I missed the craze about Ride Chains that started with Booster Set 3: Demonic Lord Invasion. I was enjoying Royal Paladins with Blaster Blade during this time. Spectral Duke Dragon from Cavalry of Black Steel was not on my radar at the time. Life offers second opportunities in Cardfight!! Vanguard. Bushiroad retrained Spectral Duke Dragon for the V-Standard Format. I built a version of Spectral Duke Dragon for the V-Standard Format.
This deck features the Gold Paladins. Spectral Duke Dragon is a Gold Paladin, but he uses tactics from the Shadow Paladins. The deck has the Imaginary Gift: Accel, the power of Force clans, and the tactics to stand the vanguard after battle!
Deck List:
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Clan: Gold Paladin
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Imaginary Gift: Accel II
| Grade 0 | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flame of Victory x4 | Herd Archer, Biscotte x4 | Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer x4 | Bluish Flame Liberator, Percival x4 |
| Frontrank Sage, Peiron x4 | Knight of Vitality, Brennius x1 | Knight of Spring’s Light, Perimore x2 | Spectral Duke Dragon x4 |
| Knight of Early Dawn, Coel x1 | Listener of Truth, Dindrane x4 | Knight of Strong Favors, Berengaria x2 | |
| Knight of Forceful Fight, Nalnes x4 | Scout of Darkness, Vortimer x4 | Oath Liberator, Aglovale x4 | |
| Scarface Lion x4 |
Strategy:
The deck’s strategy is to overwhelm the opponent with Spectral Duke Dragon in two consecutive battles and an onslaught of attacks from rear-guards. The deck uses the ride chain to consistently ride Spectral Duke Dragon as the vanguard. Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer and Scout of Darkness, Vortimer consistently set up the finisher.
In addition, the deck creates additional circles with Accel markers. Blueish Flame Liberator, Percival generators Accel markers. I can unleash five or more attacks in a single turn. The multiple attacks will break the opponent’s defenses.
My Vanguards:
Spectral Duke Dragon is the main vanguard for the deck. Spectral Duke Dragon can attack twice in a single turn. My vanguard pressures the opponent with two powerful attacks.
Furthermore, Spectral Duke Dragon gains triple drive if I have four or more damage. The additional drive checks gives more opportunities to check triggers. I can apply the effects from the triggers on my standing rear-guards on Accel markers.
Blueish Flame Liberator, Percival is the backup vanguard for the deck. This card’s main purpose is creating additional Accel markers. I can have at least five attacks in a single turn. The multiple battles from units in the front row pressure the opponent.
Furthermore, Blueish Flame Liberator, Percival is a good vanguard. He adds additional offense to units on Accel markers. They gain additional from 5,000 from Blueish Flame Liberator, Percival’s ability.
Offensive Power:
Oath Liberator, Aglovale is the strongest rear-guard in this deck. He adds 10,000 power to himself. I pressure the opponent with strong attacks from Oath Liberator, Aglovale.
Furthermore, I always place Oath Liberator, Aglovale on an Accel II marker. He gains additional power from the marker. Oath Liberator, Aglovale unleashes an attack with 24,000 power at the opponent’s vanguard.
In addition, Oath Liberator, Aglovale helps the deck’s consistency. His first ability sends a rear-guard to the soul. I may send Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer to the soul to fulfill Spectral Duke Dragon’s requirements if Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer is not already in the soul.
Superior Call The Troops!
Gold Paladin’s specialty is superior calling units from the top of the deck. I can conserve cards in my hands instead of calling them. I am building a strong field with rear-guards from the deck.
For instance, Herd Archer, Biscotte and Oath Liberator, Aglovale superior call units from top cards of the deck. Their abilities add offense to the field and resources for Spectral Duke Dragon. I will have at least three rear-guards to retire for Spectral Duke Dragon’s finisher.
In addition, I can activate the ability of Herd Archer, Biscotte once per turn. The field always gain a new rear-guard from the top three cards of the deck. The Accel markers will have rear-guards for the deck’s additional offense. I have a reliable option for rear-guards and offense.
Resource Management:
Every consistent deck needs cards to manage resources. I am playing Listener of Truth, Dindrane and Knight of Strong Favors, Berengaria because these cards provide resources. Listener of Truth, Dindrane draws a card or counter charges. Knight of Strong Favors, Berengaria counter charges or soul charges. Their abilities to counter charge allows the deck to consistently activate the abilities of other cards such as Spectral Duke Dragon.
In addition, Listener of Truth, Dindrane is one of the deck’s more impactful cards. Her ability allows me to draw an extra card after I superior call her. She rewards me for playing well. Therefore, the extra draw grows the number of cards in my hand. I quickly gain access to my deck’s best cards.
Trigger Lineup:
I have traditionally played Sentinels that are draw triggers for perfect guards in my decks. This deck includes Scarface Lion, a Sentinel and Critical Trigger. Scarface Lion has a shield of 30,000. This large shield can block many attacks. Unlike Halo Shield, Mark (Perfect Guard), I do not need to discard a card to pay the price of a strong defense.
Strengths:
My deck of Spectral Duke Dragon has many advantages. The deck generates six or more attacks in a single turn. Spectral Duke Dragon gains triple drive for his second attack. My vanguards in the ride chain have the power of a force clan in an accel clan.
- Spectral Duke Dragon has 13,000 power with Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer in the soul.
- I can declare six or more attacks per turn.
- The deck superior call units to the field. Therefore, I save the cards in my hand.
Weakness:
Spectral Duke Dragon and his golden comrades are not unstoppable. They have glaring weakness against particular matchups. Star-vader, Chaos Breaker Dragon (V Series) is one of the best decks to counter Gold Paladins. Chaos Breaker destroys markers. Therefore, I would lose my Accel markers.
- Star-vader, Chaos Breaker Dragon (V Series)
Spectral Duke Dragon in action!
I tested the deck against my friends’ decks. I won all of the matches with decisive victories. Spectral Duke Dragon and his fellow Gold Paladins dominated each opponent with an onslaught of attacks. I had five to eight attacks every turn with Spectral Duke Dragon as the vanguard.
Furthermore, I had a very strong hand during every game. The abilities to superior call units and draw cards provided a major advantage. I was able to easily block my opponent’s attacks. The dynamic duo of Dragonic Overlord “The X” and Dragonic Overlord the End could not break my wall of defense.
Final Thoughts:
My version of a deck of Spectral Duke Dragon is very consistent. It has a balance of a strong offense and hard defense. I am consistently playing strong combs for powerful plays on offense. This deck is one of my favorite decks in the V-Standard Format. It is a fun and powerful deck to play with my friends at locals.