Cardfight!! Vanguard's Winners and Losers of 2013

In life there are winners and losers! Look at the Dallas Cowboys. They know what it is like to be a loser every year! Let's look at Cardfight!! Vanguard's winners and losers of 2013! 

Winners!

Link Joker!

Link Joker has emerged as the top clan in the game. Its' lock ability greatly cripples opposites. Link Joker's superstar Star-vader Chaos Breaker Dragon is one of the most powerful cards in the game. He is truly a game breaker!

Toshiki Kai

Kai is now the strongest fighter! He has the strongest clan Link Joker to crush his weak opponents! His character received major development. Kai was against using special powers, but now he is living through the experience of having a special power.

Gold Paladin

Salvation Lion, Grand Ezel Scissors is one of the strongest cards in the game. He's the man! Not even Link Joker can put him down!

Ren Suzugamori

Ren is a big winner this year! His high school won the high school card fighting tournament! More importantly, Ren had a special arc just for him! It was very refreshing to have someone different in the spotlight! 

Losers

The English Anime Dub

Where do I start? The actors, directing, and writing are awful. Why are all of the cool chats removed from the English version? Instead we receive boring chats and speeches from characters. The English translation is a complete fail. 

  

Royal Paladin

Shocking isn't it? Royal Paladins have the weakest break ride unit Pure Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei. Her skill is a joke. It screams perfect guard. The Royal Paladins deserve a new break ride unit with more abilities.

Asaka Narumi

Asaka fought so hard for Ren's love to only get put in the friend's zone. Sorry! The game of love is a tricky game. Some of us are winners with the heart. While others like us are not so lucky with love. 

Oracle Think Tank

What happen here? Oracle Think Tank did not receive any support from Season 3. The anime doesn't have an Oracle Think Tank player since Misaki Tokrua switched to Genesis. They're not the biggest losers this year. Oracle Think Tank did receive new support from the manga in an extra booster set.

Biggest Loser

Megacolony

This one was very obvious. Megacolony is the black sheep in Cardfight!! Vanguard. It is the laughingstock on Cray. Megacolony has not received any support this year. The clan doesn't have a Break Ride unit. That's not the worst of it! Link Joker replaced Megacolony.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas card fighters and duelist! I hope everyone will have a fun and happy holidays! Hopefully we have plenty of booster boxes and decks under the tree! It's not time to duel because I'm taking the week off for the holidays! See ya next week!

Unit of The Week: Ambush Dragon Eradicator, Linchu

A fool will mistake a little dragon for a lizard.

[AUTO]: Forerunner (When a unit of the same clan rides this unit, you may call this unit to (RC))
[AUTO](RC):[Counter Blast (1) & Put this unit into your soul] When an attack hits a vanguard during the battle that this unit boosted a unit with "Eradicator" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose one of your opponent's grade 1 or less rear-guards, and retire it.

The Eradicators are here! Their starter, Ambush Dragon Eradicator, Linchu is running wild on the battlefield to crush the weak links! Grade 0 and Grade 1 units run in fear because their end is near!

Linchu's best asset his ability to retire opponent's starting vanguards and skillful grade 1 units. His only purpose is to cause dysfunction. He can limit or slowdown decks. He stops many good starters such as Lizard Soldier, Conroe and Wingal Brave. Strong grade 1 units will bite the dust.

In closing, Ambush Dragon Eradicator, Linchu is a fine starter for Eradicators. His retiring ability stays true to the Eradicator's theme. Use this little guy to stop your opponent from using their starter's and grade 1 units' strong skills.

Card Rating: 3 out of 5

Card Discussion: Endymion, the Master Magician

[Spellcaster/Effect]
You can Special Summon this card (from your hand or Graveyard) by removing 6 Spell Counters from a "Magical Citadel of Endymion" you control. When you do: Target 1 Spell Card in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand. Once per turn: You can discard 1 Spell Card, then target 1 card on the field; destroy that target.

Endymion, The Master Magician is one of the most destructive Spellcasters in Yu-Gi-Oh! He has a very respectable 2,700 attack points and 1,700 defense points. This power magician is easy to special summon thanks to Magical Citadel of Endymion and Temperance of Prophecy.

Endymion, The Master Magician's effect can be used once per turn to destroy any card on the field. This skill is well balanced and very good in a Spellcaster deck. However, the effect has an important cost and that is the player must discard one spell card to activate the effect. This isn't a big problem because he should have plenty of fuel for the effect's cost because Spellcaster decks are filled with Spell cards. A player can discard a dead card to destroy any card of his or her choice. Nothing is safe from Endymion! Monsters, Spells, and Traps will fall to his mighty wand!

Furthermore, Endymion, The Master Magician is an interesting monster in Spellbook and Prophecy decks. He is easily summoned directly from the deck with Temperance of Prophecy's effect. Endymion and High Priestess of Prophecy are a very chaotic duo with double the destructive power! His effect's discard cost is not a problem because Spellbook of the Master can copy of the effect of a normal Spellbook Spell card in the graveyard!

Endymion, The Master Magician's and High Priestess of Prophecy's Tag Team Combo!
Requirements: Endymion, The Master Magician and High Priestess of Prophecy on the field.  You'll also need Spellbook of Power and Spellbook of the Master in the hand.

Step 1: Activate Endymion's effect by discarding the Spellbook of Power. Now you can destroy one card on the field!
Step 2: Activate Spellbook of the Master to copy Spellbook of Power's effect and give the effect to either Spellcaster.
Step 3: Activate High Priestess of Prophecy's effect by banishing the Spellbook of Power and then destroy one card on the field!
Step 4: Destroy a monster on the field with the Spellcaster who has Spellbook of Power's effect to draw a Spellbook Spell card from the deck. This step is optional if your opponent doesn't have a monster on the field.

In closing, Endymion, The Master Magician is a bad man. He is very underrated in today's game. Endymion shouldn't be a bench warmer. Endymion should be in the starting lineup for tonight's match! He has very good attack points at 2,700. His effect can be very devastating especially when combined with the High Priestess of Prophecy.

Card Rating: 4 out of 5

News: TD:10 Purgatory Revenger and TD:11 Star-vader Invasion English Release Dates!

Breaking News! Bushiroad has officially announced the release dates for TD:10 Purgatory Revenger and TD:11 Star-vader Invasion! The Shadow Paladins make their return from darkness in Purgatory Revenger. Link Joker makes its debut in Star-vader Invasion. The lock-down will begin! Both trial decks will be released on February 7th, 2014!

Sources:
CF-Vanguard.com

Unit of The Week: Leading Jewel Knight, Salome

Come forth, my comrades! Praying Flash! 

[AUTO](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):When this unit attacks, if the number of 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)-card with "Jewel Knight" in its 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.

The Jewel Knights are the proud warriors from the Royal Paladin clan. They've become the new leaders of the Royal Paladins since King Alfred assigned himself along with many former Royal Paladins to the Gold Paladin clan. Salome was appointed to be the new light in the Royal Paladin clan!

Feel the Jewel Knights' leader's limit break! Well, let's slowdown. Salome's limit break alone isn't a big threat. However, her limit break can become problematic when she break rides above Pure of Heart Jewel Knight Ashlei! Salome will have 22,000 power and 2 critical during the break ride turn. Everyone's favorite dog Toypugal can give an additional 9,000 power boost to make her total power 31,000! Now she is more of a threat and forces an opponent to use a perfect guard.

Furthermore, her second skill helps her achieve her limit break. She can superior call one Jewel Knight unit to the rear guard. Any Jewel Knight can be superior call regardless of the unit's grade. A player can either go for a strong attacker or a very good booster.

Unfortunately, her skills only work with Jewel Knights especially a in a deck build around herself. A player can't splash her into any deck. She needs Jewel Knights or she will be very useless. This is pretty sad seeing that she is a Royal Paladin and their theme is social solidarity. This can be very contradicting.

In conclusion, the Jewel Knight's leader Salome needs a deck built around her. She works well with her comrades. She continues the Royal Paladins' social solidarity team with her limit break skill by gaining power and critical damage when battling aside her fellow Jewel Knights.

Card Rating: 3 out of 5

The Top 5 Amazon Stores For You Card Gaming Needs!

Everyone is gearing up for the holidays! My fellow duelist and card fighters will spend their holiday cash on new cards. It's fun to shop online. However, some online vendors are unprofessional. This leads to some players not buying cards online. It's very understandable because some owners are not professional and will take advantage of buyers.

Amazon is one of the best online stores to shop at online. You as a consumer are protected by Amazon's policies and standards. They will prevent shady stores from taking advantage of customers. You will receive a full refund if your vendor makes a mistake or simply fails to send the product. Amazon will take good care of you. Thankfully these situations are very rare.

This is my list of the Top 5 Amazon stores to buy from. I am only recommending stores that I have purchased cards from and stores that provided great service. Check out all of these great stores for your gaming needs.

1. Card Rush

Card Rush is one of the second best card game store on Amazon. Card Rush sells Cardfight!! Vanguard and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. There is something for everyone. Their prices are higher than some stores at Amazon. However, they offer a high quality product. They offer cards in perfect mint condition. I am willing to pay a few extra bucks knowing that I am going to get a card in good condition. The shipping is FREE! If it's free then it's me!Their shipping is also super-fast! I received my last order in three days.

2. HotSauceGames

Another good store to buy cards from on Amaon is HotSauceGames. Their standard shipping rate is very low at .25 cents. That's a really good deal. I've purchased cards from on multiple occasions. I recently purchased an Effect Veiler from them and came in perfect condition.

3. Real_Goodeal

Real Goodeal is also an honest store to buy cards from. They also offer free shipping! If you're looking for Cardfight!! Vanguard and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards then you can get a real good deal from Real_Goodeal!

4. Core TCG

Core TCG is another great store. I've ordered Cardfight!! Vanguard cards from them and the cards were in brand new condition. Be sure to look at their store!

5. Super Games Inc.

Check out Super Games Inc. They sell high quality cards for your gaming needs. I recently ordered a Stardust Dragon from Super Games Inc., and it arrived in very good condition. You couldn't ask for a better card at a good price.

YouTube Channel Update

I haven't shot any videos for the YouTube channel in a few months. Don't worry! I will be shooting new videos very soon. My best friend and cameraman will be in town for Christmas. He's got some new fancy new equipment to play with! The new videos will have much better quality. The older videos were filmed with his Iphone5. I'm now stepping up my game!

Sadly, the channel is lacking Cardfight!! Vanguard videos. Four videos aren't nearly enough videos. I want players to find plenty of content on my channel. There will be a few upcoming openings. Unfortunately, my decks are not complete so I'm unable to shoot any Cardfight!! Vanguard deck profiles.

Be on the lookout for my upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! videos. I will have new opening videos in the next few months. Most of the openings will be booster packs, starter decks, and structure decks. I might shoot a few videos featuring tins. It took me many months to finally complete my Supreme Spellcaster deck and now I am going to shoot a deck profile video!

I am also expanding into classic card games and trading cards that I enjoyed while growing up. MegaMan is one of my favorite hobbies. Be on the lookout for Dragon Ball Z, MegaMan NT Warrior Trading Card Game, The Walking Dead, and Power Rangers Action Card Game openings!

This is a list of my next wave of videos! I don't have a time table for each release. However, there will be a few new videos this month.

Cardfight!! Vanguard

The Awesome Awakening of Twin Blades Booster Pack Opening!
The Awesome Cardfight Vanguard Liberator of the Sanctuary Trial Deck Opening!

Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Awesome Star Pack 2013 Booster Pack Opening!
The Awesome Starter Deck: Yugi Reloaded Opening!
Supreme Spellcasters Deck Profile

Various Card Games

The Awesome MegaMan NT Warrior: MegaMan Starter Deck Opening!
The Awesome Dragonball Z Trading Card Game Saiyan Saga Villain Starter Deck Opening!
The Awesome Power Rangers Universe of Hope Starter Deck Opening!

I always want to hear your impute. What type of videos do you want me to film in the future? Do you want more deck profiles, openings, or discussions? If you would like to see me shoot a particular video then make a request in the comment section!

Don't forget to subscribe to Awesome Card Games's YouTube channel for AWESOME Cardfight!! Vanguard and Yu-Gi-Oh! videos! Be sure to also like the Awesome Card Games's Facebook page!

News: Starter Deck Kaiba Reloaded and Starter Deck Yugi Reloaded Deck Lists

Starter Deck Kaiba Reloaded and Starer Deck Yugi Reloaded hit shelves today! New players and old players can go back in time where it all started! Kaiba and Yugi are back with their famous cast of monsters! Check out their deck lists below!

Starter Deck: Kaiba Reloaded 

Blue-Eyes White Dragon (x 2)
Aqua Madoor
La Jinn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp
Battle Ox
Opticlops
The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave
Luster Dragon
X-Head Cannon
Mad Dog of Darkness
Vorse Raider
Alexandrite Dragon
Wattaildragon
Twin-Headed Behemoth
Yomi Ship
Des Feral Imp
Kaiser Sea Horse (x 2)
Chaos Necromancer
Blade Knight
Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4
Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6
Cybernetic Cyclopean
Puppet Plant
 Des Mosquito
Tiger Dragon
Vanguard of the Dragon
Divine Dragon Apocralyph
Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon
Dark Hole
Soul Exchange
Tribute to the Doomed
Rush Recklessly
Mystical Space Typhoon
Offerings to the Doomed
Stamping Destruction
Enemy Controller Y 
Burst Stream of Destruction
Shrink
Shield Crush
Silent Doom
Dragonic Tactics
Shard of Greed
Trap Hole
Sakuretsu Armor
Shadow Spell
Widespread Ruin
Threatening Roar
Birthright
Damage Gate

Starter Deck:Yugi Reloaded

Dark Magician (x 2)
Mystical Elf
Giant Soldier of Stone
Summoned Skull
Neo the Magical Swordsman
Gemini Elf
Dark Blade Kuriboh
Buster Blader
4-Starred Ladybug of Doom
Dark Magician Girl
Skilled White Magician (x 2)
Skilled Dark Magician (x 2)
Old Vindictive Magician
Breaker the Magical Warrior
Double Coston
Silent Swordsman LV3 (x 2)
Silent Swordsman LV5
Green Gadget
Red Gadget
Yellow Gadget
Electric Virus
Magician’s Valkyria
The Tricky
Dark Hole
Swords of Revealing Light
Black Pendant
Mystical Space Typhoon
Mage Power
Book of Moon
Thousand Knives
Dark Magic Attack
Magical Dimension
Ancient Rules
Magicians Unite
Soul Taker
Shard of Greed
Trap Hole
Waboku
Mirror Force
Spellbinding Circle
Call of the Haunted
Magic Cylinder
Miracle Restoring
Zero Gravity
Rising Energy

Unit of The Week: Salvation Lion, Grand Ezel Scissors

Release, King of Beasts! Salvation Roar! 

[ACT](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):[Counter Blast (2) & Soul Blast (2)] Unlock all of your locked cards, and if you have five «Gold Paladin» rear-guards, this unit gets [Power]+10000/[Critical]+1 until end of turn, and at the end of that turn, Soul Charge (1), choose a card from your damage zone, and turn it face up. 

[CONT](VC):During your turn, this unit gets [Power]+1000 for each of your «Gold Paladin» rear-guards. 

[CONT](VC/RC): Lord (If you have a unit without a same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)

Blond Ezel is back and better than ever! The planet Cray is in desperate need for help! The darkness is overcoming the light! Cray's mighty warriors are being REVERSED by the wicked Void. Don't let the Void conquer Cray and Earth. Fight alongside the true vanguard Blaster Blade and defeat the Void!

Salvation Lion, Grand Ezel Scissors is a great card against Link Joker decks. He completely shuts down Star-Vader, Chaos Breaker Dragon. Grand Ezel's limit break unlocks every locked unit. Every unlocked unit is now able to attack. This puts more pressure than normal against Link Joker. Star-Vader, Chaos Breaker Dragon is unable to take advantage of his second skill.

Most importantly, his limit break also grants him 10,000 power and an additional critical. Wow! Talk about punishing Link Joker players. Grand Ezel's limit break is a huge power increase. Grand Ezel can continue using this skill every turn because he can soul charge one card and turn up one card from the damage zone.

Is Salvation Lion, Grand Ezel Scissors broken? He has the cheapest cost for 10,000 power and an additional critical. He gains 15,000 power which includes the 1,000 power from each rear guard. Let's take a look at a card who gains a high amount of power. Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred gains 10,000 power from his limit break, and he is clearly stoppable. However, Alfred doesn't gain the additional critical damage. This puts Grand Ezel on another level.

In conclusion, Salvation Lion, Brand Ezel is the best unit to counter Link Joker decks. No other unit is in that discussion. Ezel unlocks units and gain enormous power. He can also turn damage face up and soul charge cards to continue to use his powerful limit break. The jokes on you Link Joker! Do you think Salvation Lion, Grand Ezel is a balanced or broken card? Post your comments below!

Card Rating: 5 out of 5

Card Fighter Spotlight: Aichi Sendou Part 1-A Card Fighter's Journey

I've been dying to write about this young man for a long time. The time has come to put Aichi Sendou into the spotlight! Part 1 focuses on the beginning of Aichi's journey. Aichi was a very sloppy and bad player. He was determined to improve his skills for he will be able to challenge Kai to a real fight. Everyone starts at that same point. New card fighters will learn how to become better players by playing Cardfight!! Vanguard.

Aichi was a beginner at the start of the series. He made a Royal Paladin deck to play against Kai, and never played against anyone. Kai taught him the basic rules. Aichi jumps right in with basic plays just like any beginner would for the very first time.

Surprisingly, Aichi didn't know what a grade 3 unit is. His Royal Paladin deck didn't have a grade 3 unit until episode 5. This is shocking because he played against Kai who uses Dragonic Overlord. Furthermore, he built a deck. How did he get his cards? Did he buy a defective trial deck that was missing a grade 3 or did he buy a lot of booster packs?

In addition, Aichi's deck had major issues. His card lineup was all over the place. Aichi's deck's heart and soul was Blaster Blade. He is regularly refers to Blaster Blade as his "avatar". King of Knights, Alfred and Soul Savior Dragon became Aichi's ace grade 3 bosses. He relied on them in many of his matches. However, he only has one copy of each card. If he didn't draw the cards then he would be in a very bad situation.

Furthermore, Aichi had a problem guarding too early in the game. Aichi was very drunk on guarding. He tried to guard nearly every attack in his first few games. This often led to him lacking enough cards to guard with in the late game. He ran out of cards during his first match against Misaki. "The Great One" Kamui mentions Aichi's misplays in their very first match. Kamui said Aichi didn't need to guard against the early attacks. His defending was totally unnecessary. It cost him the game because he didn't have enough cards to guard with in the late game.

Finally, Aichi's biggest weakness was his lack of knowledge. He didn't know opposing clan's abilities and strategies. He wasn't able to counter his opponent's game plans. Everything came as a surprise to him. This confused and flustered him as he responded with many misplays.

In conclusion, Aichi was having a very hard time at the start. He was just learning the ropes. A weak card fighter will have his ups and downs. Becoming a great card fighter is a long process that requires plenty of practice. Aichi is on his way to becoming the world's strongest card fighter. Be sure to turn in for Part 2 when I discuss Aichi's development in the second half of season 1!