“Hear me Roar!”

It’s week three and we bring you an analysis on Loyal Lannister cards. I’m going to try and roll these out more frequently as I feel the game will be released before I’m finished. Our first card is, you guessed, the primary Lord or Lady; in this case Tywin Lannister!

Tywin Lannister

I’ve been trying to think of something to write about Tywin, but I’m coming up blank. He’s the most solid, solid card you could want. He has six Strength and all icons for seven gold, renown and a “pump” ability that he himself lends a hand to; not to mention gold counts for dominance. On top of that he also gives you the literal lifeblood to play the game if you don’t need him larger that turn. It’s ironic that he works so well with his son, considering events that take place.

Works Well With: Tyrion Lannister, Littlefinger, The Roseroad

Joust/Melee Ranking: 5/5

Art & Flavor

Tommy Arnold brings us The Lion of Lannister. Why wouldn’t Tywin Lannister get “stronger” for each gold you have? He also gives you two gold a turn, an obvious nod to his House having lots of money. Fun fact, Tywin is the only card that produces more than one gold. This card exudes perfect character flavor.

“When your enemies defy you, you must serve them steel and fire. When they go to their knees, however, you must help them back to their feet. Elsewise no man will ever bend the knee to you. And any man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king at all. Aerys never understood that, but you will. When I’ve won your war for you, we will restore the king’s peace and the king’s justice.” – Tywin Lannister

Cersei Lannister

Cersei Lannister is one of my favorite cards from the core set. Not only does she look awesome but she is actually quite an amazing card. She is one of the reasons you will play Lannnister as your main Faction. Her basic stats are great; the fact that they are in accordance with our Card Analysis Primer and she also has an ability make her well above the curve. Now let’s talk about her ability, while she’s attacking during an Intrigue challenge she raises your claim by one. I love this ability much better than the “you may attack a second time in a particular challenge icon”. You need greater commitment to the board in order to pull those off but not with Cersei; she inherently makes your attacks better in what I believe to be the best icon in the game. If your opponent can’t play the game you’re going to win.

Win More With: High Claim Plots.

Watch Out For: Dracarys!

Joust/Melee Ranking: 5/5

Art & Flavor

Tommy Arnold brings us Cersei Lannister. This picture is awesome and I love how the colors of the card and the picture bleed into one another. Her ability really conveys how wily she is and can make a specific plan (plot) work that much better.

“Love is poison. A sweet poison, yes, but it will kill you all the same.” – Cersei Lannister

Grand Maester Pycelle

Grand Master Pycelle is a fantastic reason…not to play in faction. Don’t get me wrong he is great and if you plan on playing Lannisters for other reason he will be an auto include. As for the card itself, it’s actually quite good and I love drawing cards in any card game. Trading only one Strength to do just that is very good indeed.

Joust/Melee Ranking: 3/5

Art & Flavor

Grand Maester Pycelle is drawn wonderfully by Tiziano Baracchi. I love how he conveys his frailty in this picture. I suppose he draws cards because he’s knowledgeable and had to receive his chain for a reason.

“All I did, I did for House Lannister.” – Grand Maester Pycelle

The Queen’s Assassin

The Queen’s Assassin is a two gold two Strength one icon character. I really can’t get behind this assassin at all. While he does have, in my opinion, the best icon he sacrifices another potential icon to get an ability that isn’t fantastic. Holding back four gold I suspect is going to be a huge investment for a situational ability. In addition to the four gold held back, an extreme telegraph, he needs to enter play with his Ambush, no tricky business, you need more cards in your hand than your opponent and he still gets the decision of which character to kill. This card may become better in the future if gold is easier to obtain or as an addition kill effect in a heavy Military challenge deck.

Works Well With: Tywin Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Heavy Military challenge decks

Joust/Melee Ranking: 3/5

Art & Flavor

Mike Capprotti draws a rather shady looking character here with a fantastic nose to exemplify his “weasily-ness”. Is this the representation of the assassin hired to kill Bran? It says he’s the Queen’s Assassin and not Joffrey’s, whoops spoilers, but he could have easily taken on other contracts. Ha! Like Warm Rain, I get it.

“You weren’t supposed to be here.” – Catspaw

Casterly Rock

Here is a card that sits between Lannisport and The Queen’s Assassin in terms of how good it is. I believe this card could be amazing in the future depending on what the House receives. As it stands right now this seems to be a card that’s good when you already have an extremely good board presence, winning already, or when your trying to pull off some gimmick (e.g. High Claim Plots/Cersei/Seal of the Hand). This card needs too much happening to be great.

Works Well With: Cersei Lannister, Lannisport, High Claim Plots

Joust/Melee Ranking: 3/5

Art & Flavor

I love vistas of Locations more than the alternative and there is no exception here as Sergey Glushakov draws just that with Casterly Rock. I also have no reason to disbelieve scheming and plotting is at an all time high in the home of the Lannisters.

“They say there is naught but stone at the heart of Casterly Rock” -Catelyn Stark

Lannisport

I love the simple ones. While a bit expensive it is only one of the two cards in house that allows you to draw a card. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though; it can be slightly more difficult to trigger than the other locations as they could have a bigger force and it’s a prime target for Catelyn Stark.

Works Well With: The Lannisters

Watch Out For: Catelyn Stark

Joust Ranking: 4/5

Melee Ranking: 5/5 – There has to be someone you can attack!

Art & Flavor

While not a vista Juan Carlos Barquet still manages a great piece with an amazing sunset. It’s a port so this is how they get provisions, i.e., drawing cards.

Hear Me Roar!

No, no, no, this is the house motto card and it’s terrible in my opinion. This is how it currently reads to me; pay one gold and two cards, Hear Me Roar! and whatever character your putting into play, to give myself a Strength pump. However the pump isn’t a surprise because it has to be used in the first action window before you attack. This card is awful right now and will only be saved by printing Lannisters that do something when they enter or leave play. As it stands it’s a very expensive, card wise, challenge pump.

Joust/Melee Ranking: 1/5

Art & Flavor

Cris Griffin draws a rather menacing Jaime Lannister. I suppose the house motto is Hear me Roar!…then run away.

Final Thoughts

While a few of the Lannister cards aren’t anything to write home about I do believe the other cards are amazing. They have, in my, opinion the best icon in the game, they’re immune to Tears of Lys, and a focus on hand and gold advantage. While their two card draws are a little harder to pull off remember they gain card advantage by denying it to your opponent. Part of me wants to say Fealty is good with the Lannisters because they have seven cards it affects but I think banner-ing is the play with them. Remember to like, subscribe and comment with any ideas or opinions you may have.

Next article; “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”. An analysis of loyal Martell cards and why you would want to faction them.

39.931740 -75.300389