A Company of Sellswords

The Archmaester’s Key Is Now Available for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game

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“I count no day as lived unless I have loved a woman, slain a foeman, and eaten a fine meal.”
  
–Daario Naharis, A Storm of Swords

Westeros has been shaken by the War of the Five Kings, and the deaths of kings and rulers across the realm. Tywin Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon, Oberyn Martell, and Robb Stark each molder in their separate graves across the Seven Kingdoms. Though Cersei Lannister rules as Queen Regent on behalf of her son Tommen, her claim to the Iron Throne is by no means certain. Tyrion has escaped from her clutches across the Narrow Sea, Stannis Baratheon has led his army north to the Wall, and new players are entering the game from the Iron Islands and Dorne.

The fourth cycle of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game asks you to step into this chaotic bed of schemes, betrayals, and war, starting with The Archmaester’s Key—a new Chapter Pack that’s now available at your local retailer or online through our webstore! Your journey into the events of A Feast for Crows begins with this pack, even as the bestow keyword continues to expand its possibilities and you uncover new rewards for forging an alliance between two factions in a single deck.

Captain of the Stormcrows

As Daenerys Targaryen burns a trail of conquest around Slaver’s Bay, she has grown her army of Unsullied and Dothraki with mercenary companies. In A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, players have already seen the impact that Second Sons (Guarding the Realm, 33) can have in a game, especially when paired with Flea Bottom (Oberyn’s Revenge, 98). In The Archmaester’s Key, Targaryen players and those willing to forge an alliance using Banner of the Dragon (Core Set, 204B), gain another powerful Mercenary: the captain of the Stormcrows, Daario Naharis (The Archmaester’s Key, 14).

In the saga of A Song of Ice and Fire, Daario Naharis enters the scene as one of three captains of the Stormcrows. However, he quickly proves his decisiveness and skill at arms by slaying the other two captains, bringing their heads to Daenerys, and proclaiming himself as the sole leader of the Stormcrows. This proclivity to take command and bring other mercenaries under your sway is aptly reflected in Daario’s ability in A Game of Thrones: The Card Game.

Daario Naharis is a powerful combatant, boasting six STR and the renown keyword. The true rewards, however, only come after you win a challenge in which he is attacking. If you do, you can choose any other Ally, Companion, or Mercenary character, stand it, and take control of it until the end of the phase! Taking control of your opponent’s characters is always useful—especially since most cheap characters commonly used to absorb military claim have at least one of these traits. If you can steal that character before claim is applied from a military challenge, your opponent may be forced to kill a much more impactful character! It’s also important to note that you’re not limited to choosing your opponent’s characters. If you’d rather stand one of your own characters to use in another challenge, you can use Daario Naharis to rally your own men as well.

Clearing out your opponent’s most impactful characters also becomes much easier with the other Targaryen card included in this pack— Bloody Arakh (The Archmaester’s Key, 15). Only Dothraki can wield the Bloody Arakh, but its effect can be potent in the right situations. Whenever you win a military challenge with a character wielding a Bloody Arakh, you can sacrifice this attachment to make an additional military challenge this phase!

Two military challenges in a single phase can be punishing enough—especially when using a two-claim plot like The Long Winter (Wolves of the North, 49) or Retaliation (Watchers on the Wall, 47). But there’s no need to stop there! With Khal Drogo (Core Set, 162) and Relentless Assault (Tyrion’s Chain, 118), you could be making up to four military challenges in a single phase. In keeping with the fourth cycle’s themes of bringing factions together, you may even ally with House Lannister, bringing Ser Jaime Lannister (Core Set, 87) into your forces to participate in as many military challenges as you choose to make.

Choose Your Allies

The sellswords of Essos can make fickle allies, but their skill with arms is undeniable and unmatched. Take up arms with Targaryen mercenaries, and prepare to bring fire and blood down upon your enemies!

You can pick up your copy of The Archmaester’s Key (GT23) at your local retailer or online through our website today!

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