Alteil: Pre-built Starter Shrine Knights

Yesterday marked the end of the 500 gran promo for the Pre-built Refess Shrine Knights starter. Refess players have had a difficult time winning since the nerf of key cards EX Holy Knight Lapierre and White Sage Kaldrao. Perhaps the only formidable Refess deck in the Folrart Arena are Big Refess and Star Dragon decks, and often times, it is not a pure Refess deck, but a combination of Refess and Falkow.

For 500 gran, the Refess Shrine Knights pack is a steal, considering that it gives you a full set (3 copies) of Elaice, the HK Lapierre / Grebados equivalent of Shrine Knights. It also has a copy of General's Orders, one of the better Refess grim cards that comes with Alteil Set 9. Combine these cards with Safira and Princess Aliria and the set-up becomes pretty decent.

But despite this upgrade, Folrart Arena remains a place where Gowen = Falkow > Lawtia > Refess. Perhaps Refess had its glory days back in earlier sets when Eternal Morning or HK Lap decks were king. Sometimes you're on top, other times you are at the bottom. And Refess will probably remain at the bottom for several more sets to come unless card designers give Refess a card that is on par with the likes of Bringer, Urgant, Winston, or Mirelia.

Refess' strength was defense, and with plenty of cards that can penetrate that, from Winston, to Orcs, to Francis, and cards with attack boosting attributes, defense is rarely a factor. Refess cards should have a new attribute which prevents damage totally, as long as certain conditions are met. This skill should be different from the attack prevention attribute since plenty of cards like Urgant or Bringer can still deal damage without attacking. The designers could create a skill which prevents any form of damage during the turn to a particular card, again, as long as certain conditions are met.

Another skill that I think would benefit Refess is the increase of cards with skills like Heavy Shield, which prevents the card from being a target of grims. And finally, skills like that of Giant Gorilla's revival of other cards of the same type should actually be a Refess trait rather than a Gowen card trait.

Will these skills make Refess OP? Perhaps. But if Refess were to become king in Alteil once more, drastic times need drastic measures.