Deck Check: Gold Paladins - Spectral Duke Dragon

Deck Check: Gold Paladins - Spectral Duke Dragon

Spectral Duke Dragon was one of those units which defined a generation. It was the unit which most likely represented the Gold Paladin clan in a more competitive perspective (albeit being already very and sufficiently supported thus a more reliable clan to bring for tournaments because of its diversity). This was also the build which Brandon Smith (together with his buddy Bastianelli) ran with during last year's (2012) World Championships which he successfully won the title of. Until today, Duke will forever be remembered as one of those cards which dominated the meta and pioneered in the perk self-standing; a card that can never be forgotten. So in honor of this legendary card, I decided to make a deck check of it, and without further a do, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewgEzrShTuk

With the release of TD08 Liberator of the Sanctuary, this deck gets a superb support from the breakride. With Duke going for 20k+ when it restands, it sure is going to decimate an opponent. While Duke was already dangerous back then, it now has become more detrimental and destructive, making its cost very efficient and worthwhile (forcing the opponent to use 1-2 perfect guards). This deck may have a chance at the spotlight again and ultimately add another glorious victory to Gold Paladins.

-kamiPrince39-

A.V.D.: Clash of the Paladins - Shadow against Gold

Advanced Vanguard Discussion: Clash of the Paladins - Shadow against Gold

In the land of cray, there existed a clan of noble and loyal knights called the Royal Paladins

They swore to protect their land with honor and fortitude and to lead all  the

other clans of Cray to progress. However, a number of these paladins deliberately committed treason and denied "the will of the blade" and sought power for their own. Exiled, they came to be known 

as the Shadow Paladins who embodied supreme prowess and avarice. This conflict escalated

to a full-scale war which eventually came to a compromise and gave birth to the all new

 Gold Paladins.

Among the three aforementioned clans (Royal, Gold, and Shadow), Royal Paladins proved to have been the best clan among the three. However,last November 2012, Bushiroad hit Majesty Lord Blaster (MLB,the best card of the clan) on their official ban list semi-limiting MLB to only two (2) copies per deck. This devastated the status of the clan in the professional scene in the meta which eventually lead to its demise. The throne was then open for the two left paladin decks for them to seize it and prove who reigned supreme and more dominant against the other. Either of which, both proved to be of equal rivals to the other as both decks are very much played by the majority.

Both clans are very offensive in nature bringing with them more than four critical triggers in their trigger line-up - albeit Gold paladins were more aggressive with their twelve (12) criticals in contrast to the Shadow paladins' standard eight criticals. This was due to the insufficiency of support cards printed for the Shadow Paladins, despite the fact that they have their crossride support whereas Golds didn't (yet Golds had more support than they could ever need of). This caused shadow paladins to become more passive in their pace,focusing to succeed in their crossride and focus their power in their center baseline or on their vanguard unit. Gold paladins though didn't play like this. Usually, Gold paladins would spam 3-4 units on the field during turn 2 or 3 of the game and just abuse their resources to an all-out assault.

This kind of play-style might have instigated player Brandon Smith to pick this as his choice of weapon to play in the World Championships - and he was very right about it. During the finals match of last year's World Championships, both players played gold paladins. The two players onlydiffered in the build that they were using. Smith used Spectral Duke Dragon (SDD) while Suharto used the Pellinore build. Smith won and further established the authority of Gold paladins as the more dominant paladin clan. 

Despite the fact that Gold paladins won last year's World championships, one can never take away the bulk and power that the crossride of Shadow paladins brings: Phantom Blaster Overlord with its gigantic attack of 13,000. This massive attack power provided a stalling mechanism to the pace of Shadow Paladins. This was the asset that Shadows had and Golds lacked. Unfortunately, this "was" the case until set 9 came and gave Gold paladins their very own crossride unit.This fully engraved the place of Gold paladins as the "dominant paladin clan" of the meta and has proved its superiority over the Shadow Paladins.

-KamiPrince39-

Cardfight!! Vanguard:Brace yourselves, World Championships is coming

How is everyone doing? I hope all is well for all of you guys with regards to your Vanguard experience. Some might still be getting used to the game and I hope that each and everyone of you enjoy every moment of your learning experience (don't mind the bitter losers and the douchebag players that any of you might have played against along the way). Because that's the best part about this game; you keep on learning new things and in the process, you become stronger and better.

Anyway, Nationals for the Worldwide Qualifiers have officially begun just two (2) weeks ago with Toronto starting things off. Beast Deities (Nova Grapplers) grabbed the first victory for the Nationals, an impressive victory to the clan being that the clan itself is underhanded and that no one ever pays attention to it and looks at it in a competitive perspective. A week later, kageros (DOtE) burned the whole nationals tournament in Atlanta, Georgia and proved to take their place in the upcoming Continentals for the World Championships, winning against adversaries such as Golds and Narukamis. And in less than just 3 days away, Nationals in my country will be happening very soon. Unfortunately I can't join because I live far from the venue of the tournament and the final exams for my study is fast approaching. I would've wanted to at least spectate at the event, but unfortunately I just couldn't. 

Platina Ezel

I really expect to see a lot of Gold Paladins and Narukami The Bloods, seeing that they're the only decks that are really capable - and have a high chance of - winning the tournament with so much ease and efficiency. But with what Nova Grapplers did at Toronto, well it has become a bit of a question as to what clan will represent the Philippines for Worlds knowing that any deck can really win despite that particular deck's popularity. Novas were pretty much neglected then, but unexpectedly won as a "rouge"deck. 

 Azure Dragon

So what's the point of all of this? Well, I would strongly suggest that each one should really be motivated to watch and experience these tournaments. This is where high level gameplay is best exhibited and showcased;where the best among the bests come to gather and share their talent of playing the game and their philosophy with regards to playing a particular and the clan itself that they're running with for the Championships. I would even suggest that for a beginner, it is more advisable to watch and pay attention carefully to how these cardfighters play and demonstrate their skills of the game, that in so doing you learn new tips and tricks that is not just about harnessing your deck, but also learning the ways in approaching other clans and knowing what is their Achilles heel. Just like in real life, this game is just based in knowledge. If you know much, then it isn't really that much of a bother or an uncertainty when you play; it's really about learning. And that's the ultimate gift that this game can ever give anyone who plays it.

-kamiprince39-