Initially, Great Nature was introduced to us via 4 cards released in BT-02, where 2 of them are the usual G1 and G2 vanillas, and then a G0 and a G3 that can give one of their Rear Guards +4k boost, but retire them during the end phase. Just to give it a different name for this ability, I'll call it 'Brainjack' (they're students and teachers anyway, brainjacking is my definition of forcing people to absorb a lot of information until they can't stand it anymore and go nuts LOL!)
Back to topic, when BT-07 was released, GN finally join in the fray as a fully playable clan, with 3 different deckbuilds upon release, and another one coming soon in BT-08. From a glance, uncontrolled brainjacking might give you a disadvantage because you'll have lesser units to play with, but the design team found a way to fix the problem by giving them ways to recur their cards. I think GN will be one of the sub-clans that can really pose a threat to the mainstay clans because of the advantage that they can generate. I'll be analyzing the main archetypes, as well as the key cards that will be used in the decks.
The High Rankers
School Hunter, Leopald
This guy is the head of Great Nature University's Disciplinary Division. Once he thinks you're guilty, he'll hunt you down with his buds. If you resist, he'll send in more of his buds.
Guardian of Truth, Lox
The genius of the university, this guy makes sure that you don't lie, if he found out that you do, he and his buds will arrest you, painfully.
Comparing Lox with Leopald, Lox still lacks a bit of support in the form of secondary attackers, as he can't revive brainjacked units. However, Lox boasts the highest defense in GN thanks his chain ride system. Each successful chain ride triggers the previous Grade's skill, allowing to you choose up to two units, and give them the ability to net you a card if they went to the Drop Zone during your end phase. The G3 Lox is a Persona Blaster, whereby you can CB1, Persona Blast and brainjack a guy, giving the brainjacked guy not only +4k power, but +1 Critical as well. Comboing with Lox's chain ride skill, you can hit hard with the brainjacked guy, and draw a free card when the guy dies.
School Dominator, Apt
The principal of the Great Nature University, and the second unit with a Limit Break skill. But ironically, as the principal of an university, he's surprisingly the weakest unit among the main archetypes' key units.
Apt has a very common LB skill, whereby you get a 5k boost when attacking a Vanguard. Not very impressive there. His second skill is a very interesting one. Upon hitting a Vanguard, you can retire one of your Rear Guards to call another one from your hand. Though his skill seems to be very interesting, acting as a pseudo Stand Trigger, but he's actually putting you at a minus, because you're losing a Rear Guard (-1), then another card from your hand (-1). Count in the plus for gaining another unit on field, which leaves you at a -1 hand advantage. Unlike Lox and Leopald, where they can retrieve back the units, or brainjack them for higher efficiency.
The Elites
Hammsuke
This cute little hamster is spread among all 3 Grades, and shares the same skill, where upon the instance Hammsuke is retired from the RG circle, you can CB1 to fetch a card of the same name as the one retired from your deck and add it to your hand.
This makes Hammsukes a favorite target for brainjacking, because you'll be able to pick them back anyway. Probably the G2 Hammsuke won't make it into decks because he's only 8k, but the G1 and G3 Hammsuke is definitely worth consideration.
Binoculars Tiger & Monoculars Tiger
These two brothers are experts in brainjacking. Just by declaring an attack against the Vanguard, you may brainjack somebody. 9k and 7k are quite good numbers for their respective Grades, and I would say Binoculars Tiger is definitely an auto-include of 3x to 4x in every GN deck, while his younger brother, Monoculars Tiger might be only a 2-off since you need to attack, and you won't want to attack with him unless that's the final turn.
Tic-Tock Flamingo
He's the music instructor of GN University, teaching his students all about tempo. I would say this is one of the best Rear Guards available for GN. He's a 7k booster, and also, he has a very good skill.
Upon entering the field, you can choose one of your Rear Guards, and give them the ability to flip a damage in your Damage Zone face up if the targeted unit goes to the Drop Zone during your End Phase. He's the best partner unit for Leopald, where he can make Leopald's Limit Break free! Of course, he will be found in decks that can gain advantage from brainjacking.
Magnet Crocodile
The best secondary G3 for GN without any question. He's basically a clone of Dragonic Executioner, where he gets a 2k boost when attacking a Vanguard. GN is in need of units that have good Rear Guard skills. and Magnet Crocodile fits in the role perfectly.
Of course there are more units that I would like to mention, but I think this post is long enough. I'll further elaborate when I start the deck dissection of GN decks.
Based on what I've posted here, you can already roughly see what type of decks that you can build, or want to build. I believe that GN will be a very strong contender for being a Tier 1 deck based on the support that is given to them (I would say they're like Gold Paladins during their initial release). I actually don't play GN, but now I'll be testing it out to see how can GN be utilized properly as well as finding a way to counter possible GN builds.
Until next time, This is Homura signing out for now!
I would love trying apt with hammsuke build.. Seems much more fun compare to the other two even though not stronger..
ReplyDeleteWhat does Brainjacking mean again sir?
ReplyDeleteBrainjacking is a term that I came up that describes Great Nature's unique skill to power up their units. In short, it means:
Delete"+4000 power to a Great Nature unit. At the beginning of your End Phase, retire that unit."