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It’s Time for a New Balance Update – Spanish Nationals – ASOIAF Miniatures Game

Last weekend saw the Spanish Nationals take place, with a fantastic turnout of 30 players. The 2-day 5-game event saw many factions fight for the win but only one army walked away with 5 wins. Thank you to ASOIAF-Stats.com for providing all the stats for the tournament so we can peek into the lists and games. The usual suspects ended at the top of the standings which states more than ever we need a new balance update to shake up the game. Let’s take a dive into some of these Commanders and Lists.

Drogo, Mance, and Jon Snow oh my…

5th Place – Mance Rayder (Aaron)

Expand for List 1

Faction: Free Folk
Commander: Mance Rayder – King Beyond the Wall
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 9

Combat Units
• Free Folk Trappers ( 4 )
Mance Rayder – King Beyond the Wall ( 0 )
• Free Folk Trappers ( 4 )
• Frozen Shore Chariots ( 4 )
• Thenn Warriors ( 5 )
Harma – The Dogshead ( 2 )
• Free Folk Raiders ( 4 )
Raid Leader ( 1 )
• Free Folk Raiders ( 4 )
Tormund Giantsbane – Tall-Talker, Horn-Blower, Breaker of Ice ( 2 )

Non Combat Units
• Craster ( 4 )
• Ygritte ( 4 )
• Lady Val ( 4 )

Expand for List 2

Faction: Free Folk
Commander: Mance Rayder – King Beyond the Wall
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 8

Combat Units
• Thenn Warriors ( 5 )
Mance Rayder – King Beyond the Wall ( 0 )
• Free Folk Raiders ( 4 )
Raid Leader ( 1 )
• Free Folk Raiders ( 4 )
Tormund Giantsbane – Tall-Talker, Horn-Blower, Breaker of Ice ( 2 )
• Mag the Mighty ( 9 )
• Frozen Shore Chariots ( 4 )

Non Combat Units
• Craster ( 4 )
• Lady Val ( 4 )
• Styr ( 5 )

Aaron used Mance for all of his 5 games, unfortunately we do not know which list was brought to each game however both are very similar with one bringing a heavier hammer in Mag the Mighty. Aaron walked away with 4 wins and 1 loss which was against another similar Mance Rayder List. How do we address Mance Rayder that hasn’t been addressed already? I am sure if he was to recieve a nerf Mag the Mighty or Varamyr would be come the go to Free Folk Commander. Mance shortens up the Morale weakness of the Free Folk whilst also providing some potent cards to manipulate activations. I do think Mance and by extension Free Folk need to be tweeked to bring them down a bit, allow other Commanders a time in the spotlight. Congratulations Aaron on 5th place!

4th Place – Khal Drogo (Cendres)

Expand for List 1

Faction: Targaryen
Commander: Khal Drogo – The Great Khal
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 7

Combat Units
• Drogo’s Bloodriders ( 8 )
Khal Drogo – The Great Khal ( 0 )
• Dothraki Veterans ( 8 )
• Jorah Mormont – The Wandering Knight ( 3 )
• House Bolton Flayed Men ( 8 )

Non Combat Units
• Tycho Nestoris ( 5 )
• Xaro Xhoan Daxos ( 4 )
• Illyrio Mopatis ( 4 )

Expand for List 2

Faction: Targaryen
Commander: Khal Drogo – The Great Khal
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 7

Combat Units
• Dothraki Veterans ( 8 )
Khal Drogo – The Great Khal ( 0 )
• Jorah Mormont – The Wandering Knight ( 3 )
• Stormcrow Mercenaries ( 5 )
Unsullied Officer ( 3 )
• Unsullied Swordmasters ( 7 )
Unsullied Officer ( 3 )

Non Combat Units
• Illyrio Mopatis ( 4 )
• Xaro Xhoan Daxos ( 4 )
• Daenerys Targaryen ( 4 )

Cendres used Khal Drog for all of his 5 games, unfortunately we do not know which list was brought to each game however both are very similar with one list being all cavalry and the other swapping some out for some infantry. Cendres walked away with 4 wins and 1 loss which was against a Euron Greyjoy List. Khal Drogo is always going to show up in the top spots when the game can be won more easily by focusing on victory through combat. Drogo can really snowball out of control killign multiple units in one activation. When you attach this to a nine activation list or sprinkle some Flayed Men in, there is no wonder why he is doing well. A Relentless nerf has to be incoming alongside one for Flayed Men, and Drogo’s nerf must not be far behind either. Hopefully the days of Drogo will go down in the west like rain on the mountain, and let other Targaryen Commanders rise. Congratulations Cendres on 4th place!

3rd Place – Khal Drogo (Marc)

Expand for List 1

Faction: Targaryen
Commander: Khal Drogo – The Great Khal
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 7

Combat Units
• Drogo’s Bloodriders ( 8 )
Khal Drogo – The Great Khal ( 0 )
• Jorah Mormont – The Wandering Knight ( 3 )
• Dothraki Veterans ( 8 )
• House Bolton Flayed Men ( 8 )

Non Combat Units
• Illyrio Mopatis ( 4 )
• Barristan Selmy ( 5 )
• Petyr Baelish ( 4 )

Expand for List 2

Faction: Targaryen
Commander: Khal Drogo – The Great Khal
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 7

Combat Units
• House Bolton Flayed Men ( 8 )
Khal Drogo – The Great Khal ( 0 )
• Jorah Mormont – The Wandering Knight ( 3 )
• Dothraki Veterans ( 8 )
• Stormcrow Mercenaries ( 5 )
Unsullied Officer ( 3 )

Non Combat Units
• Illyrio Mopatis ( 4 )
• Barristan Selmy ( 5 )
• Tycho Nestoris ( 5 )

Marc used Khal Drog for all of his 5 games, unfortunately we do not know which list was brought to each game however both are very similar to each other mainly bringing Cavalry Lists. Marc walked away with 4 wins and 1 loss which was against a similar Khal Drogo List. Deja vu? Yes here is another Dothraki Khal reaching the heights of top performance ast the event. Congratulations Marc on 3rd place!

2nd Place – Asha and Euron Greyjoy (Miquel)

Expand for List 1

Faction: Greyjoy
Commander: Asha Greyjoy – The Kraken’s Daughter
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 8

Combat Units
• Ironborn Trappers ( 4 )
Asha Greyjoy – The Kraken’s Daughter ( 0 )
• Ironborn Bowmen ( 4 )
Victarion Greyjoy – Master of the Iron Victory ( 3 )
• Ironborn Bowmen ( 4 )
• Ironborn Bowmen ( 4 )
• House Bolton Flayed Men ( 8 )

Non Combat Units
• Wendamyr ( 4 )
• Tristifer Botley ( 4 )
• Beron Blacktyde ( 5 )

Expand for List 2

Faction: Greyjoy
Commander: Euron Greyjoy – Lord Reaper of Pyke
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 8

Combat Units
• House Bolton Blackguards ( 6 )
Euron Greyjoy – Lord Reaper of Pyke ( 0 )
• Ironborn Bowmen ( 4 )
• Ironborn Bowmen ( 4 )
• House Bolton Flayed Men ( 8 )
• Ironborn Trappers ( 4 )
Asha Greyjoy – Captain of the Black Wind ( 1 )
Qarl – Asha’s Champion ( 1 )

Non Combat Units
• Wendamyr ( 4 )
• Tristifer Botley ( 4 )
• Petyr Baelish ( 4 )

Miquel used Asha Greyjoy for 4 of his games and Euron for 1 of his games against a Khal Drogo List. Marc walked away with 4 wins and 1 loss which was against a very aggressive Cotter Pyke List. It isn’t often you see Greyjoys do so well in the game however Miquel has achieved this with his Ironborn. The lists don’t seem that fun to play howeve, relying on a lot of bowmen and Flayed Men to make both lists work, it seems if you want to do well you should bring Flayed Men. I applaud the lack of Baelor Blacktyde who is often the chosen one for most Greyjoy players. Hopefully this isn’t the last of Greyjoys performing well and we will see more varied units in the future. Congratulations Miquel on 2nd place!

1st Place – Cotter Pyke and Jon Snow (Miguel)

Expand for List 1

Faction: Nights Watch
Commander: Cotter Pyke – Eastwatch Commander
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 7

Combat Units
• Sworn Brothers ( 7 )
Cotter Pyke – Eastwatch Commander ( 0 )
• Sworn Brothers ( 7 )
Watch Captain ( 3 )
• Sworn Brothers ( 7 )
Watch Captain ( 3 )
• Coldhands – Mysterious Ally ( 4 )

Non Combat Units
• Aemon ( 4 )
• Samwell Tarly ( 5 )
• Gilly ( 0 )

Expand for List 2

Faction: Nights Watch
Commander: Jon Snow – 998th Lord Commander
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 8

Combat Units
• Ranger Hunters ( 7 )
Jon Snow – 998th Lord Commander ( 0 )
• Ranger Hunters ( 7 )
Watch Captain ( 3 )
• Veterans of the Watch ( 7 )
• Ghost ( 3 )
• Coldhands – Mysterious Ally ( 4 )

Non Combat Units
• Aemon ( 4 )
• Samwell Tarly ( 5 )
• Gilly ( 0 )

Miguel used Cotter Pyke for 3 of his games and Jon Snow for 2 of his games. Miguel walked away with 5 wins with Cotter Pyke’s Sworn Brother list and Jon Snow’s Ranger Hunters list. Night’s Watch have dominated the meta for tournaments for a very long time, it was a mistake for CMON to only address Othell in the update in March, and they should have addresses the power of their Tactics Deck, Watch Captain, and Ranger Hunters. Just like Mance and Drogo all of these issues have been addresses many times before, however Cotter Pyke is a new sight and it is not hard to understand why. All of his cards are about extra attacks or improving the attack. It is nice to a have a new Commander shine for a faction I hope we see other Night’s Watch Commanders take the lime light as well. Congratulations Miquel on 1st place!

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