FC2015: A quick overview (Part 1)

Today I will be talking about the main G units featured for all clans in the upcoming FC2015. Just a brief explanation, I won't be talking about the Cray Elementals, as that's for another article altogether.
Since all clans are featured, this will be a rather long article, so bear with me. Now then, let's begin, shall we?

Holy Dragon, Religious Soul Saver 

 [AUTO](VC):[Counter Blast (1) & Choose a face down card named "Holy Dragon, Religious Soul Saver" from your G zone, and turn it face up] When this unit is placed on (VC), if you have a heart card with "Blaster" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose up to three of your units, and they get [Power]+5000 until end of turn. Then, if the number of cards in your soul with "Blaster" in its card name is two or more, this unit gets [Critical]+1 until end of turn.
The obvious deck choice to run this with would be MLB(Majesty Lord Blaster). On your G3 turn, make sure you get Blaster Dark, and Blaster Blade into the soul with MLB's skill. Next turn, stride this card for a free crit pressure and high-powered rear guard columns. Make sure you have at least 3 RGs to maximize this effect; 2 in your left column, 1 on the right at least, vice-versa. You can throw a RG behind your VG, but your opponent is likely to just kanzen, so you'd best save your hand, unless you know for sure he does not have a kanzen in hand.

Deity of the Evening Moon, Tsukuyomi 

[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Choose a face down card named "Deity of the Evening Moon, Tsukuyomi" from your G zone, and turn it face up & Choose a card with "Tsukuyomi" in its card name from your hand, and put it into your soul] If you have a heart card with "Tsukuyomi" in its card name, look at five cards from the top of your deck, search for up to two cards from among them, put them into your hand, and put the rest on the bottom of your deck in any order.
This stride is kinda lackluster for a GR, but pretty good nonetheless. Since it doesn't use any counterblast, you can save the CB for Full moon Tsukuyomi's skill. This stride will ensure that your g1 and g2 Tsukuyomi's do not become dead fodder in your hand. Granting a net +1, not very good, but this helps reach your stack even faster.

Purgation Lion Emperor, Mithril Ezel

ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Counter Blast (1) & Choose a face down card named "Purgation Lion Emperor, Mithril Ezel" from your G zone, and turn it face up] If you have a heart card with "Ezel" in its card name, unlock all of your locked cards, look at five cards from the top of your deck, search for up to one card from among them, call it to (RC), shuffle your deck, and increase that unit and this unit's [Power] by the original [Power] of the unit called with this effect until end of turn.
With the return of Link Joker and Glendios(and his stride) this card can be a major killjoy for your opponent when he's about to World End you next turn. It doesn't take as much counterblast and soulblast as Ezel Scissors, so you can keep unlocking just for the trolls. The advantage of being able to superior call something slightly more specific than what Blond Ezel can give is good. Even if your opponent is not a Link Joker, you still get the +1 from the new rear-guard, and the extra power for increased pressure on your turn. 

Supreme Heavenly Emperor, Dragonic Overlord "The Ace"

[ACT](VC):[Counter Blast (2) & Choose a face down card named "Supreme Heavenly Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord "The Ace"" from your G zone, and turn it face-up] If the number of face up cards in your G zone is two or more, until end of turn, this unit gets drive-1 and "[AUTO](VC)[1/Turn]:[Choose a card from your hand, and discard it & Choose a card with "Overlord" in its card name from your hand, and discard it] At the end of the battle that this unit attacked a vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, [Stand] this unit, and this unit gets [Power]+5000 until end of turn. (Even if you do not pay the cost, this ability cannot be used for the rest of that turn)".
I see a lot of problems with this unit. The counterblast cost is 1. Imagine using this in a DOTX or DOTR deck. Spend 2 counterblast on this, and what have you left to restand with your boss G3? Another problem is the discard cost. In any Overlord deck, you have to already discard a G3 for stride, then you need to have another Overlord in hand. Since all Overlords a G3s, this may be a problem in all Overlord decks, and WILL be a problem in a DOTX deck. Both DOTE and DOTX require a persona blast to activate their skills. If you throw one of them from your hand, that's 1 less chance to pull off a restand with DOTE or a burn with DOTX. The way I see it, the best part about this card is the high power restand, and the additional +5K after restand. Other than that, not so good. Kind like Dragonic Overlord "The Hype". Haters gonna hate on me, but this is how I see this card.

True Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Turbo

[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Counter Blast (1) & Soul Blast (1) & Choose a face down card from your G zone, and turn it face up] If you have a heart card with "Big Bang Knuckle" in its name, until end of turn, this unit gets "[CONT](VC):When this unit would choose a unit to attack, choose up to three of your opponent's units for each of your heart cards instead, and this unit battles all of the chosen units in one attack.", and this unit gets [Power]+5000 for each face up "True Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Turbo" in your G zone.
This is so good. Just being in Legion mode ensures you can hit the whole field, and kill all your opponent's rear guards in one shot. Having 2 Big Bang Slash Busters in your left and right column would make for immense attacking power, as if your Vanguard didn't have that already. The consistency is just soooo good. Once you've used up all 4 of this in your G Zone, you can just stick with your Legioned Big Bang Knuckle Buster and whack for high numbers and pressure. With this, your opponent can only attack with his Vanguard or waste resources trying to build a rear-guard presence. Bye-bye Aqua Force.

Death Star-Vader, "Omega Loop" Glendios

[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]: [Counter Blast (2) & Choose a face-down card named "Death Star-Vader, "Omega Loop" Glendios" from your G Zone, and turn it face-up] If you have a heart with "Glendios" in its card name, your opponent chooses one of his or her (RC) for each of your rear-guards with "Я" in its card name, and puts the top card of his or her deck into that (RC) face down as a locked card. Then if the number of cards in your damage zone is five or more, all your opponent's locked cards cannot be unlocked during his or her next end phase.

Although this card sets up for your World End, the problem is that all your Reverse units from other clans can't attack, since they are no longer considered to be Link Joker units. You'll be screwed over by one heal, and then your opponent can just whack a rear-guard with his Vanguard. Another problem is that you might not have enough counterblast left after using Magnet Hollow's skills and maybe some others you might have, depending on deck build. In short, this card looks good on the surface, and would be good, if it just wasn't so circumstantial. 

Blue Storm Master Dragon, Admiral Maelstrom

[AUTO](VC)[1/Turn]:[Counter Blast (1) & Choose a face down card from your G zone, and turn it face up] When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, if it is the fourth battle of that turn or more, and you have a heart card with "Maelstrom" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw a card, choose three of your opponent's rear-guards, your opponent chooses one from them for each face up "Blue Storm Master Dragon, Admiral Maelstrom" in your G zone, and retires them.

Obviously, Aqua Force can very well achieve a fourth attack with the Vanguard. In this situation, your opponent will either retire 1 or 3 of their rear-guards from the skill. The only issue here is thatthe skill is an on-hit effect. This can be seen not as a problem, but as an advantage which would force shield out of your opponent before you use Glory Maelstrom or Reverse Maelstrom's skill. This way, the deck becomes more pressure-centric, and it would be meant to outlast your opponent but whittling down their hand until they have nothing left.

Interdimensional Dragon, Epoch Maker Dragon

[AUTO](VC):When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, you may choose one of your rear-guards, and bind it face up. If you do, search your deck for up to one grade 3 card, call it to (RC), shuffle your deck, and at the end of your turn, put the unit called with this effect on the bottom of your deck. If you put a card on the bottom of your deck this way, choose a card bound with this effect from your bind zone, and call it to (RC).
This card basically allows for you to get a fourth attack in one turn, not accounting for stand triggers. Again, the issue/advantage is that this is an on-hit effect. Your opponent can either choose to no guard and risk taking around 3 damage(including 1 crit trigger) or waste shield guarding this, and be open to your Ragnaclock's crit later in the game. This effect was not really meant to go off most of the time, but this card acts as a pressure unit in the deck.

Holy Celestial, Mikael

[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Counter Blast (1)] If you have a heart card with "Celestial" in its card name, put the top card of your deck into your damage zone, choose a face up card from your damage zone, and call it to (RC). Then, if you have a face up card in your damage zone with the same name as a card in your hearts, the unit called with this effect gets [Power]+5000 until end of turn.
This card is one of the good cards from this set, as it works with any of the Celestial bosses in Angel Feather(except maybe the FC2014 card). The best card to run this with would be the Celestial Legion, considering its ability to create huge-powered columns. For old school, you can run this with Zerachiel or Ramiel Reverse to build your field for their limit break to go off next turn.

True Revenger, Dragruler Revenant

[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:[Choose one of your rear-guards with "Revenger" in its card name, and retire it] If you have a heart card with "Revenger" in its card name, search your deck for up to one grade 1 or less card with "Revenger" in its card name, call it to (RC), shuffle your deck, that unit and this unit get [Power]+3000 until end of turn.
As the name suggests, it's best to run this card with Dragruler to create columns harder to guard while your opponent is already at 5 damage thanks to Dragruler's skill. The best way to abuse the ability is to call something with Mana, then kill it with this skill and summon either a Blaster Dark or Masquerade. A so-so card, you can run it with any Shadow Paladin Revenger deck, although it doesn't exactly generate any pluses.

Divine Flame Ultimate Regalia, Demeter

[AUTO](VC):[Counter Blast (1)] When this unit attacks a vanguard, if you have a heart card with "Regalia" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, for each of your heart cards, Soul Charge (3), choose a card from your damage zone, and turn it face up.
Simple, but great. There's several ways to use this card. You can ride Angelica then stride this, so you can use pure angel's secondary skill to draw one card and still be able to break ride next turn. Even if you soul charge triggers this way, you can soul blast it out with the break ride. You can also use this to refill your soul after using CEO Yggdrasil's skill. If your Vanguard is in Legion when you stride this, it's a instant 6 soul for you, allowing you to use Yggdrasil again next turn for more pressure.

Six Realms Stealth Dragon, Jorurirakan

[AUTO](VC):[Counter Blast (2)] When this unit attacks a vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose one of your opponent's rear-guards, bind it face up, your opponent chooses a card from his or her hand, and binds it face down. At the end of that turn, if you have a heart card with "Shura Stealth Dragon" in its card name, your opponent puts the cards bound with this effect into his or her drop zone, if you do not have, your opponent puts the cards bound with this effect into his or her hand.
This G unit works with any of the current Nubatama bosses, even the break ride, since they all have Shura Stealth Dragon in the name. You can choose a pesky rear-guard from your opponent's field, and get rid of it by the end of your turn(I'm looking at Aqua Force and Nova Grapplers). And while they are allowed to choose which card from hand to bind, it's likely they'll have to throw some shield or an important card, allowing higher chances for your attacks to get through. This is the kind of good support Nubatama's been waiting for for so long.

 Super Ancient Dragon, Parititian

[AUTO]:When this unit placed on (VC), if you have a heart card with "Ancient Dragon" in its card name, choose a rear-guard of all fighters, retire them, and increase this unit's [Power] by the sum of the original [Power] of the units retired with this effect until end of turn. Then, if the [Power] increased with this effect is 20000 or more, this unit gets [Critical]+1 until end of turn.
Translation: you and your opponent retire 1 rear-guard each, and if the total power of those 2 units is 20K or more, this unit gets +1 crit. It seems good, it's hard to get that extra critical. One will have to retire a 11K rear-guard, and the other a 9K rear-guard. Obviously your opponent wouldn't want you getting that extra crit, so he'll choose a G1 with about 7K power. The only surefire way to make sure you get that crit is in a tag match, where all 4 players will have to retire 1. In normal matches, the main purpose of this card is to force your opponent to retire their rear-guards, and you can keep yours by choosing Tyrannobite or the G1 version to retire, then revive them with their counterblast skill. This card is meant to work in a deck with Tyrannoquake and/or Tyrannolegend to keep up the pressure with high-powered attacks and easy-to-get crits.

I will continue this article with a Part 2 coming very soon :) 
For now, feel free to comment on anything below :)
Note: I don't own any of the images above. Credits to their respective owners and Bushiroad Inc.
-Megan Lee

Stride Generation~ G!!

Following the introduction of Cardfight!! Vanguard G, we have new G units, and stride.

What are G units?

G units are Grade 4 units with "Triple Drive!". They are not placed in the main deck, but in the G Zone, a zone right abobe the damage zone on the typical playmat. G units can be used for Stride, and each player can have up to 8 G units, with a maximum of 4 copies per unit. 

What is Stride?

Stride is an ability unlocked when both players' Vanguards are Grade 3 or greater. To stride, one must discard 1 or more cards with the grades totaling to 3 or more. All G units are face down in the G Zone at the start of the game. When you stride, choose a G unit and place it face up on the Vanguard circle. At the end of your turn, that unit goes back to the G Zone face up, and cannot be used for stride again. When you stride on your Vanguard, the G unit gains the name and original power value of your "heart". If your original Vanguard is in Legion, choose 1 unit to be the heart. The G unit does not gain the skills of the heart. As the term "triple drive" suggests, you get 3 drive checks when you stride. 

Generation Break

You may have noticed some new units have the symbol GB1 or GB2. These abilities are unlocked when there is the stated number of G units face up in the G Zone or on the Vanguard circle. So for example, if your grade 2 rear guard has a GB1 ability, it can be activated when you have a Striden Vanguard or when there is one face up G unit in the G Zone. 

G Assist:

G assist is a new mechanic designed to help with misgrading. You need to have at least 2 G units to use this. Here's how it works:

1)Reveal your hand to your opponent, proving you don't have a unit 1 grade higher than your Vanguard. 

2)Check the top 5 cards of your deck for a unit 1 grade higher than your Vanguard, and add it to your hand. Shuffle your deck. 

3)Choose 2 G units from your G Zone, and 2 cards from your hand, and remove them from the match. This is not bind or discard. The lost G units cannot be used to fulfil the conditions for Generation Break. 

4) Proceed to ride phase. 

If you did not add a card to your hand during step 2, skip step 3 and jump to step 4. 

The G Assist ability is very costly, hence it should only be used when truly desperate. 

Examples of G units: 

All clans: Harmonics Messiah; Heat Elemental, Magnum; Miracle Elemental, Atmos

Gear Chronicle: Interdimensional Dragon, Mystery Flare Dragon

Royal Paladin: Vague Sacred Knight, Gablade

Oracle Think Tank: Sword Deity of Divine Sound, Takemikazuchi

Nova Grappler: Meteorkaiser, Viktplasma

Kagero: Imperial Flame Dragon King, Route Flare Dragon

This is just a short list of the current known Stride units. Certain clans have new cards which combo well with the Stride mechanic to net huge advantages.
If your favorite clan does not have Stride units yet, you can use the generic clan G units to power up your current deck, or wait for Bushiroad to release G units for that clan.

Happy Cardfighting everyone~!

Signing off,
Lee Megan

SPOILER ALERT (Daigo special set)

Post Hijacked by Le Jester
Hi this is Le Jester here. Introducing my co-author for le-vanguard, AF Genovious. This is his 1st post here. Enjoy your stay over here and look out for more news from our co-authors where ya get to hear a different perspective and opinions of the game and also updates as well. Meanwhile do let me know if ya wanna be a co-author as well. At the same time join our marketplace for vanguard deals and discussion. http://www.facebook.com/groups/levanguard/

Post By AF Genovious
After a wonderful episode today, this week's episode ends with kourin having to fight daigo. When i first saw this i was like ok this is going to be good as it will give us a sneak peek of the upcoming cards in Daigo Special Set set to be released on 1 June 2013. One of the cards that has been leaked is Sanctuary Guard Dragon.

Sanctuary Guard Dragon

[CONT](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage): During your turn, this unit gets [Power]+3000 for each of your grade 1 or less «Royal Paladin» rear-guards. [AUTO]:[Choose a «Royal Paladin» from your hand, and discard it] When this unit placed on (VC), you may pay the cost. If you do, search your deck for up to one grade 1 or less «Royal Paladin», call it to (RC), and shuffle your deck. [CONT](VC/RC): Lord (If you have a unit that doesn't belong to the same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)

  + 

This unit is supposedly a Fang of Light, Garmore remake with a base of 11000 attack power, Sanctuary Guard Dragon (SGD lol singapore dollar but hey thats the initials what to do) easily triumphs over garmore in the sense that SGD get +3000 for every grade one or lesser rear guard (doesnt specify a particular name) while Fang of light Garmore only get +1000 for each SNOGAL OR BRUGAL on your rear guard. Although both have the same effect of dropping a Royal Paladin card from your hand in order to superior call a grade 1 or less rear guard, SGD is definitely a better card because you can call ANYTHING while garmore can only call snogal or brugal. Strategy wise, SGD is terrifying with the current break ride, set him up with a Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palomedes and Toypugal combo and your opponent will have a hard time to guard if they do not have a perfect guard in their hands. I am interested to see what cards are supposedly going to be released in order to make SGD even more terrifying. Stay tuned for more Cardfight Vanguard news.

BT10 review part 1

Booster Set 10: Triumphant Return of the King of Knights

Feature a new clan called Genesis which would be played and pilot by Misaki in the new season of Link Joker.

Here is the trump card used by Misaki at the moment, Battle Deity of the Moonlit Night, Artemis


[AUTO](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):[Soul Blast (3)] When this unit attacks a vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw two cards, choose a card from your hand, put it into your soul, and this unit gets [Power]+5000 until end of that battle.
[CONT](VC):If you have a card named "Twilight Hunter, Artemis" in your soul, this unit gets [Power]+1000.

As you can see it focus around manipulating its soul to gain hand advantage as it also doesn't use any counter blast.

In bt10 is also feature another counterpart of alfred, where he has liberator in his name.
Liberator of Round Table, Alfred


[CONT](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):During your turn, this unit gets [Power]+2000 for each of your rear-guards with "Liberator" in its card name.
[ACT](VC):[Counter Blast (2) - Cards with "Liberator" in their card name] Look at up to one card from the top of your deck, search for up to one «Gold Paladin» from among them, call it to an open (RC), and put the rest on the bottom of your deck.
[CONT](VC/RC): Lord (If you have a unit that doesn't belong to the same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)

Look we have another potential Bad Ass card when combo with Gancelot. Means every turn you get a 10k boost without any restraint.

Narukami has more variants and more variety to its playstyle after being revealed that there are two characters(Naoki Ishida, Kai Toshiki) that play the same clan in the anime.

Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon

[AUTO](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):When an opponent's rear-guard is put into the drop zone with one of your card's effects, this unit gets [Power]+3000/[Critical]+1 until end of turn.

[ACT](VC):[Counter Blast (2) - Cards with "Eradicator" in their card name] Your opponent chooses one of his or her rear-guards, and retires it.

[CONT](VC/RC): Lord (If you have a unit that doesn't belong to the same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)

Here is one Bad Ass when rode on Sword vowing dragon. This gives a guarantee effect of getting the critical every turn with its consistent playstyle of retiring opponent units. Love the Artwork though, Looks like one Real Bad Ass to lookout for in the upcoming meta.

Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant

[AUTO](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):[Counter Blast (1) & Choose three cards with "Eradicator" in their card name from your hand, and discard them] At the beginning of the close step of the battle that this unit's attack did not hit, you may pay the cost. If you do, [Stand] this unit, and gets [Critical]+1 until end of turn. This ability can only be used once per turn.

[ACT](VC):[Counter Blast (2) - Cards with "Eradicator" in their names] This unit gets [Power]+5000 until end of turn.

[CONT](VC/RC): Lord (If you have a unit that doesn't belong to the same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)

Looks like a potential "DOTE" eff with 3 cards to pay to activate its effect. Seems balanced after the Restriction of DOTE. Good for pressuring your opponent with trigger stacks. Effect seems to balanced out after a -3 as a cost and a +4 after drive check. Seems good enough +1. I would recommend play 6 draw, 6 crit. Another Bad Ass to look out for as well.

Pureheart Jewel Knight, Ashlei

[AUTO] Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):When a «Royal Paladin» rides this unit, you may choose one of your vanguards, that unit gets [Power]+10000/[Critical]+1 until end of turn.

[AUTO](VC):When this unit attacks a vanguard, this unit gets [Power]+2000 until end of that battle.

[CONT](VC/RC): Lord (If you have a unit that doesn't belong to the same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)

Leading Jewel Knight, Salome

[AUTO](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):When this unit attacks, if the number of other rear-guards you have with "Jewel Knight" in its card name is four or more, this unit gets [Power]+2000/[Critical]+1 until end of that battle.

[ACT](VC):[Counter Blast (2) - Cards with "Jewel Knight" in their card name] Search your deck for up to one card with "Jewel Knight" in its card name, call it to (RC), and shuffle your deck.

Seems like royal paladins are back with bitches like Jewel Knights, an archetype being played by Kourin. Dogs evolves to bitches in season 3. Salome seems to be imba when rode over Ashlei with her effect gave 10k power and +1 critical. Not to mention Salome's own effect which allow her to gain a critical every turn as long as there is 4 or more rearguards. So total would be 3 criticals. How to counter her? Retire her units and attack her rearguard.