Reyloren? Kyrey? Reylo?
I’m a Kylo Ren fan. I know he’s a little angsty and a bit too angry, but Kylo has the most interesting character arc in the ongoing trilogy of Star Wars films. He’s a lot of what I wanted Anakin to be in the prequels: tortured, conflicted, divided, and a little tragic. These traits are all on display in the spectacular Throne Room scene from The Last Jedi. In that scene, Kylo kills Snoke and then fights Snoke’s guards alongside Rey. After the fight, Rey turns down his offer of a partnership with him in the New Order. Well choreographed, meticulously edited, and expertly crafted, this battle was the standout scene of the film. Kylo and Rey were not capable of forging an enduring partnership in The Last Jedi, but they did achieve a temporary truce. I’m thankful for that because it gave us this unique Star Wars: Destiny deck!
I Would Recommend This Kylo/Rey List, But It’s Still A Work In Progress!
This list is still “in development.” I tweak my lists often, and I’m confident this deck will change a few more times before I’m happy with it. Sometimes I change 8-10 cards in a deck and then play a few more games, just to see how it adapts! I know there are already dozens of different versions of this deck, but today my goal is to share what I’ve learned so far about some cards in Kylo/Rey (SH2 and SH57). Ideally, I will be able to offer some opinions and advice that help you build your own Kylo/Rey deck! I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, but I think this list is certainly playable. This pairing is absurdly fun to pilot once you start working with it, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly.
It’s Easy to Sum It Up When You’re Just Talking About Upgrades
My top-four match at the Ohio regional was ludicrously close. I only won game three of that match because I was able to resolve resources to play Crossguard Lightsaber (TP07) at the last second to deal the final point of damage. Crossguard is deservedly a Kylo Ren staple, and it is a personal favorite in addition to being a fantastic card. Never underestimate the value of free damage! Kylo/Rey is a deck that rewards players who are searching for ways to do just one more damage in every round. Crossguard has a good die as well, particularly when you can resolve the special or the +2 melee side.
Jedi Lightsaber (SH72) serves a few purposes, but I’m mostly playing it for the shield. One shield can be critical in Kylo/Rey. Rey’s special will roll back in if the character it resolves on has a shield. Kylo can Power Action a damage if he has one shield. Yoda’s Lightsaber (SH74) can do two damage instead of one if you have a shield to remove. One of my favorite plays is to drop a Jedi Lightsaber on Kylo, move the shield with his Power Action, and then play Crossguard Lightsaber over Jedi Lightsaber to do another damage.
Niman Training (SH123) and Niman Mastery (SH122) are gross with Kylo, Crossguard Lightsaber, Yoda’s Lightsaber, and Treasured Lightsaber (AG120). A single Niman Mastery special can generate 4-5 damage through special chaining character and upgrade dice. Kylo/Rey already lives in a world where Rey will always be able to force one of Kylo’s dice to its special side (via her PA). Niman Mastery offers an additional way to guarantee Kylo hits the sides you want regardless of your rolls. It’s purely a bonus that Niman Mastery can also be used defensively. Niman Training can give you the play effect of Niman Mastery on demand, which can surprise your opponent if you use it effectively.
Rey’s Lightsaber (TP30) is my lone three-drop and my lone redeploy weapon. I’m mostly playing this for free shields. It’s nice to draw Rey’s Lightsaber when your opponent targets a character you weren’t expecting, because redeploy has a lot of value. I think this decks works most smoothly with a low resource curve, and I don’t regret cutting the other three-drop upgrades.
Treasured Lightsaber and Yoda’s Lightsaber have special sides that do unblockable damage. They fit the style of play I’m trying to push for in this list. Niman Mastery can turn these upgrades to damage, but they’re at least 50% to roll something I want even without chaining.
Hey, I’m Supportive!
I’m playing It Binds All Things (CV116) because I like how it fires with multiple one cost upgrades in the deck. It’s a little slow, but it really does help those turn two and three hands feel less costed.
I totally understand it if you decide to play more supports than this in your own version of Kylo/Rey. My personal opinion is that most of the other supports commonly played in this pairing just aren’t quite good enough. Some have a steep resource cost (Caretaker Village (SH68)), and others have a minimal impact on who wins the game. I would play Force Connection (SH120) if I played another support, but I’m comfortable for now with just It Binds All Things.
You don’t win games of Destiny by playing a list full of reactive cards, so don’t worry about playing every support that has a primarily defensive effect or relies on your opponent to proc its effect. Be proactive!
Pacify is Low-Key Incredible
The removal choices in this deck, and in Blue generally, are not ideal. No Easy Pickings (LG117) to be found here! At Odds (AG108) and Isolation (CV10) are… fine, I guess. They remove dice, and they’re often impactful. I’m not thrilled by one-resource-for-one-die removal, but I’m less thrilled by giving up an entire turn’s resources for Beguile (WF109). Hidden Motive (RV05) is good, and it would be the best removal card in the deck if Pacify (WF61) wasn’t insanely valuable. Kylo’s special makes the cost of Pacify a lot less obnoxious, since his die will roll back in after stripping your opponent of shields. Pacifying your own dice is also great, since Kylo’s Power Action generates damage on the shields and Rey’s special rolls back in after resolving on top of them.
Don’t forget that these removal options are supported by Rey’s Power Action. I prefer to use Rey’s Power Action offensively, but it can help out with a reroll in a pinch. Removal isn’t a strength of Kylo/Rey, but it isn’t as much of a weakness as it looks on paper, either.
Give Me Resources or Give Me Damage!
Exchange of Information (SH62) is awesome. I’ve always loved cards that give me a peek at my opponent’s hand, and Exchange of Informtation does that in addition to its primary effect, which generates a resource. Hero Blue desperately needed a card that generated a resource without some annoying condition, and this is it. Exchange of Information takes some thinking to play correctly. You don’t want to give your opponent too much knowledge, and you don’t want to provide them with a big window to use the free resource. That said, Kylo/Rey is already deck that rewards savvy play, and Exchange of Information is right at home with this pairing.
Loth Wolf Bond (WF59) and Polarity (SH117) are cool cards that help you damage your opponent surprisingly quickly. Loth Wolf Bond does this by getting dice in the pool, and Polarity does it directly by effect. Polarity is essentially a Kylo/Rey only card, because it would not work as well in any other deck. Like Polarity, No Mercy (CV11) fits in better with Kylo/Rey than it does with any other pairing. The primary weakness of No Mercy has always been untimely gray cards in hand. Kylo/Rey cannot play gray cards. Slapping down a surprise four damage wins games!
You Don’t Want to Fight On My Turf (I Don’t Either)
Military Camp (CV178) was my first battlefield choice when I put this list together. I wanted something that would dissuade my opponent from giving me the battlefield, and it fit the bill. This deck rarely wins the battlefield roll, but when it does I take shields 99% of the time. The starting shields will give you a three health advantage on your opponent when you use one of them for Kylo’s Power Action, and they make Rey’s special much more valuable on turn one.
General Advice (I Love This Deck)
This deck wins by being consistent and by maximizing opportunities for damage. Always watch for ways to do free damage. This deck is full of them, and they often occur in one damage increments. Kylo/Rey is a deck that demands players search diligently for just one more damage every turn. Don’t forget your Power Actions, remember your triggers, and keep in mind the versatility of your effects. Many cards in this deck are capable of both offensive and defensive use (Rey’s Power Action, Pacify, Niman Mastery). Use that to stay flexible!
Kylo Ren Has An Eight Pack. Kylo Ren Is Shredded.
I have a happy history with Kylo Ren character cards, and I’m hoping to have a good future with Kylo3. When Star Wars: Destiny launched, I started the game with a Kylo starter set. I bounced from character to character throughout the first year of Destiny, but when the second Kylo Ren (TP01) came out in the Two Player set, I went back to Kylo. I’ve since played Kylo in both years of Destiny Regionals. I like to play competitively, but I especially like winning with characters that I like. Kylo is one of those characters!
When Temporary Truce (SH119) was announced, I knew what my first Spark of Hope deck would be. Kylo has always played well for me, and I want to keep pushing the character to solid finishes (at least locally). A lot of players are hoping this pairing is competitive, and I’m right there with you! I hope you all enjoy creating your own versions of “Reylo,” and I hope you find success with the deck. Let me know if you find the Kylo/Rey build you think is unbeatable!
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