Together .with Craven and Milk they frustrated my opponents time on time again.

The Wall

Its a great card, but this deck doesn't need the wall to win. It is in there to make your opponent come at you. It gives the deck the ability to lay back as well as to attack. Its great to have that versatility.

Shae

She is great in this deck. You often have enough gold to make her stand to oppose another challenge, or to do some challenges yourself. Maybe worth a +1.

Ilyn Payne

This card single handedly wins you matches. I should have included one more. It takes care of nasty stealth chuds, stark weenies and it would probably have given me a better chance against Jamies NW/Wolf.

Ser Gregor

Needs to get out of this deck. Sure, it makes me able to pull of PttS more easily. Yet I can also make that easier with Syrio and Old bear's Raven. He is too costly for the jankiness it gives you. Should have been another Ilyn Payne.

Maester Aemon

I added this card to the deck last minute but it didn't do much all day. Maybe it would have helped against NW/Wolf but I didnt see it then.

Last but not least I want to thank Ruben Barnhoorn for giving input when I was building this deck. Thanks to Ruben Barnhoorn and Remko Looten for organising a great event with lovely prize support. And thanks to all the players at the Dutch Nationals for making it a great day!