A group of my friends and I just started the game a few weeks ago and I've been trying to get a handle on how deck building works. We've all played CCGs in the past, but we are taking this one slow and really trying to savor the experience of learning.

I recently picked up the Core Set as well as all 6 of the expansions (1 for each of the Houses) and have been attempting to put together 6 decks for us to use. I thought the easiest approach would be to use the deck lists in each box, but I've run into a problem. The deck lists each require specific cards from the core set and I just can't see myself snagging 3 or 4 sets to make this happen.

Is there a list of starter deck ideas out there that create 6 distinct house decks without needing more than a single core set? Is it best to just start cannibalizing the core deck now and try our hand at piecemealing these decks together with what we've got? Is there a place to buy singles for this game?

I am not opposed to picking up chapter packs or perhaps a 2nd Core Set (although I'm not sure where to begin with the CPs), I suppose I am just looking for a place to jump in from. I need 6 decks, 1 for each house, with the cards I've got. Can anyone point me in the right direction or offer some starting pointers? Thanks and Game Well!

I can't help you too much on what decks to build. I just wanted to say that if you are going to get into the game seriously, then you will most likely want to get 3 Core sets. There are some good cards in those sets.

I think a 2nd Core Set is the way to go, especially if you want the 4 Core Set Houses to be comparable to GJ and Martell (since theirs come in x3). A 3rd Core Set is ideal but start with the 2nd one first and see how that works out. Then, if you find that you are a melee centric group, the latest CP cycle "A Tale of Champions" is a good place to go next.

I'd also like to refer you to the beginner's resource, here .

i own 5 core boxes but im a lunatic. its probably isnt the answer ffg wants me to say, but id suggest just using proxies until you decide what your favorite house is, then go buy the extra cards if necessary.

Whoa dcdennis, I didn't know you were a kindred spirit!
(debating on a 6th Core Set purchase later this year...)

If you want to be economical, as me and my friends have been so far after playing as a group for almost a year, then I would recommend not investing in an additional 2 core sets.

I can understand it for serious tourney players, but if you just want to have good matches, try being creative with what you have.

Now, I personally only really play Baratheon, so my focus has been collecting chapter packs with cards that appeal to me. So far I have the entire Maester cycle, most of the Champions cycle, a little 5 Kings and Ravens, and will probably try to get a couple more from the King's Landing cycle.
Definitely a lot of cards to mess with (at least enough for me to make at least 4 or 5 pretty distinct decks.)

I've traded a lot of the non-Baratheon cards away to my friends, in exchange for those I'm missing, and it's worked out pretty well.

I used to think that having the seasons chapter packs and epic battles would be almost a must-have, but I've done fine without.

I find once in a while playing a draft core match to be really fun. (Its almost always an intense game.)

For building the recommended builds, I ran into a similar problem when I started (for a while I was running an almost pur Kings of the Storm deck.) but after getting a couple Maester chapter packs, I just added alternatives to the core stuff. Counted out the characters, (How many knights vs other char types for running the Knights of the Realm agenda without getting draw choked,) how many money/discount locations plus the non income ones, attachments, and events.

So if I was missing Brienne of Tarth (core), I'd just throw in another knight with renown, or more often then not, The Laughing Storm. (Cause I had him.)

I see the core as being a starting point, If I can afford 3 cores, I think I'd rather get the Defenders of the North, Brotherhood Without Banners, King's Landing, or Maester cycles to have over 5 more "Houses"/teams to play! (Brotherhood, Kingsguard, Night's Watch, Wildling, Maester, and a good amount of Dothraki, Sandsnake, Asshai, and Raider!)