Winter Is Coming - Rank and File

Since I'm ranking all of the cards for Song of the Sea and the King's Road, I figured I might as well check in on the Wolves. They fared about as poorly as we all thought.

The Useless

25. White Harbor (TCC) - This is so unlikely to ever matter that at 2-cost, it’s in contention for the worst card in the game.

24. Bran Stark (FaI) - He requires a ridiculous amount of finessing to use for a mediocre ability.

23. Titan's Daughter (TPoL) - This is only good if you’re facing other Black Sails and it never took off enough to not be a dead card far too often.

22. Northern Sailor (TGF) - 2 for 1 with 1 icon? And an Ally? And has to discard himself? I mean, killing is great, but not this way.

21. White Harbor Captain (TGF) - 3 for 2 with 1 icon and he claims power? Again, no thank you. He isn’t worth the power gain.

20. Wylla Manderly (TCC) - 1 for 1 with Power isn’t terrible as a chump blocker, but she’s Stalwart, so you’re stuck with her. She’s great against Allies and her Naval will stop stealth. I guess she’s good against really old-school Lannister builds. She feels like a Core set card.

Usable, but Why Would You?

19. Blazewater Bay (AToTT) - Stark doesn’t use the influence and discarding to lower a Naval by 1 just isn’t enough.

18. Manderly's Scheme (TCC) - Giving Stark Uniques an Intrigue Icon in defense would have mattered years ago when Stark was wildly weak at that. Now? It’s just a card that’s there.

17. Umber Champion (TK) - I like this card more than most, allowing you to overcommit on defense then stand everyone at the cost of discarding himself. That’s not a bad way to win an important challenge and be able to punch back, but stark is packed at his cost range.

Good, but Generally Cut

16. Mors Umber (TBG) - If Stark had more reliable draw, he would work fantastically well with the new kill mechanics for greater strength than cost. He’s at this level and not the one below on the hope that this theme continues to be developed.

15. Breaching the Wall (TBG) - Really begging to be used, as killing “any number” is fantastic. This would go in many decks were Refugees not Restricted. If the Refugees come off the list, this goes up to Very Good in All Decks.

14. Swamps of the Neck (TPoL) - A location version of Osha is pretty solid and allows the threat of over commitment to keep things unopposed, but then re-standing for an extra challenge. Not bad at all and this might see increased play if the Old Way is everywhere.

13. Passing the Wall (AToTT) - Stark Night’s Watch never does as much for me as Lannister or even Baratheon versions of the same. This will make all of those decks, but all of those decks rarely win.

12. Riders of Karhold (AToTT) - Stark has a couple of good No Agenda builds behind Maege and the Kindly Man, but, ultimately, the 4-cost slot in Stark is too competitive. The Riders don’t take out the Northern Cavalry Flank or Robb Stark, certainly, and might even come in behind Core Eddard and the Blackfish.

11. Wyman Manderly (RotK) - He’s great at ending chump challenges, but it’s fairly easy to get him to two strength so he, himself won’t count. Still, he’s a strong intrigue icon in Stark, so he’s not terrible and is particularly good in Stark BS because of where his Naval Icon is.

10. Moreo Tumitis (TPoL) - In a Stark Black Sails deck, he’s a killer. Stark BS rushes better than any of the others, thanks to two more cards we’re about to see. Moreo, despite being an Ally, really helps that rush.

9. Robb Stark (FF) - He’s good, as a King with Renown and a kill effect that can’t be turned off by other kings is always welcome. Robb, however, shares a name with Army Robb and Trait Robb, both of whom are more universally versatile and, as such, make a deck.

Great in Specific Decks or Very Good in All Decks

8. Moat Cailin (TK) - Defensive decks are finally starting to work thanks to Kingsguard and shadows... this is a major part.

7. Winterfell (FaI) - So long as it’s winter, this on demand claim raise can win a game, whether it be a 3-claim military, intrigue, or power. If it’s winter, this card should be in the deck, even as a one of.

6. Jon Snow (THTW) - Immune to Events and 3-strength as a Deadly bi-con is frustrating to deal with. He probably won’t win a game alone, but he’s a big boost to most decks... that is unless it’s a Wildlings or Night’s Watch deck. Then his boost becomes universal and look out.

5. Yoren (THtW) - At 1 cost, he can attack military with two strength and defend intrigue, even when kneeling. He’s not a Wow, but he sure does go in a ton of decks.

4. Harwin (FF) - Starks should be ahead, in which case, no problem, this guy is just a solid 2 for 2 Unique, but should Stark find it’s way behind, this guy can grab the solution to that problem within a turn, at most.

3. Northland Keep (TBG) - This took a huge jump thanks to Robby Stark. It's obviously weak against Favorable Ground, but there's a ton of stuff this repeatably shuts down, including Tunnels, Maesters, Berric, a ton of Greyjoy, House Clegane Brigands, most of Stark, and, with Frozen Outpost, nearly anything the opponent defend's with.

2. Fleet from Wolf's Den (RotK) - Renown is great for Stark, as their decks tend to be slow, but this guy is simply a beast in two different Stark decks. The first is obviously Black Sails, where most of these Fleets shine (and Stark has a quite good Black Sails deck that few seem to play). Better though, is this Fleet in a Siege of Winterfell deck where Battle for the Shield Islands all but guarantees that he claims six power turn one.

Tier 1: Wow

1. White Harbor Dromon (TGF) - It’s fantastic as a power grabber and the entire reason Stark Black Sails works. An unconditional Renown is fantastic and I don’t know why this is so underplayed.