Tag: black mage

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Emissaries of Light – Thoughts on Fire

16-001R – Vaan

I have been seeing a lot of cards recently that say “if you have cast 3 or more cards this turn”, Which is something that is very possible given the low cost Forwards and Backups that we already have for Sky Pirates.

I just realized that Vaan is a Backup as well, I’ve been looking for how much Power he had and was wondering why it was missing from the card.

Vaan is the Backup that will keep on giving. He comes in and deals Damage to one of your opponents Forwards. 3K or 8K depending on the cards you’ve cast. And after that, he’ll either give you a Crystal Point each turn, cause that’s what Backups do, or he’ll deal 7K Damage to 1 Forward.

16-002H – Ace EX

Another Ace up our sleeve?

Ace here can work good in an Fire/Wind/Lightning Cadet deck. Like the one I’ve been trying to build since Opus XIII.

Deal Damage to a Forward, at least 3K if you have one Element and up to 9000 if you’re playing the aforementioned deck.
And his Power can get up to 10K in the same deck.

Doesn’t mean that you should play the deck that I’m mentioning, simply because it doesn’t exist yet.

16-003C – Elbis EX

Elbis is useless unless you have Morze’s Soiree Member on the field.

Speaking of which, I’ll need to see these other cards before I comment further.

But, I only write down my first impressions of each card, as I read them for the first time.

 

 

16-004C – Onion Knight

Switch out a couple of cards for 2 new ones.

Onion Knight also becomes an attacker because he is a Forward. A 4CP/8K Forward with a pretty decent ability. And, it’s only a Common.

I’m sure we’ll see a couple of Onion Knights in a couple of Decks.

 

 

16-005C – Cloud

Another Backup Cloud.

I mean what’s the point? No one, in their right mind will play a backup Cloud. Even if that reason is that you don’t think Cloud should be a Backup. He’s a Forward, and so, I’ll only play Cloud as a Forward. Then I can use Omni-Slash and defeat Sephiro …

Sorry, got carried away.

For a Common, it’s a decent card. It’s only drawback is that this card is named Cloud.

16-006C – Crimson Hound

3CP to deal 8000 Damage.

After that just chuck Crimson Hound into the Break Zone and look at the top 2 cards of your deck. Then you can play Onion Knight and grab those cards if you’d like.

 

 

 

16-007R – Black Waltz 2

There’s more to this card than just the Beautiful (yes, a capitol B) artwork.

Black Waltz 2 can work wonders all by himself.

Black Waltz 2 discards Black Waltz 2 from your hand. And you deal 4000 Damage for discarding Black Waltz 2 from your hand, and 5000 Damage when you discard a Job Black Mage from your hand.

You’re either Breaking 1 or 2 Forwards with this ability.

16-008C – Black Mage

Black Mage here is pretending to be a Summon. For 3CP you can deal up to 5000 Damage to 1 Forward.

After that Black Mage sticks around to block, or even attack.. The choice is yours.

 

 

 

16-009C – Samurai

Easy way to get back that one Samurai Forward that you just lost.

Especially if that 1 Forward was Cyan (11-003R). Play him onto the field, deal 2000 Damage to all Forwards. Search for another Samurai to add to your hand, and when a couple more Samurais attack, deal 1000 Damage to all the Forwards opponent controls for each Samurai that attacks.

 

 

16-010H – Djinn

How would you make Djinn a Monster?

I guess it’s ok since you can turn him into a Forward when you receive 3 points of Damage. Maybe it’s one of your 3 wishes.
Djinn here will also gives your Fire Forwards +1000 Damage done to the Forwards they attack. Djinn, Warrior (5-014C), Lebreau (1-030R) and Lava Spider (8-022R) will all work together very well.

 

16-011L – Squall

The one card that deserves the Full Art Treatment did not get one.

Anyways, this card is a beast onto itself.

Once Squall attacks he deals 4000 Damage to all of your opponents Forwards, and if that’s not enough, if your opponent chooses to block, Squall will deal an additional 4000 damage to all of your opponents Forwards.

Should I block or take the Damage?

16-012R – Suzaku EX

Part of the Shijin 4.

Every time Suzaku attacks deal 5000 damage to one Forward.

Cost can be paid by and Element if there is a Shijin in the Break Zone.

 

 

16-013H – Sol

Crystals are back once again. And this one is a good one. Play Sol and and pay a Crystal, and you can play a 4CP Forward or less from your hand onto the field.

Sol also gives you a way to gain Crystals every time a party attacks.

And you can use that Crystal you just gained to pay for Sol’s abiity to give 2000 Power to all the Forwards you control.

I’d like to see what kind of Decks people will come up with that will utilize this card.

16-014R – Delita

At 5CP/9K Delita is finally Fire(d) up, after being Earth for so long.

Delita comes in and deals 4000 damage to all the Forwards, even your own. And if any of those Characters gets sent to the Break Zone, you’ll gain a Crystal for each Character.

You can also raise his Power by 2000 if you remove a Forward from the game. A little saving grace, just in case you need it.

 

 

16-015H – Morrow

I had to stop for a second and just look at the art.

Morrow comes in with Haste forms a party and attacks. You discard a card from your hand and you draw 2 Cards. And if it’s late in the game your opponents receives 1 point of Damage as well.

I like this card, and not just for the artwork either. I’ll add it to the AVALANCHE deck from Crystal Dominion and call it a day.

 

16-016C – Bahamut

For a Common, this card is not bad at all.

Deal a Forward up to 12000 Damage. Other than that not much to write about.

 

 

 

16-017R – Ramza

Sol and Delita will bring Ramza in and get him Fired up as well.

And, for the cost of 2 Crystals Ramza becomes “T.G. Cid” 9000 Power with Haste, First Strike and Brave, and he can attack twice in the same turn!

Looks like a Legend to me.

 

 

16-018C – Lilty

Keep Lilty on call, on the field producing CP until you’re ready to use Lilty’s ability.

Once you reach 5 points of Damage, return Lilty to your hand, play Lilty on to the field and put him in the Break Zone to deal 10K Damage to one Forward.

 

 

 

16-019R – Luneth

Not a bad card at all, but how many Warrior of Light decks are actually played?

But, Luneth here will compliment any Warrior of Light card. At the beginning of each Attack Phase, you can either choose a Warrior of Light and boost it with Haste, First Strike and +1K. Or you can strike down one of your opponents Forwards by dealing it 1000 Damage for each Warrior of Light card you control.

 

 

16-020L – Luso

A card to play, when you’re playing with your back against the wall. Luso is not a great card to play during the beginning of your match, Unless you plan on taking Damage left and right just to receive those 6 points of Damage.

Because at 6 points of Damage, in a Mono-Fire Deck, you’ll probably be playing 2 cards onto the field at the beginning of each of your Attack Phases.

 

 

16-021C – Rain

This is not one of the better Rain cards.

Costs too much, for the ability that you are getting.

Probably why this is only a Common as well.

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Crystal Dominion – Thoughts on Earth

15-064C – Vanille

Vanille is taking over Minfillia duties. Allowing you to grab 2 Forwards from the Break Zone when she enters the field.

Her 6CP cost goes down to 2CP, which is pretty good for a Backup.

15-065C – Scholar

Lost the card that’s supposed to win you the game. Scholar h ere will allow you to retrieve it back from the Break Zone. For a small price that is. What’s the top card of your deck compared to that Legend card that was just broken?

Next turn you’ll be able to shuffle your deck, and the card you retrieved will be closer to the top.

This card should have been a fisherman.

 


15-066C – Galuf

What would you like to do?

Gain a Crystal or Deal a point of Damage?

Odds are 50/50

Is it worth 5CP?

 

15-067R – Gijuk

Search for a Headhunter and then all the Headhunters can do things together. Like place Bounty Counters on each other. Dull and Break Gijuk and you can place 2 Bounty Counters on a Headhunter.

Don’t forget, Gijuk allows you to search for Lani (12-018H)

 

 

15-068R – Gilgamesh

You’re up-cycling Gilgamesh into a stronger Gilgamesh, and you have 8 Gilgamesh to choose from. I’m thinking You play them all, and towards the end, when you have at least 8 Gilgamesh in the Break Zone, you up-cycle to Gilgamesh (7-088L) and you go to town.

Add a Behemoth K or 2 for good measure.

 

 

15-069C – Cu Sith

Don’t like your hand?

Discard 3 Cards and Cu Sith who is already on the field, and draw 4 new cards.

You might get the card you need. You might not.

 

 

15-070R – Cait Sith EX

For 1CP, Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ll give you a chance to draw a card.

But it has to be a Forward. Which isn’t that bad. It’s Like betting on black. There’s a good chance you’ll get a Forward.

And, Since Cait Sith is already a Forward. There really is no drawback of playing him. Worse case scenario, you got yourself a blocker.

 

15-071H – Kefka EX

Just Like the final battle in FFVI. The Returners Vs Kefka, who now has become a God. Normally you would divide your party into 3 groups, and take on Kefka.

Here you divide their Forwards into 3 Groups and they only get to keep 1, while the rest are thrown into the Break Zone.

 

 

15-072R – Cid Sophiar

Freaky Friday Cid Sophiar.

Able to switch around certain abilities between 2 Forwards. Might be a good ability in a pickle.

 

 

 

15-073H – Cecil

The OG Dark Knight. Move over Batman, you ain’t got nothing on Cecil.

If you got a Crystal, you’re good. If not you shall receive 1 point of Damage when Cecil enters the field. Which isn’t too bad, because at 3 points of Damage, when Cecil is broken, you can search for another Cecil and play it onto the field. You’ll need another Crystal for that Cecil as well. Unless you go with another Cecil.

Souleater. Yes, please. Throw in a whole bunch of Cecil’s into your deck just so you can use this ability over and over. And, when it lands you’ll deal your opponent 2 points of Damage. Watch out for those EX Bursts.

15-074C – Zombie

Just in this set alone, Zombie has 7 targets. And, most of them are great ones to choose from, depending on what you’re playing.

Let’s just say, Cait Sith (15-070R) is a good choice. Same Element and you might even draw another card when you play him.

Other than that, Zombie becomes a Forward and breaks at the end of the turn.

 

15-075R – Titan EX

We’ve seen this one before. +2K and deal damage to a Forward. Works good in some situations.

 

 

 

 

15-076C – Titan

What would you do with +10K Power?

You’ll make sure you’re going to deal some Damage. Be it a Forward or to your opponent.

Either that or deal a Forward 7000 damage. Either way Titan here is set on Destruction.

He’s a one cost if you got a Crystal.

 

15-077H – Dadaluma

Here’s your counter attack. Just make sure to block, constantly.

8K damage to a Forward is more than enough to break most forwards. Just have Dadaluma out on the field and your opponent will try and find a way to remove him.

And, at 3 points of Damage he gains Brave and +2000 power

 

 

15-078C – Berserker

This Berserker has gone Berserk.

Of course, he will be attacking every turn, but when he does attack he also gains 5000 power. Every attack phase, Berserker will be attacking for 13000.

There’s almost no Forward that will be able to withstand this attack.

Unless of course, your opponent has the Clan Gully card.

 

15-079R – Ba’Gamnan

Do we have enough pieces for a Headhunter Deck?

Either way you should remember that you can play Lani with all these Headhunters. She’ll add Bounty Counters to Ba’Gamnan, and Bwagi. And she’ll also be able to gain +2K power that Ba’Gamnan can give here if he removes a Bounty Counter.

And with all the Headhunters entering and leaving the field. I’m sure you’ll have at least 4 to Break a dull Character.

 

15-080C – Geomancer

Geomancer here comes in gives you a Crystal, that you can use to play Cecil. After that, Geomancer dulls and heads over to the Break Zone, and gives Cecil Brave on the way out.

 

 

 

 

15-081C – Firion

Yes, the Rebels are coming out. Firion comes in this set as an Earth Forward. Seems he didn’t like Fire this time around.

But, having Firion come in and since you’re already playing Rebels he’ll have Brave, and +X depending on all the buffs he’ll get.

 

 

15-082H – Hecatoncheir

Deal 8K damage to all Forwards. You better have your Forwards buffed up, or your opponent has already taken down your front line.

Hecatoncheir here will take care of the rest.

 

 

 

15-083L – Rydia

Rydia already has self protection against Summons and abilities.

Rydia gains 2 Growth counters when she or another FFIV Character enters the field.

Rydia can cast a Summon once per turn by paying with Growth counters.

Rydia is a 2CP Forward.

Rydia is a Legend.

I like Rydia (15-083L)

15-084 – Robel-Akbel

Robel-Akbel, comes in and Breaks a Forward or a Monster. After that you’ll be grabbing a Backup at the beginning of Main Phase I during each of your turns. Thus, giving you a never ending supply of CP. Your best bet would be to find a 2CP Backup that send itself to the Break Zone with an on entry ability.

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Robel-Akbel

We’re starting off with a Bang! Spoiler Season is here like we’ve mentioned earlier this week and we just keep on going. Final Fantasy XI, we got Robel-Akbel. And with that …

On to the card

4CP – Earth
Forward
Category : XI
Job : Black Mage/Warlock Warlord
8000 Power
Legend

“When Robel- Akbel enters the field, you may pay (C).

When you do so, choose 1 Forward or Monster, Break it.

At the beginning of Main Phase 1 during each of your turns, choose 1 backup in your Break Zone. Add it to your hand”
We’ll just jump straight into that second ability. At the beginning of Main Phase 1, grab a Backup from your Break Zone. At the beginning of your opponents Main Phase 1, grab a Backup from your Break Zone.”

As Long as Robel-Akbel is on the field. You will be getting an extra 2CP you can use during each of your turns. That way you can have your reserve list of Backups in your Break Zone and grab them whenever you’ll need them.

You’ll probably be looking for a 2 cost Backup that has either an entry ability or an ability that hits when it is put into the Break Zone. That way you can keep recycling it over and over.

A card like Kazusa (3-026C). Your opponent will be discarding cards left and right while you’re just recycling Kazusa and another Backup.

As for the Crystal ability, upon entry, Robel-Akbel can Break 1 Forward or Monster. There are plenty of ways to gain Crystals, we’ve seen a couple already. And now we also have a Crystal Card available.

What other Backup would you pair Robel-Akbel with? Let us know in the comments.

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Opus XIII – Fire Review

13-001R – Irvine

Weighing in at 2CP-5k. Irvine is an OK Forward, but his ability to deal 5000 damage to another forward, just by putting him in the Break Zone. You can deal unsuspecting damage to your opponents forwards that have just attacked. Might see some play, but this one is not for me.

 

 

 

13-002L – Akstar

The Fire Legend. Actually, just a Mercenary. His enter ability allows you to trigger an EX
Burst in your Damage Zone. Depending on what is in your Damage Zone, will decide if that ability is any good or not. You’ll probably just end up holding that card until you find something good to use. At Damage 3, you can search for 1 FFBE character other than Akstar and add it to your hand. Plenty of cards to choose from, but I would pick 13-017H Rain. I would say that Akstar is a glorified searcher.

 

 

13-003C – Imaginary Soldier

Cloud here, … well he was pretending … (Just like I pretend to know what I’m talking about.)

Basically, you can swarm your field with Manikins, just like Chocobos. But the more Manikins you have Cloud … I mean Imaginary Soldier just gets stronger. It would be pretty easy to pair this one with a couple of Manikins from this set and Opus II and III, just to make him a power house. And depending on when he enters the field, you might be able to Break your opponents strongest Forward. Except Feolthanos and probably a handful more, but it’s a start.

 

13-004C – Clavat

This one won’t see play in a Mono-Fire Deck. You don’t need Big brains to figure that out, but Fire/Ice or Fire/Lightning could work. Well, duh. That’s what the card says. Maybe throw Clavat in a Fire/Ice VI Deck. Or alongside a Class Zero Moogle or .. just don’t see much play for this one. Prove me Wrong.

 

 

 

13-005C – Black Mage

This card will work if you splash a single Lightning or Water card. Because then you’ll now exactly what you’ll end up with. Other than that. NEXT.

 

 

 

 

13-006C – Xande

Xande searches for Xande (10-008L) and at Damage 5, Xande plays 3 cards onto the field from your Break Zone. Nuff said. You can also choose to receive a point of damage to get you closer to 5 points of Damage.

 

 

 

 

13-007R – Cinque

Cinque deserves a spot in your Cadet Deck, play her on the field with Warrior (5-014C) and Lebreau (1-030R), and Cinque could be swinging for 12K with Brave. Break a forward on top of that.

 

 

 

 

13-008R – Vermilion Bird l’Cie Caetuna

I don’t see this one as being better than Vermilion Bird l’Cie Caetuna (6-010H), but in a few circumstances might be able to break one of your opponents forwards.

 

 

 

 

13-009H – Selphie

Make way for the Multi-Element forwards that don’t have Haste, because they now have Haste, if you decide to pay the extra Fire Crystal Point. 2CP/5k decent for what it is, and The End. “This is the end. Beautiful friend.” You can sing that song when you cast this ability.

 

 

 

13-010C – Onion Knight (FFT)

Have three of these tucked away at the end of the game and you’ll have 3 Forwards with 9k and Haste. Go in for a quick strike and you might make it out alive. If not you’ll have a couple of meat shields to take some Damage.

 

 

 

 

13-011C – Iron Giant

1CP/7k body. Monster that turns into a forward at 3 Damage. A cheap forward, with an enter ability that might, but probably won’t, break a forward.

 

 

 

 

13-012R – Bahamut EX

FREE BAHAMUT!!! FREE SUMMON!!! Late in the game, if you’re at 5 points of damage you can basically summon Bahamut EX for free. Yep, because his cost is reduced by 3, if you have Fang (1-020R) on the field his cost is reduced by 2. Although it can’t become 0. That’s where Mootie (11-012C) comes in. Just Dull Mootie and activate it once Bahamut is cast.

FREE BAHAMUT!!! FREE SUMMON!!! #freebahamut

 

 

13-013C – Palom

Cheap Backup with an enter the field ability. Needs Porom to be any good, but then there are a few other Palom cards I would rather play than this one.

 

 

 

 

13-014R – Larkeicus

A Cheaper Deathgaze (IX) (8-056R), but Larkeicus might be harder to remove. I like it, Fire/Wind coming soon. Deathgaze (IX) and Larkeicus Tag Team Champions of the …. It might work.

 

 

 

 

13-015C – Luneth

Need a quick attack, Luneth is your man. Gives Haste to a recently entered Forward. Well not any forward. Just a Standard Unit, or Warrior of Light. Gives you less of a choice. Now if you’d be able to cast it on Braska’s Final Aeon (11-015L) or Neo Exdeath (12-110L) that would be a different story.

 

 

 

13-016H – Rubicante

Just add Golbez (13-115L). Simple counter attack after Rubicante is put into the Break Zone. Up to 8k damage.

 

 

 

 

13-017H – Rain

The real Fire Legend in this set. Just like Lani was in Opus XII. (Well, that’s just my opinion. It should be your as well.) Rain gets cheaper the more backups you have. And the more Backups you have make Rain even more powerful. Up to 5k damage to a Forward every time he attacks, you’ll want to be swinging away A.S.A.P and when you have 3 points of Damage, he’ll also come in with Haste, and deal 5k damage, then attack and deal 5k damage. Might be a quick way to get rid of Illua (5-099H).