CIV Review #1-Light. Darth Vailo DM ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Ted Scheresky Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 20:44:20 -0700 (PDT) The Light civ(Civilization) has many useful cards in Base set. But as with any card game they also have some very useless ones as well. And I’m sure you don’t want to go thru the process of looking thru the card lists, reading card text, play testing every little card ECT just to see what’s good and what needs to be sent to the shoe box. Well if you’re like that then today is your lucky day. I have had the privilege to be able to play test every card in Base set. So I have the knowledge of how useful every card may or may not be. So in this article series I will be show casing the best cards for each civ showing my past experiences and oppions. So let’s begin with Light shall we. Hanusa, Radiance Elemental Type: Angel Command Civilization: Light Rarity: Super Rare Cost: 7 Power: 9500 Restriction: 4 Card Text: # Double Breaker (This creature breaks 2 shields) The sky was scorched by Dragon' fire, and the earth gouged by elementals' rays. The battle raged for seven nights and seven days. Well at first glance it is easy to see why this card is used in so many decks using Light. Hanusa has the highest base attack of any creature in Base. 9500 will be able to plow thru any threat that your opponent may have on the field. Not only that but he is also an ever useful Double Breaker. Being a Double Breaker as well as 9500 will make your opponent think twice before blocking with their Gran Gure, Space Guardian. The only real downside to Hanusa is that his cost is a bit high. Seven mana could do quite a bit without having to waste it all on one card. However if you’re running mono Light then this is a staple simply for that extra raw power aspect. Urth, Purifying Elemental. Type: Angel Command Civilization: Light Rarity: Super Rare Cost: 6 Power: 6000 Restriction: 4 Card Text: # Double Breaker (This creature breaks 2 shields) # At the end of each of your turns, you may untap this creature. It is said the destruction of the Ancient Empire was caused by the descent of the elementals. Urth is arguably the best Light type creature in Base. Being able to untap at the end of the turn is just plain annoying. Basically when this guy hits the field he won’t be leaving via an attack any time soon. We all know just how useful the ability can be. But when you take into account the fact that Urth is a 6000 body it just gets sickening. Not to mention he’s a Double Breaker. The only thing I’ve seen that brings Urth’s usefulness down is the fact that he is susceptible to those nagging Death Smokes. Also he is still vulnerable to Gatling Skyterror. However these reasons alone are no reason not to use Urth. If you’re running any deck that contains Light run either 1 or 2 of these beauties. You’ll thank me later. Miele, Vizier of Lightning. Type: Initiate Civilization: Light Rarity: Common Cost: 3 Power: 1000 Restriction: 4 Card Text: # When you put this creature into the battle zone, you may choose 1 of your opponent's creatures in the battle zone and tap it. "Vizier of Lightning, arise. Your eyes are a bow of judgement." -Hanusa, Radiance Elemental The only thing your opponent hates more than you destroying their creatures is you tapping them. And if there’s one thing Light does well its creature tapping. The only real thing that sets Miele apart from all of Light’s other tapping cards is the fact that it is a 1000 body. In Magic I once heard someone say “A body is better than nobody.”. This couldn’t be more true. If you’ve played this game long enough you’ll see that even though a card may have a weak attack it still can break a shield like a 7000 beat stick. Basically you can tap a Blocker that’s in your way, or tap a beat stick that you need to dispose of via one of your own fatties. Whatever is there you can tap. Miele has many great combos. If you can learn to use him right he will become a in disposable tool. Gran Gure, Space Guardian Type: Guardian Civilization: Light Rarity: Very Rare Cost: 6 Power: 9000 Restriction: 4 Card Text: # Blocker (When an opponent's creature attacks, you may tap this creature to stop the attack. Then the two creatures battle.)This creature can't attack players. Those who defile the Sky Castle are doomed, for they shall know the wrath of the Guardians. Blockers are good. Strong, fast, and cheap Blockers are even better. But 9000, 6 cost Blockers are just plain amazing. Gran Gure, Space Guardian is Lights best Blocker in Base without question. He can act as a wall against cards like Urth, Gatling, Zagaan, Deathblade beetle and so many others. He makes the opponent think before he attacks and that is a very good thing. Keeping the opponent on his toes is always good. Basically your getting a creature for 6 mana that is 3000 more attack than his cost. Most of the time cards cost and power a somewhat balanced. Unless that is they have a negative drawback. But here we have a creature that doesn’t have one of those. This is a card that really if you’re planning on using Blockers in your Light line up you should run. There just isn’t a reason not to. La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian. Type: Guardian Civilization: Light Rarity: Common Cost: 1 Power: 2000 Restriction: 4 Card Text: # Blocker (When an opponent's creature attacks, you may tap this creature to stop the attack. Then the two creatures battle.)This creature can't attack players. To protect their floating cities, Guardians are gifted with shining wings. Weenies are always good. Their fast, efficient, and give you an early advantage. La Ura is 1 mana for a 2000 bodied blocker. This means on turn one all you have to do is set a Light card as mana and viola! You have a creature turn 1. This guy stops that ever annoying Deadly Fighter Braid Claw dead in his tracks and makes weenie rushes stop dead in their tracks. This card will only get more invaluable in Evo-Crushinators of Doom so it is safe to say he’s definently worth 4 slots in your deck. Holy Awe Type: Spell Civilization: Light Rarity: Rare Cost: 6 Power: 0 Restriction: 4 Card Text: # Shield Trigger (When this spell is put into your hand from your shield zone, you may cast is immediately for not cost.)Tap all your opponent's creatures in the battle zone. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “Saved the best for last.”. Well to close out my article I give you the card every Duel Masters player hates and wants banned, Holy Awe. Holy Awe is a Shield Trigger that allows you to tap ALL of your opponent’s monsters in the battle zone. Call it cheap, call it broken whatever you like but Holy Awe is Light’s best card. Basically if you’re a Yu-Gi-Oh! Player this card is Duel Masters equivalent of Wabaku. This card stops all your opponents’ monsters for 1 full turn. So that next turn you can either 1) finish off their shields, or 2) destroy all of their creatures. Either way your opponent will hate you. This card is the creme of the crop for Light. Get 4 and play them. Period end of story. Well I hope you enjoyed this article. Remember though that the above cards are not the only good cards Light has to offer. However I hope I have at least given you newer players some useful advice as well as provided some of you older players with some new insights on some of what Light has to offer as a civ. Thanks for reading and as always feel free to e-mail me with any love/hate mail, or questions at darthvailo@yahoo.com Peace, v^^v DV