Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 9/13/18

let's talk fftcg!

Every week, there is something new to discuss and analyze in this game. In this feature, we answer your questions and respond to recent developments, new meta decks, specific cards we like or don't like -- you call it, we'll answer.

If you want to join the conversation, send us your thoughts! We would also love to hear the questions you have next week, so please shoot us a message at Facebook or on Twitter. Thanks for reading!

This week, we're joined by Brian Camacho from Lv. 1 Onion Knight! His passionate blog is a great place for both new and established players.

Lv. 1 Onion Knight is also a leading charge in a community effort to help Envy Games restore its collection after a recent tragedy. Please consider sending some support!

Do you think the “Discard” effect on the Opus VII cards will be worth it? Why or why not?

BRIAN: Well, I'm of the mindset that no self-respecting person should ever take my opinions seriously, but I think the discard effect Monsters will be more situational in the beginning, for balance purposes. So much of the game is based around cost, so if they're too good, they'll make regular Summon effects obsolete. That being said, I think it'll be great for introducing more options, and giving people more ways to respond to your opponents plays. I wasn't a huge fan of Bomb at first, but when I think about it, it can be a versatile way to deter your opponent from attacking or blocking with a damaged forward. I'm looking forward to testing it out as a Fire fanboy.

TREVOR: If we get more cards like Coeurl, then 100% worth it. Allows for believable bluffs, and forces the opponent to pay way more attention to what you have done.

TANIS: I think there is a lot of potential for these new effects and are definitely worth considering. Their worth is going to be based on what the discard effect is doing and if that is relevant in the Meta. Coeurl for example is going to be widely played because Cactuar 4-085 is widely played. They also offer effects in elements that don’t normally have them, for example Earth or Water now have targeted tech against 1 CP Monsters since all they require is to be discarded. The surprise factor will be strong too. I’d keep my eyes on these cards; they could be crazy.

STEPHEN: I like the discard ability. It’s a nice cheap ability and there are a couple decent targets. Sahagin can nail Famed Mimic Gogo 3-142. Coeurl can deal with Leyak 5-071 in a much cheaper fashion than Ramuh 6-102. Bomb is the champ for allowing a player to deal 2000 damage to finish off a huge Forward without having to deal yourself a point of damage or milling 10 cards. But the most beautiful aspect of these cards is their first ability. The cheap discard ability is an added bonus for getting the edge.

What deck archetype do you think is the best place to start a new player?

BRIAN: When you're a new player, one of the toughest things is when you're trying to get new deck ideas and you're going through people's decklists and it's like "oh cool I need 3 Wol 5-075 and 3 Shantotto 1-107 and a bunch of other Legendary cards I don't have!" so it can get kind of overwhelming to know where to start. I always think that if you're already a Final Fantasy fan, you should focus on making Category decks with Characters you like, and seeing what works and what doesn't as you play more. Or, look up Pauper builds on FFDecks.com. Stuff like Chocobo Standard Units are pretty strong and cheap to build, and one of the things I absolutely love about the FFTCG community is how eager people are to help out new players. Most of the people I've played with are usually more than happy to contribute a few cards to help build a deck for a newcomer, so don't hesitate to reach out for help! If you don't want to do any of that "socialization" stuff though, just buy a Scions starter deck or something.

TREVOR: Mono Earth. Very simple mechanically: play big bodies and swing. Has just enough flavour and combat tricks in it to ease players into the more complicated strategy.

TANIS: Any deck that likes to turn its Forwards sideways! I’d recommend Type-0 Cadets specifically. Two element variants are fairly streamlined, budget friendly, and are single minded in their objective.

STEPHEN: I think Chocobos are really fun as a new player. I got taken to 6 points of damage by one of our newer players recently because I was sleeping on how fast the hastey boys can beat you up. I wish I had started with them instead of a synergistic deck like Type-0.

Which element is going to be the most played at US Nationals?

BRIAN: Ice.  

... Oh c'mon were you really expecting any other answer? Alright fine... well as out of touch as I am with the competitive scene, I think we may see more Ice/Water Nidhogg -130 decks, since they seemed to be getting more popular lately at several LQS, but I have a feeling we haven't seen the end of Mono Ice discard. Is the archetype unbeatable? Of course not, but one of the reasons its so frustrating to play against is because you're basically being denied the basic ability to play the game at all by being locked out of your resources, which in turn is a great way to win, I guess. With that said, it was so satisfying to beat two Mono-Ice discard decks with Fire/Wind Rebels at my LQS.

TREVOR: Ice or Water.

TANIS: I think Wind will be the most played. It has all the tech card options that players want for common matchup. Also, Zidane 6-044 is busted.

STEPHEN: Serious answer discard, hopeful answer some form of aggro-control. I’m going to lean towards Zidane Control, because that card with Leviathans and Chaos, Walker of the Wheel 3-071 is absolutely bonkers. I can’t be explicit enough when I say that Zidane is insane. He’s sticky and a very good turn 1 play as he immediately starts attacking your opponent’s hand next turn. Getting your Forward bounced and discarded is very oppressive.

When was the last time you got ranched, and how did it happen?

BRIAN: I tend to get ranched more times than I win honestly, but I think the worst as of late was during Local Qualifiers - ironically not against any of the Ice decks. First turn, they dropped a Dadaluma 4-085, then next turn the Cactuars came and there was no way for me to build up my Forwards, since everything I played got blown up. I played a Zell 6-012 to get rid of one of the Cactuars, but of course, before it broke, he activated it and popped Zell. Then he played Urianger 5-163 and go the Cactuar back. Thankfully, I was playing against a friend of mine so I could really let him know what I thought of him and his deck. If I don't know you, I'll smile and shake your hand and be a super good sport about it, but if you're my friend and you demolish me, get ready for a barrage of passive aggressive insults. And that's why nobody should ever be friends with me.

TREVOR: Last friday at locals. Went 1-4. Playing on a few hours of sleep and was just not focusing on plays.

TANIS: The last time was locals this past week, I dropped Zidane against a Warrior of Light deck that only had 2 cards in hand and Warrior of Light 2-145 in play. Turns out that one of the cards in their hand was Hecatoncheir 4-093, RIP Zidane. I never recovered and lost 2 turns later because I didn’t draw another forward.

STEPHEN: I had the Opus VI blues for an entire month and saw more ranch than a Chanellos pizza. Last time I got hosed was against my buddy Rian’s Minwu Control deck at locals. Neither of us drew backups but he played turn 1 Minwu 6-123. The moment I played a Forward, he would attack, trigger cast Odin 1-123, Carbuncle 5-077, Alexander 1-061, etc. I lost 7-1. I didn’t mind though, that’s just the way cards go sometimes. Luckily, I got revenge a few weeks later.

If there had to be one Square Enix crossover intellectual property into this game, which one would you choose?

BRIAN: If there's one Square-Enix property that has really stood the test of time and would make a great addition to the TCG, it would definitely be The Bouncer. Hah! Just kidding. Honestly if I had to pick one series I'd want to see crossed over, it would be Octopath Traveler, which has eaten up 120 hours of my life already. I love the artwork and character design, and I think if you were to incorporate them into the game, you could give them a series of effects that become more powerful if you spend more CP for them, similar to the Boost system in the game. Also I just really want a card of Alfyn because he's a precious cinnamon roll that is too good for this world. I try not to let "the card is of a cute dude" make too many decisions on what cards I play, but maybe the reason I like Fire so much is because Sabin is in it.

TREVOR: Star Ocean or Mana Series. I don't follow the rules, I'm choosing both.

TANIS: I love the Kingdom Hearts series so I’m going to have to go with that. Dragon Quest is a close 2nd though.

STEPHEN: Deus Ex: Human Revolution. However, this game could have squares and shapes in it and I wouldn’t mind because it’s so good.