Ratings are
based on a 1 to 5 scale 1 being the worst.
3 ... average. 5 is the highest rating.
Swordmaster
13
Thursday's card is the new
Shikamaru Nara, Formation. Unlike Ino, Shikamaru
looks stat-wise similar to Shikamaru Nara, Smarty
Pants than his previous incarnation, a Turn 1 0/2
healthy, 0/0 ninja. Like the old Formation Shikamaru,
he has Mental:4, still very nice. Shikamaru's
ability, until Ino's is more of an effect that works
more with other stuff. Shikamaru's effect reduces
the entrance cost of the head ninja battling against
it to 0, which basically works with the new Choji's
effect and maybe a few other cards that utilize
Entrance Cost for things like Attack Against Weak
Spots and Reason For Their Renown, and negates that
ninja's effect text, which can screw over a ton of
played Ninja. The last part really makes Shikamaru
playable. Zabuza can't slaughter your team, Kabuto
can be targeted(Covert Operative) or use your head
ninja's injured stats in battle(Impact of the
Jutsu), Itachi can be killed off easier even without
Kakashi and Sasuke in play, chump-blocking with Dosu
is pointless, the list goes on. The last part makes
Shikamaru playable in any deck running Earth. Only a
handful effects as in ones that trigger outside of
battle like Iyashi's and Mitate's for example and
Baki's wouldn't be negated outright. By the way,
he's common, too.
Limited: 5/5(Screwing over effects is nice, plus
great support)
Constructed: 5/5(considering the effects Shikamaru
screws over, he's instantly playable)
Beastly Mage
Shikamaru
Nara (N-US014)
Another US exclusive card today. This one is better
than yesterday's. He can make the head Ninja of the
opposing team have an entrance cost of 0 AND has its
effect negated... WHOA! Let's say you have this guy
teamed up with Kakashi and your opponent has a
Zabuza out. Zabuza - effect + a good team against
him = pwn3d Even in a Formation deck he fits quite
well. Try it and see.
Ratings:
Limited: 4/5
Constructed: 5/5
Art: What's he doing?!/5
Ajj
Today we get to look at
the new Shikamaru, an insanely powerful, fault free
ninja that will definitely become a staple in all
competitive decks. This card is perfect, maybe even
broken. He’s a turn 1 leaf ninja with good stats,
growth, 4 mental, and the most game play changing
effect since APW. For absolutely nothing, this Shika
will rob the head ninja battling against him of its
effect text (as well as making it’s hand cost 0).
This effect destroys so many ninjas. Early Game: AoC
(sorry no +1), CoP (no pumping for you), Shika IQ
(no MENTAL!), Dosu (No thanks, I don’t really want
to take that extra damage), and BtL (pay for your
Chidori!). Mid Game: Suzume/ Ibiki (sorry no
mental), Suein (I told Naruto and I’m going to tell
you, NO PUMPING!). Late Game: ES (no BR for you),
Zabuza (I’ll only take one damage or I ALREADY SAID
NO GOD DAMN PUMPING IN MY GOD DAMN HOUSE), Itachi
(well I cancel your effect, not like anyone cares
though), and last but not least APW (HAHAHAHA, your
glory days are over grampa, you PHAIL!!!).
Shika’s effect can become even more powerful paired
with a new Ino and/or and new Choji. He’s just too
good to be true. I would be willing to bet my soul
that next set, every competitive deck will have 2 or
3 of this guy decked, he’s that good. BELIEVE IT!!!
Limited: 5/5 (Great stats, mental, and effect)
Constructed: 5/5 (So far, the first staple from ER)
Art: 1/5 (WTF?!)
Darth
Sideous
Shikamaru Nara[Formation]
Today, we are looking at another member of the
Ino-Shika-Cho Trio and that is Shikamaru from
Eternal Rivalry. He is only a common and is a pretty
good character. He's a turn 1 this time unlike IQ
was in R&R, but his effect is pretty nasty. He makes
the entrance cost of the Ninja he battle to 0, and
Shikamaru also negates effect text, which means
Early Settlement Kakashi is only a 6/3 Ninja now
with no effect, the same goes with the famous APW or
the Beyond the Limits Freedori Sasuke. Against
Shikamaru they all become regular ninja's. Shikamaru
still has the 4 mental power, and he also has 2
support instead of 1 like in R&R. He also has
Growth, so he can become a 3 support ninja.
Shikamaru is pretty nasty and is a good character to
use against pesky effect ninja's.
