Unit of the Week - 3/10/2013

Oh damn, I'm late again.  Meh, I'll just date it as Sunday and post it today, shouldn't be a big deal.
This week, the unit I'm reviewing is Origin Mage, Ildona.

Awesome card art too; look at those "long arms".

A supreme elven mage that existed long before any nations were established on the continent. He was once a gentle and kind youth who quietly watched over the fate of the world by conversing with the Guardian Dragon since time unknown. However, with the birth of nations and the advances of civilization, people are now starting to fight and wage war on others often. His advices are gradually fell into deaf ears even if he is revered as a great ancient mage. He once again appeared on the historical stage after ages of disappearance but his currently look is so evil that there are not any traces of his previous look left in himself. He is now the Origin Mage dyed in darkness. What is he seeing with his countless eyes? What does he intend to grasp with both his black stained arms?

That lore is about as dark and edgy as it gets.  Somehow, I'm fond of it.

Shadow Paladin
Grade 3
10000
[AUTO](VC)Limit Break 4(This ability is active if you have four or more damage):[Counter Blast (2) & Choose two of your «Shadow Paladin» rear-guards, and retire them] When this unit attacks, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw two cards, and this unit gets [Power] +3000 until end of that battle.
[AUTO](VC):When this unit attacks a vanguard, this unit gets [Power] +3000 until end of that battle.

This is now my Shadow Paladin avatar.  For a lot of reasons, but let's talk about his abilities.

His 2nd auto ability is one that many vanguard spot grade 3s get.  +3k when attacking a vanguard: not remarkable or unique, but always good.  With a 7-8k booster it will hit 20-21k.  And for you people who love crossrides so damn much, his LB bumps that 20k up another 3k, hitting a crossride for 23k.

Now, Ildona has a wonderful Limit Break that, like Lawkeeper, does quite a few things at once.  It retires 2 on the field and then allows you to draw 2.  2 for 2, right?  Well, it's a bit more than that.  Other than the fact that he gets 3k for that, this card does 2 things.  First off, it essentially relocates cards while keeping the number of cards the same.  2 are removed from the field while 2 are added to the hand, which is good because after your battle phase is your opponent's turn where you must guard to avoid losing, and at that time, 2 in the hand is worth more than 2 on the field (only intercepts can guard from field).  Secondly, it changes card quality because you can control what Ildona eats.  Ideally, Caar and the fodder that came with it is a good choice (with Caar, the net gain is +1).  There isn't any point in keeping a 9k grade 3 and a random trigger on the field.  In any case, 2 of your choice is rotated out for 2 from the deck.  That does something similar to "discard 2, draw 2" doesn't it?

And just like Lawkeeper, it gets awkward from here on.  Try using stands with this Ildona.  You won't enjoy it.  Fortunately, Shadow Paladins have Death Feather Eagle now.

Alright, I'll wrap it up for today.  Next week's card will be a Tachikaze!