Scheming on the Sands - Arianne is Cycling Plots

With Tournament season over, I want to take a look at my favorite new Martell toy Arianne Martell (TK) and how we can use her to the best effect. This plot cycling character can be huge, especially when paired with two toys. First is Cape Wrath. Win a challenge by 4 and Arianne can then go back to shadows to mess up opponents plans by changing plots time and again. Protecting Arianne can be difficult, as one of the key plots to change into is usually Valar Morghulis, but there’s luckily a good way to stop that, but we need to look out of house: The Iron Mines do a fantastic job of protecting Arianne. I’d prefer the Maester of the Sun, but then we need A Time for Ravens and that’s a terrible plot to switch into, so we can stick with Iron Mines. Shores of the Summer Sea will allow some recycling of that, if that’s your speed.

This deck, since Summer is out, is probably best No Agenda, as it gives plenty of Renown and thus plenty of ways to rush. Let’s begin with Jaime Lannister x3 as well as Arianne x3 for card draw, since she’ll be coming out of shadows every turn. Preston Greenfield x2 adds some extra fuel there. That shadows subtheme means Kingdom of Shadows a great fit. As for the rest of the Renown, Quentyn’s friends - Ser Archibald Yrnonwood, Ser Gerris Drinkwater, and Ser Cletus Yronwood - are musts, but the Quentyn Charagendahimself doesn’t add much. Instead, the newer Quentyn Martell adds a fun way to grab quick power when needed and stop military. The Red Viper remains, as always, a must, as does Ser Arys Oakheart. If that’s not enough Renown, there’s always Harmen Uller, Lady Stoneheart, and Darkstar to round things out. Ellaria Sand (the original) is a solid call as well. Add in the usual Martell card draw of Dornish Paramours and House Messenger and we’re really getting somewhere. Better still, Parting Blow gets use when cards go back into shadows and for the Paramours while adding more draw. Add in the staples of He Calls it Thinking and Choosing the Spear and a deck has essentially taken shape. Hmm, what are we missing?

Oh, right! Plots! Arianne’s whole purpose, plot cycling, is actually the deck’s most important choice. There’s only one plot, despite what I said earlier, that really has to be there - To the Spears. Switching into this without notice can and will win a game with all this Renown. What other options are there? Well, here’s sixteen more options, in no particular order:

1. Manning the City Walls - Want your rush to really kick butt? Add Manning and 3x Southron Mercenaries. That 2x Claim with a sudden army will be an immediate recovery from an enemy’s Valar, and they can get two attacks off of the Kingdom of Shadows. That would be around a six power swing with Arianne taking care of the power challenge.

2. The City Cycle - City of Lies is a great open here, but what this really offers is a quick way to toss House of Dreams locations with A City Besieged by turn 2, City of Sin allowing a ton of un-opposed, City of Soldiers to kill what you want, and City of Lies to do any of those again with two-claim. For this one, I suggest you forego Valar.

3. Breaking and Entering - When opponents see this coming, they tend to toss all of their good locations and attachments as fast as they can. When they don’t see it coming, you get free goodies.

4. Bungled Orders - If you want to get to To the Spears and/or Valar quickly, why not be able to go through three plots in one turn?

5. Game of Thrones - Again, opponents plan for this when they see it. When unprepared, this can win you a game as a mini-To the Spears.

6. Holding the Trident - Let’s say you ignore me and decide to go with one of the few character builds, Summer, Obarra, the Red Viper and New Ellaria. Well, why not have your guys be exceedingly powerful, too?

7. Loyalty Money Can Buy - Because opponents think they have claim and that is funny.

8. Relentless Persecution - You’re running really unique heavy, but most other decks aren’t. Kneel out all those annoying armies.

9. Schemes of the Scholar - Since we don’t have a needed restricted, might some Maesters and then the Conclave speed up your rush?

10. Shadows and Spiders - Ignore the crappy initiative and medium gold, pack some cancel, and win.

11. First Snow of Winter - All those two strength guys your opponent plays? They can go away now. Add to Rule by Decree for extra meanness.

12. The Art of Seduction - When you don’t want to hit something good, this will be perfect. This is a top choice here. Stall an opponent out when they’d want to Valar, then the next turn, you can To the Spears and rush to win.

13. The Grand Melee - Sometimes an opponent keeps a small board, either to Valar or expecting you to. Counter that with two claim and ignore how strong what they have out is.

14. The Red Wedding - You’ll have a lady, guaranteed, and your opponent probably won’t. Make them die, gain some power. This can be the difference between victory and defeat.

15. Twist of Fate - Going first and don’t feel like dealing with an opponent? Or do they have one claim and you no fear? Twist of Fate.

16. Uneasy Truce - Opponents won’t usually save two gold, but you, you sly dog, were going second and had prepared for this.

Finally, have a hastily thrown together version of this! I Insist!

Deck Built with CardGameDB.com GoT Deckbuilder

Arianne Bounce

Total Cards: (60)

House:
House Martell


Agenda: (0)


Plot: (7)
1x To the Spears! (PotS)
1x A City Besieged (CD)
1x City of Lies (CoS)
1x City of Sin (AToT)
1x City of Spiders (TftRK)
1x City of Soldiers (TBoBB)
1x The Art of Seduction (LotR)

Character: (29)
1x Ser Arys Oakheart (PotS)
2x Ser Preston Greenfield (TK)
1x Syrio Forel (TftRK)
1x The Red Viper (APS)
3x House Messenger (PotS)
3x Greenblood Merchant (ARotD)
1x Ser Gerris Drinkwater (CD)
1x Ser Cletus Yronwood (TCC)
1x Ser Archibald Yronwood (CD)
3x Lost Spearman (MotM)
3x Dornish Paramour (TTotH)
1x Quentyn Martell (TGF)
3x Ser Jaime Lannister (TK)
1x Ser Mandon Moore (TK)
3x Arianne Martell (TK)
1x Ser Barristan Selmy (TK)

Attachment: (3)
3x Venomous Blade (TBoBB)

Event: (11)
3x Choosing the Spear (AJE)
3x He Calls It Thinking (PotS)
3x Parting Blow (PotS)
2x Condemned by the Council (AToT)

Location: (17)
3x Cape Wrath (AJE)
3x Kingdom of Shadows (KotS)
1x Lord Doran's Chambers (PotS)
2x Lost Oasis (AToT)
1x Sunspear Tourney Grounds (ODG)
1x Summer Sea (QoD)
3x Water Garden (PotS)
3x The Iron Mines (KotS)