by Luke Wortley (eldub) and Steven Cantrell (scantrell24)

This edition of Two Guys, One Deck is strictly for fun. We’re just two southern gentlemen (Steve from Georgia, Luke from Kentucky) that wanted to get together and pair up a couple factions that are, in many ways, diametrically opposed to one another geographically and culturally. So we chose House Stark and House Martell. The original idea (Luke’s idea, to be fair) was to make a really janky Direwolf deck that focused on winning the military challenge…and pretty much just that — control icons and kill stuff. We’ll just say that deck is awful. If you can come up with something better, please share it with us, as we were both pretty excited about the idea. Anyway, if you want to see that mess, here’s the link to Stark-Banner Sun, aptly named “Desert Wolves”: https://thronesdb.com/deck/view/110080.

Eventually, however, we both decided that the inverse faction pairing might be better, seeing as we’ve both been playing a lot more Martell lately (who hasn’t, though? Okay, John, we get it…). The essential question was: what if we went Martell-Banner of the Wolf with some interesting removal options? Steve’s idea was better…

Also, we made this before we realized that Bamford actually won a Regional Championship across the Narrow Sea…perhaps we were on to something.

Luke

So that was terrible. Let’s do the other one.

Steve

How about we start with the board-clearing package?

Luke

Sounds like fun.

Steve

Marched, 2 Tyene, 2 or 3 Tears, 2 Ward, First Snow, 3 Ghaston, 2 Vengeace.

Luke

2 Tyene and 3 Tears seems like the right number. 2 Ward for sure.

I already like this deck better…it’s not as janky.

Steve

Yeah, it looks more streamlined already, Though I wish Stark had better non-loyal events.

Luke

Ward is its own type of removal, so that’s interesting enough for me.

So…characters?

Steve

3 Nymeria, 1 Caleotte, 2 Arianne, 1 Hotah.

1 Arya, 2 Bran, 1 Rickon?

Luke

Sounds good for now.

Steve

Reducer chuds…Do we want all 3 stewards? Might need them to reach 12 for the banner.

Luke

Yes. Setup.

Steve

I often go with just 2 from my banner faction.

Sucks to draw them mid-game when you need an impactful character.

Luke

True. I’m willing to try 3 scavenger and 2 steward.

So does this deck want Fast Eddie? He accelerates power gain, which always seems good in Martell.

Steve

He’s a beatstick and gives us closing speed, but he doesn’t really synergize with anything.

2 is good since Martell lacks renown.

Luke

Ight. Unless we’d rather use Viper to close games?

These two factions don’t seem to pair well haha.

Steve

The Martell-Lion builds that Buzz and Brandon have been using just grind out wins with little renown.

This deck is kinda similar.

Next, 3 Greenblood Trader.

Luke

Yeah, it’s the only source of draw.

Steve

We’re starting to look susceptible to our own First Snow of Winter, though, because the wolf banner has so many cheap characters.

Luke

Something to think about.

In that case, we want Knights of the Sun.

Steve

For sure. At least 2, maybe even 3.

Luke

2 for now. We’ll see.

1 Littlefinger and 1 Syrio.

Steve

Ok. Yup.

I’m looking at the other 4-cost characters and our options aren’t great.

Luke

Rattleshirt’s.

Steve

I’m fine with 1 Rattleshirt’s.

Maybe we max out Fast Eddie and add a cheeky Jon Snow?

Luke

I don’t think Jon is good for this deck. Not enough targets.

Steve

True. He can jump in with Arianne, though. Great banter.

I’m starting to think this deck can’t press the First Snow advantage as well as Martell-Lion.

Luke

Then let’s go to 3 Ward, 3 Steward and done with the banner.

Steve

Ok. Let’s add a 3rd Knights of the Sun, too.

Now on to locations…All 9 Limited?

Luke

Yeah.

So we’re at 50 cards before the rest of the events, attachments, and locations.

Steve

1 Sunspear?

It might be too expensive.

Luke

Overkill, I think. We can’t afford the 2-gold on a sometimes-used location.

I guess we should decide to do attachments or events first.

Steve

Agreed. Let’s go with events.

Luke

2 His Viper Eyes?

Steve

I like at least 1…So good with Ghaston.

Luke

Yep. I like 2 for now.

Do we want The Hand’s judgment, even with Bran? I think it’s competing with HVE for slots.

Steve

Agreed. I don’t.

Luke

There aren’t very many pieces in here that i’m 100% committed to protecting at all costs.

Steve

Works for me. 2 HVEand 0 HJ, but that would be something I’d keep an eye on in testing.

Luke

Agreed, but, if we’re playing it right, they should be so scared to make a challenge.

Steve

Cool, I like it.

Luke

I like 1 In Doran’s Name.

Steve

The econ event? I was thinking maybe 1 Tourney Grounds, 1 Put to the Sword.

Tourney Grounds is great on setup.

Luke

It is, but I’d almost rather have a 3rd Vengeance for Elia if we run it.

Steve

We could even go 2 Tourney Grounds, 3 Vengeance, and 1 Put. What do you think?

Luke

I don’t know if I like 1 PTTS i this deck…I don’t know how many important military challenges we’re realistically making.

Steve

Well, we have Syrio, Knights of the Sun, Eddard, Hotah, Arya and Nymeria to push through military.

Luke

Yeah, true. Hadn’t tallied it up totally, yet.

Steve

I love single copies of events, too; they can be unexpected, and once you show the first, your opponent has to worry about a 2nd that you don’t even have.

Luke

I’m convinced. Let’s try it.

2x Tourney Grounds, 3x VFE, and 1x PTTS.

On to attachments.

Steve

I like 1 Attainted since we have Tyene and Tears.

Luke

I think 2 Attainted and 2 Milk for 60 even.

Steve

I’d go 1 Attainted, 1 of either Imprisoned or Condemned, and 2 Milk.

Luke

If we’re choosing between those two, then Condemned.

But I think I still like 2 Attainted just for tears and Tyene guarantees.

Steve

Yeah, that would be worth noting in testing.

You’re probably right.

Luke

If the point is removal, then we need to tool it up.

Now plots. We already have Marched and FSoW.

Steve

Sorry, one more thought.

We could potentially go Nightmares instead of Milk, since we have Tourney Grounds.

Luke

Milk is just so great in the current meta. So much Mirri and other nonsense…

Steve

Calm, Long Plan, or both? I like one or the other to open most games.

Luke

Calm is better at the moment for us, though I use Long Plan a lot.

Steve

Ok. I don’t think we can go wrong either way, but Long Plan does help set up great First Snow turns.

Lukeve

Ight. I’m down. Let’s go Long Plan.

Steve

Do we want Naval? It can be great to help keep the board small so our removal is more potent.

Luke

I’m down. Let’s try it.

Steve

Cool. I think we need Summons and Calling. That leaves 1 spot.

Luke

Calling for sure. Initiative control + econ. Clutch.

Steve

Do you like Heads on Spikes here? With Ghaston?

Luke

Yes.

Steve

Sweet. I’ll try this deck out on my stream sometime this week.

I think there’s potential.

Thanks for the invite, Luke, it was fun.

Luke

Absolutely.

Steve

Cool, I cant wait for people to tear it apart.

Here’s the deck:

2g1d: Martell-Wolf

Faction: House Martell

Agenda: Banner of the Wolf

Plots

1x Calling the Banners (Core Set)

1x Heads on Spikes (Core Set)

1x Marched to the Wall (Core Set)

1x Naval Superiority (Core Set)

1x Summons (Core Set)

1x The Long Plan (Taking the Black)

1x The First Snow of Winter (No Middle Ground)

Characters

1x Littlefinger (Core Set)

1x Rattleshirt’s Raiders (Core Set)

1x Areo Hotah (Core Set)

2x Arianne Martell (Core Set)

1x Maester Caleotte (Core Set)

3x Desert Scavenger (Core Set)

3x Greenblood Trader (Core Set)

1x Arya Stark (Core Set)

2x Bran Stark (Core Set)

3x Winterfell Steward (Core Set)

3x Nymeria Sand (The Road to Winterfell)

1x Syrio Forel (The Road to Winterfell)

3x Knights of the Sun (Calm over Westeros)

2x Tyene Sand (True Steel)

2x Eddard Stark (Wolves of the North)

1x Rickon Stark (Wolves of the North)

Locations

3x The Kingsroad (Core Set)

3x The Roseroad (Core Set)

3x Ghaston Grey (Core Set)

3x Blood Orange Grove (Core Set)

2x Tourney Grounds (Wolves of the North)

Attachments

2x Milk of the Poppy (Core Set)

2x Attainted (The King’s Peace)

3x Ward (True Steel)

Events

1x Put to the Sword (Core Set)

3x Tears of Lys (Core Set)

3x Vengeance for Elia (Calm over Westeros)

2x His Viper Eyes (Wolves of the North)