Posted on Leave a comment

Lightning of Discovery

27-073R – Ardyn EX

The Chief Minister is here to do Chief Minister things.

The more you break your opponent’s Forwards the better Ardyn will be, and the less he’ll cost in the long run.
Let’s start from the beginning.

When Ardyn enters the field he will break one of your opponent’s Forwards. Or one of your own Forwards if your opponent doesn’t have any.

Now whenever your opponent’s Forwards are sent to the Break Zone, Ardyn will reveal the top card of your deck, and if it’s a Lightning card you can add it to your hand. This one also comes off of an EX Burst.

Mono-Lightning anyone?

27-074H – Adel (VIII)

Adel costs 4CP, but you can pay an extra cost to grant her +1000 power and some protection in not being able to be chosen by some of your opponent’s abilities. And this is a lasting effect.

What’s the cost? Another Witch you will remove her from the Break Zone and you’re good to go.

But, what does Adel actually do?

Well, every time she attacks, you choose one of your opponent’s Forwards and you will send it to the Break Zone.

And what happens when we send one of your opponent’s Forwards to the Break Zone? That’s when Ardyn comes in and well you can just read Ardyn again.

I do like it. Mono-Lightning is coming for you!

27-075L – Edea

I took a look, and there aren’t that many Final Fantasy VIII cards of 2CP or less worth playing. I was trying to see if there were any to play Edea Turn 1. The only one that looked decent was Squall (27-060H). When Squall enters the field, you’ll reveal the top 3 cards of your deck and add a Final Fantasy VIII character to your hand.

If this works. You’ll have 2 Characters on the field, and you would only have paid 1CP for it.

And at the end of your turns, you’ll draw a card if you have at least 4 Final Fantasy VIII Characters on the field.

That’s about it.
.

27-076C -Kain

No need for introductions. Even as a Common, Kain is still a great card to play.

If you already have cast a Dragoon this turn, Kain’s cost goes down to 2CP.

And, if you saved CP this way, you might as well pay the extra cost of 1 Lightning CP to give Kain Haste and First Strike. Allowing him to attack as soon as he enters the field.

And with Kain’s power at 9000, you’ll be doing plenty of damage to your opponent. Especially with First Strike.

.

27-077C – Machinist

Your one cost Standard Unit, Machinist.

Some of these Standard Units are good, and some just fall a little flat.

Take Machinist here, while the ability of dealing a Forward 8000 damage is good, the cost is not so much.

It’s a total of 5CP, to use Machinist’s ability. Which isn’t too bad, it’s just that you can get a similar effect by using less CP.

And yes, you’ll say, but Machinist stays as a Backup and will produce CP per turn.

That’s fair enough, but I will pass. You don’t have to, you can use Machinist and if you beat me using him, I’ll say well he’s not that bad, I guess.

27-078R – Kylma

A 2 cost Backup that Break a Forward. But at what price?

An arm and a leg, that’s the price. 2 cards from the top of your deck, for every CP needed to cast that Forward.

What happens when you’re trying to get rid of Opus XVI Chaos at 11CP? You’re going to remove 22 cards from your deck? That’s just Insane if you ask me. Yes, you don’t have to worry about paying the cost from your hand, but you’re getting rid of cards, that you will probably need later on.

Unless you’re sure you’re going to win the game, by using her ability, I would suggest you stay away from it.

This is a big fat no for me.

27-079H -Gilgamesh

Do you see what I am seeing?

Warriors were already turning up the heat, and now we add Gilgamesh into the mix.

And, I have to say that Gilgamesh is worth every Crystal Point you need to pay to play him.

Gilgamesh gives all of your Warriors, Brave and the ability to attack twice in the same turn.

And, that’s not all, when he enters the field, you will dull 2 of your opponent’s Forwards. Leaving them more suspectable to an attack.

And if that’s not all, Missile Barrage will Break one of your opponent’s Forwards, and give him Haste.

Meaning, that When Gilgamesh enters the field, and you use Missile Barrage, you will dull 2 of your opponent’s Forwards, Break one of their Forwards, and attack twice, and since you have Brave, Gilgamesh will be able to block, just in case you whiffed on the attacks.

This should have been a Legend, with some original artwork.

27-080C – Coeurl

Coeurl is one of the better Monsters that I’ve seen in a while.

Coeurl comes in breaks a Forward.

Coeurl goes to the Break ZOne, breaks a Forward.

That’s all you need to know.

And that is more than enough information to add it to your deck.

I might even add it to my bomb deck.

27-081C – Gladiator

Your best bet is breaking 2 low cost Forwards. One that costs 1CP, and if you have a Multi-Element Forward on the field, you’ll break a 2 cost Forward as well.

There are currently 99 Forwards that cost 1CP, and only a handful of them see any use.

So, I really don’t see Gladiator getting much play.

 

.

 

27-082R – Koana

Just like Edea, Koana comes in and searches for a 2 cost Final Fantasy XIV Character and plays it to the field.

There’s are plenty of cards to choose from.

Koana also has the ability to dull a Forward on command. The best thing about his ability is that you don’t have to send him to the Break Zone, a simple dull will do.

And from what I remember seeing, there are a couple of cards that need Koana on the field, in order to get the full effect.

27-083R – Seifer

Look at Seifer, he’s telling you to “Bring it!” Cause he’s ready, even though he only has 4000 power, he’s ready to do some damage.

When he enters the field, he will Break one of your opponent’s Forwards. 2CP or less. But, if you have a witch on the field, it’ll go up to 5CP.

And let’s not forget his Special ability, where he will Break a Forward. Seifer won’t dull with this ability, so if you have plenty of Seifers in your hand and the CP to pay for it, you can Break as many Forwards as you please.

.

27-084R – Thancred

Like we just mentioned earlier some cards need Koana on the field in order to get their full effect.

Thancred here is one such example.

When he enters the field, he will deal 4000 damage to a Forward, if Koana is on the field that damage becomes 7000.
We also have the ability to activate one FFXIV Forward that we control.

Meaning you can use Koana’s ability twice in the same turn. 2 dulls for the price of one.

.

27-085L – Zoraal Ja

Now this is a card. Add this to your The Twelve deck, and you will be set to go.

Coming in at 3CP and 7000 power, Zoraal Ja gains +2000 power and Haste if you have at least 4 FFXIV Characters on the field.
And every time he attacks, you will Break one of your opponent’s Forwards.

And when you have received 5 points of damage, Zoraal Ja will break an additional Forward when he attacks.

Breaking 2 Forwards per attack is enough to slowly take down your opponent’s offenses.

Let’s not forget to add Hein in here as well, allowing Zoraal Ja to attack twice in one turn. Is that 4 broken Forwards if you have received 5 points of damage?

27-086H – Nine

We’ve been getting plenty of Cadets in recent sets, and Nine is top notch as always.

From the looks of it Cadets are tri-color, Fire/Wind/Lightning. And Nine is here to show you why.

When he enters the field, if you have a Fire Character, Nine will deal 9000 damage to a Forward, and if you have a Wind Character, Nine will activate all of your Backups.

Either one of these is great, but both together makes putting Nine in your deck, worth every CP you’ll pay for him.

What’s even better, is that if you have 5 Backups and use them to pay for Nine, Nine will become a free play.

And, that is something we here at Kardboard Korner love playing.

Full Arts please.

27-087C – Fujin

It always seems like Seifer, Fujin and Raijin are always on the verge of becoming a force to be, but they always seem to fall flat.

Fujin here, is a great Backup to Seifer and Raijin as she grants them +1000 power.

Is it enough to make them a top tier line up?

Not yet, But, they will one day.

.

27-088C – Raijin

And, here is Raijin back to back.

Raijin comes in for 3 CP with 8000 power, plus the 1000 from Fujin we have 9000.

That’s all right so far.

When Raijin enters the field, he will deal 3000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards.

And, if you want more.

You can dull Fujin, and deal 5000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards.

Does this man that Raijin is using Fujin as a projectile?

27-089H – Ramuh

Well we did get one more Final Fantasy III Summon, I just thought that all six would have been FFIII.

Here we are, The Lord of Thunder is ready to deal 6000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards.

After that you will reveal the top 3 cards of your deck, and if you find another Ramuh there, you will add it to your hand, making Ramuh a free play.

Are there enough Ramuhs to make this something that we should build a deck around.

Yes, but is it worth making?

Everything is worth making. At least for one game.

27-090C – Dragoon

If you’re playing Dragoons, Dragoon is worth playing.

For it’s a Dragoon.

It will also let you reveal the top 2 cards of your deck, and if there is a Dragoon there you will add it to your hand.

Yes, this Dragoon will be sent to the Break Zone, but you will get another Dragoon that will take it’s place. Probably.

 

 

Electrifying Singles!

Posted on Leave a comment

Hidden Hope – Electricity, Hopefully?

22-073L – Ultimecia

Lightning is starting off with a wonderful card.

Ultimecia protects all the cards in your Break Zone, not allowing your opponent to remove them from the game, which is good, because if you have at least 15 cards in your Break Zone, you will be able to choose 1 of your opponent’s Forwards and take control of it.

Any Forward that you like.

You might also want to stock up an a couple of different variations of Ultimecia as well for Maelstrom. Ultimecia’s ability is great as you don’t need to dull Ultimecia as part of the cost. That means you can keep casting Maelstrom as long as you have an extra Ultimecia on hand. That’s a Forward that loses 10k power everytime you cast Maelstrom.

Ultimecia will do plenty of damage.

22-074R – Alba EX

Here’s another card for that Warrior of Darkness deck.

Alba, coming in at 3CP with a 7K body. When Alba enters the field due to an ability, namely Nacht (22-067L) you get to choose one of your opponent’s Forwards with a cost of 4 or less, and send it to the Break Zone.

Also, when she enters the field, she gives one of your Warriors of Darkness, Haste.

Pretty decent if you ask me, and plays well with the other Warriors of Darkness.

 

 

22-075H – Edea

The Witch, the Sorceress, Edea.

Edea comes into the field, and let’s you search for a Final Fantasy VIII Forward. Searchers are always good, and when it comes from a Forward it makes it even better, because that card will still have some use even after you searched for the Forward.

Edea comes with an 8k body. Which is great.

And another ability that causes one of your opponent’s Forwards to lose 4000 power. 8000 if you have 10 cards in your Break Zone.

Only downside is that you have to discard the top 2 cards of your deck to use this ability, and you don’t know which cards those will be.

22-076R – Odin

3 cost Summon, that breaks a 3, or a 4 cost, Forward or Monster.

Well that is what Odin is known for. Coming down riding his horse from the sky, whipping out Excalibur, and slicing the enemy in half, for an instant K.O.

Plus, if you only paid the cost with Backups you draw a card, making Odin cost just 1CP.

It wouldn’t hurt to have 1 or 2 of these in your deck.

 

 

22-077H – Garuda (III)

Garuda comes in, and you get to pick a number. And after that you’ll get to deal 8000 damage to all of the Forwards that their CP cost is the same as the number you’ve chosen. So, don’t go picking a random number, make sure there are Forwards on the field that have that number as their CP cost.

This is actually a good way to get rid of a bunch of Forwards that came in due to an ability by let’s say Golbez (1-135L). You’ll be able to get rid of all the 2 cost Forwards that just came in. Plus the other 2 cost Forwards that were already on the field.

And the Crystal ability. For the cost of 2 Crystals, you can deal 8000 damage to a Forward of your choosing.

You can’t go wrong with Garuda.

22-078C – Sice

1CP or 3CP or 3CPO?

Either way Sice is a great card. Especially if you can get her in for 1CP. Which you probably will, because the Class Zero Cadets usually come out all together.

Sice enters the field, and depending on how many Class Zero Cadets you have on the field, Sice will sen that Forward to the Break Zone.

And after that, she’ll stick around as an extra body.

I’ll take 3. Simple and effective. Let’s just find a way to bounce Sice a couple of times per turn. I’m sure there must be a way.

22-079L – Seifer

The other Gunblade Wielder.

When Seifer comes in, you can put the top 2 cards of your deck in the Break Zone and, you’ll be able to grab a Final Fantasy VIII Forward from your Break Zone. It’s like paying 4CP to grab that card that you just lost, and you don’t even need to have the extra 4CP in your hand.

Seifer starts to shine when you have at least 10 cards in your Break Zone. Because when you do, every time Seifer attacks, you get to send one of your opponent’s Forwards to the Break Zone. Slowly thinning the enemies front lines, to make it easier for your attacks to go through.

This might be the best Seifer yet.

22-080C – Selkie

The card that let’s you look at the top card of your deck.

If you like it, you can keep it there.

If you don’t send it to the bottom of your deck.

Selkie is part of this set’s Common Card for all elements. Meaning that each Element has this card.

If you need more information. We’ll just Copy/Paste once again.

“Simple, basic and straight to the point.

Selkie comes in for 1CP and allows you to look at the top card of your deck. If you like it you can keep it there. If not send it to the bottom of your deck.

It does have plenty of benefits.

Depending on what you see there, your game plan will change for this turn.

Do you see an EX Burst that will cause plenty of damage to your opponent. Leave it there and take a point of Damage. Do you see the card you need to put your plan into motion, play that card that allows you to draw a card.

Worst case is that you don’t like the card, and you can just recycle it to the bottom.”

22-081R – Diana

“Dirty Dianaaaaa, Nah”

Is it just me or is Diana actually doing one of Michael Jacksons moves?

Woo!

3CP for a 7K body, but you won’t be paying 3CP, because if you do, Diana won’t do much.

Instead you shall play Nacht, look for Diana and another 2 Warriors of Darkness. And, once Nacht attacks, you will play Diana from your hand, and draw a card at the same time. Giving you +2CP when she enters the field due to Nacht’s ability.

After that, you can dull a Warrior of Darkness, and dull a Forward. Any Forward, including yours, which can be like a cancel effect, if your opponent plays a card that says something along the lines of Break an active Forward.

I must say, I like it.

“I know your every move
So won’t you just let me be”

22-082C – Drace

Did you ever find yourself looking for a searcher, the searches for a low cost Forward?

Well if you did, Drace is the right card for you.

Because Drace let’s you search for a Forward that costs 2CP or less.

It’s a great Backup to have.

Only thing that would make Drace better is his cost was 2CP, but then he wouldn’t be a Common.

I’ll take it.

22-083C – Ninja

A ninja with Haste.

For 2CP you can have yourself a great Forward.

Sure, Ninja only has 4000 power, but if you have a couple Standard Unit Backups on the field, Ninja also gains 4000 power, making her total power 8000.

2CP for an 8k body is great in my book.

Now all we have to do is find a couple of Backups that will compliment her.

22-084R – Fujin

If you’re playing Seifer, then Fujin is a must have.

Once you have 10 cards in your Break Zone,which is where you will want to be if you are playing Seifer. Fujin gives Seifer and Raijin, and herself +2000 power and First Strike. Which is great combined with Seifer’s ability to Break a Forward whenever he attacks.

And when Fujin is put from the deck into the Break Zone, you can play Fujin onto the field. So, those abilities that require you to put the top 2 cards of your deck into the Break Zone, have a little upside to them.

The only thing I don’t like with Fujin is the extra cost required when she enters the field, which is the top 2 cards of your deck.

22-085C – Moth Slasher

For 2CP this is a great card.

A Monster that turns into a Forward that searches for itself when it is sent to the Break Zone, and plays itself for free.

What’s not to like.

And, at 3 points of damage Moth Slasher has an 8k body.

Of course you’re putting this in your deck, why wouldn’t you.

22-086C – Yaag Rosch

Yaag Rosch is the protector of Backups, excluding himself.

And, that’s pretty much it. There aren’t even that many cards that can break a Backup.

So, we’ll just talk about the artwork. It’s gorgeous, simple yet it portrays Yaag Rosch perfectly.

We just have to ask him one question.

“Why So Serious?”

Yeah, I’m just trying to take up space here.

22-087R – Raijin

And, finally the last Disciplinary Committee Member.

Now that we have the trio out, we can see what these cards all do together as a team, the Disciplinary Committee.

Same as before you need 10 cards in the Break Zone for everything to work.

Raijin gives the other 2 and himself +2000 power and Haste.

That gives Seifer 11,000 power and Fujin and Raijin 9000 power. Making these 3 a force to be reckoned with. (No wonder Squall and Co. always had trouble with the Disciplinary Committee.)

And, same as before again, If Raijin is put from your deck into the Break Zone, you can play him straight onto the field. But, you’ll have to pay the cost of putting the top 2 cards of your deck into the Break Zone.

Now I do see why these cards are like this. If you’re lucky enough you can have all three members on the field, in one play. And then you’ll be taking everyone on a a little ride as you’ll be breaking Forwards when Seifer attacks, and Fujin and Raijin will just stand around as your blockers, while Seifer gets the job done.

22-088C -Rygdea

I always thought Rygdea was part of the Cavalry.

Rygdea comes in and you get to choose one of 2 abilities. Either break a Forward, 2CP or less, or grab a Lightning character from the Break Zone.

Both are pretty good abilities, I do prefer the second one, but there shall be times you will want to break that pesky Forward that is sitting on the front lines.

This might be a good addition to the FFXIII Custom Starter Set.

 

 

22-089C – Dragoon

Add another Dragoon to the Back line. This one isn’t half bad.

Dragoon enters the field and gives a Forward +3000 power and First Strike.

After that you can pay the cost, discard a Lightning card, put dragoon into the Break Zone, break a 5CP Forward, Play Rygdea, grab Dragoon from the Break Zone, and start all over again.

I mean it could work, but there are better ways than this to Break a Forward.

With Dragoons though, I’d say the second ability is just a bonus.

22-090H – Lulu

How many Summons do you need in your deck in order for Lulu to be effective?

Because if your take away that ability you really don’t have much going on here.

Just a 2 cost Forward with 5000 power.

Maybe I’m missing something, because the cards I don’t think are good, end up becoming great.

Shop for these Singles and more at our TCG Player store.

Posted on Leave a comment

Resurgence of Power : Quick as Lightning

18-069C – Red Mage

Discard Red Mae, draw a card. And, that’s about it.

Cheap Backup to play.

 

 

 

18-070C – Aphmau

This one looks interesting. The Puppetmaster is grabbing puppets left and right.

What do I mean?

At the end of the day, Aphmau should cost you 0CP. Simply because, if you grab the first card from the top of your deck, She’ll cost 1CP. After that at 3 points of Damage you can pay 1CP and grab a card from the Break Zone and play it straight to the field.

Plus she’ll produce CP while you wait to get to 3 points of damage.

Let’s see some decks that will make use of this card.

18-071R – August

A King that comes forth when his Knights fail.

August comes in for 0CP if 3 of your Forwards leave the field. Leaving could be Removed from the game, sent to the Break Zone, Broken, or returned to hand. Even if you lose 3 Forwards during your attack phase, you can play August during your Main Phase 2 for 0 cost.

That alone will give you a 10K body for your opponents turn. They will think twice before attacking when he is on the field.
After that when he attacks, August activates himself and August can attack once more, which after that attack he will activate once more.

It’s almost like August has Brave.

18-072C – Kam’lanaut

For a Common this is a pretty good card.

From Kam’lanaut’s 3 abilities, there is only one that would give you a reason to play him. When he attacks, you choose one of your opponents Forwards and you can Dull that Forward.

Now remember, this is just a Common.

The other 2 abilities are, that he cannot be chosen by a Multi-Element Forward’s abilities, and at 2 points of Damage he gains +1000 power.

18-073H – Garuda (III)

I’m caught in the middle with Garuda.

I can see both sides of the card, while it can be a good play if your opponent doesn’t see it coming 5 turns away. That also means your paying 10CP for this play. While it does give you a chance to clear the board if you need to, but there is a card that does this for cheaper. Shantotto, who just removes all the Forwards, for 7CP.

But, if you can get Garuda to come in off of a Warp, and actually work without your opponent preparing for it, well, you’re in luck.

18-074L -Gilgamesh

Coming in with Haste, Gilgamesh is ready to attack. And if he comes in after you have received 3 points of Damage, Gilgamesh also gains Brave, and can attack twice in a turn.

That alone would make me want to play Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh also has an entry ability in which you remove a number of cards from different elements, allowing you to Break a Forward that has the same cost as the elements you choose.

18-075R – Seifer

How much does a card from the Break Zone, +2000 power and Haste cost? Is it worth a point of damage?

If it’s the beginning of the game, and you don’t have your back against the wall. It might be worth it.

If not, Seifer is just a 3 cost Forward with a 7K body.

And the card you can grab is a Category VIII Forward.

18-076C – Cid Kramer

VIII Themed Decks could become easier to play. Cid comes in and can produce CP of any element for FFVIII cards.

That means you can splash any element you’d like, without worrying about needing certain elements on the board or in your hand to play them.

 

 

18-077R – Cid Sophiar EX

Raise your hat to Cid Sophiar.

Cheap card to play and is technically 0CP as you’ll just grab a Character from the Break Zone.

Sure, you’ll need to be at 3 points of Damage to be able to grab that card, but you can also grab that card off of an EX Burst.
I’d keep 3 of Cid in a deck.

 

18-078R – Cindy

Let’s see. Cindy is moonlighting as a Dark Knight.

We’re starting to see more abilities that deal you a point of damage to use them.

Cindy allows you to dull an opponents Forward for the cost of one point of damage. But, that cost goes away when you have already received 4 points of damage. Simply put, if you’re about to lose a Forward or be dealt a point of damage, it doesn’t make much sense.

If you’re using that ability to dull a Forward using an ability that will wipe out your board or something to that effect, it would be very wise to do so. I’m just rambling here.

Cindy does come in with Haste, and that is always a plus.

18-079R – Fujin

The Disciplinary Committee is here, although they really don’t discipline anyone, they’re just Seifer’s lackeys. And that is perfectly fine. Unless you’re Squall and Co.

Fujin Comes in and gives Seifer and herself +2000 power. And at 3 points of damage she grants another +2000 power and protection from your opponents Summons.

Only drawback is that Seifer has to be on the field to get these effects.

 

18-080C – Hurkan

A bit expensive, but Hurkan can break a Forward when he enters the field.

It also has an ability with a high cost that allows you to break another Forward.

I probably won’t be using it.

 

 

18-081H – Melusine

For 2CP you get to use one of your opponents Forwards until the end of the turn. Cost 4 or less.
Think about it.

Melusine comes in. You gain control of one of your opponents Forwards. You attack. Worst case, you break one of their Forwards. You might even deal them a point of Damage.

After that, just turn Melusine into a Forward and keep attacking until she breaks. After that rinse and repeat.

I’ll take 3.

18-082C – Imitation Despot

If you’re playing Manikins you’re playing this card.

Imitation Despot allows you to grab another Manikin from the Break Zone. And depending how many Manikins are on the field Imitation Despot can cost you 2CP.

Add in an 8K body, and that’s hard to beat.

 

 

18-083R – Raijin

The other member of the Disciplinary Committee, same as Fujin, he gives Seifer and himself +2000 power.

And, at 3 points of Damage, he and Seifer also get another +2000 power and they both can’t be chosen by your opponent’s abilities.

At the end of the day, if Seifer, Fujin, and Raijin are all on the field and you have 3 points of Damage, Seifer will have 15,000 power.

If you ask me, I’d rather play Opus II Seifer (2-110R) instead. Add an Edea to the mix and he’ll be a Monster to deal with.

18-084C – Ramuh

Ramuh is a decent Summon to play, even if you don’t pay the extra cost. Dealing 7000 damage to a Forward will break most Forwards. If you need some extra Zap in your Judgement Bolt, I suggest you remove 10 Lightning cards from your Break Zone and turn that 7000 into 150000.

 

 

 

18-085C – Dragoon

Cheap Backup to play that comes with an extra cost, if you want to use it.

The extra cost is a total of 5CP in which 2 need to be Lightning CP. If you decide to pay it, you can Break a Forward. Any Forward.

Dragoon is like Hurkan, but better. In that Hurkan will only break a Forward up to 5CP, where Dragoon can break any Forward. Good to be played in a pinch, if you have the CP.

Other than that, at 3 points of damage, dragoon gains +3000 power and Haste.

Making him a 2CP/8K body.