Beheading Ned- The King of the Iron Throne

SPOILERS AHEAD

Thank you for taking time to read another Beheading Ned as I continue down the path of building a deck centered around one of the original kings in the War of Five Kings. This time looking at the king that everyone loves to hate, Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey Baratheon, first of his name, Lord of the Seven Kingdom, gained the throne after his father Robert Baratheon died, and since that time showed how power in the wrong hands can be a very bad thing. Luckily he was murdered before he could completely destroy the kingdom. He tormented and felt like he was able to do whatever he wanted because he was the king, which is never a good quality in a king. The most interesting parts in his story is that he is truly the product of incest with Jaime and Cersie and the question of who really killed him? I know it is said that The Queen of Thrones was the murderer but I am not hundred percent sure that is the case.

Enough mumbo jumbo if you are reading a Beheading Ned article you already most likely know all that is needed to know about Joffrey lets get started on looking at this deck.

King Joffrey

There are five versions of Joffrey Baratheon but there are only two that are kings. Lets take a quick look at our two options. Joffrey Baratheon (KotS), now this version is a very cost effective character and has the ability to get very powerful, however, he isn't a character that I could see building a deck around.

Joffrey Baratheon (LotR) is an intriguing character. At a quick glance you get a three cost, one icon, and only two strength so isn't a very cost effective character, however, when you look at his ability you see that in a hyper kneel deck with many uniques you can have a strong board control every turn. So will take a quick look at the deck focusing on the King.

The Deck

Deck Built with CardGameDB.com GoT Deckbuilder

Kneel to King Jofferery

House (1)
House Lannister (Core) x1

Agenda (0)



Plot (7)
Cersei's Scheme (TPoL) x1
Relentless Persecution (DB) x1
The Power of Blood (Core) x2
Valar Morghulis (Core) x1
Frey Hospitality (LotR) x1
Game of Thrones (LotR) x1

Character (32)
Joffrey Baratheon (LotR) x3
Margaery Tyrell (AToTT) x2
Ser Jaime Lannister (LotR) x2
Arbor Guardsman (TCC) x3
Enemy Informer (Core) x3
King Joffrey's Guard (TWot5K) x1
Pyromancer's Apprentice (TBoBB) x2
Qyburn (SaS) x1
Tyrion Lannister (CoS) x1
Varys (SaS) x1
Summer Sea Corsair (RotK) x3
House Clegane Brigands (AToTT) x2
The Hound (PotS) x1
Ser Kevan Lannister (VM) x2
Paxter Redwyne (TGF) x2
Cersei Lannister (LotR) x3

Location (17)
Alchemist's Guild Hall (TBoBB) x2
Kingdom of Shadows (KotS) x2
Lannisport Brothel (Core) x1
The Iron Throne (LotR) x1
Volantis Inn (AHM) x1
The Goldroad (LotR) x3
Street of Silk (LotR) x1
Street of Sisters (Core) x1
Shadowblack Lane (Core) x1
River Row (QoD) x1
Bay of Ice (KotS) x3

Event (8)
Distraction (Core) x3
You've Killed the Wrong Dwarf! (Core) x3
A House Divided (WLL) x2

Attachment (5)
Pyromancer's Cache (TWot5K) x3
Increased Levy (LotR) x2


Thought Process

Now I am going to do a quick overview of the whole deck since many of the cards synergise with each other. The characters are focused on noble uniques for two reasons. First nobles save through The Power of Blood plot, and second is they are unique so that they can stand when Joffrey is in play. (Also all of these characters have a nedly aspect to them as well for added bonus.) We also have the option of using Kevin as a character-agenda but isn't essential to the deck. We also have shadow cards, because many of these guys also add to the Nedly theme, especially with them being shadow cards like Tyrion, and also lets us trigger one of the best kneel cards as well with Alchemist's Guild Hall.

For added effects we are combining Bay of Ice and Paxter Redwyne, along with plots with relative high initiatives that can gain us additional gold that can be very much needed. Arbor Guardsman can help us out as well. Now it is nice to get gold but real problem with the deck has been setups so if anyone can see obvious ways to help out with this please comment about it. Also I chose the Cache as restricted since I'm hoping to have the king in play and also have two queen's to trigger the draw also.

Now it is a simple deck really, we are trying to kneel everyone (especially the non-uniques) and keep them knelt to the king (a thematic thing in itself.) Weaknesses like most decks currently is TLV and having too many characters in play, hopefully in best case we can kneel a great deal of their board down with Relentless Persecution and keep them knelt with Joffrey. Another weakness is direct kill, especially burn. We have few characters and relying heavily on few key characters so if they are killed it is very destructive.

Well hope you enjoyed this article and like always I am looking to hear feedback on the deck and what you guys would do differently. Next time we be looking at the last king, Stannis. So since we nearing the end of the War of the Five kings cycle I been doing, if anyone has suggestions or article subjects would like me to tackle let me know as well.