Welcome Readers!
To kick start this Weiss blog, we shall be talking about the anticipated booster release:
Attack on Titan!
Attack on Titan is the first edition of Weiss Schwarz to be released in English before the Japanese edition. The final artwork illustrations for this set has proven to fully express the intensity that of the actual anime and what emotion the anime portrays in every episode.
Trial deck
As well as the booster box, AOT had an English Trial deck released a few weeks before; meaning it was easier for players to get used to what the booster brings. This trial deck was made available in English on the 2nd July 2015; within this pre-constructed deck, there is 50 cards that any player can pick off the shelves and get playing. Like every trial deck, it comes with a rule sheet, a playbook, a paper playmat and a deck manual that shows you the rules of the game and the playmat introduces the zones of the playing space.
As well as the booster box, AOT had an English Trial deck released a few weeks before; meaning it was easier for players to get used to what the booster brings. This trial deck was made available in English on the 2nd July 2015; within this pre-constructed deck, there is 50 cards that any player can pick off the shelves and get playing. Like every trial deck, it comes with a rule sheet, a playbook, a paper playmat and a deck manual that shows you the rules of the game and the playmat introduces the zones of the playing space.
The trial deck comprises of Yellow and Red cards and there are a couple of cards worth keeping/collecting, especially when the booster set was released, and to me, they are the following:- [Character] Armin Arlert ~ Level 0, 500 power, 0 cost; although come the booster set there was bound to be another/better assist character for Yellow, but for decks that wish to play as either mono Yellow or a mixture of Yellow and Red, his secondary skill is the best assister, simply because you can rest him to give either an "Eren" or "Mikasa" character and it will gain an additional 500 power until the end of turn, so pretty decent seeing as some Eren cards need Armin or Mikasa on the field :)
- [Character] Mikasa Ackermann ~ Level 2, 7000 power, 1 cost; As always, Mikasa is a good supporting character. This version of Mikasa is a highly anticipated card in the trial deck, and arguably the most wanted character. At first glance, her power isn't that impressive but if you have two or more other <Corps> characters on your stage, she gains +1000 power and "Encore" (put a character from your hand into your waiting room); so that's a pretty useful duel skill. Her secondary skill gives her +1000 power each time another of your <Corps> characters attacks, easily making her 10000 power before "assist", so long as you have a full front stage that attacked first :D
- [Character] "Hope in the Darkness of Despair" Eren Titan ~ Level 1, 6000 power, 0 cost; This is a nice character card that will end up being a staple in a Yellow supporting deck; as he continuously gains +1500 power if you have another Mikasa or Armin on your stage; through experience a very troublesome character for your opponent, at least until late game :)- [Event] The Emblem on Their Backs ~ Level 2, 0 cost; This ridiculous event card allows you to give any one of your <Corps> characters +8000 power until the end of turn; easily turning a Level 1 stronger than an opposing Level 3 character!
- [Character] Eren Jaeger ~ Level 3, 10000 power, 2 cost; Now this card is debatable in being a "key" character, but if you want to play an Eren focused deck, he really isn't a bad shout: Gaining +1000 power if you have two or more other <Corps> characters, the character in front of him gets -1 soul - making side-attacks not a good option for your opponent, including being able to weaken down soul power ups before triggers - and during this card's battle, your opponent cannot use "backup" cards from hand - meaning their just weaker character is going byebye regardless; without the help from backup cards to help them power over Eren's (usually) 11000 power.
Booster SetThis particular booster set received a great deal of hype considering it featured the much adored characters of "Attack on Titan" anime and manga series.
Being the first ever Weiss Schwarz set to be released in English before Japanese, many lovers of this franchise were excited to get their hands on it before usual schedule.
There are 100 cards along with 18 Parallels, you can pull SP Versions of "Resisting Fate, Levi", "Resisting Fate, Mikasa" and "Resisting Fate, Eren". As a regular booster set, you receive 8 cards per pack, 20 packs per display box and 16 displays per carton, along with 4 rubber playmats that are included per carton.
One of my favourite things about the Attack On Titan booster boxes is getting 3 of the following chibi designs of these special characters randomly selected in a separate clear pack in the box: Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi, Henge, Conny, Jean, Annie, Christa, Sasha, Reiner and the Colossal Titan!!
Now that we have identified what characters belong to roughly which colour, let's take a deeper look into what I consider "key" cards of each colour, that ultimately make them my favourites of that colour's support in the booster set. You will see a trend within my choices over the course of each colour :P
Red
exchange it with this card on stage as the <Stand> position; allowing you to protect a combo card on your field a while longer as she can save that characters bacon and allow you to mess up your opponent's possible battle plan.
- [Character] "Beyond the Walls" Mikasa ~ Level 2, 8000 power, 2 cost; Beyond the Walls Mikasa is a very nice addition to the much loved Mikasa cards. Although she isn't allowed to side attack, you really won't care that much as she gains +500 power for each of your other <Corps> characters on the stage. Her third skill is climax based as you may deal you may deal your opponent one point of damage if "The World the Girl Saw" is in your climax area, and her battle opponent becomes <reversed>.
- [Event] Hand of Salvation ~ Level 1, 0 cost; This particular Red event I prefer over the others as this salvages any one <Corps> character from your Waiting Room, then choose a card from your hand and put it in the Waiting Room. Then choose one of your characters and it gains +3000 power until the end of turn.
- [Character] "Awkward Affection" Mikasa ~ Level 2, 4500 power, 2 cost; This is one of few Mikasa cards that actually require you to run Eren with or have him on stage as she is unable to <stand> in your next Stand Phase if you do not an "Eren". However, if you have another "Eren" on your field, she gains +1500 power continuously. Her third card effect is Climax-based, when "I Can Hear His Heartbeat" you may pay 1 stock, then if you do, choose an "Eren" character from your Waiting Room and add it to your hand, and this cards gets +1000 power until the end of turn; so a very nice salvage and another power up there.
Green
- [Character] "Resisting Fate" Levi ~ Level 3, 10000 power, 2 cost; This is our main/only Level 3 that a mono Green AOT build can run. In usual Levi fashion, he is the star of the elite scouts and of Green in this set. His ability allows you to half heal/half superior call another character as when "The Wings of Freedom" is placed in the Climax area, you may discard a card from your hand and choose a character from your Clock and place in on any position on your stage. His second ability effectively makes him a restanding Level 3 character as during the turn is placed on stage from hand, when his battle opponent becomes <reversed> you may pay 3 stock, put a character from your stage into your Waiting, and put a card from hand into the Waiting Room, and that allows his to <stand> and more to another open position on stage; so if you can pay for the skill, you can take our your opponent's whole front stage.- [Character] "Humanity's Strongest Solider" Levi ~ Level 1, 5500 power, 1 cost; This is one of the main combo cards in this entire booster set, let alone Green as it requires 7 cards including a climax card for his ability to be used perfectly. This Levi gains +2000 power continuously is it is in the middle position on your centre stage. His second ability is the main one where you put a card from your hand into your waiting room and put a character from your stage into your waiting room, if you do, you may call up to 1 copy of each stated card - Member of Levi Squad Oruo, Petra, Eld and Gunther - to separate positions on your stage, giving you a fantastic way of filling out your field during your Climax Phase if "Special Operations Squad" is placed in your Climax Area. Now as well as filling out your field, each of those cards focus entirely around Levi and each other:
Member of Levi Squad, Ouro ~ Level 1, 4000 power, 0 cost; same as Petra, gains +2000 power with that particular Levi on the field. His second skill gives the middle position on centre stage +1500 power if "Member of Levi Squad, Petra" is on the stage.
Member of Levi Squad, Eld ~ Level 0, 2000 power, 0 cost; giving "Humanity's Strongest Solider, Levi" +1000 power, and if you have "Member of Levi Squad, Gunther" on the stage, all your other <corps> characters get +500 power.
Member of Levi Squad, Gunther ~ Level 0, 2000 power, 0 cost; like Eld, giving "Humanity's Strongest Solider, Levi" +1000 power, and if you have "Member of Levi Squad, Eld" on the stage, all your other <corps> characters get +1 level.- [Character] "Beyond the Walls" Levi ~ Level 2, 7000 power, 1 cost; If you have 4 or more <Corps> character on your stage, this Levi gets -1 level in your hand, allowing you to call him a Level early. Then if all your characters are <Corps>, he gains +1000 power at all times. Finally if during the battle with this card, all players cannot play "Backup" cards from hand; meaning he may prove troublesome if called to stage early enough for your opponent.
- [Character] "Violent Ripples" Levi ~ Level 0, 500 power, 0 cost; This is the <Corps> generic support character so you'll see in him most builds regardless of colour as all <Corps> characters get +500 power continuously. Also, during the turn that he is placed on stage from hand, you may choose one of your opponent's characters on their centre stage and it gets -1000 power until the end of turn making it easier for your characters to successfully <reverse> your opponent's front stage characters.
Yellow
- [Character] "Humanity's Rage" Eren Titan ~ Level 1, 6000 power, 1 cost; Like the TD Level 2 Mikasa, this Level 1 Titan gains +1000 each time another of your <Corps> character attacks until the end of turn. His second skill is climax based where you may pay 1 stock and put the top card of your deck into the Clock, when he attacks with "Crushing Blow" is in your Climax area, he gains +3500 power until the end of your opponent's next turn and your opponent cannot use "Encore" card effects or the "Encore" rule either until the end of your turn. A definite 3 of in any Yellow or mixed colour AOT build in my opinion.
- [Character] "Firm Will" Eren Titan ~ Level 3, 12000 power, 3 cost; This mighty Titan version of Eren means business when it comes to pure brute force. If a card named "Key to Humanity's Counterattack, Eren" is in your memory, he gains +1500 power at all times, and the following ability: [Auto] When this card's battle opponent becomes <reversed>, put that character into your opponent's memory. His second skill is when placed on stage from hand, you get to search for up to one <Corps> character from deck, reveal it and add it to your hand. His third ability occurs during your Encore Phase, where you will have to pay 1 stock, otherwise he gets forced into Memory and a card named "Key to Humanity's Counterattack, Eren" from your Memory is placed on any position of your stage. It's an easy cost to pay to keep a 12000 power Titan on your side ;)
- [Character] "Resisting Fate" Armin ~ Level 3, 6500 power, 2 cost; Although he doesn't have a great base power, like in the anime, he is purely a supportive Level 3 in this booster set. Not being able to be targeted by your opponent's effects, his gives all <Corps> characters in front of him +2000 power and the following ability: "[Cont] This card cannot be chosen by your opponent's effects"; so stopping your opponent from severely messing with him or the two <Corps> characters in front of him with card effects. Furthermore, when he is placed on stage from hand, look at the top X cards (X is equal to the amount of <Corps> characters you have) and choose up to one card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest into your Waiting Room. A nice ability to gain you another card you may need whether a character, event or Climax card.
Blue
- [Character] "Plan of Capture" Female Titan ~ Level 3, 10000 power, 2 cost; this mighty Female Titan has three effects. One gives her opposing character -1 soul so a nice way to stop side-attacks from your opponent. The next is a climax based; when "Subjugation" is in your climax area and all of your <Titan> characters, draw a card and she gains "[Cont] The character facing this card gets -1 soul" until the end of your opponent's next turn. Finally, when this card is frontal attacked, if you pay the cost (put a titan character from your hand into your waiting room) this card gets +2500 power until the end of turn. Overall this card is very defensive compared to the other Titans.- [Character] "High Intellect" Female Titan ~ Level 2, 5000 power, 1 cost; She has three nice supporting effects. [Cont] All of your other <Titan> character get +1000 power and [Auto][(3) Put 2 cards from your hand into your Waiting Room] When a climax is placed in your Climax area, if you pay the cost, you deal 5 damage to your opponent. Although this damage may be cancelled, if it's successful you may deal enough to level your opponent up, and if it's cancelled, it wastes cards from their deck and gets rid of another climax from their deck before attacks happen. You may also <rest> her and choose one of your <Titan> characters and give it +1000 power until the end of turn so overall a very useful <Titan> character to utilise.
- [Character] "Enormous Stature" Colossal Titan (his head) ~ Level 3, 10000 power, 2 cost; Now this Level 3 is the beast of all the <Titan> characters as he need his "arm" and "body" to be a very huge threat to your opponent as each part of him supports each other to stop your opponent from easily taking him down. Let me explain:
If you have "Threat to Humanity, Colossal Titan" (his arm) and "Broken Wall, Colossal Titan" (his body) on the field, this card gets -1 level while in your hand. The next skill aids his arm and body as during your opponent's turn, if this card is in your centre stage and is not <reversed>, his arm and body cannot become <reversed>; meaning a front row that is very difficult to get rid of. However, this will make him a target when your opponent wises up to a combo to get rid of the head. His final ability is climax based; when "And, in 850..." is put into your Waiting Room from your Climax Area, at the beginning of your encore step, if you pay the cost, return the top card of your clock to your hand and this card gets +3000 power until the end of your opponent's next turn.
- [Character] "Threat to Humanity" Colossal Titan ~ Level 2, 9500 power, 1 cost; Seeing as this card is just an arm, it cannot attack if you do not have "Enormous Stature, Colossal Titan". Then if this is on the left position of your center stage, your other "Enormous Stature, Colossal Titan" and "Broken Wall, Colossal Titan" get +1000 power continuously. When this attacks, if you have "And, in 850..." in your climax area and if you pay the cost (put a card from your hand into the Waiting Room), all of your <Titan> characters get +3500 power until the end of turn. His final ability forces him to retire from the field, if your "Enormous Stature, Colossal Titan" is put into the Waiting Room, so does he.
- [Character] "Broken Wall" Colossal Titan ~ Level 2, 9500 power, 1 cost; Again, not being able to attack with his head on the field. If this is on the right position of your centre stage, all of your other "Enormous Stature, Colossal Titan" and "Threat to Humanity, Colossal Titan" get +1000 power. When he attacks, if "And, in 850..." is in the climax area, you may draw a card. And finally, being forced to retire if "Enormous Stature" goes to the Waiting Room.
I hope you enjoyed looking into this set with me, although it has been out for a while now so sorry for publishing this late; the closer is gets to university starting, I will be falling behind with releases, but I'll do my best to keep these posts entertaining and interesting to read!
I shall also shortly be publishing my own decklists for Attack on Titan.
That's all for now Readers, so see you next time and take care!
Moka x x
Hooray for Colossal Titan Deck! Boo Levi Anti-Fun Squad Deck! Good read. Look forward to your Fate UBW review. Make sure there's lots of Tohsaka!
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