Something I’d like to go over today, is something that is rarely discussed when competing or even playing casually with friends in a game that is 1 on 1, such as in FFTCG. This topic is anxiety. There are many different ways a game such as this can stress you out, overload your brain and tire you out, or even make you do a triple take on decisions and really start to put fatigue on you. Coming from many years of playing fighting games (particularly Guilty Gear, Marvel Vs Capcom and Street Fighter IV / AE), I have learned first hand that having control over your emotions, and playing mind games has a major advantage in matches. Let’s discuss further in detail how these come into play.

Positive State of Mind

Starting off, this is a game of video game characters on cardboard rectangles. Relax. Especially if you are new, give yourself time to find your own play-style, theme or elements that click with your play-style, and then research both in and out of your local play area how other cards react and respond to that. It’s a game! There are mechanics to be learned, combat tricks to become aware of, but it’s a game to be enjoyed by all parties involved, that’s the point. If the thought of someone responding to your play and ruining your attack with a summon is going to completely tilt you, you are going into this game the wrong way. Especially in FFTCG, there are so many variants on decks and play-styles, that you have to accept that at some point a player will blindside you. And the more you play and get enjoyment out of just participating, the better player you will become. Being positive not only generates a better play group, but you will quickly learn that other players will divulge their habits and tactics to you. And you should do the same! Getting “salty” or angry at the game (or even other players) has zero benefit. Always look ahead to how you can gain advantage, or how you can be better prepared in a future game, that’s half the fun!

Be Vocal and In Control

You may be shy. You may be thinking “I’m just here to play, not to have a tea party”. It doesn’t matter – you need to be vocal when you are playing. Being absolutely silent will hinder your game-play every time, I guarantee it. There are many phases, responses, counter-plays, declarations, and so on in FFTCG, so you absolutely cannot just sit in your seat quietly while your opponent stomps you. If there is a step or play you did not catch or fully comprehend, inquire. At any point you can go “Excuse me, I didn’t catch that” or “before your next declaration/phase, can you explain that interaction”. If you say nothing, the opponent only understands one thing — that you are accepting whatever actions he or she is taking, whether they take advantage of the game or not. If you do not have a 100% clear perspective on what is going on, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. You have every right to ask questions, so do so!

Another key concept with being vocal, is gathering game state information, and I see the lack of this being problem all the time. Example: Your opponent declares an attack, but you are worried about power levels. They have a backup Wakka, they have a water Warrior of Light from Opus 1 buffing their standard units. Beatrix already attacked, reducing your power by 1000, etc. This can get pretty stressful with all the numbers flying around, buffs and debuffs, and your opponent can always play a Summon to alter things up even further. Do not be silent and hope you are guessing correctly. Ask for a forwards current power. Ask what buffs it currently has. “Does this forward have First Strike? Did this Forward just enter the field? Can i see your backups? Get all the information you can round up before responding. Always, always ask questions if you are in doubt. This puts more confidence on your side and can even inform your opponent that you have a better grasp on the situation, making them a bit uneasy. It’s all about state of mind for yourself, and how your opponent perceives you.

As an aggressive fire player, there is one key vocal tactic I use all the time, and you should too (even if you don’t play fire). “How many cards do you currently have?” This immediately gets your opponent asking himself questions. “Do they have a Vivi in their hand? Do they have a Black Waltz 2 in their hand? And then it happens, the mind games. “Maybe they are asking just to make me think they do? Can I afford to risk letting them take advantage of that?” This is key. Keep your opponent on edge. Constantly ask how many cards they have at the beginning of turns or when you find it advantageous to keep that strategic information up to date. They may think you are planning on making them discard as Ice or that you are about to play Zidane S, so they will prematurely dump their cards out on the field, losing value, or they may make a mistake because their train of thought is now derailed. The point is, there is absolutely no reason to not ask questions. You are there to win, and knowledge is power.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Hands down, the biggest thing that will help ease your (if it exists) anxiety when playing both casually and competitively, is practice. Play often, keep up with the community, keep track of what the current meta is. Identifying the meta is important because the majority of players in any game will flock to the meta. They will either completely copy it, or attempt to refine it. For success, your options are either to refine the meta further to further take advantage of what this deck has to offer in the game. Or, you can define the meta. Play cards that most people have forgotten about, introducing scary combos or tempo plays that have never been considered before. Show up to play with a brand new concept that will counter the meta, making the majority question if there meta is really the only way to play. And when you find your sweet spot, practice constantly. Learn the flow of your cards, the way they have synergy in your deck, and the tempo it operates with. When you play, (yet again) ask questions! What do you think of my deck? How much pressure did this deck put on you? What could be better? Even ask yourself – which of my cards seemed lackluster? Which cards did I seem to pitch every single game without hesitation? This gets you in the habit of making the most of every card, every situation, and every game! This all builds confidence!

I hope this helps a lot of you players who get really stressed in 1v1 gaming environments, or helps newer players that are playing games like this for their first time. Thanks for reading and see you on the next article!

(Did you know? In Final Fantasy IX, one of Freya’s most powerful weapons is a lance named “Kain’s Lance”. This is in reference to the Dragoon known as Kain Highwind from Final Fantasy IV)