Crimson and Gold - Treaty with the Isles

Today we’re going to take the road less traveled and perform a little mental exercise in deck-building. Specifically, let’s see what the best of House Greyjoy has to offer House Lannister. That’s right boys and girls, I’m talking about the Treaty with the Isles (CoS) agenda.

Now on the rare occasion that someone gives a Treaty agenda a second glance, it’s often inspired by a combo between cards in different houses, or perhaps by a trait or crest-based theme. But in this instance we’re going for a Jaime deck, not a Shagga one.

Unfortunately, there a few reasons that the Treaty agendas are absent from the competitive scene. Firstly, while the agenda negates out-of-house penalties, it does NOT remove any “House X Only” deck-building restrictions. Notably, this means we have to operate without the services of Alannys Greyjoy (ODG).

Secondly, the opportunity cost of the Treaty agenda is high. It makes Fleets and Northern Cavalry Flank (SA) better without providing any tangible benefit like other agendas can - no extra intrigue challenge, no Hold to search, no initiative boost.

Finally, we must be extremely careful at all times because our opponent only needs 10 power, and some decks can easily acquire that much in a single round. A little renown here, a couple unopposed powers there, and the game ends in the blink of an eye. Playing a Treaty deck is like walking a tightrope – there’s a great reward at the end, but the route is dangerous. Are you ready?

The Deck

House Lannister (Core)
Treaty with the Isles (CoS)

Characters [24]

Non-Unique Characters

1x Doubting Septa (LotR)
1x Little Bird (RotK)
1x House Clegane Outlaw (APS)
3x Distinguished Boatswain (TftRK)
1x Kingsmoot Hopeful (FtC)
2x Enemy Informer (Core)
1x Yezzan's Grotesquerie (CD)
1x Newly Made Lord (TftH)

Just Missed the Cut:

Carrion Bird (ASoS)
Painted Dogs (IG)
House Payne Enforcer (MotA)
Iron Fleet Captain (CD)
Fleet from The Arbor (RotK)

Every card in this deck falls into one of three categories: draw, control, or just pure efficiency. As far as non-unique characters go, Greyjoy offers location control in the form of Newly Made Lord and cost-to-strength efficiency in Boatswain and Hopeful. Those that missed the cut bring some stealth and deadly to the table, which is always nice, but forgoing them makes Men of Pride (THoBaW) an attractive option.

Unique Characters

2x Tommen Baratheon (SA)
1x Ser Lancel Lannister (TPoL)
1x Ser Arys Oakheart (PotS)
1x Margaery Tyrell (AToTT)
1x Cersei Lannister (LotR)
1x King Joffrey's Guard (TWot5K)
1x Alannys Greyjoy (RoW)
1x The Reader (TGF)
1x Baelor Blacktyde (TIoR)
1x Asha Greyjoy (WLL)

Just Missed the Cut:

Syrio Forel (TftRK)
Varys (SaS)
Penny (VD)
Myrcella Lannister (LotR)
Qyburn (SaS)
Chella, Daughter of Cheyk (Core)
Ser Jaime Lannister (Core)
Ser Jaime Lannister (LotR)
Hugor Hill (VM)
Hugor Hill (VM)
Wex Pyke (KotS)
Maester Wendamyr (KotS)
Maester Murenmure (CbtC)
Moqorro (VD)
Andrik the Unsmiling (TPoL)
Victarion Greyjoy (RotK)
Tarle the Thrice-Drowned (RotO)

Tommen, King of draw, and his sidekick, the Reader, make sure we’re never out of options in hand. The efficiency we’re looking for is manifested in Cersei and Asha (because each is essentially two characters for the price of one). Baelor and Margaery are huge pains in the ass for any opponent. I’m not sure about the lesser version of Alannys – she’ll probably get swapped out, but she does at least reduce the Guard, and if we roll with Cache as the restricted card then she makes a lot of sense.

Locations [25]

Ability Locations [14]

1x River Blockade (RoR)
3x The Iron Mines (KotS)
2x Lion's Gate (ASoS)
3x Pentoshi Manor (AHM)
1x Lannisport Brothel (Core)
1x The Iron Throne (LotR)
1x Longship Iron Victory (KotS)
2x Golden Tooth Mines (Core)

Just Missed the Cut:

Volantis Inn (AHM)
Lannisport Tourney Grounds (ODG)
Scouting Vessel (KotS)
Longship Black Wind (CbtC)

The locations are where the deck really shines. They’re all spectacular on setup and bring top notch control or draw to the table. We have to be careful with Pentoshi, keeping in mind that our opponent only needs 10 power to win, but Lion’s Gate helps keep things in check while also turning All-Star characters into Allies (aka Dissension bait).

Economy Locations [11]

3x Sunset Sea (Core)
3x The Goldroad (Core)
1x Street of Steel (Core)
1x Shadowblack Lane (Core)
1x Street of Sisters (Core)
1x River Row (QoD)
1x Flea Bottom (TGM)

Just Missed the Cut:

Volantis (VM)
Lannisport Treasury (LotR)

I haven’t felt the need to switch things up so far in testing. Tyrosh does reduce our Greyjoys and Lannisport Treasury is crazy good on setup, but there isn’t room or need for them.

Attachments [3]

1x Widow's Wail (LotR)
2x Enslaved (THoBaW)

Just Missed the Cut:

Captain of the Iron Fleet (TGM)
Horn of Dragons (ASoSilence)

I’m almost never disappointed to see Widow’s Wail . Even if we already have other draw options, +2 strength for Asha turns her into a monster and prevents most burn effects. Enslaved is another efficient 2-for-1 card because I'm both gaining a character AND taking one away from my opponent. Captain is crazy good location control, not to mention extra renown for what is otherwise a slow-moving deck. I might yet fit a copy in. Horn of Dragons is a gimmick, but in concert with Lion’s Gate it can be a game-changer.

Events [9]

1x Condemned by the Council (AToT)
1x Insidious Ways (Core)
2x A House Divided (WLL)
2x You've Killed the Wrong Dwarf! (Core)
3x Dissension (QoD)

Just Missed the Cut:

Terminal Schemes (LotR)
The Bear and the Maiden Fair (TPoL)
Paper Shield (QoD)
Distraction (Core)
Risen from the Sea (KotS)

There’s not anything wild or crazy here. A splash of location control, some kneel, draw, and bounce for fatties like an opposing Victarion, Stannis, etc. I’m tempted to try a single Risen from the Sea for Asha.

Plots

Valar Morghulis (Core)
Cersei's Scheme (TPoL)
Men of Pride (THoBaW)
Negotiations at the Great Sept (TPoL)
Breaking and Entering (LotR)
Rule by Decree (Core)
Loyalty Money Can Buy (QoD)

If we find You’ve Killed the Wrong Dwarf in hand, a round one Rule by Decree becomes not only viable, but outright dastardly. If not, there are plenty of other viable openers depending on the exact situation. We have plenty of draw already, but deck has a reasonably low curve, making it easy to dump everything and then refill with Negotiations.

Just Missed the Cut:

Frey Hospitality (LotR)
Forgotten Plans (KotStorm)
Shadows and Spiders (LotR)
City of Sin (AToT)
A City Besieged (CD)
The King's Law (KotStorm)
The Songs of Bael the Bard (AKitN)
Stay of Execution (KotS)

I’ve considered King’s Law because it seems like most decks run at least a few shadows cards, and that can put a damper on the Boatswain. Stay of Execution is an option for impending Valars when Cersei, Margaery or Tommen are vulnerable. Songs of Bael the Bard pairs well with the triple Dissensions.

Restricted Card

I’ve chosen Pentoshi Manor for the benefit on setup and the repeatable challenge control. Other options include Pyromancer's Cache (TWot5K), Castellan of the Rock (BoRF), Search and Detain (HtS), Fury of the Lion (AE), Retaliation! (ASoSilence), and Narrow Escape (KotStorm). I’ll probably try out at least one or two of these just to see what happens.

Weaknesses

In the current environment, I’ll admit that this deck has plenty of vulnerable spots. Rush or renown-heavy decks are problematic due to our agenda; Winter shuts down Lion's Gate, so maybe Carrion Bird deserves another look; Long Voyage decks draw so damn much that they’re harder to control; decks with targeted removal or kneel can muck up our challenges because the deck is so character-light.

However, when it works right, this deck can crush the hopes and dreams of whatever poor chap didn’t show enough respect for the Lions of Casterly Rock and the Krakens of the Iron Islands. The Treaty agenda will cause some to let their guard down – it’s important to pounce all over them and never relinquish control. Mulligan aggressively to start the game. You should get four cards at minimum, possibly five or even six. Then draw, kneel, win challenges, and repeat.

Thanks for reading another edition of Crimson and Gold.