Author: Niko

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Anniversary Collection Set 2024

What’s that? Announcing a new Anniversary Set, when the Dissidia Collection isn’t even out yet. Well, I’m sure you would do it too. Get on the Hype train, because Shinra SOLDIERS are on the box.

Plenty of Reprints, plenty of Promos, plenty of cards. Means Plenty of reasons to buy this collection. Number 1 being the paper playmat.

The Reprints will range from Opus I all the way to Resurgence of Power.

What I like about these Collections is that it is a great way to get into the game, as many staples are in it. I remember building a deck and just grabbing half the cards from the first Anniversary Collection Set, I just didn’t feel like searching for them.

This is actually coming out sooner than I expected as well. February 2024. That’s only 6 months away, 4 months after the Dissidia set comes out.

https://fftcg.square-enix-games.com/en/news/final-fantasy-trading-card-game-anniversary-collection-set-2024

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Zalbaag Beoulve

Spoilers Ahead, read at your own risk.

“Don’t you have any ‘justice’, Brother!? The Beoulve name is only for the brave! You aren’t worthy of it, Brother!”

A Holy Knight of Eagrose, Zalbaag is Barbaneth’s second son. A pure-hearted warrior, he leads the Order of the Northern Sky. Even when faced with the horrific treachery of his brother Dycedarg(which he naively refuses to believe until confronted with concrete evidence), he upholds truth and goodness.

“The Savior of Ivalice”

“Lord Commander of the Northern Sky”

Zalbaag is your typical Military Personnel following orders with precision, not letting anything get in his way. He goes as far as ordering Algus (Argath) to kill Tietra. This is pretty much what we see early in the game, thus making us think that Zalbaag is the enemy. At least through the players eyes.

Later on Zalbaag learns that his brother Dycedarg killed their Father. And shortly after finding out, Dycdarg kills Zalbaag as well. Zalbaag then is called back from the dead by Folmarv Tengille to defeat Ramza, but Ramza is the hero of Final Fantasy Tactics, and thus Zalbaag perishes once more, putting an end to his story.

As I remember, I didn’t like Zalbaag in the beginning, I always thought he would turn into one of the Lucavi. I can’t even remember if he even held a Zodiac Stone.

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No More Sports Cards, For Now

How come I always thought “Mr. Blue Sky” was a Beatles song? Nope, Electric Light Orchestra. Sure, sounds like Paul to me.

Anyway, we did a Sports Card show last Saturday, and I always say I’m done with them, but a guy I know was setting it up, so I decided against my better judgement and got a couple of tables. I went with one of my kids who brought along his stuff.
We started the day out like any other day. Load up the car and, off we go.

On our way I decided I should look up the address, I got an idea of where to go, but couldn’t remember if I needed to turn left or right on Joliet Rd. Look for my phone, it’s not in my pocket, not in my car. Stupid me, put my phone on top of my car as I was loading the boxes in.

Turn around real quick, luckily we weren’t too far away. As I’m driving down Central I see my phone laying in the middle of the street right by the train tracks. Fun times, I tell you.

Well, I have a case on it. Hopefully it still works. Hazard lights on, exit the car, pick up my phone, and off we go. I take a look at it, no scratches nothing, phone still looks good. Try and turn it on, NOPE. Didn’t want to work.

We still need to get to the Card Show, so I figured I’ll make my way to Joliet Rd. and figure out which way I’ll turn one I get there. Of course I made the wrong turn, but that’s ok we still made it on time.

I sold 1 thing the whole time. Meanwhile I’m watching Mason and he’s selling cards left and right. I didn’t even have a phone to waste some time on. At the end of the day, I managed to pick up a bunch of Vintage Pokemon cards, and a new phone.

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Krile’s Splinter

Krile, your Backup Warrior of Light. Taking Galuf’s spot on the team and she does a good job at it. We’re actually going to use 2 Kriles in this deck. Krile (7-068H) and Krile (18-055R). Both of these Kriles work around Summons, and the Resurgence of Power Krile also allows you to grab a FFV Forward from your Break Zone. Thus bringing us to the next Character, Galuf.

You know we had to bring in her Grandfather. And, we are going with Galuf (12-056H), any Forward that has the ability to attack twice in one turn, especially with +10K power, is a go. And when he is sent into the Break Zone, you can search for a 2 cost Earth Forward and play it onto the field.

Next we’ll add Kolka (7-069C) and Tyro (11-072R). Both are Backups and both allow us to search for Krile, or Galuf if Krile is already on the field. And since Tyro allows us to produce CP of a different Element, we will add in the rest of the Warriors of Light.

Bartz (7-059L), cause this is a great card that can attack up to 3 times. You’ll just need some extra Bartzes on hand in order to do so. 3 to be exact. So we’ll just go ahead and add Bartz (19-048C) Because he is easy to recycle back into your deck. And any other Bartz you like, we’ll go with Bartz (12-052H).

Lenna (12-109L), just help us grab a Forward from the Break Zone and play it onto the field. And, Faris to help us grab a FFV Character from the top of your deck when she enters the field. If Lenna is on the field, Faris gains +2000 power.

Ghido (3-131H)? What? Who plays Ghido? Well, Ghido can contact Krile telepathically and that is why he is in here. Ghido is a little bit of a Backup plan that can return high cost Forwards to their owner’s deck.

If we take a look back at Galuf’s ability of searching for an Earth Forward, we are grabbing Ewen (17-080R) and Aerith (16-067L).
We need some more Backups. Let’s get some protection here. Cait Sith (XIV) (6-072C) and Layle (8-088C), both of these cards will protect us from Summons.

Summons are next. We’re bringing in Syldra (3-035H) as it is the only FFV Summon that we have, and it does a pretty decent job so, we’ll keep it.

Fenrir (19-064R), because everyone likes free cards. And Titan (17-070R) to give everyone a 5K boost.

And we’ll grab Objet d’Art (12-064C) which can turn into a Forward, or give all your Forwards +2K and Brave.

Forwards

3x – Ewen (17-080R)
3x – Aerith (16-067L)
3x – Bartz (7-059L)
3x – Galuf (12-056H)
3x – Lenna (12-109L)
3x – Krile (7-068H)
3x – Faris (7-120H)
3x – Bartz (12-052H)

Backups

1x – Cait Sith (XIV (6-072C)
2x – Layle (8-088C)
3x – Ghido (3-131H)
3x – Kolka (7-069C)
3x – Krile (18-055R)
3x – Tyro (11-072R)

Summons

3x – Titan (17-070R)
3x – Fenrir (19-064R)
3x – Syldra (3-135H)

Monsters

2x – Objet d’Art (12-064C)

What would you do differently?

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Wave 1 – Auron – 1-002R

It’s been a while since we did this, but we’re back at it, with card number 2-002R. Before we start let me give you the links from the guides from the introduction post that will help you guide your way.

“Distinguishing Final Fantasy TCG Opus 1 Wave 1 from Future Waves”

“Differences in Opus I Wave 1 Printing vs Later Waves”

Auron (2-002R), is very easy to distinguish Wave 1 from Wave 2. Especially if you have them side by side. Let’s take a quick look at the cards. Can you tell which one is which?

All you need to do is look at the background picture. The transparency between the two is very noticeable. Wave 1 Auron looks more like the background color of the card, while Wave 2 has a bit of skin coloring. Which you can see better in this picture.