Hey! Happy New Year, fellow pilots! It's been a while. I've been away due to a real-life unforeseen incident, and I'm back. I'm grateful for everyone's concern and kind messages. New year, so new things ot discuss. Let's wrap up talking about the two new Starter Decks. I'll do my best to not be biased. As you know, I've been a Big Red player and RW Midrange pilot for all of DUIM (Dual Impact) format. Kshatriya #GD01-044, Quebely #GD02-036, and Sinanju #ST03-001 have all served me well in their own way. Especially Haman #GD02-091. Everyone knows how I determine what my next deck is. It was a no-brainer I was going to be a Red player in some form. I NEED those Neo Zeon resources #RP-013!

I bring this up because ST08 introduces a new pilot and trait engine that has me excited, Noa #ST08-010. The more I read Mafty cards, the more enticing they become. So, what makes them so appealing to me? Simple: their simplicity. From a simple overview, 4 of the 5 units are link units. The only one not being a link unit is Minelayer #ST08-005. Professionally known as Red ReZel #GD01-018 , or "RedZel".

Hathaway is the cohesive chemistry I love seeing in Gundam. It's an On Pair effect that plays into the trait of generic good units of Mafty. Many of which are either Noa or Mafty Link units. The actual Ki Gundam(s) all deal damage from the ST LR #ST08-001, the Base Common #ST08-002, I can't talk about the Mafty package without the big seller of the core, The Rare in GD3 #GD03-036. If you get coaching from me, are in my personal Gundam circle, or are in my local group, you all know my feelings about Mafty from being the "Big Red Goat."

*"THEY POWERCREPT SINANJU #ST03-001, QUBELEY #GD02-036, AND (potentially) KSHATRIYA #GD01-044!"

(I'll get bitter and jealous when we talk about the last 6 LRs in GD3...)

Truly I am devastated but happy to play with these cards and see Red get a splashable engine. But I'm getting ahead of myself, and we need to dive into the Starter Deck.

Ki Gundam and all of Mafty are simple, and all they do is deal damage to enemy units and want to fight units. Whether it's to fight and trade up or pick on damaged active units. There's a L3C2 with 4/3 stats and another with a generic link trait for a higher level. The L2 Messer #ST08-004 can deal 3 damage to a single target when it battles or spread damage around while taking something with it. It is the most underwhelming simply due to having 1 HP. It's good in a limited pool or cube drafting. I wish there was more to talk about, but seeing what the Japanese have been cooking for Blue, Green, and White Mafty lists, this is easily my favorite set of cards in any starter deck. Mafty gives off the kind of vibes that can be played in any deck. Aggro, midrange, and maybe control. To me the best part is the whole package comes in the Starter Deck, so there's no need to buy multiple decks. Chances are one of your local scalpers and whales will give you a 4th Minelayer.

I think that's it. The article is over. Have fun, be safe, and good luck!

I saved the worst for last now... The sub-color of the Starter Deck is Blue and Earth Feddies. If you know anything about me, I love Earth Fed and Blue, but I draw the line at lowest common denominator Starter Deck fodder. The scariest part is I'm supposedly alone on this trolley of thought.

HELLO?!

A lot of these cards are stinkers. I forgot to mention how good the non-units in the Red portion are. Like Valiant #ST08-014 or how a very interesting card Lady Luck #ST08-013 is. People are 50-50 on it. I think a 1-cost deal 1-2 damage is good enough to see play in some small ratios. Not a 3-4 of like Close Combat #ST03-013.

She even shares the same artist as Noa Hathaway, which is cute. Easily one of my favorite cards in the game.

(Unprofessionally speaking, she has cute wrists and ankles)

Karl #ST08-008 is the most viable of the starter deck for something constructed, but that L3C3 is a high ask for the early game. But it isn't a deal breaker when we live in a world where we need Zowort #ST01-009 for BP Tempo and BG Tempo. Jegan #ST08-009 was another joke card people really liked. I'm not seeing it. The new base Davao #ST08-015 is interesting but feels like a win-more card similar to Archangel #ST04-015. Paying two to invest into a base is often a tall ask unless it's a grind game. But it's time to talk about Penelope #ST08-006. Outside of Starter Deck events. I'm very confident this won't see play. Sorry to the other Earth Fed Pilots out there, but this isn't it. a L7C6 is absurd, especially when it conflicts with LR Ki Gundam. So, the lengths people will go to draw 2. With lots of conditions. It needs to be paired, you need an Earth Fed unit in your hand, and it needs to be attacking a player. Yes, it is meant to combo with the new pilot #ST08-011 for its "Unblockable" keyword. But there are too many restrictions on it to be good enough to run into a field of OYW, Wing, and BP; again, especially at that Level and Cost. This is Tallgeese #ST02-006 Levels of underwhelming. It should've been a L5/C4 or have some effect to lower it's Level and//or Cost like Ki Gundam.

With that, I think I've exhausted all of my talking points for Flash of Radiance. The Mafty Package is something I'm excited and scared to play against. Thank you to my ghostwriter for helping me with this article and the next few I'm making. See you all in the very near future and at NA Nats and the LCQs fellow pilots!

"How GOOD are GD3's LRs competitively? (Part 2)" "Steel Requiem Review and the GD03 Meta" "Control Players go to Jupitris..." "My first career year in Gundam and as the 'Big Red GOAT'"