A Game of Thrones The Faith Militant

A Game of Thrones The Faith Militant

"The septons preach about the seven hells. What do they know? Only a man who's been burned knows what hell is truly like."
   –Sandor Clegane, A Game of Thrones

As Westeros has fallen into chaos and war, the people of the realm have turned to religion to make sense of the madness. In the north, the Old Gods and the Drowned God find new devotees to their ancient religions, while the ranks of the Lord of Light and the Seven gain momentum in the southern lands.

Now, these religions find unprecedented power in The Faith Militant, the fifth Chapter Pack in the Flight of Crows cycle for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game—on sale now at your local retailer or online through the Fantasy Flight Games website!

A Suitable Offering

When A Song of Ice and Fire began, many in Westeros followed the Seven, but as the world has become more violent, religions have become more radicalized. This is reflected in the resurgence of vengeful, nearly forgotten gods of old and the adoption of fiery gods from foreign shores. These gods are not satisfied with simple prayers. Only an offering of blood, a show of true devotion, will please them. If you control a character aligned with the Lord of Light,you can offer a character to the flames with Sacrifice to the Red God(The Faith Militant, 88). If one of your characters has outlived their usefulness, you can use this event to sacrifice them and bring a R’hllor character with equal or lower cost to your hand. For example, if Beric Dondarrion (The Brotherhood Without Banners, 117) has used five of his lives, leaving him with a measly STR of one, you can gift his life to the Lord of Light to add the powerful priestessMelisandre (Core Set, 47) to your hand. It is only through fire that the the world can be reborn—the truth is in the flames.

If, opposed to the god of light and fire, you align with He Who Dwells Beneath the Waves, loyalty to the Drowned God has untold rewards in The Faith Militant. Given to the Drowned God (The Faith Militant, 92), for instance, lets you kill a Drowned God character to draw cards equal to the offered character’s cost! You might use this ability to kill the non-unique Acolyte of the Waves (The Archmaester’s Key, 12), earning a power for your faction as well as drawing two cards. This combination becomes even more deadly when you control Tarle the Thrice Drowned (The Faith Militant,91), who gives you the power to marshal the low-cost Acolyte from your dead pile as if it were in your hand; continually killing, earning power, and restoring life to prove that what is dead may never die.

Baptism of Fire

Beyond enhancing the theme of religion and how it plays into the unfolding saga, The Faith Militant offers players new versions of powerful, fan-favorite characters. Following the narrative of A Feast for Crows, this pack features new versions of beloved characters, highlighting how they have evolved throughout the series. Once, Arya Stark (Core Set, 141) was an unwilling Lady, just starting her training and bearing only a power icon unless she had a duplicate. Now, Arya Stark (The Faith Militant, 81) always bears a military and an intrigue icon as she begins her training with the Faceless Men, the elite band of assassins who worship none but the God of Death, considering their murders to be a holy sacrament. While she is still in training, Arya now has a cost equal to her strength, but her effect can shape the entire game. While she is standing, characters cannot be saved by any means. Obviously, this makes your military challenges and kill effects more dangerous, but it also gives you the power to kill every character in play with a well-timed Valar Morghulis (There Is My Claim, 80)

If Arya can accomplish her goal and become a full member of the Faceless Men, she can truly tell her fellow acolytes, I Am No One(The Faith Militant, 82). To align with the practice of the Faceless Men who give up their past identities to worship in the House of Black and White, this event removes the faction affiliations and Traitsfrom one of your low-cost characters in exchange for granting them insight and stealth. Now able to pass unseen among the shadows or remain unknown in a crowd, your chosen character also does not kneel when declared as an attacker. With a skilled assassin at your call, you are sure to cross your enemies' names off your list.

The Faith Militant also features the first iteration of Daenerys Targaryen (The Faith Militant, 93) since the Core Set, inviting you to explore new ways to play as a Targaryen while staying true to the style that has earned the faction some of the most devoted followers in A Game of Thrones: The Card Game. Her cost has been reduced from seven to five, making her easier to play, and the Mother of Dragons has grown from the wife of a powerful khal to the Queen of Meereen. While her STR is reduced from five to three, her position is more secure in that her strength cannot be reduced by card effects. Once you further turn fate to your favor by playing a Targaryen event, such as A Dragon is No Slave (Guarding the Realm, 34) orDracarys! (Core Set, 176), you may exert your influence over your opponent by choosing any character to suffer -1 STR. And even more importnatly, if this causes that enemy’s STR to reach zero, they are instantly killed! Daenerys Targaryen's power can scarcely be overestimated as she rules the game with an onslaught of fire and blood, destroying all who oppose her will. 

The True Faith

The acolytes of each religion in Westeros and Essos serve their gods with faith and devotion. What do you believe? Choose your god, make an offering, and claim the Iron Throne with their favor!