Skylanders Giants: Series 2 Air Element Upgrade Paths

This post will serve as an archive for Skylanders Giants Series 2 Air Element Upgrade Paths.  You can find the videos below.

That said, here is a bit of an intro:

Well, this has been a long time coming...

I recorded a lot of these a long time ago...Our first installment, Lightning Rod's Typhoon Titan, was actually recorded May 20th and uploaded July 16th.

I've been incredibly busy and had tons of technical issues...most relating to when the internet was worthless, then cut, then inactive for 2 weeks or so, and then believe it or not I have been hit by lightning (not me, just the house/power) WHILE RECORDING TWICE!!  It is ridiculous!  Oh, and just fyi during LRod's upgrades I had a spider on me...fitting for Arachnid Antechamber, no?

All of that coupled with loosing my voice once, work, life and a few other things slowed this down.

That said, I have up through Parts 150 something uploaded and ready to go...Tech is partially recorded and edited, Undead and Water are getting the necessary cash to upgrade, will be taken thru the tough Heroics, and then recorded.

It will take the cable being cut again to keep me from getting this stuff edited, uploaded, and blogged before the end of the month.  I will be extremely busy around the launch of SWAP Force, and thus hope to get this stuff cranked out well in advance.

I will try to make blog posts detailing my thoughts on the paths, although that was the original plan and time passing doesn't help things...

Anyway, it is 515 AM and I'm ready to hit the hay and go to work in 3 hours...

Skylanders Giants Part 136 Lightning Rod's Typhoon Titan Upgrade Path

Skylanders Giants Part 137 Sonic Boom's Medea Griffin Upgrade Path

Skylanders Giants Part 138 Whirlwind's Tempest Dragon Upgrade Path

Skylanders Giants Part 139 Polar Whirlwind's Introduciton, Heroic Challenge, and Tempest Dragon Path

Skylanders Giants: GITD Sonic Boom Overview

Skylanders Giants: Overview of Walmart Exclusive GITD Sonic Boom

What?  Sonic Boom, Air Element Series 2 Repose, Glow-in-the-Dark (GITD) Walmart Exclusive

Where Did You Get It?  Walmart

What Did It Cost?  $9.96

What is Included?  GITD Sonic Boom, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet with Web Code

What Was Stock Like?  Plentiful!  In store or online, you should be able to find GITD Sonic Boom very easily.

Quick Character Info

Slogan: "Full Scream Ahead!"

Stats:

Power/Strength: 65/150
Defense/Armor: 85/150
Speed/Agility: 60/150
Luck: 70/150
Totals: 280/600

Conclusion

While I am not a fan of Sonic Boom's Series 2 repose, I am a fan of GITD figures and the fact they are easily attained doesn't hurt.

I knew this could have been hard to come by, but it just wasn't worth it to me to walk into Walmart on Thanksgiving or Black Friday.

Luckily, as I predicted, GITD Sonic Boom was just as easy to find as the GITD Starter Packs.  Walmart, unlike most retailers, wants quantity.  If something sells, they want it on their shelves.  That works great for you and I.  While the easily attained GITD Sonic Boom may not fetch the same price as say a GITD Warnado or Stone Zook, it does give the average, every day, non-employee, non-scalper, a chance to pick up a real, in-game variant.

When you register Sonic Boom into Giants she should show up as a "Series 2 Special" and come with 2,000 Coins while beginning the campaign at Level 5.  Very cool!

Hats of to Toys for Bob, Activision, and select retailers for realizing that the every day enthusiast wants in on the variant rush...They still have the hard to obtain variants, but these "easier to find and cheaper to buy" variants are very nice.

I also want to stress that Sonic Boom's GITD paint job looks much better than Cynder's.  I know several people complained about how spotty Cynder was.  Whatever the issue was, it seems to have been resolved.   Sonic Boom looks great in the packaging and glows incredibly bright!

If you want GITD Sonic Boom I suggest you pick her up just in case production slows down or becomes spotty later on...As of right now she should be very easy to find and take home...Good luck!

Unboxing Skylanders Giants Triple Pack #3: Sonic Boom, Sprocket, Stump Smash

Unboxing Triple Pack #3: Sonic Boom, Sprocket, and Stump Smash

What?  Skylanders Giants Triple Pack #3

Where Did You Get It?  Toys'R'Us

What Did It Cost?  $24.99 plus tax

What Is Included?  Sonic Boom, Sprocket, Stump Smash, Stat Cards, Stickers, and Web Codes

What Was Stock Like?  There were maybe 2-3 at TRU.  Walmart had none.  Target had none.  GameStop had 2 on the display if I remember correctly.  This was the first I had seen anything to do with Sprocket or Flashwing...Previously I had not been able to find them locally or out-of-town.

Quick Character Info:

Sonic Boom

Slogan:  "Full Scream Ahead!"

Card Stats:

Power: 65/150
Defense: 85/150
Agility: 60/150
Luck: 70/150
Total: 280/600

Sprocket

Slogan: "The Fix is In!"

Card Stats:

Power: 70/150
Defense: 110/150
Agility: 50/150
Luck: 50/150
Total: 280/600

Stump Smash

Slogan: "Drop the Hammer!"

Card Stats:

Power: 100/150
Defense: 90/150
Agility: 30/150
Luck: 60/150
Total: 280/600

Conclusion

I thought this triple pack would be more likely to be found than Triple Pack #4 due to Flashwing seeming to be more tough to come by...When I was in TRU and found it I was very surprised.

I have to be honest that I am not at all a fan of Sonic Boom's repose.  As mentioned in the video, I know the vast majority of people that have spoken or commented to me all liked her secondary path and the griffin babies...so for that camp her figure is a hit.  I will never like the repose.  That said, I do really like Sonic Boom and found her to be very solid down her primary upgrade path.  If these were just singles, I am not sure I'd have sprung for her though.

Sprocket is following in Boomer's footsteps in terms of "no one likes me."  I know there are some hardcore Sprocket fans, but the popular consensus is just that people don't like her look...much like Boomer.  And just like Boomer, people are basing this on the aesthetic value alone...had anyone taken the time to play AND upgrade Boomer, I don't think he would have been the bottom dweller.  I realize some have other tastes or other new Skylanders stand out more to them, but Sprocket barely got a vote in the poll.  That said, I personally think she has a great background story and should upgrade very well (Tech seems to do that).  I do think she is somewhat like a "gold lego," but I will not let that take away from her potential.  I will hold off final judgment until I've played...

Stump Smash is really why I "wood" have waited on this Triple Pack.  I passed on Stump Smash's Series 2 single and it was really hard for me to do so.  First off the repose is great.  Furthermore, when upgraded he is not only a stalwart in story mode, but also in battle mode.  Since I knew he was packaged with Sprocket in a Triple Pack, it helped cement my decision to wait and save the money.  It also didn't hurt that Sonic Boom was included.  Like I said, I'm not at all a fan of her repose, but I do think she is a great and under appreciated Skylander.

Overall, if you are a fan of Sonic Boom or Stump Smash and plan to get Sprocket, the triple pack is the best  way to go imo...