The dragons in the year of the dragon

Previously I talked about the new clan in Twin Sword Awakening - Neo Nectar and their ability to rush with violent blows. Today, I will talk about one of the top tier similar to Neo Nectar, with violent blows and fast rush, and also the ability to destroy units on opponent field. This is the special trait of the clan - Kagero.


What is Kagero?
The Kagerō are a clan from the Dragon Empire nation. They focus on retiring your opponent's Rear Guards, and gaining benefits from doing so. For example, Demonic Dragon Berserker, Yaksha Superior Rides from your hand when one of your opponent's Rear Guards are retired, and Blazing Flare Dragon and Relentless Sutherland increase their own power when one of your opponent's Rear Guards are retired.

Their boss card was Dragonic Overlord


What boosts did they gain?
Dragonic Overlord the End (DOTE) is now their new boss card and they also get a new grade 2 which is Burning Horn Dragon and lastly, Flames of Promise, Aermo, a very special grade 1 support.

So now let us take a quick tour on how devastating DOTE is


Dragonic Overlord The End
CONT 【V/R】: If have a non-«Kagero» Vanguard or rear-guard, this unit gets Power -2000.
CONT 【V】: If you have a "Dragonic Overlord" in your soul, this unit gets Power +2000.
AUTO 【V】: [Counter Blast (2) & Choose a "Dragonic Overlord The End" from your hand, and discard it.] When this unit's attack hits, you may pay the cost. If you do, stand this unit.

After reading you might think that it's just an ordinary beatstick, it true that it is a beatstick, without a "Dragonic Overlord" in the soul it's still an 11k unit, of course with it in soul it'd be a bonus. It is a beatstick but it's not ordinary, now let's look at the last effect, if it hits and you pay the cost, you can stand it again. Looks ordinary on paper effect right? But now let us do some math calculation.

When The End attack hits
Original Attack Twin Drive (+2)
Discard 1 The End for effect (-1)
Stand and Twin Drive (+2)
Total card earned +2 -1 +2 = +3
You earned 3 cards this turn.
*Note that without counting triggers you've already generate a big advantage.

So after looking at the calculation, naturally it will be a must to block, so lets do the math again
Assuming Overlord The End is supported by a support with at least 6k,

Original Attack Twin Drive 17k attack power(+2)
base 10k/11k for your vanguard you will need to throw :

10k for minimum block(-1/-2 < 2 5k guard >)
This would be gambling as 1 trigger will let it passed
If 1 trigger appear, you will be (-1 or -2)
and opponent (+3)
or

15k for a risk 2 triggers (-2/3 < 3 5k >)
Of course if your opponent get 2 triggers and both pumped onto The End, you will be (-2/3)

or

20k or Negator to fully block the whole attack (-2/3/4)
You will lose 2 to 4 cards
while your opponent get a +2 only

Blocking it is a must, but using how much to block is up to your choice whether you want to take the risk. So now, after talking so much of the main effect, let us talk about the secondary effect, the 2k boost.

Unlike Shadow Paladin which have Nightmare Painter to help them put Phantom Blaster Dragon into Phantom Blaster Overlord's soul, Kagero have only 1 card to help them.


Flame-edge Dragon
Auto【V/R】: When this Unit's attack hits, and you have a «Kagerō» Vanguard, you may Soulcharge(1).

Recently in the Japan tournament, this card is use very often because of the soul charge ability. This card can help soulcharge an Overlord into soul by random chance.

Is this the sole purpose?
Like I say earlier on, having the 2k boost is a bonus, it's not a MUST to really have it. So what other thing this card can combo with?

This!:

Flame of Promises, Aermo
AUTO 【R】: [Soul Blast (1)] When this unit boosts a card named "Overlord", you may pay the cost. If you do, the boosted unit gets Power +6000 until end of that battle.

By combo-ing with Aermo you'll have a 21k Overlord the End every turn. Also, on the calculation part, we talked about how many cards needed to block right? That's for anything ranging from 15k-19k but now if the Overlord reaches 21k and its every turn, you would have to throw extras thus losing card advantage.

There are a lot of times I've seen in tournament that people took the damage from Overlord the End, of course you can gamble by not blocking, but if your opponent really have it, then you'll hardly catch up with the advantage.

I hope readers get something valuable out of this. People who does not play Kagero will know what and how to guard. And people who plays Kagero will get inspired.

The next post I will talk about Oracle Think Tank, although this set did not boost much for the deck, but this decks win rate is on par with the current Kagero and Royal Paladin. I will explain why this is so. But now, time to FINAL TURN! See ya!

The forests are alive!

The release of Twin sword Awakening boosted the power of Royal Paladin, Shadow Paladin and Kagero. Also, releasing new race such as Murakumo and Neo Nectar. Of course Royal Paladin and Kagero had been winning in equal amount of win rates, but the new race Neo Nectar is winning at a fast rate too.

So here's the results:
双剣覚醒発売記念大会　1位/ネオネクタール
Twin Sword Awakening Release Memorial Tournament 1st/Neo Nectar

デュエルガルド 2号店大会（2012/1/21）　1位/ネオネクタール
デュエルガルド 2号店大会（2012/1/21）　2位/ネオネクタール
デュエルガルド 2号店大会（2012/1/21）　3位/ネオネクタール
Duelgard 2nd Shop Tournament (2012/1/21) 1st/Neo Nectar
Duelgard 2nd Shop Tournament (2012/1/21) 2nd/Neo Nectar
Duelgard 2nd Shop Tournament (2012/1/21) 3rd/Neo Nectar
All in the same tournament and the 4th placing is a Kagero

What is Neo Nectar? Where are they from?
Neo Nectar is a clan from the Zoo nation.
Apparently they are a clan of Mechanical Plants or Warriors Plants, mythological beings such as dryads and elves and various forms of flora and fauna. According to their lore, Neo Nectar generates the largest share of all produce, as well as grains, among the six major nations.

From their flavor text they are able to control those countries that are in famine because of their harvest. And if the other clan tries to invade, there are strong guardians such as the Bioroids to eliminate them.

So now, let me introduce this clan:

Their first vanguard

Shield Seed Squire
AUTO: When another «Neo Nectar» rides this unit, you may call this card to Rear-guard Circle.AUTO 【R】: [Put this unit on top of your deck] When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, if you have a «Neo Nectar» vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, search your deck for up to one card named "Blade Seed Squire", call it to Rear-guard Circle in Rest, and shuffle your deck.Their grade 1s

Blade Seed Squire
AUTO 【R】: [Put this unit on top of your deck] When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, if you have a «Neo Nectar» vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, search your deck for up to one card named "Knight of Young Leaves, Gene", call it to Rear-guard Circle in Rest, and shuffle your deck.

Caramel Popcorn
ACT 【V/R】: [Counter Blast (1)] This unit gets Power +1000 until end of turn.

Lady of Kamorebi
ACT 【V/R】: [Rest this unit & Choose a card from your hand, and discard it] Draw a card.

Corolla Dragon (Their generic 8k)

Maiden of the Blossom Rain
AUTO: [Choose a «Neo Nectar» from your hand, and discard it] When this unit is placed on Guardian Circle, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose one of your «Neo Nectar», and that unit cannot be hit until end of that battle.

Their notable grade 2s:

Glass Beads Dragon
AUTO 【V/R】: [Counter Blast (2)] When this unit's attack hits, if you have a «Neo Nectar» vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw a card.

Iris Knight (Generic 10k)

Knight of Young Leaves, Gene
AUTO 【R】: [Put this unit on top of your deck] When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, if you have a «Neo Nectar» vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, search your deck for up to one card named "Knight of Harvest, Gene", call it to Rear-guard Circle in Rest, and shuffle your deck.

Sky Covering Wings, Simorgh (Especial Intercept Unit)
AUTO: When this unit Intercepts, if you have a «Neo Nectar» vanguard, this unit gets Shield +5000 until end of that battle.

Sage of Holywood, Irminsul
AUTO: When this Unit appears in the Vanguard or Rearguard-Circle, reveal the card on top of your deck. If that card is a Grade 1 or Grade 2 «Neo Nectar, call that card to a Rearguard-Circle. If not, shuffle your deck.

And Lastly, their grade 3:

Embodiment of Earth, Behemoth
AUTO 【V】: [Counter Blast (2)] When this unit's attack hits a Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose one of your «Neo Nectar» rear-guards, and Stand it.

AUTO 【R】: [Counter Blast (2)] When this unit's attack hits a Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose one of your grade 1 or less «Neo Nectar» rear-guards, and Stand it.

Forerunner Battle Maiden, Laurel
AUTO 【V/R】: When this unit attacks a Vanguard, if you have a «Neo Nectar» Vanguard, this unit gets Power +2000 until end of that battle.

Knight of Harvest, Gene
AUTO [R]: [Put this unit on the top of your deck] When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, if you have a «Neo Nectar» vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, search your deck for up to two cards named "Knight of Young Leaves, Gene", call them to different Rear-guard Circle in Rest, and shuffle your deck.

Maiden of the Trailing Rose (Boss)
CONT 【V/R】: If you have a non «Neo Nectar» in your Vanguard Circle or Rear-guard Circle, this unit gets Power -2000.

AUTO 【V】: [Counter Blast (1) & Choose a "Maiden of Trailing Rose" from your hand, and discard it.] When this unit's attack hits the Vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, look at the top five cards of your deck, choose up to two «Neo Nectar» among them, call them to separate Rear-guard Circle, and shuffle your deck.
As you can see from the effects of trailing rose, it lets you generate advantage by:
1. Filtering your deck
2. Calling out a new rear guard to attack


So how to build a Neo Nectar deck?

Neo Nectar is being divided into 2 builds currently, 1 is Gene Build and 1 is Forerunner Build. The deck builds like a Kagero deck, having 15 Grade 1s, 10-11 Grade 2s and 7-8 Grade 3s depending on how many Grade 2/3 you put. The purpose of having so much Grade 1 is because like Kagero, you will want to rush as early as possible as they have the best G1s with acceptable attack power. And also in Neo Nectar, you must let your Shield Seed Squire to hit in, the reason is quite obvious but I will leave it at the bottom of the post to explain.

Gene Build?
Gene build focuses on Knight of Harvests hit and run effect. Utilising Stand triggers and Behemoth effect. Its a rush deck but having a G2 becoming G3 in late game is a useless thing because you will lose 1 card to intercept. Also, your gene would not be able to hit in anything because naturally your opponent will guard everything at its cost and even if you hit and turned from G3 to G2, your rearguards boost might not be enough to boost a 9k rearguard to maximum attack. The good part of it is that by using Gene and Trailing Rose, your opponent would need to think which to eat unless he/she wants to block everything which will leave himself/herself in a huge hand disadvantage. The 3rd place of the Duelgard tournament used this build.

What about Forerunner Build?
Forerunner build as you can see, were build to hit in with violent attacks, with Forerunner attacking vanguard boosting with a 8k rearguard, it will turn into a 20k rearguard or vanguard due to its effect and even with Stand trigger, Forerunner will be in 17k attacking vanguard which is just nice the barrier for Majesty Lord Blaster. In this deck, Glass Beads hold the most important position as a g2 rear guard, due to the lack of units that can counterblast in this deck and the draw power. The good point of this is that your even if your trailing rose fail to hit in, people will still need to handle the forerunners at rearguard. Not much bad point about this build, just that your damage would be almost all face-up but this problem occurs in this clan, not the build itself. The 2nd place of the Duelgard tournament and the 1st place of the Memorial tournament used this build.

Hybrid?
Yes you can make the deck into Hybrid mixing Gene and Forerunner, the first place of the Duelgard tournament used a hybrid build which absenting the Knight of Harvest, Gene and focus on Forerunner and Trailing Rose as the grade 3 only. This build consists the essence of the Rush ability and the Violent factor of both build. There's nothing bad about this build just that you would have to find space to squeeze in at least 2 Knight of Young Leaves, Gene. But I'm sure there is always a place for it.

Why must my Shield Seed Squire hit in?
When Shield Seed Squire hits in, you will fetch out a Blade Seed Squire as a rearguard, of course everyone would want to have their rearguards to attack at their fullest potential, so doing this is right but not a must. But you have to notice that Shield Seed Squire is a 10k Guard, so rather having a 5k guard in deck, you'll rather a 10k guard drawn isn't it? An extra 5k shield would of course help alot in the late games.So that's all for the Neo Nectar lesson, next up I'll talk about Kagero, this meta changed the deck quite alot and is interesting to look at the deck evolving. Time to FINAL TURN! See ya!

Hi! Ppl!

Hi! This is a blog solely for Bushiroad card games, but mostly it will be about Cardfight Vanguard! So stay tune!