News: Link Joker Units and "Lock" Unveiled

呪縛［ロック］されたカードは、裏向きになり何もでない。持ち主のターンの終わりに表に戻る
"A "Locked" Card is turned face-down and cannot do anything. It is turned back face-up at the end of its owner's turn."

The official Japanese portal has updated with information on the long-awaited Link Joker clan, and the Lock mechanic that they will be introducing in TD11: Star-Vader Invasion and BT12: Binding Force of the Black Rings. This new mechanic extends both to Link Joker units and “Я” or Reverse series units, those corrupted by the clan. According to Doctor O's twitter, locked cards are rendered completely unusable, are no longer treated as rearguards, and so cannot be retired or have new units called over them. Furthermore, the clan of a Locked unit is negated in the process. Locked units effectively no longer exist but still prevent their rearguard circle from being used, creating a disruptive strategy that destroys rearguard-centric decks--and in a format that has in many ways been defined by the mass distribution of Masquerade and Kay clones, most decks of the current format will feel the effects of that. As the Lock lasts throughout the turn of the card's owner, “Я” units that use Lock to pay costs like Vowing Saber Dragon “Я” have an advantage over opponents inflicted with Lock by card skills, as they will regain the use of their rearguards at the end of the turn that they paid the cost in, while the opponent will have to sit through both the Lock user's turn and their next one until they get back control of their cards. The new Link Joker units unveiled are listed below, with translations provided by NeoArkadia.

Star-Vader, Dusttail Unicorn
Grade 0/Link Joker - Cyber Beast/5000 Power/10000 Shield
Auto: Forerunner
Activate (R): [Counter Blast 1 Card, Place this card in the Soul] If you have a "Link Joker" Vanguard and your opponent has a Locked Card, you can choose 1 of your opponent's Rearguards, Lock it.

Star-Vader, Darkband Dragon
Grade 3/Link Joker - Cyber Dragon/10000 Power/No Shield
Activate (V) Limit Break 4: [Counter Blast 1 Card with "Starvader" in its name] Choose 1 of your opponent's Back Row Rearguards, Lock it.
Auto (V): When this Unit attacks, if you have more Rearguards than your opponent, this Unit gains 3000 Power during this turn.

Star-Vader, Infinite Zero Dragon
Grade 3/Link Joker - Cyber Dragon/11000 Power/No Shield
Auto Limit Break 4: When a <<Link Joker>> rides this Unit, your opponent chooses 1 Rearguard in their Back Row and Front Row, and Locks them, then you choose 1 of your Vanguards, this Unit gains 10000 Power during this turn.
Auto (V): When this Unit attacks the Vanguard, it gains 2000 Power during this Battle.
Continuous (V/R): Lord

Star-Vader, Mobius Breath Dragon
Grade 2/Link Joker - Cyber Dragon/9000 Power/5000 Shield
Auto (V): When this Unit's Attack hits the Vanguard, choose 1 of your opponent's Rearguards, and Lock it.







Note that units returning from Lock are not entering a rearguard circle but are instead being flipped back over, so on-call skills like that of Gigantech Charger will not activate. Units which gain power from having other units on the field like Liberator of the Round Table Alfred and The Dark Dictator will not be able to derive any power from Locked units, as those units do not exist until they are turned back up.

News: Bushiroad Sleeves Leak TD10 & 11 Cover Card Names

These sleeves are the public's first look at Star-Vader, Infinite Zero Dragon and Revenger of the Profound Illusion, Mordred Phantom.

Today Bushiroad's newly announced sleeves, among which were two cards from TD10: Purgatory Revenger and TD11: Star-Vader Invasion, revealed the names of two new units for the Shadow Paladin and Link Joker clans. Star-Vader, Infinite Zero Dragon and Revenger of the Profound Illusion, Mordred Phantom. Mordred Phantom in particular is drawing attention for being based on the literary Mordred, illegitimate son of King Arthur and a key antagonist in Arthurian literature. His artwork has drawn comparison to the previous two Gancelots of past trial decks, riding atop a black pegasus and wielding a sword similar to Gancelot's own.

Note that the kanji in Mordred's name 幽幻 can also be interpreted as "Dark Illusion," among many other variations. While there is no pronunciation guide as of yet, it may be read as Yuugen, which can make deliberate comparison to 幽玄 Yuugen the "Profound Darkness" or "Profound Mystery" one of the elements of Japanese aesthetic, meaning to imply more than what is before the viewer. The 幽 kanji can also mean "Secluded" and so can play off of the name of Mordred's Royal/Gold Paladin counterpart, the "Solitary" Gancelot. While the Revenger subgroup seems to be bringing a new play style to the Shadow Paladins, Mordred is providing some continuity between the old and the new, as the fourth "Phantom" unit that the clan has received.