Crimson and Gold - Kingsguard Tunnels

House of Dreams (ARotD) caused quite a stir initially. Many Thrones players levied accusations of power-creep, made calls for immediate restriction, and voted it “five stars” without question. Let’s take a look at how the controversial agenda pairs with Tunnels of the Red Keep (CoS) almost a year later.

First, some background: Aegon's Hill (TTotH) and Bear Island (AE), two powerful unique locations, hit the restricted list last February because of their potency with House of Dreams. Other decks ran Meraxes (TBC), Longship Iron Victory (KotS), or The Iron Throne (LotR) simply because they’re efficient and valuable from turn 1. Then there were “theme” decks that used locations like The Wall (TWoW), The Seastone Chair (BtW), Corpse Lake (TBC), Vaes Dothrak (IG), and The Inn at the Crossroads (LotR) with varying results.

For several reasons, HoD rarely sees play anymore. First, there are direct answers to the agenda in Search and Detain (HtS), A City Besieged (CD), and Rally Cry (TBG). Second, FFG released character-agendas and gave them support like House Clegane Brigands (AToTT), Damon Dance-For-Me (VD), and Ser Gerris Drinkwater (CD) to lure deckbuilders away from agendas in general. And finally, I get the feeling that most believe there is a drawback to HoD after all – setups suck. Drawing just six cards and having only three gold to work with results in either subpar setups or necessitates using subpar cards in order to improve setups. Depending on who you ask, most HoD decks are either Tier 2 or Tier 1.5 at best.

However, a few locations stand out. Longship Grief (CD) decks can regularly win high-claim challenges with characters like Victarion Greyjoy (RotK) and Iron Fleet Captain (CD). Dorne (PotS) decks create card advantage with Allies like Flea Bottom Scavenger (AToT) and then flood the board with traits like Lord, Lady, Knight, House Dayne, Army, or some combination thereof. Targ burn occasionally runs HoD The Dragonpit (TftRK) instead of Knights of the Hollow Hill (MotM), and whenever burn is present you’ll find Lannister running Tunnels of the Red Keep (CoS) as a direct counter. The counter works because strength pumps are almost always useful; it’s like a silver bullet that kills Targ, but still works against other Houses too. Now let’s dive into the rest of the deck.

PLOTS

City of Lies (CoS) makes a great opener, so it’s only natural that A City Besieged (CD), City of Sin (AToT), City of Soldiers (TBoBB), and City of Spiders (TftRK) often follow. Such stellar, on-demand control is hard to pass up, but there are downsides – namely, they provide relatively little gold, your opponent will often know what’s coming, and after tossing in Valar Morghulis (Core) you've only got 1-2 slots available.

Other generally useful plots are Cersei's Scheme (TPoL), Shadows and Spiders (LotR), Forgotten Plans (KotStorm), Loyalty Money Can Buy (QoD), Marched to the Wall (LoW), Wildfire Assault (Core), Rule by Decree (Core), and Breaking and Entering (LotR). Any six of those together can make a fine plot deck, but here are a few riskier options that have potential: Rally Cry (TBG), The Art of Seduction (LotR), All the Gold in Casterly Rock (LotR), The Songs of Bael the Bard (AKitN), The Power of Blood (Core), Noose and Swordpoint (Core) and Men of Pride (THoBaW).

NON-UNIQUE CHARACTERS

To take advantage of the agenda, in theory we want to dump cards in shadows and flood the board with cheap characters. Luckily, like card draw and gold, House Lannister has cheap characters in spades. Lannisport Weaponsmith (Core), Lannisport Moneylender (LotR), and Lannisport Councilor (RotO) provide economy in what is usually an expensive deck. Little Bird (RotK), Doubting Septa (LotR), Cersei's Attendant (Core), and Bronn's Hireling (LotR) are all mono-cons, but they bring a variety of tools to the table and only set you back one gold. Neutral options like Free Man (TftH), Hedge Knight (KotStorm), Oldtown Scholar (FtC), and Carrion Bird (ASoS) also have a nice bang-to-buck ratio. If you’re really serious about mitigating the HoD setup problem, you can always dust off the ol’ Mountain Refugee (RoW) – it’s hard to pass up other restricted choices, but none of them are central to the deck’s theme. Finally there’s a personal favorite of mine: House Clegane Outlaw (APS). He’s a risky play, but sometimes high strength on a tricon is just what the doctor ordered.

For shadows cards, Shadowcat (KotS) and Silent Sisters (KotS) usually win any challenge they participate in. Pyromancer's Apprentice (TBoBB) provides location control, although it’s fairly expensive and convoluted for my taste. Then most Tunnels decks run either Summer Sea Corsair (RotK) or Gold Cloaks (AToT) for card advantage.

To round out the non-uniques, Painted Dogs (IG), House Payne Enforcer (MotA) and Yezzan's Grotesquerie (CD) are all capable of winning challenges singlehandedly. Enemy Informer (Core) needs no explanation, but if you go heavy on the kneel there’s Arbor Guardsman (TCC) to help smooth out your economy. Finally, HoD Tunnels is as good a place as any for the Brothel Guard (LotR) + Fleet from The Arbor (RotK) combo if you have room.

UNIQUE CHARACTERS

There are only a few spoilers from The Kingsguard pack, but they're jaw-droppers (literally, that artwork…). Ser Preston Greenfield works similarly to Syrio Forel (TftRK) except he’s got a power icon instead of stealth. Moving in and out of shadows helps to trigger things like Alchemist's Guild Hall (TBoBB) every turn, or he can defend a challenge and then return to shadows before Cersei Lannister (AToT) attacks, then come back out to win dominance, or stay hidden during a Valar resolution. It’s extremely versatile.

There’s a new Ser Arys Oakheart in town that rivals the old Ser Arys Oakheart (PotS). I expect Tunnels players to split evenly here. The shadowy version comes back from the dead with On My Oath, but he loses renown and trades Ally or Mercenary-discarding for standing, which is not that useful in House Lannister (Targ, on the other hand, can abuse Street Waif all over again). It’s a tough call.


We also get a new Kingsguard version of Jaime Lannister. His stats and keywords leave much to be desired, but the repeatable draw effect covers up those deficiencies. With 1-2 copies of this Jaime, it’s no longer necessary to run Pyromancer's Cache (TWot5K) as the restricted card in Tunnels. His nephew Tommen Baratheon (SA), Ser Jaime, and Golden Tooth Mines (Core) should be sufficient on the card advantage front, so instead of Cache we’re free to pursue other options – maybe even Retaliation! (ASoSilence)?

To round out the unique characters, there’s the usual cast of Lannister and/or shadows staples like Qyburn (SaS), Varys (SaS), Tyrion Lannister (CoS), Littlefinger (SaS) and Margaery Tyrell (AToTT). After that there’s room for 3-5 more characters from the following, depending on your preferences: Gilly (RoW) to help setup; Penny (VD) for more kneel; Ser Lancel Lannister (TPoL) for high strength and two icons; Chella, Daughter of Cheyk (Core) to sack some locations; Grand Maester Pycelle (Core) to counter reveal effects; Ser Gregor Clegane (WLL) to kill stuff and keep it dead; King Joffrey's Guard (TWot5K) to kneel if you can afford it; Myrcella Lannister (LotR) if you’re running the right plots; Shagga Son of Dolf (DB) and Ser Balon Swann (TWH) pull double duty; Jaqen H'ghar (FtC) and Ser Mandon Moore (TBoBB) if you’re displeased with the others shadows cards; and maybe even Tywin Lannister (TTotH) if you’re feeling adventurous. I’m also anxious to see The Hound.

LOCATIONS

The economy in a shadows deck is always tricky because normal reducers like the River Row (QoD) only work on non-shadows characters. We’ll run just 1-2 Sunset Sea (Core) instead of a full playset and replace Streets with 2-3 Kingdom of Shadows (KotS), 1-2 Twilight Market (AToT), and 1-2 Lannisport Treasury (LotR). In some circumstances you might even want Coin Mint (LotR), which grants the flexibility to bring s1 or s2 cards out of shadows before the Challenges phase.

For locations that actually do something, the lineup is simple: 1x Tunnels of the Red Keep (CoS) or 2x if you’re afraid that it could be discarded by a plot effect; 1x The Iron Throne (LotR) or 2x if you hate The Viper's Bannermen (PotS) as much as I do; and 3x Golden Tooth Mines (Core). The final 2-5 location spots come down to Volantis Inn (AHM), Lannisport Brothel (Core), and Lannisport Tourney Grounds (ODG) if you want more kneel, or if you haven’t settled on a restricted card yet, Pentoshi Manor (AHM) deserves consideration (along with its partners in crime Lion's Gate (ASoS) and Dissension (QoD)). These locations are vital because it takes a few turns to establish your economy and card draw, so you need them to slow down your opponent by interfering with his plans.

ATTACHMENTS

Any Lannister deck should seriously consider 2x Enslaved (THoBaW), but the already-poor setup in HoD Tunnels usually prohibits attachments. Other options are Increased Levy (LotR) or Slander and Lies (HtS) as alternative economy; Widow's Wail (LotR) for a touch more draw; and Bastard (LotR) or Milk of the Poppy (Core) if you’re into negative attachments.

EVENTS

The most difficult decisions in a Lannister deck always stem from the event slots. There are so many good options, but no obvious auto-includes, perhaps with the exception of 2-3x A House Divided (WLL). I recommend trying 1-2x each of several different events to see what works. I'm You Writ Small (Core) brings surprise deadly to the table. Parting Blow (PotS) combos with Syrio and Ser Preston. Condemned by the Council (AToT) is easy location control. You've Killed the Wrong Dwarf! (Core) and A Lannister Pays His Debts (Core) are always potent. Nightmares (LoW), Paper Shield (QoD), and The Only Game that Matters (LotR) are solid control options to tame opposing trouble-makers. Finally, Terminal Schemes (LotR), Seductive Promise (Core), and The Bear and the Maiden Fair (TPoL) are all more easily triggered when our chuds have +3 strength.

CONCLUSION

For HoD Tunnels to find success, you have to read the tournament meta correctly. If there’s little to no burn, if Rally Cry runs rampant, or if Stark’s new shenanigans like Northland Keep (TBG) and Breaching the Wall (TBG) actually see play, I’d think twice about running Tunnels. A rash of vengeful and vigilant are good reasons to shy away from heavy kneel, and if anti-shadows cards like The King's Law (KotStorm) show up more frequently then you have to take that into account. However, I expect that Tunnels should be alright because it doesn’t have a target painted on its back like Martell Quentyn. Feel free to share your ideas in the HoD Tunnels thread on the forums, or comment below. Thanks for reading!