This weekend at GT-X we revealed our newest Rival – Clairen, The Flame’s Salvation. She’ll be joining Ranno on Steam in a two-character pack in just a few weeks for $4.99.
Profile:
Clairen is a seasoned warrior from a distant future where both Zetterburn and Forsburn have vanished and never return. In her time, Loxodont grew to become a powerful emperor and expanded his domain over nearly all of Aether. Through the years the fire people lost their connection with the flame and could no longer control it. To offset this, their soldiers were issued plasma weapons as the Fire Empire became reliant on technology to retain its power.
One young girl realized she could still control the flame and plasma. After enlisting in the Imperial Guard, she hatched a plan to destroy the endless Loxodont hoping that it would return the flame to the people. But Loxodont had grown invincible over time and his corporeal form was replaced with fortified machinery. Clairen was defeated in the throne room and was set to be executed. But there were others who also despised Loxodont, and Clairen’s bravery motivated them. An unlikely ally helped Clairen escape using a machine to go back to a time when Loxodont was still vulnerable.
Now Clairen is on a mission in the past. To find the missing heroes that inspired her resistance and to destroy the endless emperor before he become invincible.
Elemental Powers:
Ionized Tip – Unlike the other future soldiers, Clairen manipulates her blade to be two-toned. The end of Clairen’s sword is super-charged, allowing her to stun enemies who are hit precisely with the tip.
Plasma Echo – Clairen dashes forward with her Side Special to quickly escape. The deadly plasma resonance left behind can damage enemies and even KO opponents with its sweet spot.
Energy Field – Performing a Down Special right before an attack hits Clairen will trigger her energy field. This field damages and pushes other Rivals away on activation. The zone that remains will nullify all projectiles that try to enter it.
Gameplay:
Clairen plays like a sword fighter you would find in other platform fighters. Her blade is much longer than Forsburn’s dagger and she relies on disjointed hitboxes in order to keep her opponents at bay. Clairen excels at medium range but can struggle at both close and far ranges from her opponents.
Clairen’s Ionized Tip is a critical aspect of the character that players will have to master. When spacing her attacks correctly, she gets stronger knockback and can stun her opponents which opens up combos that are only possible by using the tip of the blade. Players can see clearly when they landed the Ionized Tip by the plasma stun effect that envelops their opponent.
Clairen’s Side Special is Plasma Echo. She can use it to get back on stage, but its real strength is the hitbox that it leaves behind. When spaced perfectly the attack can be lethal or set up for a long combo. The attack comes out where Clairen was, not where she is going, which requires some practice both when using the ability as Clairen and when fighting against it.
Finally, Clairen’s Down Special is her Energy Field. This ability is the first counter in Rivals of Aether with a truly electrifying result. When successful, Clairen spawns an Energy Field that makes up for her lack of projectile. The field creates a large null zone that destroys all enemy projectiles inside it.