Oshi no Ko – Memories with Mama (R/B) [12/18/2023]

Whereas Aqua is motivated by revenge, Ruby holds onto those brisk but delightful memories she shared with Ai before Ai’s unfortunate demise. As a rising star in the idol world, each memory she makes grows her experience, empowering her as an individual and expanding her skills. Ruby seeks not only to reach the position that Ai once stood but to make her late mother proud by becoming something even more.

Ruby is a healing (as long as Ai is in memory) finisher that lets you discard a card when she attacks with her climax to reveal the top two cards of your opponent’s deck and pick two characters from among them and place them into your opponent’s clock. There is a catch though. The character’s power levels must be equal or less than the 4000 power multiplied by the number of unique card names in your memory zone. Essentially, you want to fill your memory with as many unique cards as possible to enable you to place any two characters revealed into your opponent’s clock.

For our early advantage combo, we have two different choices to pick from. Ruby has a salvage Shimakaze combo with her climax, but she gives that ability to a character when she attacks with her climax (she can choose herself). She can additionally power pump herself or other characters when she swings. Aqua gains burst power for each of your opponent’s characters when he swings. His combo performs a Maguro ability for both characters and events. Their respective climaxes are shown below. Pick whichever combo you think suits your playstyle and deckbuilding best.

Ruby’s finisher requires a build around, making your stuff several different named cards into memory. One of the best cards and essential for many of the other synergies to be revealed below is the 0/0 Ai shown above. Upon being reversed, paying her costs, and sending her to memory, Ai performs a Riki ability, letting you search your deck and add a character to your hand. Ai’s existence in memory is important for several RECOLLECTION based abilities. The 1/1 event is insurance to further make sure that Ai ends up in your memory. Furthermore, it also sends itself to memory, empowering your Ruby finisher even more.

Among the many cards that are supported by Ai in memory, her children here shown above have some very beneficial abilities that help you throughout the game. Ruby is a permanent stock charger that gains power during your turn, and when she attacks, she lets you potentially net extra stock for free when she attacks from the top of your deck if it is level two or higher card or Aqua’s level one combo piece. 1/0 Aqua gains a level down ability on play if Ai is in memory. Lastly, 0/0 Aqua is a climax filter that also lets you check the top two cards of your deck, add one to hand, and discard one if you have Ai in memory.

Some other cards to mention are shown above. Ruby is a power pump on play that has an activated ability to send herself to memory and allow you to salvage either her level one stock charger shown before or an early play Ruby shown later. Ai is a 7000 powered beater during your turn that lets you discard a card to spawn either the Aqua draw brainstorm or the level one Ruby combo from the deck onto stage directly.

Two more level threes to add to your arsenal are noted above. Ruby is an early play as long as your memory contains three or more different named cards. She lets you choose a character in your clock and bottom deck that card while giving herself power for the turn. Once per turn, when she is reversed, you must reveal the top card of your deck, and if that card is level one or higher, you may return Ruby to your hand, perfect for looping herself. Ai is a global power support that has a unique ability at the start of your encore step if your opponent’s front row is empty or all reversed. If that condition is fulfilled and her costs are paid, Ai lets you mill the top card of your deck and burn your opponent for the level of the card revealed plus one. Ai is a great card to buff up your board while also giving you additional finishing power.

For defensive power, Aqua is a sack anti-change counter that also memory kicks your opponent’s cheated cards. Ruby is a standard memory kick backup. Either option you choose will make Ai proud of her kids.

Some additions are shown in the slideshow above. Ruby is a salvage brainstorm that allows you to reveal the top card of your deck when you play a climax to pump a character’s power and soul (this can also give you information for your stock charging Ruby). Aqua staring off into space triggers twice and costs a stock after this attack while also being a J.C. profile that goes to memory. 0/0 Aqua looking down lets you clock filter on play and also pay his costs to refresh your deck. 0/0 Ruby looking awkward is a power pump that also lets you draw and filter as an act ability if you have her mom in memory. 0/0 confident Ruby is a clean cut profile with a climax swap ability on play. Lastly, Aqua is a Fumio profile that lets you spawn another card that is your level or lower from hand for free while giving that card additional power for the turn.

Make sure to send Ai to memory to enable many abilities in the deck. Use the twins’ sibling bonds and unique abilities to shine on stage, reflecting Ai’s own individual skills.