Looking to secure a box or two or 12 of upcoming releases. Well now you can. We’re opening up Pre-Orders for upcoming Final Fantasy TCG releases.
Final Fantasy TCG : Anniversary Collection 2024
Final Fantasy TCG : Hidden Hope Booster Box
Final Fantasy VII : Anniversary Art Museum Digital Card Plus Vol.2
Final Fantasy TCG : Hidden Trials Booster Box
We have just received word of a new set coming out.
Opus XXIII, Opus 23 or Hidden Trials. Call it whatever you’d like.
And we are excited!
Lightning graces the Booster Box with original artwork. And it sure is looking good. We can already guess on which card will have the Golden Signat … wait, … I don’t believe there is a Golden Signature. It just mentions a Special Card with an original illustration. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
We do get to see some of the cards, and I can tell you Lightning and Queen just look amazing.
We’re getting a new Tyro as well. This time Tyro is representing Wind, we’ll see how well he does in his new element. It also mentions that Final Fantasy Record Keeper will be a “Featured Title” so, I’m expecting at the very least a bunch of Record Keeper Standard Units, and Maybe just maybe, we’ll get the pixel art cards I’ve been wanting for a long, long time. You heard it here first. January, 11th 2024.
Legacy cards are back. Lightning (15-041L), Rydia (15-083L) and Refia (19-102L). I don’t get why they are just grabbing cards from newer sets, I believe that since they are named Legacy cards they should have come from older sets. At least 10 sets.
But, what do I know.
And with that I’ll just leave the press release here.
Hidden Trials will elevate the ‘Limit Break’ mechanic to new heights thanks to custom-themed cards that can turn the tide of battle, revolutionising the deck-building experience for players.
For the collectors, this Opus will include a very rare, Special Card [23-037R] showcasing an original illustration of FINAL FANTASY XIII Lightning by Miki Yamashita. Additionally, three beloved Legacy cards, Lightning [15-041L], Rydia [15-083L], and Refia [19-102L], are included.
As per tradition, renowned artists have contributed stunning new art pieces to bring the characters to life:
■ New Art
Rubi Asami, FINAL FANTASY VI / FINAL FANTASY XIII-2
Mihoko Ishii, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE
Yuya Ishihata, FINAL FANTASY IX
Ryoma Ito, FINAL FANTASY TACTICS A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Yukihiro Kajimoto, FINAL FANTASY
Gen Kobayashi, DIRGE OF CERBERUS –FINAL FANTASY VII–
Sara Shimokobe, FINAL FANTASY IV
Toshitaka Matsuda, FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0
Fumio Minagawa, FINAL FANTASY XI
Miki Yamashita, FINAL FANTASY XIII
Oreki Genya, FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0
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21-081L – Irvine
Well, I can see why this is a sought out card.
It’s the butterfly on Irvine’s finger. When it flaps it’s wings, it’ll cause your opponent to slowly get discombobulated. In a way, at least.
Irvine enters the field, you remove 2 cards from your opponent’s Break Zone, and it’s off to the races. The butterfly’s flap will give Irvine +2000 power, Haste and First Strike. Meaning Irvine can attack right off the bat, as a 9000 power Forward, and don’t forget First Strike. 99% of the time your opponent will either be sending a Forward to the Break Zone, or getting a point of damage.
And, Armor Break, breaks a Forward or a Monster.
You can’t go wrong with this one.
21-082C – Red Mage
Your Elemental Backup, that’s the same as the other Standard Unit Backups in the other Elements as well.
Maybe in draft, but I don’t see much play outside of it.
Prove me wrong, and I’ll send you a playset on the house.
21-083H – Ace
Is this Ace better than the rest?
I don’t think so, but I always used Ace when playing Type-0.
Sure the other Aces are better, but this Ace is a Hero.
Ace enters the field and you draw a card if you already have a couple of Cadets on the field. Thus making Ace a 2 cost Forward.
Other than that, you can discard a card, and dull a Forward, and give Ace +1000 power.
I think I’ll pass on this one.
21-084H – Odin
A Summon that will Break over 75% of all Forwards and Monsters. And, it only costs 3CP. You can even reduce that cost to 1CP if you have at least 5 Lightning Characters on the field. Because when you do you get to draw 1 card. And, everyone likes drawing cards.
There is another 2 Odins that will Break any Forward regardless of cost, but Odin (1-124R) costs 7CP. You also have Odin (12-077H) which costs 6CP, and that one’s cost is reduced by 1CP for each Odin in your Break Zone.
Playing this Odin with the Opus XII Odin might be a good idea.
Other than that you got some great Amano art.
21-085H – Emperor Gestahl
More Amano art, and Gestahl is starting to look like “The Wiseman” from the Labyrinth.
For a 2 cost Backup, Emperor Gestahl will allow you to grab a Forward from your Break Zone. Plays like these are always good. Especially if that Forward was the only one that you had. And, let’s not forget about their enter the field ability that will cause havoc on your opponents board.
Ok, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Later on you can put Emperor Gestahl into the Break Zone, remove 4 of the same type cards from your opponent’s Break Zone, and draw a card.
I don’t see why not.
“sometimes the way forward is the way back.”
21-086C – Gunbreaker
This isn’t bad at all. And with Gunbreaker being a Standard Unit, you can have 3 of these on the field at the same time. Hopefully you’ll have a pocket full of Crystals, because I can see a board wipe shaping up here.
Every time Gunbreaker attacks, you deal 2000 damage to all of your opponents Forwards. If you have a Crystal, you can deal an additional 2000 damage to all of your opponent’s Forwards.
And, if you have a couple more Gunbreakers and a couple more Crystals, then you’re dealing 12,000 damage to all of your opponent’s Forwards.
Pair this with some Bombs and I see a deck forming.
21-087C – Machinist
What is this? 2CP?
For a 5K Forward?
I can see some use with this one.
Gunbreaker attacks, and then you play Machinist in your Main Phase 2, and deal 5000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards.
And, after that, once per turn, you can Dull Machinist and deal 2000 damage to a Forward.
21-088C – Gilgamesh
Que “Battle on the Big Bridge”
You can never go wrong with Gilgamesh, unless he pulls Excalipoor. And this, Gilgamesh is not pulling Excalipoor. Especially, if you got yourself a couple of Crystals on hand, and 3 points of damage. For when you do, Gilgamesh becomes a 9K body, with Haste and Brave, and can also attack twice in the same turn.
Pair this with Estinien (6-088L) and you can have the match over with in a couple of turns.
I like it, the only thing I would change about this card, is give it some Amano Art.
21-089R – Queen
A Forward with Haste, that doesn’t receive damage when attacking?
I’ll take it. It doesn’t matter what else Queen does, this is more than enough.
And, it still gets better. Queen, also, can’t be chosen by Summons or abilities either. And, if for some reason you need to give her more power, just spend 2CP and you’re set. You can even do this part multiple times to keep upping her power.
This will be going straight into the all Haste deck.
21-090R – Cloud
You wouldn’t play this Cloud in a FFVII deck, but you might in a WoFF themed deck.
2CP to cast a 5K body, that will maybe, just maybe break one of your opponent’s Forwards. Well, Cloud actually just might. There are plenty of low cost Forwards out there, and if you already have Reynn on the field, to help pay for Cloud, well then you have 2 WoFF Characters on the field. And, there are plenty of 2 cost Forwards to break.
Yeah, that’s about it. Break a Forward, and then you have a tiny meat shield to absorb an attack. Or something like that.
21-091C – Black Knight
Black Knight has 1 job, which can be done twice. Once when Black Knight enters the field, and once when Black Knight enters the Break Zone.
Break a 2 cost Forward or Monster. Which is pretty good considering the cost to play Black Knight is 2CP.
Black Knight will then hang out on the field, but when Black Knight starts heading to the Break Zone, Black Knight will Break any Forward or Monster that your opponent controls.
Sure, costs and blah blah blah, but I’ll give this one a try.
Or two.
21-092R – Man in Black
How come Lightning is getting all these good cards? Half of them are just Commons and Rares.
Like Man in Black here. a 4 cost Rare Forward, with an 8K body.
Ok, you’ll say, that’s just an average card. But upon closer inspection, every Attack Phase, Man in Black, allows you to choose 2 Forwards, and unless your opponent pays 3CP, they can”t attack or block this turn.
Allowing you to march Forward as you pile up cards in your opponent’s Damage Zone.
At 5 points of damage, Man in Black also gains +2000 power. Thus making Man in Black a 10K Forward.
12-093L – Xande
Mono-Lightning mean you’re playing Xande.
Xande might be 5CP, but you can reduce that by one if you have Glauca (11-091R) on the field. And if you have 8 Lightning Characters on the field you can grab a Forward from your Break Zone and play it straight to the field. No cost limit on this one. you can even grab those 10 cost Forwards and just play them straight to the field.
I’d say it’s worth having at least one Xande in your deck if you’re playing Mono-Lightning.
21-094C – Shantotto
Hmm.
That is what Shantotto is thinking.
How do I fit into a multi-element deck? One that can play every element, so I can get the most of my Enter the Field ability.
Tyro and Moogles and ….
Worst case scenario you’ll be dealing 3000 damage to one Forward.
Best Case 21,000 damage. I can’t think of any use in trying to find a way to have all the elements one the field, including one Light or Dark Character, but the look on your opponent’s face when you say I’m dealing your Viking 21K damage.
21-095C – Trey EX
Class Zero finally got a card that it needed.
Trey, the Recycler!
A card that will allow you to go into your Break Zone, and grab a Class Zero Cadet.
It’s always good to have a Backup, with a backup plan.
Dynamite Arrow, deal a Forward 9000 damage.
The only bad thing about this card, which isn’t really a bad thing, is that Trey can’t send himself to the Break Zone.
Other than that, you know you’ll be playing Trey in your Cadets deck.
21-096R – Nine
Nine reminds me of Amon from Opus II, which is still a great card.
Once per turn Nine is able to dull a Forward. Reducing your opponent’s numbers down. Allowing you to utilize a bigger attack, than you previously thought you’d be able to pull off. Add Opus II Amon and you’ll double that reduction.
Plus, let’s not forget that Nine has Protect cast on himself, as whenever he takes damage, that damage is reduced by 2000.
Class Zero has gotten some nice cards this set.
21-097R – Neilikka
Are there Brave Exvius decks out there?
Does anyone actually play Brave Exvius decks?
Just wondering, cause if they do they’ll probably play Neilikka here. She gains Haste if you have 2 Brave Exvius Characters on the field.
Neilikka costs 2CP and whenever she attacks she dulls, and deals 3000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards.
You can still play this card without any FFBE Characters, dealing damage to a Forward while dulling it is worth the 2CP alone.
21-098R – Palom
I’d say this is a pass.
There are far better Paloms out there.
Sure, this one is Lightning and deals 9000 damage to one of your opponent’s Forwards that cost 3 CP or less.
I’d say the only good thing about this card is that the ability can go off from an EX Burst. And, that’s about it.
Leave this one at home, unless your drafting. Then you might want to use it.
21-099H – Firion
Restrictions, restrictions, restrictions.
What do you expect? If there weren’t restrictions, we’d have so many over powered cards, where the winner would be determined by who goes first.
Or something like that.
I like this card. Should be played in Ice/Lightning. Dull everything in sight, and then you have Firion who can attack twice per turn is your opponent has 4 dull Characters on the field. See it doesn’t even say Forwards. Backups count as well, which more than likely will already be dull do to CP costs and playing cards.
Firion attacks twice, with Brave and +5000 power. making him a Forward with 8000 power. Add in Lulu (1-150R) and Maria (17-128L) and you’re turning Firion into a 11K wrecking machine.
All this for 1CP.
Can’t get more bang, for 1 Crystal Point.
21-100C – Dragoon
I keep telling myself, I should look into these Dragoons. They’re usually the “Cool” Characters. Take Kain, and Fang into consideration. Both great Characters, both are Dragoons. Even though Fang isn’t considered a Dragoon in FFTCG. Not yet any way, but her spear says other wise.
Let’s get back to the card.
Dragoon enters the field and deals either 4000 or 8000 damage to an active Forward. And it all depends on how many Backups you have.
By itself it’s an OK card.
This could have been a real easy article to write. I could have just said let’s throw Zack into your AVALANCHE deck and call it a day. But, where’s the fun in that?
Although there might be a bunch of cards that are the same, we”re going to try and do this a bit different. A lot different that is.
We’re going to go with 2 different Zacks.
Zack (10-007H), just for the ability to ping damage here and there and at least a couple of time per turn. Pair that with a Summon that Breaks all the Forwards that have damage on them and you got yourself a wipe.
Zack (20-009L) Because it is just a great card, if you’re running anything SOLDIER related. And, we’ll be running at least a couple of Soldiers other than Zack.
We’ll start off with Zack’s mentor Angeal (3-0989R), not only is he a 7K body, but he also searches for Zack when he is sent to the Break Zone. That way you can just keep attacking with Zack and Angeal until they break, just so you can replay them once again.
Next we’ll be handing off the Buster Sword to Cloud (1-187S), and you’ll be saying that there are better Clouds than that, and we’ll say you’re right. But, this is Zack’s deck and Cloud is just helping out. Plus the good Cloud’s are Earth, and we don’t really feel like color fixing.
Time to find Zack’s girlfriend, Aerith (11-139S) this way we’ll be able to grab a couple of FFVII Forwards from the Break Zone.
And as I’m looking for Backups, there aren’t really any, that have anything to do with Zack. So, we’re going to change it. It shall be all Forwards. We might change this again later. 
Cue the music.
Bum-Bum Bum-Bum Bum-Bum Bum-Bum
Sephiroth (11-138S), Dulls all the low powered Forwards every time Sephiroth attacks. You have to pay taxes to keep Sephiroth on the field, 3 cards from the Break Zone. You should have these in there, unless you’re opponent finds a way to remove all the cards from your Break Zone.
Roche (14-095H), we’re just grabbing any SOLDIER right now. Roche has always been a great card. You’ll always want to go first with Roche and just play him right away for no CP and swing for a point of damage.
We’re actually going to add a couple of Backups right now.
Class Second Moogle (10-016C) to help us with Ice CP.
Genesis (3-033L), I still love this card, even though I probably haven’t used it in years. Dull and Freeze a Character, and when
Genesis deals damage, your opponent discards a card.
Next we’ll add in our generic SOLDIERs. SOLDIER : 3rd Class (10-009C) and SOLDIER : 3rd Class (20-02C). These 2 will search for each other when one enters the field, and when the other exits the field. SOLDIER : 3rd Class (20-032C) also gains a +1K buff for each SOLDIER : 3rd class that you have in the Break Zone.
We’ll add Johnny (20-096C), another Backup to help us grab a Character from the Break Zone, and we can use his ability to grab a FFVII Character from the Break Zone.
Hedgehog Pie (20-019C), just to get all 3 of the Hedgehog Pies out at the same time. After that they are ticking time bombs, that go off when you decide you want them to go off.
Duke Larg (1-057R), Lebreau (1-030R) and Lulu (1-150R). All three for the 1K buff they give to their respective element’s Forwards.
All we need is to throw in some Summons. Knights of the Round isn’t an option, so we’ll just go with Ramuh (15-101R), Shiva (8-032R), Phoenix (3-020H) and Bahamut (16-016C).
That’s pretty much what we have for Zack. Not the greatest.
Forwards
3x – Roche (14-095H)
3x – Angeal (3-098R)
3x – SOLDIER : 3rd Class (10-009C)
3x – Sephiroth (11-138S)
3x – Genesis (3-033L)
3x – Zack (10-007H)
3x – Aerith (11-139S)
3x – SOLDIER : 3rd Class (20-032C)
3x – Zack (20-009L)
3x – Cloud (1-187S)
Backups
3x – Class Second Moogle (10-016C)
3x – Lebreau (1-030R)
2x – Duke Larg (1-057R)
2x – Lulu (1-150R)
3x – Johnny (20-096C)
Summons
1x – Ramuh (15-101R)
1x – Phoenix (3-020H)
1x – Shiva (8-032R)
1x – Bahamut (16-016C)
Monsters
Reporting for Duty.
We got a troop of Zack’s here. So, let’s just start off right at the beginning.
3CP – Fire
Forward
SOLDIER
Rare
“If you control [Card Name (Aerith)], Zach gains +2000 power.
When Zack enters the field, choose 1 Forward opponent controls. Deal it 2000 damage.”
Not much here. The first Zack might have been good back when Opus I came out, but not anymore.
If Aerith is on the field, Zack will have 8000 Power.
And, when he enters the field you can deal a Forward 2000 damage.
5CP – Fire
Forward
SOLDIER
Legend
“When Zack enters the field, all the Forwards you control gain +2000 power until the end of the turn.
When Zack is put from the field into the Break Zone, you may search for 1 Card Name Cloud of cost 4 or less, and add it to your hand or play it onto the field dull.”
Zack comes in and gives a 2K buff to all of your Forwards.
Sure, Zack costs 5CP, but when he is put into the Break Zone, you can search for Cloud, that costs up to 4CP, and either add it to your hand, or play it onto the field.
Technically, Zack will cost you nothing, because searching for a card to add to your hand is +2CP and playing that Cloud is another +4CP.
3CP – Fire
Backup
SOLDIER
Common
“EX BURST When Zack enters the field, choose 1 Card Name Cloud or Job SOLDIER in your Break Zone. Add it to your hand.”
Just a simple Backup that allows you to grab a card from the Break Zone. Either Cloud, or a SOLDIER.
Not much else to say, but this ability will also activate with an EX Burst.
4CP – Fire
Forward
SOLDIER
Hero
“When Zack or a Fire Forward enters your field, choose 1 Forward opponent controls. Deal it 2000 damage.
When Zack or a Category VII Forward enters your field, choose 1 Forward opponent controls. Deal it 2000 damage.”
Welcome to Ping City.
Zack enters the field, and deals 2000 damage x 2 to one of your opponents Forwards.
Combine that with another 2000 damage every time a Fire Forward enters the field, and anther 2000 every time a FFVII Forward enters the field.
And if that Forward that enters the field is a FFVII Fire Forward it’s another 2000 x 2.
Now I’m wondering why this card never made it. It’s actually a really good card.
But, what do I know?
1CP – Fire
Forward
SOLDIER
Rare
“At the end of each of your turns, choose 1 Forward opponent controls. Discard 1 card from your hand. If you do so, deal it 5000 damage.”
An 8k body for 1CP point? Sign me up.
You can just throw this card into any Fire deck, and you’ll have a great Meat Shield, that won’t break the bank.
And if you have a surplus of cards in your hand, you can just discard one at the end of each of your turns and deal 5000 damage to one of your opponents Forwards.
Yes, Yes!! I’ll take 3.
5CP – Lightning
Forward
SOLDIER
Hero
“If you control a Category VII Character of an Element other than Lightning, the cost required to cast Zack is reduced by 2.
When Zack is put from the field into the Break Zone, you may play 1 Category VII Character from your hand onto the field. If its cost is 5 or more, Zack deals you 1 point of damage.”
Let’s see what we wrote when Emissaries of Light came out.
“Zack looks like he’s ready to save Cloud once again.
He’ll come in take care of all the enemies and when he is ready to be sent to the Break Zone, Cloud will come in and finish the job.
It would have been nice if it was that easy.
But, still a pretty decent card for a FFVII deck.”
Well, maybe.
I mean Zack will most likely cost you 3CP, and with a 9000 body, you should have a great attacker.
Once Zack is broken or sent to the Break Zone, you can play any FFVII Character onto the field, regardless of cost. Although if the cost is over 5CP, Zack will deal you a point of Damage.
5CP – Fire/Lightning
Forward
SOLDIER
Common
“Warp 2 ― (F)(L)
EX BURST When Zack enters the field, choose 1 Forward. Deal it 7000 damage.
When Zack enters the field due to Warp, until the end of the turn, Zack gains Haste, First Strike, and Brave.”
At From Nightmares’s release we wrote,
“You will not play Zack unless you Warp him in.
First of all, it’s a 3CP difference. Paying 5CP to deal 7000 damage to a Forward is too much. You can do more damage with a well placed Summon.
Now, if you do Warp Zack in, he is worth every Crystal Point you pay. All 2 of them.
First off he will deal 7000 damage to a Forward, and when he enters the field, he has Haste, First Strike and Brave.
So, even if he just comes in and attacks. you will most likely deal your opponent 1 point of Damage. After that just keep Blocking until Zack is broken, just so you can Warp him in again.”
For 2CP this is a decent card. And, we’ll stick with what we said.
5CP – Fire
Forward
SOLDIER
Legend
“When Zack attacks, choose 1 Forward opponent controls. Deal it 5000 damage for each Job SOLDIER you control.
When Zack leaves the field, you may search for 1 Category VII Forward of cost 4 or less and play it onto the field.
Meteor Shots (S)(F)(D) : Deal 7000 damage to all the Forwards opponent controls.”
Dawn of Heroes just recently came out, so not much has changed since then, and we’ll just keep what we said.
“I remember reading somewhere. “Finally a Zack that can be played.” Or something along those lines. If you’re reading this and you are the one that said that, please let me know, so, I can add your name to the quote.
This one will fit right at home with AVALANCHE. You play Zack for 5CP, and every time he attacks you can deal a Forward 5K damage for each SOLDIER you control. Zack and Cloud, that’s 10k right there, and I’m sure you’ll be able to find a couple of SOLDIERs laying around somewhere.
When Zack leaves the field you can play a FFVII Forward of 4CP or less onto the field. With about 100 or so FFVII Forwards that cost up to 4CP there are plenty to choose from, Opus XIV Cloud, Tifa and Barret. If you’re still running AVALANCHE that’s an easy way to get them on the field.
And, let’s not forget Meteor Shots, where you can deal 7000 damage to all of your opponents Forwards.
Let’s keep an eye on this one.”
