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Wave 1 : Garland – 1-006H

Garland is here, with another easy one to figure out. All you got to do is remember transparency is key. For some of the cards at least. But first, let me post these two guides.

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

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

We have 2 specimens here, both are Garland, both are Heroes, and both are good looking cards. But, which one is which? Garland Left or Garland Right? Let’s take a look.

If you said right is Wave 1 you are wrong. Left is right. I mean Wave 1. Don’t mean to confuse you there.

A closer look shows us the transparency in the background image.

As you can see on both sides of the card, Garland’s image n the background is more transparent. And sometimes, it’s just that easy.

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Banon’s Returners

Where do we start?

Well we need to start off with Banon, it’s a deck built around him after all. Now, let’s see what FFVI Characters do we have in Water. None, that actually have anything to do with Banon, actually yes, Gau. Gau does help Banon with the battle at Narshe.

Gau (19-089H), even though Gau isn’t the best place to start building a Banon deck with, he is Water, comes in with Back Attack, and gives a FFVI Forward 1000 power x the FFVI Characters on the board. He’ll most likely help your Forward survive an attack, Summon or ability.

Next we’ll take a look at Edgar and Locke. And, no we’re not going with the Dawn of Heroes setup, that would be too easy. We’ll grab Locke (9-122H), that way we can grab more FFVI Characters, plus the +2000 power he gives to all the FFVI Forwards every time he attacks, is a plus.

Edgar (19-003R), cause we need Backups, and this Edgar can grab Sabin from the Break Zone, which leads us to Sabin (17-017H). Since you’ll probably already have a bunch of FFVI Characters on the field, you’ll probably be only paying 1CP to cast Sabin, or you’ll be grabbing him from the Break Zone with Edgar. We’re taking Sabin for his Chakra ability. And, since both of his abilities don’t require Sabin to dull as part of the payment, well add in another Sabin, anyone as it’ll be mostly used for paying the cost for Chakra, and Aura Cannon. We’ll go with Sabin (15-018C). And if you do decide to play it, during each of your turns you can choose one of your opponent’s Forwards and deal it 9000 damage.

Banon believed Terra would be the catalyst to destroying the Empire, because she is the light in his story. Or so he thinks. We’ll say she’s the fire and add Terra (10-132S). That way you can recycle a Summon, and deal 2000 damage to one of your opponents Forwards every time you cast a Summon.

Let’s not forget that Locke saved Celes and brought her to the Returners as well, and luckily we do have a Water Celes. Celes (11-118L), with 3 abilities to choose from every time she attacks. And, if you have received 3 points of damage, you can choose 2. Celes gains 2000 power, if Celes deals damage to your opponent draw 1 card, or return a Backup to your hand, and a Forward to your opponents hand.

Which leads us to Owzer (11-106H), (I can’t believe I forgot about this card, for my Ultros deck), You can return Owzer to your hand to play him again, and gain control one of your opponents 2 cost Forwards.

We’ll add Class Fourth Moogle (10-121C), to help us pay for Fire CP.

And, since we’re already buffing our Forwards power’s, well buff it some more with Aria (III) (10-108R). And, let’s add Minwu (1-171H) for a little bit of protection.

We’re going to add Ifrit (19-001R) and Leviathan (19-101R) because they are Free Summons. And in case you haven’t noticed, we like Free Summons.

Amaterasu (12-002H), because you need that protection Amaterasu grants.

Unicorn (20-118H), solely because it’s a FFVI Summon. Well, not solely, mostly. Activate a Forward, and Return a a Forward to your opponent’s hand.

Mog (VI) (4-140H), just so you can draw a card, if you have nothing worth playing.

Plan of attack would be to, buff up your FFVI Forwards and attack. Simple as that.

Forwards

3x – Gau (19-089H)
2x – Mog (VI) (4-140H)
3x – Banon (9-111H)
3x – Celes (11-118L)
3x – Locke (9-122H)
3x – Terra (10-132S)
3x – Sabin (17-017H)
3x – Sabin (15-018C)

Backups

3x – Aria (III) (10-108R)
3x – Class Fourth Moogle (10-121C)
3x – Edgar (19-003R)
3x – Minwu (1-171H)
3x – Owzer (11-106H)

Summons

3x – Unicorn (20-118H)
3x – Amaterasu (12-002H)
3x – Ifrit (19-001R)
3x – Leviathan (19-101R)

What would you play different?

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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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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.