Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 12/6/18

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 the muscle, brains, and looks behind Cards of Ivalice: James Lockwood! James is responsible for planning the Reunion Event coming up next month, as well as a fixture in the community from the very beginning.

What do you expect from the competitive season in 2019?

JAMES: I think the competitive season is going to be much more diverse and spicy this year. With "turbo-discard" being put under with its key bans, I also think players will be more encouraged to participate in their local + official tournaments.  I imagine it was quite frustrating to drive out 1-3 hours to a tournament, only to be shut down pre top cut because you literally had no cards in your hand to play, cards you prob spent the past few weeks testing over and over.  The game is also evolving beyond dadaluma ping, as players are getting much more creative with the deck crafting.  I just recently added Kody Snodgras onto my team of sponsored players, so I'm looking to see how Sam, Zach and Kody can carve out some creative meta or anti-meta plays. And with all the untapped potential in cards that haven't been tested, I know we'll see some fun and twisted decks throughout the year. I'll also bet the farm that the competition will be very strong at my upcoming Reunion event in January.  I'm expecting between 80-100 players easy.

TANIS: I expect this upcoming competitive season to be more competitive than ever. The game continues to grow so I expect that to be reflected in the bigger tournaments. I expect many of the same decks to continue being a presence within the Meta. However I also expect there to be some spicy new brews coming down the pipeline that will just shake everything up.

TREVOR: I'm expecting to see a fleshed out judge program, and more a unified NA/EU competitive events. Hopefully we should see a more clear path to worlds.

CHRIS: Well we got some uniformity which is nice. I expect caliber of play to be high and the quality of events to be even higher!

Is there one Legendary card from Opus VII that is currently overlooked?

JAMES: I have been saying this since the Opus VII spoilers, and I never expect most people to agree with it, but I think Noel is really good.  He is niche, and you have to cater to him with your deck, but he gets work done when played correctly.  I play him in my mono-lightning deck, which focuses on quick backup ramp, so that the 6cp cost doesn't seem as daunting.  In a recent tournament, my opponent had a viking out.  He plays Nidhogg, removes my Zemus and I discard, pass.  Doesn't swing in with his viking because he knows i play Illua along with a lot of other haste, so he wants to chump block and draw.  My turn - pitch 1, play Rygdea.  Break viking, dull Nidhogg.  Dull 4 backups, pitch 1, Noel.  Noel then delivers a damage and executes Nidhogg.  It was like one of those Samurai scenes where he sliced through Nidhogg to get to the player, and as the damage card flips, he slams the sheathe of the sword, and that breaks Nidhogg.  Opponent flips over Leviathan into the damage zone, and I'm like "By all means, bounce one of these gentleman ^^".  It sounds like a Christmas or miracle play to pull Noel off, but it happens all the time.  I'd say pick up a foil or two of him while he's dirt cheap.  I don't think he'll ever get really high, but he's a nice option to have if you enjoy XIII or the Lightning element.

TANIS: This is tough. During the spoiler season I was all over how powerful the water Legends are and I think those make strong runner ups. I think the true overlooked legendary is Lann. His auto ability is incredibly powerful. The main drawback causing him to maybe be overlooked in my opinion is the cost of his ability. Four Fire is expensive but for the amount of damage its dealing it’s no more expensive than Opus IV Bahamut just more prohibitive given that it can be repeatable. I definitely don’t think he belongs in every fire deck but I think it would be a mistake to ignore this Legend just because his ability cost is a little prohibitive. With the right deck this card can be nuts.

TREVOR: Hands down Noel. When he hits the ground, he almost guarantees you a point of a damage, or a broken forward.

CHRIS: I'd have to say either Bartz or Agrias. Both have a lot of potential (Bartz moreso) and I'd like to see them more.

What decks do you think specifically benefit from the Thaumaturge and Gesper banning?

JAMES: Fire and Lightning.  Both are elements that require a bit of backup support to setup and get established.  Earth can put out Guy or Yang to establish a wall and work from there, and Wind/Water have the value and card draw to play catch up and stabilize.  The removal that Fire and Lightning have don't matter when a Gesper is just robbing you and Thamaturge just gets played over and over.  As a Lightning player, having someone play Sephiroth O7-L to make me discard 2 is still annoying, but they had to put down a premium for that, so I don't fear it as much.  As someone who likes to ramp, it was pretty garbage when you'd start and immediately all your resources are shut off because you didn't draw backups on turn 1 to send out as soon as possible.  Then you pass, and they make you discard and... yeah, it's not fun.

TANIS: The real winners of the Thaumaturge/Gesper banning are control decks. Long game focused decks that just want to play backups for the first few turns were heavily punished by these cards. I think Gesper is the real culprit for this, however. His constant card denial made catching up impossible without the right top decks. Slower decks don’t tend to top deck very well by design so Gesper was a hard counter to this style.

TREVOR: Control Decks and slower set up decks definitely benefit the most. Not being rushed down turn two allows them to play their game.

CHRIS: Decks that want to set up. Mono Wind is the big one that comes to mind, and I think Earth Wind and it's variants (including Urianger mill strategies) are extremely happy about the bannings as well.

If you had to pick just one deck to rule the Opus VII meta, which one is it as of right now?

JAMES: I think Mono-Wind FFCC Fam will continue to take names.  While I haven't had too much trouble with it particularly at my locals, it was one of the more challenging decks.  The advantage I have is knowing that Yuri and Chelinka have to be assassinated on the spot, which is something Lightning can afford to do.  But if I don't have the right cards when those kids get played, I'm in for a world of hurt.  I think Vikings / Water is still very strong, but players are really starting to cater to counter that (I have 3 2cp Scholars that deal 3k to multiple targets, Cyclops, etc) and I think Yuna 5cp will make a comeback since it will be a full art promo in February and more readily available, so that Vikings will be removed from game.  So yeah, Mono-Wind has insane value, the ability to deal heavy damage quickly, etc.  Watching a player get Yuri/Chelinka party swung against... you can just sense the dread.  

TANIS: I think I’d want Dadaluma/Cactuar decks to rule the Meta. The deck requires a decent amount of skill to navigate but it’s got a lot of tools at its disposal to be flexible against most threats out there. It’s also got some reasonable tech options that give other decks a decent edge against it. I guess to summarize I want Dadaluma/Cactuar to rule the Meta because it’s got good counter play and if a deck is going to be everywhere I’d want to feel like there are changes I can make to my own deck that give it a real edge.

TREVOR: What do I want to rule? Mono Lightning What do I think? Mono Water Fusoya probably.

CHRIS: If I had to choose one deck it would probably be some variation of Earth Wind. That combination has answers for anything the game can throw at it currently. It does require set up but once it does it typically doesn't look back and it's a tough deck to out grind.

Which of the Final Fantasy storylines would you greenlight as a Netflix Original Series?

JAMES: Oh, hands down Final Fantasy Tactics.  And  this isn't from the whole Ivalice bias, but let's face it, It's Final Fantasy + Game of Thrones.  Drama, betrayal, murder, politics, ruling houses and families, peasants fighting against royal blood, etc.  Amazing music, twists in the story, side and minor characters that are fan favorites, a more grounded tone, it just screams for a series.  Take the cutscenes in the War of the Lions of FFT.  It's a thing to behold.  While the story could obviously focus on Ramza or Delita, you could take any character and easily do a mini-series or mini-movie with them.  I think people would throw money at their screens to see a focused special on Weigraf.  

TANIS: Going to have to say Final Fantasy Tactics. It’s one of my favorite storylines in all of Final Fantasy and honestly I think it would be do well.

TREVOR: Final Fantasy Spirited Away, or Final Fantasy IX.

CHRIS: I think Final Fantasy II would be a fantastic place to start for a Netflix series. It has all the goods: an evil empire, a group of unassuming heroes, a rebellion, loss, even betrayal. It's compelling and also safe enough in its concepts to keep people engaged.