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Dreamlike Fire

28-001R – Ursula

2CP + 1CP + 1CP = 8000 damage / 2

Or something along those lines.

Ursula comes right on in, and you can pay 1 Fire CP two times. Each time you do Ursula will deal 4000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards.

And, if you already have received 3 points of damage, every time she deals damage to a Forward that damage increases by 1000.

Making each hit, 5000 points of damage.

This changes our formula. But, we’ll just leave it like that.

28-002R – Ardyn

This is interesting.

Ardyn is here to deplete everyone of their resources.

At 4CP, and 9000 power, he’ll be hard to get rid of.

At the beginning of each player’s Main Phase 1, you’ll have to put one Character into the Break Zone. If you don’t Ardyn will deal you one point of damage.

And at 3 points of damage, Ardyn will double the damage dealt. So, 1 point of damage will become 2 points of damage.

Ardyn will make your matches much shorter.

28-003C – Garland

Half way to board wipe.

Garland comes along and he’s taking down all of your low cost Forwards. 7000 damage to all the Forwards 2CP and below, is a serious threat, to low cost Forwards.

If the Forwards are 3CP and up, well then you’re out of luck. Even 9000 power won’t be worth the 5CP spent to play Garland.
Maybe one would be good. There are better 5 cost cards out there.

 

28-004C – Guy

Now this is what I’m talking about.

Firion and Co. is getting a great addition to the Final Fantasy II deck. If you don’t have one yet, then it’s probably time to make one.

Guy comes in and grabs either a Warrior or a Rebel from your Break Zone. Which is great because Guy only costs 2CP.

Only drawback, is if you grab a card that isn’t from Final Fantasy II then you’ll have to discard a card.

Guy has been getting some great cards lately.

28-005C – Gunbreaker

3CP and a Crystal in order to get Gunbreaker’s full potential.

That full potential includes 8000 damage dealt to a Forward of your choice.

If all you want is a Meat Shield, then you don’t need to worry about the Crystal.

Yeah, that’s it.

.

 

28-006C – Clavat

Here we go, a Crystal Generator.

One when Clavat comes in, and one when you use the ability to send her to the Break Zone.

Simple.

Easy to understand.

Not much else going on here.

28-007H – Cloud EX

Another Cloud, Another Full Art.

I’m not complaining.

I just like how they’re using his Advent Children outfit for this one.

Cloud has a couple of things going on when he enters the field.

First off, he grabs a Final Fantasy VII Character from the Break Zone.

And then he gives you a Crystal.

Need more Crystals?

Cloud can generate 1 Crystal per turn. And if you don’t need a Crystal, Cloud will give one of your Final Fantasy VII Forwards +2000 power.

Did you notice Cloud’s Job?

28-008C – Amarant

You will play Amarant second.

Or third. You can play him first, but you’ll just end up wasting a card.

Amarant deals a Forward 7000 damage when he enters the field, and that might just be enough to break most Forwards.
3CP, and 9000 power. He’s a great Meat Shield.

And, we’ll leave it at that.

 

28-009C – Jecht EX

Jecht’s first outing as a Backup. I don’t know how well the Starting Blitzball player will take that, but hes got a job to do.

Jecht comes in off the bench, and if your opponent has 3 Forwards on the field, Jecht will deal one 8000 damage.

If not, then the bench is for Jecht, and he’ll give you 1CP per turn.

 

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28-010R – Jack Garland

Garland is Garland. I think we’ve said that before.

Jack enters the field and deals 8000 damage to a Forward.

And when your opponents plays a Forward, you can put Jack into the Break Zone and deal that Forward 9000 damage.

Jack plays like the Opus V Grenade. Only difference is that Jack will give you 1CP per turn until you decide to use his ability.

 

28-011H – Cecil

This Cecil acts more like a Dark Knight than a Paladin.

And, you need Dark Knight Cecil in order to get Cecil’s full effect.

Cecil enters the field, and if you have a Dark Knight Cecil in your Break Zone, Cecil draws you a card.

But, that’s not the reason we’ll be playing Cecil.

We’ll be playing Cecil for Cecil’s second ability, which whenever one of your Forwards is put into the Break Zone, Cecil will deal one of your opponent’s Forwards 7000 damage. Every time. Not just once per turn.

How many times did we say Cecil?

28-012C – Warrior

End game Backup.

Warrior won’t do anything meaningful, until you have 5 Backups on the field.

But, when you do Warrior will deal 7000 to a Forward of your choosing, he will then proceed to head to the Break Zone giving you room to play one more Backup.

 

 

28-013L – Tifa

Get ready for Final Fantasy VII to re-enter the Meta.

Yes, I base that off of this card. Along with all the other awesome cards we had in previous sets. Tifa is going to take the Meta by storm. If not, then I will say “What do I know?”

Tifa comes in for 3CP, 7000 Power and Brave. And depending on how many Final Fantasy VII Characters you have on the field, Tifa will deal 4000 damage for each one. You got a board full? You can get to 40K damage.

Is it worth mentioning, cause not that many Forward go over 10000 power? Of course it is!

You can also pay the extra cost of 2 Crystals, and Tifa will gain Haste, +2000 power, and the ability to attack twice in the same turn.

Nuff’ said.

I’ll take 3. Full Arts. Always Full Arts.

This card is going to be money.

28-014R – Rogue Tomato

How come I have never heard of Moogle Bounty Mayhem.

And, why is this tomato still in it’s pajamas?

Doesn’t it know that he’s about to be sent to the field? All by himself, with no Forwards to protect him, all so it can deal 4000 damage to a Forward.

Well, Rogue Tomato can become a Forward, but then you won’t be able to use it’s ability.

 

28-015H – Barret

Barret comes in from the get go and deals massive damage. 9000 to one Forward and 7000 to another.

And every time your opponent’s Forwards are sent to the Break Zone, you will gain a Crystal.

You can change Barret’s name to Crystal Generator.

Then there is Focused Shot, which will deal 10,000 damage to 2 Forwards. All you got to do is divide it up however you see fit.

This Barret will fit better into a Warrior Tribal deck. But he does generate the Crystals that Tifa needs.

28-016L – Vivi

Got to say, I’m liking this art. Even though we’ve seen these in the last few sets, Vivi is always a card that I look forward to. I’ve always wanted to build a deck around Vivi, and with this one, I might finally be able to make a decent one.

Let’s get straight to the card.

Vivi comes in for 4CP, and when he enters the field you can divide 7000 damage between any number of Forwards that your opponent controls.

You can deal 7000 to one Forward, or 1000 damage to 7 Forwards. Meaning you can hopefully break a Forward when Vivi comes in.

If you have a Final Fantasy IX Forward on the field alongside Vivi, that damage becomes 10,000 instead. Meaning more fire power for you.
There’s also a little ability that Vivi has that will deal 9000 damage to a Forward.

Only downside is that Vivi only has 5000 power, making him suspectable to your opponent’s damage.

I’ll take 3.

28-017C – Firion

For 2CP, you have a 5000 body that comes in with Haste.

And, if you have another Final Fantasy II Character on the field, Firion gains +2000 power.
And that is all there is to say about this card.

Might be a good first round play if you’re up first. Other than that. Not much going on here.

 

28-018H – Brynhildr

For 2CP this is a great Summon, I would go as far as to say Superb.

Brynhildr will either deal a Forward 5000 damage, 10K if it’s a Multi-Element, or Brynhildr will break a Monster.

And, you don’t have to choose just one. You can use both if you’d like. All you got to do is pay a Crystal.

I’ve been noticing that this set is giving us lots of Crystal play.

 

28-019R – Brute Bomber

The Brute Bomber ,the Arcadian Fighter!

Brute Bomber enters the field and deals 9000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards and one of your Forwards. You both get to choose who get’s dealt the damage.

And, at 3 points of damage, all damage that Brute Bomber receives is reduced by 2000.

Making Brute Bomber the perfect choice to deal himself damage.

Just make sure you play him after you already receive those 3 points of damage.

Hot Singles!

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Dreamlike Oceans Midnight Pre-Release

Midnight Madness: The Dreamlike Oceans Prerelease Guide!

We are officially less than two weeks away from the Dreamlike Oceans (Opus XXVIII) Midnight Prerelease! It’s time to stop wondering and start preparing. Are you ready to try your luck and chase that ultra-rare Yuna Gold Stamped Signature card?

Here is everything you need to know to join the Kardboard Korner crew for our favorite tradition.

📍 Where are we meeting?

While we primarily operate as an online shop, we love bringing the local community together. We’ll be hosting after-hours at our usual haunt:

Mr. Gyros 9229 S. Cicero Ave

Oak Lawn, IL 60453

⏰ When is the kickoff?

Friday, March 20th, 2026 The main event starts at Midnight, but the doors open at 10:00 PM.

  • Early Birds: Come hang out for some casual play or trading.

  • New Players: If you’ve never played FFTCG, show up early! We’ll be running demos and teaching the basics before the tournament starts.

🏆 How do I win?

We’ve been hosting these since Opus XIV, and we like to make sure everyone leaves happy.

  • The Grand Prize: Come in 1st place and you’ll walk away with an extra Prerelease Kit! * Top 4: We’ve got prize support locked in for our top finishers.

  • The “Everyone Wins” Rule: Even if the packs aren’t in your favor, everyone who participates walks away with at least one free booster pack.

💰 Entry & Kits

  • Tournament Entry: $50 (Includes your first Prerelease Kit).

  • Additional Kits: $45 each for those looking to stock up.


Why attend?

Aside from being the first to crack open Dreamlike Oceans, it’s about the atmosphere. There’s something special about grinding through a tournament until 3:00 AM with a group of people who love the game as much as you do.

Are you planning on coming out? Drop a comment below so we can get a head count, or let us know which card you’re hunting for most in this set!

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Good Problems

It’s been a wild week at the shop! We’ve been steadily restocking our TCGPlayer and eBay stores, but I’ve noticed a pattern: as soon as the “List” button is hit, the cards are out the door within 24 hours.

It’s a “good” problem to have, but it means our stock is thinning out fast! If you see something you need for your deck, don’t wait—it probably won’t be there tomorrow.

The Road to Dreamlike Oceans

We are officially on the countdown to Opus XXVIII: Dreamlike Oceans next month! You know what that means: Midnight Prerelease is coming.

We’ve been running these since Opus XIV: Crystal Abyss, and the tradition remains the same. If you’re new to the crew, just know two things:

  1. You’ll have a shot at winning a kit.

  2. Pack your energy drinks—we usually go until at least 3:00 AM. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but it’s always a blast.

Spoiler Season: Is that Snow or “Dirty Dom”?

Square Enix kicked off spoiler season with Snow (28-031L), and I have to ask… is it just me, or does he look exactly like “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio? All he’s missing is the mustache.

Wrestling comparisons aside, let’s look at the math on this card. Snow is a CP, Power Forward with a versatile “Choose 2” auto-ability on entry:

  • Dull/Freeze a Character.

  • Search/Filter: Reveal top 2, add an FFXIII Character to hand. The rest go to the Break Zone.

  • CP Reduction: Your next FFXIII card costs CP less.

The Strategy: If you reveal a card to add to your hand and then use the CP reduction, Snow effectively only costs you CP. For an 8k “Meat Shield” with the Sentinel keyword, that is incredible value. He’s a true tank—he’s there to soak up the pressure while you set up your win con.

Flea Market Finds: Elfen Lied

The Wednesday flea market run actually paid off this week! I stumbled across the complete series of Elfen Lied.

If you aren’t familiar, it’s a darker, cult-classic anime from the early 2000s—definitely for a mature audience. It’s a short 13-episode run, and finding the physical DVDs in the wild is becoming rarer these days. I’ll be “sacrificing” my evening to watch through them tonight just to “ensure the discs work perfectly.” (Any excuse to rewatch a classic, right?)

Got Bulk?

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From Opus I to Valentine’s Day

What have we been up to? In a word: Listing.

We have been heads-down and deep in the stacks, restocking Final Fantasy TCG across both our TCGPlayer and eBay stores. We’ve officially finished processing everything from Opus I through Opus VI, plus singles from the World Champions Decks 2024.

Honestly? I didn’t expect the World Champions singles to move as fast as they have! It’s a good lesson learned: don’t sleep on the specialty decks. If you’ve been looking for specific older Opus cards to round out your collection, now is the time to go hunting in our shop.

The Winter Slump

The winter weather has been a real mood-killer for my flea market runs. I’ve tried to make it work, but there’s nothing more frustrating than driving all the way out there just to find the gates closed or the same two vendors selling things I definitely don’t want. I’m crossing my fingers for a break in the weather soon so I can get back to the hunt!

Looking Ahead: Dreamlike Oceans

Don’t forget, Opus XXVII – Dreamlike Oceans is launching at the end of next month! That means the Midnight Prerelease is also just around the “Korner” in March. We’ll have the specific details for you soon, though you know the drill—we like to keep the tradition alive, so expect the same great vibe we always have.

A Early Valentine’s Gift for You ❤️

Since Valentine’s Day is right around the “Korner,” we figured it was time for a celebration. Whether you’re buying a gift for a loved one or just “treating yo’ self” (we won’t tell!), we want to help you save.

Starting now, take 14% OFF your entire order!

Promo Code: VINCENT
Expires: Midnight on February 14th

Head over to the shop and snag those cards or sealed product you’ve been eyeing before someone else does!

Don’t forget about our TCG Player store either.

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I Went to the Flea Market and All I Got Was This Frog Tape

The holiday season was a whirlwind, wasn’t it? If you noticed things were a little quiet around here, don’t worry—we haven’t gone anywhere! Between the holiday rush and the kids being home for Christmas break, life simply moved into “chaos mode” for a few weeks.

But as of this morning, the kids are officially back at school, the house is quiet, and we are diving back into what we love. It’s time to get back to work!

A Cold Morning at the Flea Market

I kicked off my first “free” morning with a trip to the flea market right after school drop-off. Since it’s still freezing out, it was a bit of a ghost town.

I did spot some Magic: The Gathering cards, but the asking price was actually higher than what I’d list them for myself! (Pro tip: always know your numbers before you buy!) I didn’t leave empty-handed, though—I scored a six-pack of Frog Tape for a dollar a roll. A win is a win when you’ve got shipping and projects to do!

New in the Shop: Curated MTG Bulk Lots

Speaking of work, we have been busy processing a massive amount of inventory. We’re excited to announce that we are launching 1000-count MTG Bulk Lots on the website!

We wanted to make these better than your average “blind bag” bulk. Here is what makes ours different:

  • Zero Duplicates: You won’t get 50 copies of the same common. But, you might get the same copy if they’re from different sets.

  • No Basic Lands: Every card is a playable, or non-basic land. I don’t think there’s any Tokens in them either.

  • Huge Era Spread: Expect a mix of everything from Revised all the way to the newest sets.

We’re aiming to have these live on the site this afternoon. If you’re looking to build your collection or find some hidden gems for your next deck, keep an eye on the shop!