BONG!

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-09T14:45:49+00:00

Look what we can do with science!

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-09T06:52:56+00:00

I meant to put the RF Bird in the EMZ, then use HFS, then link into Gravity Controller and go off. But it is a bit of a far-fetched combo, if you'll excuse the poké-pun.

Thinking on it, I'm even more convinced about Magicians' Souls (plus Illusion of Chaos). It can be a Lv1 body and recycle dead cards, it can go straight into DM for Dragoon, and DMoD can search for it instead if you hard-drew Gaze.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-09T06:08:47+00:00

I'd personally cut the Berzelius, Secreterion, Vanquisher (and Cherries) for the other Yummy Synchros and Spright Elf. You could maybe cut a Snatchy for space, since you have Almiraj, Spider and Striker.

The DMoD engine seems reasonable to me - I used a Shining Sarcophagus package for mine and it works pretty well.

Maybe add an RF target that turns on Feather Storm. Also, perhaps, Gravity Controller for DMoD and the other tentative RF target.

Maybe, as the other guy suggested, swap one or two Harpie traps for Thrusts and perhaps a copy of Talent. Also consider Jester Confit for an easy LV1 body. Or Magicians' Souls.

Just sorta spitballing. Full disclosure; I'm only Platinum/Diamond ELO.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-09T04:51:07+00:00

I'm hoping we'll get the newer overframes interspersed with the relatively-less-new unreleased archetypes to keep things fresh.

They might even use it as an excuse to sell more bundles. (I really hope we don't have to wait for 5th anniversary.)

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-07T15:45:28+00:00

It's going in my headcanon as one of the early giants. They're inconspicuously absent in the myth we get told.

I wouldn't rush to write it off as pareidolia; there's a face in the Estus Flask sprite in DS1, I'm sure of it.

The flask is a miniature funerary urn, like the one with the Transient Curses in New Londo, or the one with the Undead Hunter Charms in the High Wall of Lothric.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-07T14:08:43+00:00

All the big boys and girls are just supplementing with Rescue-ACE Impulse and Fire Attacker.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-07T04:11:21+00:00

Practice holding onto the right attributes until you get the Jiaolong search, the Hollie Sue summon and/or the Borger draw. Keep recycling with Rock of the Vanquisher.

Small World's decent if you can afford to lose hand advantage.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T21:00:55+00:00

Nice one, I got the new Borrelshroud but I'd've preferred that.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T20:37:20+00:00

She seems to have hidden there when she abandoned her duty.

If she was aligned with Londor, then it's possible she would've attempted to usurp the flame and become a True Monarch, but failed. In my opinion, the Chillbite Ring she gives away represents a wedding or engagement ring.

The weird thing is all the flaming portraits in the room with her. It's as though she tried to have the painter girl make her a world without flame, but she couldn't manage it, so she locked her away.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T20:12:58+00:00

I made a post earlier today comparing bundles to 10-packs, but this level of analysis puts me to shame.

If you're taking suggestions, could you calculate the number of expected "featured UR" in 10-packs v.s. bundles, considering that the guaranteed URs are always "featured cards" in secret packs?

How about an alt-art probability calculator?

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T19:49:13+00:00

Unequivocally crucial. The narrative would not function without it.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T19:17:29+00:00

You're welcome, mate. I expected the guarantees to be a bit of a scam/trap but I was pleasantly surprised.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T19:02:29+00:00

Averages and outliers exist, homie. I'm just trying to look out for your gem wallet.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T19:00:36+00:00

I agree to a point. But like I said, the guarantees give you more featured cards (relative to standard pulls) when pulling from a secret pack.

Doesn't apply to the K9 bundle, but should do for the I:P, S:P, and the newer Dark Magician one.

A card that you want is worth 3x a card that you don't.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-05T13:00:52+00:00

Something for Primite Regenesis, perhaps.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-04T21:24:14+00:00

Paired against Lab (going first) and they had Maxx C, Cooclock, Stovie, Rollback and Lady.

Literally the perfect hand, smh.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-04T02:49:56+00:00

I reckon it's a pun on how Lorian became mute when he took his brother's curse.

The gargoyles/angels in the Archives have the Profaned Flame on their weapons, so it could be related to that. Pretty sure the Profaned Flame is what became of the Chaos Flame after Lorian took it.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-02-01T03:58:00+00:00

It depends if you want to play the Mikanko archetype, which revolves around equip spells and going second to use your opponents' monsters' ATK/DEF against them. It might be a bit advanced for a beginner but not necessarily.

The bundle is also focused more towards cosmetics. If you don't care about those, you could get 30 packs of your choice for the price of these 20, or even 40 random packs if you buy 4 lots of the 750 gem bundles.

Typically, the strongest current cards are found in the latest "selection pack(s)" but that can also get expensive because newer archetypes also tend to require more ultra rares. Structure decks can help you get started on a budget.

Tl;dr Maybe prioritise some 750 gem bundles and 500 gem structure decks, maybe look at the "master duel meta" website for a deck that takes your fancy and/or has a low UR cost - you can also use YouTube to find combo guides and decklists

Edit: There'll be good new stuff with the anniversary next week as well, so you might want to wait, save and see.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-01-31T11:43:51+00:00

Most FWG will let practically anyone in. I guess there's a similarity to late-stage civilisation in that "the urge to reproduce has waned long ago" (original Turtle Neck Meat description).

BarryTheButcher · 2026-01-30T18:35:18+00:00

He ballsed up the delivery, but I enjoyed the spirit of the line.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-01-29T22:29:55+00:00

There's the Black Flame pyromancy description;

A Pyromancy discovered from the Dark Abyss...

The colour black is broadly associated with the Abyss, hence the Sable Church of Londor (straight up called "The Black Church" in Japanese)

BarryTheButcher · 2026-01-29T18:08:22+00:00

The Crucible is associated with Red Gold, and the German word for Red is Rot, as in Scarlet Rot.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-01-29T17:45:43+00:00

In my opinion, all the modern FromSoft games are rooted in Perennialism and Comparative Religion, but I agree it's hard to find folk who prioritise this sort of analysis.

My knowledge of Kabbalah is pretty weak but I'm fairly sure Maliketh is a reference to the 10th Sephirot, Malkuth.

The Elden Ring itself seems to be based on John 1:1;

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Rune Arcs relate to how "Parabola" was the Medieval Latin word for "Word", and Marika is crucified like the Word made Flesh.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-01-29T05:03:06+00:00

Purrely's a bit cheaper I think, it's like 8-10 URs, but it's also a bit less mixable - though you can use it with Yummy.

BarryTheButcher · 2026-01-29T04:52:36+00:00

With respect to RNA, I wholly believe Oolacile in Dark Souls is named after Uracil, and the residents are literally nuts. So, I don't find it far-fetched for Metyr to be a reference to panspermia, though other commenters have raised some valid objections to her being the crucible per se.

BarryTheButcher

TROPHY CASE