With Distorted Reflection just around the corner, lets check out the starter decks. First up is Diana, Moonpiercer, the Water/Astra Ranger deck! The deck releases on July 25th with an MSRP of $14.99. Make sure you always support your LGS, but you can always grab your Diana, Moonpiercer Starter Deck on TCG Player through my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do.
The List
Material Deck Spirit of Water x 1 Diana, Aether Dilettante x 1 Diana, Judgment’s Arrow x 1 Diana, Moon Piercer x 1 Bauble of Abundance x 1 Foresight Lens x 1 Ranger Boots x 1 Refluxal Ribbon x 1 Seeker’s Aetherwing x 1 Tariff Ring x 1 Aquamirage Whisper x 1 Pleiades, Celestial Genesis x 1
Main Deck Aetheric Calibration x 4 Backstep x 4 Charge the Soul x 4 Idle Thoughts x 3 Prudent Nock x 4 Reposition x 4 Stalwart Shieldmate x 4 Corsair Captain x 3 Dissuading Aether x 4 Drown in Aether x 4 Undercurrent Vantage x 3 Astra Sight x 3 Constellation’s Blessing x 4 Guided Starlight x 2 Meteoric Volley x 2 Poised Occlusion x3 Sidereal Spellshot x 3 Starbirth x 2
Universus sent me a few packs and a playmat to cover their game. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let sway my opinions. I will be doing pack opening and a review of the playmat so stay tuned for that. I will also be using my TCG Player affiliate links throughout the article, but always support your LGS first.
Attack on Titan: Apocalypse
Universus has just released their newest expansion, Attack on Titan: Apocalypse, and I already see a few cards I want for my collection. If you haven’t had chance to play Universus, it is definitely worth trying once. The game has a unique flow and flavor, and it includes some very recognizable IPs. I recommend picking up a couple clash decks to get a feel for what to expect. I had a lot of fun with the Solo Leveling deck, but you can always pick your flavor.
Apocalypse is introducing 180 new cards to finish off the Attack on Titan saga. Players are going to want to chase the six serialized chrome cards with special art from the creator of the anime, but there are some neat cards I wouldn’t mind cracking.
Chrome Rares
The serialized chrome rares, and I am sad I will never get to see one in real life. The art on these look so good, and you know there are going to shine on the table (even the flimsy plastic ones). I can only hope they don’t have the foil lines that seems to be common issue across the thread. I don’t mind it too much on regular foils, but I would expect the serialized cards to be perfect. Either way, good luck finding your copy! I’m aiming for Erin, but will settle for any.
Armin Arlert, Power of the ColossusEren Yeager, UsurperLevi Ackerman, Vengeance-DrivenMikasa Ackerman, Hizuru’s HopeReiner Braun, Marley’s ShieldBeast Titan, Finale
Ultra Rares
The problem with the attack on titan set, at least from a collectors perspective, is the manga art doesn’t grab the attention like other games. At least the common ones anyway. After seeing them in my binder and seeing the whole story, the game grew on me. What this game does have going for it are its ultra rares and alt arts. The unique art for the Attack on Titan cards are incredible, especially in person. Some have a very nice texture to them. I am a huge fan of the use of color. Here are some of my favorites from the Apocalypse set:
Ultra Rare Alt Arts
It is a shame that the images for the alt art cards do not do them justice. I have pulled a couple from the Attack on Titan alt art cards, and they are amazing. I am a huge fan of the texture and the hand drawn feel. They are definitely worth chasing. Here are my favorites from Apocalypse, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go hunting for everything else!
Character Alt Art
This is where the set disappointing a bit. While there are some alt cards I wouldn’t mind pulling, there are some that I would be sad if I did. Maybe they look better in person, but I prefer the Heroes of Exandria alt cards better. That said, here are my favorites Apocalypse alt art cards:
Secret Rares
The secret rare design is my absolute favorite part of the Attack on Titan cards. They have such a unique style and presentation, and they look so good in person. I do have a couple, and while they aren’t going to buy me a house, they are my favorite parts of my collection. I don’t think Apocalypse has the strongest collection of secret rares, but it does have a few pieces I want for my collection.
Impressions
I only play casually and mostly just collect. I do get the cards for free, but I don’t let that sway my opinion. Apocalypse doesn’t excite me as much as Heroes of Exandria did, at least the art doesn’t. I think the manga art is fine, but it doesn’t have the same pop the comic book style of Heroes of Exandria. As a casual player, there are some cards I want to add to a couple of my decks. That said, I need to open a few more packs and watch how the meta shifts to form a better idea on the set.
If you want to pick up Universus Attack on Titan: Apocalypse, always ask your LGS, but TCG Player has what you need if that isn’t an option.
Grand Archive has officially turned two, and we got a fun and informative stream to get us hyped for the games growth. Make sure to check it out. The most exciting news were the Mercurial Heart Alter Edition spoilers! The Alter Edition is a reprint with a few new cards you’re going to want to add to your collection. It is also a fantastic place to start your collection. The set will be reprintable for up to three years, which is great news for those just getting into the hobby. Make sure you always support your LGS, but you can always buy Grand Archive product from TCG Player using my affiliate links. It really helps me out.
I was sent a free copy of Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest opinions of the game.
The castle has been invaded and Lord Maxim is dead. It is up to Kirika and Masha to make their way through the castle and revive their lord. Fight through waves of demons and their bosses, collect helpful tools and abilities, and prove why you are the best pair of demon maids Do you have what it takes to reclaim your home and save your master?
Gameplay
Gal Guardians is your typical classic metroidvania. Players crawl through the 2D dungeon, collect new items and abilities, and beat everything in their way. What makes Gal Guardians unique is the coop mechanic. Players can play this game solo, or team up with a friend to control one of the two maids. Coop allows for some interesting interactions between the players. Playing solo allows players to switch between the two maids and their abilities, as well as revive them when they go down. The game also showers the player with loot and allows for a good amount of customization and playstyles.
Review
I really wanted to like Gal Guardians: Shadows of the Dark, but it doesn’t do enough to stand out against the genre. I love the art and flavor, there is some solid voice acting, but the gameplay sort of falls flat.
What I like about the gameplay is the amount of customization. Aside from the main weapon, players can mix and match abilities to find a build that works best for their playstyle. Unfortunately, there are some absolute garbage items that will flood your inventory. Aside from that, combat is kind of boring. It is no where near the worst of the genre, but it does leave a bit to be desired. This is especially noticeable during the boss fights which can be challenging, but aren’t really worth the trouble.
I had high hopes for the game because I enjoyed the demo, but once I got deeper in the game, it didn’t do enough. It had decent writing, the voice acting is great, and the art is good, but the gameplay didn’t do it for me. Gal Guardians isn’t the worst Metroidvania I’ve played this year, but I will forget I ever played it. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania, you simply have better options.
I was sent a free copy of Nobody Nowhere to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Nobody Nowhere is a scifi visual novel out now on Steam.
The year is 2019 and the Human Science Research Corp is working on a way to transfer conciseness into empty vessels known as replicates. Julian is a replicant who unfortunately developed self-awareness. His days are numbered as the corporation plans to whip his consciousness from his body. The secret organization, the White Dove, consider Julian human and plan to set him free. But their rescue efforts fail, and what they uncover will shake their foundation. What secrets will they uncover? Can Julian ever be truly human? You will need to read to find out.
Review
I went out of my way to get a copy of Nobody Nowherebecause the synopsis got me interested, and I liked the art. I was not disappointed. Nobody Nowhere is the best visual novel I have read, and I recomend it to people who aren’t even looking into the genre. The writing is solid, the story is great, the characters are memorable, and the pacing is perfect. The game also has a very good art style and aesthetic. I like that the gameplay didn’t feel like busy work. The small moments of exploration helped with world building, the minigames were fun and engaging, and they helped break up into more manageable segments.
One complaint I do have is that there are a lot of silent moments. I would have liked there to be a bit more ambience sound here and there, but nothing that can’t be fixed with a YouTube video in the background. This is just a personal preference and nowhere near a deal breaker, especially since the music that does exist is pretty good.
My hat goes off to the solo developer who was able to create such a fantastic narrative. Its is incredibly obvious that a lot of passion went into this game when you look at all the details that went into bringing this story to life. If you’re looking for a new game, you need to get Nobody Nowhere. It is a fantastic read, and it deserves a lot more attention.
There are a few exciting announcements that dropped that you might have missed. Grand Archive’s 7th set has been announced, and the hype is real. If you’re looking to pick up product, always support your LGS, but using my TCG Player affiliate links to pick up product like the newest Guo Jia and Diao Chan Recollection Decks or a box of Abysal Heaven.
Worlds Reminder
As a reminder, worlds is coming up in June so make sure you are grinding those points efficiently. Tickets are still on sale and it would be a good idea to start planning accommodations.
Distorted Reflections
Distorted Reflections has been leaked for a July release, and it looking like the magical girl set I didn’t know I needed in my life. The set will focus on the Guardian and Ranger classes, with a whimsical flavor I am most excited about.
The set takes archivist to Wonderland, a world ruled by the Queen of Heats. If you are a fan of the literary classic, this might be the set for you.
The set will introduce 222 unique cards, with 234 foil variations. This will be a 24 twelve pack booster box. MSRP:
Pack: $4.49
Box: 107.99
As a reminder, 1st Edition boxes will include unique art, so make sure you buy in early. Once it’s gone, its gone.
Ciel, Mirage’s Grave Starter Deck
Ciel will hit the format as one of the sets two starter decks. Ciel is a fire/umbra deck launching with a MSRP of $14.99.
Diana Moonpiercer Starter Deck
Diana is back, and with a new flavor. She is still a ranger, but this time fighting using the Water and Astra elements. Hopefully this will bring her back into the scene. The starter deck also MSRPs at $14.99. I am very excited to see what the CSR for this line looks like.
If you’re new, Re:Collection decks are Grand Archive’s premium product that come with a high quality deck box, dragonshield art sleeves, three packs special packs, and a competitive deck. The box also includes a play set of all the cards in the deck so you don’t need to buy multiple copies, unless you want to chase that sweet collector rare:
You can wait for opened boxes and the prices to dip, but historically, you aren’t saving much. Especially if the deck defines the meta like Silvie did. If you’re starting out, the hardest part is choosing what flavor you want but either deck is a solid place to start. Always support your LGS, but you can pick up the Guo Jia, Heaven’s Favored Re:Collection Deck on TCG Player through my affiliate link. Get in before you’re paying scalper prices.
Deck List
Materal Deck 1 x Spirit of Water 1 x Diao Chan, Enchantress 1 x Diao Chan, Dreaming Wish 1 x Diao Chan, Idyll Corsage 1 x Cleric Robes 1 x Glimmer Essence Amulet 1 x Scepter of Fascination 1 x Tariff Ring 1 x Crystalline Mirror 1 x Hairpin of Transcience 1 x Kaleidoscope Barrette 1 x Staff of Blossoming Will
Main Deck 3 x Fractal of Insight 2 x Idle Thoughts 3 x Shimmering Refraction 3 x Unstable Fractal 3 x Acquiescing Rejection 3 x Chill to the Bone 4 x Dissuading Halt 4 x Eventide Lure 3 x Fractal of Refreshment 2 x Frostbind 3 x Frostlorn Caress 3 x Frostnip Piroutte 2 x Glimmering Refusal 2 x Protective Fractal 1 x Redirect Flow 2 x Refracting Missile 2 x Torpid Fractal 3 x Bloom: Summer’s Glow 2 x Bloom: Winter’s Chill 3 x Blossoming Denial 2 x Ripples of Atrophy 3 x Season’s End 2 x Shriveling Vines
Material Deck (Visual)
Spirit of WaterDiao Chan, EnchantressDiao Chan, Dreaming WishDiao Chan, Idyll CorsageCleric RobesGlimmer Essence AmuletScepter of Fascination Tariff RingCrystalline MirrorHairpin of TransienceKeleidoscope BarretteStaff of Blossoming Will
Material Deck (Visual)
Fractal of InsightIdle ThoughtsShimmering RefractionUnstable FractalAcquiescing RejectionChill to the BoneDissuading HaltEventide LureFractal of RefreshmentFrostbindFrostlorn CaressFrostnip PirouetteGlimmering RefusalProtective FractalRedirect FlowRefracting MissileTorpid FractalBloom: Summer’s GlowBloom: Winter’s ChillBlossoming DenialRipples of AtrophySeason’s EndShivering Vines
I was sent the Yasha: Legends of the Demon Bladedemo to review for my blog. I will try to be a little more lenient since the game isn’t out yet, but these will be my honest impressions of the game.
The Nine-tailed fox demon have invaded the human realm, inciting chaos and tilting the fragile balance between the two realms. Three brave souls (an immortal ninja, a demon samurai, and an Oni emissary) hear the call to action and find themselves in the adventure of a lifetime. Now they must each fight their way through endless waves of demons to put an end to this terror. Do they have what it takes to restore peace to this world?
Gameplay
Players choose between one of the three heroes, each with a unique story and flavor, and fight their way through waves of enemies. Like most games in the genre, players will start their run at a central hub where they can buy upgrades for their heroes. During a run, players fight against unique demons and bosses to collect currency and materials for new upgrades and abilities. A run ends when a player’s health reaches zero, and players can only progress through the story by defeating the various bosses. The hardest part about this game is choosing what flavor of combat you want to experience the story in.
Impressions
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a solid action RPG. The game has great art, and the Edo period aesthetic fits very well. Combat feels a bit slow and clunky at times, but it generally fine. All three characters feel different and are fun to play, and upgrading them feels impactful. The demons all have unique flavor and the boss fights are fun and creative. Upgrades do require a bit of a grind, but it never felt too bad.
As far as story goes, its fine, but the writing can be a little awkward. There are some lines that try a little too hard to be quirky, but it isn’t a bad read. It at least helped keep my attention long enough to grind things out. Overall, I will need to see how the final product performs before I can recommend it. As it stands, there is no reason to pick Yasha over something like Realm of Ink unless you really like the flavor and art style. If the final version can make combat feel just a little smoother, I’ll be ready to give it an endorsement. I will be trying to get my hands on the full version. Until then, go try the demo and see for yourself. Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!
The Abyssal Heaven spoiler season has officially started! As always, I will collect all the spoilers in one convenient spot, and will be updating this post as soon as I can, but new updates should be up by the end of the day. The newest spoilers will always be on top. Make sure you get your preorders in, and don’t forget to support the official creators!
The Abyssal Heaven developer stream officially kicks off the set’s spoiler season, and there is a lot to go over. I’ve compiled all the important bits in one convenient spot, but make sure you check out the official stream. Always support your LGS, but if you are looking for Abyssal Heaven or any Grand Archive product, pick it up on TCG Player using my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do.
The Stream
Diao Chan Re:Collection
The Diao Chan Re:Collection deck releases March 7th, so make sure you put your preorders when you can because its going to be a banger. Re:Collection decks will have art and cards unique to the deck, and a chance at some very cool rares. These have been very powerful decks, and you aren’t going to want to miss picking them up.
Gua Jia Re:Collection
Abyssal Heaven Spoilers
Dual Card CSR
Ascent Promo
The ascent promo for Seattle, Kaula Lampur, and worlds is going to be Incapacitate, and it is beautiful. it is time to get good because you are going to especially want the day 2 promo in your collection!
Ascent Day 2 Promo
Changes for Day 2 Qualification
There will be changes to qualify for day 2 starting with the HVN season. Players are now required to earn 16 or 18 points (depending on the size of the event) to move to day to. That means no more bubbling!
Ascent Worlds
Worlds Judge Promo
Words Promos (Non-Foil)
Worlds Packages
Worlds Prizing
Worlds Top 8
Worlds Top 4
Lu Bu Deck Box
Spoiler Season
I’ll be posting all of the spoilers in one convenient spot as I get them, but you can always check out the creators to get them there first.
