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Hidden Trials – By Earth

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23-058C – Dark Knight

Oh wow, these Standard Unit Backups in this set are powerful. Sure, you need to have 5 Backups to get the full effect, but these Backups only cost 2CP.

Dark Knight comes in and gives a Forward. +1000 power and Brave.

If you have 5 Backups, then all of your Forwards gain +1000 power and Brave.

You can go all in swinging left and right with all of your Forwards, and then still have the resources to block your opponent’s attacks.

 

23-059C – Ignis EX

Noctis Is Down!! Hurry Phoenix Down!

That pretty much sums up Ignis.

When he enters the field you can grab a FFXV Character from your Break Zone, and add it to your hand. Not just Noct, but any XV Character that resides in there at that moment.

Best part is that this ability also comes off as an EX Burst.

Might be worth it … it’s always worth it if your grabbing cards from the Break Zone.

23-060L – Vincent

Beautiful card.

Though shall not pay 7CP to cast Vincent. Though shall pay 1CP to Warp Vincent. Vincent is Warp 6 meaning that 3 full turns need to pass before Vincent will enter the field. But the Warp Counters will reduce by one each time a Final Fantasy VII Character enters your field.

A ticking time-bomb, that once it goes off, you will Break one of your opponent’s Forwards and one of their Backups.
If you didn’t Warp Vincent, then you’ll just Break the Forward.

A Vincent worth playing?

23-061H – Warrior of Light

This is great.

If you have the CP, you can play a Standard Unit from the Break Zone at the begining of the Attack Phase. Doesn’t matter whose Attack Phase it is either! Yours. Your opponent’s. You can play that Standard Unit and buff up your defenses, add an attack, or play that Dark Knight from earlier, and give +1000 power and Brave to all of your Forwards.

You can also search for 2 Standard Units when Warrior of Light enters the field and send them to the Break Zone, so they’re ready for you whenever you’ll need them.

You can also splash any element with these Standard Units.

23-062H – Emet-Selch

Here’s one way to search for a high cost Forward.

And when you play a high cost Forward onto the field, Emet-Selch will deal another Forward 8000 damage.

And, that’s about it.

Other than that Emet-Selch costs 4CP, with a 8k body.

At least his ability to deal 8000 damage to a Forward goes off every time a high cost Forward enters the field. Maybe bounce that high cost Forward.

23-063C – Gladiolus

Gladiolus is ready to deal some serious damage, as long as his buddies are around.

Does that mean that this Gladiolus is a better play then the other Gladiolusi (? Gladioluses?)?

Probably not, but it might be fun to play in sealed, if there are more FFXV Characters in this set.

Gladiolus gains +1000 power and Brave if you have at least another FFXV Character on the field. Which you most likely will, or you won’t be playing Gladiolus.

Dawnhammer, Gladiolus’s Special ability that will 99% of the time break a Forward of your choosing.

23-064R – Golem

Would you like to see this Golem’s 3 card trick? He’s been hanging by the Korner with a Kardboard box and 3 cards. Would you like to try your luck?

I bet you do.

Choose a Forward, any Forward.

Now let’s flip over these 3 cards.

Grab one of the Forwards, return the other 2 to the bottom of your deck, and deal your Forwards Power as damage to the Forward that you have chosen.

Didn’t find a Forward?

Well, you’re out of luck.

23-065R – Gogmagog

Two heads are better than 1. 2 Monsters are better than one, too. And Gogmagog, is better with another monster on the field.

We already know that Gogmagog turns into a Forward with another Monster on the field.

So, let’s talk about what Gogmagog can do. Gogmagog can bring itself back from the Break Zone, as long as you remove a Monster in play from the game.

Should be good in any Monster deck.

23-066R – Jessie

Need a quick buff?

Jessie has 2 abilities that will buff you Forward.

The first one, she’ll buff any Final Fantasy VII Forward by 1000 power.

And secondly, If she buffs Cloud, Cloud will gain +2000 power.

Talk about favoritism.

 

23-067R – Shantotto

Do you recycle?

If so, Shantotto can help you get some recycled goods.

Shantotto comes in and grabs 2 Summons from either Break Zone. After that they are yours to keep until the end of the game, casting them whenever you need to.

This works good for you, as if your opponent is known for removing cards from your Break Zone, you can keep a couple of Summons that you know you’ll need later.

It’s like a side, side deck.

23-068C – SOLDIER Candidate

Earth’s Candidate to become a full fledged member of SOLDIER.

These are all pretty decent 2 cost Commons.

SOLDIER Candidate, come in and acts like Atlas?

… or was it Titan?

Well, SOLDIER Candidate comes in and you choose a Forward, and they deal damage to each other.

Might be a good way to get rid of a Forward.

23-069C – Narashima

Just like SOLDIER Candidate, only this time you choose your Forward that you want to trade blows with.

If you got an overpowered Forward, with plenty of buffs, well then this card is for you.

If you ask me, I’d pick Opus VII Fang, with 6 FFXIII Characters on the field, including Opus I Lebreaue. What’s that 11K?

I’m sure you can find a better Forward, but since Narashime is already a Category XIII Character. I stuck with that.

23-070H – Hythlodaeus

At first look I thought we were getting some Organization XIII cards. Then I realized we aren’t.

But, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a good card. In fact I think it’s great.

If Emet-Selch is on the field Hythlodaeus becomes a 3CP Forward with a 9K body.

That’s what you call a cheap Meat Shield. And, that is not the reason you’re playing this one.

You can use Hythlodaeus’s ability to put both her and Emet-Selch into the Break Zone. Then you shuffle your deck reveal the top 4 cards and play all the Characters onto the field.

If you’re lucky and all of your high cost Forwards pop up, you’ll be golden.

Just hope you don’t find any Summons there.

23-071C/15-080C – Geomancer

You know what time it is?

Copy/Paste time.

“Reprint.

Standard Unit.

Crystal.

Brave.

Maybe a Geomancer actually mines for Crystals.”

23-072 Brionac

A 5 cost Forward with 9000 power. Pretty normal for a Common, but during your Main Phase, you can remove 2 Earth cards from your Break Zone, from the game, and Brionac will gain +2000 power and Brave.

Brionac also has an ability that will deal 9000 damage to a Forward, but you’ll need a Crystal for that one.

If all you need is a Meat Shield, to block your opponent’s attacks, Brionac might be a good fit for you.

Best case scenario you find Brionac when you cast Golem.

23-073C – Prompto

Monster Hunter, or Monster Tamer?

Either way Prompto does things to Monsters that not many people do.

He takes pictures.

And those pictures will either Break a Monster, or Bring one back from the Break Zone.

???

Yeah, I got nothing.

23-074C – Wrieg

Here we are.

You can play Wrieg right before you play Prompto.

You’ll get your Monster back, and have a Forward and a Backup to show for it.

Is it worth playing?

I’d say that depends on if the Monster has an ability that goes off when it is put into the Break Zone.

At the very least, you’ll draw 2 Cards.

23-075R – Layle

A self sustainable Forward.

Layle comes in, gains a Crystal.

Layle attacks, gains a Crystal.

Layle attacks again, gains a Crystal.

Layle uses the Crystals when he is attacking and break a Monster or a Forward.

All this for 2CP.

23-076H – Regis

Regis might cost 7CP, but you get so much in return for that.

Regis comes in and you can grab a Final Fantasy XV Forward (of cost 5 or less) from your Break Zone, and play it straight to he field.

That alone will make Regis worth playing, but if you have already received 5 points of damage, you can go ahead and double that. This allows you to grab 2 XV Forwards from your Break Zone and play them straight to the field.

3 Forwards on the field for 7CP? Sounds like a good deal to me!

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Lion’s Roar

Where do we start?

That’s simple. You start with Cor (9-066C) because that is the card we chose to represent Cor in this Character of the week. We believe it is the better version, and that is that.

Now that Cor is set, we need to add the late king, Regis (15-103C), which not only gives Cor his permanent buff, simply because it’s Regis, but Regis also lowers the cost of casting the Kingslaive by 1CP.

Battling alongside King Regis, and Cor is Cid Sophiar (18-077R) and Clarus (11-068R). Cid Sophiar can grab a Character from the Break Zone, and Clarus let’s you search for a King. Which doesn’t have to be Regis.

What’s a Captain to do without the Kingsglaive? Well, we’ll need to grab them all and add them here. Pelna (15-098C) you can cast him for 1CP because you’ll most likely have more than one FFXV Character on the field already. And he’ll buff all of your XV Forwards by 2000 power.

Tredd (15-093R), for 1CP you can give a XV Forward +1K and Brave for the rest of the turn. If you put him in the Break Zone, it’s +3K and First Strike.

Libertus (11-102C), to let you grab a XV Character from the Break Zone, and possibly activate 2 Backups if you choose …
Nyx (11-097H), cause he’s about to strike down your opponent with Haste when you put a Kingslaive into the Break Zone, which could be …

Crowe (11-092C), who will help you grab a Forward from your Break Zone.

I’m lost.

With So, many Lightning Forwards we need to add Glauca (11-091R) to save us a Crystal Point every time we play a Lightning Forward.

Now that King Regis has passed away, Cor now watches over Noctis (12-121R) who comes in and grabs a FFXV Forward from the Break Zone. And every time he forms a party all the Forwards gain a 2K buff and Haste.

Cor will now need the help of the Retainers.

Ignis (20-066R), because everyone needs a meal, even when you’re on the road. Plus, you can put a Backup you control into the Break Zone, to break a Forward and grab a Forward from your Break Zone.

Gladiolus (18-135S), cause we need a powerhouse on the team, that can deal enough damage to Break even the most powerful Forwards.

And Prompto (8-082R), cause that’s the only Earth Prompto.

We’ll add Class Tenth Moogle (9-074C) to help us pay for Lightning CP.

We’re going to grab our Free Summons Fenrir (19-064R) and Ramuh (19-083R)

Then we’ll also grab Mist Dragon (9-068H) and another Fenrir (12-068H).

And that should complete our Cor Deck.

Forwards

3x – Tredd (15-093R)
3x – Cor (9-066C)
3x – Glauca (11-091R)
3x – Noctis (12-121R)
3x – Nyx (11-097H)
3x – Regis (15-103R)
3x – Libertus (11-102C)
3x – Ignis (20-066R)

Backups

3x – Class Tenth Moogle (9-047C)
3x – Pelna (15-098C)
3x – Cid Sophiar (18-077R)
3x – Crowe (11-092C)
3x – Clarus (11-068R)
3x – Prompto (8-082R)

Summons

2x – Mist Dragon (9-068H)
2x – Fenrir (19-064R)
2x – Ramuh (19-083R)
2x – Fenrir (12-068H)

What would you do different?

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Dawn of Heroes – Bucket of Dirt

20-064C – Arkasodara

I like this elephant man.

A simple 3 cost Backup that will either Break one of your opponents dull Forwards, or your opponent will pay 3CP for them to save that Forward.

Either way your opponent will lose part of their strategy due to them having inefficient funds, or due to them being down a Forward that they needed.

I like it, I’ll take it.

20-065H – Antlion (IV)

I remember fighting Antlion in FFIV to in order to get the Sand Pearl to save Rosa from desert fever.

Now the Antlion is back, and it is still angry. Must be all the monsters roaming the Antlion Den.

As a Monster, Antlion doesn’t have a special ability, it just waits for Backups to come and go, so it can turn itself into a Forward.

Once it’s a Forward it is something to deal with. With 9000 power and it’s counter ability, that will deal the same damage it received and deal it to another one of your opponents Forwards. Which one? Anyone you’d like.

Yes, I like it.

20-066R – Ignis

At the time of writing I just finished writing about Gnash.

Well, Ignis is the perfect answer to Gnash, Ignis is also one of the Backups that can be chosen by Gnash.

Ignis enters, and you can chuck a Backup and break one of your opponents Forwards.

Not only that, but on the same turn when you send that Backup to the Break Zone, you can grab a Forward from the Break Zone.

End of the day, Ignis has a way of recycling that Forward you need when he is sent to the Break Zone. After all is said and done, you’ll still have a 9K body on the field.

20-067R – Ifalna

Aerith’s mother. That’s all I’ll say in case there are people living under a rock, and haven’t played FFVII yet.

A great 2 cost Backup, that will grab an Earth Forward from your Break Zone and play it straight to the field.

This is actually really good, especially if all of your Opus XIV Clouds are in the Break Zone, and you have no other way of bringing them back.

We need more cards with support Characters that we haven’t seen yet.

20-068R – Aerith

We’ll have Aerith right next to Ifalna in our Binders.

What ever you do, you’re Warping Aerith in. There is no reason to pay 2CP to make her just a 5K body. Aerith is much more than that. Just ask Zack.

Aerith Warps in and grabs a Forward from your Break Zone.

After she grabs that Forward, that’s when she becomes a 5K body.

The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Both Ifalna and Aerith pretty much have the same ability.

20-069H – Chaos

Oh, this is nice.

Chaos causing Chaos just cause his name is Chaos.

Or something like that.

Chaos is a 6CP Forward, that let’s you search for a 4CP Dark Forward and play it onto the field. This will make Chaos a 2CP/9K body, and depending on which Dark Forward you choose you can probably put some hurt on your opponent. Too bad Sterne Leonis is banned, cause that would have been fun. For you, not your opponent.

And that’s not all.

If Chaos is in the Break Zone you can remove Chaos and 2 Dark Characters from the game to Break a Forward of your choosing.

The OG Dark Lord will take vengeance on the Warriors of Light. Maybe that’s what the 2000 year time loop is for.

*queue Alice Cooper’s “Vengeance is Mine”

20-070C – Leatherworker

Uhm, lots of Earth Backups that get played for free.

Free is usually a good thing, when they have a decent enter the field ability. Or any ability at all.

Where’s the Copy/Paste button when you need it?

 

 

20-071C – Ciaran

Here’s your Crystal pumping machine. As long as Ciaran stays on the field and attacks, you’ll be gaining a Crystal each turn.
He can actually use the Crystals himself and gain a 2K buff until the end of the turn.

Other than that, Dark Sword is a decent Special ability that deals a Forward (3000xpoints of damage you received). And you don’t even need to dull Ciaran in order to use it.

There are 2 different Ciarans meaning you can use this ability up to 5 times in one turn. But, only if all the Ciarans are in your hand.

20-072C – Gigas

A Giant? Let’s call him Andre.

Andre comes in and pretty much stops one of your opponents Forwards. Stuns? That Forward will not be able to Attack or Block until the end of their turn. Allowing your tiny Forwards to get some attacks in without the fear of being blocked by a big body.

Gigas … I mean Andre once he’s done Stopping that big body, can be sent to the Break Zone dealing a Forward 8000 damage on the way.

 

20-073C – Kimahri

This is the same as Auron. Only difference is that it’s Earth, and the art on Auron’s card is way better.

Just use what I said about Auron and change the name to Kimahri. And, the damage to 4000.

 

 

20-074C – Miner

3CP to hopefully find a Backup.

If there is a Backup in the top 5 cards of your deck, then Miner will only cost you 1CP.

I think I like the other Miner better.

At least, if you don’t know what to do, you can always put Miner in the Break Zone and draw a card.

 

20-075L – Cecil

Is 3 CP worth a point of damage?

Depends on what you’re playing. If you need that point of damage to buff up all your Forwards because you just received 5 points of damage then go right ahead.

Besides that, Cecil remains true to his story. As he can turn his Dark Knight self, into a Paladin. All you have to do is cross the mirror. Or get sent to the Break Zone. Whichever one is easier. For when you put Cecil into the Break Zone, you can search for a Paladin Cecil, and play him onto the field.

That Emissaries of Light Cecil, is looking good with this right now.

And Tenebrous Blast, just a special ability that deals 8000 damage to a Forward.

20-076C – Sonon

Let’s see, Melphie searches for Sonon, and if Melphie is in the Break Zone, Sonon gains a 1K buff and Brave.

Not bad, for a common.

You got a 9k body on the field, ready to block all of your opponents attacks.

If Sonon is in the Break Zone, hanging out with Melphie, you can remove them from the game a draw a card.

20-077L – Tifa

Another Tifa?

2 in one set? When was the last time that happened?

All the way back to Opus I? I guess, I always thought that there were a lot more Tifas. Apparently there are only 9.

19 Lightnings but, who’s counting?

1CP for a 9K body? Sure, I’ll take it. When Tifa enters the field you must discard 2 cards.

Tifa already has Brave, and if you pay 2CP she can attack again. And, if you have 2 more CP you can attack again, and again. I see an infinite loop somewhere, where someone will figure out how to keep activating all of their Backups in order to have TIfa attack over and over, til it’s game over.

You can’t discard 2 cards if you don’t have any cards in your hand. *Hint Hint.

20-078H – Noctis

The Prince is back, and is becoming quite a regular.

Noctis comes in, and buffs a Forward with +2000 power and Brave, for the rest of the turn.

After that Noctis will hand around the field, until he is sent to the Break Zone, and when he does get sent to the Break Zone, you can put one of your Characters in the Break Zone and play Noctis on the field with a permanent 2K buff.

 

20-079C/15-080C – Geomancer

Reprint.

Standard Unit.

Crystal.

Brave.

Maybe a Geomancer actually mines for Crystals.

20-080R – Fake

The first time I saw this card I thought it was a Fake, and didn’t pay much attention to it.

And, then I read the card wrong, and had to rewrite this.

For 2CP it’s worth giving a shot. Even if Fake can’t attack or block until it sees 2 points of damage.

2CP for a 10K body, sign me up.

 

20-081H – Fenrir

Is this what I think it is?

A Free Summon?

Yes, why yes it is! But, only sometimes.

Fenrir a 1 cost Summon that protects your Forwards from your opponents Summons.

And, if that Forward costs only 1CP, Fenrir is Free!!!

1CP isn’t that much to pay, but Free is better.

20-082C – Mira EX

The Dark Lord is back to help you find your Monsters.

And she does a good job at it, as long as there is a Monster in the top 5 cards of your deck.

After that she has a 3k body, that will fend off at least one attack. OR you can just put her in the Break Zone, and grant one of your monsters the ability to not be broken.

 

 

20-083R – The Magus Sisters (XIV)

At first I thought this was a Summon.

Then I realized that it is not.

What’s good about them is that your opponent can’t use Haste.

Which isn’t really a bad thing as most players don’t really have a lot of Haste cards. But, if you’re using my Haste deck well, it’ll really put a foil in your plans.

20-084R – Leo

See, this is what a King does, he looks out for his people, before charging them taxes and what not.

Leo, a 6CP Backup that when entering the field searches for a FFCC Forward and plays it onto the field.

Think about it for a second.

You pay 6CP for Leo, Find Yuri and play Yuri onto the field. Then you’ll discard a card, and search for Chelinka and play Chelinka onto the field. If you get this off turn one, you’ll be set for the game.

Oh, and let’s not forget the 1K buff to all the FFCC Forwards.

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Resurgence of Power – Starter Thoughts

18-131S – Iedolas

6CP to play a 4CP Fire Forward from the Break Zone. Iedolas will technically cost you 2CP to play. I’m sure you can find plenty 4 cost Fire Forwards with on entry abilities to make Iedolas a great card to play.

After that you can have Iedolas as a Backup until you want to use his ability to deal 7000 damage to a Forward.

 

 

18-132S – Ravus

Captain! Captain?

Ravus here might be a good choice to use with Iedolas, if there are already a couple of Captains in your Break Zone. Deal a Forward 10K Damage and hopefully you’ll break it.

If not, Ravus does gain +1000 Power at 3 points of Damage. Add Opus I Lebraeu and he’ll be a 10K Forward.

 

18-133S – Ignis

Ignis is here to give Noctis and Co. protection from your opponent’s abilities. And technically give them Brave. As all the Characters are activated every time Ignis or Noctis attacks.

You’ll have plenty of CP available to you for Main Phase 2 and your opponents turn as all your Backups will be active.

So, play plenty of Backups.

 

18-134S – Prompto

This is a nice card. If you have the whole party out, Prompto is a 2CP/8K with Haste, and every time he attacks you get to draw 2 cards.

Along with Ignis’ protection from abilities, you can probably add Opus I Maria and your opponent will have a hard time getting rid of Prompto.

 

 

18-135S – Gladiolus

Gladiolus might not have Cyclone, but he can attack for up to 12K just from having Noctis on the field. And if you do, Gladiolus will only cost you 2CP.

At 3 points of Damage Gladiolus gains Brave.

Good blocker to have on hand.

 

 

18-136S – Titan

Hmm?

Well, you cast Titan remove a card a Forward from the Break Zone and deal damage to one of your opponents Forwards for the power of the removed Forward.

I might be missing something here, but I believe there are better Summons.

 

18-137S – Aranea EX

Haste, First Strike and the ability to break 2 of your opponents Forward when she enters. All this for 6CP.

Aranea is more like a Summon that sticks around after it has been cast.

Sure you can keep her on hand until you decide to use her when you get 5 points of Damage. Or you can keep Opus VIII Rinoa on hand and bounce her.

 

18-138S – Glauca

This is an interesting one. Just a regular card until he enters the Break Zone. Where he allows you to search for 2 Captains.

You don’t even need to wait for your opponent to send him there, you can put him in the Break Zone whenever you’d like, and you’ll Dull 2 of your opponents Forwards for doing so.

 

 

18-139S – Noctis EX

Search for a Retainer.

Play that Retainer and deal Damage equal to it’s power to one of your opponents Forwards. But this ability isn’t limited to the Job Class Retainer. It can be used for any Wind or Earth Forward.

Only downfall, which isn’t really a Downfall is that it can only be used once per turn.

 

18-140S – Ardyn

Coming in with Brave and a 9K body Ardyn would be a decent card without his ability. But, with that ability you can play a number of cards for a measly 1CP.

Imagine playing Iedolas or Aranea for 1 CP. And that’s just 2 cards that came in this deck.

I can see decks being made around this card.