Deck Profile: Orange Energetic Videl

 Dragon Ball Z is a show about muscular men punching other muscular men for the fate of the world. Ask anyone with a cursory knowledge of the show to describe DBZ and they'll likely imagine long scenes of monkey men (or occasionally slug men) screaming and flexing until they become buff enough to defeat the villain. But it wasn't always like this; the original Dragon Ball was more whimsical, full of adventure and fun even as it began to focus on high-octane martial arts action. This isn't to disparage DBZ, which used its more serious tone to great effect, but there was a magic to the original Dragon Ball that was lost somewhere along the many Super Saiyan transformations, the sense of wonder and awe fading as one incredible feat of strength after another desensitized the audience to the events happening on-screen.

    Until Videl appeared.

    Videl is unique among the DBZ cast, not because she's a woman and not because she's a human but because she's the audience. Videl is amazed by the incredible powers the Z Warriors wield and immediately demands to be taught. She learns to harness ki and to fly with the same excitement and disbelief that any fan of DBZ would've had in her position. I remember watching the episode where Gohan taught her how to feel her energy and trying the exact same exercise on the playground. Obviously it didn't work, or I wouldn't be writing articles about a dead card game in my spare time. Videl and Gohan's relationship brings a focus on character development that DBZ sorely lacked and sets up an incredibly compelling character arc to follow in the rest of the saga.

    Unfortunately, Videl is almost immediately sidelined after the World Martial Arts Tournament begins and suffers the most shockingly brutal defeat in the entire series at the hands of Spopovich. It's a heartbreaking end to such a promising character, and despite moonlighting as the super heroine Saiyawoman, Videl never fights again onscreen. For that, we need to turn to the trading card game.

Orange Energetic Videl

Starting:

Orange Energetic Mastery

Videl - Student

Videl - Heroic

Videl - Learning the Moves

Videl - Battle Hardened

Planning: 7

2x Orange Disaster Drill

Orange Examination Drill

Orange Investigation Drill

Orange Burning Aura Drill

Orange Possession Drill

Orange Entanglement Drill

Events/Utility: 8

3x Confrontation

WUPHF!

Time Is A Warrior's Tool

2x Orange Juke

Videl's Determination (Not an Event, but where else would it go?)

Energy Attacks: 3

3x Orange Stare Down

Physical Attacks: 32

3x Videl's Justice Rush

3x Videl's Eagle Kick

2x Heroic Dashing Punch 

2x Devastating Blow

Orange Uppercut

3x Orange Elbow Rush

3x Orange Stretch

3x Orange Bicycle Kick

3x Orange Extension

3x Orange Collision

3x Orange Beatdown

3x Orange Charged Kick

Blocks: 10 

Orange Flee

3x Orange Energy Catch

3x Orange Refocus

3x Orange Sidestep

    Energetic Videl is the most powerful version of Videl currently playable in the Fan Z metagame. The Orange physical suite is the most potent engine in the game, generating absurd advantage while pushing enormous damage. I also believe Videl is better served by any deck that can threaten MPPV than a pure beatdown strategy. She must spend a combat reaching level 2 before threatening serious damage, and losing a turn of beats to secure a level is permissible for anger but not for beatdown. The Energetic engine in particular helps compensate for Videl's notorious level 2. It's not difficult to extend to the stars by combo-ing Orange Stretch and Orange Sidestep with her discard effect, making her worst level one of her best. Her level 3 is a reliable answer to Wall Breaker as well as various on-board threats, and I want to make special note of her level 4. While known to be powerful, I would go a step further and say it is in contention for being the one of the best stage-beats level 4s in the game. It doesn't boost damage to the extent of Broly, but there's something to be said about just having a 10-stage physical every turn that also restores a good chunk of your own life. In practice, that extra attack can go farther than you'd expect.

    The build is fairly standard Orange physical nonsense. All of the powerful Orange physicals are at maximum copies as well as Videl's absolutely insane Named attacks. Orange Stare Down is a must-have 3-of for its ability to answer almost any problem. The block lineup prioritizes Endurance and uses Orange Juke for its flexibility and ability to maintain Drill presence. Speaking of, Orange Disaster Drill is a 2-of because it is the most powerful Drill in the deck. 3 was proving a bit clunky, but I wouldn't begrudge someone for committing to it. Confrontation is at 3 because it's one of the best cards in the game, but in the modern meta of "Draw Non-Styled hate and enter" it could be cut as well as WUPHF! to make room for more Styled cards. Speaking of, Devastating Blow is the Card of All Time and makes a great addition to almost any deck. The singleton Videl's Determination was chosen because it allowed me to reach my preferred Endurance count and acts as a cantrip; I've already maxed out on cards I want to run, so why not use that 60th slot to get to those cards faster? Finally, I'm not running Orange Steady Drill because I do not fear energy beats... though perhaps I should.

    If the Non-Styled cards are trimmed (though I do not advise ever cutting Videl's Named attacks), an Orange Sword Chop engine with Orange Luxury and Orange Meditation could be added, or even Orange Inspection if you're feeling spicy. Orange Joint Restraint Drill is a potential consideration to push more damage, though you need to prioritize anger as much as possible. Orange Intensity Drill is therefore likely a superior option as it not only pushes damage but allows the Energetic Mastery attack to threaten a crit, which is useful in many situations. Orange Spying Drill is another juicy combo tool, though it can be a bit too situational. Videl's strengths in Energetic are in her ability to compliment the existing Orange physical engine, not searching Drills, so you don't want to get too deep into the Planning Step cards.

    Energetic Videl is not a tier 1 deck by any means, but it poses a serious threat that must be respected. Most amusingly, it has an unbeaten record against Imposing Gohan, one of the most vicious decks in the game. You can threaten MPPV or beatdown against almost any deck. Rough matchups include (but are not limited to) Blue Ginyu, who can keep your anger in-check and easily absorb damage, and the rare Protective Future Gohan, who is one of the few decks able to keep you on level 1. Red Ascension can also pose a problem as they can match you in the MPPV race while ending combat to prevent you from extending. But even the roughest matchups can be overcome with little luck; there is no deck that can withstand the power of the Orange physical engine bolstered by one of the most unique and interesting MPs in the game. Other Videl decks often left me feeling the weight of playing a lower tier MP, but this list has truly allowed my favorite Orange Star student to take flight.

-Seth