Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 2/21/19

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.

This week we are just talking to the main Returners for their thought on whats going to happen at the upcoming petit cup in RVA.

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!

What deck are you playing and why did you choose it. If you arent playing what deck would you play?

ADAM D: I’m bringing Mono Wind to any tournaments in this meta. It’s an archetype I’ve played since Opus II (when Fallacious Wanderer and ninja Onion Knight were the tempo advantages) and it’s gotten a boost from the FFCC cards where it’s one of best decks now, so it just feels natural to me. I’m not the best player in this game, but I am a disciplined player so I have success when I have comfort with a deck, and I’m more comfortable with Wind than anything else.

AUSTIN: I'll be playing a Ice/Earth variant. It was a pet deck I had been playing and it's just what I am most familiar with. I said I was going to do mono fire or fire lighting and I just haven't had enough reps to feel comfortable.

CHRIS: If I was playing this weekend, I would either be on Wind Water Yuri, or Earth Fire Warriors of Light. Not only do I think both decks are solid but they both have solid matches against the big meta decks.

ADAM L: If I were to play this weekend I’d either be on Wind/Water or Mono Fire Warriors of Light. Wind/Water is just, in my opinion, the clear best deck right now. The card advantage it creates is pretty absurd and if you play properly you can just out value the opponent at every turn. sometimes just getting hit will net you a ridiculous amount of cards. As for the Mono Fire deck, I think its in a great place right now. The meta decks want time to setup and the WoL deck doesn’t allow them that time. They have to play at an uncomfortable pace. Also you haven’t lived until you’ve played a 2cp 11k with haste.

What matchups are you most concerned with?

ADAM D: Any deck that is aggressive and efficient early is most concerning. Mono Fire is high on my worry list, but it’s a skill-intensive deck that perhaps many in the field won’t have fully mastered. Water/Wind ran aggressively can be an issue, too.

AUSTIN: The main ones are Water/Wind and Scions. It takes me a second to get set up so scions can just flat out blow me out before I even get a chance and unless I establish quickly enough wind water just hits critical mass and it's pretty much a loss at that point.

CHRIS: With wind water, the scariest matchup is Mono Fire Warriors of Light and with earth fire my scary matchup is probably wind water.

ADAM L: If I went with the Mono Fire deck it’d be anything not meta honestly. I think that deck fits well right now against what a lot of people are playing, however Mono Lightning is for sure a bad matchup as well as any deck that happens to run Shadow Lord. If I was on Wind/Water there wouldn’t be much I’d be worried about. Probably would be most afraid of the Mirror at that point.

What do you think will make top cuts?

ADAM D: Water/Wind, Earth/Wind, Mono Wind (perhaps me, but at least in some capacity the deck will place), Mono Fire, and Moogles are all decks I expect to be in the top 16 of an event. I am not ruling out Scions, either.

AUSTIN: At this big of an event (RVA Petit cup with at least 80 right now) I think your current meta staples. With what's looking at 7-8 rounds before top cuts I find it hard for any rouge deck to spike the event. Best guess would be that Earth/Wind takes the event though.

CHRIS: I expect a lot of the usual suspects, Wind Water, Wind Earth, but I do expect to see mono lightning or scions work their way into the top cut

ADAM L: I expect to see the usual meta decks up there. Wind/Water, Earth/Wind, Scions etc. I think you may see some Anti-Meta stuff make the cut as well. The Moogle deck is very real and I hope to see a Mono Fire sneak in there but, if I had to bet money I’d probably say Wind/Water for sure

What, in your opinion, makes a tournament good?

ADAM D: I think a focus on things that people take for granted is important. Good air quality in the room, space to move around and decompress with friends after matches, and someone who is focused on keeping the trains running on time. This is a great community, but tensions exist in a big tournament, and they are made worse when the TO isn’t focused or equipped properly.

AUSTIN: Location, staff, how smoothly it is run, good people. I mean the list goes on and on. It really comes down to how much fun did you have. I know I went to the Toronto CC last year and didn't do to hot so after the initial saltiness I realized it was just a great day.

CHRIS: The things make a tournament good.....well it's a bit of everything, you need organization at the top, you need thoughtful prizing, and you really need to get the players invested. And of course you want the best competition!

ADAM L: That’s a tough question. I think there is a ton of factors but usually its the people and the venue are the big ones for me. The venue just needs to be comfortable and welcoming and I always enjoy the events where we can bring in players from all over just to hang out and play cards.

What's next that you plan to attend?

ADAM D: RVA Petit cup this weekend, then after that I will see where life takes me. Hopefully, Florida, Virginia, and Canada CCs this year.

AUSTIN: The RVA CC, probably the Tampa CC.

CHRIS: Well that's hard to say, I'm busy doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff, but you know you're gonna see me at the Tampa Crystal cup!

ADAM L: The next big event for me should be the Tamps CC. Looking forward to seeing what Opus VIII will bring to the table.