G Booster Set 8: Absolute Judgment

[Cherry]

Release Date: August 26th 2016
English Release Date: September 30th 2016

Includes:
Royal Paladin
Gold Paladin
Neo Nectar
Link Joker
Dark Irregulars
Genesis
Pale Moon
Granblue
Cray Elemental

104 Cards (103 New; 1 Reprint)
2 Generation Rares
8 Triple Rares
12 Double Rares
22 Rares
60 Commons
-
12 SP Cards
2 Super Generation Rares
30 SP Cards among the SP Clan Packs

Silent Sage, Sharon is getting Alternative Art!

- Genesis Dragon, Amnesty Messiah confirmed to be specially reprinted as R just like Olivia in the Bermuda Triangle Clan Booster.
- An Arboros Dragon G Unit is happening. (Sephirot)
- DELETORSSSSSSSS
- Everyone's getting an SP pack, and Neo Nectar's is getting the Ahsha units, her Stride Fodder, and one new unit!
- Gold Paladin and Dark Irregulars won't be getting Clan Packs due to getting them in GBT07.
- Dark Irregulars will get a Sentinel unit that has an ability in soul.

this is the most excited for vanguard ive been in years

[kukuchan]

"- DELETORSSSSSSSS"

Yus! yuuuussss! Yusssssss! This is like dream coming true X3

[Magus TSS]

Well I have mix feelings about the set atm.
But that Sharon reprint really made me wish it was a stride oh well.

In any case only clans i'm looking forward to are Royal Paladin, Neo Nector.
The Middle Ground is Genesis, Pale Moon, Granblue and Golds.
And I'm absolutely Dreading Link Joker.

This must be the final set of the season for sure. So I can't wait to see what card these guys get.
Still dreading the Link Joker stuff though.

[Cherry]

Mythic Hellsky Beast, Fenrir



Sinner, Scharhrot

[Cherry]

Arboros Dragon, Ein Soph Ohr
[Stride]-Stride Step-[Choose one or more cards with the sum of their grades being 3 or greater from your hand, and discard them] Stride this card on your (VC) from face down.
[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Soul Blast (1)] If you have a heart card with "Arboros" in its card name, until end of turn, this unit gets "[AUTO](VC):When this unit attacks, choose one of your rear-guards, search your deck for up to one card with the same card name as that unit, call it to (RC), and shuffle your deck." and "[CONT](VC) Generation Break 2:All of the units with "Arboros" in its card name in your front row get [Power]+5000.".



Executioner(?) Deletor, Gieron

[CONT](RC):This unit gets [Power]+1000 for each face down card in your opponent's bind zone.
[AUTO](RC):At the end of the battle that your vanguard with "Deletor" in its card name attacked a vanguard, your opponent chooses a card from his or her drop zone, and binds it face down (vanish delete).



Knight of the Remaining Sun(?), Henrines
[AUTO] Generation Break 1:[Counter Blast (1) & Soul Blast (1)] When this unit is placed on (RC), you may pay the cost. If you do, look at three cards from the top of your deck, search for up to one card from among them, call it to (RC), and put the rest on the bottom of your deck in any order. If you have a vanguard with "Gurguit" in its card name, the unit called with this effect gets [Power]+3000 until end of turn.
(may give +3k to self and called unit)



Rambling Shade
[AUTO]:Hollow (When this unit is placed on (RC), you may have it become hollowed. If you do, retire it at the end of turn)
[AUTO](RC):[Put two cards from the top of your deck into the drop zone] When this unit attacks a vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, this unit gets [Power]+2000 until end of that battle.
[AUTO] Generation Break 1:When this unit intercepts, if the number of cards with the hollow ability in your drop zone is four or more, this unit gets [Shield]+5000 until end of that battle.



Greedy Succubus
[CONT]:Sentinel
[AUTO]:[Choose a card from your hand, and discard it] When this unit is placed on (GC) from hand, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose up to one of your vanguards that is being attacked, and that unit cannot be hit until end of that battle.
[ACT](Soul) Generation Break 1 Darkness (This ability is active if cards have been put into your soul during this turn):[Choose one of your grade 1 or less rear-guards, and retire it] Put this card into your hand.



Next Era Regalia, Skuld
[AUTO](RC):[Choose three normal units with "Regalia" in its card name from your drop zone, and put them on the bottom of your deck in any order] At the end of your turn, if you have a vanguard with "Regalia" in its card name, and the number of cards put into your drop zone from your soul this turn is three or more, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw a card, and Soul Charge (1).



Bottom Left Unit: Carnivaless/Carnivorous Megatrick, Purana
Bottom Right Unit: Genesis Dragon, Flageolet/Flagioletto Messiah

[Sandy]

I will never understand why Bushi gives sporadic support to random archetypes, or even invents random archetypes (see OTT witches). It thins out the support for the clan as a whole and they only get said support randomly. I'd rather they focus their attentions on the clans G-support and Subclans..instead of these archetypes.

[[R.T] SpiderHunterMD]

The same reason Sanctuary of Light still is a thing.... #SupportGarmore  #GiveDarkIrregularAChance

[Cherry]

Archetypes are pretty popular so legacy support is always an extra buck (provided it's not awful). Focusing on G Support and not spreading out to archetypes, including not making new ones, just kills clan diversity as the only real decks will be those G Decks and/or one archetype. It's better this way so if one goes to a clan, they have more options than just the Heart Beat boss or Thing Saver for example if someone plays Royals. Reviving old cards like the Arboros support here makes it so Sephirot and co have a chance to actually be played again, instead of just leaving a portion of their overall printed card pool dead and in the garbage. Builds more interest too, as one of vanguard's problems in the past were only 1-2 decks actually playable in the clan (cough shadow paladin).

If anything, the only thing that truly "thins" out support is Bushi wasting slots in sets on bad clones and other useless garbage like the Tooth Edge Dracokid clones (or most of the Gear Chronicle cards in GBT07). They can use that space on chiming in with archetypes or building up on new ones like OTT Witches and the like.

The Aqua Force Clan Booster is a good example of building new archetypes/series and then making something great and diverse out of it. Ripples went from just a Ride Chain to a bigger deck that did tons more. It created a really different feel in the G Era by making a deck that never really had to Stride at all. Then Blue Waves were a cute expansion, Blue Storm got a little something even if it's not really worth anything, and Thavas came out well out of it all at the same time. That booster made large amounts of diversity and none of those decks have seen new support in a long time (maybe because Aqua Force hasn't gotten into a new booster and doesn't deserve one).

[Sandy]

But that's just it though, LOOK at OTT. Archetypes: Tsuku and now Witches. Subclans: Battle Sisters and Magus and on top of ALL of that there's the G-support. Unless they ignore one or two of them, their support is going to be stretched pretty thin when and if they do get support. That's what I meant by thinning it out. I'm behind the thinking that they should stay with the stuff that is already there and trying to make 'them' better, instead of trying to create some new archetype 'thing' that may or may not get continuous support. Speaking of archetype and subclans getting 'crap' support. Sometimes that happens, I mean look at Musketeers for example, the only stride they got...was for Cecilia.. and if you don't like her.. or don't have her or for whatever reason can't/don't want to play her, you're screwed for that subclan. A lot of the archetype stuff isn't even that great, it was...back THEN, but now? It's a little TOO varied in what is 'good' and what isn't. Tsuku for example is still somewhat good, but can you say that for some of the other ride chains and/or archetypes from yesteryear?

[Cherry]

If Bushi stops printing common clones they can easily print 2-3 cards per archetype/subclan and still have room for a lot of G Support devotion. Supporting variation gets pushed out for shitty clones for some odd reason.

The idea of supporting archetypes and subclans is fine, it just needs to be done consistently or give those things lasting support when it does happen like Blue Waves/Ripples got.

[Sandy]

Well that's just it though, at the moment, what a lot of subclans need is a new grade 3 'boss', someone they can play in either keeping up with stride, IE having the GB2 ones or something more 'up to date' when it comes to those clans that don't have to revolve around stride, but at least bringing their mechanic(s) forward and into the now whilst improving upon the subclan as a whole. The thing is, is clones are.. kinda needed, unless you're GC, in which case no one can ever get a clone of some of your more important units (I'm looking at you Steam Fighter, Balih! And you too GC's Guardian.) so that other clans are left out of a needed clone, but that all depends on what you mean by 'common', like if they tried to give clones of some unit no one even uses anymore, they yeah, bad Bushi, bad!

[Cherry]

Useless and pointless commons like the majority of what Gear Chronicle got in GBT07.

Subclans don't need new bosses. Slapping a new grade three boss on an archetype/subclan and just saying "welp here ya go" does virtually nothing. The problem with most of these left behind decks is the decks themselves sport no real consistency and/or power to do anything. Musketeers are an example of this. Musketeers thin their deck like crazy and call endlessly, but you sit there and just think "what's the point?" Vera brought in what the deck desperately needed: a power turn. However, giving Musketeers a new grade three after that is pointless when you can just give them a Bruno.

It's like that with Seal Dragons too. Blockade Inferno and Georgette are honestly fine, even if mostly dated. The problem is Seal Dragons as a whole can't do much of anything relevant. With Seekers, the question becomes "Well I have Thing Saver, but why play most of the other Seekers?"

When I say "clones", I mean stuff like the Tooth Edge Dracokid clones (aka blatantly inferior garbage that isn't getting played other than money reasons) or pointless 10 grade threes like a recent Bermuda Triangle card. Instead of wasting ink on those, we can instead be printing new options for decks (like Serrated Dracokid being printed as a viable option over Undeux and Sadig) and/or support for archetypes/subclans. Bushi blows this space and only supports one, maybe two subclans/archetypes with a card or two that doesn't last most of the time. What they did in GBT06 with Nova Grappler is a right and wrong example of how they could do things. Viktor got very well supported and Beast Deities came out pretty okay with just Jackal Lord, even if Horned Hulk is a swing or a miss and the Stand is... there. Raizers got supported as well, but Speedstar and Gloryhand are both terrible as opposed to Turboraizer Custom being good and Shinobiraizer being great.

I'd love Balif clones, honestly. I just don't want clones of a 4000 starter nobody is going to look at.

tl;dr - decks need support in general, not bosses, which is why just slapping a stride on arboros is nothing on its own (good thing we're getting support for the chain, though arboros does need a backup g3)

[Sandy]

Okay...

1. "Does virtually nothing." Excuse me? Are you serious? Have you SEEN what some of these subclans have got? Or in this case have NOT got? They're still stuck in the legion era for craps sake, some of which, like Magus are still stuck in the LB4 era! C'mon, if Bushi would give them something like they gave that cancer SGD archetype, you know, how they got a strider which when 'strode' upon activates an ability that helps said archetype? They would be marginally better. I don't see how you can think that giving them something akin to that, which A) brings them at least CLOSER to the current meta whilst B) Updating their tactics and/or mechanics to hopefully, again be more up to par with how things currently are, is worthless. Does that mean people wouldn't still use the other grade 3's? Probably not, they'll probably still use them, returning cards is nice, but c'mon you have to admit that those grade three's are gathering cobwebs! Am I saying that they should only get new bosses? No, but knowing Bushi, if I had the choice to choose between a GOOD new boss and a slew of mediocre rearguards....I would at least like a new boss, something that, again, pulls that subclan out from the past, hones their strengths whilst hopefully helping to cover their weaknesses.

2. Speaking of Musketeers, would anyone else 'not' use Vera? No, again, I don't see why giving them a new 'boss' would immediately, at least the statement that you're making, throw away anything that wasn't that new card.

3. These subclans could benefit from new support though and yes I agree that I'd hope that bushi wouldn't waste our/their time making a bunch of crappy ass clones or some dumb card that almost no one is going to use (Tooth Edge) I agree with you completely there. That being said, if we look at BT's latest bout for attention, we can already see that the support is being spread thin. Gotta support Raindear. Gotta support Coral. Gotta support Pacifica. Gotta support Harmony and the list goes on . Not to mention that on top of that we also got a few 'wtf' cards like that Blazer Idol card that gives 2k when bounced.. which.. is like.. why?

4. I still stand by my statement of too many archetypes and/or subclans seems overall bad for a clan because it thins out the support that they get each booster because Bushi tries to give support to 'everyone', which leaves said archetypes and/or subclans fighting for space to be included and which again has people hoping that the few cards they get, aren't a waste. Which sadly, happens sometimes.

TL;DR: New bosses would at least be a step in the right direction, if that asshat SGD can get a 'strider' I don't see why other archetypes and/or subclans can't get one too. Support for the archetypes and/or subclans is nice, but too many of them in one clan is overall bad for said clan, as it forces space issues for any booster they are put in.

[Cherry]

Decks still having a Legion or Limit Break boss isn't a bad thing if those bosses are still good. You can't cover a deck's weakness with literally just a boss grade three, you have to actually have rearguards of some sort to actually remotely do anything. Or at least have something in the deck below grade three that actually functions. Daibazooka gave Daikaiser an additional grade three in the deck while being a grade two that doesn't hinder ratios. Floral Magus is fine for what she is due to getting a hilarious amount of cards to rack up advantage and Magus not counterblasting all that much beyond her, Ring Magus, and Stellar Magus (even then that's not a ton, and you've got a Counter Charge 2 rearguard that works easily). Alfred XIV for Seekers is still an amazing boss for being a Legion, but the problem is Seeker rearguards are all horrendous in the current age, and Alfred XIV himself can't level with a Stride turn. While he could get a big power up along with his Critical, he can't couple up the advantage to keep up and make the turn worth. Instead of replacing him, make that turn more worth by creating rearguards that can even out the advantage somewhat (like Octavius) or make the turn better (like maybe rearguards that power up greater). ... Or you print semi-awkward semi-good Alfred support, which hurts Alfred's personal power gain. Though, Yunos does make your rearguards less wet noodles for that turn.

The case with Sanctuary Guard is stupid because I agree wholeheartedly that Ark is unnecessary when Regalie is already dumb but you don't give other stuff much of anything. Did the deck need Ark? Not really. The only reason they got Ark is because Guarantee is a 10 base and the rearguards of the deck are fine (and supporting cancer brings in an extra buck for a good six months).

If I had to choose between a good new boss or a bunch of mediocre new rearguards, you and I would naturally take the boss. But even if the boss is good, if the rest of the deck isn't, then you get the same result: deck is still mostly dead. I'd rather choose between a very lasting new boss or good, lasting rearguards.

The Bermuda Triangle booster is fine beyond the support that isn't helping anything. Supporting Raindear is a cute idea, Coral is a nice Ride Chain revival, Pacifica is alright, Harmony is looking good. We have a ton of variety like this, as many of the decks in Bermuda Triangle actually don't need desperate additional support (COUGH DUO DOESNT NEED ANYMORE CARDS COUGH). In fact, other than the random, janky commons... the plethora of decks look pretty okay, and we're supporting a vast margin of them in the clan booster. Bushi needs to do that more often, get everyone the support they want/need, even if it's just a small amount per deck. As long as it's good and actually works.

I believe that if Bushi can fit 100+ cards in a booster, they can spare 1-2 spaces giving a little present to subclans that need it when the time comes around. Doesn't necessarily always have to be five cards per subclan/archetype, but they have the space to give them SOMETHING. I absolutely refuse to believe printing garbage like a skateboard riding asshole in Gear Chronicle or lmao afro broccoli takes priority over what could be done for specific decks (like supporting Chronoscommand/Gear Eagle.dek some or even Legion support for Gear Chronicle, or giving Musketeers a Bruno, or potentially throwing Maidens an extra bone). GBT06 supported Diablo, Claret Sword, AND Revengers along with even random as hell Blasters with 11 of their 19 slots in an 104 card booster. All of them came out well except for Blasters(which was going to be a disaster anyway looking at Lola's cost). But Blasters still became an option (sort of) with Gust Blaster. Bushi, you want to tell me to my face you can't give one or two cards to Seekers SPECIFICALLY after GBT01 in every booster Royals have been in on top of two Jewel Knights, a couple Sanctuary Guard-intended cards, and Altmile?

I'm not buying that. They have the room to bolster several decks at once without leaving them to just rot and die forever. The decks need to actually have good cards in general, as slapping Heart Beat bosses on them isn't going to be enough unless the card is insanely stupid to the point of carrying the entire deck. On the assumption that clans get around 15 cards per major booster, you can do something like easily devoting five to the G Deck(since they take priority), two for two subclans, and the 15th card can go to a subclan/archetype. There's little reason to use the slot for another vanilla critical for Kagero. If you see a deck that needs the support, use the space on it, even if you can't support all of them. Don't give it to the one that's already doing well again (kind of why I'm glad Ezel got supported instead of Liberators in GBT07, same with Enigmen over DRobos). Some clans get shafted to about 10 cards, which is going to be tight for them doing much, I'll admit that. However, clans getting like 20 cards in a set shouldn't have an issue giving decks that need something. Oracle Think Tank may not have come out super well in GBT05, but Battle Sisters, Tsukuyomi, Susanoo, and Magus along with some questionable Oracle keyword support proves it's doable. Just need to make it worthwhile, but it is unfortunately sometimes wasted like you said (like all the Enigmen...).

While I am rambling, I want to note that I would very much love for Bushi to upgrade/update a deck's tactics. I'm against giving them Striders because it potentially pushes out a mechanic entirely. Sanctuary Guard Dragon's Limit Break may be dated, but supporting it would've been nice over just flat-out giving you a better boss (even though SGD is a better thing to ride first solely for the call, provided you didn't go first). Back in the day, Gear Chronicle was kind of mediocre because their earlygame was awkward, so their Stride game didn't mean as much. Instead of just removing this weakness entirely, Bushi boosted their mechanic as a Stride focused deck, pushing their G Game massively while giving them some grade two game options. Instead of having them conform to the same tactic as G Decks like Sanctuary Guard Ark saying "yeah just stride", we can make the mechanics up to par or do what Great Nature did and combine Tester Fox's/Hammsuke's abilities to proc at the end of a turn you've Stridden.

[Cherry]

Due to misinformation and seeing Flageolet Messiah being a Persona Flip in the anime, it can't be the GR and the confirmation of Link Joker getting the GR was due to a misunderstanding.

thank christ