Crimson and Gold - Getting Started

If you’re new to Thrones, or deck-building on a budget, then this article is right up your alley. I’m going to build a couple of Lannister decks with just 2 Core Sets, The Lions of the Rock deluxe expansion, and a few chapter packs. But first, a bit of housekeeping is in order.

The 2013 Joust World Champion shared his winning deck list and the thought process behind its creation on his website, Casterly Rock. Congratulations Alvaro, and thank you for sharing your insights!

Spoilers for the fifth chapter pack in the Kingsroad cycle, Forgotten Fellowship, are now online. There are two agendas that will shake up the metagame, Brotherhood cards that reward the player with less power on his House card, and several powerful, versatile events. The pack is also up on OCTGN already.

Considering the target audience of this article, I’ll link to the new player thread again, as well as the Q&T article that explains the Shadows mechanic in-depth.

Deck Number 1: Lanni No Agenda Control Featuring The Kingsguard

It uses 2 Core sets, Lions of the Rock, The Battle of Blackwater Bay, Secrets and Spies, City of Secrets, City of Secrets, The Pirates of Lys, A Turn of the Tide, and The Kingsguard chapter packs. You should be able to purchase all of that for between $135 and $160. Among the problems presented by our limited budget were access to an agenda, access to a reasonable restricted card, access to efficient economy, and access to card advantage.

I chose to use the pack with the Brigands and Margaery, forgoing an agenda, but for a few extra bucks you could purchase the pack with A House of Dreams and transition easily to a Tunnels of the Red Keep deck.

For the restricted slot, Negotiations isn't ideal, but it's solid in any deck once you get the proper timing down, and it comes in the same pack as Lancel and Cersei's Scheme. Of course, if you're just getting into Thrones and playing casually, you might not feel inclined to even follow the official restricted list.

Economy was tricky because we don't have Twilight Market, Kingdom of Shadow or Roseroad/Searoad to work with, and the Streets aren't as efficient in a shadows deck. So instead we'll rely on Increased Levy, Coin Mint, and some +1 gold chuds. Shadows cards are gold-intensive, so if you're consistently short on economy then the deck might require an extra Coin Mint. I'd also swap the Treasury for a Roseroad or Searoad if you have them.

Our budgeted card advantage engine lacks Tommen and Pyromancer's Cache, but Jaime, Doubting Septa, Golden Tooth Mines, King's Landing, Insidious Ways and Widow's Wail fill in nicely. So without further rambling, here's the list:

Total Cards: (54)

House:
House Lannister


Agenda: (0)


Plot: (7)
Valar Morghulis (Core)
Wildfire Assault (Core)
Shadows and Spiders (LotR)
Cersei's Scheme (TPoL)
On My Oath (TK)
Negotiations at the Great Sept (TPoL)
Breaking and Entering (LotR)


Character: (31)
2x Lannisport Weaponsmith (Core)
3x Lannisport Moneylender (LotR)
3x Doubting Septa (LotR)
1x Pyromancer's Apprentice (TBoBB)
2x Enemy Informer (Core)
3x House Clegane Brigands (AToTT)
2x Ser Preston Greenfield (TK)
1x Qyburn (SaS)
1x Varys (SaS)
2x Tyrion Lannister (CoS)
1x Ser Lancel Lannister (TPoL)
1x Margaery Tyrell (AToTT)
1x Ser Arys Oakheart (TK)
1x Littlefinger (SaS)
1x Cersei Lannister (LotR)
1x The Hound (TK)
1x Ser Boros Blount (TK)
1x Ser Mandon Moore (TK)
2x Ser Jaime Lannister (TK)
1x Tywin Lannister (TK)

Attachment: (4)
1x Widow's Wail (LotR)
1x Milk of the Poppy (Core)
2x Increased Levy (LotR)

Event: (7)
1x I'm You Writ Small (Core)
1x Insidious Ways (Core)
2x Terminal Schemes (LotR)
3x You've Killed the Wrong Dwarf! (Core)

Location: (18)
3x Sunset Sea (LotR)
3x The Goldroad (Core)
1x Shadowblack Lane (Core)
1x Queen Cersei's Chambers (Core)
1x Lannisport Treasury (LotR)
1x Coin Mint (LotR)
2x The Iron Throne (LotR)
1x Lannisport Brothel (Core)
2x Alchemist's Guild Hall (TBoBB)
2x Golden Tooth Mines (Core)
1x King's Landing (SaS)


Deck Number 2: Lanni Power Behind the Throne Kneel

You'll need 2 Cores, Lions of the Rock, The Battle of Ruby Ford, A Harsh Mistress, The Horn That Wakes, and the upcoming Forgotten Fellowship.

Total Cards: (50)

House:
House Lannister

Agenda: (1)
1x The Power Behind the Throne (LotR)

Plot: (7)
1x Valar Morghulis (Core)
1x Frey Hospitality (LotR)
1x Wildfire Assault (Core)
1x Breaking and Entering (LotR)
2x The Power of Blood (Core)
1x Game of Thrones (LotR)

Character: (30)
1x Ser Jacelyn Bywater (Core)
3x Cersei Lannister (LotR)
3x Castellan of the Rock (BoRF)
2x Enemy Informer (Core)
1x Ser Kevan Lannister (LotR)
1x Maester Aemon (Core)
1x Ser Jaime Lannister (Core)
2x Lannisport Weaponsmith (Core)
2x Myrcella Lannister (LotR)
1x Chella, Daughter of Cheyk (Core)
3x Lannisport Moneylender (LotR)
2x Brothel Guard (LotR)
1x Bronn (Core)
1x Coldhands (THtW)
2x Janos Slynt (THtW)
1x Ygritte (THtW)
2x Ser Gregor's Dog (Forgotten Fellowship)
1x Lady of the Leaves (Forgotten Fellowship)

Attachment: (5)
2x Devious Intentions (BoRF)
1x Widow's Wail (LotR)
2x Increased Levy (LotR)

Event: (8)
1x A Lannister Pays His Debts (Core)
1x Seductive Promise (Core)
2x Insidious Ways (Core)
1x I'm You Writ Small (Core)
3x Harry the Riverlands (Forgotten Fellowship)

Location: (17)
1x Volantis Inn (AHM)
2x Golden Tooth Mines (Core)
3x Sunset Sea (LotR)
3x The Goldroad (LotR)
3x Pentoshi Manor (AHM)
1x Shadowblack Lane (Core)
2x The Iron Throne (LotR)
1x Street of Silk (LotR)
1x Lannisport Brothel (Core)

With the PBtT deck, you're going to be aggressive and try to discard the opponent's hand quickly, although it's not an all-out rush like some PBtT decks that have a larger card pool to work with. The restricted is Castellan because he comes in the same pack with Devious Intentions, and both are great for PBtT. The draw engine isn't quite as strong as the previous deck, but you should have good setups thanks to cards like Ser Gregor's Dog and Pentoshi Manor. Cersei is of course the best character in the deck, so 2x Power of Blood is there to keep her alive.

New players - best of luck! If you have any questions, feel free to message me or ask in the comments below.

Experienced players - think you can do better? I'd love to see your lists built with only 2 Cores, 1 Deluxe Expansion, and 6 or fewer chapter packs. Maybe we could have a friendly OCTGN tournament?

Next time I'll get around to constructing Lannister Wildlings. Thanks for reading!