One of Cardfight!! Vanguard’s most popular clans is returning soon. Shadow Paladins are just two months away from the English edition! Blaster Dark and company are back, and they are going to make a strong impression out of the gates. I played the original Shadow Paladins in the original game in the middle of Cardfight!! Vanguard G. The new Shadow Paladins will be released in Trial Deck 4: Ren Suzugamori and Strongest! Team AL4 booster box.
The Shadow Paladins are a strange fusion of Kagero and Royal Paladins. Their abilities share traits from both rival clans. Shadow Paladins have Kagero’s ability to control the field by retiring opponents’ rear-guards. Then, Shadow Paladins have the Royal Paladins’ ability to superior call comrades to the field. It is the perfect combination of controlling the field, and gaining advantage in numbers!
Shadow Paladin Leaders
Blaster Dark is looking better than ever. His new artwork and skills are beautiful. His first skill retires one of your opponent’s rear-guards. This skill can open the door for his next skill. Blaster Dark also punishes your opponent if he or she is unaware of his ability to gain twin drive when an opponent does not have rear-guards.
The Dark Dictator may go down as the best grade 3 card from a trial deck. His skills elevate Shadow Paladins, and dominates opponents’ rear-guards. His skill to retire opponents’ units is very powerful against most clans. Only Orcale Think Tank can avoid it by choosing Promise Daughter, who cannot be retired by an opponent’s effect.
The Dark Dictator
[CONT](VC):During your turn, this unit gets [Power]+2000 for each of your rear-guards.
[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:COST [Counter Blast (1)], call up to one grade 2 or less card from your hand to (RC), and that unit gets [Power]+5000 until end of turn. Your opponent chooses one of his or her rear-guards, and retires it.
Blaster Dark
[AUTO](VC/RC):When placed, COST [Counter Blast (1)], your opponent chooses one of his or her rear-guards, and retires it.
[ACT](VC)[1/Turn]:If your opponent has no rear-guards, COST [discard a card from your hand], and this unit gets drive+1 until end of turn.
More Blasters
Three new blasters are a trio of powerful units from Blaster Dark’s unit. Each card gives your advantage by either drawing cards or retiring opponents’ units. Blaster Rapier and Blaster Dagger retire opponents’ units. Blaster Javelin is an awesome card to call to the field because he replaces a card in your hand.
Blaster Rapier
AUTO (RC) When it attacks a vanguard, if you have three or more units with “Blaster” in their names, this unit gets Power+5000 until end of that battle.
AUTO (RC) When its attack hits a vanguard, COST [Counter Blast 1], your opponent chooses one of his or her rear-guards, and retires it.
Blaster Dagger
AUTO (RC) When its attack or the attack it boosts hits, COST [Put this unit into your soul], your opponent chooses one of his or her rear-guards, and retires it.
Blaster Javelin
[AUTO](RC):When placed, if you have two or more grade 1 or less rear-guards, COST [Counter Blast (1)], draw a card, and this unit gets [Power]+3000 until end of turn.
Grade One Support!
We have a sweet duo for soul charging and counter charging! Nightmare Painter is the best Shadow Paladin for soul charging! She soul charges a grade one card from the soul instead of the top card of the deck. Black Sage, Charon counter charges to replenish your counter blasts!
Black Sage, Charon
[AUTO](RC):When placed due to the ability of your card, COST [Soul Blast (1)], Counter Charge (1), and this unit gets [Power]+3000 until end of turn.
Nightmare Painter
[AUTO](RC):When placed, COST [put a grade 1 or less card from your drop zone into your soul], and this unit gets [Power]+3000 until end of turn.
The Final Word
Shadow Paladins appear to be the best clan in the game on paper. I dare say the Shadow Paladins are the Golden State Warriors of Cardfight!! Vanguard. The clan is completed with rear-guards and vanguards with strong skills and chemistry. They have a clear strategy to call grade one cards and control the field. I am very excited for Ren Suzugamori’s trial deck and Strongest! Team AL4 booster box because they are going to change the game’s environment. Ren Suzugamori’s trial deck is so far the best trial deck in the reboot!
