How can we summarize the story of Elphelt with a minimum of clarity? Generated by the Universal Will to accomplish its works, like the other Valentines, the young lady does not particularly want to massacre humanity. What she would like is to find Love. With a sick obsession that is beyond comprehension. After the events of Guilty Gear: Strive, Elphelt abandons her duties at Castle Illyria, feeling too incompetent to keep her position. Anxious to bring joy and happiness to her neighbors (but also to be noticed), she decides to found the group of death metal Speothos Venaticus, and to graft a microphone onto the butt of his rifle. Because why not?
In love and in war
Elphelt’s kit has also changed a lot. If she can still use her rifle, the majority of her shots now revolve around Chain Lollipop, a modular melee sequence that is furiously reminiscent of Noel Vermillion’s Drive in BlazBlue for those in the know. It’s not plagiarism if it comes from the same creamery. If Chain Lollipop always starts with a medium attack, which can be parried while standing or crouching, it can then choose to do a high attack, a low attack, or start the sequence from the beginning before ending with a special move. The diagram below (taken from an official video) will clarify the system.
Elphelt also has the Overdrive Bomb-Bombnnière (sic), a mug that attaches grenades to the unfortunate person caught. The explosives detonate shortly after, forcing the enemy to play around or risk being cut open.
In addition to its season 3 which will quietly follow its calm with two additional characters, Guilty Gear: Strive will also welcome a 3v3 mode in 2024. No details for the moment, except the mention that this mode will be reserved for online fighting.