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Banon, Anti-Imperial Leader of the Returners

Banon (9-111H)

3CP/4000
Water
Forward
Epopt
Hero

“When Banon is chosen by your opponent’s Summons or abilities, reveal the top card of your deck. If it is a Backup, cancel all effects choosing Banon.

(D): Reveal the top card of your deck. If it is a Forward, add it to your hand.”

Although I wouldn’t give Banon the Epopt job, it does make sense. I’d call Banon what they called him in the game. Returner Leader, or just Leader for short, but Epopt has a nice ring to it.

Banon is a Forward with a unique ability that grants him up to a 50% chance of protection from your opponents Summons and abilities. When he is targeted, you can reveal the top card of your deck, if it’s a Backup the Summon or ability gets canceled. Why would your opponent target Banon if he only has 4000 power? It’s because Banon also has another ability, that gives you a chance at drawing a card. A Forward to be precise. If the top card of your deck is a Forward you can add it to your hand. If it’s not, then well you just put it back.

You can probably just use Banon in a Forward heavy deck, just so you can keep drawing an extra card during your turn, and if you have a way to activate Banon, then you can end up drawing more than just one card. It all depends on what’s on top of your deck.

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Hokuten – Version 1.02

We’re going to do this a tiny bit different. We already know we’re not building and strong decks. We’re just making decks to have fun with. Zalbaag’s deck will be no different. In fact we’re going to look straight into Final Fantasy Tactics and see what we can come up with. Let’s take a look into the battles.

But, first.

We can’t have a Hokuten Deck without the Lord Commander himself, so we are throwing in 3 copies.

First battle Zalbaag commands Argath (or Algus) to kill Tietra, so we need Argath in. 3 copies because Argath makes your opponent discard a card when he enters the field.

Along with a couple Knights and Black Mages, although the Tactics Knights aren’t great at all. Just bodies that have no abilities. And the Black Mages, are just a little better than the Knights. Maybe we’ll just lave them out.

The next battle Zalbaag is in he is your ally, So, we’ll be adding in Ramza. Two of them to be exact Ramza (3-119L) just for the fact that he gains +1000 power for every Final Fantasy Tactics Forward that you control, and Ramza (7-118L), because he can become a cheap and powerful Forward if you have a lot of Forwards on the field before you play him. And, If this Ramza has over 10,000 power, every time he attacks, you can break one of your opponents Forwards, as long as it is 3CP or less.

Next battle Zalbaag is a part of the Undead. and fights against you with Archaeodaemon and Ultima Demon and we have none of those Monsters as cards yet. I thought this was going to be a lot more interesting than this.

Let’s see what else we can add? How about Dycedarg (4-105R), he is Zalbaag’s brother and do work together. Up until a certain point, I’ll leave that at that. Plus when he enters the Break Zone, he Dycedarg deals 7000 damage to one of your opponents active Forwards.

Next let’s find a way to search for Zalbaag. Aldo (10-086C) allows you to search for a Lightning Forward, and Duke Goltana (1-134R) allows you to search for a Knight. And, since Ramza and Dycedarg are both Knights, I think we finally have a plan for this deck.

Knights it is.

So, we need Ovelia (1-156C) to give all of our knights +1000 power. We’ll also add in Class Sixth Moogle (9-097C) to help us pay for Water. Now that we have water on hand, We shall add Beatrix (12-103H) to lower the cost of our Knights.

Agrias, we need Agrias (7-106L). She costs 6CP but with Beatrix it’ll be 4CP and if you find a 3CP Character it’ll be 1CP.

We’re going to add Princess Sarah (11-128H) just so we can play Argath. We’d take Argath out, but he plays a part in Zalbaag’s story.

That means we have Ice, let’s add some more Ice. Lasswell (16-042R) to dull and Freeze, and have your opponent discard cards. Charlotte (13-023R) cause she is a great Meat Shield.

As for Summons, we’ll take Ixion (17-090R), Leviathan (2-140C) and Shiva (19-022R)

And, there you have it Hokuten V1.02

Forwards

3x – Argath (1-033C)
3x – Beatrix (12-103H)
3x – Charlotte (13-023R)
3x – Lasswell (16-042R)
3x – Zalbaag (1-136C)
3x – Ramza (3-119L)
3x – Dycedarg (4-105R)
3x – Ramza (5-118L)
3x – Agrias (7-106L)

Backups

3x – Princess Sarah (11-128H)
3x – Ovelia (1-156C)
3x – Class Sixth Moogle (9-097C)
3x – Duke Goltanna (1-134R)
3x – Aldo (10-086C)

Summons

3x – Leviathan (2-140C)
3x – Ixion (17-090R)
2x – Shiva (19-022R)

This one does seem a little forced, compared to other deck ideas we have done.

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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