Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 11/15/18

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 Ban, from Ban’s Final Fantasy Corner! He has been an active player internationally, sharing experiences from Japan and from the rest of the world. Give him a Like on his Facebook Page.

What three decks do you take to Worlds, and why?

BAN: Mono Water with 2CP back up Yuna and Light Terra, Wind/Water (untargetable) with 5CP Yuna, and Ice/Water with Light Yuna and back up Terra, because they’re all well-balanced, strong decks and what other reasons could there be ... ?

CHRIS: Man that's a tough one. So many variables. But to keep it simple I'd probably take Mono Water Fusoya, Scions, and Turbo (yeah I'm a jerk).

ADAM L: Probably Turbo, Mono Water Fusoya and Urianger Mill. I think between those 3 decks I can cover a lot of bases. I think there isn't much reason to not bring Turbo to Worlds, honestly. Also, Mono Water is in a very good place right now. The third deck is tough to pick though for me.

ADAM D: I’d sleeve up Earth / Water Fusoya, Mono Wind FFCC (which plays like traditional Mono Wind decks with new cards that have higher power), and Mono Water Monsters. These are pretty safe choices but I think the best players in the world are going to have a lot of different decks and I would want to go with things I have a high comfort level in playing.

How do you feel about the Gesper and Thaumaturge banning?

BAN: No particular feelings other than it’s a really late decision that seems irrelevant at this point in time.

CHRIS: I know I just said I'd take Turbo to worlds but I am 100% behind the banning. Those cards needed to go. They were enablers for extremely unfair and to be frank, extremely not fun gameplay. Good riddance.

ADAM L: I personally like the bans. It opens up deck building alot. I'm not sure Thaumaturge needed to be banned but I get why it was done. I think, first and foremost, people should understand it's for the health of the community of the game. Our community is growing but is still small and this was causing people to quit the game.

ADAM D: I remember the first time I played into an early Al-Cid + Onion Knight or Rygdea combo. After that one time, I respected the combo and would play around it when able to predict it. Playing Turbo Discard felt as deflating as the first Al-Cid experience, but there was nothing I could really do in half the matchups. Perhaps they could have changed the “Standard Unit” designation on Thaumaturge, or add some change to Gesper, but they didn’t. I won’t miss the deck.

Which Special ability is your favorite?

BAN: Light Terra’s Riot Sword.

CHRIS: My favorite S ability has to be Dark. I love the blowout turns you can have, especially with a card like Noctis on the board.

ADAM L: This one is easy. It's gotta be death penalty. Just machine gunning down a board feels great especially when it lines up just right.

ADAM D: Balthier’s Fires of War. Anytime I’ve activated it, it’s been a blowout, and I’ve activated it quite a few times.

Do you see a clear and dominant archetype in the Opus VII meta?

BAN: Not yet.

CHRIS: Man that's a tough one. So many options! But, if I had to pick an archetype that I think will work it's way to the top, it has to be Earth/Wind. They have all the tools!

ADAM L: I don't know about super dominant but if our latest results speak for anything it's Mono Water Fusoya. Water is in a very good place right now and I think in a post-Turbo meta it will thrive. I truly believe it's the best deck right now but that doesn't mean there aren't other very strong decks.

ADAM D: I’m not sure what archetypes we’ll see, but I think they are gunna include Yuri, Noctis, or WOFF Monsters. Also, Mono Water will always be a deck.

If you could create a party of four characters from any Final Fantasy, who would be in?

BAN: Sabin, Agrias, Terra and Yuna

CHRIS: This is easy: Sabin, Balthier, Cecil, and Lightning. No reasons in particular, just think they would gel super well together and definitely get the job done!

ADAM L: That's a hard question. I love so many characters across all the games. First few are kinda easy. Edgar is my favorite character so he's in. Cloud is the main character from my favorite game. After that it's tough. Probably would go with Kain next. I've always been a fan of the dragoon class and remember how cool it looked the first time I saw the jump ability. Last would have to be Urianger he's easily my favorite character from XIV.

ADAM D: Tellah, Locke, Al-Cid, and Mog. There’s a sitcom that would write itself.