Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 11/29/18

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 none other that the Warrior of Light himself, Greg Cole. Greg is a well known player from out in CA and also easily one of the best and nicest players in the community.

If you had won World's what would you have picked as your full art promo?

Greg: I liked the idea my friend Matthew Rice had in one of our group chats today as there’s a lot of buzz going about Alex Hancock’s choice(s). Rice mentioned a card that would potentially grow the game and help people get a card they really need. I like that direction a lot. The hard part is I can’t think of a deck everyone wants to build, so for now I will go with full art promo Dadaluma(4-085H), and that is definitely an idea I got from Matthew Rice this morning. Lenna(3-114L) would be a sick full art! Wol(5-075L) Legend or Shantotto(1-107L) back up would be super insane to wake up to, kinda similar to Thaumaturge(5-040C) and Gesper(5-034C) ban day, I’m still getting twilight zone vibes from that day. It was pretty rad to allow people to build more without those cards prohibiting some of the most creative/ambitious ideas that just annihilate.

Josh: I would have picked Rikku(1-089H) or Paul(6-056H) because those 2 cards have been my favorite cards to use. Maybe White Mage as well because I think that card has won me more games than I can count.

Stephen: I would love a Sabin(4-021) full art promo. The VI art is incredible.

Chris: There are a lot of good choices for this one! But if i had to pick just 1 it would probably be Legend Balthier(2-065L). I think it would really pop as a full art card

In your opinion what is the best single card in the game RIGHT NOW and why?

Greg: Uhhh, Wol(5-075L) Legendary solos decks, other picks would be 3 drop Hecatonchier(1-117R) and 4 drop Dark Emperor(2-147L). Earth can be really hard to slot, but earth has really powerful cards if you can make them cohesive to your decks. For example, Vincent(2-077L) L is insane, it just has to be cohesive in today’s modern meta. Shouts out to opus 9 Vincent! I’ll go ahead and assume new Vincent cannot be removed from the game, and possibly the introduction of Lucrecia, Vincent’s true love from FF7. Galdes(7-129H) and Yuri(7-128H) will have to prove themselves this competitive season on the level of Wol L.

Josh: The best single card in the game would be Paul(6-056H). Who else does the most damage when he deals damage to your opponent. 1-2 hits with Paul can just end a game before it even starts. I know he's just a simple man with big dreams but he's a strong little guy who can get the job done.

Stephen: The best single card by itself is Genesis(3-033L). That card is cheap for its effects. Dull freeze on entry and discard off player damage on a 4cp 7k is ridiculous. He should definitely cost more.

Chris: Best card in the game is pretty subjective but I’m sure the list of what the best cards are would be pretty similar from everyone. But again if I had to pick one it would probably be Wol(5-075L). He completely makes combat tricky for your opponent and removes a mechanic from the game. He is a threat that needs to be dealt with immediately.

Between Light and Dark which do you feel currently is the best element and Why?

Greg: Granted Yuri(7-128H) and Fusoya(2-146H) have stabilized in the meta, most recently on the Worlds stage in big turnouts (I think I heard Yuri was the most slotted card), light has made a massive entrance back into relevance. Its hard to say what I feel is currently the best of the two because you’ll see as many Kam’lanaut(5-148H)/Chaos(1-184H) combos as you will Fusoya. Galdes(7-129H) is also on the high rise. For now, I will choose Dark as it has new tools and stabilized in earth wind for two sets now, until Yuri becomes further abused powerfully, I think dark will see more play generally.

Josh: I still am a huge fan of the dark package. I love what Galdes(7-129H) brings to the table in the decks that run Kam’lanaut(5-148H)/Chaos(1-184H)/Emperor(2-147L). While I think Yuri(7-128H) is really strong. Emperor can still shut all that down if the opponent has no answer.

Stephen: Dark by a long shot. Kam’lanaut(5-148H) is still ridiculous because he can’t be targeted by mono decks or the dreaded Diabolos(5-062L) after a turn. The fact that he now can search for Galdes(7-129H) makes him even better. Given that though, Yuri(7-128H) is bonkers and I think Hraesvelgr(6-127L) is underrated.

Chris: I have to say Dark. Kam’lanaut(5-148H) is still a very powerful card and can search other dark cards including the new and extremely powerful Galdes(7-129H). That card does so much for 3 cp. its almost unfair. and while cards like Yuri(7-128) and Zidane(3-154S) are powerful, they just cant compare to what Dark brings to the table.

Do you think the 2 or 3 deck format could become the standard format for the game?

Greg: Not for a while at least because logistics have usually made final fantasy events a half day’s amount. It feels really brisk right now to enter an official event in the morning, finish by late lunch/early dinner, enjoy an amazing dinner/outing with the community, then wake up and do it again at 10AM vs. getting out at like 5AM day 1. However, I am all for any format as its all so much fun at the end of the day. I could literally play 12 hours straight with food/bathroom breaks. Take our money and set me up with 10-15 matches a day, I will be in heaven.

Josh: I'm a big fan of multi deck formats in general because it will really showcase the better player. Anyone can walk in with a coinflip style deck and high roll all day but people who can pilot multiple decks well are the ones that should be deserving of tops spots. I don't know that it will be right for casual tournaments due to time constraints.

Stephen: I think 2 deck format could and will become the standard competitive format for the game given the lack of sideboard. I appreciate the simplicity of Deck A, Deck B, and then deck that lost. I love the idea of playing against a deck I’ve played before in a best of 3. Furthermore, I think Square should implement best of 5 for the final with players doing pick/counter-pick for their decks. Basically, in games 4-5 (including game 3 if the series isn’t split), the player who won chooses to go first or second. Choosing to go first forces you to pick your deck and then your opponent can counter-pick your deck. Choosing to go second means your opponent chooses their deck and you counter-pick them.

Chris: of the 2 choices i think a two deck format makes the most sense, it doesn’t make card decisions terribly difficult and adds layers of depth to event preparation. It also keeps decks "Real" (for lack of a better term) as your typically not sharing a playset of cards between 2 decks

If you could pick 1 non Final Fantasy, Square owned character to put in the card game what would it be?

Greg: Square Enix/Cloud Strife were the parents I had raising me after school for years, ever since elementary school when my awesome Mom got me FF7 for Christmas its debut year. I played everything square made. It helped so much when I was too young to go outside alone, so for my choice it would have to be Aya Brea from Parasite Eve and Einhander’s pilot you control. Parasite Eve was incredibly hard for chibi Greg to play alone in the dark. Einhander was extremely addicting and super beautiful as I enjoy futuristic art and city scapes/space. However, if I wanted to hit a serious marketing angle, I’d definitely have to choose Sora from Kingdom Hearts to really pull more fans into the game, especially with the big KH3 release next month. Growing the game is super crucial/priority.

Massive shout out to Adam Lane and Chris Adams as they are some of my favorite people to hang/chat with as well as perfect human beings and role models for the entire planet. Thank you guys for all the hard work you do for everyone, and you bet I can’t wait to see y’all ASAP. It’s a huge honor guys thanks so much for the opportunity.

Josh: Give me Lara Croft. She's a badass.

Stephen: JC Denton. Wind 4cp 8k. Special- My Vision is Augmented S: Opponent reveals their hand. Select one card. Your opponent removes this card from the game. Activate all your backups.

Chris: Hands down it has to be my man Frog from Chrono Trigger. but only if he has the Frog Squash for his S ability!