The longsword of the winds will call upon the storm, bringing the end with the greatsword of the waves.
[AUTO](VC/RC):When it attacks, if it is the first battle of that turn, this unit gets [Power]+3000 until end of turn.
[AUTO](RC)1/Turn:When it attacks, if it is the third battle of that turn or more, COST [Counter Blast (1) & Discard a card from your hand], [Stand] this unit, and it gets [Power]-3000 until end of turn.
The Storm Riders are a recurring archetype in Aqua Force. Storm Rider, Diamantes is the first Storm Rider to set foot in the standard format. Diamantes has upgraded skills and a higher amount of power like many rebooted cards. He also has the Accel marker and two huge weapons to deal heavy damage to his opposition. Diamantes will ride the waves to enforce justice!
Storm Rider, Diamantes’s first skill gives him 3,000 power until the end of your turn, and this skill is available when Diamantes is a rear-guard or vanguard. This skill works well with Navalgazer Dragon as your vanguard. Then, you will be able to make a few combos. You will be relying more on brute-force instead of Aqua Force’s waves of attacks. Follow my first combo to gain some advantage from the skill.
Combo 1: Diamantes rides the waves!
- Call Storm Rider, Diamantes to an Accel circle.
- Attack your opponent with Storm Rider, Diamantes to trigger his skill, and he will have 25,000 power for the turn.
- Then, attack your opponent with Tear Knight, Lazarus, and he will gain 3,000 power during the second battle of the turn.
- Attack your opponent with Navalgazer Dragon, and use its skill to stand Diamantes!
Unfortunately, this skill conflicts with Aqua Force’s basic strategy and best rear-guards. You may not use this skill often. Aqua Force wants to generate many attacks every turn, and Diamantes’s first skill does not fit with Aqua Force’s strategy. You will not use this skill often because there are better options for your first attack. Marine General of the Restless Tides, Algos and Tidal Assault are the best rear-guards to attack your opponent in the first battle.
Fortunately, Storm Rider, Diamantes’s second skill has synergy with almost every Aqua Force card. His second skill stands him after the third battle of the turn or more, but he loses 3,000 power for a total of 9,000 power. In addition to standing in combat, Storm Rider, Diamantes needs to be on an Accel circle to maximize this ability. He would be a useless rear-guard with only 9,000 power if you place him on a normal rear-guard circle. Then, he should have enough power at 19,000 to hit your opponent.
Combo 2: Maelstrom’s Storm
- First, Call Storm Rider, Diamantes to an Accel circle.
- Activate Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom’s first skill to give all front row units 3,000 power.
- Attack your opponent with Tidal Assault, and stand it during the battle.
- Next, attack your opponent with Tear Knight, Lazarus in the second battle.
- Attack your opponent with Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom in the third battle.
- Attack your opponent with Storm Rider, Diamantes in the fourth battle.
- Then, activate Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom’s second skill to stand it for a second attack!
Overall, Storm Rider, Diamantes is a decent backup grade 3 for Aqua Force. I may play up to two copies in a deck. His first skill has some positives and negatives because it conflicts with my favorite Aqua Force rear-guards. His second skill adds value to playing him in your deck. The second skill works well with both Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom and Navalgazer Dragon.
Card Rating: [usr 3]
