Two weeks ago the rules update for the game was released, with slight changes across all factions that will either improve how they play or nerf the problem lists plaguing the tournament scene.
Guest Writer Carly
There are winners in this update that sorely needed the boost and others that didn’t need the nerf, furthermore with the likes of one faction the changes are not enough to bring it down to the same level as everyone else. Let’s take a look.
Stan for Stannis
The standard Tactics Deck had 3 sets of cards changed for the better. The Stannis side of the Baratheon faction saw a lot of changes resulting in the prince who was promised being in a much better position than before. Although Renly units only saw a slight points tweak on the Thorn Watch, their “Update” comes in the form of two units releasing soon; The Highgarden Pikemen and Riders of Highgarden.
The Queens Men received the universal change to the rule To The Last!, which allows the unit to stick around longer. The R’hllor Lightbringers saw a point reduction and the King’s Men got a change to their King’s Blade rule allowing them to play the Ours is the Fury! Tactics Card from the deck or discard pile whenever they attack. Further to this, Melisandre saw a point decrease along with a rework to Axell Florent and Selyse & Shireen.
The King’s Men are now a highlight of the Stannis Loyalty armies, I will ever be bringing Andrew Estermont without the King’s Men. This is due to Andrew Estermont Commander attachment giving the unit he is in the benefit of any Tactics Cards that contain the Crown and the Letters, resulting in the Ours is the Fury! Card being at its most effective. The points decrease allow me to bring 2x R’hllor Faithful, 2x R’hllor Lightbringers and the King’s Men unit with 9pts spare for NCUs. A very synergistic list to consider for the future.
The only disappointment about the Baratheon update is the weird change to the Champions of the Stag, heavy cavalry wants to be on the move and staying in combat to get extra benefits (whilst is very Baratheon) is not going to push this unit into those high performing lists – especially for Renly once his light cavalry is released.
The Debt is Now Paid
One unit that saw a lot of play time was the Poor Fellows. Whether it was a lore accurate army led by the High Sparrow, or no shame Tywin Lannister conscripting the millions of King’s Landing, this unit was everywhere. The tweaking of the morale stat to prevent Faith Token spam and the change to the healing makes this unit the T-Shirt wearing troops they were meant to be. However this correcting of the accounts will affect the likelihood of seeing this unit in troves. However it might be due to other units getting a boost at the same time. The change to the Guard Captain makes resilient units such as the Guardsmen look appetising, but there are other changes to the Lannister Military.
Lannister Crossbowmen saw a quality increase in their Armour Saves and their To Hit modifier for the ranged attack. Mountain’s Men got a slight change to their ability resulting in them being less of a clean up unit and now a threatening aggressive unit to look out for. Both are at 6pts challenging the Red Cloaks who saw a nerf in their melee attacks. The biggest changes come the the Knights of Casterly Rock as the Lance rule has changed to make the heavy cavalry a very threatening presence. Could we see a spam of this unit similar to the four cavalry list at the beginning of ASOIAF? Either way they will have to compete with Flayed Men for best cavalry in the Lannister army.
Overall it’s a mixed bag for the Lannisters but this will encourage more diverse lists.
The Night is Dark and Full of Rangers
The Night’s Watch at first glance got annihilated. The Othell list based around crossbows got systematically dismantled in such a way that I had flashbacks to the Field of Fire. The Crossbows will never make it to the table again, as well as NCU Jeor, both left on the shelf with the Stone Thrower. Although Othell’s Cards and the Conscripts got nerfed I do believe we will still see them in lists going forward.
I do believe the Conscript change will have substantial impact, the extra points are reducing activations or attachments across lists. However, a 5pt unit in the force of primarily 7pt units is still going to see play, but after you have bought Coldhands and Ghost.
Speaking of Direwolves, CMON clearly did not attack the entire faction and only acted upon the best list in the tournament scene. I say this due to no changes to the Ranger Hunters, who effectively passed under the radar. Jon Snow is the typical Commander to bring with the unit and he was slightly tweaked. Other than that, they are fine. Already we are seeing lists with at least two units of hunters with Jon and a Watch Captain and some are even bringing three! Now even if the Rangers were hit, the Sworn Brothers would likely take their place and so on. I personally believe that the Watch Captain needs to change to prevent the steamroller tactic that the Night’s Watch are using. CMON changed the game to prevent units from “one shotting” other units but the best tournament lists still hold this power due to getting multiple attacks in one turn.
At least we will see a change of units, NCUs and Commanders in the Night’s Watch going forward.
Roose Bolton Now King of Rohan
A special mention goes out to Roose Bolton. Whatever he fed to those horses must be patented and sold at an extortionate price. The neutral Flayed Men cavalry have found their way into every corner of Westeros and Essos like cockroaches. Lannisters, Khal Drogo, Baratheons, the list goes on, and the unit did not change in the update. With the nerf to Drogo’s Bloodriders and the underwhelming update to the Champion of the Stags, means they will be taken more, but the change to Lance might see them taken less with the Starks and Lannisters. The unit has seen so many changes since the beginning of the game and it is quite unlikely that CMON will ever find a perfect balance for this unit. One thing is for sure, they are the next Tycho.
As tournaments are starting to ramp up, we will see which house on the wheel will be on top and which one will be crushed on the bottom. I will be attending my first ever ASOIAF tournament next weekend in Daventry called “The Dance of Daventry” and will get to see first hand the state of play.
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