Vanguard 101: Ride chains

Ride Chains

Vortimer-SDD ride chain (Gold Paladins)
Photo owned by James Gabriel C. Garrido. This Photo is not to be used elsewhere without the owner's permission.

Grade line-ups of a deck is a very crucial aspect in playing Vanguard.  Higher grade units are brought in lesser number compared to lower grade units in order to prevent being unable to ride to the next grade (or what is informally called as being “grade screwed” or “grade locked”). However, in set 3 (BT03-Demonic Lord Invasion) a new mechanic known as Ride chain was introduced – wherein Tsukuyomi  (OTT) and Gallahad (Royal Paladins) acted  as the pioneer ride chains.   Later sets then integrated the said mechanic and transformed the build of already existing clans.

Basically a Ride chain is series of evolutionary grade line-up which is meant to be ridden on top of the former (grade). This type of riding provides accessibility to the next grade unit of the current vanguard on the field. Essentially speaking, they secure grade-ride assurance, making sure that the player doesn’t miss a ride and prevent being grade screwed. When the grade 0 is in the soul, the grade 1’s attack is 8000. When the grade 1 is in the soul, the grade 2 becomes 10000. And when the grade 2 is in soul, the grade3 becomes 11000.

As of today (September 2013), there are currently four (4) types of Ride chains: the first, being Tsukoyomi and Gallahad in set 3; the second, the being Blasters (Shadow Paladin), Blaus (Nova Grappler), Amber Dragon (Kagero), Enigman (Dimensional Police), and Giraffa (Megacolony); the third (introduced first in EB02), Riviere (Bermuda Triangle), Vortimer-SDD (Gold Paladin), Magatsu (Murakumo), Ergodiel (Angel Feather),etc; and last, the current ride chains of japan which are Artemis (Genesis), Ripple-Genovious (Aqua Force), and Schwarzschild (Link Joker).

The first type of ride chain consisted of checking the top five (5) cards of the deck for the next unit in the chain and if it is there, it is superior ridden. Additionally, they lose 2000 power if not all of the parts of the ride chain is found in the soul. This -2000 was such a pain for it isn’t really guaranteed that much of getting the next unit for the chain.

The second type was released in set 4 and consisted of having to draw the grade 1 unit in the chain and riding it on top of the grade 0 to search for the grade 2 unit of the chain. The grade 1 (when placed in Rear guard) can then search for the grade 3 of the chain by simply discarding a grade 3 from the hand.  This offered a more secure ride opportunity for players albeit was still inconsistent in the sense that the player relied to much on the grade 1 ride.

The third type  (and the more famous type of ride chain amongst current ride chains i.m.o), which was released first in EB02 has the grade 0 search for either the grade 3 or grade 2 unit of the chain (by checking the top 7 cards of the deck) when the grade 1 unit is ridden on top of it. Despite the increase in the number of cards checked on top, this was still too hard pull off for the player had to have the grade 1 and either the grade 2 or grade 3 unit of the chain in his/her hand, so that the player will just only be looking for the third and last piece of the ride chain when the seven (7) top cards are checked. This was the fastest build though.

The last type of ride chain is more or less similar to the third type (which was introduced in set 10). What it differs in, is that when you miss to ride your grade 2 (or when you ride a grade 2 unit other than that of your chain), you have the chance to check again the top seven (7) cards of your deck and if the grade 2 unit of the chain is there, superior ride it. This was the most aggressive type of ride chain to have ever existed. This ensured the players that their grade 3 vanguards would be 11k.

The problem with ride chains though is that you will (more or less) rely on this skill. This then becomes a major weakness to you and it becomes your only way to win games. That when you don’t successfully accomplish your ride chain, your vanguard becomes a sitting duck. On a personal preference, I would highly advise no to go with this. Non-ride chain decks are more versatile and more flexible in nature, not a one-trick pony like most ride chain decks are. 

-kamiprince39-