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Emissaries of Light – Thoughts on Earth

16-064C – Dark Knight

Not the best way to start off with Earth, but you can play 3 Backups in one turn at 3 points of Damage if you already have 3 Dark Knights in your hand.

Not much else to say.

 

 

16-065C – Amber EX

Here is the searcher your Soiree deck needs.

4CP to grab a card.

I’ll need to get all these cards together and figure out what’s going on.

 

 

16-066R – Heretical Knight Garland

I like this card.

Garland buffs up one of your Forwards into a Berserk Behemoth, or something of that nature.

+4K power and Brave, is no laughing matter.

And plus, if you keep enough CP available, Heretical Knight Garland is almost indestructible.

16-067L – Aerith

No need to grab your Phoenix Downs, Aerith will raise herself from the dead.

3 turns is all she needs.

She’ll be back in no time, Block, Attack all you want. You’ll probably be able to get into a rhythm here, and have all 3 Aeriths recycling themselves in a way that as soon as one is broken, remove from the game, and on the next turn, yours or your opponents she’ll be back on the field ready to block. All she needs is Haste.

 

16-068C – Eiko

10K Damage?

That’s a lot for a common Backup.

There might be some use to Eiko.

 

 

16-069C – Ciaran

Low cost Forward that can reach up to 9000 Power.

And, that Special Ability. Gets stronger with each Backup you control.

 

 

 

16-070L – Kirin

Kirin and the Shijin. Sounds like Hootie and the Blowfish.

What you don’t already know is that Kirin has the “Power of Love”. Just ask Doc Brown.

He’ll buff up the Shijin with +1K power, and when he comes in, Kirin allows you to play a 4 cost Forward from the top 5 cards
of your deck. That’s almost like grabbing Marty McFly to play at your Prom.

 

16-071C – Gladiator

Another Backup on Standby.

Keep Gladiator on the field till you have received 5 points of Damage. After that dull, return to your hand, play Gladiator, put him in the Break Zone and give all your Forwards +10K and Brave.

And, this is just a Common.

 

16-072C – Beastmaster

Looking for an Energy drink?

Beastmaster will let you grab a Monster when he enters the field.

Yeah, that one was cornier than the other ones.

 

 

16-073C – Benjamin

They finally added a Mystic Quest character to the game. All we need now is 8bit FFI characters. Come on Square-Enix you can do it.

High cost, high power. And Benjamin gets stronger at 3 points of Damage.

Throw him in late in the game and you’ll also Break one of your opponents dull Forwards.

 

 

16-074C – Cactuar

Break a Forward with this Summon, but Cactuar carries some drawbacks. Unless you want to deal yourself some Damage to get the benefits of all these Earth cards.

 

 

 

 

16-075R – Shinju

I think this card is the base of Soiree, as she allows all the different elements to be paid using any element.

Grab Shinju with Amber and watch Soiree unfold before your very eyes.

 

 

 

16-076R – Sophie

She was banned, but now she’s back with a Vengeance.

Sophie’s first ability comes off of Sophie’s Second ability.

If you’re playing high cost Characters, Sophie will be dealing 10K damage to one of your opponents Forwards. 12K if you have Enna Kros as a Backup.

 

 

16-077R – Terra

Terra might fit in a Fire/Ice Category VI deck. Or you can just go all out and grab all the VI Characters and go 6 element FFVI.

Someone out there, already knows how to use this card, and that person is not me.

 

 

16-078C – Demonolith

I remember a card like this in an earlier Opus, but that was a Summon.

Demonolith stays on the field until you want to see your next draw. And if you ;like it, you can keep it. If not just chuck them to the bottom of your deck, and hope for 2 better cards.

 

 

 

16-079H – Hades

The 2 cost Monsters in this deck are something. Each one I keep seeing is a card you’d easily add to your deck.

Hades here, let’s you discard a Backup to draw a card. And, you already know that there are plenty of Backups whose only purpose is to come in and use their on-entry ability. Now you have a way to get rid of them to play another Backup.

But, that’s not all.

Hades can make some of your opponents Forwards vulnerable.

As, whenever a chosen Forward is dealt Damage, that Forward will be broken, and sent to the Break Zone.

Relm is going to have some fun this Opus.

16-080H – Madam Edel

Madam Edel has been name dropped throughout this set, and now we can finally see what she is made of.

Madam Edel is the Forward your opponent will be trying to remove once she is on the field.

Madam Edel grants Protection to all the Morze’s Soiree Members. No Summons or abilities will be able to lay a finger on them.

And for 4CP, you’ll be able to grab a Morze’s Soiree Member from the Break Zone and play it on the field.

16-081R – Mira

We mentioned Relm earlier, but Mira here, will be able to take the reigns just as well.

Mira comes in and lets you play a Monster onto the field, and it all depends on how much Damage you have received. The more Damage the stronger the Monster.

 

 

16-082H – Mont Leonis

Well, you’re always going to be using that first ability. And, we mean always. There’s no reason not to. It doesn’t cost you any CP, and at the same time it gives Mont protection from damage dealt by Summons and abilities.

Taunting Blade? Yeah, it has some use. Mont attacks and uses the ability to take down the Forwards that are blocking him.

I still don’t like Mont.

16-083H – Layle

Depending on which side you’re on, Layle can either make or break you.

Everyone will attack and block, unless there are no more attackers for the blockers to block.

And, with Brave, Layle will be pulling double duty on both sides.

If you need to, you can always give Layle +1K to help him survive.

 

16-084R – Leslie

Leslie is your infiltrator, allowing him to dispose of your opponents Forwards from the inside. He’ll sit perfectly in a Mono-Earth deck as that will be the only way to be able to pass Leslie on to your opponents field.

Once he is there, your opponent will need to choose 2 Forwards and hopefully they’ll be sent to the Break Zone along with Leslie.

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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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Opus XIV : Earth Review

14-058C – Dark Knight

Play this card and deal yourself 1 point of Damage. If you already have 4 points of Damage, you might as well play this card as 5 points of Damage will give this card Brave.

You’ll have a 9K body with Brave, for a measly 3CP.

Just don’t play this card when you have 6 points of Damage.

 

 

14-059R – Wol

Opus V Wol is better all around. The only reason you’ll play this card is to play anther MOBIUS Forward from your hand at no cost.

At 3 points of Damage he becomes something like a Diet Opus V Wol. It’s similar, but just not the same.

 

 

14-060R – Carbuncle EX

Mono-Earth? Sure, +2K Buff to all the Forwards, and a free card. You’ll becoming out +1 on this transaction.

 

 

 

 

14-061H – Calbrena

Add this one to the Same deck as Carbuncle. Give me Mono Earth and a 9K Calbrena to knock off your socks. And if Calbrena gets broken for whatever reason. You can put her back together by discarding an Earth Backup.

Yes, Please and Thank you!

 

 

14-062L – Titan, Lord of Crags

It looks like Earth has a Diet Shantotto as well, but this one deals your opponent 1 point of Damage as well. I take that back. This card is just as good as Shantotto, just a little different. And this one is also a Forward. Titan can’t break himself, so he’ll be free to attack if he wipes the board.

 

 

 

14-063C – Chichu

Not as good as the other Monsters in this set, with Monster Counters. But, being able to give a Forward +2K power for each Monster Counter on Chichu, might be good.

Did I mention I know a guy named Chichu?

 

 

 

14-064R – Kitone EX

Hmm, War of the Visions has a great Backup. Just the on entry ability is great, you’ll be able to stop a powerful forward in it’s tracks. For one turn at least.

And, “Dream Within a Dream”, 4K Damage to one Forward, and you can recast it, with a single Earth Crystal Point, without paying the S cost.

 

 

 

14-065L – Cloud

Is this the chase card for the set? FFVII, Cloud, Legend, Full Art, they all come together in this one card.

I mean, just look at this card. If your opponent controls any Forwards, Cloud gains 2K. If your opponent didn’t have any Forwards, you wouldn’t need to play Cloud. You could have gotten the job done with Choobo (2-060C)

When Cloud attacks, choose one Forward and that Forward has to Block this turn. So, you can start picking off pesky Forwards that you want to get rid of.

Finally, discard a FFVII card and Cloud gains +1K and he can’t be chosen by Summons or abilities.

At the end of the day, Cloud is an 11K Forward that deals Mass Destruction with his Cross-Slash. Even though there is no ability names Cross-Slash on the card.

14-066C – Kobold

Activate Kobold, each time a Primal enters the field. You can also dull Kobold and give a Forward +1K power. And then activate him and repeat when another Primal enters the field.

I’m guessing not so much.

 

 

14-067H – Shantotto

Made for Earth/Wind decks.

Well thank you Captain Obvious.

Now, is the 5CP worth it to potentially draw another 2 cards?

 

 

14-068C – Dark Elf

Only way to Break this card is with a precise 8000 damage.

Now if you find a way to buff him up to a 9K body, he is unbeatable.

“Kobold, I was wrong about you, come back.”

 

 

14-069R – Noctis

The Prince is back, as a backup.

4CP to grab a XV Forward from the Break Zone and play it onto the field. Sounds like a good deal to me. You can actually grab another Noctis (12-121R) who in turn will let you grab another XV Forward, other than Noctis, from the Break Zone.

You’ll actually gain a Crystal point by doing this. I don’t know if it’s efficient but, it’s something you can do.

 

14-070C – Ba’Gamnan

Time to get rid of that pesky forward you can’t get rid of. Force it to block and attack him with your strongest Forward.
14-071C – Paladin

Don’t like the cards you just drew? Just play Paladin with those 2 cards and hopefully get something better. And if that doesn’t work, Dull and Break and hopefully you’ll get something better once again.

 

14-072R – Hojo

Hojo finally makes his appearance. And he comes with an experiment. A trade off where you can change a Forward you control with a Forward from your Break Zone. Only stipulation is that it’s cost needs to be inferior to the one you removed from the game.

Play a Forward with an upon entry ability, once it’s played out recycle the Forward.

 

 

14-073R – Muraga Fennes EX

At first I thought this card was a Summon. It would have been a decent card if it was. But, now that I’ve seen that it’s a Forward it makes it very playable. I would keep this card on hand, to bring back a forward that has just been broken.

 

 

 

14-074C – Monk

If you’re playing Monks you’re playing this card. And, if you’re playing Monks, you’re playing Sophie (13-119L).

You’ll have plenty of Earth Forwards on the field, so this card should read. When Monk enters the field, choose 1 Forward opponent controls. Break it.

 

 

14-075H – Mont Leonis

For 11CP – 1CP for each Forward you control you can play 1 Earth Forward of Cost 6 or less from your Break Zone.

Now this wouldn’t be one of the first cards you play, but later on in the game when you’ll have 5 Earth Backups, and a bunch of Forwards on the field, you might just play 2CP for Mont.

I thought Mont would have had some synergy with Macherie, but I was wrong.

Oh, well.

14-076C – Lich (IX)

Discard one card Job Chaos and deal one forward 8000 damage. Is it worth it? I’m sure there are Summons that can do this more efficiently. But, for a common I’ll take it.

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Opus XIII – Earth Review

13-052C – Abyss Worm

For it’s cost this is a great card. Giving a Forward +3K and Brave, is good enough for this 1 cost. But the fact that it turns into a Forward at 3 Damage, makes it even better.

 

 

 

 

13-053R – Alexander EX

Hmm, I don’t know if I would use this card much, but keeping one in a deck for the rare chance that it’ll pop out after you’ve taken 5 points of Damage might be worth it.

 

 

 

 

13-054C – Lady of Antiquity

Reducing Exdeath’s (13-071R) CP doesn’t seem like a big deal. You still have to pay 5CP, but the second ability will let you play a 6 color Manikin Deck, in which the aforementioned ExDeath will be your main attraction.

 

 

 

 

13-055C – Ingus

+1k and Brave to a Standard Unit or Warrior of Light. Alexander EX (13-053R) seems a little better as you can choose any character. But, Ingus can use his ability once per turn.

 

 

 

 

13-056R – Vanille

I’m actually surprised this card is only a Rare.

This card will pay for itself, if your opponent does not get rid of it soon enough. There are plenty of cards you can play every other turn unless your opponent finds a way to Break Vanille. All these High cost cards will be Free plays from Your Break Zone.

Vanille Deck in progress. Just Vanille and High cost forwards.

 

 

13-057H – Graff

A constant +2K during the Attack phase. Main Phase the Forwards will still have their regular power.

 

 

 

 

13-058C – Sherlotta

Perfect to use in any 2 color deck. Even three. Or as many as you’d like. Tyro (11-072R) does this better, but Sherlotta is only a 2 cost.

 

 

 

 

13-059H – Scarmiglione

Trying to Break a Forward, well have I got a card for you. Scarmiglione here will double the damage dealt to a Forward. Any Forward. Ping it to death, till it lies broken in the Break Zone.

 

 

 

 

13-060R – Cecil

Not one of the better Cecil’s, but it might be worth the 1 point of Damage to get rid of a forward that’s been causing you trouble. And if that extra point of Damage gives you Brave, and +1K, well you might actually play this card.

 

 

 

 

13-061C – Hugh Yurg

4CP/8K who might have Brave depending on your cards. Decent Common.

 

 

 

 

 

13-062H – Bhunivelze

10CP for 10K. But you can find a way to get him down to Free, if you’re playing that many colors. As the game goes on, Bhunivelze just keeps getting better, and better. 3 Damage – Brave and Double Attack. 6 Damage Break a character every time Bhunivelze attacks. Times 2

And the fact that you can play this card from the Break Zone with Vanille (13-056R), I wouldn’t be surprised if this was in every Earth Deck. Simply just because you can.

 

 

13-063C – Monk

If you’re playing Monks, this is a good card. If you’re not, it’s too expensive.

 

 

 

 

 

13-064R – Yang

If you’re playing Mon…. I already said that. Yang will give your Monks a boost. High powered Forwards with Brave. Add Enna Kros (1-095R) and they will have an extra 1K. I saw that Monks already took first place, and Yang was a part of that.

 

 

 

 

13-065R – Rydia

I don’t know if Rydia is cost effective. 6CP to play a summon without paying the cost. I’ll pass.

 

 

 

 

13-066C – Lilty

Ice/Earth or Earth/Lightning take your pick. Or neither, With Tyro, you can choose any element you’d like. Discard or Break. The choice is yours.

 

 

 

 

13-067L – Leo

You might be able to play a high cost card for a couple of CP, depending on how many Crystal Chronicle Characters you’re controlling. Vanille (13-056R) is the better choice in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

13-068C – Alchemist

Just like Black Mage (13-005C). This card will work if you splash a single Ice or Wind card. Because then you’ll now exactly what you’ll end up with. Other than that. NEXT.