New Cards Review I

Sorry for the late article, I decided to wait for Zanki but of course Bushiroad didnt revealed it during this week. Time to keep waiting, sigh.

Lets start with the new Grade 1

AUTO (RC) Generation Break 1 [Put this unit into your soul] When another dominated unit attacks during your turn, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw a card, and that unit gets Power+6000 until the end of the battle.

Pretty much the Nubatama version of Jeffrey, with a fitting timing.

Since Madoi’s reveal one of my low-key wishes was to get a clone of it with other grades, and there is it.

While it’s a shame that the powerup its only for one battle, this card have some nice synergy with Zanki, calling it with its skill so that even a 4k trigger called by the opponent would have enough power to attack the Vanguard and force guard.

Nothing much to say after that, pretty handy card considering the how much Soul we are going to use after this set.

And then there is the card that everyone has been waiting for

This card sure make me feel a lot of emotions during the first hours after its reveal.

First I was certainly excited to finally get a G Guardian that gained 10k shield, or on this case 15k, making it an one card 30k shield.

Then I read the skill and get a bit sad that it only gained the extra 10k if the opponent had 6 or more cards, thinking that it should gain 10k and then 5k, because the opponent having 6 cards before the Drive Checking it’s quite the sticky situation.

And finally I remembered that there having been rearguards casually whose power can casually be over 31k lately thanks to some huge powerups...

So while this card isn’t the Vanguard stopper I hope this would be, its still a precious addition to our defensive arsenal.

Now I just hope that they reveal Zanki soon. 

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L'Express Review: Stealth Dragon, Enbai

Yeah, yeah, Im back. Stuff happened. The important bit is that Im able to write articles again, so lets start my return to shape with the most recently revealed Nubatama card (that of course was revealed like 12 days ago, sigh)

[AUTO](RC) Generation Break 1:When another dominated unit attacks during your turn, this unit gets [Power]+5000 until end of turn.

Pretty simple card...

At first glance we may think "Oh my god it can get huge", and yes, it can get huge, but then we stop seeing the card in a vacuum (because everyone analyzes cards in a vacuum for some reason) and lets think about outside factors:

- Excluding Mujinlord turns, this card most of the time will only get just a single +5k boost due to the other Dominate G-units, because its going to a miracle if this card is on the field the moment you use Oboro's On-Stride Dominate due to so many cards that retire/lock/etc these days.

- About Mujinlord itself, due to the variety of G-units that the clan has, Mujin will exclusively be used as an absolute finisher, the last G-unit that we use, which takes us to the last point...

- The clan already has its fair share of reaguards that gain power when a Dominated unit attacks

And the kicker is, all of them does something more than just gain power. I dont know about you, but I prefer cards that are useful during the entire fight than for just a turn (and even then, there is chance of not having a copy when Striding Mujinlord)

Overall, its a simple card...too simple in comparison to the options the clan already has, but its expected considering that this is third batch of support for Nubatama during this season, which is a miracle by itself.

Atleast is still better than GBT12's Fillerimage support.

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L'Express Review: Maguntenbu

Some days ago, we got our SP Pack revealed, and between the contents there was some expected stuff like both Shiranui and Noroi, some nice surprises like Tsukumorakan (take that, scalpers!)…and a mysterious 3rd G-Unit at the end.

SP Mujinlord sure looks nice

Despite the obvious lack of information about it, there was something assured, it was going to be another Dominate G-unit, something that was clarified this week when it was revealed as one of Bushiroad’s Card of the Day.

Enma Stealth Dragon, Maguntenbu

Its always awesome to have some Daisukeizuka art in your deck

Domination-[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Counter Blast (1) & Choose a face down card from your G zone with the same card name as this unit, and turn it face up] Choose one of your opponent's rear-guards, and it gets [Power]+3000 for each face up card in your G zone until end of turn. Dominate that unit as [Stand], it attacks another of your opponent's unit, and at the end of that battle, retire the dominated unit. (You pay the cost to use its abilities as well)

A pretty simple but still useful effect, as standard for Nubatama.

When I tested the deck before the reveal of this card, I felt that the deck lacked something, although I wasn’t sure about what exactly was needed.

And then this card appeared and I got the answer: good old control.

While I certainly appreciate the new mechanic, its always nice to being able to retire some pesky rearguards (even more with the twist of retire it after it was dominated), specially interceptors, which were one of the few things things that annoyed me about this new deck.

Although the big perk of this card is the fact that it can counter one of the meta’s favourite combos, retiring Cannoner/Negrolazy with Negrolily and revive it with Nightrose.

While I was never victim of this combo, Im pretty sure that it would have been painful for the poor soul that suffered it

Simply put, due to the fact that the dominated unit is treated as our unit when it’s retired, Nightrose couldn’t use her GB2 to bring her back, saving us from quite the strong combo.

And here its a clarification for those interested!

I have to say, for a first batch of support, I’m surprised that we got such a nice variety of Dominate G-units to use, with Maguntenbu being the deck’s decent first stride, having an effective finisher in Mujinlord , and Kingokutenbu’s free Dominate being useful if you are low in Counter Blasts.

Between the cards that I previously covered and some units that were revealed on the anime (like the G1 that gains 3k when a dominated unit attack), I doubt that they will show anything else that will make the cut. But still, overall, considering that this was the first batch of support for a new build, the support sure was refreshingly good. 

It can only get better after this.

…Although I would certainly appreciate a G Guardian that gains 10k shield without having to discard.

"And here its where I'd put my +10k Shield G-Guardian...IF I HAD ONE"

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Domination: Introduction

 Nubatama was introduced on BT01, with focused on discarding cards from the opponent hand and gaining power by doing so.

Then after a long break they received support in BT13 again, this time focused on temporarily sealing (binding) cards from the opponent’s and field, reducing the defense, while gaining a lot of power while doing so, with a bit of discard.

After another long break, they received their first G era support in RECKLESS RAMPAGE, introducing the Afterimage keyword, which allowed to being offensive without overextending...while gaining a bit of power while doing so… also with a bit of discard.

And finally, after a not-so-long break this time, Nubatama received support again...while also getting retooled

Again.

And unlike previous retools, who all were similar, sweet christmas this one sure is a big one.

Introducing to you….DOMINATION!

No, no THAT kind of Domination dammit. I meant this one...!

Demon Stealth Dragon, Shiranui "Oboro"

[AUTO](VC):At the beginning of your ride phase, you may choose a card from your opponent's drop zone. If you do, your opponent calls that card to (RC), and at the end of that turn, retires that unit.

Domination-[AUTO](VC):When your G unit Stride, choose up to one of your opponent's rear-guards, dominate it as [Stand], it gets [Power]+4000 until end of turn, and it attacks another of your opponent's units. (You pay the cost to use its abilities as well)

And what better card to introduce this mechanic than Shiranui himself, who in his new incarnation is once again the core engine of the deck.

The first time Bushiroad revealed Shiranui “Oboro”, they covered his Stride Bonus, only saying that it was to contain a new keyword, “Dominate”.

The description of the keyword alongside “Oboro”’s flavor text, “The strong dominates the weak. That is the rule of the world”, make people think that his stride bonus was going to control opponent’s rearguards, a skill never seen before.

And, as you can see, those who thought that were right (what a tweest)

So, how Dominate works?

-The affected unit's state becomes dominated, and it also changes to [Stand] state, if possible.

-Choose one unit that is not dominated in your opponent's front row, and the dominated unit goes to attack that unit immediately.

-After attacking, if there are no longer units that can be attacked, or the dominated unit becomes unable to attack more, the unit stops being dominated. The turn continues in the current phase where the "Domination" ability was activated.

As it was the case with his previous form, “Oboro”’s Stride Bonus defines the deck. No discards, no bind, just taking control of an opponent unit for a attack.

At first glance, the deck became another multi-attack deck, with the extra attacks coming from the opponent’s own rearguards (dat flavor)

Which, all things considered, makes sense. Nubatama always a pseudo-multiattack deck, taking cards from the opponent’s hand as if my units were attacking more than three times. Talking about logical progression.

Although in this case, the extra attacks came with a little big perk.

We can use the opponent’s rears skills during the battle.

Yup, while we sadly can't use ACT skills and the like, we can use any skills that triggers on attack, on hit, or during the end of the battle (if we clear the conditions, obviously), which can be a big factor on our side depending of the matchup, while also having this little fella to make the conditions more accessible

Stealth Dragon, Tenrei

[CONT](RC) Generation Break 1:During your turn, your vanguard with "Shiranui" in its card name gets all of your opponent's vanguard's card names, clans, races, and nations.

[AUTO](RC) Generation Break 1:[Put this unit into your soul] When an attack hits a vanguard during the battle that this unit attacked or boosted, you may pay the cost. If you do, your opponent chooses a card from his or her hand, and discards it.

Pretty funny skills if you ask me

As I say before, the deck will be focused on the Vanguard dominating the opponent’s rearguard, similar how in Link Joker the Vanguard locks, and like the cyber aliens, the new rearguard support will be related to the keyword.

Stealth Dragon, Genkai

 [AUTO](RC) Generation Break 1 (Active if you have one or more face up G units in total on your (VC) or G zone):[Counter Blast (1) & Soul Blast (1)] When a dominated unit attacks during your turn, if you have a vanguard with "Shiranui" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw a card, and this unit gets [Power]+2000 until end of turn.

Stealth Dragon, Tengai

[AUTO](RC):When a dominated unit attacks during your turn, until end of turn, this unit gets "[AUTO](RC):[Put this unit into your soul] At the end of your turn, you may pay the cost. If you do, Counter Charge (1).".

We know have cards (or at least a card, for now) that gives us a bit of sustain off of dominated attacks, and cards that allows us to recharge our resources.

And in the case the rears that the opponent left us are too weak, we have cards that gives them power.

Stealth Dragon, Madoi

[AUTO]:Forerunner (When a unit of the same clan rides this unit, you may call this unit to (RC))

[AUTO](RC) Generation Break 1 (Active if you have one or more face up G units in total on your (VC) or G zone):[Put this unit into your soul] When a dominated unit attacks during your turn, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw a card, choose up to one of any rear-guards, and it gets [Power]+3000 until end of turn.

Stealth Fiend, Daruma Collapse

[AUTO](RC) Generation Break 1:[Retire this unit] When any fighter's unit [Stand] due to an effect from cards during your turn, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose any number of any fighter's units in the same column as that unit, and they get [Power]+2000 until end of turn. If you chose one or more units, draw a card.

Something nice about those cards is that not only it can give power to my opponent’s rears, but also our own rearguards, increasing our offensive. Talking about versatility.

And the cool thing is, if we fight against a deck that can leave their field empty, Shiranui’s revival skill is quite useful, alongside this new card.

Stealth Dragon, Fuurai

[ACT](RC)[1/Turn] Generation Break 1:[Soul Blast (1)] Choose a card from your opponent's drop zone, your opponent calls that card to his or her open (RC), and at the end of that turn, retires that unit.

[AUTO](RC) Generation Break 1:When another unit attacks during your turn, if you have a vanguard with "Shiranui" in its card name, this unit gets [Power]+2000 until end of turn.

As you can see this card is pretty much Kokuyjo 2.0 (ayyyy the nostalgia), with a much easier condition to gain power, while also having a useful skill in order to ensure that you opponent will have multiple rears on their field.

Why we would want the opponent to have many rearguards? For the deck’s new main G-unit

Enma Stealth Rogue, Mujinlord

Domination-[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Counter Blast (1) & Choose a face down card from your G zone with the same card name as this unit, and turn it face up] Choose up to the same number of any rear-guards as the number of face up cards in your G zone, and they get [Power]+4000 until end of turn. Dominate all of your opponent's chosen units as [Stand], and each of those units attack your opponent's vanguard. (You pay the cost to use its abilities as well)

The card follows Nubatama’s design of simple but destructive skills. Dominating the entire opponent’s field can be more painful that it sounds, and the best part? Even if we have more face-up G-unit than opponent’s rears, we can give the extra +4ks to our rears, something really nice.

Considering how Dominate works i.e all the dominated rears will be in control of the Nubatama players until there is not rear left that can attack, we can use a Dominated rear that attacked for the cost of other Dominated rears, either be Time Leap, Engorge and the like.

And of course it wouldn't be Nubatama without adding some pressure to the mix.

Stealth Dragon, Utsuroi

[CONT]:Sentinel

[AUTO]:[Choose a card from your hand, and discard it] When this unit is placed on (GC) from hand, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose one of your units that is being attacked, and it cannot be hit until end of that battle.

[AUTO](Drop Zone):[Choose one other "Stealth Dragon, Utsuroi" from your drop zone, and put it on the bottom of your deck] When a dominated unit's attack hits a vanguard during your turn, you may pay the cost. If you do, return this card to your hand.

This card along side Mujinlord can be really painful to deal with it. It's good to know that despite the many retools the clan have gone through, Nubatama can always found the way to exert big pressure to the opponent.

And to top it off, we got a new G-Guardian, showing that Dominate not only means to attack with the opponent’s rearguards, but also guard with them.

Rikudo Stealth Dragon, Gehourakan

 Domination-[AUTO]:[Counter Blast (1) & Soul Blast (1)] When this unit is placed on (GC), you may pay the cost. If you do, choose one of your opponent's grade 1 rear-guards in the back row, dominate it, and move it to your (GC). (It is regarded as your guardian during that battle)

While the target is really specific in comparison to other “Trap” G-Guardians, the fact that we can use standing G1s means that we can decrease the power of incoming attacks, which can break or make a fight.

All things considered, to say that the new support is good is a big understatement.

Not only the deck became of the of the ever popular multiattack decks with its own unique spin to that tactic, but the rearguard support covers any weakness the deck could have (low power rears, empty field) while also getting decent bonuses out of dominate attacks.

Like I said way back at the end of Retrospective, despite Bushiroad’s recent record after this support, I had enough faith that they wouldn't screw this up considering the treatment that they give to this clan despite the long breaks between the support, and I'm more than happy to know that I was right, with the new support clearly being well-thought, as always.

So yeah...worth the weight?

Damn right it was.

Thanks, and have fun

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