General description:
Turn 2 earth ninja with 1/3 when healthy, 1/1 when injured. IMO the best ino besides the vanilla one which shares the same stats and comes in at turn 1. With Earth getting support in set 23 invasion set, playful Ino is most likely going to be in main decks and ran in 2-3's for specific reasons.
Uses:
Initially against anbu decks that deployed multiple ninjas at once, her 3 support is very strong at turn 2 as well as decent mental power and shuts down effects against head ninjas her teams go against. Saw play in kimono decks as the kimono Ino was downright awful and set 22 has the mind transfer jutsu that benefits 'mind' attribute users.
Strategies and game play:
The best Ino to use mind transfer jutsu along with her father coming in set 23, Yamanaka Inoichi. Can be splashed and teched into Kimono decks as well as mono-earth and possibly other earth-splash type decks. Also as a side deck against annoying head ninjas with beastly effects. Limits plays of other cards that does multiple deployments.
Combos with other cards:
Mind transfer jutsu comes to mind. As potent as that jutsu is without a mind attribute user, the full benefit of it is game breaking. Keeping a key ninja off their village and in your teams is very advantageous. There are also wind jutsu cards such as mind scour, reanimation jutsu and such that offer healing and draw power for those who share the medical attribute.
Ways to counteract it:
Dehydration works wonders in a mirror or a water deck that goes against her. Preparing jutsu negation prior to her deployment is useful as earth will be running mind transfer and shadow possession jutsu with her as a secondary target (shikamaru being the most optimal with 4 mental power) along with the pumping kunai jutsu from set 20 that increases mental power.
Strengths/Pros:
Great stats, versatile attribute with jutsus available to her.
Weaknesses/Cons:
needs a curve to back up other ninjas. Will not stand by herself despite great support going for her.
Variations:
Being printed in set 20, her card was one of many that did alternative art for her which is VERY RARE.
Artwork and aesthetics:
The flavor text says 'Playful'. In the original version, she looks like it. In the alternate art, she seems all serious.
Overall rating:
8/10
Will be seeing major play with the emergence of earth support in the coming set as well as diversifying kimono deck players that want to choose a wind/earth style of play.