Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 11/8/18

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 are joined by Matthew Rice, one of the community’s best ambassadors of the game.

Is Yuri real?

MATT: What’s more than YES?! He is super real. FFCC is super real. That card provides elements of the game decks like Wind/Fire didn’t have before. I am a HUGE fan.

STEPHEN: Yuri is very real. Everyone I know in the Tidewater region thought that card was bonkers. All of its action abilities are incredible. At worst if Yuri gets targeted, you can respond by drawing a card. It does very well in mono color decks. Partying him up with Chelinka to break the Emperor and running Archer to deal with Minwu may make Wind ping viable. Very splashable card that can provide dull freeze in elements that don’t have that available.

DANNY: Initial testing of the card suggests Yuri is one of the realest out there. He not only is an on curve 4cp forward, but brings a full toolbox of abilities that are all powerful. Yuri helps to bring mono-colored decks back into the fray, and amplifies each color in different directions. Some joke he's the best fire forward out, and that's only not entirely wrong. Being able to give a color the ability to draw cards or dull and freeze when they otherwise cannot, is something to be taken seriously. With Yuri we now have a very strong reason to not default to the Kam'lanaut (5-148H) package; that's fantastic! I expect people to give Yuri a lot of play, and i'm interested to see how decks evolve to answer his immediate threat. In addition, the Yuri Chelinka (7-054L) package gives wind a pretty threatening spot removal tactic. So far, they've tested well against vikings, and if left unchecked, can really generate serious board presence and value.

TREVOR: "Yuri can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true." - Swami Vivekananda

Are the WOFF Monsters worth 4-6 slots in a deck?

MATT: No. 1-2 in your decks that want to find their specific summons, but that's it I feel.

STEPHEN: Woff Monsters are not worth 4-6 slots. It’s early in the set so this opinion doesn’t matter at all, but I can’t think of a reason why not to run at least 2 of a Woff monster in a deck. A chump blocker that searches only great summons when it hits the break zone. Opus 3 Shiva is a win con in many Ice decks a Bablizz searches it out! I’ve had opponents let a Fritt attack through just because they didn’t want me to search for an Ifrit. I have done the same to keep Shiva out of my opponent’s hands. Makes for very fun situations.

DANNY: All three of the WOFF 2cp monsters are great additions to the game. They are low cost, high-value cards that generate relevant summons upon death. It's debatable which monster is better, but all of them can be relevant tools in their respective colors. They won't go into every deck running ice, fire, or lightning, but i'm hard pressed to find a reason why they wouldn't! Also, the Reynn (7-021H)-WOFF monster engine has overperformed in regard to value and board presence generated. They're very good. Very good indeed.

TREVOR: Yes ... and no. In order to be worthwhile, you need a semi aggressive commitment to the summon of choice, pushing out options from other summons. When played well though, they can lead to some very interesting lines of play.

Which card from the weekend are you most focused on as we move forward?

MATT: JECHT. He’s one of my favorite FF characters on one of my favorite cards. I have played a TON of fire decks that wanted something big besides Emperor Xande. Jecht is that.

STEPHEN: It’s a close tie between the new starter Firion and starter Warrior of Light. I can’t believe how fun those cards are in Gadot Mono-Fire decks. After I board flooded for card draw all of Opus VI I’m excited to transition to board flooding for ping, +2000 Power to my board, as well as a field ability that can grant Haste.

DANNY: I am personally excited about the potential that Jecht (7-010L) gives to fire as well as fire/x control decks. His ETB is incredible. By evening the damage counter between players, Jecht allow slower decks to gain a foothold in a game where they'd otherwise have to play differently while on the backfoot. I'm very interested to see how decks can capitalize on his comback mechanic and what cards might see play now that he's in the game. I saw more Bahamuts (6-017C) in one day than I had seen the entirety of Opus 6, how exciting!

TREVOR: Yuri most likely, as most are. Trying to figure out the best way to break it. Barbara and Halicarnassus are close.seconds though.

Do you think the “golden cases” with close to double the Legendary card count is a marketing tactic done on purpose, or some sort of production issue?

MATT: I have bought a case of every Opus after 1. I’ve seen some great things, and some bad things. Who knows?! Seems to be to be intentional if this many have been spotted.

STEPHEN: I haven’t looked into it much, but one of the guys who opened those golden cases contacted me about a bridge he’d like to sell me.

DANNY: My inital reaction to the first "God Case" being talked about was certainly dismissive. It wasn't until someone that I personally know of claimed they found another that I gave it a second look. Considering the myriad of production issues that has seemingly plagued Opus VII stock, going back to the pre-release kits, it's within the realm of possibility that something, somewhere got mixed up. I would say that the incredibly rare instances of these being found, (2 to my knowledge), within a pool of thousands of boxes being opened indicate this may not have been intentional. But if it's a mistake, it's one of the cooler ones that has happend in this game for sure.

TREVOR: The fact it's only 7 extra Legendaries, as a "golden case" is fairly weak. My gut is telling me this is all a fabricated "production error". I also hate Christmas and fun, so what do I know.

Have you sought out a core Final Fantasy video game to play or replay as a result of a specific card or category from the TCG?

MATT: Absolutely. I have played all of them in my lifetime, but only finished a select few. I’ve gone back to some older ones pre 5-6-7. I’m trying ones I didn't finish, didnt know existed, etc. I obviously CANNOT WAIT for the VII remake. That. Will. Never. Happen.

STEPHEN: I almost bought FF15 because of Noctis. I also came very close to plunging into the weebhole that is FF14 because of how sick Opus 6 Legendary Estinien looks.

DANNY: Not lately but the next on my list is to finally make some head-way into FF Tactics! It seems pretty slow but have been told the War of the Lions port is well-produced and the best way to play the game. I would say the art of Ramza (7-104H) and Agrias (7-106L) in Opus VII are so appealing it has made me want to get into it quicker than before. I suppose I'll have to check out Lord of Vermillion too.

TREVOR: Not necessarily, although the love for Category VIII is making me want to replay FF8.