Cloud Spirit Sword Sect Immortal Fates guide by 雪团

Cloud Spirit Sword Sect Immortal Fates guide by 雪团

2023-9-12 (penultimate patch of Wind Rise season)

translated from https://www.taptap.cn/moment/450772864845480565 by Xom

Preface

Each character in Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game is defined by one Initial Immortal Fate and four Optional Immortal Fates. The Initial Immortal Fate is in effect from the start of the match; each time you break through, you can choose one of either the character's Optional Immortal Fate for the new phase or three random Immortal Fates which will appear.

This guide explains the effect and strength of each Immortal Fate of each of the five Cloud Spirit Sword Sect characters.

Mu Yifeng (牧逸风)

Shift As Cloud

Initial Immortal Fate

"The first card exchanged each round doesn't consume an Exchange Chance"

In Yi Xian, each player has their own card pool with a limited number of each card: 8 copies of each card, except only 6 copies of Incarnation cards.

TL Note: For details, see my summary of card pool mechanics: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3060876689
Increasing your ability to exchange cards means increasing your ability to dig through your pool; the later the round, the more awesome your deck quality will become. Yi Xian's tutorial doesn't mention that each round, your first exchange has an increased chance to draw a current-phase card. Therefore, among Initial Immortal Fates in Yi Xian, this Immortal Fate is considered (one of) the strongest.

Sword In Sheathed

Foundation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"If you do not attack this turn, add 3 DEF"

In Yi Xian, ATK and DMG are different kinds of damage. ATK is affected by Flaw and Weak, and DMG is not.

Not attacking means defending or dealing DMG [TL: or qi setup, etc.], either of which will trigger the +3 DEF. There are many attack cards; DMG cards include Sharp Metal Fulu, Thunder Fulu (many Fuluist cards). To compare, Foundation-phase Bodybuilding adds 4 max HP, whereas five rounds of Sword In Sheathed is 15 DEF, a must-pick for Fulu Sword. Strong.

Endurance As Cloud Sea

Virtuoso Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Cloud Hit effect can be triggered even if there is no 'Cloud Sword' played first"

The main reasons to pick this are Flash Wind and Moon Shade, but in the current patch, multi-hit Cloud Sword decks are pretty weak except for Yan Xue. If you really want to play this, you can search Bilibili for Elixirist Cloud Sword and Painter Cloud Sword. Weak.

Shade Of Cloud

Immortality Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"When the next Destiny is exhausted, keep 1 Destiny and not be eliminated, then add 4 Exchange Card Chance"

A straightforward extra life. Unless you very much lack cards on breaking through, or need cultivation to contend for speed, this is recommended. Strong.

Spring Course Tea

Incarnation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Spring Course Tea" (Can be dragged to any Level 1 card to upgrade it)

Looks strong, actually a relative loss compared to other Incarnation-phase choices. Usually not picked except situationally. For example, if you have three copies of CentiBird and a hand full of Giant Kun, and are just missing one copy of CentiBird for lv.max, then you can consider it. Weak.

Yan Xue (炎雪)

Bloodline Potential

Initial Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 card for every 18 Destiny you lost"

Can be triggered by Thunder Tribulation, Meteor Quench, etc. At the same time, Recuperate goes from being a 0-cultivation choice to a 1-cultivation choice. Normally, with 100 Destiny, draws at most five, after losing 90. If the losses don't line up, you draw four, after losing 72, and then get eliminated. Average.

Fire Flame Blade

Foundation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Each of your ATK reduces 1 Max HP of your opponent, and you will always trigger the Injured effect."

Has two effects. The first is max HP reduction; note that it happens before the ATK, and can't be defended. [TL: For example, using lv.1 Flying Spirit Shade Sword (1×4), a full-HP opponent will suffer the Max HP reductions before each hit, but only the first Max HP reduction will reduce current HP, because after each hit, they'll no longer be full HP; for example, if they start at 100/100, they'll end up at 95/96.] The second is guaranteeing Injured; among frequently-used Injured cards, there are Cloud Sword - Dragon Roam, Flying Spirit Shade Sword, Inspiration Sword, Flying Fang Sword, Thunder Sword, Burst Sword. Ensuring Dragon Roam / Flying Spirit Shade Sword / Inspiration Sword is very, very strong. So Yan Xue's multi-hit Cloud Sword is currently the only playable one, not fearing Injured getting blocked. At the same time, Yan Xue is also a top-tier character. Search Bilibili for specific guides on how to play. Strong.

Drift Ice Blade

Virtuoso Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Each of your ATK will add 1 DEF (1 more DEF if you have no DEF)"

The effect is pretty powerful, can trigger many times in a round, and synergizes with Giant Kun + Mirror Flower. But it loses speed (cultivation). If not losing speed, then it would be powerful. [TL Note: I don't know whether this remark refers to having many opponents who are much faster and/or slower than you, or to a hypothetical version with cultivation+1.] Weak.

Avalanche

Immortality Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Cloud Sword - Avalanche" (2 ATK; Cloud Hit: For every successive "Cloud Sword" played before this card, add 4 more ATK)

As a scaling card, this is undoubtedly a top card with no problems, but the current environment isn't suited to Avalanche and mono-Cloud-Sword. Average.

Flame Dance

Incarnation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Unrestrained Sword - Flame Dance" (6 ATK; If you have played "Unrestrained Sword" card in this battle, Chase)

Only for Unrestrained Sword; if that's you, take it. But remember this, beginners, without Immortality-phase Mad Obsession, don't play Unrestrained Sword. With Mad Obsession, Unrestrained Sword is very strong. Without Immortality-phase Mad Obsession, it's pure garbage. Average.

Long Yao (龙瑶)

Inheritance of Dragonling

Initial Immortal Fate

"Draw 2 more cards in the first round, and then draw 2 cards after break through the Immortality Phase." [TL: that is, after break through to Incarnation]

Straightforward 4 cultivation. Starting with 2 cultivation, you definitely have first-move advantage. Average.

Coral Sword

Foundation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"At the beginning of the battle, gain effect: The following 2 times attack will Ignore DEF"

Long Yao's signature Immortal Fate. Long Yao Musician is difficult, but very strong; this season has 10000+ rating Long Yao Musician. Other than Long Yao Musician, it's usually multi-hit Cloud Sword, and Coral Sword guarantees Chase on starting Dragon Roam, but except for Yan Xue, Cloud Sword is weak. Average.

Dragon Scale

Virtuoso Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"When taking Destiny damage greater than 18, reduce to 18"

Destiny losses exceeding 18 are usually in the lategame, so you should only pick this when you have a high Destiny total. Sword Intent is the only build that exchanges early, and it's pretty weak, but there's a Long Yao Painter Sword Intent build, which can make use of Dragon Scale. Weak.

Pray Rain

Immortality Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Cloud Sword - Pray Rain" (3 ATK × 3; Cloud Hit: Gain 2 stacks of Regeneration)*

Far inferior to Avalanche. Or perhaps it's not Pray Rain that's weak, but mono-Cloud-Sword; Pray Rain can be used as a multi-hit card. Weak.

[TL: *As of v1.0 release (after the original guide was written), it was buffed to 3 ATK × 3; Gain 2 stacks of Regeneration; Cloud Hit: Qi+1.]

Sky Delicate Bracelet

Incarnation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Sky Delicate Bracelet" (1-qi cost; DEF+5; Gain 1 stack of Guard Up; Chase)

Guard up is strong, but one stack per deck cycle is not enough. Main build is Long Yao Painter, using Finishing Touch to upgrade it, and cycling quickly. Count it as exclusive to Long Yao Painter, then. It's too weak, rarely picked. Weak.

Lin Xiaoyue (林小月)

Curiosity

Initial Immortal Fate

"When you use your last Exchange Chance to change a card, you will change to a random surprise card and gain 1 Exchange Chance (up to 9 times)"

[TL: Before 2024-2-1, when this guide was originally written, it didn't give you the 1 Exchange back, and instead Cat Teaser gave +3 Exchanges.]

This Immortal Fate's text explains nothing. The real question is regarding the surprise: the random surprise cards are five different exclusive cards, plus Talisman and Spiritual Pet cards not higher than your current phase. The exclusive cards are:

• Catnip (Absorb: Upgrade 1/2/2 Level 1/1/2 card(s) in your hand or deck randomly (Prioritize upgrading cards with "Cat" in their name))
• Dried small fish (Absorb: Destiny+2 and Max HP increased by 1 in this game)
• Cat Teaser (Absorb: Exchange Card Chance + 1/2/4)
• Cloud Sword - Flying Sand (6/10/10 ATK; Cloud Hit: Apply 2/2/3 stacks of Flaw)
• Bronze Cat (DEF+5; For each Sword Intent add 2/3/4 DEF)

The Cat cards all have uses. Flying Sand is a key card for Cloud Dharma. Catnip is strong, and a key card for Cat Sword Intent. And there are many decks relying on fortune cards. My next guide will be for Lin Xiaoyue, and I'll explain each deck in detail. Average.

Cat Paw

Foundation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Cloud Sword - Cat Paw" (5 ATK × 2; This card's attacks Ignore DEF) (at lv.2, instead 7 ATK × 2)

Straightforward high numbers, special ability, high damage, does multiple hits and can consume Sword Intent, unblockable, can start a Cloud Sword sequence. Even usable in Incarnation phase. Strong.

Cat Soul Bless

Virtuoso Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"When defeated in battle, if the damage of Destiny is an even number, halve the damage"

Pure luck-based Immortal Fate. The effect applies after Kindness Tune's effect. Weak.

Spirit Cat Chaos Sword

Immortality Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Spirit Cat Chaos Sword" (2 ATK × 2; Make an additional attack for every remaining hand card (up to 3)) (at lv.2, instead 2 ATK × 3)

Combined with Catnip to upgrade to lv.2, and maximizing the ability, it's 2×6. It's equivalent to a qi-less lv.max Flow Cloud Chaos Sword. Very strong with Sword Intent in Immortality phase. Too bad currently on ladder Moon Water Sword Formation is too common, making it a relatively poor environment for Sword Intent. Strong.

Lithe As Cat

Incarnation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 'Cloud Sword' Card (Above Virtuoso Phase); Each time you play 'Cloud Sword' card, add 1 Qi"

A powerful effect. Combined with Flaw from Cloud Sword - Flying Sand, Dharma Spirit Sword will be a lot of damage, a turn-three kill in many cases, strong at racing. The disadvantage is that without Dharma Spirit Sword, you're probably just waiting to die. Average

Lu Jianxin (陆剑心)

Swordsmith

Initial Immortal Fate

"At the beginning of the game get a Clear Heart Sword Embryo (6 ATK). After each battle round, Clear Heart Sword Embryo increase 1 ATK (up to increase 15 ATK)"

See the other descriptions for how the Sword Embryo can be refined at each phase.

1 cultivation, and helps you survive early. Strong.

Blade Forging

Foundation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Choose an effect for Clear Heart Sword Embryo — Sharpness: ATK+3; Stable: Reduce 3 ATK but add 'DEF+8'"

In the transitional period, ATK is better than DEF, but numerically, 3 ATK is truly not as good as 8 DEF; however, picking ATK can let your Sword Embryo end the battle. Picking DEF often results in more passes, often with your damage being lacking, and you may lose efficiency if your DEF doesn't line up with the opponent's damage. The advantage of picking DEF is when you have Moon Water Mirror Flower, it will be more damage. If you pick Ultimate later, the DEF can gain another point. Pick ATK for early survival, DEF for later advantage. Strong.

Sword Pattern Carving

Virtuoso Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Choose an effect for Clear Heart Sword Embryo — Chain Attack: Make an additional 4 ATK; Charge: Gain 1 stack of Increase ATK; Intense: Reduce 2 ATK but add 'Sword Intent+4'"

Here, Increase ATK won't be considered. No matter what build, the additional attack and the Sword Intent are both better than Increase ATK. It's possible that in Virtuoso phase you won't have Sword Intent nor multi-hit, and the Increase ATK will be numerically best, but Virtuoso phase is usually only three rounds, picking a waste ability for the sake of three rounds is intolerable. Chain Attack makes it two hits, able to consume Sword Intent, and able to break Guard Up, solving Sword Formation's problem of low frequency, and can also become the payoff card for Sword Intent. Picking Sword Intent is all about the numbers, because Sword Intent depends on how many hits, two hits is 8, five hits is 20. With the three 10000+ rating Fuluist Cloud Swords, Sword Intent must be picked at Virtuoso. Strong.

Qi Forging

Immortality Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Choose an effect for Clear Heart Sword Embryo — Spiritage: Qi+2; Spiritstat: Gain 4 DEF for each Qi; Spiritual Power: Cost 1 Qi to make 2 additional attacks of 4 ATK each"

In the transitional period, Qi+2 is weak, but in the final build, it has the potential to speed up a turn using Dharma Spirit Sword. 4 DEF per Qi combines with Moon Water Mirror Flower for high damage, straightforward numerical strength. Adding more attacks is must-pick for Sword Intent. It's also the pick for multi-hit Cloud Sword, but again, it's bad except for Yan Xue. Strong.

[TL Note: As of 2023-9-20, "Gain 4 DEF for each Qi" changed to "Gain 3 DEF for each Qi"; then as of 2023-11-9, to "DEF+3, and gain 3 DEF for each Qi".]

Quench Of Sword Heart

Incarnation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Choose a name and effect for Clear Heart Sword Embryo — Unrestrained Sword - Clear Heart: Next card count as Unrestrained Sword; Cloud Sword - Clear Heart: Reduce 6 ATK, and next Cloud Sword gain Chase; Clear Heart - Ultimate: All numerical values in this card's effect are increased by 1"

All three are satisfactory in terms of strength; Cloud Sword is the strongest. Fuluist Unrestrained Sword is the best form of Lu Jianxin Unrestrained Sword, and doesn't require Immortality-phase Mad Obsession. Rely on Divine Walk Fulu, Rule Sky Sword Formation, and Chain Sword Formation to cycle quickly. Ultimate adds no ability, and is entirely for numerically boosting your DEF or your Dharma Spirit Sword. Either way, you can consider it, but you don't necessarily have to pick Quench Of Sword Heart, because it may not change the outcome of battles, like against Elixirist Wood. Cloud Sword is the strongest, especially with the card Cloud Sword - Pierce the Star; adding qi and Chasing, with potentially scaling damage, few cards in the game are this strong: Chord In Tune requires another Musician card, Divine Walk Fulu is consumed, Heaven Hexagram requires hexagram or lv.max, Gourd of Leisurely adds only a little, and little else (HP+3). Pierce the Star is one damage per qi, equivalent to upgrading Dharma or Egret; whether it's looping with Pierce the Star and Egret, or killing quickly with Pierce the Star and Dharma, either is very powerful. Fuluist Cloud Sword will add the Chase to Cloud Sword - Moon Shade. Strong.

[TL Note: As of 2023-9-20, Unrestrained Sword - Clear Heart also adds 3 ATK.]

[Xom]

Kreal (dev) says it's 10%.

[Xom]

Pittbunny, who has played way more Lin Xiaoyue than me, says the chance of a Talisman or Spiritual Pet feels more like 10% or even more.

[Xom]

Curiosity procs when you exchange from 1/25 to 0/25. It doesn't proc if you exchange Practice Writing to go from 1/25 to 2/25. The chance of a Talisman or Spiritual Pet feels like 5% to me. Each Curiosity draw is independent (there is no pool or bag), except that (a) you can't get back the same card you exchange, and (b) the ninth and final draw is guaranteed to be Catnip if you haven't drawn Catnip yet.