#strong deck

Maximize your buffs! 

There are 4 types of buffs in the game: 

General Attack Up (GAU)

Type Attack Up (TAU, so Power/Speed/Magic Attack Up)

Enemy General Defense Down (GDD)

Enemy Type Defense Down (TDD, so Power/Speed/Magic Defense Up). 

*Do note that unless noted otherwise (like CoM Riku [M] or Lucifer [S]), assume that medals that give GDD or TDD will be on the enemy and not on yourself. 

How the Buffing Multiplier Works

Buffers of the same type will stack. For example, if you use two Phils [P] (PAU+1), you will get PAU+2. But for each buff, you can only have a maximum of +7. So if you activate KH 0.2 Kairi Illustration [S] (GAU+6) for example, and the next medal you activate is KH1 Kairi Illustration [P] (GAU+3), the buff will max out at GAU+7 even though the total GAU adds up to +9. The only exception to this rule is if you were afflicted with General Attack Down (GAD), for example then using KH1 Kairi Illu. [P] will get you GAU+2, and with Vivi [M] you’ll get to GAU+3. The same applies for TAU, and if enemies have General Defense Up (GDU) or Type Defense Up (TDU) buff when you use GDD or TDD buffs. Essentially, the buffs cancels each other out.

However, while the maximum for each buff is +7, different buffers don’t stack and multiply each other. So, if for example, these buffs give these boost (the buffer multiplier numbers I give are fake!! I’m using them to get my point across so bare with me): 

GAU+1: 1.4

GAU+3: 1.75

TAU+1: 1.3 

And the base attack I have for a medal is 7341, with GAU+3, I’d have 12,846.75 attack (7341 x 1.75). While, GAU+1 and TAU+1 will give me 13,360.62 attack (7341 x 1.4 x 1.3). So, when deciding which buff to go for, go for the different buff type.

GAU and GDD will have all medal attributes (P/S/M), those that give neutral damage, and Burst/Nova benefit from it. TAU and TDD will only benefit the medal of that attribute, or if the medal gives advantageous attack (i.e. WOFF medals). For example, if you have SAU, only speed medals will get the SAU buff, and magic and power medals will not receive this buff.

Ideally, the best deck you can achieve on KHUX is having GAU+7, GDD-7 TAU+7, and TDD-7. However, it will take a while (or if you just spend a lot of money) to achieve this perfect set up since not all the buffs for each medal attribute is available…yet…

While the ideal deck requires GAU+7, GDD-7, TAU+7, and TDD-7, there is actually a difference in damage you do from each buff. From most to least damage if you compare them with same buff number (i.e. GAU+1 vs GDD-1):

General Defense Down

General Attack Up

Type Attack Up/Type Defense Down

//I do want to point out that while it is not so obvious with lower level enemies, GDD does WAY more damage than TAU or TDD buffs. I have pictures as proof! Starting at level 250ish, if the enemy doesn’t have GDD buffs (even if it has TDD, and you have GAU and TAU), partner medals that do NOT give GDD will only do 1 damage per hit, whereas GDD partner medals will do like 20k damage or something like that.

However, there is a strategic order to obtain different types of buff (if you’re not caught up with the game):

You want to obtain GAU first. This is because single target medals can also give you GAU buffs as well. The defense down medals only works if you land hits on the enemy. So a single target GDD medal (Meg [P] or Ansem Illustration [P]) will only give GDD to one enemy, whereas Mr.Smee [M] or Owl [S] will give GDD to all enemies because they are mutli-target. This is the best buff to maximize first and is required on every single deck. Since this is general attack up, all medal attributes, those that give neutral damage, and Burst/Nova will benefit from this buff.

Second buff to obtain TAU. Again, same reasoning for not getting DD buff. Also, there is no medals out right now that gives GDD-3 to all enemies. (Well, there are EX medals that give GDD-4 to all enemies.) So far, the highest multi-target GDD we have is GDD-2 and that is from Maleficent Dragon [P]. Not only that, but there are non-premiums that gives TAU+2 or TAU+3 buff. While GDD does more damage than TAU/TDD, when you compare them to each other with different buff number, (i.e. GDD-1 vs TAU+2), the +2 or +3 will be stronger than GDD-1. Do note that TAU buffs will allow you to deal more damage on raid boss! So when you fight raid bosses, definitely maximize your TAU buffs!

Last buff is multi-target GDD or TDD You want multi-target DD buff because the enemy de-buff only applies to the medal you land hits on. So a single target GDD medal (Meg [P] or Ansem Illustration [P]) will only give GDD to one enemy, whereas Mr.Smee [M] or Owl [S] will give GDD to all enemies because they are mutli-target. When comparing between GDD and TDD with the same buffing number (i.e. GDD-1 vs TDD-1), GDD-1 is the better buff to go for. This is because general GAU or GDD will benefit all medal attributes (P/S/M), those that give neutral damage, and Burst/Nova, where as TAU or TDD will only benefit medals with those attributes. When fighting against raid bosses, the next buff to maximize is TDD. GDD buffs won’t do much against raid boss fight. However, in Coliseum GDD is much more important than TDD, and will eventually become a required buff to have if you want to deal damage on high level enemies.

So the an example of the ideal deck for speed medals (in terms of buffs) would be this (this would be my set up on Fairy Stars to focus on a speed deck):

HD Naminé [M] To copy Sora&Neku’s [M] GAU+2 and GDD-2

Sora&Neku [M] For GAU+2 and GDD-2 | Buff is now GAU+4 and GDD-4

Copy Key Art Coming [M] To copy Sora&Neku’s [M] GAU+2 and GDD-2 | Buff is now GAU+6 and GDD-6

HD Xion [P] To copy Roxas EX for GAU+1, SAU+5, SDD-4, GDD-1 | Buff is now GAU+7, GDD-7, SAU+5, SDD-5

Roxas EX [S] Gives GAU+1, SAU+5, SDD-4, GDD-1 | Buff is now GAU+7, GDD-7, SAU+7, SDD-7

Again by the time you get to your last medal, you want to be able to have GAU+7, GDD-7, TAU+7, and TDD-7.

Take Medal Information into Consideration!

Single Target, Random, or Multi-target  I personally think that multi-target medals, like KH1 Sora Illustration [P], are better than single target medals, which is especially true for DD enemy de-buff. I prefer multi-target medals because you’ll most often be up against multiple enemies in Coliseum and in missions. Random target medals are unique, as they are strong when against one enemies, but against a group the attack is too unreliable, and not all enemies could receive a hit. (I’ve noticed that random target medals tend to go for the lower HP enemies first.) The only time single target medals are useful is if you need that extra multiplier (single targets have a higher multiplier, (i.e. KH1 Sora Illu. [P] x2.54 no dot and HD Riku [P] x3.08~4.72 no dot, and if you ignore the guilt tiers) against one enemy, which are usually raid bosses or story bosses. Also, having SP+ or Lux+ related skills are better on multi-target medals because more enemies damaged means more SP orbs or Lux gathered.

Multiplier Medals with higher multipliers can deal more damage than ones with lower multiplier. When making an ideal deck, take into consideration of the requirements for maximum multiplier. For example, Cloud EX [P] relies on high HP in order to obtain maximum damage. Thus, you don’t want to have Cloud EX [P] after Maleficent Dragon [P] since Maleficent Dragon [P] gives HP Sacrifice as well.

Number of Turns the Buff Last Medals that give the buff for at least 2 turns are good as well, and make really good partner medals! Definitely better than medals that gives the buff for 1 turn, as medals that has the buff last for multiple turn cost more SP, and thus a higher multiplier. Situations where lasting for multiple turns does not matter would be missions you need to one turn, such as Coliseum. However, for battles where you can have multiple turns, such as raid boss fights and certain PQ+, having the medal last for 2 turns is better than 1 turn. This is so medals at the beginning of the deck will also get the buffs that comes from the medals that come later in the deck. For example, if I have BCMI [P] after HD Roxas [P], on the first turn, HD Roxas [P] will not have the PAU+1 buff from BCMI [P], but on the second turn HD Roxas [P], giving you a more attack power (because more buff) on the second turn. Not only that, but the buffs that last to the second turn stack! So using a medal that give GDD-1 for 2 turns, one in your deck and one as partner medal, will get you GDD-3 on the second turn!

Skills!!

This is (probably) last thing you need to into consideration of what makes a good deck, assuming a very good keyblade and everything. For more information regarding skills, you can look at this post here. Aside from medals and keyblade level, skill on medals are what separates out the strong and the mediocre players on JP KHUX! 

Attack Up Skills This one is a no brainer, but if you want more information regarding each specific skill, you can read the post here (same link as the one above). The higher tier the Attack Up skill, the stronger the medal (if the skill activates).

Lux+ Related Skills This is important for solo and party ranking! The more often the lux+ skill activates, the more lux you obtain. Top players on JP KHUX have just about all their medals with lux+ skills attached on their medals.

SP+ Related Skills These skills have been kinda made obsolete thanks to SP recovering medals, especially KH2 Kairi Illu. [M], JP KA2 [M], and Christmas Sora Illu. [S]. However, these skills are important when 10 SP recovery isn’t enough, especially since more premiums cost 4 SP now. 

Battle Type

Decks you use for Coliseum are probably different than the ones you use for raid boss fights. For example, it is most ideal to go into raid boss fights with as many medals with lux+ as possible so you can get more lux with every fight. Lux+ related skills, however, are just about useless (except for medals that relies on lux gathered) in Coliseum, while SP+ skill is!