So, this is my first real attempt at building a deck (I've only played with pre cons before), so I was wondering if you could critique this/see if there are any tips you might have for places to go with it.

The idea is to use The Queen of Thorns to build up power from cards coming in from shadows. It is using Kings Landing for Card Draw when it can, and is using Black Cells and Alchemist Guild Hall for control. Varys is there for spot removal, as are the Venomous Blades. There are quite a few natural stealth characters in the deck, so Masseys Hook is there to give them more utility (And potentially Unopposed Claims). Smugglers Cove also has synergy with Masseys Hook as well. Arya, Davos, and Lightbringer can act as claim soaks.

As of right now there are a few things jumping out at me for problems:

1. Low gold on the City Plots: With the exception of the use of Twilight Market, I'm likely going to be running into issues with gold to put things into Shadows. Are there any other good shadows cost reducers?

2. Stormlands Smuggler: I like them. They're shadow and stealth, however they feel too expensive, and I feel like I almost have other better shadows cards to pull out during the shadows phases. However, I can't really find many other things that might fit in there that are non unique and efficient. Any ideas?

3. At the Gates: I only have one Maester in my deck, and if I draw him in my starting hand it's going to be a dead plot. Should I consider adding another Maester? (Perhaps that 3 str tyrell maester?)

House (1)

House Baratheon (Core) x1

Agenda (1)

City of Shadows (CoS) x1

Plot (7)

City of Lies (CoS) x1

City of Secrets (TTotH) x1

City of Sin (AToT) x1

City of Soldiers (TBoBB) x1

City of Spiders (TftRK) x1

At the Gates (GotC) x1

Wildfire Assault (Core) x1

Character (29)

Brienne of Tarth (PotS) x1

Knight of Flowers (TftH) x1

Maester Pylos (KotStorm) x1

Margaery Tyrell (TftRK) x1

Marya Seaworth (KotStorm) x1

Melisandre (Core) x2

Renly Baratheon (TRS) x1

Robert Baratheon (Core) x1

Ser Davos Seaworth (Core) x1

Stannis Baratheon (Core) x1

Stormlands Smuggler (ASoSilence) x3

The Queen of Thorns (TftRK) x3

Sister of Truth (KotStorm) x3

Highgarden Refugee (RoW) x3

Arya Stark (CoS) x1

Syrio Forel (TftRK) x1

Varys (SaS) x1

Meera Reed (TftH) x1

Tyrion Lannister (CoS) x1

Ser Cortnay Penrose (KotStorm) x1

Location (22)

King Robert's Chambers (Core) x1

Kingdom of Shadows (KotS) x3

Massey's Hook (ASoSilence) x3

Narrow Sea (Core) x3

The Black Cells (TftRK) x3

Twilight Market (AToT) x3

Alchemist's Guild Hall (TBoBB) x1

King's Landing (SaS) x2

Smuggler's Cove (KotStorm) x3

Event (5)

Paper Shield (QoD) x3

Condemned by the Council (AToT) x2

Attachment (4)

Lightbringer (Core) x1

Venomous Blade (TBoBB) x3

1. Low gold on the City Plots: With the exception of the use of Twilight Market, I'm likely going to be running into issues with gold to put things into Shadows. Are there any other good shadows cost reducers? I would probably drop your least favorite city plot for a good 5 gold plot in the first couple of turns. Maybe Muster the Realm to give yourself some breathing room in the early game?

2. Stormlands Smuggler: I like them. They're shadow and stealth, however they feel too expensive, and I feel like I almost have other better shadows cards to pull out during the shadows phases. However, I can't really find many other things that might fit in there that are non unique and efficient. Any ideas? Pyromancer's Apprentice, to compliment or replace your condemned by the council. It's a pretty solid card.

3. At the Gates: I only have one Maester in my deck, and if I draw him in my starting hand it's going to be a dead plot. Should I consider adding another Maester? (Perhaps that 3 str tyrell maester?) I would add in Maester Cressen. Being able to efficiently discard a condition attachment will come in handy pretty often, there are all sorts of horrible condition attachments out there.

1. Another possibility would be to include Shadow Seer. Yes there is a gold penalty, but you break even with one challenge. As an added bonus, synergy with Melisandre. Combined with what Rave said, I would go with the plot Alliance.

2. I would probably go with the Shadow Seer for these slots, and sub the apprentices in for the condemned by the council.

3. Cressen is great, there are way too many conditions out there that can ruin your day. Another possibility is Core Set Aemon. Never underestimate military claim soak.

KU