Hey everyone, RB here! While we’ve already talked about FINAL FANTASY XIV: SHADOWBRINGERS joining FFTCG in Opus XII: Crystal Awakening, I wanted to touch on a really cool Multi-Element character that comes from that title! Today we’re talking about Thancred 12-124L!

Let’s take a look…

Since “Shadowbringers” is a newer title, I don’t want to go too deep into the story, and would instead highly recommend playing it for yourself. It’s seriously one of the best FINAL FANTASY games in the series. The quick rundown is that the Scions are transported to another world, and the Warrior of Light travels there in hopes of finding them and bringing them home. Thancred, who can no longer manipulate aether to cast magicks due to his aetheric flow being irreparably disrupted in the events leading to Heavensward, adapts to his situation by becoming a “Gunbreaker.” In this new role, he wields a gunblade that allows him to use powerful abilities through the use of aether-imbued cartridges. The one catch is that these cartridges need to be imbued with magic by others, since Thancred can’t do it on his own. That’s the most important bit of info to know before taking a look at his new Opus XII card!

Thancred [12-124L] Thancred is a 7 cost Forward with 8000 power from category XIV, with Job Scion of the Seventh Dawn. He has two different auto abilities, the first of which reads, “When Thancred enters the field, choose 1 Forward in your Break Zone. If its cost is equal to or less than the number of Water Forwards and/or Water Backups you control, play it onto the field.” His second auto ability reads, “When Thancred attacks, choose 1 active Forward opponent controls. If its cost is equal to or less than the number of Lightning Forwards and/or Lightning Backups you control, break it.”

So, while Thancred is very powerful, he can’t do much on his own. He’ll need Water Forwards and Backups to power his Defensive ability, and Lightning Forwards and Backups to power his Offensive ability. Let’s start with Water…

The first Water card I want to mention is the new Yuna [12-105L] Yuna which I showed in my first Card of the Week reveal. The biggest reason for this is the fact that Yuna can change her element, effectively being able to power up BOTH of Thancred’s abilities. Characters like Leila [6-126R] Leila and Lenna [3-144L] Lena also help you go wide to power up Thancred’s ability, and if you’re already able to use Thancred’s ability to bring in a 4CP or 5CP Forward, they double as great targets, bringing in an additional Forward along with them.

Something important to note about this ability: while it requires Water Characters to power it, it can bring in any element Forward from your Break Zone, so you could potentially splash in some Forwards other than Water and Lightning.

Taking a look at Lightning, I’d recommend Louisoix [5-120C] Louisoix, Alisaie 5 [1-161C] Mage Blanc, and Alphinaud [5-162S] Alphinaud. The twins and their grandfather help you quickly build up a Backup line to power up Thancred’s offensive ability, and Alisaie in particular gives Thancred Haste, so you can get to breaking opposing Forwards as soon as he enters.

What do you think? Are you keen on this new version of Thancred? What are some brutal combinations you can think of to put your opponent into the danger zone?

Let us know on the FFTCG NA Facebook page at facebook.com/FinalFantasyTCG, or the FFTCG EU Facebook page at facebook.com/FFTCGEurope.

Until next time!

~RB