Sword Art Online - Game Review & Gacha Rates

Not expecting to be released for both the Japanese market and Global market at the same time, Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown is here as soon as we can expect! In the world of SAO (Sword Art Online) a new game is being released, called Cross Edge. Everyone is playing this new game, but something strange is happening. Despite the game being only a PvP Game (So Player Versus Player) there’s monster appearing during the battles. Also strange enemies are appearing in the game, and challenging the players. If you lose a battle with those strangers, you will lose part of your memory! It’s time for Kirito, Asuna and every other character you know from the original series to join this new game, Cross Edge and discover the truth about those monsters and strangers!

 

What is Sword Art Online: variant Showdown?

Released on 21 November, Sword Art Online: variant Showdown is a new Mobile Action RPG Gacha Game. In this game you will form a team Team of 3 Member Max and you will fight different content (Main Story, Daily Quest, Event etc). Collecting different characters is the main goal in the game, and every character has different Class (Fighters, Wizard, Defender, Supporter & Ranger) and also different Elements (Fire > Wind > Water > Fire). Also there's a special Card called Ability Card that can improve your character with both passive Stats and New perks. The most important mechanic in the game is the “Switch!”, literally swapping characters at the right time for combo skills and denying enemies attack. If you like fast action games and also you are a fan of Sword Art Online, you shoulda play this new title!

 

Game Content

Main Story

 

 

The “Main Story” is the first game content you will unlock in Sword Art Online: variant Showdown. In this game mode you will use both your team and also a pre-formed team based on the stage you are about to fight. Every stage in the Story Mode also Stars Point. Based on the stage requirement (No Characters KO, Finish in X Seconds, etc.) you will achieve a score from 0 to 3 Stars. Main Story stages can be completed on Normal and Hard difficulty, but Hard can only be entered 5 times x day x stage. First time you complete a new Main Story Stage you are guaranteed to obtain Crystals (Summoning Currency) and also different rewards such as Specific Class Records, Characters Exp Items, Golds Etc.

 

Digit Quest

 

 

The “Digit Quest” is a Daily Content you unlock from the start. In this game mode you can fight 3 different difficulties (Easy, Normal and Hard) with also different Gold amounts as rewards. You can enter Digit Quest a maximum of 3 times x day.

Remember to complete it daily to increase your gold income!

 

Exp Quest

 

 

The “Exp Quest” is a Daily Content also unlocked from the start. Same as the Digit quest, you can fight 3 Different difficulties (Easy, Normal and Hard) with also different Exp Items amounts as rewards. You can enter Exp Quest a maximum of 3 times x day. 

Remember to complete it daily to increase your gold income!

 

Fire/Water/Wind Memory Drop Quest

 

 

The “Memory Drop Quest” is a Daily Content available from the start that changes Daily, rotating (Fire, Water, Wind). Same as other daily quests, you can fight 3 Different difficulties (Easy, Normal and Hard) with also different amounts and rarity rewards. You can enter Exp Quest a maximum of 3 times x day. 

Don’t miss the chance to collect Memory Drop since they are necessary for unlocking Character Potential.

 

Event

 

 

The “Event” game mode is unlocked after you complete the “Boss Stage” on Main Story. In the Event Tab, you can fight Time Limited “Event battle” stages, complete “Event Mission” for great rewards and watch “Event Story” cutscenes.

 

Event Battle

• The Event Battle lets you fight the Event boss within 3 Difficulties, Easy, Normal And Hard. Once you finish the fight, you will collect Arena points based on the performance of the battle. Collect as much point as you need and try to score the highest records for improve the rewards you can get from the event

 

Event Mission

• The Event Mission is side quests you can complete during the Event Battle. 

 

Event Story

• In the Event Story tab you can unlock special cutscenes for the event and watch them everytime you want. 

 

Bonuses

• Some Characters and Ability Cards increased the amount of Medals and Points you get from Event Battle. SSR Characters/Ability Cards have increased 30% drop rates, while SR Characters/Ability Cards have 10%/20% increase drop rates. Don’t miss out the chance to use those character for increase the Medals and point you get from the Event

 

Rewards

• Everytime you complete an Event Stage, you will receive Arena points. Collecting arena points rewards you with different items, such as Exp Chip, Ability Core, Scout Tickets (Summon), Fire Memory and Ability Cards!

 

Challenge

 

 

The “Challenge” is a beginner series of special quests that will give you great rewards such as Crystals (Summon), Golds, Memory Drop, Class Records, Skip Tickets, and Exp Items for completing different tasks, and also an SSR Character (Inspiration of Victory - Silica) once you complete them all. Don’t miss the chance to obtain a free SSR Character and complete the Beginner Challenge!

 

Daily/Weekly Quest & Release Rewards

 

 

Completing Daily and Weekly quests is the best way to obtain great rewards for free while playing Sword Art Online: variant Showdown. Also the game features 4 Bonus Log in on the release! Here’s all the rewards you can get for free!

 

Daily Quest

• 1 Stamina Pot & 30 Crystals

• 40000 Gold & 6 Skip Ticket

• 5 Exp S and 3 Exp M, 2 Memory Drop x Type

 

Weekly Quest Rewards

• 3 Stamina Pot S & 1 Stamina Pot L, 100 Crystal

• 60000 Gold & 5 Skip Ticket

• 15 Exp M, 8 Exp L & 1 Exp XL, 2 Memory drop L x Type

 

Release Special Limited-Time Gifts

• A total of 800 Crystals & 2 Premium Ticket over 10 Days Log In

 

Movie Release Limited-Time Gifts

• A total of x1 Boof of Friendship, x20 Fighter Records S, x10 Fighter Records M, x10 Fighter Records L, 1 Asuna Icon, 10x Exp Chip XL, x1 Premium Ticket, x5 Ability Core (XL), x5 Wind Memory (M), x3 Wind Memory (L), x1,00.000 Digit, x1 Friend’s Compassion over 14 Days Log In

 

Anime 10th Anniversary Part 1 Limited-Time Gifts

• A total of x221106 Digits, x3 Exp Chip XL, x5 Ability Core XL, x8 Fire Memory M, x8 Wind Memory M, x8 Water Memory M, x3 Fire Memory L, x3 Wind Memory L, x3 Water Memory L, x1 Premium Ticket over 10 Days Log In

 

Characters & Ability Card

Characters

 

 

The “Characters” in Sword Art Online can be Enhanced (Leveled Up), Rank Up (Awakening) and Unlocked (Stars Up). Let’s see the different Class and Element and how to improve your characters:

 

Character Class

• Fighters = They have usually High attacks but fight in melee range

• Wizard = Greatly damage with skill but squishy

• Defender = They have high HP and Defenses 

• Supporter = They usually can Heal Team member by switching 

• Ranger = They can attack from afar with attacks and Skill

 

Character Element

• Fire = Fire Characters are strong against Wind but weak against Water, so they deal more damage to Wind but they take more damage from Water

• Wind = Wind Characters are strong against Water but weak against Fire, so they deal more damage to Water but they take more damage from Fire

• Water = Water Characters are strong against Fire but weak against Wind, so they deal more damage to Fire but they take more damage from Wind

 

Enhance

• Character level can be increased using Exp Chip. There’s different Cheap (S, M, L & XL) and once your character reaches the maximum level for current Rank (Ex: Rank 1 Max level is 60) you must Rank Up your character to increase the maximum level it can reach.

 

Rank UP

• Ranking Up your character increases the maximum level they can reach. For increase your Character Rank, you must use Specific Class Records and also Specific Memory Drop

 

Stars UP

• To better improve your character's power, you can also Stars Up your characters. Starring Up a Characters requires Characters Dupes (from Summoning) and also Golds.

 

Ability Card

 

 

The “Ability Card” is the only “Equipment” you can have on your characters. Ability Cards are a great addiction to any character, since they can both improve your passive stats (HP, STR, DEF etc) while also providing new buffs/effects for your Character. Ability Cards can also be Enhanced (Leveled Up) and Unlocked (Stars Up).

 

Enhance

• For Enhancing Ability Cards you need Special Ability Card Exp Items and also Golds

 

Unlocking Potential

• Once an Ability Card reach Max Level, you can further improve this card power by Unlocking Potential with the same card Dupes

 

Gacha Rates

Release Special Pickup Scout - Part I

 

 

The “Release Special Pickup Scout - Part I” Is the first Rate Up Banner for Sword Art Online variant Showdown. In this banner you can obtain both Characters and Ability Cards. Pulling on this Banner cost Ticket or Crystals (1 Multi cost 1500 Crystal). The banner features 2 SSR Characters in Rate up and 2 Ability Cards in Rate up, for a total of 4 SSR Rate up, also there’s SR rates up too. Here’s the rates:

Characters

• SSR Characters = 2% (0.5% For Rate Up Characters)

• SR Characters = 13% (1.496% For Rate Up Characters)

• R Characters = 35%

 

Ability Card

• SSR = 2% (0.5% For Rate Up Cards)

• SR = 13%

• R = 35%

 

Pity

• An SR Character/Card Guaranteed with x10 Pull

 

Standard Scout

 

 

The “Standard Scout” is the Normal Banner for Sword Art Online: variant Showdown. In this banner you can obtain both Characters and Ability Cards. Pulling on this Banner cost Ticket or Crystals. Here’s the rates:

 

Characters

• SSR Characters = 2% 

• SR Characters = 13%

• R Characters = 35%

 

Ability Card

• SSR = 2% 

• SR = 13%

• R = 35%

 

Pity

• An SR Character/Card Guaranteed with x10 Pull

 

Should I Play It? Pro & Cons

Pro

• A lot of Welcome Freebies

• Free Reroll at start with infinite selection (You can have more then 1 SSR)

• A lot of character from Original Series

• Nice 3D Characters Models and 2D Drawing

 

Cons

• There’s a loading time/connecting for EVERYTHING

• Drain a lot of battery and overheat your device 

• Terrible UI

• Locked Camera

• Gameplay feel boring, just spamming abilities

• No Pity for SSR