Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 8/30/18
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're joined by Matthew Okimoto of Meta Potion! He has been a competitive player since the early days of the game, and Meta Potion is a great resource for content and game information.
Do you think Turbo Ice and Viking decks are harming the quality of the game? Why or why not?
MATTHEW: Haha, this is a question I figured would be asked considering all the recent discussions around them. I think the Leila 6-126 & Viking 4-133 engine has enabled a lot more archetypes this set to exist. While I do understand it can be annoying to play against the engine because it puts your opponent in a position to play something or take 2 damage while the player who played Leila & Viking draws 2 cards, the Forwards are relatively weak. So, unless combined with cards like Cloud of Darkness 5-126 or Kefka 4-080 (for example), these generally just buy you life. I think the Leila Viking package is fine, it enables more cool decks to be played rather than hinders decks. Turbo Discard, on the other hand, I feel this deck has its issues and does slightly hurt the quality of the game. It is not as insanely crippling as people make it out to be. This deck can sometimes "nut draw" and just win, but, being honest, lots of decks can just hit the right curve and win, right? The difference is Turbo Discard can nut draw, but make it so your opponent can't actually play the game, while other decks can nut draw but your opponent can still attempt to play. Cards like Gesper 5-034 are the issue, not the entire deck itself.
SPENCER: No. While I don't play the decks, I don't think they are harmful to the quality of the game. If you can last until the late game against these decks, they will eventually stall out. Just remember to efficiently deal with the small Forwards (drawing a bunch of cards can be a bad thing) and keep in mind Nidhogg 6-130 or Cloud of Darkness will be coming.
TANIS: I am not a fan of either deck, but I do not think they are harming the game. When considering the Competitive Meta you have to expect certain decks to be present and adjust accordingly with either tech cards or a deck that counters those archetypes. Vikings and Turbo have reasonable counters and tech cards that do allow other decks to compete against them. This is, in my mind, what makes them “balanced” and at least acceptable within the current state of the game. If they did not have reasonable checks or counters then this would be a different story.
ASHLEY: I personally don’t think that any deck currently is harming the quality of the game. I think they’re the flavor of the month with this Opus. I started on Mono Fire at the tail end of Opus V, but then moved to a DGS version of Turbo and I found moderate success. I also wanted a deck to challenge it at home, so I built a Viking one and each time it felt like my turbo deck petered out out around the middle of the deck, and I didn’t have any big finishers to clean up. At my LGS, I’ve had some success with Vikings, but, again, if I’m unable to get any of my heavy hitters on the table to absorb some damage, the deck loses steam. I think they each have their advantages but can be countered especially if you have patience, which I’m slowly learning. Big shout-out to the podcast that advised to pass on turn 2 when facing Turbo. Try it at home y’all, it works!
ADAM L: Both are pretty degenerate and have effected the meta, but they aren't ruining the game for me. A lot of things are very playable right now and its hard to get a read on what everyone could play at a tournament. They are things you should prepare heavily for, though.
Now that Opus VII spoiler season has officially started, what do you hope to see in this next set?
MATTHEW: I hope to see more Dragons and Dragoons! Haha but really though I want to see some more unique card design rather than existing cards reusing effects from previous sets. For Example, we have cards like Leviathan 6-125 which just reuses existing effects but slapped onto one card. This just makes the previous cards less playable, if you have 1 card that does multiple effects. Give us new effects!
SPENCER: I hope to see Zorn and Thorn!
TANIS: I got three things I’m hoping for in Opus VII; first I really want a crazy strong Light card, or a collection of cards that make existing Light cards very powerful, as I feel that Dark Cards definitely have an edge currently. Second, I’m hoping for a new Garnet card because every set needs a new Garnet. Lastly, I think some Dual-element cards could be interesting. Maybe they require CP from both elements to cast, or only need one. Either way, I think that type of card would be interesting and empower some underplayed element pairings.
ASHLEY: I’m a big fan of all things that involve retro gaming, but I’d really like to see love for characters from non-sequential Final Fantasy titles like Crystal Chronicles, and of course more Chocobos!
ADAM L: Weigraf. I think there are a good amount of Tactics characters that I'd like to see. Please print something not Delita or Ramza.
Which Bartz is the best Bartz?
MATTHEW: I think this new Legendary Bartz has a ton of potential, but without seeing more Opus VII, I am going to say that the Bartz 3-065 that requires Jobs in play to gain bonuses is the best Bartz.
SPENCER: New Opus VII Bartz. Doesn't have all the Jobs... but he has the one that matters...Warrior of Light.
TANIS: The best Bartz is Bartz 1-080. Hear me out: while the others are more flexible and can be put into more decks on average, the power level of a well-timed Bartz EX in a Wind-heavy or Mono Wind deck is, in my opinion, more powerful than anything the other Bartz's can do.
ASHLEY: The Bartz that has all the jobs! But seriously Bartz 3-065. The art is just killer and the foil version is ::Perfect hand-sign emoji::
ADAM L: I think even with the announcement of the new Bartz, I prefer Bartz 3-065. If you make a deck that can get him online, it's very disgusting. Bartz 1-080 is still very good too.
What is one card you play that has more mental impact than it does actual game impact?
MATTHEW: I think the one card that has the most mental impact rather than actual game impact is the Zidane 6-044. Just putting him in play messes with your opponents entire game plan, regardless if you will attack with him or not.
SPENCER: I have played a lot of Delita 4-087. It is hard for my opponent to understand how he is an 11K forward with brave when I have Wol 5-075 on the field.
TANIS: One of my personal favorite cards is Summoner 2-128. For those unfamiliar, it has an action ability that reads Dull: Cast a Summon of cost 2 or less from your hand without paying the cost. Leaving this card activated really puts the pressure on the opponent to figure out if I actually have a summon or not to stop/interact with his play. It’s very much the same as Aerith 1-064 and the Planet Protector Special.
ASHLEY: Oh, definitely the Porom 5-135. If you see me keeping 1 CP open, and I have her on the field, watch out!
ADAM L: Scarmaglione 2-085. People never expect it and everyone forgets Back Attack is even a thing. I wonder if we will ever see it on more Forwards.
Describe your absolute favorite playmat.
MATTHEW: This is a hard choice, at first I would say the Estinian one from the Grand Opens, or the NA Nats one... but after seeing the Vanille playmate from Top 8 of Grand Opens.... I really want it. I hope next year NA tournaments provide sick playmats.
SPENCER: Not Final Fantasy related, but when I first started playing TCGs my friend bought me a Cowboy Bebop playmat for the Holidays. I still use it to this day and get a lot of compliments on it.
TANIS: Viking Squirrel riding into a chaotic battle atop his mighty Battletoad. What more needs to be said?
ASHLEY: Loving my FFVI Terra Mat, and I can’t wait to see more artbook style ones in the future. Yoshitaka Amano never disappoints.
ADAM L: It would probably be a the Galactus playmat from VS. Its pretty much a picture of him about to devour Earth. I miss that game.