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Wave 1 – Red Mage – 1-003C

Red Mage (1-003C) is one of the easier card to distinguish between Wave 1 and Wave 2. But first, 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”

All you have to do is look at Red Mage’s Colon. And, if you look at his face you’ll see that he is not excited about that.

Which one is which? If you check the colon right after the cost to pay for the ability you can see that the one on the left is lower than the one on the right. It’s that little detail that shows up on all the cards that have an ability with a cost.

And if you look closer, you can see that Red Mage’s hair is lighter in Wave 1 and darker in Wave 2.

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Zalbaag, Lord Commander of the Hokuten

Zalbaag (1-136C)

3CP/5000
Lightning
Forward
Knight

“When Zalbaag enters the field, choose 1 Forward of cost 2. Break it.”

Taking us all the way back to Opus I, as the only Zalbaag card that was printed was printed back when the set first came out. We’ve gotten so many Ramzas, but not a lot of the supporting Characters. We recently got Meliadoul, so there might be hope for more Final Fantasy Tactics Characters. A great T.G. Cid would be a great start.

Let’s take a look at Zalbaag. For 3CP we get a 5K body. Perfect for blocking an attack. I don’t now if Zalbaag will survive, but at least he’ll block the attack from getting you a point of Damage.

Zalbaag also comes in with an Enter the Field ability, which will allow you to Break a 2 cost Forward. That’s not bad at all. Not for a Common, that’s pretty decent.

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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.