Code Geass Purple Deck Vol. 2 | UNION ARENA
Code Geass Vol. 2 is finally here! Although we’ve had a good long wait, after getting my hands on a few boxes and getting at least a couple epic pulls, I can say that it certainly was worth the wait. And so is the added support we get for a couple of key decks not only in Code Geass but in UNION ARENA in general.
Of course, one of the most important decks getting added utility is the powerhouse Code Geass Purple deck. There was a time when Code Geass Purple utterly dominated the UNION ARENA meta. It’s slowed down lately with several Vol. 2 sets entering the arena, as well as the utterly powerful Blue Mustang Fullmetal Alchemist deck. However, you still see it showing up at the top at smaller tournaments.
With Vol. 2 support, however, we could very well see this deck making its way into the pinnacles of UNION ARENA once again. Below, we’ll take a look at the build I’ve been testing and some of the crazy combos you can pull off with it.
Code Geass Purple Vol. 2 Deck List
I’ll start by saying that the core mechanics of what made Code Geass Purple great are still present in the Vol. 2 version – meaning the deck hasn’t changed all that much. That being said, there are some crazy new combos this deck is capable, and one in particular that does change the way the deck feels to play it the most substantially. Namely, that’s the new Kallen/Lelouch combo.
Actually, this combo unlocks some considerable advantages for Code Geass Purple, while simultaneously covering one of the deck’s primary weaknesses – an easy-to-overextend energy line.
The Kallen/Lelouch combo is deadly
On paper, this combo feels pretty deadly. In practice, it’s even better than it looks on paper. Indeed, it’s the single greatest new asset coming into Code Geass Purple after Vol. 2 so those looking to build their own Purple deck should at least give it a try during their deck building process.
How the combo works:
Once you have access to your three Action Point cards and three energy on the energy line, pay two AP to play the three-cost Kallen.
Not only does this complete your energy line (you only ever need a max of five with Code Geass Purple), you also get to draw a card.
Then, the next card you play with 2 AP cost from hand becomes only a 1 AP cost. Note that this doesn’t say “the next card you play” just the next 2 AP cost card you play. This means if you have a final in hand, you can play that first before gaining the advantage of playing a 2 AP cost card for just 1 AP.
Play the Lelouch from your hand for only 1 AP. Assuming you discard another 2 AP cost card from your hand, you not only get access to a powerful 4000 BP character, you can then choose to either:
Minus a character’s BP by 3000.
Switch Lelouch to Active.
Restand an AP.
How to decide which effects to use with five-cost Lelouch
The best thing about the new five-cost Lelouch is how incredibly versatile he is. Code Geass Purple has long been something of a toolbox deck – one that can adjust to a variety of situations it faces. That versatility just gets stronger in Vol. 2 largely thanks to this combo.
For the most part, the three different effects enable you to adjust to a few distinct situations.
Go aggro – early game you can actually get something of an early game advantage with Lelouch. Play him for free, sideline a lower cost character on the opposing field, and switch Lelouch to active to swing at life.
Extend AP – the craziest thing about combining Lelouch with three-cost Kallen is how much AP extend you get. Paying 2 AP for Kallen may feel daunting, but suddenly you are able to play two additional cards as long as one of those is Lelouch.
One of the strongest plays here is to play Lelouch to the front line, minus a character by 3000, switch an AP to active, then Raid a Gawain over to sideline a 4000 BP. I’ve had turns where I’ve taken multiple removals via this play with a Final in hand to extend AP further.
Always have a two-AP cost character in hand with 2 AP-cost C.C.
I’m not gonna lie – when I first saw this C.C. I didn’t get it. Why would I want to pay 2 AP for a character that just lets me search the top three cards of my deck? While that’s admittedly a decent effect, the combo of 2 AP cost with zero trigger felt high. But when you consider five-cost Lelouch and this C.C.’s Activate:Main, this card suddenly makes a lot of sense.
While you can certainly pay the 2 AP to play C.C., she’s strongest in your hand and in your sideline. Essentially, manage to get just one of these C.C. cards into your sideline and you can bring her back whenever you need. Do so and it makes getting your five-cost Lelouch’s effect off – the one that lets you choose two different options among his various effects as opposed to one by simply discarding another 2 AP cost character from hand.
Get additional value from C.C.
While the 2-AP cost C.C. acts as a handy tech into this deck’s strategy, the standard 2 energy-cost C.C. plays a more foundational role. While she was always a nice to have in Code Geass Purple, with the sheer number of 2 AP-cost characters this deck runs, it’s far, far easier to take advantage of the draw two. Combine C.C. with two AP-cost Kallen and you unlock a three-card draw turn without needing to discard any cards.
It’s the two energy-cost C.C. in part that adds to this deck’s phenomenal draw, helping it better stand up to the top tier UNION ARENA decks.
The Guren Flight-Enabled Version can be handy in certain situations
While the new Guren lacks the power of the other Guren’s already available to the deck, it can be a handy card to use in certain situations. Most obviously is to use the Guren to sneak out a win in the late game. The “can’t be blocked by 4000 BP+ characters” works well to edge out a close game when your opponent has the field stacked with high-powered characters.
However, I’ve found this card comes into play more often as an additional Raid after playing out your stronger cards. Kind of like the way you can often Raid out a Gawain after playing a five-cost Guren, the three-cost Guren gives you another option for situations like this. It can also be played early game to gain additional cards and to put some pressure on your opponent.
It’s not the game changer the Kallen/Lelouch combo is, but it’s a handy card I could see players building more intently around in a more Guren-specific build.
Code Geass gets a lot of new toys to play with in Vol. 2, and being able to play out the five-cost Lelouch without raiding helps you fill your front line more easily without overextending your energy line. It’s something that Code Geass has traditionally struggled with as this deck really wants to raid whenever possible and dislikes playing 4000 BP bodies raidless.
All of that combined with stronger card draw makes Code Geass Purple once again a contender for the very top tier of UNION ARENA decks.
