Alteil: EX Langbart

Whenever an EX Set is released, I have always tried to watch out for the next EX Lapierre card. Grabados was the orc's EX Lapierre, and with EX 9, Duchy of Crest decks get EX Langbart.

Let's take a look at his skills.

Burn the Body or He'll Rise

This skill might seem strange for a Lawtia card, since undeads depend on the cemetery for recycling, but Alteil has added a much needed answer to graveyard recycling decks like Undeads and Big Refess (True Retear). Prior to Langbart, you would probably use Orthos (for Refess) or The Forest of Hate (for Gowen), to try to put a stop to the recycling engine.

But the weakness of this skill starts with the "and then" clause. You have to send a card from your cemetery out of the game, before you can send 2 cards from your opponent's cemetery out of the game.

Clear the Way

This counter skill takes effect as long as Langbart's AT is 50 or lower. He gets AT+20 and then damages one random enemy unit in range of 30 HP or lower. From a base AT of 20, you could end up with 60 AT after 2 counters. And the AT boosts are permanent, not unlike most boosts that only last during the turn.

Leader of Knights

While not as potent as EX Lapierre or Grabados' start skill, Langbart serves as another stat booster aside from Afeemina or Crest Paladin. One Duchy of Crest unit gets AT+10 and DF+5 for the turn, except Langbart.

Captain's Honor

In my opinion, this open skill is the reason Langbart is so effective with Crest Lady Paladin. As long as your Refess LV is 0, you get Refess LV=1. Generating an additional SP will always find use in most decks.

On Your Feet Soldier

An alternative to Skeleton Warrior as an SS with 2 LP. It also ends up reviving a closed friendly unit, but I think I would prefer Skeleton Warrior's boost of AT+20 and AG+1 to Langbart's AT+10 and DF+10. But in a deck where attack boosters are aplenty, you might want to opt for the additional DF (unless your packing a Lebeau or Alphonce SS). An unkillable unit is still one of the stronger end games in Alteil (Zugateroza with DF=50 usually means GG ^_^)

Now let's analyze his stats. LV=4 means anti-Return. HP=60 and DF=10 makes him a good tank. And AGI=3 is decent for any front liner. And while his AT starts at 20, Clear the Way, should remedy this initial setback.

So out of the EX 9 cards, I think EX Langbart is the "steal" if you are planning on running DoC. And DoC decks have started popping up in Folrart Arena and even in Tournaments. Have fun experimenting. ^_^