News: Ride to Victory Sequel "Lock on Victory," Fourth Season and Movies Announced for 2014

FuRyu producer Ms. Fujiwara speaks about Lock on Victory at the Special Conference.

Yesterday Bushiroad's December 16th broadcast brought with it the unveiling of Cardfight!! Vanguard's schedule going into 2014, revealing several upcoming titles including a second 3DS game, Cardfight!! Vanguard: Lock on Victory. FuRyu producer Ms. Fujiwara came to speak on the title. Based on the storyline of the Link Joker season of Cardfight!! Vanguard, Lock on Victory will feature the return of the previous game's customizable protagonists as they head into high school. The player will be able to attend Miyaji Academy, Hitsue High, or Fukuhara High School and live out their daily lives with the anime's cast. Production images showed the hotblooded-type hero from RTV in Miyaji uniform, with the cool-type hero in Hitsue clothes, and the dark-type heroine instead shown attending Fukuhara. Whether the player's school is connected to their choice of protagonist is unknown, but a versus mode image shows the female protagonist fighting in Hitsue uniform, suggesting that the player will be free to choose any school regardless of their selected character.

Images from the game's interface show the integration of Lock into gameplay, represented by black rings rotating above the face-down Locked cards. The game will also support the break ride mechanic, with new animations specific to it, as well as grade 4 units. Lock on Victory will support cards from up through VG-BT15: Infinite Rebirth, just as RTV supported up until BT09: Clash of the Knights and Dragons on release, but as with the previous game will not be released until after the set itself. LOV is scheduled for a summer release. Previously international fans had come out in strong support of Ride to Victory's international release, which had prompted Bushiroad to begin internal talks about localizing the game, but nothing has come of this as of yet. As the company has been responsive to its fans' requests, Lock on Victory may provide an opportunity for a renewed push to bring the video game series overseas.

12/17/2013 Update: LOV's official website has launched.

DAIGO's announcement prompted a flood of real-time comments from the viewers.

Viewers went wild when musical star DAIGO announced the production of a Cardfight!! Vanguard film, featuring the return of Sendou Aichi, Kai Toshiki, Tokura Misaki and others. Instead of being produced by Studio TMS as the core anime seasons are, the film will be produced by Ultra Super Pictures, a studio most recently involved with the production of Black Rock Shooter and Kill La Kill. More surprising still is that the anime film accounts for only half of the entire work; in addition to the anime edition, a complementary live action edition will be produced by Ace Works Entertainment. This upcoming TV drama is believed to be a successor to the 2012 film that previously brought Vanguard's musical star DAIGO to the fore as a key actor. Once again he will be joined by Mimori Suzuko, although it is unknown if she will be reprising her role from the previous film as Kagami Maria. Immediately after the Special Conference's airing an official website for the film went up, showing off a promotional image advertising the two pieces and a list of some of the actors casted. Both films are scheduled for release in 2014, with the anime film being directed by Itagaki Shin, and the live action film directed by Motoki Takashi.

Regarding the anime film, Kitta Izumi joked that she was playing the "cute heroine" as Misaki for the movie--NicoNico viewers made some humorous protests, insisting that Aichi was instead the series' heroine. She also commented that to have a film edition of Cardfight!! Vanguard being produced was "like a dream." As DAIGO pointed out, it's now been almost three years since Vanguard began; there was no small amount of sentiment for the four speakers then on stage, who had been a part of the franchise since it began in 2011. Perhaps the individual to which this meant the most however, was Itou Akira.

Known for making rare public appearances via the Vangua-Road webcast and communicating with his fans primarily via Twitter, the reclusive mangaka came on stage to describe the upcoming film as being on a larger scale. While specifics regarding the story are few, it will take place after the Link Joker chapter and feature most of the main characters. Some concerns arose that Team Q4 would be reduced to Team Q3 because of Kai's absence when the team was last active during the Asia Circuit, but these fears were alleviated when it was said that Kai would not be going anywhere for the film. Viewers took note that during the broadcast Itou was dressed "Kai-kun style"--his black blazer, scarf, high boots and the deck holder strung over his belt gave the impression of a Kai Toshiki cosplay.

Along with these announcements came news of Cardfight!! Vanguard's upcoming fourth season, dubbed "Legion Mate" chapter (レギオンメイト編 region meito hen, note that the Japanese pronunciation uses a hard G sound as in "green") which will follow Aichi and Kai's shared story after Link Joker. Images of Aichi and Kai in their Link Joker-era designs were used, prompting Kitta Izumi to comment that "Kai-kun looks a little...how should I say..." but Doctor O assured everyone that these images were recycled from BT15, as there is no key artwork ready for Legion Mate as of yet. As no final English title has been given yet, some have disputed the Legion translation in favor of "Region Mate." Those speaking at the event pronounced the レ sound as closer to L than R, but neither translation fits the Japanese rendering perfectly.

The new season's ED theme will be created by Japanese girls' pop group FAKY, while the OP "V-Road" will be created by the Bushi★7, an all-star team of artists assembled to celebrate Bushiroad's seventh year in operation. The Bushi★7 will consist of DAIGO, Psychic Lover members Yoffy and Imajo, Suara, Kitta Izumi and Mimori Suzuko, and Morishima Shuuto. The announcements drew a string of "8888" flooding the screen, which for the viewers at home substituted for clapping--the reading for 8 "hachi" sounds similar in Japanese to "pachi," an onomatopoeia for applauding.

The final announcement for the day was that 2014 will also see the release of a new extra booster set for the Bermuda Triangle clan, following up on VG-EB02: Banquet of Divas and VG-EB06: Dazzling Divas. In addition to this, another Great Vanguard Festival will be held at the Tokyo Big Sight this coming year, as has become customary for the TCG's tournament season in Japan. Doctor O closed out the Special Conference wishing well to the viewers, after which a string of new commercials for VG-BT14: Brilliant Strike and the newest Beginning Sets aired while the stage was prepared for Buddyfight's conference.

The portion of the broadcast concerned with Vanguard can be viewed in its entirety on the Cardfight Pro YouTube channel, recorded courtesy of Touya. We are looking into subtitling the broadcast, but as this will take some time to accomplish, for now only the unsubbed version is available.

Cardfight!! Vanguard TV Drama Trailer

The first piece of news on Daigo's starring role since its announcement last March has finally surfaced, in the form of the drama's trailer.



Due to his appearance in the drama differing from the previous teaser information, it is uncertain if Daigo is actually intended to play the role of Sendou Aichi in the drama, or if this is as a new character altogether. Certain key cards can be seen briefly, such as a Majesty Lord Blaster deck Daigo is using, with a Murakumo deck as his opponent's build, and a Shadow Paladin deck used by an unseen cardfighter.

The drama will premier on May 3th, 8:30 AM JST.

Character: Satomi Eiji

"The victorious and the defeated...I assume you know which of these is the more fantastic?"

"Look well, Teru. This is the defeated."

Satomi Eiji/里見英治
Age: Unconfirmed
Portrayed by: Namioki Kazuki (2012 Drama)
Drama Biography: Satomi is Teru's private tutor, as well as his mentor in Vanguard. Although not a major character upon his introduction, he is the drama's primary antagonist. Maintaining this role even in defeat, he is responsible for motivating Teru to bully and look down on other cardfighters.

Spoiler warning: Spoilers for the STAND UP! Vanguard live-action drama follow.

Initially shown giving Teru a lesson in cardfight, Satomi espouses his theory of victory; that among the world population between the victorious and the defeated, those who are always victorious are superior to any who think they can afford loss. He passes this idea onto Teru Socratically, asking leading questions that bring Teru to the same conclusion. Their lesson however, is interrupted by Daigo, seeking a revenge match with Teru.

Satomi does not allow this. Introducing himself as a genius who first presented his theory of the universe while working for NASA, he cardfights Daigo in Teru's place. Having defeated him in two successive matches, Satomi makes Daigo beg for another chance. Bored by the fight, he dismisses Daigo and returns to his lessons with Teru.

Satomi is next seen the night before a local tournament, giving Teru extra study material. Asking the boy to "picture it," he uses Kurumalord's megablast to end their game.

Satomi's "image" of Kuramalord's Ninjitsu Art: Meteor Storm.

The following day he and Teru participate in the local tournament on Team Teru. Alongside his prodigy student, Satomi is their primary fighter in the opening round, up until the finals where he plays second. Ultimately Satomi undergoes a complete breakdown after his defeat by Daigo, after which he is not seen again.

Spoilers end here.

As Daigo's counterpart, Satomi occasionally makes use of his own catch phrase, "Ya know?" spoken in English.

Decks and Play Style

Satomi fights with a Murakumo deck, making extensive use of hit-and-run tactics to rapidly fill his field while saving his hand up to become a stonewall against his opponent's attacks. Because of this, decks without heavy power gain have difficulty dealing damage to him later in the game. Satomi's primary strategy builds his soul with Kurama Lord, bringing out the fiend's megablast for three additional attacks. Against Daigo and many other competitors at their local tournament he rides Dueling Dragon, ZANBAKU, locking opponents out of crossriding.

STAND UP! Vanguard Drama: Ninjitsu Art: Meteor Storm (27/50 cards)

Grade 0

x1 Stealth Beast, Evil Ferret

x2 Stealth Beast, Cat Rogue DT

x1 Stealth Fae, Dart Spider ST

x2 Stealth Beast, Moon Edge CT

x2 Stealth Fae, Yukihime HT

Grade 1

x3 Stealth Beast, Million Rat

x1 Stealth Beast, Leaf Racoon

x3 Silent Stealth Rogue, Shijimamaru

x1 Stealth Beast, Leaves Mirage

Grade 2

x2 Stealth Fiend, Midnight Crow

x3 Stealth Beast, Bloody Mist

x2 Stealth Dragon, Cursed Breath

x2 Stealth Beast, White Mage

Grade 3

x1 Stealth Field, Kurama Lord

x1 Dueling Dragon, ZANBAKU

Character: Nanbara Teru

"Hiroki...with all my power, here I come!"

"Mow him down, Phantom Blaster Overlord!"

Nanbara Teru/南原テル
Age: Unconfirmed
Potrayed by: Uchiyama Haruka (TV Drama)
Drama biography: A competitive Vanguard fighter, Teru glorifies victory over all else. Teru is studious in Vanguard, working to become one of the best fighters of his time, and he even has a private tutor for the game. Despite his skill, Teru is a bully and is the primary antagonist against Miura Hiroki.

Spoiler warning: Details for the STAND UP! Vanguard live action drama follow.
While Teru acts as the chief antagonist against Hiroki for much of the drama, looking down on him as weak and bullying him in school because of that, this hatred of the weak was ultimately instilled in him by his tutor, Satomi Eiji. Comprising Team Teru alongside Eiji and one of his peers, Teru enters into the local Vanguard tournament playing to win.

In the final rounds he witnesses his teacher's defeat at Daigo's hands, and begins to waver in his views after this. Admitting Hiroki's strength upon being forced into a corner by the boy, a last-minute heal and critical trigger allows him to outlast his opponent, using Phantom Blaster Overlord's persona blast to end the game. Ultimately coming out the champion, Teru interrupts the award ceremony to befriend Hiroki, offering him a revenge match.

In the tournament aftermath, Teru is seen making up for his previous bullying, inviting Hiroki into his circle and playing Vanguard after school with his friends.
Spoilers end here.

Decks and Play Style
Teru fights with a Shadow Paladin deck, gaining victory at the expense of his allies. With minor field assistance from Badhabh Catha and Macha, Teru's deck is notable for being the only ShaPala deck in any continuity to omit Skull Witch, Nemain. Instead opting for field-oriented skills, his main strategy is to bring out Phantom Blaster Overlord while gaining card advantage with Fullbau, Macha and Nemain, then roll Masquerade into the fray to press his opponent's hand and finish the fight using a persona blast.

His aggressive play style also includes Donnerschlag as an alternative to Masquerade, and he enhances the effect of this style by guarding most of his opponent's early attacks, often ending up going into his third turn with only one damage. This helps in managing his damage late in the game, ignoring powerful rearguards and completely stopping his opponent's vanguard attacks.

STAND UP! Vanguard: Shadow Erosion (38/50 cards)
Grade 0
x1 Fullbau (FVG)
x2 Abyss Freezer DT
x3 Darkside Trumpeter ST
x1 Abyss Healer HT
x1 Death Feather Eagle CT
x1 Grim Reaper CT
Grade 1
x3 Black Sage, Charon
x3 Blaster Javelin
x2 Nostrum Witch, Arianrhod
x3 Dark Shield, Mac Lir
x1 Apocalypse Bat
Grade 2
x1 Blaster Dark
x1 Darkness Maiden, Macha
x3 Demon World Castle, Donnerschlag
x2 Dark Knight, Rugos
x3 Knight of Nullity, Masquerade
Grade 3
x2 Phantom Blaster Dragon
x2 Dark Mage, Badhabh Catha
x1 Darkmetal Dragon
x2 Phantom Blaster Overlord

Character: Daigo

"Old man? OLD MAN?"

"HERE IT COMES! My Majesty Lord Blaster! My trump card!"

Daigo/ダイゴ
Age: Unconfirmed; no younger than 22
Portrayed by: DAIGO (2012 Drama, Anime)
Drama Biography: A graduate of the American HarvardA University with a degree in justice, Daigo is a wanderer who steps into the life of Miura Hiroki after seeing the boy bullied. Becoming employed as a teacher at Hiroki's school, Daigo works continually to unearth the source of Hiroki's sadness and try to revitalize his love for life.

Spoiler warning: Spoilers for the STAND UP! Vanguard live-action drama follow.
Throughout the drama Daigo's primary aim is to win the affections of Hiroki's teacher, Mizuhara Sumire. While this motivates him to help Hiroki, he goes far out of his way to assist the boy, taking up residence in his house as a "special mission teacher" to ease the tensions between Hiroki and his father, Miura Shigehiko. While living with the two Daigo uses his degree to become employed at Hiroki's school, and gradually uncovers Hiroki's immense love for Cardfight, as well as Shigehiko's disapproval of it.

Daigo making breakfast.

Over time, Daigo makes sense of two problems in Hiroki's life; his father's hatred of Vanguard, and the bullies at school that pick on Hiroki as a weakling. Attempting to route the bullies, Daigo convinces Hiroki to stand up to them in a Vanguard fight, but after this plan fails he seeks their ringleader Teru personally.

 Daigo's degree; "YOU ARE JUSTICE."

Instead of Teru, Daigo finds himself in a fight with Satomi Eiji, Teru's private tutor and a graduate of the rival Nasa university. Becoming embroiled in a series of cardfights with Satomi, Daigo ultimately proves the loser in two consecutive matches, and is left begging for another chance. Satomi dismisses him, leaving both Dagio and Hiroki emotionally crippled by their experiences.

Hiroki eventually becomes convinced to enter into a local tournament with Daigo and Sumire as part of Team Hiroki. Daigo proves to be the weak link in their team setup, consistently losing matches where Hiroki's Kagerou and Sumire's Oracle Think Tank deck dominate. The night before the final round however, Daigo learns that Sumire was run over in a car accident, leaving Team Hiroki short one member; desperate to defeat Satomi in the tournament and mend Hiroki's relationship with his father, Daigo pleads with Shigehiko join their team. Shigehiko however, holds only resentment and disgust for Vanguard--the game brings out too many memories of his dead wife, the woman who introduced Hiroki to Cardfight in the first place.

At the last moment Shigehiko agrees, taking up his wife's Neo Nectar deck with Hiroki's reluctant instruction. Though the team is assembled, their relationship is still strained, and with the belief that Daigo will inevitably lose his own match in mind, a great deal of pressure rests on Hiroki and Shigehiko to win their matches. After Shigehiko's loss in the final rounds to Team Teru's third member, the team seemingly has no chance to win.

With his ability to ride locked down by Satomi's Murakumo deck, and a vast gap in damage between him and his opponent, Daigo's loss appears certain. Barely pulling through the match with the Sage of Guidance, Zenon and Majesty Lord Blaster acting in concert, Daigo manages to bring out two critical triggers on his final turn alongside Lord Blaster's own innate skills. Restoring the team's confidence and shaking Teru's belief in his teacher's lessons, Daigo encourages Hiroki to face Teru head-on.

Daigo plays a prominent role in the drama as the viewers' spirit animal.

In the tournament aftermath Hiroki and his father are finally reunited, ending Daigo's special mission. Going to visit Sumire in the hospital, Daigo's final reason to stay is erased as he learns that she already has a boyfriend.

However, seeing Hiroki one last time, now friends with the boys who used to bully him, Daigo determines to stay in Hiroki's town, ending the drama as close friends.

Spoilers end here.

Daigo shows a minor complex early in the drama over being called an old man (ojisan) by Hiroki's friends. A running gag is that he is commonly mistaken for a criminal; a child abductor at the beginning by Sumire, and a burglar by Shigehiko. This is later echoed in the anime series, where Daigo is once again mistaken for a burglar by Kamui.

Anime Biography: Daigo in the anime is known as a "super-famous, legendary fighter," and in ride 82 he debuts by cardfighting Souyruu Leon at the card shop, PSY. The circumstances of the fight are unknown, but as in the drama Daigo uses a Royal Paladin deck. Whether this Daigo will have any connection to the TV drama or commercial iterations of his character is unknown. Described as a legendary fighter that has consistently dominated higher-level cardfight, his name is inseparable from the game, and he's famous enough to earn entry in Vanguard Weekly.

Spoiler warning: Asia Circuit details follow.
However, three months ago Daigo mysteriously disappeared. He began to spontaneously vanish, reappearing spontaneously throughout the globe, in Japan, Antarctica, France and even Easter Island. Identified by Suiko as being caught in a time-space warp, she ascribes the cause of this to Daigo being caught up in the warp when the Royal Paladins were sealed, because unlike Sendou Aichi after Takuto sealed them, Daigo maintained his hold over his Royal Paladin deck. Because he fights with a clan that no longer exists, Daigo is now a living paradox.
Spoilers end here.

Universal Notes: Daigo is the only character in any continuity to get a critical of 4 in any single cardfight. His character is a thinly-veiled insert of the musician DAIGO, who is responsible for most of Vanguard's televised promotional materials in Japan. DAIGO has also been the one to award Japan's national championship trophy to the champions in the past.

Decks and Play Style
Daigo cardfights with Royal Paladin deck loaned to him by Hiroki. With minor Shadow Paladin influence from Blaster Dark, the deck's raw power makes up for Daigo's own inexperience and lack of skill. Being a neophyte to Vanguard, Daigo has little idea of how to use the deck and generally scrapes by on lucky maneuvers rather than on skillful play.

Note that Daigo initially uses Stardust Trumpeter as his first vanguard, but by the time of the tournament has changed her out for Wingal Brave.

STAND UP! Vanguard: Courage into Power (32/50 cards)
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x1 Margal DT
x2 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
x1 Pixie Fife and Drum ST
x2 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x2 Quiet Sage, Sharron ST
Grade 1
x2 Lake Maiden, Lien
x2 Starlight Unicorn
x2 Little Sage, Marron
x1 Flash Shield, Iseult
x1 Knight of Friendship, Kay
x1 Sage of Guidance, Zenon
Grade 2
x2 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x1 Knight of Truth, Gordon
x1 Blaster Blade
x3 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
x1 Knight of Loyalty, Bedivere
x1 Blaster Dark
x1 Starcall Trumpeter
Grade 3
x1 The King of Knights, Alfred
x1 Gigantech Charger
x1 Solitary Knight, Gancelot
x1 Majesty Lord Blaster

In the anime Daigo uses a Cavalry of Black Steel-era Royal Paladin deck, demonstrating a much greater overall skill level with it than with his drama deck. This new deck uses multiple 10000-power grade 2 units for ease of forming 16000-power lines, and incorporates White Dragon Knight, Pendragon as its key card. Pendragon gains +5000 power when ridden, easily forming a 20000-and-above column regardless of what stands in the rearguard behind it, and at limit break can search the deck for his Saver Dragons to empower rearguard. Pongal, Margal and Akane are included for greater Saver Dragon consistency, and Toypugal's skill is easily triggered with either of Daigo's grade 3s, making for a consistent and powerful deck despite its weak first vanguard.

Rides 82-Current: Legendary Fighter (26/50 cards)
Grade 0
x1 Stardust Trumpeter (FVG)
x1 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
x1 Margal DT
x2 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
Grade 1
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x2 Pongal
x2 Toypugal
x3 Flash Shield, Iseult
Grade 2
x2 Knight of Determination, Lamorak
x2 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
x2 High Dog Breeder, Akane
Grade 3
x2 White Dragon Knight, Pendragon
x2 Soul Saver Dragon