Scheming on the Sands - Ghaston Bounce

Hi, I’m Aaron Glazer and I spend way, way too much time thinking about House Martell. Today, I’d like to discuss one of my favorite locations in the game, arguably the best control location around, restricted or otherwise, Ghaston Grey. Ghaston is so good that just sprinkling it in a deck with the proper noble crest characters can win games, but building a dedicated Ghaston deck is something else entirely. Today, we’ll be looking at all the cards needed to build a Ghaston deck. We’ll be using John Bruno’s deck, posted here (http://www.fantasyfl...=4&efidt=644061), as a guideline. Naturally, we begin with Ghaston Grey x3. Here’s how to build a Ghaston Grey deck and what cards such a deck needs.

First let’s take a quick detour to establish what our deck needs. First and foremost, the deck needs the Martell nobles to fuel Ghaston. Next it needs a lot of economy to pay for all of these characters. A good amount of search or draw is necessary to dig for these characters and locations. Keeping Ghaston around and firing is key. Without that, the concept falls apart, so we want to protect Ghaston. We’ll also want control (this used to be icon control before the new FAQ, but oh well) to help out with the characters left on the board. Finally, we’ll have to look for plots with high initiative. Attacking with our guys, then bouncing opponents who try and counter is huge for this deck and a lot of that falls apart if we go second.

We’ll begin with the Knights of the Hollow Hill agenda in order to give ourselves a permanent plus two gold to help playing these nobles, while getting a head start on the influence needed for our event package. Finally, and naturally, the initiative boost can be a life saver.

The Nobles
Ghaston Grey is useless without Martell noble characters. These characters will be listed below along with a suggested number to play and how to utilize each.

The Red Viper x2 - This version of the Red Viper isn’t just fuel for the Ghaston engine, but one of the best cards in the game. A tri-con with Renown and Immunity to characters and events, he can be an absolute house to deal with. His renown is a bit wasted in this deck, and Ghaston is a cost, so he cannot be saved by dupes, so two of this version of the Viper slot well into this version of the deck. When you’re ready to rush to win, especially, you’ll be happy to have him. At 5 cost, he’ll allow you to bounce nearly anything you need. Especially great to hit with him is the Northern Cavalry Flank.

Arianne Martell x 2 - Arianne, at 4 cost, raises claim, making her a beast for grabbing quick power or stripping the enemy’s hand before she’s bounced to safety. Her stealth makes unopposed more likely. She’s phenomenal for bouncing Cersei Lannister, the Baratheon Renown grabbers, and Berric Dondareon.

Edric Dayne x2 - At 3 cost, he’s a solid character who’s response is really good for the mirror match and against Targ Hollow Hill. Kneeling out influence as it comes into play can really mess up an opponents plans and is not to be underrated. Still, he’s here as an effective 3 cost bouncer.

Dagos Manwoody x1 - Dagos at 1 strength is basically here to make unopposed power no longer be a thing. He’s Vengeful and Melee, so, as a tri-con, he defends everything, but he’s utterly dead meat against Maesters and Burn, and easy enough to Stealth past and vulnerable to Deadly. Still, 3 cost is the most common slot in the game, so he and Edric can really make life difficult for opponents.

Doran Martell x1 - He’s the last character to bounce, as when he remains on the board and you lose, he slowly strips your opponent’s hand. At 5 cost, he’s a bit unwieldy for someone who doesn’t touch board position, but given that TRV might want to stay out and grab Renown, he fills a vital role.

Myrcella Lannister x 1- She’s rather crap as a character, but being able to bounce 2-costers when they become annoying is a viable ability, particularly given how frustrating many of those can be in a Tunnels of the Red Keep deck, or dealing with characters like Hodor and the Distinguished Boatswain. Still, if one noble is to be left our, it’s her.

Draw
Draw gets us to our Nobles and Ghaston, which is obviously a huge deal since without these, it’s just a subpar control deck.

Flea Bottom Scavenger x 3 - We’ll likely be starting slowly as we gather our cards, so this immediate draw cap reaching card can be fantastic. She’s cheap, easy to play, and offers a huge boon in thinning the deck. Re-using this thanks to First Snow of Winter is great and at worst she’s easy claim soak.

Dornish Paramour x 3 - Some people don’t like running both this and the Scavenger, but with patience, that need not be the case. The Paramour thins the deck and helps draw while offering two affordable icons and solid strength.

House Messenger x 3- Reveal 2 cards, grab one. That’s perfect for deck thinning.

Bay of Ice x 2- We like draw and we like initiative, so this is a perfect fit.

Parting Blow x 3 - We’ll be having characters bouncing in and out of play, whether from Ghaston, Dornish Paramour or even returning Lost Spearmen.

Herald of the Sun x 2 - There’s 9 nobles so they aren’t totally guaranteed to show up, even with all the draw. Add in the Herald and you effectively up that number to 11 and help make sure you can grab the one you want, when you want it.

Much and More x2 - This might or might not fit and might or might not fit your play-style, but searching the top 4 cards for 1 can grab you the right noble or location at the right time.

Economy
The Dornish Fiefdoms x 3, Summer Sea x 3 and Palace Fountains x 3 are an absolute must. After that, we’re looking at Flea Bottom, as most of the draw and Ghaston characters don’t care if they come into play knelt. Shadowblack Lane helps get characters into play and Street of Silk serves the dual purpose of getting unique characters out and getting rid of a Ghaston with a mean attachment on it so you can play a new one.

Protection
Characters will be bouncing back and forth, so they need little protection, but Ghaston? Ghaston is quite vulnernable. Luckily, between Street of Silk and one other simple card, the Maester of Lemonwood, we should be fine, so let’s go ahead and include him x2. He’s another viable target for the Herald to grab.

Control
And now we need to control the game while we get set up.

Hellholt Docks x 2 - The docks mess with opponent economy and control. This is particularly useful against burn and Lannister, wrecking the influence of the former, while the latter gets to lose most of its fun location tricks. It’ll also kill the saves of the Iron Mines and makes the Lost Spearman and Greenblood Merchant more effective.

Greenblood Merchant x2 - The closest thing we get to the dearly missed Orphan of the Greenblood, this card with the docks allows for a good amount of control, either on locations, characters, or both.

Lost Oasis x 3 - We want to go first, so why let them do anything by the time we’re done? Kneel out to win.

Red Vengeance x 3- One of the best events in the game, turning claim around on opponents. Use it, love it.

He Calls it Thinking x3 - Saves are annoying. Let’s not deal with them.

Paper Shield x 2 - Great card that’ll save us numerous problems, particularly with cancels.

Burning on the Sand x 3 - It’s easily cancelable, sure, but the ability to disregard one challenge at will is not to be underrated. This is our restricted card of choice.

A Gentle Prison x 2- Protect important characters, remove annoyances from challenges.

or

Viper’s Rage x 2 - Remove all icons since opponents will often win by 4. This is great with any renown that’s around.

More Characters
At this point, we’re at about the deck’s limit of 65 cards. That’s obviously a problem, so we look back, see what can be cut out, and add some cost effective, good characters. The Docks and Greenblood are good, but extra, so out they go. Draw seems covered, so out Much and More goes. One fewer Dornish Fiefdoms doesn’t seem it will hurt either, nor does dropping a Street of Sisters. Now we can fit more characters,. The game’s two best players regularly go above 60, so I don’t feel beholden to only 60, especially with this much draw.

Lost Spearmen x 3- They’re both cheap and effective. There’s little reason to not give them a spot since they can consistently control the board at only 3 cost.

Ser Arys Oakheart - Renown, cost effective, and kills allies? Yes please.

Ellaria Sand - She steals power and defends challenges particularly well. She’s a nightmare for Rush builds. .

Harmen Uller - He’s likely to be standing a lot with all that draw, and renown is always key.

Darkstar - Whether put into play from his ability or played, this card is mean with 3 strength, Renown and Vengeful.

Areo Hotah - The new Areo isn’t perfect, but we like guys who can participate in more than one challenge.

Since we want him, we can effectively go with 64 cards. Now all we need are plots.

Plots
Initiative is key here, as is effect. Let’s start with 2 resets.

First Snow of Winter - Getting rid of weenies early does nothing but help you. This pairs especially well with Rule by Decree, but in a slow deck and with rush prevalent, RBD is just as likely to hit you, so I’ve left it out.

Valar Morghulis - A must have for control decks. Don’t be afraid to use this early.

Forgotten Plans - Few plots are worse for this deck than Fear of Winter, but this counters an awful lot of trouble with good initiative.

A Song of Summer - Great gold and initiative. We have our control elsewhere in this deck.

Take them by Surprise - Same idea as Song of Summer. You won’t really use initiative with this deck, so this is pretty safe.

Marched to the Wall - If they Set Up something dangerous without protection, this can ruin their plans and there’s great joy in Ghastoning away all but one huge army, then using this to get rid of it.

Loyalty Money Can Buy - The initiative isn’t huge, but it is good, and if you do lose, it often entices opponents to let you go first anyway, since they have no claim and would rather defend.

So, that’s our plots. Also worthy of consideration are
Breaking and Entering, Attack from the Sea, Game of Thrones and one I especially want to highlight...

Building Seson - This is to be used late. If Ghaston remaining out is an issue, since targeted removal for locations is now huge, this allows you to grab another. If you’re overly concerned about opponent locations, add Favorable Ground x 3. It’s among my favorite cards and you will not regret it.

So, finally, here's our deck:

Deck Built with CardGameDB.com GoT Deckbuilder

Ghaston

House (1)
House Martell (Core) x1

Agenda (1)
Knights of the Hollow Hill (MotM) x1

Plot (7)
The First Snow of Winter (ODG) x1
Valar Morghulis (Core) x1
Forgotten Plans (KotStorm) x1
A Song of Summer (ASoS) x1
Take Them by Surprise (LoW) x1
Marched to the Wall (LoW) x1
Loyalty Money Can Buy (QoD) x1

Character (29)
Arianne Martell (PotS) x2
Dagos Manwoody (TBC) x1
Doran Martell (TGM) x1
Edric Dayne (IG) x2
Myrcella Lannister (ODG) x1
The Red Viper (PotS) x2
Flea Bottom Scavenger (AToT) x3
House Messenger (PotS) x3
Dornish Paramour (TTotH) x2
Herald of the Sun (SB) x2
Maester of Lemonwood (BtW) x2
Ser Arys Oakheart (PotS) x1
Lost Spearman (MotM) x3
Ellaria Sand (PotS) x1
Harmen Uller (PotS) x1
Darkstar (PotS) x1
Areo Hotah (RotK) x1

Location (19)
Ghaston Grey (FtC) x3
Bay of Ice (KotS) x2
Palace Fountains (PotS) x3
Dornish Fiefdoms (PotS) x2
Summer Sea (PotS) x3
Shadowblack Lane (Core) x1
Street of Silk (LotR) x1
Flea Bottom (TGM) x1
Lost Oasis (AToT) x3

Event (16)
Parting Blow (PotS) x3
He Calls It Thinking (PotS) x3
Red Vengeance (PotS) x3
Paper Shield (QoD) x2
A Gentle Prison (WotN) x2
Burning on the Sand (RotO) x3

Attachment (0)