After a year of waiting, players of the Star Wars Trading Card Game have finally been treated to the release of Invasion of Naboo! The new set brings a plethora of strategic options, and players will spend weeks analyzing the cards and updating decks accordingly. Many of the cards focus on assisting one of five factions: Diplomat, Gungan, Naboo, Sith, and Trade Federation. However, this week we examine a true rogue, a shady character who can infiltrate any deck - Keder the Black (A).

The 7 build Assassin card features a moderate combination of speed, power, and health. Being an Assassin, Keder the Black (A) can be pulled from the deck using Wretched Hive; the ersatz Senate Guard can gain benefits from Nar Shaddaa Moon or Gatling Gauntlet. However, Keder the Black (A)'s biggest feature is the ability that allows you to search your opponent's deck for a Character; the assassin then gains the subtype and text of the selected Character card! This could be a great counter to Darth Vader (R), Luke Skywalker (S), or Boba Fett (H). The ability also works great with Take a Prisoner. After triumphing in the Character arena using your opponent's own card, you can then discard extra copies of that card in your opponent's deck to ensure your lock on the Character arena!

One of the best features of Keder the Black (A) is the card's versatility. Of course, the Assassin best works in a deck with a focus of the seedy underworld of Star Wars. However, Keder the Black (A) isn't limited to this type of deck. On the contrary, the ability - similar to the Bounty of Lando Calrissian (J) - allows Keder the Black (A) to find a place in any deck.

Keder the Black (A) is a solid addition to any deck. Whoever is willing to pay the most credits will win the assassin's service, and to the winner be the spoils.

We're almost there! Invasion of Naboo is on schedule and set to be released on Saturday, May 30th. Just one week away! So prepare yourself.

With the Gungan and Naboo subtypes receiving a boost in the upcoming set, you want to know about what you can use to make them more threatening. That is where Benefits of Leadership can come in handy in Character and in Space. With a version of Panaka in the Character arena, you can get a +2 power boost to all your Naboo units there, including Panaka himself, the various Naboo soldier units and especially those new Naboo Starfighters you're no doubt dying to try out. Along with these, there's bound to be some Naboo subtype help going on, such as Captain Panaka (B). Panaka (B) will give a real boost to your Naboo units with his granting Fury 2 and Hidden Cost and Stealth units getting 2 more Fury. The increase in power will help score that Fury which is a further increase in power. So don't overlook the power boosts.

With up to 5 officers in Space, you can get a +10 power bonus to each of your Space units there, as Benefits of Leadership does not specify Space, Ground, Character, or unit. If you get help from your Rebel friends, then you can get an even greater bonus from this card and your brand new Naboo Starfighter fleet will pummel your opponent with devastating effect. Of special interest with a power boost is Bravo One (A). With Ric Olié (A) piloting and other Naboo officers in Space, Bravo One (A) will lead the pack in a blitzkrieg. Join us next week as we discuss Gungans.