Every time she looked at Ser Ilyn Payne, she shivered. He made her feel as though something dead was slithering over her naked skin.

–George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce True Steel, the sixth Chapter Pack in the Westeros cycle for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game!

Tensions in King’s Landing have reached their breaking point. In the aftermath of King Robert’s death, Eddard Stark makes his move to unveil the true lineage of Cersei Lannister’s children—and in the process, he sets in motion the events that will drown the Seven Kingdoms in blood. Even as Eddard makes his final gambit and the Lannisters plan their reprisal, Daenerys Targaryen forges her future in Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre. It is a time of merciless, sudden death and life that springs from the ashes.

Advance to the explosive conclusion of the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire with True Steel, the sixth Chapter Pack of the Westeros cycle. Here, you’ll find a host of recognizable characters entering the card game for the first time, including Jhogo, Tyene Sand, Septa Mordane, and Ser Barristan Selmy. This pack also introduces two new neutral plots to the game, quickly expanding your options for every deck and introducing new tricks for every player.

The King’s Justice

Alongside the characters listed above, True Steel introduces another character who plays an iconic role in the final chapters of A Game of Thrones: Ser Ilyn Payne (True Steel, 109). Ser Ilyn Payne is known for his role as the royal executioner, and he enters A Game of Thrones: The Card Game as a servant of House Lannister, eager to perpetrate their plots with the honed edge of his blade. Ser Ilyn bears intrigue and power icons and a STR of four, but you’ll rarely use him in your challenges. If you choose to bring this Knight into your schemes, you’ll be much more eager to take advantage of his Action.

As the King’s Justice, you’ll rarely want to keep Ilyn Payne away from the headsman’s block. During the marshaling phase, you may kneel Ser Ilyn Payne as an Action to immediately choose and kill any character with a printed cost of three or lower. The number of targets for this ability is massive—you may try to kill Maester Aemon (Core Set, 125) to open the door for your military challenge, or you may execute The Hound (Taking the Black, 9) before he can return to his owner’s hand. You may snick off the head of Margaery Tyrell (Core Set, 181) or even kill Maester Cressen (Core Set, 46) before he can kneel to remove your Milk of the Poppy (Core Set, 35). With a cost of six gold, Ser Ilyn Payne isn’t cheap to play, but if anyone can afford his cost, it’s certainly the Lannisters.

Of course, Ser Ilyn Payne isn’t the only card House Lannister will receive in the True Steel Chapter Pack. They also gain access to the Small Council Chamber (True Steel, 110). This location seems destined to make an impact on the future of the game—as a Reaction to winning an intrigue challenge, the Small Council Chamber gains one power. Not only does this allow you to store up power where your opponent can’t steal it with power challenges, Small Council Chamber also has the text, “Immune to events,” meaning that your opponent can’t destroy your power with cards like We Do Not Sow (Core Set, 83).

If you want to bring the Small Council Chamber into play more reliably, you may use Support of the People (Taking the Black, 17) to quickly establish it. It’s also important to note that the Small Council Chamber is non-loyal, which means you could easily bring it into another intrigue-focused deck, such as those of House Martell. Ultimately, the Small Council Chamber rewards you for making intrigue challenges even after your opponent’s hand of cards is completely diminished.

Test Your Steel

As the Lannisters undermine the plans of Eddard Stark and House Greyjoy broods on their past rebellions, the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire comes to its close. With this Chapter Pack, you can take your place in the story of Westeros and remake it however you choose.

Once more, the night will come alive with the music of dragons. Look for True Steel at your local retailer in the second quarter of 2016!