Orange Hat Guy

Renji - Unleashed Card Number: P87 Card Type: Character Rarity: Promotional Expansion: Portal Deck Limit: 4 Cost: 4b 4s Card Text: (You may discard a /Renji/ of any version in your party and lower this character's energy cost by that character's exact energy cost. You cannot modify this character's cost except by this effect.) When /Renji/ enters play from your hand, search your deck for 3 different Squad 6 characters and put them in play. Let's start by getting Renji onto the field of play. It is possible as early as turn 2 with a remarkably easy set-up. Play either the Byakuya or Ichigo guardians for the extra energy on turn 1. For your first turn, play Renji - Sparring, Renji - New to Town, or Renji - Pushing the Issue. On turn 2, use Unleashed's effect to discard your first Renji from play and play Unleashed for 5. There are various other ways to play him other than pyaing his cost, but however you do it, the important factor is that he is played from your hand. This is key because when he enters play from your hand, he triggers a powerful effect. If you use the Byakuya or Ichigo guardian, there are only 2 other S6 characters you can search for: Byakuya and Rikichi. As for Byakuya, the best choice is Byakuya - Unstoppable, the Ultra rare from Bankai. His effect can be used to make Renji aggressive, and deplete any potential blockers your opponent may have. If you do not have access to the Ultra Rare Byakuya, using Squad 6 Captain is the best second choice. The potential damage is nearly the same, but it takes one turn longer to go for the kill, which can give your opponent the valuable time he needs to destroy your field and beat you instead. For Rikichi, I use the Admirer version, and when he comes into play I use the effect to search for Renji - Pointing. If I suspect my opponent has a QQ or something else to hurt my already in play Renji, I might sometimes grab another Unleashed with Rikichi's effect instead, but more often than not Pointing is the way to go. If you fear Renji, you have options as well. Many Renji decks spend all their early turn energy trying to get Unleashed in play before turn 4, and all of these ways require having a character in play. Self-Sacrifice is a fantastic way to remove these characters from play before they can serve their purpose. Other options are to get Renji out of your Opponent's hand with cards like Careful Planning or Mysterious Opponent, or to stop Renji from doing damage with bounce cards, such as Balance of Souls and QQ.

NavyCherub

Renji – Unleashed This guy is a beast. Without even looking at his ability to make himself infinitely cheaper, he’s a turn 4 huge guy who brings three friends with him. Byakuya – Unstoppable can come out with him, making Renji Aggressive. Then Rikichi – Admirer hops along, grabbing a Renji – Pointing to put in your hand, letting Renji swing twice. While those two characters are your only choices with most guardians, Yamamoto and Yachiru can leave you with plenty of others (Rukia – Battle Ready or Rangiku – Playful, anyone?). Unleashed is also conveniently very easy to tutor. Tragic Accident, Enter the Hero, Repentance Cell Guards, and Dressing Room can all be very easily integrated into any deck focusing on bringing him out as effectively as possible. Not to mention that Byakuya – Surprised can bring him into play for free; while that won’t get you his effect, you can now swing with the Unleashed you played and then discard him for the effect of an Unleashed in your hand, letting him swing two more times. He also has many weaknesses. Mysterious Opponents hates him with a passion. I’m Sorry will prevent his effect from going off. Dark Ritual will keep him AND his effect from causing you any harm. Self-Sacrifice will kill off little Renjis that make him cheaper and that Byakuya – Surprised that will bring him out for free. Competitive – 4/5 – His biggest weaknesses, Mysterious Opponents and Dark Ritual, should be played by everyone in the meta right now, so he’s not perfect. Casual – 4/5 – Overall, the same ideas apply. Art – 1/5 – It’s really bland and ugly, not to mention that Renji is ugly in general. -NavyCherub