Tag: viii

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Emissaries of Light – Water Thoughts

Here we go again, after I lost it all when my Computer Froze.

16-106R – Andrea Rhodea

Andrea Rhodea, Perfect for a FFVII deck. And that’s pretty much it. He might be a Dancer, but there doesn’t look like he has any Synergy with other Dancers. Maybe Mayakov, just cause he gives Rhodea Protection, and that you can play him once Mayakov enters the field.

But, FFVII is the way to go. Only question is which Cloud do we choose?

 

 

16-107R – Ezel

More like a Mathematician.

Ezel allows you to search for a Forward, as long as you can do some simple math.

Add up the CP of the cards you discard to find a Forward with the Same cost.

There should be an easier way to search for certain Forwards.

 

16-108C – Kimahri

Kimahri only job is to place a Ronso Counter on a Forward, and give that Forward some Protection against damage dealt by your opponents Summons or abilities.

Kimahri will come in and give a Forward a Ronso Counter. All you need to do is figure out a way to keep bouncing Kimahri.

 

 

16-109C – Kyrie EX

I always liked the cards that allow you to look at your opponents hand.

They won’t be discarding anything, but you’ll be able to look at the top 2 cards of your deck and see if you like what you’ll get.

If you don’t just send them to the bottom of your deck, and hope for something better.

 

16-110C – Clavat

Another backup Backup.

Clavat here lets you draw a couple of cards when he enters the field and gets sent to the Break Zone. And with you being able to play 3 Clavats you might be able to Draw 6 cards.

Imagine what kind of Damage you can do with up to 11 cards in your hand.

 

 

16-111R – Genbu EX

Along with the same abilities the other Shijin have. Genbu comes in with “Protect”

The damage dealt to Genbu is reduced by 3000. And it is a constant reduction.

 

 

 

16-112C – Corsair

Don’t like your cards, play Corsair.

You’ll draw 2 cards and discard 1 card from your hand.

After that you can always use his ability and draw 1 more card.

 

 

16-113C – Sahagin

Sahagin will come in use water gun on your opponent. Blinding one Forward you choose, just enough to send him back to your opponents hand.

After that it’s a Switcheroo as you grab a card and discard a card. All this for 3CP.

After that, need to look at the top cards of your deck?

Sahagin will jump into the Break Zone to allow you to do just that.

16-114C – White Mage

White Mage is here to have some fun with Sahagin.

Whenever you discard a card from his on-entry ability, you’ll draw 1 card.

And it doesn’t stop there. This can happen anytime you discard a card, but only once per turn.

 

 

16-115H – Sarah (MOBIUS)

Sarah is hungry for Crystals. And every time you find one, she just might be able to get you a Backup to add to your hand.

Now, you do gain a Crystal when she comes in, but it’s not just that Crystal, it’s any Crystal you can get.

And then just keep feeding her 1 Crystal per turn, and she’ll gain +1000 power and Protection from damage that is less than her power.

16-116L – Tidus

Tidus is the gift that keeps on giving.

As long as you play it safe, Tidus will always be around, and it will seem like there is no way around him. Only a slight reprieve when your opponent manages to get him off the field for a second.

Tidus cannot be blocked, so you know that you won’t be blocking with Tidus because you will be constantly attacking, chipping away at your opponent.

Oh, and every time you send Tidus to the bottom of your deck, you draw 3 cards.

Now it doesn’t specifically say only this Tidus. If your opponent has a Tidus and you send it to the bottom of their deck, do you also draw 3 cards?

16-117H – Tros

Do I see an Octopus deck coming into play?

Tros will easily let you draw cards when Ultros sends himself back to your hand.

Octopi/Tidus or Octopidust, yes that is what I shall call it. When I finally get around to making it that is.

You know it’s going to work.

16-118C – Fiona EX

For some reason I thought this was a Backup.

So, you’ll be basically paying 2CP for Fiona and you got an 8K body.

You can also draw a card off of an EX Burst.

 

 

16-119H – Fusoya

A Five color deck?

It can work. You already have Soiree going all out this set.

Just add Fusoya to the mix, and you’ll probably choose up to 4 abilities to cast.

 

 

16-120C – Firion

There are a lot of cards that help you draw cards. Water is Turbo Draw.

Just don’t mill yourself out.

 

 

 

16-121R – Vesvia EX

It seems like there’s a certain way to play Soiree.

Well you can play any way you’d like, but depending on how many Soiree Members are on the field, you can draw up to 2 cards. Thus, making Vesvia a free card.

 

 

 

16-122R – Marche

I’m on the fence about this Marche. Due to the cost, and if the Opus XI Marche is better.

But, you’ll probably be playing a different strategy if you play this one.

You’ll grab a 2 cost Character right off the bat, and after that every time Marche attacks, you draw 1 or 2 cards.

 

 

16-123L – Meia

Here is your discount card.

Meia comes in with Haste, and even though she cannot attack or block, she lets you cast a Summon from your hand for up to 3CP less. You’ll be playing 1CP for 4 cost Summons.

Who else can we pair Meia with?

 

16-124H – Lightning

Lightning comes in when you’re at a slight disadvantage. Depending on how many Forwards you and your opponent have, you’ll be able to remove one of their Forwards from the game.

With Switch Schemata, you’ll be able to save Lightning from being sent to the Break Zone, and have her just come back in at the end of the turn and Remove another one of your opponents Forwards from the game.

 

16-125C – Leviathan

It’s like your going fishing, and throwing the fish back into the sea.

Either that, or another fish you already caught.

Choose a 5 cost or less Forward and place it at the top or bottom of it’s owner’s deck. And maybe draw a card. But, you’ll be losing 2 cards.

Meh, I probably don’t see it.

16-126R – Leo

A what now?

More Math? Not exactly, but you’ll have to have Characters of cost 1-6 already on the field to play this 1CP/7K Forward.

And when Leo enters the field you can play a card from the top 5 cards of your deck. So, you’ll basically be coming up positive in the CP count with Leo.

After that return Leo to your hand, there are plenty of cards that will allow you to do that. Then rinse and repeat.

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Emissaries of Light – Thoughts on Fire

16-001R – Vaan

I have been seeing a lot of cards recently that say “if you have cast 3 or more cards this turn”, Which is something that is very possible given the low cost Forwards and Backups that we already have for Sky Pirates.

I just realized that Vaan is a Backup as well, I’ve been looking for how much Power he had and was wondering why it was missing from the card.

Vaan is the Backup that will keep on giving. He comes in and deals Damage to one of your opponents Forwards. 3K or 8K depending on the cards you’ve cast. And after that, he’ll either give you a Crystal Point each turn, cause that’s what Backups do, or he’ll deal 7K Damage to 1 Forward.

16-002H – Ace EX

Another Ace up our sleeve?

Ace here can work good in an Fire/Wind/Lightning Cadet deck. Like the one I’ve been trying to build since Opus XIII.

Deal Damage to a Forward, at least 3K if you have one Element and up to 9000 if you’re playing the aforementioned deck.
And his Power can get up to 10K in the same deck.

Doesn’t mean that you should play the deck that I’m mentioning, simply because it doesn’t exist yet.

16-003C – Elbis EX

Elbis is useless unless you have Morze’s Soiree Member on the field.

Speaking of which, I’ll need to see these other cards before I comment further.

But, I only write down my first impressions of each card, as I read them for the first time.

 

 

16-004C – Onion Knight

Switch out a couple of cards for 2 new ones.

Onion Knight also becomes an attacker because he is a Forward. A 4CP/8K Forward with a pretty decent ability. And, it’s only a Common.

I’m sure we’ll see a couple of Onion Knights in a couple of Decks.

 

 

16-005C – Cloud

Another Backup Cloud.

I mean what’s the point? No one, in their right mind will play a backup Cloud. Even if that reason is that you don’t think Cloud should be a Backup. He’s a Forward, and so, I’ll only play Cloud as a Forward. Then I can use Omni-Slash and defeat Sephiro …

Sorry, got carried away.

For a Common, it’s a decent card. It’s only drawback is that this card is named Cloud.

16-006C – Crimson Hound

3CP to deal 8000 Damage.

After that just chuck Crimson Hound into the Break Zone and look at the top 2 cards of your deck. Then you can play Onion Knight and grab those cards if you’d like.

 

 

 

16-007R – Black Waltz 2

There’s more to this card than just the Beautiful (yes, a capitol B) artwork.

Black Waltz 2 can work wonders all by himself.

Black Waltz 2 discards Black Waltz 2 from your hand. And you deal 4000 Damage for discarding Black Waltz 2 from your hand, and 5000 Damage when you discard a Job Black Mage from your hand.

You’re either Breaking 1 or 2 Forwards with this ability.

16-008C – Black Mage

Black Mage here is pretending to be a Summon. For 3CP you can deal up to 5000 Damage to 1 Forward.

After that Black Mage sticks around to block, or even attack.. The choice is yours.

 

 

 

16-009C – Samurai

Easy way to get back that one Samurai Forward that you just lost.

Especially if that 1 Forward was Cyan (11-003R). Play him onto the field, deal 2000 Damage to all Forwards. Search for another Samurai to add to your hand, and when a couple more Samurais attack, deal 1000 Damage to all the Forwards opponent controls for each Samurai that attacks.

 

 

16-010H – Djinn

How would you make Djinn a Monster?

I guess it’s ok since you can turn him into a Forward when you receive 3 points of Damage. Maybe it’s one of your 3 wishes.
Djinn here will also gives your Fire Forwards +1000 Damage done to the Forwards they attack. Djinn, Warrior (5-014C), Lebreau (1-030R) and Lava Spider (8-022R) will all work together very well.

 

16-011L – Squall

The one card that deserves the Full Art Treatment did not get one.

Anyways, this card is a beast onto itself.

Once Squall attacks he deals 4000 Damage to all of your opponents Forwards, and if that’s not enough, if your opponent chooses to block, Squall will deal an additional 4000 damage to all of your opponents Forwards.

Should I block or take the Damage?

16-012R – Suzaku EX

Part of the Shijin 4.

Every time Suzaku attacks deal 5000 damage to one Forward.

Cost can be paid by and Element if there is a Shijin in the Break Zone.

 

 

16-013H – Sol

Crystals are back once again. And this one is a good one. Play Sol and and pay a Crystal, and you can play a 4CP Forward or less from your hand onto the field.

Sol also gives you a way to gain Crystals every time a party attacks.

And you can use that Crystal you just gained to pay for Sol’s abiity to give 2000 Power to all the Forwards you control.

I’d like to see what kind of Decks people will come up with that will utilize this card.

16-014R – Delita

At 5CP/9K Delita is finally Fire(d) up, after being Earth for so long.

Delita comes in and deals 4000 damage to all the Forwards, even your own. And if any of those Characters gets sent to the Break Zone, you’ll gain a Crystal for each Character.

You can also raise his Power by 2000 if you remove a Forward from the game. A little saving grace, just in case you need it.

 

 

16-015H – Morrow

I had to stop for a second and just look at the art.

Morrow comes in with Haste forms a party and attacks. You discard a card from your hand and you draw 2 Cards. And if it’s late in the game your opponents receives 1 point of Damage as well.

I like this card, and not just for the artwork either. I’ll add it to the AVALANCHE deck from Crystal Dominion and call it a day.

 

16-016C – Bahamut

For a Common, this card is not bad at all.

Deal a Forward up to 12000 Damage. Other than that not much to write about.

 

 

 

16-017R – Ramza

Sol and Delita will bring Ramza in and get him Fired up as well.

And, for the cost of 2 Crystals Ramza becomes “T.G. Cid” 9000 Power with Haste, First Strike and Brave, and he can attack twice in the same turn!

Looks like a Legend to me.

 

 

16-018C – Lilty

Keep Lilty on call, on the field producing CP until you’re ready to use Lilty’s ability.

Once you reach 5 points of Damage, return Lilty to your hand, play Lilty on to the field and put him in the Break Zone to deal 10K Damage to one Forward.

 

 

 

16-019R – Luneth

Not a bad card at all, but how many Warrior of Light decks are actually played?

But, Luneth here will compliment any Warrior of Light card. At the beginning of each Attack Phase, you can either choose a Warrior of Light and boost it with Haste, First Strike and +1K. Or you can strike down one of your opponents Forwards by dealing it 1000 Damage for each Warrior of Light card you control.

 

 

16-020L – Luso

A card to play, when you’re playing with your back against the wall. Luso is not a great card to play during the beginning of your match, Unless you plan on taking Damage left and right just to receive those 6 points of Damage.

Because at 6 points of Damage, in a Mono-Fire Deck, you’ll probably be playing 2 cards onto the field at the beginning of each of your Attack Phases.

 

 

16-021C – Rain

This is not one of the better Rain cards.

Costs too much, for the ability that you are getting.

Probably why this is only a Common as well.

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Opus XIV – Water Review

14-096C – Blue Mage

Would have been better if it read, “For each Monster you control … ” But, then it wouldn’t have been a common card.
And if there are no Monsters on the field you can always look for one in your Break Zone when you play this card.

 

 

 

14-097C – Ananta

Don’t like the cards you just drew? Just play Ananta with those 2 cards and hopefully get something better. And if that doesn’t work, Dull and Break and hopefully you’ll get something better once again.

 

 

 

14-098R – Ultimecia

Put a Forward into the Break Zone to grab one of your opponents Forwards of the same cost.

“Hey there, Cloud you look pretty glum over there. Why don’t you just come over here and sit down next to Ultimecia. She needs a Guardian. The other guy didn’t cut it.”

 

 

14-099C – Eiko

Technically, you’re just paying 5CP to search for a Summon.

 

 

 

 

14-100H – Octomammoth

The Monsters are becoming stronger. Why else would this Octomammoth have 8 arms? Well, it has 8 arms to grab to of your opponents Forwards and throw them back at him.

Plus, turning into a Forward isn’t bad either.

 

 

 

14-101R – Ultros

Ultros just won’t go away.

Actually, he does run away, and then comes back stronger. But, are 5 cards worth grabbing Ultros back from the Break Zone. I guess we’ll find out in Opus XV … I mean Crystal Dominion.

 

 

14-102L – Leviathan, Lord of the Whorl

These Primals are Crazy! Yes, with a capitol C.

For 9 CP you can return a Forward, a Backup and a Monster to your opponents hand. And when a Character is returnd to it’s owner’s hand you can choose 1 Forward and it loses 9000 Power.

That’s 3 Forwards if you return all 3.

And, a 9K body. I can’t wait to try these Primals out.

14-103R – Quina

Is it just me, or is this the first card where the head blocks out the line where the name is?

I like how they’re playing into the characters’ themes. Discard a Monster card. Pretty much Quina eats the Monster and gains abilities. Might not be a powerful card, but can draw cards and remove cards for you.

 

 

14-104C – Kraken (IX)

Kraken plays well into Water.

Draw 2 cards if you’ve got another Job Chaos to discard.

 

 

 

14-105C – Corsair

“Do you feel lucky, Punk?

Well. Do you?”

If you do, try your luck here and get a better card than the one that you started off with.

Is it just me, or can you see Clint Eastwood posing for this card?

 

14-106H – Golbez

They’re starting to pump out Golbez cards. But, it’ll never surpass the amount of Cloud or Lightning cards there are.
This card might eventually pay for itself. The longer this card stays on the field the more chances you have of being able to play a Forward on to the field for free.

And Kain, will be having nightmares with Golbez’s ability.

 

 

14-107C – Sahagin (XIV)

Simple Backup, that let’s you see what cards are coming up. That way you can either set up your opponent for an EX Burst, or play the cards you need.

 

 

 

 

14-108H – Jecht

Pair Jecht with Minwu.

Jecht Block will stop your opponent in their tracks.

And when he enters the field during your Main Phase 2, depending on how many Forwards were attacking you can either Break or return a Forward.

 

 

14-109C – Steiner

I don’t see anyone playing this card. Not when all the other Steiner’s are better plays at any given moment.

 

 

 

 

14-110C – Tonberry

Hmm, this one should have been like Mom-Bomb if you ask me. But, instead Tonberry acts like a searcher, where each Monster Counter is counted as 1 card that you can look at.

Because why would Tonberry have anything to do with dealing massive damage? /Sarcasm

 

 

14-111R – Lakshmi, Lady of Bliss

Draw a card at the end of each of your turns. Period

That and if you have 5 or more cards in your hand damage dealt to Lakshmi is reduced by 2K.

Your strategy, if you choose to accept it, is to play your cards down after your attack phase.

 

14-112L – Larsa EX

This is interesting. You can actually grab a card from the Damage Zone and trade it with a card from your hand.
There are now ways to grab any card, from anywhere.

No, need to make sure that the card you’ll need later on is safe.

Larsa’s second ability is like icing on the cake, you should be able to get 3 EX Bursts into your Damage Zone, easily.

 

14-113R – Leviathan EX

Get rid of 2 cards, or get rid of 1 and grab 1 from your Break Zone.

Simple. It’ll be great if Leviathan comes off an EX Burst.

6CP isn’t that high of a cost to remove 2 Forwards from the field, might see limited play if you ask me.

 

 

14-114 – Luzaf

Easy way to get out of a sticky situation. Is one of your Forwards being Targeted by a Summon, or ability? Just have Luzaf enter with his Back Attack and return that Forward to your hand. Your opponent also Breaks one of their Forwards.
I like it.

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Opus XIII – Water Review

13-086R – Agrias EX

This card was made to be played with Ovelia (13-090L). Of course, you can play any other Princess for the EX Burst, but Ovelia is the one that you’ll be able to keep bringing Agrias back from the Break Zone

 

 

 

 

13-087C – Delusory Knight

Just your regular 4CP/8K that also searches for a Manikin of a different element.

 

 

 

 

 

13-088H – Elle

Discard 2 cards when you attack to get a free shot? We like Cheap … I mean free shots at Damage. Unless your opponent can find a way to get rid of Elle, you’ll have the match in 7 turns or less.

Considering you have enough cards not to run out.

 

 

 

13-089C – Oilboyle

Draw 1/Discard 1 all for 1CP. Becomes a Forward like the other Monsters from the other elements.

 

 

 

 

13-090L – Ovelia

How many Tactics forwards are there that are good? Agrias (13-086R), which will let you draw a card everytime she comes in? Marach (13-080C), to Ping 4K damage when he comes back in? Ramza (13-121R) to break 2 forwards your opponent controls and 2 more to their hand? Orlandeau (4-101H) to break a Damaged Forward? Delita (13-111C), to Break Marach and have him come back in for another 4K?

Wait a second. You can Play Marach, Ping for 4K. Use Aegis on Marach. Have him attack, hopefully he gets blocked and Breaks. And then he comes back to the field, dull and deals another 4K to your opponent. It might just work. If it doesn’t play Delita and break Marach.

13-091H – Cagnazzo

It should be pretty easy to get 3 Water Counters on Cagnazzo. 7 might be a little difficult, considering the 4K body. But, if he can stick around long enough, you’ll be able to get a board wipe.

 

 

 

 

13-092C – Sage

Flip cards until either an Earth or a Lightning card pops up. End of story.

 

 

 

 

 

13-093H – Sara

Searching for Royalty. Check

Searching for Ovelia. Check

Add to hand. Check

Hopefully you’re playing a Tactics Deck. No? Not to worry there’s plenty of cards Sara can search for.

 

13-094C – Simon

Here’s another card you’ll like to have on hand. Can bring back any Tactics character back from the Break Zone.

 

 

 

 

13-095C – Tonogiri

Doesn’t have to be your opponents Forward. You can return one of your own cards to replay it for it’s on entry ability.

 

 

 

 

13-096R – Nichol

+1K to all Multi-Element Forwards, plus you get to draw a card when one enters. Sign me up.

 

 

 

 

13-097C – Viking

Why would it say of cost 3 or less, if the most expensive card is 3CP. Must mean that there will be more Viking support coming. We shall finally build a deck to rival Chocobos.

But enough of that. If you’re playing all 4 Vikings 3 copies of each. That’s 12 cards. 12 divided by 50 means that you have a 25% chance for any of those cards to be a Viking, that you’ll play on the field.

 

 

13-098R – Fina

Easy way to return a pesky Forward to your opponents hand.

 

 

 

 

 

13-099C – Yuke

Always a good idea to be able to grab a Character from your Break Zone. Wether you’re only playing one copy of a certain card. Or you ran out of cards to cast that Special ability.

This one will see some play. If I find a deck to put it in.

 

 

 

13-100R – Leviathan EX

Save a Forward with this Summon. Reduce Damage by 5000. And If you’re at 5 Damage you can Protect all your Forwards from Summons and Abilities. This one will save you at least a couple of times. Especially if you’re playing against Dadaluma and Cactuars. Oh, wait Dadaluma is banned.

 

 

 

13-101R – Luka

+1K to all Brave Exvius Forwards. These are cards that I always like to play, give your Forwards a little boost.

 

 

 

 

13-102C – Refia

Need to Activate a Forward? Just use this ability. Only costs 1CP and Dull this Backup. Would have been better if it was any Forward, but this will work.

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Opus XIII – Lightning Review

13-069C – Red Mage

Maybe I’m wrong about these cards. Might just be a good way to draw a card.

 

 

 

 

 

13-070C – Delusory Warlock

Here’s another card that will drop Lightning Exdeath’s CP by 1. And you also get to search for a Manikin. Double win.

 

 

 

 

13-071R/2-101H – Exdeath

And this whole time I thought this was a new card. I just realized it’s a reprint. No wonder it’s only a rare. They gave this card the treatment Chaos, Walker of the Wheel (3-071H) got. It’s still a good card, and now everyone has a better chance of grabbing this card in a pack to play Manikins.

Exdeath gives all Manikins +1K, and every Manikin gives ExDeath +1K. So, the more Manikins you have, the stronger ExDeath becomes.

The Main Attraction of your Manikin Deck.

 

13-072R – Odin EX

Coming off of an EX Burst this card is great, and even better after you’ve taken 5 points of Damage as the cost is only 2CP.

I think the 7CP Odin is slight better as you can Break any Forward. Even if the cost is a little higher. Or, you can just play both.

 

 

 

13-073H – Kain

Kain is a great card if you can play him straight from the Break Zone. Cause once he gets broken, he’ll be under your opponents control.

Thancred (12-124L) and Y’shtola (13-134S) can play him straight out of the Break Zone.

 

 

 

13-074C – Clavat

Not bad, breaking a Monster that is also a forward, or returning it to it’s owner’s hand. You can even use it on yourself

Want to return that Chocobo (6-050C) to your hand, to play it and play another Chocobo onto the field? Well, you can.

 

 

 

13-075R – Sakura

4CP to Break a 4CP Forward. Sounds like an even trade.

 

 

 

 

 

13-076R – Jake

Don’t see this one getting play when you can play Jake (8-097H).

 

 

 

 

 

13-077C – Zemus

At 3 points of Damage this card pays for itself. As you get to grab a Forward and a Backup. Might see some play late game, if you need to grab a couple of cards back.

 

 

 

 

13-078C – Propagator

Cheap Monster that might break a Forward, but that is highly unlikely. Becomes a Forward with 7k at Damage 3, which might be a reason to play.

 

 

 

 

13-079L – Behemoth K

Now this Behemoth is a Beast with a capitol B. Attack, Deals Damage, Gains 3K. Only way to get rid of him is with a Summon. Or Shantotto (1-107L). But, you can always just play him again.

Scary Good. I’ll take 3 please.

 

 

 

13-080C – Marach

Just entering the field and Pinging all your opponents Forwards except one that they choose for 4000 Damage is a good reason to play this card. Add in Rapha (13-082C) for an extra 1K every time Marach deals Damage.

 

 

 

 

13-081H – Lightning

Beautiful artwork. If nothing else that by itself is a reason to play this card. That and the fact that you can either remove a couple of Forwards your opponent controls, or a couple from your Break Zone, until Lightning leaves the field.

Either way you’ll benefit as your opponent won’t be able to play their cards, and you’ll have a couple of extra Forwards in your hand when Lightning leaves the field.

 

 

13-082C – Rapha

Combined with Marach (13-080C), these two will make a killer combo. Enter Marach, Deal 5000 Damage to all Forwards except 1. And then Dull Rapha and deal 4000 Damage for a total of 9000 Damage.

Most of the time your opponent will only have one Forward left on the field.

 

 

 

13-083H – Lid

Lid is a mix between Viking (4-133C) and Fat Chocobo (9-051R) in that she can add a Multi-Element card on entry when she leaves the field. Now, it won’t always work as you can only choose the top four cards of your deck.

Other than that she’s a 7K forward.

 

 

 

13-084C – Dragoon

If you’re playing Dragoons, this is a 2CP/8K Forward with Haste. If not, don’t bother.

 

 

 

 

 

13-085R – Lumina

3CP to search for a XIII forward. Nothing exciting, but you would think that they would have done something better for Lumina.