Anime Recommendation Spreadsheet!

Hey there guys, Endblade here.

Today its going to be a short and sweet post, because I realized it is much easier for people that just want the ratings straight up rather than a definitive list of top 10 or top 20 etc. It is more transparent and you can see the criteria by which I rate the anime. Note that the ratings most of the time do not vary over time because I usually fill in the ratings immediately after I finish watching the said anime.

Certain personal biases may skew the ratings of certain anime, but I can't really help to eliminate that entirely because the following ratings are based largely on personal opinion and not representative of a population. For an aggregated rating of the anime, you may check out MyAnimeList, which features cumulative ratings over time and may be more representative of a larger audience.

Personally, I may not agree with some of the ratings given on those websites, but I have not watched all of their top recommended anime. However, I do go on that website to look for recommendations on what to watch next, especially those older anime since I only started watching anime around early 2015 (hence a lot of catching up to do).

I will be providing a link to a Google Excel spreadsheet with my recommendations, which will change over time (live!). So no matter when or where you find this post, the excel sheet will be updated regularly as I follow up on or catch up on anime.

My ratings usually follow a spread of between 10 to 6, because I do not really believe in giving shows below that rating unless it is atrocious.

Generally, you can interpret the data as the following:

9 or higher: Must watch even for people who don't watch anime, you're missing out if you don't! Forerunners in the field of anime and the best works of their time.

8.25-8.75: Highly recommended, you should check these out if you're looking for something fresh. Some of the better anime out there.

7.75-8: Recommended, check these out if you're looking for a series to binge-watch. Mildly satisfying and enjoyable overall.

7.5-7.25: These pass for decent anime and worth a watch only if you have already watched those above. I cannot in good conscience recommend these, but they are passable.

below 7.25: Please, onegai, don't watch these anime. I watch them so that you don't have to subject yourself to such pain. Watch at your own risk.

Generally I do not give perfect '10's for any anime's overall score, yes, some might excel in certain criteria but they may be lackluster in others. I don't believe in the 'perfect' anime. Or at least I have not seen any anime worth that pedestal. Maybe one day I might.

With that, I hope you find my list useful and keep checking back to the sheet. Reviews for specific anime will still be done on this blog, so check back for updated content!

Updated 2020: Do take a look at my not-so-comprehensive personal list right here! Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

Endblade

New hobbies: Poker Card Collection

Hey there guys, Endblade here.

Some updates on my current hobbies, I've transitioned from playing card games like Yu-Gi-Oh, Cardfight Vanguard and Duel Masters years back to something fresh and new: collecting cards. I used to buy booster packs or singles to complete decks and play with friends, but having grown older, you realize that the amount of people in your age group playing trading card games dwindle quite a fair bit and it can be difficult to find people to play one a regular basis.

Plus, decks do cost quite a bit to create, and constant releases make older decks phase out of the 'meta' and make them obsolete due to power creep. Meaning the vicious cycle repeats itself all over again: you buy new cards to update you deck or replace it entirely in order to keep up with the changing environment. Costly and ineffective unless you own a card shop and have access to cheap singles. Another issue I have with such TCGs is the fact that most older cards (with the exception of flagship characters or games like MTG or Pokemon) usually fall in value quite a bit to about less than 50% of the original price, such that it is actually not financially sustainable in the long run.

What I found attractive about card games was always the art and the design of the artists, which I greatly appreciate the time they put into illustrating the cards.

So to find a hobby which is related to cards, focused on the art and somewhat financially sustainable (no requirement to buy every months to 'keep up' and having at least a slight chance of price appreciation over the years) was not something that came automatically.

However, while browsing YouTube about a year back, I chanced upon a video about Texas Hold'em Poker. After watching it, I was taken by how strategic some of the decisions are made during the various stages of a hand (pre-flop, post-flop, turn and river) and the cards used - I now know were Jumbo Index in the game that I watched, intrigued me.

You see, where I'm from, poker cards usually were normal index (which meant that the lettering was small and the pips (the diamonds, hearts, spades, clubs) were regular-sized. Below is a picture for reference:

Left: Jumbo Index / Right: Regular or Standard Index

I told myself: I need to get the Jumbo Index cards. Another thing I found out while researching back then was that some of the brands printed their cards on plastic stock! Amazing, isn't it. You can play your drinking games (not condoning drinking, don't drink if you're underage and even so, drink responsibly!) and not be afraid that your cards might get soaked due to an accident.

My very first deck. Picture not by me

Above is a picture of a plastic deck, similar to the one which I got a year back. Really sturdy, waterproof and easy to shuffle! Might feel a little weird if you haven't shuffled plastic cards before, but it is totally different from the usual paper stock poker decks.

Here the sad part: I went to the store which supposedly sold the Jumbo Index cards, but sadly they ran out of stock. But I did manage to get the plastic ones, and the intricate back of the playing cards really got to me. They looked so different from the usual depressing patterns of your dollar-poker card decks. 

Thus began my love for poker card collecting. I don't actually open most of the decks that I buy or get, but those that I do open and review, I share the unfiltered experience with you guys. You can check out my Youtube here (shameless plug), leave a comment there if you came from my blog here!

That said, moving forward on this blog, I might be posting new content related to some of the reviews that I do on Youtube for poker cards in the near future. Do look out for them! 

Until Next Time,

Endblade

List of Anime to Watch: 5th -1st place (Recommendations updated October 2017) Part 2

Hey there guys, Endblade here.

This is a continuation of my list earlier in part 1 of anime recommendation top 10, you can find it here. Recently I have been thinking about making this blog an ongoing effort as a side project of mine, so if any of you have any good suggestions on what I could talk/discuss about (pertaining to maybe anime or any of my hobbies), do comment below and let me know! I'm always open to constructive feedback and suggestions to how to improve myself and this blog!

 Do note that these are my personal choices and it is hard to please everyone, the parameters or criteria of what I think is a great anime or makes a great anime may not always be similar to others. I did take a look at other websites to see their thoughts on the anime that I have chosen, for example MyAnimeList.net  where you can find reviews and ratings of tons of anime.

Sometimes the ratings are higher than what I would give the anime, although to be perfectly honest the metrics I used were more of Animation Quality, Setting, Plot and Character Development. These 4 criteria were the result of trying to balance out the different aspects of an anime. Of course, there are many other metrics you could use.

However, I was trying to separate them by these criteria because I realized some anime (like action-heavy anime) may have high animation quality, with all the fight scenes, but they may suffer from a lack of realism in terms of setting. One good example would be sci-fi mecha anime like Gundam. On the other hand, slice of life anime like Sakurasou (see my past top 10 here) may not necessarily have the best animation sequences (for their time), but they are set in a relatively more believable setting, hence they would score better on the second metric rather than the first.

That being said, I do tend to prefer anime that focus more on Plot and Character Development, rather than just flashy graphics and explosions. Don't get me wrong, I have watched and enjoyed animation heavy anime and some do impress me because they go beyond that their genre of 'Action' entails them to provide and lay out an impressive plot or detailed character nuances.

With that out of the way, let us continue with my remaining five choices in my top 10 recommendations.

5. Occultic Nine aired October 2016 - December 2016 / 12 episodes by A-1 Pictures

The English caption in the poster doesn't make much grammatical sense

Coming in at number 5, we have Steins:Gate ripoff Occultic Nine. Just kidding, although they do have similar plot progression and equally weird endings. But enjoyable and good nonetheless. Occultic Nine is heavily influenced by the latter because the creators are the same - Chiyomaru Shikura, who penned both light novels.

The similarities don't end here. Both anime are heavy into the mystery genre, so much so that in the first few episodes (similar to Steins:Gate) you are completely lost, only being given drips and drabs of information to go along, just enough to keep you in suspense but not enough to satisfy you. Treading on thin ice here sometimes makes both shows slightly disorienting and frustrating to watch, because you would want to get down to the end of the show and find out what is going on.

But this is what makes Occultic Nine and its' predecessor so excellent. The mystery and supernatural aspect is drummed up hard such that you cannot but anticipate what is going to happen next. Its' a bit like HBO's Game of Thrones in the way that they both keep you suspended and wondering what would happen.

However, to binge watch the series would do it less justice, as the suspense element would be taken out from the context because you could just click 'Next Episode' and satisfy that curiousity. Which is why I would concede and say that I rated Steins:Gate lower than Occultic Nine because I binge watched it and the element of surprise so masterfully crafted was lost.

Occultic Nine features Yuta Gamon, a boy who is a NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Basically he is a bum with no aim in life, with a bunch of friends to help him run his blog. (wait... sounds like someone I know. But I don't have friends sadface)

Mystery abounds and our NEET is forced into something he doesn't want to be a part of, something unpleasant brewing underground. Overall an anime worth watching if you enjoy Steins Gate, although the progression is quite similar.

4. Orange / Orange: Mirai aired July 2016 - September 2016 / 13 episodes by Telecom Animation Film

Kakeru (middle) and his friends

What can I say? I just enjoy school/slice of life anime a LOT, and it is quite evident. Orange is a classic example of a great anime. Not too fast paced, not too slow either. Just right. Orange is about friendship, and friends overcoming the odds together. Kakeru Naruse is plagued with personality issues and family problems that lead him to eventually commit suicide. Filled with remorse and guilt over the fact that Kakeru took his life, his friends attempt to make amends by sending a letter, a letter to their past selves to save Kakeru and help him before its too late.

Orange is a bittersweet show: you have budding romances between characters, a tragedy and some form of closure. The show paints the perspective of Takamiya Naho, who tries to make amends and change the future.

An honorable mention alongside Orange would be the movie sequel, Orange:Mirai, which features Hiroto Suwa (guy with the orange hair), as he helps both Naho and Kakeru get together. A truly amazing movie that opens your eyes to sacrifice and the selflessness of Suwa.

Orange is a feels-good show. It is the type of show that encourages you and lifts you up like how a cuppa of hot chocolate would in a cold rainy day.

3. Joker Game aired Apr 2016 - Jun 2016 / 12 episodes by Funimation

The crew of Joker Game

Set during the 1930s, before the onset of World War II, Joker Game is a thriller historical drama that paints the picture of the Empire of Japan's spy network in Europe and around the world, with each episode focusing on each character. Although it does whitewash the atrocities that the Japanese committed during the war and could be seen as propaganda, take it with a grain of salt and enjoy it for the entertainment it provides.

Each episode is a mystery and tells of an overarching narrative, only evident towards the end. What I enjoyed about this anime was their ability to squeeze so many characters' narratives or mini-stories into one whole picture. Joker Game is the type of show that keeps you thinking, though not as hard as Occultic Nine but with the historical context weaved into it, it got me hooked.

The plot was intriguing yet simple to follow and it offered a small glimpse, albeit not the most accurate depiction of a show. (although better than Shuumatsu no Izetta, which was a disaster)

If you're into history, thriller and mystery, you have to watch this anime.

2. Tsuki ga kirei (The moon, so beautiful) aired April 2017 - June 2017 / 12 episodes by feel.

Innocent love

Beautiful. Simply beautiful. No words can describe how amazing this anime is. A tale of simple, innocent first love between Mizuno Akane and Izumi Kotarou is what spans the 12 episodes. You already know that they are going to get together, but the way the plot develops and the simplicity (along with subtle visual cues and on-point music) makes it seem so natural.

It is a reminder of how we met our first crush or first love back when things weren't so complicated and life was just going to school and hanging out with friends. Writing about this just brings a smile to my face, as you recollect fond memories of your past and how innocent and pure love was then.

This anime doesn't have any raunchy scenes or action-packed sequences, but what it does, it does excellently. The relationship between the two is depicted as how any relationship at that age (middle school) would be like: the lack of certainty and the belief in 'true love'. Jealousy, love, concern and care between Akane and Izumi is heartwarming and uplifting. It shows the raw emotions in a relationship and the touching moments where both do little things for each other.

Overall, Tsuki ga Kirei is one of the best, if not the best anime of 2017 for me so far, a year which hasn't seen much refreshing and excellently executed anime but rather more of the same old tropes.

1. Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name) aired August 2016 / movie 1 hr 46 min by CoMix Wave Films

A tale of two lovers separated by time and space

I tried. I tried to find something else to feature as my number 1 pick on my top 10 recommendations. I didn't want to bandwagon or follow what others picked and perpetuate the cliche. But I couldn't. Now, Tsuki ga kirei comes a close second, with it being the best of 2017 so far. But for 2016, the crown has to go to Kimi no na wa or Your Name. Your Name is a story of Miyamizu Mitsuha and Tachibana Taki, where they both wake up in each other's bodies, one living in the city and one in the country. They first think it is a dream, but realize that their actions seem too real to be dreaming.

Both Taki and Mitsuha try to communicate with each other to prove that they aren't dreaming and discoveries of each other unravel something bigger than themselves. Fate is the theme of this movie, with them being connected to a special meteor flying in the sky.

What I love about the movie truly is the art direction. The stark contrast between the city boy and country girl, two halves of a whole that never meet is a compelling story in this impossible love scenario. While Tsuki ga Kirei focuses on the innocence and the simplicity of love, Kimi no na wa shows us what love can do and the difficulties of long-distance relationships.

While not realistic in the deus ex machina used to conclude the story, the way both characters and their quirks were portrayed in a scant 1 hour 45 minutes is amazingly detailed and subtle, so much so that you would believe it if the animation were actual human motion captures or a live action film. 

What truly sets this anime apart from others is the way they could conclude satisfactorily the plot and tie up most important loose ends in the short period of time, a feat some full-length 12 episode series anime fail to do so. 

If you never watch anime ever again and you had to choose one anime to watch, Your Name would be it. The throwback to school life and the real problems some of us face in our lives are portaryed somewhat in this movie, and the characters are well-fleshed out to pass for a great movie.

Closing Thoughts

While the list of recommendations I have made may not always appeal to everyone, it is a good place to start watching anime if you haven't already. Trust me, there are many worse anime and the top 10 recommendations are usually pretty solid. While not neccessarily the top 10 absolute of all time (because I had a previous list), where some of my previous top 10 recommendations would definitely go above some of these choices, I can safely say that these top 5 would still find some place in an absolute list of top 10s. So I hope that you have enjoyed reading this post, and will explore some of the anime that I have mentioned in both posts.

Your Name?

Until Next Time

Endblade

Updated 2020: Do take a look at my not-so-comprehensive personal list right here!

PS4 Controllers for use on PC gaming

Hey there guys, Endblade here.

Below is a post that I half finished back in late 2015 and forgot to complete it. I will now attempt to post it with updates.

Original post 2015:

Having just got Witcher 3 a few days back (Review coming up!), I struggled like a madman to attempt to digest and internalize the controls. I can safely say the WASD keys and Mouse to play Witcher is REALLY HARD. Well why you may ask? Just imagine - The Camera pans together with your mouse, which means you can't mimic the console and serve the camera to aim at the back while riding on the horse in a direction.

The sprint/gallop on the keyboard is a hassle to reach, to hold down L-Shift AND use WASD to maneuver at the same time is a burdensome activity which got my pinky really tired. The combat portion of the Witcher 3 on keyboard makes it HARD as HELL to dodge enemies. This is pretty bad considering that you have to dodge quite often, especially against monsters which you can't just simply parry or block with your sword.

Hence my controller purchase. After the purchase, I was really satisfied as I felt I wa snow playing on a PS4 BUT on a more intimate level - just me and my computer screen, which was a comfort as I detest people coming up to interrupt me and stare at me when I game.

The model of controller I got was the new PS4 design, the stock pictures are below (Too lazy to take a photo and upload anyway), take a look, I find these new colourways much better than the generic old black/blue/red colours which are really dull.


Silver was the only one available, I would have chosen Gold had the choice been given to me. But hey, this isn't half bad haha. The controller has a good build, you can tell the years of research and effort gone into improving the PS controllers over the years have helped to create what the controller has become today. The touchpad of sorts is alos pretty good, I can control my mouse via it! Amazing huh. Battery life is decent, it can be linked via Bluetooth to create the wireless experience.

For software, if you don't already know by now, there is NO official software released by Sony to make it compatible with the PC (marketing tactic to buy their PS4...I WON'T SUCCUMB SONY).

If you're deciding between PS4 or other controllers, definitely get the PS4 controller. It may be slightly pricier, but if you're an Asian (like how I am) and have smaller hands, the PS4 controller affords you a lot more dexterity and flexibility than the normal controller.

Update in 2017:

Plus, it is long lasting. I have had it for 2 years and it STILL works perfectly. I have played countless games on it (FIFA, Witcher, Transistor, Pyre etc.) and it doesn't have any disconnect issues or battery problems, since it is fully rechargeable.

So if you asked me - which controller would I recommend? PS4 hand down no competition.

Until Next Time,

Endblade

List of Anime to Watch: 10 - 6th place (Recommendations updated October 2017) Part 1

Hey there guys,

Endblade here. In lieu of restarting this blog, I'll be updating some of my old posts with new information! This being one of them, I'll be introducing a top 10 anime to watch (including anime movies or series) as of today, October 2017! Do take note, recently I haven't been watching much anime due to school commitments and other events, but I have been following some here and there. Also, if you guys are interested, my previous posts backs in 2015 can be seen here:

2015 list of anime recommendations part 1
2015 list of anime recommendations part 2

DISCLAIMER: My opinion is purely my own and I welcome all discussion about the choices I made for my top 10, and these choices are made in comparison with anime that I have watched. It is based on my personal taste and hence greatly influenced by it. What I rate highly may not always be what you deem the same, hence this is called 'a noob's perspective, me being the noob :)

With that out of the way, let's dive in! Do note: minor spoilers ahead, I won't spoil everything, I'll talk about it like how you would recommend a movie to someone else. But certain events or points I deem necessary to include will be included. I will try to avoid mentioning anime that I have mentioned in my earlier posts.

10. Koe no Katachi (A silent voice) aired 21 September 2016/ runtime 2 hr. 10 min. (movie)

What is friendship?

Released in September 2016, I personally only watched this a few days ago (in October 2017). Before this, I remember some of my friends recommending this movie to me, but I never got around to watching it. After watching Just Because (An ongoing anime), I decided to browse around and stumbled upon this movie. At first, I was apprehensive. Would this be a waste of my two hours? I mean, with foresight (and the fact that this is my number 10 anime selected), obviously it was good.

The show revolves around Shouya Ishida, a highschooler who is a shadow of his former self. He used to bully Shouko Nishimiya, a classmate in elementary school for being deaf. However, the tables turned and now he is the one being bullied. This movie is basically a redemption arc for Shouya as he rediscovers himself and reunites with old friends to make amends.

What I found refreshing was the blatant honesty of the show in exposing the weaknesses of the main character, that he isn't someone who is the implicit hero (unlike other anime or shows). He is on a journey, like all of us are in our lives to find meaning and to seek purpose. Nishimiya, the girl whom Shouya bullied also has her own insecurities, and the way the film portrays it is realistic and you can empathize with how she felt.

How is this movie a good movie? At the climax (no spoilers) My heart literally beat faster with the tempo of the music. Did I say that the music is just so apt for the movie? Each scene and music accompaniment helped to evoke the right feelings at the right time, and that for me made this movie an unforgettable one. While the plot may be quite simple and mundane (at first), once you relate to the characters, you understand that after all, everyone, even anime characters, can be human too.

9. 91 Days aired July 2016 - October 2016 / 13 episodes

Avilio and Nero

91 Days takes places in 1920s, during the period of Prohibition in America. True to its' namesake, it takes place over a span of 91 days, or roughly 3 months. A tale of revenge where Avilio Lagusa's family has been murdered by the Vanetti Mafia family, Avilio goes down a destructive path of vengeance as Avilio Bruno, losing himself in the process.

What made me like this anime was the dark themes and the historical setting of the anime. While the town featured, Lawless, doesn't really refer to any particular town or city, the art style and dark tones in the animation help to ensure its' validity and sell the idea of a town rules by gangs vying for importance. While the ending left more to be desired, what 91 Days does well is the art and the portrayal of the environment in the 1920s, slightly romanticized but nonetheless riveting and leaves you on the edge of your seat while watching it.

91 Days shows that sometimes, people that could have been friends could be forced by the cruel twist of fate to become sworn enemies. And yet, inside each and every person, we all have feelings. We all want to be accepted by others.

8. Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans aired October 2015 - October 2017/ 50 episodes (2 seasons)

Tekkadan

Ahhh Gundam. Always with the violence, dark themes and flashy machines. But what made this Gundam anime so great that it broke into the top 10 for me? Well, firstly being 50 episodes, its quite hard to summarize the entire plot and condense such that there isn't any major spoilers to be had. But I'll try. This show revolves around one word: Family. Family runs deep in the crew of Tekkadan (Iron Flower), who are a ragtag bunch of orphans forced into the warring business (think child fighters in the Middle East) and attempt to make a name of their own and create a future where they can live in harmony and peace against the corrupt and evil Gjallarhorn.

Of course, harmony and peace don't go well with the world of Gundam, and Mikazuki Augus, pilot of the Gundam Barbartos (the one you see in the picture above) is the demon of Tekkadan. This is a touching tale of familial bonds, horrible circumstances, plot twists and betrayals with bloodshed that could paint an entire house red.

The entire plot was well-spaced out, although it could feel like the main plotline might not be moving at times due to certain side events, but those side episodes provide a refreshing break from the warring in the Mars and Earth Sphere. Although the final ending may not be satisfactory for some, but the conclusion to this was well-thought out and touching to say the least. Towards the ending, things felt a bit rushed to conclusion but I could understand why - too many plot strings to tie up and it can feel a bit overwhelming in the final 10 episodes climax.

Family

I would recommend you to watch ALL 50 episodes (in spite of the amount of time it may take). For me, I followed it religiously every week for both seasons because it was simply so good, each episode left me wanting more. While the first few episodes may seem slightly slow-paced, it serves as a basis for Tekkadan and its' struggles so that when you look back, you realize how far they have come.

While the first season may suffer because of this initial setup time to lay the ground, when you look at it from a composite whole, the theme and message the creators want to portray definitely ring true towards the end of the anime. It really is a refreshing difference from previous Gundam series (of which I watched them all but never got to finishing because after a while it was too tiring and cliche).

7. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (Erased) aired January 2016 - March 2016 / 12 episodes

Its' too late for regrets

Erased. That's how I feel sometimes, when people forget my name or forget me. Not that it matters as much, but this anime rings true with the idea that some people just remain forgotten to most, but cherished by some. A touching tale where the washed-up main character Fujinuma Satoru finds himself in deus ex machina fashion, using a mechanic called Revival to go back in the past to right the wrongs he felt he did to Hinazuki Kayo, a female classmate in the 1970s.

Another touching tale of redemption, although plot device being slightly incredulous (well it is fiction after all), the interactions between Satoru and Kayo are heartfelt and genuine. Kayo seems like a mysterious girl and Satoru is awkward at first, but the development between the two characters blooms in the form of an innocent type of friendship and love. Who says anime is always about boobs and hentai? (well where did I get that thought from? Not me definitely!)

6. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar aired January 2016 - March 2016 / 12 episodes

RPG? I'm in

Ever reminisced the time you were playing games like Maplestory and DragonNest? Well, I did. Watching this anime a year back brought back many memories of fun times grinding low-level mobs (back when Maplestory had difficult levelling curves). Party quests, dungeons, bossfights, the full monty. All of it is represented in one way or another when 6 people wake up in the land of Grimgar, a fantasy world of goblins and kobolds. Forming a party, they each take up different 'jobs'. A tank, knight, cleric, mage, archer and thief. These are classic archetypes in all MMOs, old or new.

Their adventure starts them off as noobs, clueless as to the mechanics in the world of Grimgar. But united they stand, and they overcome the initial adversity to form a bonded party, taking on monsters for money. Like mercenaries for hire. What made this anime so amazing to me was the setting and of course the art style. A-1 Pictures did a A+ job of watercolour-like backgrounds melded into the animation of the characters smoothly. 

Beautiful art by A-1 Pictures

All-in-all, riveting fight scenes that seem more realistic than most other action animes coupled with amazing art direction places this anime in a solid 6th position. The plot follows a steady tempo throughout, which makes the show well-paced and although the ending leaves much to the imagination, similar to MMOs, the story ends only when you stop playing.


Final Thoughts
I thought about placing all top 10 choices in one post, but I realized that after writing at length on the first 5 anime (there's really so much to talk about that writing doesn't do any of these works of art justice at all), its' just too long.

Hence I have decided to split it into 2 parts, for ease of reading, like how I did my first recommendation post 2 years back.

Anime is a beautiful medium to express your fantasies and intepretations of the world. It pains me when people deride anime as a lesser form of 'real life' shows. The effort gone into animating every scene and the creation of entire worlds to fit these shows is no less of a mean feat. Every anime takes a great deal of effort and we should appreciate it. Some other honourable mentions (which did not get into my top 10 but nonetheless should be appreciated):

Fate/Apocrypha
Kuzu no Honkai
Gundam: The Origin
Tsurezure Children
Golden Time

I may do reviews on these anime above, do let me know if you guys are interested in any of them!

Also, you can check out my Youtube channel here

Until Next Time,

Endblade

Random Thoughts #8: Restarting this blog?

Hey there guys,

Endblade here. So recently I was exploring Google and its' apps, and I stumbled upon Blogger (Yeah the dead site). Not sure how many people still use this, if anyone even posts regularly on this website at all, but hey, this is a good website to supplement my Youtube channel.

So basically, I'll be posting discussions, reviews and thoughts on some of my new hobbies (Yes, hobbies do change) as well as maybe revisit some old ones too! Do look out for my new postings as I will be exploring new and old content, nostalgic as well as forward-looking content!

This will a be a short post, so until next time,

Endblade

Hearthstone Deck Check: Well Met!

Hello everyone, its' been quite a long while since I last did a Hearthstone deck exposition. Although I haven't been posting any Hearthstone-related stuff recently, I have been following and am still playing Hearthstone for the past 1-2 years, ever since the Beta on PC. The class that I'm going to share the decklist with you guys (if you haven't already guessed by now, with the header and all) is Paladin! First and foremost, to say that I LOVE to play Paladin is an understatement. Just to show you guys how much I play Pally in Hearthstone, below is a picture of my Golden Paladin.

Now that's a shiny Pally, don't judge by this month's ranking I haven't played much...I know you're judging

Track Record

Now before I even begin, I will try to convince you that at least I am a legit guide writer with experience playing Paladin. To be honest, I have yet to hit Legend with Midrange Pally, but I have reached pretty okay ranks on ladder the past few months, so my advice does hold some water.

May 2015 - Hit Rank 1, gave up due to the constant win-loss ping pong nature of the game. Just hit a barrier. Played like all my games as Midrange Pally, only 2-3 games as Hunter) 

June 2015 - Rank 4 (Mainly Midrange Paladin) July 2015 - Rank 5 (Mainly Midrange Paladin, played some face Paladin) 

August 2015 - Rank 4 (played mostly Midrange Paladin) 

September 2015 - Rank 5 (played some Secret Pally, but stuck to Midrange most of the way, got Golden Paladin)

October 2015 - Rank 7 (Now I'm getting tired of ranked ladder with all the face hunters and retarded face decks, played a mix of Midrange Pally, Secret Pally and Pirate Rogue)

Some terminology which I may use later will be explained here:

Trading- NOT the trading in Trading Card Games, Trading means to send your minion to destroy the opponent's minion i.e. Attacking. But Trading UP means to say that you trade efficiently, like your 1-mana minion kills a 2-mana opponent minion, or your minion forces your opponent to use 2 minions and send them in to kill your minion (resulting in a 2:1 trade in your favour)

Board Advantage-  Basically means you have more minions/the quality of your minions exceed that of your opponent, i.e. 3 minions on your field VS. 1 minion on your opponent's side.

Hand Advantage- Like Board advantage, except that this just means you have more cards in hand than your opponent.

Card Advantage- Card Advantage is basically Board+Hand Advantages added/subtracted. The nett as a result of this is the Card Advantage.

Rush/Zerg- The bread and butter of aggro decks, and to some extent this deck. Derived from Starcraft (I think), Zerg was a tactics used by players to rush down opponents quickly before they could respond.

Control- If rushing/zerging was the yin of Hearthstone, then Control is the yang. It means the deck focuses on trying to last as long as possible in an attempt to exhaust the opponent's resources and to take control of the board.

Removal- Cards/Spells which destroy opponent's minions on the board. Hence, the word removal. Examples include cards like Big Game Hunter, Siphon Soul, Polymorph, and the like.

Pally- Short for Paladin

Now before I even show you guys my decklist (which is tried, tested and proven to work), for those of you who don't like to play Paladin decks or don't know why Pally is literally the MOST balanced class in Hearthstone right now (with the exception of Secret Paladin, which is another deck for another day), I will now enlighten your mortal minds and prepare to achieve transcendence (LITERALLY)

Strengths (The Jizz):

• Excellent early game class drops
• Decent board clears/answers
• Literally the BEST class legendary in the entire game (PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE LIGHT)
• Efficient trading
• Decent matchups with all Meta decks currently
• Consistent
• Hero Power scales well into the late game

Weaknesses (The not-so Jizz):

• Little or no card draw
• Doesn't generate a lot of unfair advantage (Not like the pre-nerf Patron/Secret Pally)
• No board = lose game
• Removal can be limited/ No hard removal
• Can be quite reactive at times (Priest is worse though)

Basically as a Pally player, BOARD CONTROL is the most important thing you need. While some other classes thrive or are decent without a board, Paladins must have at least 2-3 minions on the board in order to trade efficiently. Without a good early game start, you might lag behind especially when faced against more Control oriented decks. Even when against Aggro decks, a slow start can mean an early death for you if you don't control the board and deny the opponent of his minions. Now onto the decklist!

Now dedication is in the form of attempting to create your entire deck in Gold

The Decklist (Midrange):

Zombie Chow* x2
Equality x1
Ironbeak Owl x1
Knife Juggler x2
Shielded Minibot x2
Muster for Battle x2
Aldor Peacekeeper x2
Big Game Hunter x1
Truesilver Champion x2
Consecration x2
Murloc Knight x1
Piloted Shredder x2
Antique Healbot x1
Harrison Jones* x1
Quartermaster x2
Sludge Belcher x1
Justicar Trueheart* x1
Sylvanas Windrunner* x1
Dr. Boom x1
Lay on Hands x1
Tirion Fordring x1

The cards in BOLD cannot be replaced. If you don't have those cards, you are basically missing the core parts of the deck. Either you work towards getting the cards or else I'd suggest going for another deck theme.

Cards marked with an asterisk* are optional, tech cards which you can choose to include one of, or replace with other cards depending on the Meta/personal preference. I'd say one Zombie Chow is as good as no Zombie Chow, you want to maximize drawing the card within your first 1-2 turns/mulligan, so either run 2 for more consistency or none at all. It does sacrifice some endgame possibility, but most of the time an early lead will keep you ahead even if towards the end you slow slightly.

I will now explain the deck and how to play it as a whole, and what to do against certain matchups.

General Idea/Concept

This deck revolves around the idea of board control and early game drops like I mentioned earlier. The mid-game (turns 4-7/8) is usually the time when you cement your lead, and by turn 10 or so you should either be winning (if against aggro) or at least keeping up/slightly ahead (against Control). The unique aspect of Paladin is that the drops are clearly suited for strong mid-game presence to seize Board Advantage as the expense of Hand Advantage sometimes. For Pally players, it is better to usually play minions than to save them in hand (unless of course the minions are reactive minions like Big Game Hunter and Aldor Peacekeeper). But it is also not wrong to play these drops as tempo plays especially if you know that you have nothing much to counter or sufficient removal already in hand.

Another thing to note when playing this deck- do not be afraid to Hero Power and pass if needed. Sometimes, playing the 6-drop like Sylvanas when you know he has a Shield Slam/Execute or removal ready tends to work against you, especially if they manage to kill your big drops with low-cost removal.

One key component when playing this deck is NEVER be afraid to be aggressive, especially if you are up against Handlock, Control Warrior or Dragon Priest. The longer the game drags, usually it is less likely that you will win, as your removal usually will run out while the opponent can churn out more big minions to overwhelm you.

When up against Aggro, clear the board rather than try to face-rush them down. Control decks, do the opposite. Be the aggressor.

I cannot emphasize any more on this-ALWAYS maintain a board of at least 2-3 minions. Do not overextend or be greedy, unless you are sure that the opponent has no answers or board clears in his hand, then you can plop down 5-6 minions on the board. Always go for the 2 turn kill if possible, i.e. to say that you can effectively have lethal damage if you attack this turn and the next. If lethal is more than 2 turns (especially up against Aggro), DON'T go face, instead trade with his minions.

Midrange Pally plays best when you know roughly what your opponent has in his hand. Mage keep a card for 5-6 turns? Most likey he has flamestrike. Warrior? Brawl. Priest? Lightbomb. Always be wary of board clears, one clear and if you don't have any resources to plop on the board to maintain board presence, you are on your way to a loss.

When I first played Pally, I used to play the more controll-ish version, meaning to say I usually held back a lot when against enemies to try and maximize the value my cards would give me (like Consecrate to clear >3 enemies only), but I realized sometimes it is better to just clear the board or go aggressive to pressure your opponent so that YOU have the intiative in playing and he responds to YOUR plays, not the other way round. Paladin tends to not be effective when you need to respond to your opponent, as there is no charge minions or hard removal in this deck to guarantee the opponent's board is clear.

With the general premise of the deck aside, now we'll be moving on to the Mulligan, and how to mulligan effectively. A good mulligan can set you ahead of your opponent even on turn 1!

The Mulligan

The Most Ideal Hand i.e. The Dream

In most matches, you WILL definitely need to mulligan (swop out and reshuffle) some cards in order to try and fish out some early drops to seal the board presence. Unless you draw a Zombie Chow, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battle and Quartermaster with Coin in your starting hand (or something similar), you need to mull.

Against Hunter/Zoolock: KEEP- Zombie Chow, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battle, Knife Juggler, Consecration (if you have Coin), Piloted Shredder (with Coin), Aldor Peacekeeper, Sludge Belcher/Antique Healbot (not advised, but if you have Coin its' decent)

Against Mage: KEEP- Zombie Chow, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battle, Knife Juggler, Piloted Shredder (with Coin), Truesilver Champion

Against Control decks (Warrior, Priest): KEEP- Zombie Chow, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battle, Knife Juggler, Piloted Shredder, Harrison Jones (with Coin and against Weapon oriented classes)

Against the mirror: KEEP- Zombie Chow, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battle, Knife Juggler, Harrison Jones (with Coin)

Against Oil Rogue: KEEP- Zombie Chow, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battle, Harrison Jones, Piloted Shredder

Against Handlock: KEEP- Zombie Chow, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battler, Truesilver Champion, Piloted Shredder

As you can see, most mulligans you will want to aim for the DREAM (Turn 1 Chow, Turn 2 Minibot, Turn 3 Muster), so mulligan aggressively for these, especially against Aggro decks as you need early game minions to trade up with their creatures. Try to aim for drops which cost 1-3, 4 if you have Coin to use it on turn 3. Most importantly for Midrange Paladin is to play on curve, meaning to say that if you don't have a turn 1-3 play, and  you either skip or hero power, things usually don't look too good for you. Unlike Warrior or Priest who can afford to armor up/heal to pass the turns, Paladin's hero power of spawning a 1/1 usually is only good if you can combo it with something else, as 1 attack usually will be unable to trade up, or even trade with anything unless you have multiple 1/1s.

With the mulligan aside, we can now move on to card justifications- why each card was chosen out of the hundreds of options.

Card justifications

Zombie Chow - WHY 2? You may have seen other decklist run 1, but with my experiences with Paladin, 1 Zombie Chow is almost as good as 0, as you need to be have RNGsus-sama with you to pull off the 'dream' which I mentioned earlier. 2 is for consistency, and against Control decks health usually even in the lategame isn't an issue, board presence usually is. Zombie Chow provides a good 3-health body with a decent 2 attack, meaning playing this on turn 1(ideally) will nett you a potential trade up with an opponent's 2-drop, which is usually Knife Juggler, Sorcerer's Apprentice. The only drop this doesn't fare well against is a turn 1 opponent's Chow, or a Twilight Whelp, which with its' 3 health puts a wrench in your attempts to seal the early game. My opinion? Put two or none at all.

Possible Substitutes- If you choose not to put 2, then sub in 1 more equality and murloc knight, both for late-game pressure. Or an Argent Protector is also ok.

Equality - Needing no introduction, Equality is a staple of all Paladin decks, even if you are going for a more aggro-based deck, Equality allows your 1/1 Hero Power Minions to trade effectively. It also nullifies threats with high hp, like Deathlord, Ysera and Malygos. I only include one due to lac of space, and I don't want to be faced with the possibility of having dead cards in hand i.e. 2 useless Equality cards. Equality is a REACTIVE card, like all board clears, and usually you only want to use it to help in killing big threats. If you need to Equality twice in a game, usually you aren't doing very well.

Possible Substitutes- None! Its' too unique for be substituted. A core card in all Pally decks.

Combos-

• Equality + Consecration (the Classic as I'd like to call it)
• Equality + Knife Juggler + Muster for Battle (Brings all minions to 1 for your 3 for your Juggler to hit them. More RNG than anything.)
• Equality + Knife Juggler + Hero Power (A less effective option 2, but good if you have and Improved Hero Power i.e. Justicar-ed Hero Power the turn before).

Ironbeak Owl -  More of a tech card than anything, I put this in to ensure we can silence pesky minions which are hard to remove/more efficient to just silence them. Targets include enemy Tirion Fordrings, Taunted-up bigh health creatures like Handlock Molten Giants, or even a target like Mad Scientist when against Hunters. In essence, this is just an option available for you to play around some threats whose effects usually are game-changing/gives the opponent a huge lead, but as a vanilla minion is quite useless. As a Turn 2 drop without any target to silence is NOT ideal, I'd rathe ryou hero power. Unless its' to counter stuff like Nerubian Egg.

Possible Substitutes- I guess if you include Spellbreaker it is fine. Then again this deck is flooded with good 4-drops so maybe not. But hey, its your deck right? Do what you want with it. But Silence is a good card to have.

Knife Juggler - Knife Juggler has so much synergy with the deck, especially with the Hero Power. To not run 2 would be close to unfathomable. But I have seen some decks run 1, but it is not advised as I feel this is the best neutral 2 drop in the game right now, and since Paladin need Board Control, often Knife Juggler will help you inch your way closer to sealing the board with your minions. Besides it also makes pressing your Hero Power less painful.

Possible Substitutes- None!

Combos -

• Knife Juggler + Muster for Battle (Turn 2 knife, turn 3 muster for a overwhelming lead on your opponent)
• Equality + Knife Juggler + Muster for Battle

Shielded Minibot - Best turn 2 drop in the game I think. Best class turn 2 drop too! With 2/2 in stats and a DIVINE SHIELD, this is like Argent Squire on steroids. Coin turn 1 into Minibot is good if you have another turn 2 drop like Knife or another Minibot, as the Minibot contests the board and effectively threatens to wipe any creature your opponent may choose to play on turn 1/2. This minimally should get you a 2 for 1. Value at its' finest I dare say.

Possible Substitutes- None! If you aren't crafting this card then you shouldn't play Pally

Muster for Battle - Great turn 3 play, helps you spawn 3 1/1s to contest the board. Cements your lead. Also gives you a free 1/4 weapon to clear pesky drops with.

Possible Substitutes- None! If you aren't crafting this card then you shouldn't play Pally

Combos -

• Knife Juggler + Muster for Battle
• Muster for Battle + Turn 4 Coin and Quartermaster
• Muster for Battle + Equality

Aldor Peacekeeper - Tempo turn 3 Aldor is decent, as a 3/3 it contests the board if you are far behind, good against aggro. Basically nullifies big attack minions if you don't have removal, like Aldor-ing an opponent's Dr. Boom or Alexstraza (Well you get the point)

Possible Substitutes- None! I could see you justifying the use of 1, but as it is, Paladin has a sever lack of a turn 3 play and Muster for Battle and this card are the only viable good ones at the moment. Maybe play 1 Aldor and 1 Mind Control Tech if you are very scared of opponents flooding the board too early on. Highly unlikely but still... Coghammer is also an option, sub out one Aldor for Coghammer for more early game. I don't play Coghammer due to the nature of this deck- it has too many weapons and I don't want to clog my hand with weapons (it has happened before).

 

Big Game Hunter - Another tech card like Ironbeak Owl, and a great tempo card as it swings the game in your favour when you get its' effect off. the 4/2 body is less than ideal due to the weak health, but again you're using this card for the Battlecry not the stats. So overall good at 1, as your don't really need to BGH a lot of targets anyway, and the statline really doesnt justify running 2. As a tempo play it fares better than Ironbeak or Aldor, but onyl play it without the Battlecry if you have already removed the one target this card was made to counter: Dr. Boom. Or any other 7 or higher attack minion.

Possible Substitutes- None!

 

Truesilver Champion - One of the strongest weapons in the game right now, 4 attack 2 durability allows you to kill 2 minions most of the time. The side effect of healing 2 is really good when you're up against Hunters or face-rush decks, as sometimes the 2 heal is clutch enough to save you from a burst in the following turn. Trust me, I've used it before and it HAS decided some games for me. To go face for 4 damage is also a legitimate choice sometimes, but try nto to unless you are rushing an opponent down (Control match-ups).

Possible Substitutes- None! Its' a good weapon so run 2. Unless you want Coghammer. Then run one of each.

 

Consecration - Not as strong of a board clear as other classes' choices, but hey, beggars can't be chooser right? Plus it works well with Equality and punishes aggro decks who overextend.

Possible Substitutes- None! Only board clear you have so include 2! 

Combos -

• The 'Classic' Equal-secrate combo. Just makes sure you Equality FIRST and Consec later. Or prepare to get wrecked.

               

Murloc Knight - Mrrrrgllglggl! Best card to come out from The Grand Tournament expansion, this 4-drop essentially is a 6 drop, as you usually want to play it with hero power on the same turn due to the Inspire effect of the card. It is dangerous if you play it exposed, along as a turn 4 drop due to the low health (4) of the minion, where a good 3 drop can trade up for it, or a weapon on turn 4 like Death's Bite, Truesilver Champion etc. Provides you with some ability to flood the board at little cost to you actual cards. Imagine summoning Old Murk Eye...

Possible Substitutes- play another 6 drop like The Black Knight as a tech choice. Or alternatively, play one more Equality.

Piloted Shredder - Piloted Shredder is a 4/3 with at LEAST a 5/4 in stats if you spawn out a Captain's Parrot, or potentially a 8/7 in stats if you spawn out Millhouse Manastorm. That's not mentioning the absurd drops like Doomsayer, which sometimes wrecks you/or your opponent. You could get something mediocre like a Bloodfen Raptor, but hey, at leasy you're looking at 7/5 in stats. Not bad for 4 mana. Run 2, this card is an auto-include due to the value that it draws out. Its like Steam Holiday Sale.

Possible Substitutes- None! Its' so broken you can't afford to not play it!

Antique Healbot - Antique Healbot at 1 is enough in my opinion, the horrible stat-line doesn't justify running 2 copies, to heal 8 health per game is usually enough to put you out of reach of the opponent's reach against Aggro decks. 

Possible Substitutes - Not recommended to sub this card out, but if you had to, I would say go for card draw, like Azure Drake. Or even a spell which recovers health, like Holy Light.

Harrison Jones - That belongs in a museum! The Battlecry which arguably I think has the most immediate impact in the game. Destroy your opponent's minion and DRAW cards? Sign me up I'd put 2 if possible! This card is decent in terms of stats, but what really shines is the card draw and weapon removal. This is like Divine Favour+Acidic Swamp Ooze in one. It is a tech card though, so feel free to substitute it out. But I still think it is the best tech card for now. It totally wrecks Warrior, the mirror match, and Aggro Hunters.

Possible Substitutes - The Black Knight in a Taunt-heavy Meta, Loatheb if you don't have Harrison.

Quartermaster - Best card which goes well with many of the Paladin's cards, synergises with the Hero Power for a 2/5 and 3/3 for 7 mana (not bad if you are desperate). The dream, of course is to Muster for Battle THEN Quartermaster for 3 3/3s and a 2/5 for 8 mana in total. It pushes for damage and threatens two turn lethal most of the time, thus obligating the opponent to respond in an attempt to try and put down the Silver Hand rebellion before it gets out of hand.

Possible Substitutes- None! If you want to substitute this then play something else!

Combos -

• Muster for Battle + Quartermaster
• Justicar Trueheart +  Hero Power + Quartermaster
• Hero Power + Quartermaster

Sludge Belcher - Sludge Belcher is a good turn 5 drop, and most of the time your other 5-drops like Quartermaster, Harrison and Healbot won't be played on turn 5. Hence the need for a solid body with good statline to grace the turn 5 play. You can run 2, but this deck is plagued by the 30-card constraint. Otherwise I'd gladly run 2 copies. The taunt is irritating for Aggro elements trying to break through your defenses, and buys you time to set up the board in your favour and denying opponent's favourable trades by protecting you high-value minions, like Murloc Knight.

Possible Substitutes- Use a turn 5 drop, preferably Azure Drake.

Justicar Trueheart - 'Welcome to the Grand Tournament!', cries the best neutral Legendary to come out from the expansion (In my opinion). Justicar does what no other card can - increase the effectiveness of your hero power. Its' absurd sometimes that it allows you to span 2/2 of stats for 2 mana, which is CRAZY for a hero power as it basically requires no cards to be played form the hand, bar Justicar herself. This helps a ton in Control Matchups to outlast your opponent in terms of exhausting his resources. Most of the time Justicar with 3 health won't survive to see the next turn, but her Battlecry usually is what you want. If she does in fact make it to the following turn, you have 6 damage to send into your opponent's minions/face. Arguably this card may be too slow sometimes, as to play it effectively you need to at least use your improved Hero Power at least thrice, which unless the game drags absurdly long, you won't be able to do it. But if you play against stuff like Fatigue Warrior, you can be sure to win the matchup on Hero Power spamming alone.

Possible Substitutes - Another Tech Card, The Black Knight is not bad. Loatheb is also a viable sideboard card.

Sylvanas Windrunner - Sylvanas does what most cards can't - steal a opponent's minion. Or to be more precise, the threat of stealing a minion. Most of the time, this will lead your opponent to send the entire field into Sylvanas, which helps as a invisible Taunt in some ways. Most of the time 5/5 does trade for 2 small minions, so it's not too bad. It can be a tad bit slow against faster decks like Face Hunter or Face Paladin, so opt to not play this card on turn 6 even if you have it and do something else against most matchups.

Possible Substitutes - Loatheb, The Black Knight, Caine Bloodhoof

Dr. Boom - What can I say about this card? Dr. 7 is to be played on turn 7 and pass. 9/9 for 7 mana plus a maximum of 8 random damage? That's just explosive (pun intended). Get this auto-include card and experience the boon of Boom! (pun also intended)

Possible Substitutes-  No close ones, but Loatheb, The Black Knight are both decent. Less than ideal though to fill this spot

Lay on Hands - A great late-game play when you are ahead to seal your lead and put you far ahead with 3 extra cards, this card also helps to stem the flow of bleeding when up against Aggro, much like Antique Healbot. Think of this card like Holy Light + Arcane Intellect to some extent. Good card but not absurdly broken. One is enough, the high mana cost deters you from using it as usually once you use this you either pass or Hero Power (if you are at 10 mana).

Possible Substitutes - None! Craft this if you have to!

Tirion Fordring - 'Put your faith in the Light!' is the best class Legendary in Hearthstone right now. If this was a neutral card it would be horribly broken. But Blizzard has blessed us Pally players with Tirion, a 6/6 with Divine Shield, Taunt and Deathrattle to summon a 5/3 weapon. That's just insane in terms of value. Minimally to clear this minion effectively you need a Polymorph, Hex or Silence to REMOVE the effect, then you need to destroy the remaining minion. Which usually means expending 2 cards at LEAST. Sometimes opponents have to trade weirdly, and you get situations like a 4 for 1 card. Ashbringer as a weapon is great for minion removal as far as weapons go, or you could alternatively go for 15 total damage to the opponent's face. 

Possible Substitutes - None! If yoy don't have this go craft it! Or else you aren't a Pally player.

Final Words

To end off, I'd like to say that Paladin is NOT a broken class, neither are the cards (at least for this deck type). Its focuses on value trading and making opponents commit stupid mistakes to trade inefficiently. Board Control is the name of this deck's game, and prioritize board presence above all. Don't go too aggressive, remember to always have dominance on the board and don't let your opponent be the one with the initiative, make him react to your plays and be one step behind. Don't overextend and play around board clears.

With that, I hope you enjoy playing Paladin as much as I do, and any questions/coaching you can drop me an email or comment in the section below and I'll try my best to help you!

Until next time,

Endblade