Tag: xv

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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.

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Resurgence of Power : Break Like the Wind

18-035R – Arc EX

Play Arc, hopefully grab a card from the top 5 cards of your deck.

One thing is for certain though. Arc needs at least 4 different elements on the field to become useful. But, he should play well into a Warrior of Light deck. Faris will be a great addition to it as well.

When you finally have 4 Forwards with different elements on the field, all of your Forwards will gain 2000 power.

 

13-036R – Iris

Fits great into the Noctis deck that recently came out.

For 2CP Iris just keeps on giving, as every time a XV Forward enters the field, Iris will activate, allowing you to use her again for a Crystal Point.

Not only that, but you can use her ability to protect a Forward from one of your opponents abilities.

She will pay for herself after a couple of turns. Think of it as getting interest on the CP you paid to cast her.

18-037C – Delusory Dragoon

Comes in with Haste, and when he comes in he grants another Manikin Haste.

Straight to the point, and that’s about it for this Manikin.

3CP for this card isn’t all that bad either.

 

 

13-038C – Kytes

Sky Pirates making a comeback? Maybe, if Kytes has anything to say about it.

Simply Speaking, Kytes can go from 4CP to technically being cast for 1CP. As if you find a XII Character from the top 3 cards of your deck, Kytes will activate, allowing you to use him for a Crystal Point.

Now, if you decide to use his ability, right after he has been activated, you can Activate 2 of your Characters.

I can see Kytes being played and right away using his ability to activate 2 Characters. It can happen easily.

13-039C – Ranger

Not many Forwards or Monsters that cost 1CP, but those Monsters and Forwards that cost 1CP will be easy to Break with this Ranger in your hand.

 

 

 

 

18-040H – Cerberus

Cerberus has 3 on entry abilities to choose from, and depending on your situation, there will always be a good reason to play him.

1) Get rid of that pesky High Cost Forward that seems to be foiling your plans.
2)Activate all your Backups.
Or
3)Draw a card.

After that you are more than welcome to turn him into a Forward with a 9K body. Just as long as you already cast at least 2 cards this turn.

18-041C – Colkhab

Colkhab does have an interesting ability, but I’m thinking why would any one choose Colkhab as the target of a Summon or ability?

Sure, he is more of a meat shield as his 9K body will show you, but other than that there isn’t really a threat that he poses. Maybe once your at 3 points of Damage and his power becomes 10K, but even then.

There are far more important Forwards that should be dealt with before Colkhab.

But, if you’re able to save a Forward from Extinction might as well.

18-042C – Zhijie

I’m thinking they made this card to make the Opus VIII Final Fantasy VII Starter Set more viable. Especially with the new Yuffie.

Zhijie allows you to search for FFVII Forward, and that is about all he does.

Only problem is that you can only use his ability after he has activated. This would have been a better card if it was an upon entry ability.

 

18-043C – Thief

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

Cheap Backup to play.

 

 

 

18-044R – Sherlotta

5CP to search for a card. I personally think the cost is too high, but you can search for any card. No restrictions here. I do like that you can use Warp to have her come in for only 2CP. but you’ll have to wait 2 turns for that.

I do like the art though.

 

 

18-045C – Dryad

For 2CP you can easily Break a Forward, depending on how many Wind Characters you control.

But, do you want to pay the extra cost to draw a card? Doesn’t seem like a bad deal to me. Especially if they’re cards you have no use for.

 

 

18-046R – Gnash

“Kevin” Gnash comes in and delivers a Jackknife Powerbomb to an unsuspecting Forward or monster of cost 4 or more. That is if you decide to pay the extra cost, but then again why wouldn’t you.

That alone is worth playing this card.

But that’s not all, on your next turn you can use his ability to deal a Big Boot to a 2 cost or less Forward and break them as well.

18-047H – Bartz

Oh, man!

Just look at that. Bartz is as always a Freelancer first. Thus allowing him to be any Job any time he enters the field. Imagine playing let’s say Cadets. You throw Bartz into the field and say his 3rd Job is Class Zero Cadet. Of course you’ll be playing with a full board of Cadets.

Bartz will gain +2000 power for each Cadet Forward that is on the field, thus making him very hard to beat.

Also, when you choose his 2nd Element, Bartz receives protection, in that he cannot be chosen by Summons and abilities coming from a Character or Summon that has the same element as Bartz.

This is a very interesting card.

18-048R – Poppy

Perfect for Wind/Ice or Wind/Earth. If you don’t believe me just read the card.

Wind Forwards will be getting free strikes, since they cannot be blocked by a Forward of cost 3 or more.

Ice Forwards will gain +1K power and First Strike

Earth Forwards will gain +1K power and Brave.

And Multi-Element Forwards will gain 2 of these 3.

Just throw her in the Noctis Starter Set and you should be good.

18-049R – Yuri

You better have a bunch of Crystal Chronicles Characters if you plan on using Yuri. Well at least another 2.

Yuri cannot be chosen by Summons or abilities. Because he has Self-Protection. But only when his Crystal Chronicles friends are around. If not then he’s just a regular Joe.

But, whenever he attacks, or enters the field, he can activate 2 Crystal Chronicles Characters.

A friend indeed.

18-050L – Yuffie

I really like this card. Had a chance to play with it during the Midnight Pre-Release.

For 5CP Yuffie comes in. She already has Haste so she can attack right away. But, I would let her sit back and attack after all the other Forwards attacked.

Once she attacks, she gains +1000 power, and cannot be chosen by Summons or abilities. Not only that, but she also activates all your Forwards. No more worrying about who is going to block, when they all can.

And Doom of the Living, her special ability is a damage dealer. Dealing 24000 damage to your opponents Forwards. Of course you’d have to choose the Forwards and then divide the 24000 among them.

I’ll take 3 and Zhijie to look for her.

Also a gold stamped auto wouldn’t hurt either.

18-051C – Leafkin

How is this a Common?

It allows you to play a 5 or 6 cost Forward straight from your deck, without paying the cost. Sure, you’ll need to have 3 points of damage to do so, but still.

People would still be playing this card even if that Forward was just added to your hand. Not many cards will allow you to go and search for any Forward you like.

You can splash a card like Behemoth K in a Mono-Wind deck, and that’s only the first card that popped into my head.

I’m sure this card will see plenty of play. I’ll take it and search for Yuffie while I’m at it.

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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.

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Emissaries of Light – Opinion on Lightning

16-085C – Assassin

2 cost Backup that serves as a backup plan and a Backup.

Deals Damage to a Forward that entered this turn.

8K should be enough to break most Forwards coming in.

 

 

16-086C – Ixion

This is a pretty decent Summon. 4CP to have a Forward lose 8000 Power. And, if you’re playing a tri-color deck, it’ll also cause all of your opponents Forwards to lose 2ooo power. Including the first Forward you chose, so that will make it 10K.

 

 

 

16-087C – Puppetmaster

Puppetmaster enters the field, you discard a card and grab a better one from the Break Zone.

I like this card, and it doesn’t cost much.

Grab that Forward from the Break Zone that just got broken, and use it again as your opponent just watches as he just used all of his resources to get rid of it.

Or, something like that.

16-088L – Black Waltz 3

Black Waltz is coming out in full force. (Yes, I know that everyone already knows that, but these are what I see when I first look at the card. I’ve been very behind this Opus,)

All the Black Waltzes are helping each other come back from the dead. And, this time there is no timers on them.

It would be interesting if there was. Roll of the dice or flip a coin, and they just Stop.

Time to head to Black Mage Village.

16-089H – Zack

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.

 

16-090R – Seymour

Summon heavy?

Seymour, (I always end up typing Seymore) is a card you’ll play later on in the game, as with depending on how many you have in your Break Zone, Seymour will Break a Forward when he enters, and after that, he simply deals your opponents a point of Damage for removing 6 Summons from the Break Zone.

Sounds good to me.

 

16-091C – Chadley

Now, this is a decent Backup.

Lightning is getting some cards that will help you retrieve cards from the Break Zone.

For 4CP, Chadley can grab you 2 Forwards from the Break Zone. And, you don’t need to use his ability right away.

You can use it as soon as a Forward you need is sent to the Break Zone.

16-092C – Noel EX

For an expensive Common, this is a decent card.

Noel comes in and Dulls 2 Forwards. This also works off of an EX Burst as well.

Other than that, you can dull and sacrifice Noel, and Dull all of your opponents Forwards.

What did they call him in Lightning Returns? The Shadow Hunter?

 

16-093R – Noctis

You are playing a FFXV deck for certain. Kingsglaive or Noctis and Friends, or a mix of both.

Noctis here will shine in either deck.

You’ll be dulling Forwards left and right, and with the new Noctis/Ardyn deck coming out later this year, I’m sure there will be plenty of use for this one.

Noctis can watch it all happen while he sips his coffee.

16-094C – Palmer

The way Palmer is sitting there, about to sip his tea, you know that he’s got something up his sleeve. You think you have him backed into the corner, but nope.

Palmer gives you a way to grab two cards when you run out of cards.

For 2CP, I think this is a good play. He’ll grant you a CP every turn until you decide to use his ability.

 

 

16-095R – Vivi EX

Are we getting the pieces to make a Black Mage deck possible?

Grab a Black Mage from the Break Zone, when Vivi enters the field.

And deal Damage to a Forward, which increases with each Black Mage that you have on the field.
Is this the first Lightning Vivi?

 

16-096R – Byakko

Another Shijin for Kirin.

We already know, Byakko comes in and you can search for a Shijin other than Byakko.

After that, every time Byakko attacks, you can choose 1 Forward and Dull it.

 

 

16-097H – Hyoh

You can play Hyoh for 1CP, but he’s not that great. Not yet.

Hyoh becomes more valuable, the more you put into him.

You’ll want to spend another 4CP on Hyoh to make him a devastating threat.

1CP to give Hyoh Haste and up his power to 7K. After that another 3CP to up his Power to 10k and when he deals damage to your opponent you will deal 2 points instead of 1.

Just watch out for a possible Double EX Burst that might come your way.

16-098H – Spectral Keeper

Spectral Keeper is a Keeper.
Yeah, that was lame.

But, this Monster is a Monster.
OK, I’ll stop there.

But, dulling a Forward at the beginning of each Attack Phase is more than enough to place him in your deck.

And, at 3 points of Damage, Spectral Keeper becomes a Forward and every time it attacks,you will dull a Forward as well.

16-099C – Merald

Soiree Members coming out in full force.

Let’s give this Common some great enhancements, depending on how many Soiree Members are being played.

2 for Haste.
4 to Break.

I’ll need to check out some of these Soiree decks.

16-100L – Y’shtola

Every time I see a new Y’shtola card, I think to myself, I should start playing FFXIV again.

Can Scions make it once again in the Meta? I don’t really follow it, but I haven’t really heard about Scions recently. First it was Marche/Ritz, then it was Samurais, Sky Pirates, Kingsglaive and and now Soiree and The Black Waltz.

But, I believe Y’shtola can give Scions a new Pulse.

 

16-101C – Yuke

Another backup Backup.

Keep Yuke on the field until you need to use him.

After that dull, return to hand, play and Break a Forward.

 

 

16-102R – Lann

For the cost of a Monster, Lann becomes a decent card.

If you decide to remove a Monster from the Break Zone after you play Lann, he’ll gain 2K power, and you’ll dull a Forward during each of your Attack Phases.

You can also use that same Monster to pay for the cost to play Lann, thus killing 2 birds with one stone.

 

16-103C – Larva

Like this Monster.

Larva has some use, but he’ll be perfect for Lann.

Or, just play Larva to Break a Forward, and then put him in the Break Zone to see what your next draw will be.

 

16-104R – Reeve

This Reeve is more like Reeve from the game. Think about it.

Reeve comes in and you play a Forward from the Break Zone onto the field. That Forward could very well be Cait Sith.
Reeve cannot activate during the Active Phase simply because he will be controlling Cait Sith, and will be too busy to be doing anything else.

Which makes me think if we’ll be getting a decent Cait Sith in the near future.

Resurgence of Power, I’m looking at you.

16-105R – Reynn

Just like Lann, Reynn has pretty much the same abilities as her brother.

Only difference is that she gives another Forward Haste.

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Crystal Dominion – Thoughts on Light/Dark

15-127H – Ace

You can cast Forwards from your Break Zone. But, only 2 per turn.

That is interesting. I’d like to see this in action.

If you already got your 5 Backups on the field, I can see Ace being played late in the game. Try and get back your heavy hitters for one last dance.

 

 

15-128L – Noctis

Just in time for the holidays. Noctis is the gift that keeps on giving. But only if you join the party. As long as you keep the party going, you’ll be able to choose up to 2 of Noctis’ actions.

Break a Monster. Dull and Freeze. Deal Damage. Draw a card. Gain Haste.

Rinse and Repeat.

And with Lunafreya, Noctis will have added protection.

15-129L – Ardyn

At 5CP Ardyn is sure to put your opponent on Ice.

Depending on how many cards you discard from your hand, your opponent will need to choose your discarded card plus 1, of Ardyns action abilities.

Break Characters, Remove cards from their deck, Deal Damage. You name it Ardyn’s got it.

You can tell by the smug look on his face that he means business.

15-130H – Nox Suzaku

Once Nox Suzaku comes on to the field, you probably will be playing a Forward at the end of each of your turns. Sure it might sound like you’re playing a card for free, but in reality you are paying for it with the 2 cards that end up in your Break Zone.
It’ll be a race to the finish, as you’ll be bleeding cards every turn, but you’ll also have plenty of Forwards coming on to the field at every turn.

An all Forwards deck might be the perfect spot for Nox Suzaku.