Thanks to Bandai Namco, Guilty Gear Strive fans are getting a treat just in time for the holiday season when new character Elphelt Valentine joins the roster. Clad in pink-and-white and wielding a microphone, this pugilistic pop star is ready to take the game by storm. There’s still a lot to learn about Elphelt, particularly where her fighting styles and strengths are concerned. That said, if her eye-popping wardrobe is anything to go by, she’s sure to attract a legion of fans. Some fresh blood is exactly what Guilty Gear Strive needs, so we’ll just have to wait and see how much Elphelt Valentine changes the meta.
New Character Elphelt Valentine Joins Guilty Gear Strive
As a Valentine created by the Universal Will, Elphelt is the lovey-dovey type. Not only does she love nature and animals, but she also hates to see anyone alone. If that brand of bright and shiny optimism screams Magical Girl to you, you’re spot-on. Elphelt’s lore isn’t shy about playing with those tropes, but that just might make her a perfect addition to the Guilty Gear Strive roster. From the sounds of it, Elphelt could’ve been ripped straight from a best-selling manga. Elphelt’s solution to bring happiness to others is music. Her band, Speothos Venaticus, is still active in Strive lore.
Elphelt’s design and lore are certainly compelling, but the biggest question that most Strive fans have will undoubtedly be how she plays. According to the devs, Elphelt Valentine “can overwhelm the opponent with an arsenal of mix-up tools, while remaining simple enough for players to pick up and play.” Fighting games are notoriously difficult for beginners to break into, and Strive is no exception, so Elphelt sounds like a dream come true. Elphelt is a DLC character, but she’s also available as part of the game’s Season 3 pass. Soon we’ll know whether she’s the new meta queen or just another Guilty Gear meme.
Guilty Gear Strive is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
