Could someone give me some advice. I just got the core set and my first few games at least will be 2 player. What two decks match up best from the core set against one another for a good game?

Thanks

Whatever two decks you use, at a minimum, I would suggest modifying each deck's plot deck using the plot cards in the other two decks as there are some plots that don't work very well when there's no one to bargain with. Also make sure each person gets one of the two reset plots (Valar and Wildfire Assault). I've actually put together two deck lists for building decks from one core set for head-to-head play ( Stark vs Targ ), but I've never tested them against each other to see if they are balanced.

I'd go with Stark versus Targ as well. Naturally Baratheon versus Lannister would be the next attempt. And then Targ versus Baratheon. I would avoid Stark versus Lannister unless both players have some CCG experience but with one having a bit more experience than the other. That person should probably play Lannister. If both players have no experience the Stark Deck will probably trounce the Lannister one. Ifonly one has experience and you give them Lannister they'll probably routinely beat Stark. But if they both have experience but one with more, then go with the above.

Stark is a pretty straightforward military machine with some small moving parts to punish your opponent. Lannister has more moving parts and only moderate military strength and a bit less than that in power. They however make up for it in spades with Intrigue, which Stark would be hard pressed to ever stop. End result is one House running over the other in a key challenge and using that to leverage themselves into a stronger position depending on how much experience they have to be able to see how to use that leverage.

Thanks for the advice. My wife likes Lannister so I will probably take Baratheon.