Christmas REM Review and Analysis – December 2018

Introduction

The Christmas REM is making a festive return to Puzzle and Dragons and comes with several new cards along with some buffs to existing cards. Unfortunately, the event as a whole is underwhelming and is not surprising due to the fact that it only costs 5 Magic Stones.

5-stone events tend to be horribly top heavy as their lower rarities are simply filler/junk which makes it challenging to justify rolling in. Furthermore, the Christmas REM is one of the older events which means there are numerous old cards sitting at the bottom who have not received buffs or reworks for several years.

With all this in mind, I would be only inclined to do a free roll and possibly utilize the Monster Exchange system for a high rarity card if they are appealing.

This article will summarize each of the featured card’s strengths and weakness along with how to best use them.

Video commentary

—video coming soon—

Overview

Christmas REM Rarities
 9 Star base
 8 Star base   2511 
 7 Star base 3375 2510  
 6 Star base  2513 1782
 5 Star base 3377 3376 3378 
Christmas REM  Rankings – December 13, 2018
S
A
B 2511   1782
C  3375 2510  2513 3378 
D 3377 3376

All icons show most evolved form

Order within each tier is random and not reflective of ranking.

Regardless of card’s ranking, you should almost always keep it if it is your very first time acquiring them.

Limit Breaking

Limit Breaking is the process of leveling a card beyond level 99. This will unlock more weighted stats along with the potential to receive Super Awakenings. These additional awakenings can add significant power, but only function in solo mode.

Any card that can qualify for Limit Breaking will have their level displayed in blue and feeding a Super Snow Globe will push them beyond the level 99 cap.

You can read more about Super Awakenings HERE.

Monster Exchange

The Monster Exchange System has mostly eliminated the need to roll in most events as players can simply trade in for a card of their choice. This is often done during lackluster events to avoid spending Stones on poor bottom rarity cards or to snipe a specific card if luck is not on your side.

Weapon Assists

Weapon Assists are a special evolution for select cards that will be used exclusively as inherits. This form retains the same base stats as the original form, but will also transfer over all awakenings on the Weapon Assist card and this occurs if the Awoken Assist  is present.

My approach to Collab rolling

Rolling any Rare Egg Machine is a gamble and it becomes a matter of maximizing your rate of returns in an event.

This translates into rolling when the bottom rarity has high value as those will be the most common cards. Furthermore, I may utilize the Monster Exchange system to acquire the higher rarity cards if they will significantly advance my progress. As such, I tend to look most closely at the common cards to determine if it is worth rolling in.

This is just my own personal approach and everyone has different goals/motivations so take this section with a grain of salt.

9 Star base

Christmas Saline –

Active: Change all orbs to Fire orbs; Charge allies’ skill by 2 turns (19 -> 19 turn cooldown)

Leader Skill: 1.5x all stats for Fire Att.; 2x ATK when above 50% HP; 6x ATK when matching 6 or more connected Fire orbs; 50000 additional damage when matching 6 or more Fire orbs [2.25/324/2.25]

Awakenings: Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row
Super Awakenings: God Killer Dragon Killer Devil killer Machine Killer
Typing: Devil / Balance
Available Killers: God Killer Dragon Killer Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer physical killer Balance killer 37 
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 1201 (1561)
HP 4210 (5473) / ATK 2603 (3384) / RCV 778 (1011)
Weapon Assist: Time Extend Skill Boost Imp ATK Imp ATK

Pros
Cons
  • Active forms perfect 15-15 Fire/Dark board
  • 4 Dragon Killers Dragon Killer
    • 81x personal damage
  • Modest leader skill
  • Only effective against Dragons
  • LS hindered by 2 Fire combo clause

L

Weapon Assist: Skill Lock Resist Skill Lock Resist Fire Row Fire Row
Active: Change all orbs to Fire orbs; Charge allies’ skill by 2 turns (19 -> 19 turn CD)

Pros
Cons
  • Only Weapon Assist with Tape + SB Skill Boost
  • 13 CD is okay

Lina

8 Star base

Ilmina – S

Active: Deal 100000 damage to all enemies. Ignore enemy element and defense. Change all orbs to Fire, Light & Heart orbs (16 -> 11 turn cooldown)

Leader Skill: [Board becomes 7×6] 4x ATK for Light Att.; 3x ATK and reduce damage taken by 35% when matching 5 Heal orbs in a cross formation [1/144/1/57.75%]

Awakenings: Time Extend  Skill Lock Resist    45
Super Awakenings:   45
Typing: Devil / Healer
Available Killers: God Killer 37 Dragon Killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 1218 (1461)
HP 4885 (5862) / ATK 1605 (1926) / RCV 1224 (1469)

Pros
Cons
  • Ultimate floof
  • Multi-purpose active
    • 100,000 True Damage
    • Tri-elemental board
  • Valuable awakenings
  • 3 Strong Super Awakenings
  • Potent 7×6 leader
  • High weighted stats
    • Huge amounts of HP (with awakenings)
  • Super Awakenings do not work in coop
    • Vulnerable to binds
  • Ilmina 3274 is better for Ranking

The Fluffy Ilmina makes her return to the Christmas REM with a brand new evolution. This evolution not only gives her adorable mittens, but she gains monstrous weighted stats and Super Awakenings.

Her new evolution form grants +10% Team HP along with 1.5 seconds of orb movement time along with a single VDP  and 7 Combo 45 with the ability to gain either of those again or full bind immunity via Super Awakenings. This can be frustrating as all of them are valuable but only work in solo mode.

In terms of viability, Christmas Ilmina can fit well on any combo-based team such as Edward  and Valkyrie – Ciel  as her board changer fits well along with offering valuable bulk and VDP potential.

As a leader, Christmas Ilmina is a potent 7×6 card as she offers 12x ATK and 35% damage reduction when forming a heart cross. This can naturally have merit for Heart Cross teams who wish to improve their consistency as it should be possible to have 5 hearts present at all times. With that being said, it may have some value for 7×6 swapping as she offers damage reduction and a respectable multiplier.

Unfortunately, it is hard to justify Monster Exchanging for Christmas Ilmina as she does not offer enough to justify the cost. Furthermore, Heroine Ilmina 3274 is better suited to Ranking Dungeons as she does not require a Heart Cross, has 2 more Skill Boosts Skill Boost, 100,000 more True Damage, and a bi instead of a tri-elemental board.


Christmas Yog – A

Active: Change all orbs to Fire & Heart orbs. Recover 40% of max HP. Bind recovery for 4 turns. (18 -> 13 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 6x ATK when above 80% HP; 3x ATK & RCV when below 79% HP; 3x ATK and reduce damage taken by 25% when matching 2+ Fire combos [1/324/9/43.75%]

Awakenings: Time Extend Skill Lock Resist 45 Skill Boost Skill Boost Multiplayer Bonus 45 
Super Awakenings:  45 
Typing: Devil / Dragon
Available Killers: God Killer Healer Killer Machine Killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 1207 (1449)
HP 6668 (8002) / ATK 2315 (2778) / RCV 233 (280)

Pros
Cons
  • Superior stats/awakening to REM Yog 
    • Like Beach Yog 
  • Powerful Leader Skill
    • Easy 18x ATK + Damage Reduction
    • Enhanced healing when <79%
  • Multi purpose active
    • Board changer
    • Heal
    • Bind clear
  • Powerful Super Awakenings
  • Fire lacks a powerful deal
    X damage after orb elimination leader

    • Hino 3271 vs Vaj 
  • HP clause can be challenging
    to manage in certain dungeons
  • Thumbnail art looks ugly

Yog  is often considered one of the premiere farming leaders due to the fact that they have a wonderfully high ATK multiplier and easy activation requirements. The same can be said about any of his/her Seasonal forms and the only thing that has changed is their colour along with Seasonals having superior awakenings and stats. With that in mind Christmas Yog probably indicates that we will have a Yog in each colour moving forward as Kali was so 2016.

In regards to Christmas Yog’s power, he rivals Beach Yog  in that he has superior awakenings compared to the REM form but being Fire has some drawbacks.

Most notably will be both a lack of potential partners (as Christmas Yog will be scarce) along with Fire lacking a potent leader who deals large amounts of damage after matching orbs. Hino 3271 is far weaker compared to Vaj  in essentially every way which can make it challenging to use as effectively. The main idea with using REM Yog with Vaj is to have reasonably potent ATK multiplier along with automatic execution against Resolve spawns.

Outside of well thought of farming scenarios, it may be challenging to use any Yog in longer or traditional content as the HP clause can become problematic when stalling or pre-emptives are involved.


Christmas Romia – S

Active: Change all orbs to Fire, Wood & Dark & Heart orbs. Increase skyfall chance of Wood orbs by 15% for 4 turns. (14 -> 8 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 4.5x ATK when 6 or more combos; 4x ATK and reduce damage taken by 50% when matching Fire, Wood, Dark at once; Increase orb movement time by 3 seconds [1/324/1/75%]

Awakenings: Bind Immune Bind Immune Skill Lock Resist  45 45 
Super Awakenings 45 
Typing: Devil / Physical
Available Killers: God Killer Healer Killer Machine Killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 1102 (1433)
HP 5874 (7636) / ATK 2136 (2777) / RCV 263 (342)

Pros
Cons
  • Cute
  • Unique active
    • Board change
    • Skyfall buff
  • High personal damage
  • Valuable Super Awakenings
  • Leadership potential
    • 16x ATK / 50% damage reduction
  • 3 Skill Boosts Skill Boost
  • Gives Wood a viable VDP  card
  • Damage reduction is conditional
    • 4x effective HP when
      matching 3 Fire, Wood, & Dark
    • Lower consistency
  • Does not fit on many meta teams
  • Super Awakenings do not work in coop

Christmas Romia is a powerful card that lacks a true home. This is because Wood is not in the best place at this time in regards to top tier cards and someone like Zela  is a more efficient damage stick. This can be frustrating because Christmas Romia has the potential to be strong but is also held back by the fact that Super Awakenings do not work in coop.

In this day and age, the meta is largely defined by high effective HP combo leaders and this can potentially hold true for Christmas Romia. She is able to provide 16x ATK and 50% Damage Reduction when matching Fire, Wood, and Dark orbs. With dual leaders, this becomes 256x ATK and 75% Damage Reduction which is equivalent to 4x effective HP. Sadly, the fact that one has to match 3 specific colours diminishes the overall potency as all the damage reduction is lost with otherwise. Perhaps one can pair with Diablos  to ensure all 3 colours will be present via the 7×6 board but it does lower her potential damage and effective health.

As mentioned above, Wood has less top tier leaders at this point in time and while one can still use things like Vraska  or Zela, Romia may just feel like an average sub, especially in coop where she does not gain access to her third 7 Combo 45With that being said, if your main focus is solo mode, Christmas Romia will be a potent damage sub but lacks extra utility unless pursuing the VDP Super Awakening . Of course, it is her active skill that will help push her ahead of other Wood cards as it combines both a board changer (with Hearts) and skyfall buff all in one.


2511 Christmas Kali – B

Active: Change all orbs to Fire, Water & Wood & Light & Dark & Heart orbs (12 -> 7 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 2.5x ATK and 1.5x HP & RCV for Dragon, God type; 6x ATK and reduce damage taken by 25% when matching Fire, Water, Wood, Dark, Heal at once [2.25/225/2.25/43.75%]

Awakenings: Skill Boost  Time Extend 45 Skill Boost Time Extend TPA Skill Lock Resist Bind Clear awakening 
Super Awakenings: 45  
Typing: God / Dragon
Available Killers: Devil killer Healer Killer Machine Killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 1002 (1303)
HP 4025 (5232) / ATK 2324 (3021) / RCV 405 (526)

Pros
Cons
  • Modest Leadership potential
  • Vanilla board changer
    • No secondary effect
    • Shorter CD
  • GungHo stopped loving Kali
    • Did not receive meaningful buffs
  • Stronger Rainbow leaders exist
    • Sherias Roots , Reeche 
  • No/low personal damage
  • Low sub value

Christmas Kali is one of the original Christmas cards and by not receiving any meaningful buff has solidified the notion that GungHo no longer loves Kalis. Kali has been reskinned/recoloured numerous times but has quickly fallen out of favour despite the fact that Rainbow teams have some relevance again.

Regardless, Christmas Kali still has some potential, but is overshadowed in all regards by newer options. As a leader, Christmas Kali can form a 2.25x HP / 225x ATK / 2.25x RCV which is the same as Yusuke  but with several key differences. Christmas Kali has minimal personal damage output which means 1/3 of your team (with dual leaders) will be dealing significantly less damage along with the full multiplier being tied to 5/6 element activation. This dilutes the damage output while Yusuke is able to enjoy bicolour boards along with high personal damage. With that being said, Christmas Kali has the potential to pair with stronger Rainbow leaders which can open up the doors for more players trying to push through end game content.


Christmas Gremory  – C

Active: Create 3 Fire, Heal orbs; Reduce unable to match orbs effect by 5 turns; Reduce binds by 5 turns. (11 -> 6 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 3.5x ATK for Balanced, God, Devil type on the turn a skill is used; 6x ATK and reduce damage taken by 50% when matching 5 Heal orbs in a cross formation [1/441/1/75%]

Awakenings:   Skill Lock Resist Fire Row  Bind Clear awakening Fire Row Fire Row
Super Awakenings:    
Typing: God / Devil / Balance
Available Killers: God Killer Dragon Killer Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer physical killer Balance killer 37
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 1220 (1464)
HP 6102 (7322) / ATK 1801 (2161) / RCV 750 (900)

Pros
Cons
  • Reduce unable to match orb effects
  • Fire lacks an ideal 1-turn CD
  • Heart Crosses are awkward
  • Rows and Crosses are more awkward
  • REM Gremory  is stronger

Christmas Gremory is another older card but did receive sizable buffs to her awakenings and Leader Skill. Unfortunately, she is still in an awkward place due to the fact that Heart Crosses are inconsistent along with requiring a 1-turn active skill to trigger her full multiplier. Granted the Halloween Myne can function, the fact that 1/6 of your actives is lost can be problematic.

The main reason why Heart Cross leaders tend to falter in this day and age is because they are orb hungry and their tankiness is reliant on having 5 Heart Orbs present at all times. This can result in excessive active skill usage along with difficulty in stalling.

With all that being said, perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Christmas Gremory is the fact that the 6-star GFE Gremory  is vastly superior due to a higher multiplier and being better able to utilize Myne.


7 star base

Christmas Uriel (New) –

Active: For 1 turn, no skyfall; Change bottom row to Fire orbs (9 -> 4 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 1.5x all stats for Fire Att.; 2x ATK when above 50% HP; 6x ATK and increase combo by 1 when matching 6 or more connected Fire orbs at once [2.25/324/2.25]

Awakenings: Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row Fire Row
Super Awakenings: Fire Row
Typing: God / Attacker
Available Killers: Devil killer physical killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 933 (1213)
HP 4222 (5489) / ATK 2519 (3275) / RCV 20 (26)

Pros
Cons
  • No SBR Skill Lock Resist
  • Horribly outdated card
  • LS is restrictive and low multiplier
3375 Christmas Liu Bei – C

Active: Change Dark & Heart orbs to Fire orbs. Recover 30% of max HP (15 -> 10 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 1.35x all stats for Attacker type; 3x ATK when matching 2 Fire combos, up to 6x at 3 Fire combos [1.82/65.61/1.82]

Awakenings: Fire Row Enhnaced Fire Orb Jammer Resist Skill Boost TPA TPA TPA
Super Awakenings: TPA  Bind Clear awakening
Typing: Dragon / Attacker
Available Killers: Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer physical killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 821 (1067)
HP 3225 (4192) / ATK 1905 (2476) / RCV 353 (459)

Pros
Cons
  • 30% max HP heal
    • Situational inherit/sub on Christmas Yog 
  • Horribly outdated card
  • LS is restrictive and low multiplier

Christmas Liu Bei suffers from the fact that he is an old card who has not received meaningful buffs or improvements. This results in him being a disappointing 7-star card as he is unable to effectively work in the vast majority of scenarios.

As a leader, he is far too orb hungry along with having low multipliers overall and his awakenings prevent him from being used as a sub on most teams.

Perhaps his only niche would be for his double orb changer and 30% max HP heal on Christmas Yog  teams.


2510 Christmas Sakuya – C

Active: Reduce 20% of all enemies’ HP. Ignore enemy element and defense (15 -> 9 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 1.5x all stats for Healer type; 5x ATK when matching Fire, Water, Wood, Light at once [2.25/56.25/2.25]

Awakenings: +light orb Jammer Resist Blind Resist Skill Boost Skill Lock Resist Enhnaced Fire Orb Time Extend 45 TPA TPA
Super Awakenings: 45  
Typing: God / Healer
Available Killers: Devil killer 37 Dragon Killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 855 (1111)
HP 3248 (4456) / ATK 1470 (1911) / RCV 654 (850)

Pros
Cons
  • Artwork features a huge Tamadra
  • Horribly outdated card
    • Maybe good in 2016?
  • LS is too low multiplier
  • Active has little value

Christmas Sakuya continues the Holiday tradition of outdated Seasonal cards. She features the non-awoken active skill of Sakuya along with a Leader Skill that would have been strong in 2016.

It will feel frustrating to roll Christmas Sakuya knowing how rare a 7-star card coupled with the fact that she has so little relevancy.

On the bright side, Christmas Sakuya features a cute and large Tamdra in her artwork.


Christmas Grida – B

Active: Change all enemies to Light Att.; Change Light, Jammer, Poison, Mortal Poison orbs to Dark orbs (23 -> 18 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 4x ATK and 1.5x HP for Devil type; 3x ATK and reduce damage taken by 25% when matching 2+ Dark combos [2.25/144/1 Resist 43.75%]

Awakenings: TPA TPA TPA TPA Skill Lock Resist  Bind Immune Bind Immune 
Super Awakenings: TPA  
Typing: Devil
Available Killers: God Killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 856 (1113)
HP 3826 (4974) / ATK 1718 (2233) / RCV 389 (506)

Pros
Cons
  • Dungeon Bonus 
  • First card to have Light Attribute change
    • Allows for Light cheesing
    • Grants 2x more damage for Dark teams
  • Large assets
  • Attribute change is niche
  • TPA TPA is a less desired awakening

Christmas Grida is very asset heavy and comes with the unique Light attribute change active. Generally speaking, changing a spawn’s attribute to a specific colour is used for cheesing purposes (using a high damage reduction leader to one colour) but with access to Kiri  and the Puppeteers through the recent Ranking dungeons, players should already have several options.

With that being said, being the only card that can convert a boss to Light may have situational value but can also be used to bolster the damage Dark-based teams do as they will now deal 2x effective damage.

Finally, Christmas Grida comes with the rare Dungeon Bonus  awakening which slightly increases the rank exp, monster exp, coins, and egg drop rate when playing solo. For the most part, this is a relatively underwhelming awakening as base for Veroah  provides a significant boost along with coop being more efficient in most scenarios. However, if one can use Christmas Grida effectively in a solo setting, it can provide additional rewards.


Christmas Fagan – C

Active: Change all orbs to Fire, Water, Wood, Light, and Heal orbs; Reduce enemies’ HP by 20%; Remove all binds (25 -> 20 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 4x ATK for Dragon, God type when above 80% HP; 4x ATK and 2x RCV when matching Fire, Water, Wood, Light at once [1/256/4]

Awakenings: 45  Skill Lock Resist Skill Boost Skill Boost  Bind Immune Bind Immune
Super Awakenings: 45 Skill Boost 
Typing: God / Dragon
Available Killers: Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer 
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 857 (1114)
HP 4255 (5532) / ATK 1812 (2356) / RCV 206 (268)

Pros
Cons
  • Modest leadership potential
  • Multi-purpose active
    • Board change
    • Gravity
    • Bind clear
  • Can act as an mediocre damage sub
  • 20 turn CD is hard to manage
    • Skill Charge helps 
    • Not that powerful overall
  • Better damage subs exist
  • Leader Skill is rainbow and HP-sensitive

Christmas Fagan is the final 7-star card in the Christmas REM and has mediocre capabilities as he is an older card. Unfortunately, he is just average overall as his second 7 Combo is tied to a Super Awakening 45 (disabled in coop) along with the fact that his active skill has a 20 turn cooldown and does not provide much merit.

Christmas Fagan shares the same board changer as Tachibana  but has far weaker secondary effects along with a significantly longer cooldown. This makes it challenging to inherit over top and somewhat forces him to be used in a rainbow setting to trigger his Skill Charge .

Taking all of that into consideration combined with the fact that his Leader Skill has 2 conditional requirements.


6 star base

Christmas Solais – B

Active: Change Water orbs to Fire orbs; Change Dark orbs to Heal orbs; Change own Att. to Fire for 2 turns. (12 -> 7 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 5x ATK for Fire Att.; 1.5x HP for Wood Att.; 1.5x ATK when matching 2 Fire combos, up to 2x at 3 Fire combos [2.25/100/1]

Awakenings: Bind Immune Bind Immune Bind Clear awakening Skill Lock Resist Skill Boost Multiplayer Bonus Multiplayer Bonus 45 45
Super Awakenings:
Typing: Attacker
Available Killers: Devil killer physical killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 758 (985)
HP 2914 (3788) / ATK 1860 (2418) / RCV 283 (368)

Pros
Cons
  • Double Coop Boost Multiplayer Bonus
    • High ATK stat in coop
    • Acts as a Button base
  • 7 turn cooldown
    • Easier to inherit over
  • Pretty
  • Almost exclusively used for
    Button farming in coop
  • More double Coop Boost cards exist
    • Less unique

Christmas Solais was one of the original double Coop Boost Multiplayer Bonus awakening cards. This grants her 2.25x stats in coop mode which helps bolster her ATK stat to wonderfully high values. While this may seem unusual at first (considering she has no true offensive awakenings), it does enable her to be a powerful Button base.

Button bases are cards who have high ATK values that inherit a damaging active skill. For example, using something like Grimmjow 3363 inherited on Christmas Solais will deal huge amounts of damage and enable the player to button their way through content. This facilitates faster clear times as there is no animation transition between floors.

While this is amazing, not many players are interested in this type of gameplay and results in Christmas Solais being underwhelming if not utilized as a Button base.


2513 Haku – C

Active: Change all orbs to Fire, Water & Dark orbs. (8 turn CD)

Leader Skill: All attribute cards ATK x3.5 when attacking with 3 of following orb types: Fire, Water, Dark & Heart. Matched attribute ATK x2 when matching exactly 5 connected orbs with at least 1 enhanced orb.

Awakenings: Dark Orb Enhance Enhnaced Fire Orb blue + orb Dark Orb Enhance Dark Orb Enhance Dark Orb Enhance Dark Orb Enhance
Super Awakenings:  
Typing: God / Dragon
Available Killers: Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 750 (976)
HP 3493 (4541) / ATK 1491 (1938) / RCV 309 (402)

Pros
Cons
  • Lots of orb enhance
  • Can colour swap
  • Low cooldown board changer
  • Haku has not been meta for a long time

Christmas Haku was once a reasonable card but time has not been kind to her along with her REM cousin . This can be mostly attribute to the fact that neither possess overwhelming offensive awakenings that makes it hard to justify using them over other options.

The 5 Orb Enhances Dark Orb Enhance do ensure every orb that falls down will come enhanced which is a reasonable damage boost, but her low weighted stats are problematic as a whole.

Generally speaking, Christmas Haku will act as a festive box cheerleader.

1782 Christmas Genie – B

Active: Avoid all Dark damage for 3 turns. Enhance Light orbs. +6% per orb, up to +180% for full board (20 -> 10 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 1.5x HP & ATK for Balanced, God type; 3x ATK when 5 or more combos up to 5x at 9 combos [2.25/56.25/1]

Awakenings:  Enhnaced Fire Orb Light Row +light orb +light orb Time Extend Enhnaced Fire Orb +light orb
Super Awakenings: 45
Typing: God / Balance
Available Killers: God Killer Dragon Killer Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer physical killer Balance killer 37 
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 747 (971)
HP 3061 (3979) / ATK 1407 (1829) / RCV 478 (621)

Pros
Cons
  • 100% damage shield vs Dark
    • Has become rare with REM renewal
  • Situational inherit
  • Only works against Dark spawns

Christmas Genie is an old card that has gained a bit more value with the REM Renewal removing her REM-equivalent from rotation. This makes it her active skill more unique and being able to provide 3 turns of 100% damage reduction against Dark spawns is invaluable.

Unfortunately, Christmas Genie only blocks damage from Dark spawns so careful planning must be used to ensure the active can be justified along with the spawn not changing colours.


5 star base

3377 Christmas Hatsume – D

Active: Change Wood orbs to Fire orbs. (10 -> 5 turn CD)

Leader Skill: Healer type cards HP x1.5, ATK x2, RCV x1.5. [2.25/4/2.25]

Awakenings: TPA Fire Row Skill Boost Skill Boost Dragon Killer Skill Lock Resist 37 37
Super Awakenings:
Typing: Healer / Devil
Available Killers: God Killer Dragon Killer 37 
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 749 (974)
HP 2389 (3106) / ATK 1205 (1566) / RCV 808 (1050)

Pros
Cons
  • Bum
  • Stockings
  • Provides little value
  • 1 Dragon Killer Dragon Killer is lackluster

Christmas Hatsume is a bottom rarity card that has so little value in today’s meta. This is because a single Dragon Killer is only 3x damage against specific spawns along with having low weighted stats and a lackluster active skill.

Perhaps the best thing about Christmas Hatsume is her artwork and stockings.


3376 Christmas Freyja – D

Active: For 3 turns, 1.5x ATK for Wood Att.; Charge allies’ skill by 1 turn. (17 -> 9 turn CD)

Leader Skill: Wood attribute cards HP x1.35, ATK x3. [1.82/9/1]

Awakenings: Wood Row Wood Row +heart Skill Boost Skill Lock Resist Devil killer Balance killer Balance killer
Super Awakenings: Skill Boost
Typing: God / Balance
Available Killers: God Killer Dragon Killer Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer physical killer Balance killer 37 
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 763 (992)
HP 3035 (3946) / ATK 1365 (1774) / RCV 560 (728)

Pros
Cons
  • Cute
  • Has cats
  • Outdated card
    • Akin to non-Reincarnated REM form

Christmas Freyja is cute and somewhat suggestive with pose and Leader Skill being titled “Shall we warm up together?” Unfortunately, that is essentially all the good things going for her aside from her attractive artwork.


3378 Christmas Castor & Pollux – C

Active: Change far left column to Light orbs and change far right column to Dark orbs; Charge allies’ skill by 1 turn (13 -> 7 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 1.3x ATK & RCV for God, Machine type; 5x ATK for matched Att. when matching 5 Orbs with 1+ enhanced [1/42.25/1.69]

Awakenings: +light orb +light orb +light orb Dark Orb Enhance Dark Orb Enhance Dark Orb Enhance Skill Lock Resist Skill Lock Resist
Super Awakenings:
Typing: God / Machine
Available Killers: God Killer Devil killer Balance killer
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 747 (971)
HP 3023 (3930) / ATK 1785 (2320) / RCV 263 (342)

Pros
Cons
  • Double Column + Haste
    • Some farming builds can utilize this
  • Niche value overall

Christmas Castor & Pollux is an old card that still has relevance in certain farming set ups as the guaranteed spawning of a column can greatly hasten clear times. This is because there are leaders who can fully activate from 5 connected orbs and being able to use 1 active to solve 2 floors is invaluable.

Aside from this, Christmas Castor & Pollux will have less value but are still valuable in the off-chance one wishes to farm certain dungeons.


Christmas Venus – C

Active: Enhance all Light orbs; Unlock all orbs; For 1 turn, increase orb move time by 2 seconds. (9 -> 3 turn CD)

Leader Skill: 5x ATK for matched Att. when matching 5 Orbs with 1+ enhanced; Reduce damage taken from fire, light, dark att. by 50% [1/25/1/75%]

Awakenings: +light orb +light orb +light orb +light orb +light orb Skill Lock Resist  Bind Immune Bind Immune
Super Awakenings: 45
Typing: God / Balance
Available Killers: God Killer Dragon Killer Devil killer Machine Killer Healer Killer physical killer Balance killer 37
Weighted Stats (Limit Break): 753 (979)
HP 3175 (4128) / ATK 1436 (1867) / RCV 445 (578)

Pros
Cons
  • Enhanced Light Orb
    • All Light orbs are enhanced
  • 4 turn base CD
    • Easy to inherit over
  • Some Cheese potential
    • Bind immune
  • Better Cheese leaders exist
  • 753 weighted stats

Christmas Venus is the final card in the Christmas REM and has modest potential overall that is sadly marred by her lack of weighted stats.

Firstly, Christmas Venus guarantees all Light orbs will fall down enhanced which can act as a passive damage boost to all Light cards while her 4 turn active can be easily inherited over. Furthermore, she passively has 50% damage reduction against Fire, Light, and Dark spawns which enables her to act as a Cheese leader.

Sadly, the need for Cheese teams comes down to personal preference along with it being challenging to use Christmas Venus as a traditional sub due to her low weighted stats.

Do I plan to roll?

I do plan on rolling the Fujimi Fantasia Bunko Rare Egg Machine as it does offer value across all rarities along with it being a debut event. This means several rolls should hopefully avoid duplicates but the event is still relatively top-heavy.

For my dream 8* card, Lina Inverse is the default winner and is a spectacular card overall. On the other hand, my choice for 7* was much closer as there are three I would ideally like to own: Gourry Gabriev , Sousuke Sagara , and Orphen .

Gourry Gabriev is able to function as an incredible Light sub but I already have a deep Light sub pool along with a complete Tifa x Haohmaru team. On the other hand, Sousuke Sagara would provide me with the fastest charging Leader Swap in the game that also comes with Resists. With that being said, I have not utilized Leader Swapping in a long time and am not sure if i would get enough value out of it.

As such, I feel that Orphen  would benefit me the most as I did choose Zaerog Core as my free exchange and could subsequently build a powerful team with them. Finally, Majic Lin will provide me with the perfect 15-15 board for Ranking dungeons.

My Dream Rolls
8*
7*
6*

The above chart are the cards I would love to acquire from each rarity if I could choose one for my Mantastic account. This is my own personal opinion based on my Monster Box, goals and whether or not I have dupes.

Conclusion

The Christmas REM is a top-heavy 5 Magic Stone event with low minimal value at the bottom.

Despite the fact that the Monster Exchange system exists for this event, it would generally be unwise to trade in for anything as they are more luxury than practical for the average player.

My words of advice is to do the free roll and only continue of the artwork interests you.

Let me know what you think about the Christmas REM in the comments below.

Happy Puzzling!

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18 thoughts on “Christmas REM Review and Analysis – December 2018”

  1. Great write up! Where is the Kali love!?!? I thought for sure this would be the rise of a Kali…

    Oh well, thanks again for the great posts.

    Would love to BF Mantastic account, if spits still available 🙂 Hazewell 314,534,439

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  2. I need your thoughts. I have pretty much all the top tier leaders with the exception of yusuke. I wanted to make zela team and I think have all the subs I need to make it work except wood has no good vdp (to my knowledge) until, enter christmas romia! I was thinking of pairing her with vishnu to make the team more consistant. I have the resources to trade but I’m unsure if I should or just wait for the next best thing and trade then. Thanks in advance. Love your work.

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      1. I have Ed, S.Roots, Bj, D.Meta. Ryune, Sylvie, Anubis/Diablos. But I only really use d.meta and bj. I have and use other teams depending on the dungeon or just to switch it up. But so far my zela draft team looks like this, Stone fist Zela- Vishnu- g.sonia- Stone fist Zela-(said monster here)-(friend leader) Diablos or Stone fist Zela. Omega inherit on Vishnu since I don’t have Carat for one hit kill damage. Other inherits are as needed or none since I think the team works best on shorter dungeons. But for that blank spot I thought G. Cotton for vdp but, I don’t have one and she’s hard to roll. So then I thought Christmas Romia. Plus she has green skyfalls for 4 turns which I can go back and forth Vishnu for consistency. Maybe pop a board for everything in between. Idk…….What do you think?

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  3. Turned out to be a bust doing six rolls where I got Fagan & 5 gold eggs. Lucky that I had extras from doing the 10 stone Godfest to get a third Ilmina, Yog, & Romia. I’ll place the Christmas Yog as the leader after I skill it up.

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      1. Yes, my MP cards are:
        Odin Dragon
        4 Ragnarok Dragon
        Dark Athena
        1 Each Puppetteer
        3 Gentlemen(not Xiu Min)
        Eldora
        Sonia Elle
        2 Christmas Sonia
        Amen

        I’m wondering if I should get more Sonias(Already own 2 moris, the green one of the cycle, and beach gronia), another Amen for a helper just to mess around, or to save my MP for something upcoming. I’m willing to sell gentlemen, 4th ragdrag, and puppetteers as needed.

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        1. Main idea for multiple haste-bicolours is for rankings and the most you could ever need is 5 (but 4 is more common) so considering you have 4 the need to buy another is really dependent how likely you feel a crown is for you

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