Forging the Chain - Tournament Prepwork - Matchups: Martell Summer

Tournament Prepwork - Matchups: Martell Summer

Welcome back to another edition of Forging the Chain. Last time I talked about my Martell Summer deck which I ran at Calicon and I provided the list I used for the tournament. This week I'm going to provide details concerning one aspect of my preparation for this tournament. As I've outlined in other articles, your preparation for an event will often dictate how you perform in the event. So today I will cover some of my own prep work concerning some specific matchups. This is a critical aspect of your pre-tournament preparation because it will provide you with a road-map for most of your games. However, like all maps, sometimes they have to be tossed out the window (construction, traffic, bad flops, etc.) But having a general plan going into a particular game is better than going in blind. To be honest I wouldn't dare take this deck to worlds because there will be too much winter in the environment. However, I hope this article gives you an idea of how I think about matchups during my preparation.

General Thoughts:
First turn Bannermen are generally amazing. Nearly every game in which I could put one out with Manning the City Walls meant a victory. If I cannot get the Bannermen first turn, I make it Summer immediately. A big hand is what makes this deck formidable.
The Red Viper is a beast. If he comes out with a dupe and Lost Oasis the game is going well. Don't play Game of Thrones plot until Lost Oasis is on the table. This is a great time to go first and kneel 2 characters.


A Game of Cyvasse (ACoS):
This is a money card. Don't waste it. However, don't be afraid to bounce my own characters back to hand. Getting another use out of the Bannermen, Oakheart, or even a House Messenger can be crucial. Also, be aware of impending Valars. It might be worth playing to save a character in an obvious Valar spot, especially a noble if your opponent has managed to strand one. Leave intrigue characters standing. Leave that House Messenger standing because nothing makes an opponent over commit to challenges more than fearing a Game of Cyvasse. Your opponent should think you are about to play it during every challenge. In a game against big intrigue strength characters that need to be Cyvassed save A Song of Summer until the correct moment since it will give you the +1 you need. Also, the Bastard of Godsgrace can be helpful for winning the Cyvasse battle.

Ghaston Grey (FtC):
tips: Don't just use GG to bounce back expensive characters. If an opponent has 3 cards out and 2 are weak and 1 is strong. During a military challenge use GG to bounce one weak character, Game of Cyvasse to bounce the other one and kill the big one.

Don't leave nobles on the table. Once GG is out, your opponent will be looking for chances to Valar away your nobles. The exception is a duped Viper.

KotHH - Against all of these decks beware of the First Snow/Rule By Decree combo. Always be aware of hand size. The Martell variant will be desperate to pull it off early while their own hand is still small. The Targ version will probably be a bit more patient. It may be better to try to provoke a 3 card loss against Targ rather than letting them hit me when my hand reaches 12.

Tough Matchups:
Greyjoy Winter: Any winter matchup is very difficult for the deck. In this matchup I am not playing to make it summer, but to make it not winter. The combination of pulling random cards from hand and forcing me to topdeck is brutal. To combat this I try to mulligan into a hand with either a carrion bird or an ill tidings. Carrion Bird (ASoS) can do a ton of work in this matchup. A carrion bird and an early lost oasis will be very good for me. Game of Cyvasse's are not saved for any particular character but should be used on Wintertime Marauders if it is winter. If it is winter, Ghaston Grey will be difficult to get going because of the gold issues. Arys Oakheart should probably be saved to deal with Gylbert Farwynd (GotC) as he can be a monster. Overall I probably lose this matchup, but I have ways to keep the game close.

Targ Burn: Another difficult matchup. This deck is the reason why I don't focus on Ghaston Grey and nobles. Be prepared for characters to die to burn, it is going to happen. If Magister Illyrio (VM) or a Street Waif (AToT) hit the table, I should use Oakheart to take them out. However, in this matchup it's not worth saving Oakheart in hand for a particular character. Use condemned by the council to nuke influence locations. Try to wait to play Viper until after Threat From the North. If I can put out a duped Viper play some small guys to try to provoke the Threat. The only thing that kills Viper is Threat and Flame Kissed.

Martell Maester: Hope you don't face this deck. I do have answers in Ill Tidings (IG) and Cyvasse. The plan is to use Ill Tidings to either remove the draw link or the Apprentice Collar. Then save Game of Cyvasse for the maester with the chains. Remember they will be playing The Art of Seduction (LotR) early. Doran will probably be important this game as he can bounce the Conclave with GG.

The Rest:

Stark Murder: Any card in shadows is Meera Reed (TftH). Game of Cyvasse is best used on the Northern Cavalry Flank (SA). Try not to let Luwin get his search going as he is easily bounced with Ghaston Grey. Save HCIT for the kill events and try not to let war crest characters win mil challenges. Frozen Solid (LoW) will be seen. Therefore, it might be best to save Street of Silk to discard my own Ghaston Grey if needed. Use condemned by the Council on Harrenhal. If I don't see any non Stark locations or characters early, it may be best to save it in case of Bear Island (AE). Once Arya and Ser Kyle Condon (APS) hit the table, Valar is fairly pointless so plan on not using Valar in this game. Try to find the Maester of the Sun (ASoS) quickly as he can help absorb the 2 claim challenges that are certainly coming.

Stark Kindly Man: Try to keep him off the house. If Stark is not running an agenda, Oakheart should be saved to deal with him. Otherwise all Stark Murder rules apply.

Lannister Control/PbTT - Another deck that Martell Summer handles quite well. There are many options for handling Cersei including the standard Orphan, GG, Cyvasse package. Also, be ready for an opening Fear of Winter (BtW) if they have board advantage. He Calls it Thinking might best be saved for a Misinformation on the Shadows and Spiders (LotR) turn. Oakheart has plenty of targets but my favorite is Littlefinger or Castellan of the Rock. Don't waste Oakheart on a gold weenie.

Brotherhood: My deck has a myriad of methods for containing Beric and it is hard to stop them all. Essentially save all my tools to handle him and win the game. Orphans, Cyvasse, GG, and Lost Oasis all wreck his day.

Martell KotHH - This is a weird matchup. If they get all of their draw with Flea Bottom Scavengers it could be tough. Take out their Ghaston Grey with condemned. Try to find a moment to strand some of their nobles on the board and valar them. Assume that it may be the Westeros Bleeds (Core) reset version and play characters sparsely at first. Assume they have a Red Vengeance (PotS) in hand and that they may cancel your HCIT with theirs. This is very close to a mirror matchup and will likely come down to who gets their pieces first. Luckily I have dependable extra draw, so I'm hoping I find my pieces first.

Bara Rush: I have many tools to handle rush decks. Orphans are great. Cyvasse and Ghaston Grey can work as well. If they play Val to help flood the board, then Valar early. If they blow up all their Seats of Power and Seas to flood the board and have Val out without a dupe (or if I have HCIT in hand, duped) play Valar. Make sure Valar hits either Melisandre, the new Stannis, Val, Knight of Flowers, or The Laughing Storm. That's a lot of good characters so make sure a couple are hit. From there GG can do the heavy lifting.

I hope this brief summary of some of the standard decks you will face in a tournament is useful. If nothing else, it provides a glimpse into how I prepare for an event by thinking about matchups. My theory is: lack of experience in the game can be somewhat balanced by preparation. Too much preparation simply doesn't exist. If you have the time think about matchups and play out these matchups. If you need a sparring partner or someone to talk matchups with I'm always looking for a game or friendly chat. Have fun at worlds everyone and go prepared! Until next time, keep improving.

Tiny Grimes recently migrated over to AGOT, in January 2012. Although he has not played the game long, Tiny spends far too much of his time playing and thinking about the game. He has played in four tournaments, placing first in a 15 person local event, 2nd in the 2012 Pasadena Regional (32 players), and 3rd in the first regional of the 2012 season (32 person event - Kingdom Con), and 10th at Gencon 2012.