Hello Westeros!
The 2022 update is here! Lots of new card versions to go through, with even revamped tactics cards for the Baratheon and Stark main decks…
Please check the CMON official link for all the new documents, with even the printable version of the new cards, at this address: https://asoiaf.cmon.com/news/2022-seasonal-updates
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General Changes
First some changes to the rulebook, and quite significant ones:
– NCUs cannot pass anymore, needing to claim a zone when activating, and if the Tactics board is full, the remaining NCUs lose their activations. This has the side-effect of greatly boosting characters like Cortnay Penrose or Mance Ryder’s cards.
– “Idleness Means Death” rule forces engaged units to choose between Attacking or Retreating, no longer being able to Activate without doing any Action. Moreover, Retreating means that the unit MUST disengage from combat.
Second, regarding Game Modes, some minor changes to 2 of them, but a quite important one for many others: Commanders don’t give out 2VPs when controlling objectives anymore! Yes, offensive commanders are back in the game!
Now to the cards, faction by faction (for all the pictures, please check the link posted above, I only put the most drastic or representative ones in the article)…
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Baratheon
Wouhou! For the One True King!
Lots of changes for the stags, mainly in the Stannis loyalty.
First, improved Tactics Cards! This was highly necessary, and their new version is so much better. “Baratheon Conviction” now works as it should be, healing 2 and then giving a bonus depending on the zones, “Baratheon Justice” is now a token dealer (heavy teeth grinding from Stannis TRH), and “Final Strike” works even if the unit is killed. Fantastic news!
My favorite units sculpt-wise, Queensmen and Kingsmen, got much improved:
-“To the Last” now works twice per game, with no drawbacks after passing the Morale test (this has been changed across all factions)
– Queensmen got a boost in morale, very much needed, and the cards they can pick (“Baratheon Conviction” and “Baratheon Justice”) got much better than before.
– The Kingsmen lost their Sundering, but their ability to pick up an “Ours is the Fury” at will when attacking makes up for it (I would still have liked a morale 5+ on them, they are the Kingsmen after all). Andrew Estermont commander found his unit of choice!
The last unit change is a decrease to 6pts for Lightbringers, which basically makes them an auto-include in a Stannis list (which they sort of were already, but a less costly one now). The new R’hllor Priestess now works especially well on them, allowing you to pick which tokens you want to put on the opponent, and for how many wounds, without needing to pass a morale test, making the choice much more reliable.
In terms of NCUs, Melisandre could see more use, with her cost lowered to 5pts. Axell Florent changed drastically, and is now completely focused on Panic, which works pretty well with Lightbringers. Finally, Selyse & Shireen saw an increase to 6pts, but are no longer sacrificing, which kind of makes them really worth it in my opinion. I could see a Lightbringers/Queensmen/Selyse/Axell combo working pretty well.
For Renly, Thorn Watch became 6pts, which with the 5pts Highgarden Pikemen, is allowing Renly to play higher activation lists, quite reflective of the Reach numbers.
Loyalty-free Baratheon-wise, Champions of the Stag got improved a bit offensively and morally, while the new order of the Master Warden could turn any unit into a very dangerous one, with a potential 5 hits before even doing an attack!
So overall fantastic changes for the stags, really looking forward to preach R’hllor goodwords again!
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Stark
The other big winners of this update, the Starks of Winterfell!
Let’s start with the bad news: Eddard NCU got 1pt more expensive. I think it’s actually a good change, all the auto-include options getting a boost in cost is a good thing for the game diversity.
Now to the good news: revamped tactics cards! The similar triggers and constant self-damaging of the old version made the Stark deck hard to use, but it is now much improved. Moreover, Greatjon’s “Berserkers’Tactics” is now very strong, allowing you to choose how many wounds you want to take, to make the same number +1 to the defender. Umber one-shots incoming…
Speaking of Umbers, the Umber Greataxes got boosted from never-used to top of the line. To give a -1 to defense per destroyed rank in their unit can have devastating impact for lots of strong defensive units, and combined to Umber and Stark cards, could definitely destroy anyone in their path.
Stark Sworn Swords also got a big boost, turning their ability into a much more reliable offensive one (and allowing you to put a Captain in them for maximum effect).
Outriders got reduced to 6pts, while Tully Cavaliers got a new Lance bonus (Sundering and +2 hits per rank on the Charge), making Stark cavalry great again.
NCU-wise, Sansa and Arya are definitely worth bringing now, with more possibilities to use their abilities (a Sansa-Greatjon combo could hurt a lot!). Finally, Bran & Hodor’s 1pt cost allow you to bring 3 wolves more easily, while Greatjon got the same “To the last” treatment as Stannis units.
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Lannister
Not many changes in Lannister, but quite significant ones.
First, Joffrey NCU got the same treatment as Eddard Stark, but lost his negative effect. This is a good thing for both sides, he still is an auto-include in many lists, but you need to spend a bit more to get him, without conditions.
The Guard Captain got the same order as the Baratheon Master Warden, turning units into offensive ones, while Boros Blount got a bit better.
Units are where the most changes occurred in the lions.
First, Crossbowmen are usable again! Pretty much all around boosted, with a defense increase, 3+ to hit and rerolls in short range, they are now on the same level as other crossbows.
Knights of Casterly Rock got the same treatment as Tully Cavaliers for Lance, which makes them a bit less subject to getting stuck in combat naked, and can make them devastating on the charge. Put in a Mountain that Rides attachment in them, and they will hurt. A lot.
Mountain men were already teased, with a nice small boost to their ability.
Red Cloaks were one of the most used units, with very high potential damage, and instead of changing their cost, they got a decrease to 4+ in attack. Another good change, plainly focusing them on panic damage, as they should be.
Poor Fellows are the “losers” of this version. They lost their 4+ morale to 6+ (meaning “Warcry” spam with the Champion of Faith will be much less automatic), and do not heal as much as before. They are still a 12 wounds 4pts unit, so not much complain about them…
I would have liked to see a change to the Clegane Butcher, still overcosted, but the rest of the changes all make sense, so quite happy with how the red and gold turned out!
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Neutrals
Bloody Mummers are back!
3+ for Skirmishers and 6pts for Zorse Riders, these 2 changes should make Vargo oriented lists much more usable. The only downside is that Tycho is now 5pts instead of 4pts (which is a good change for an NCU such widely used across factions, but makes it harder NCU-wise for Neutrals).
The other good news is that full Bolton lists are now much more reliable, with Reek going back to free attachment, while the Bolton Cutthroats became usable again, with a 3+ attack!
Overall very happy with Neutrals changes, it seems like all sub-factions are now worth playing!
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Targaryen
Important note: the Mother of Dragons card is deleted! Which means that 3 dragons can be used without her, but no discount! Will it be worthy to bring 3 of them with their new profile? Time will tell…
Strong Belwas got his Tactic mess up repaired, while the Unsullied Officer got the “Relentless” working on Melee attacks only. Haggo got his “To the last” replaced by “Fuelled by Slaughter”, which is pretty much similar in my opinion, maybe even stronger. Jorah the Andall lost his attachment restrictions, making him more usable overall.
Drogo’s Bloodriders lost their “Fuelled by Slaughter”, making them less sturdy overall (still worthwhile for the Warcry and their stats). Unsullied Swordmasters should see a lot more play however, with their cost going down to 7pts.
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Night’s Watch
The biggest offender of the 2021 version, they got quite some significant debuffs. But good ones, in my opinion.
The very much despised combo “Watch Captain + Crossbows” is now over, with “Relentless” only working on Melee attacks. Moreover, the crossbowmen also got a decrease in Morale, and their order now works with only their lowest attack value, making it less dangerous to charge them.
Conscripts got upped to 5pts, which is a good thing in this faction, supposed to be elite.
Character-wise, Jeor NCU got changed a bit, not allowing you to search for cards in the deck, but in your discard only, and once per game. Qhorin attachment now gives “Battle Scars”, which can be a quite strong ability in Night’s Watch still, potentially better than “To the last”.
Jon Snow and Othell Cards got changed, turning their power down.
So not too many changes, but necessary ones, which should make fighting Night’s Watch a bit more of a pleasant experience.
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Free Folks
Giants have Vicious! This is great, and makes them much more dangerous on the field. In monster-news, Mammoths also got a big boost, working as a regular unit with some nice keywords and built-in resilience.
Styr got the same treatment for his “Final Strike” card as Baratheons. The Weeper and Walrus Clan Chieftain both got increased efficiency, the first one costing only 1pt, and the second one gaining “Iron Resolve” ability. Walruses are gonna make a come-back!
The biggest strike to Free Folks of the update was to Spear Wives, who lost their “Coordinated Assault”, making them less killy, by replacing it with “Furious Charge”.
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Greyjoy
Not much change here, with only Victarion and Baelor getting the same treatment as other units for their respective abilities: “Relentless” and “To the last”.
No more Victarion in bowmen shooting spam for me…
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Very happy with the changes made overall, it will take some time to adjust to everything, but the game is seemingly going back towards an “offense”direction, which I really like: more offense, shorter games, shorter games, more games! Or more time for painting…
Looking forward to trying the changes, especially the Baratheons, Starks and Neutrals!
Grob’
Chez Grob 