The Best 5 Legend Rares of GD05 Freedom Ascension
The release of GD05 Freedom Ascension introduces 12 new Legend Rare cards, with one of the cards being the first Legend Rare pilot. Here is a ranking of the top 5 Legend Rare cards in a competitive setting.
1. Strike Freedom Gundam - GD05-002
The poster child of the Cosmic Era has finally made its appearance in the Gundam Card Game, it's a Level 8 cost 6 unit with 5 AP and 6 HP. With a (Deploy) effect that can have the player draw up to two cards and the possibility of an additional card with the Kira Yamato (GD05-081) link effect, it more than makes up for the fact that this is a level 8 unit. The nice part is that this isn't all the Strike Freedom Gundam can do, it also has a (During Pair)(Attack) effect as well. The (During Pair)(Attack) effect allows the player to discard 2 cards and choose 1 of the enemy player's lowest level units and place it to the bottom of their deck. If the enemy player has multiples of the same level unit the turn player gets to choose which unit gets placed into the bottom of the deck. The other neat part of the Strike Freedom Gundam is that it is only a 6 cost unit, meaning on your level 8 curve, it would only use 7 resources total to deploy and link the unit, gaining instant value, leaving 1 resource up. All in all, the Strike Freedom has seen instant success in decks that can survive long enough to get it out, as it replenishes your hand into the late game, and has constant removal.
2. Nu Gundam - GD05-017
Amuro Ray's last Gundam makes quite the splash in the Gundam Card Game as he recreates the axis shock with the Nu Gundam. The Nu Gundam is a level 7 cost 5 unit with 5 AP and 5 HP. While the Nu Gundams stats are rather mediocre for a level 7 unit, its 2 effects are rather strong, with a (Breach 5) and a (When Paired) effect. The (Breach 5) is very nice in breaking normal 5 life bases, however it is even better when you can battle more than once per turn with the Nu Gundam's (When Paired) effect. The Nu Gundam's (When Paired) effect allows it to initiate combat with any enemy, by exiling 3 Londo Bell cards from your trash, skipping the action phase and going straight to damage calculation. This (When Paired) effect and the new green Amuro Ray (GD05-085) makes this unit very scary, as this Amuro Ray heals the unit it is paired to by 2 HP each time it destroys an enemy in combat. Overall, the Nu Gundam is a very strong Legend Rare, however it's mediocre stat line and awkward timing for an effect is what brings it down. 6 life bases hard counter its (Breach 5) making it use both swings to take out 1 base, and Argama (GD02-129) straight up counters all breach effects, making it even more awkward using the Nu Gundam's effect.
3. Wing Gundam Zero (EW) - GD05-067
Heero Yuy's last Gundam also comes in blasting with the introduction of GD05 Freedom Ascension. The Wing GUndam Zero (EW) is a level 6 cost 5 unit with 5 AP and 4 HP. It's effects are a conditional (Suppression) and an (Attack) effect that can activate it's conditional suppression. The condition of the (Suppression) effect is that an enemy rested unit must be on the field. While the (Attack) effect is to rest an enemy unit, meaning this unit will almost always have (Suppression). TLDR (Suppression) and (Attack) rest an enemy unit. Sadly, the Heero Yuy (GD05-098) from GD05 Freedom Ascension isn't very good, usually he used as a Heero Yuy name link only. The problem with the Wing Gundam Zero (EW) isn't its stats, or its effect, it is its competition. This unit comes out at the same time as the Wing Gundam (ST02-001) whose effect is much more oppressive, as it can attack active level 4 or lower units and deal (Breach 5). Sadly, while the Wing Gundam Zero (EW) is a very strong unit, it is a card that can be passed up in exchange for the "original" Wing Gundam.
4. Master Gundam - GD05-033 + Master Asia - GD05-089
The former Undefeated of the East makes his debut as the first Legend Rare pilot in the Gundam Card Game with himself as a possible unit and the iconic Master Gundam. The Master Gundam is a level 7 cost 5 unit with 5 AP and 5 HP. This stat line is typical of level 7 units, however, it's (Attack) effect is the first effect to deal effect damage to shield cards without (Breach). The Master Gundam suffers from the same problems that the Legend Rare Nu Gundam (GD05-017) suffers from. Its effect can be easily countered by 6 life bases and Argama (GD02-129).
The former Undefeated of the East, Master Asia, is a level 5 cost 1 pilot with +2 AP and +2 HP. His (During Link)(Attack) effect is to deal 2 damage to an enemy unit if you used a (Special Move) trait card this turn. Essentially with his (Special Move) card Darkness Finger (GD05-110) you can do 4 damage in 1 turn and draw a card if Master Gundam was what Master Asia was linked to. Master Asia's burst is unique in that it can be added to the players hand or deployed as a unit, if there are 3 or more (MF) cards in your trash. If Master Asia is a unit, he has 3 AP and 3 HP.
5. Gundam Exia Repair - (GD05-050)
The Exia reappears after the devastating loss vs the UNF and its stats show just how damaged the Gundam Exia Repair was. The Gundam Exia Repair is a level 2 cost 1 Unit with 2 AP and 1 HP. As a low cost unit its extremely fragile, however its effects make up for it. The Gundam Exia Repair's 1st effect is that when battle damage is dealt from this unit to a level 4 or lower unit with no pilot paired to it, it would destroy the unit. Its 2nd effect is a (Destroyed) effect that placed 2 cards from the top of your deck to the trash. This effect makes it a much sought after card in purple decks that seek to build their trash.
These are the top 5 cards of GD05 Freedom Ascension from a competitive standpoint.