Episode Guide: Asia Circuit, Ride 67: Activate! Limit Break!

Fight Analysis

Sendou Aichi vs Kai Toshiki

The fight opens on Kai's turn, riding from Lizard Soldier, Sisin (6000) to Red River Dragoon (8000).

The turn passes to Aichi. He opens with Prairie Wind, Sagramore (6000) riding into Vanquishing Swordsman, Hougang (7000) then calling Whirlwind of the Cliffside, Sagramore (6000) as his support, and the Knight of Fine Skill, Gareth (8000) as a rearguard attacker. Hougang (13000) drive checks Chargegal, Kai damage checks Lightning Stone Jinn. Sagramore's skill activates, and Aichi drops Chargegal to draw one card. Gareth goes unguarded, and Kai damage checks Thunder of Hope, Helena.

Kai rides Thunder Storm Dragoon (10000), calling Gale Thunderclap Jinn (8000) and Bright Jet Dragon (8000). Bright Jet gains +3000 power while attacking via his skill. Aichi damage checks Slaygal Sword. Thunder Storm Dragoon (10000) drive checks Lizard Soldier, Riki. Aichi damage checks Assaulting Chariot Knight. Gale Thunderclap is guarded with Blessing Owl.

Aichi rides the Knight of Divine Skill, Bohman. Gareth moves to the back rearguard, and Sendou calls Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemea Lion (8000) in front of Gareth. Nemea (16000) is guarded by Wind Marquis Boy, Hayate (S20000). Bohman (16000) goes unguarded, and Kai damage checks Old Dragon Mage (DT +5000 Draw 1), applying the power to Dragoon and drawing one card.

Kai rides Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion (11000), calling Lizard Soldier, Riki (7000) to support Vermillion. Bright Jet is guarded by Whirlwind of the Cliffside, Sagramore (S20000). Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion (18000) twin drives into Red River Dragoon and Yellow Gem Carbuncle (CT +5000 +1 Critical), giving the power to his Jinn and the critical to Kaiser. Aichi damage checks Storm of the Battlefield, Sagramore and Fortune Bell (ST +5000 Stand 1), standing Nemea and giving the power to Bohman (15000). Gale Thunderclap Jinn attacks and gains +2000 power through its skill (15000). Aichi damage checks the Vanquishing Knight, Hougang.

Aichi rides the Storm of the Battlefield, Sagramore (10000), calling Slaygal Sword (9000) to his right with Elixir Sommelier (5000) as its support. Aichi counterblasts 4 for Slaygal Sword's skill, four times over; because he controls at least 4 Gold Paladin units, Sword gains +2000 power four times. Slaygal Sword (22000) attacks, Kai damage checks Thunder Break Dragon. Sagramore (16000) is guarded by Yellow Gem Carbuncle and Wyvern Transport Corps (S26000). He twin drives Knight of Fine Skill, Gareth and Silent Punisher (CT +5000 +1 Critical). Aichi gives all effects to Nemea (15000 +1 Critical). Nemea (21000 +1 Critical) is guarded by Old Dragon Mage and Red River Dragoon, as well as Bright Jet's intercept (S26000).

Kai calls Lightning Stone Jinn (7000) to the back and calls Plasma Bite Dragon (10000) in front of it. For Kaiser Vermillion, he limit breaks 4, counterblasts 3 for +2000 power. Vermillion attacks all of Aichi's frontline units, twin driving into Shield Blade Dragoon and Thunder Storm Dragoon. Sendou damage checks Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemea Lion.

Kai's victory. 

Spoiler warning: Asia Circuit details follow.

Story Synopsis: The day begins with Emi waking Aichi up as normal, albeit in her new outfit. Appearing drained and unenthusiastic, Aichi mulls over his new Gold Paladin deck, Garmall in particular. Disappointed that his deck is really gone, Sendou skips breakfast and walks to Card Capital--but, pausing at the door, heads for the park (the same one seen in rides 2 and 33) instead. Like in previous episodes, Kai finds him here, but when shown Sendou's new deck, he merely asks what's wrong with it. Like the rest of the cast, Kai has no memory of Aichi ever using a different clan.

Looking at Kai's deck, Aichi is shocked to find that it's not his friend's Kagerou deck, but a Narukami deck. Aichi asks if Kai remembers using a different clan--but Kai denies this, stating that this has always been his deck. Still, he appears to feel ambiguous about what he's remembering, and the two go to a nearby stage to cardfight.

In their battle Kai's old memories briefly resurface. When Aichi rides the Knight of Divine Skill, Bohman, he anticipates Blaster Blade instead of Bohman, and recalls the unit's visual appearance as Aichi's avatar. However, this does not last, and Kai ultimately cannot recall the Royal Paladins. Insisting that Sendou needs to consider his own limits, Kai calls final turn on the boy and brings out Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion's limit break to finish their fight.

As it draws to a close, the screen at their backs lights up, and none other than Tatsunagi Takuto appears to advertise the upcoming Vanguard Fight Circuit in Singapore. Aichi pleads with Toshiki to remember, but Kai walks away from him, unable to remember the past Sendou is recalling, and saying that Sendou should find his own path to Takuto as Kai is finding his. Ride 67 ends with Aichi at Card Capital, learning that Team Q4 has received a formal invitation to the VF Circuit.

(In the event that the viewer is unaware of Singapore's location, the anime helpfully points it out)

Episode Guide: Asia Circuit, Ride 66: Gold Paladin

Fight Analysis 

Tatsunagi Takuto vs Kai Toshiki

The scene opens on Kai's turn; both he and Takuto are at grade 2, Kai as Nehalem (10000) and Takuto the Knight of Divine Skill, Bohman (10000). Kai rides Dragonic Overlord (11000) but whatever moves he makes on this turn are repelled. Takuto proceeds to ride an unseen grade 3, ending the fight.

Tatsunagi Takuto vs Sendou Aichi

This fight starts on Takuto's turn. He opens with Prairie Wind, Sagramore (6000) and rides the Knight of Fine Play, Gareth (8000) before passing the turn over to Aichi.

Sendou opens his own turn with Wingal Brave (5000). He rides the Little Sage Marron (8000); Brave's skill calls it to the back rearguard circle to Marron's left. Sendou calls the Knight of Friendship, Kay (7000) who with Wingal's boost (12000) attacks Gareth. Takuto damage checks Vanquishing Swordsman, Hougang. Marron drive checks the Lake Maiden, Lien, and Takuto damage checks Slaygal Sword.

Tatsunagi rides the Knight of Divine Skill, Bohman (10000) and calls Guardian Holy Beast, Nemea Lion (8000). Bohman drive checks Silent Punisher (CT +5000 +1 Critical) giving the critical to Bohman and the power to his Lion. Aichi damage checks Solitary Knight, Gancelot and Blaster Dark. Nemea Lion (13000) attacks but is guarded by Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine (S18000).

 

Back to Aichi. Sendou rides Blaster Blade (9000) and counterblasts 2 to retire Nemea Lion, then calls Lien for Blaster's support. Blaster Blade attacks (16000) and drive checks the Bringer of Good Luck, Epona (CT +5000 +1 Critical) giving the critical to Blaster Blade and the power to Kay. Takuto damage checks Assaulting Chariot Knight and Blessing Owl. Boosted by Brave, Kay attacks, using his own skill to gain +3000 power (20000); Takuto guards with Weapons Dealer, Gwydion and Silent Punisher (S25000).

 

Takuto rides Great Silver Wolf, Garmall (10000) and activates his limit break (4). The fight ends prematurely.

Spoiler warning: Asia Circuit details follow.

Story Synopsis:  The episode opens with a fight between Kai Toshiki and Tatsunagi Takuto. However, it ends when Takuto rides his grade 3 unit, and Kai's Kagerou deck is transformed into a Narukami deck.

Later at Card Capital, Aichi encounters Takuto as well. Tatsunagi introduces himself as a first-time player with a Gold Paladin deck. Having just settled back into his normal routine after coming home the national champion, Aichi offers to teach Takuto the rules. Takuto, wielding the new limit-breaking clan, passes off Sendou's play style as "old."

 

As their fight goes on Aichi is drawn by Takuto into a vision of the planet Cray, where he witnesses firsthand the sealing of the Shadow Paladins, Royal Paladins and Kagerou clans. When Sendou awakens, he finds himself in a strange alternate timeline; his Royal Paladin deck has been replaced by a Gold Paladin deck, Takuto is nowhere in sight, and his friends are convinced that Aichi has always used a Gold Paladin deck. Unsure of what to do, the episode closes with Sendou overwhelmed by this strange turn of events.

Asia Circuit Press Conference, New Commercial

Last night Bushiroad's press conference on the second season of Cardfight!! Vanguard was hosted live on the Japanese video website, Nico Nico Dōga. Here's a recap of what was unveiled;

• The mystery boy from Ren's flashback in ride 57 is a new character, Tatsunagi Takuto (立凪タクト)
• Takuto is the top of the Tatsunagi financial group, the host of the Asia Circuit.
• Episode 1 will deal with Aichi and Takuto's first meeting.
• The first country in the Asia Circuit is Singapore.

 

• Katsuragi Kamui, Tokura Misaki, Nitta Shin and Miwa Taishi are all confirmed to be returning in new outfits. Shin will accompany Team Q4 overseas to the Asia Circuit while Miwa and Izaki run Card Capital in his place. Morikawa and Emi will stay behind with the rest of the crew at Card Capital.

• Ren will be joining the protagonists. Like Aichi, he will use the Gold Paladin clan, however he will use an alternate playstyle, different from Aichi's. Extra Booster 03 will mainly be centered on his playstyle.

• Ito Akira has created a new artwork for Asia Circuit, which may be released as an official card sleeve.

And now, some information on the upcoming booster sets;

• On 3/26 The May issue of Kero Kero Ace will be released with a 50-card supplement.
• On 4/21 the new trial decks come out.
• Booster Set 6 will be released on 4/28.
• On 5/26 an EX Booster featuring supporting for Gold Paladin, Spike Brothers, Megacolony, Royal Paladin, Shadow Paladin and Kagerou will be released.
• On 7/7 Booster 7 will be released, featuring support for Great Nature, Oracle Think Tank and a new clan, Angel Feather. Like the Royal Paladin, Oracle Think Tank, Gold Paladin and Shadow Paladin clans before them, Angel Feather will be a United Sanctuary-based clan. Angel Feather will manipulate the damage zone in ways other than counterblast.
• A new Gold Paladin promo card has been unveiled, which is either Kungal or Kurngal.

 

 Bushiroad also put out a new commercial, once more featuring DAIGO of BREAKERZ;

 

Character: Tatsunagi Takuto

"The real battle is just getting started."
"Tear through the shackles of convention with your silver fangs! I ride the Great Silver Wolf, Garmore!"

Tatsunagi Takuto/立凪タクト

Age: Unconfirmed
Voice Actor(s): Takagaki Ayahi (Japanese)¹

The top of the Tatsunagi Financial Group, and the host of the Asia Circuit. Apparently has some involvement with the Foo Fighters.

Spoiler warning: Season 1 details follow.

Takuto's appearance in season 1 is brief and barely alluded to, lasting only a matter of seconds in ride 57. During Ren's flashback Takuto can be glimpsed while Suzugamori recounts how he first became consumed by PSY Qualia.

Previously Suiko had implied another party backing the Ultra-Rare idol group, having told Suzugamori of a "Him" that he should be grateful to for his power. Due to this implied connection with Ultra-Rare, as well as Takuto's strong financial backing through the Tatsunagi Group, it is currently believed that Takuto had originally scouted Ren in his card shop for PSY Qualia. This would explain where Ren gained the funding to hire Kashiwagi Construction to build the Foo Fighter HQ, and why its model of Motion Figure System is familiar to Kourin.

Spoilers end here.

Tatsunagi is a main character in season 2, the first ride of which deals with his meeting and first fight with Aichi. The Gold Paladin card, Incandescent Lion Blond Ezel, carries a definitive resemblance to Takuto's unique facial marking, as well as his hair and eye color. During Takuto's cardfights, other units normally free of these markings develop them as he rides them, ascending from Beaumains and into Garmore.


Spoiler warning: Season 2 details follow.
Tatsunagi begins the Asia Circuit arc by challenging Kai and Aichi to cardfights. Posing as a beginning player, he draws them in with his Gold Paladin cards before using Garmore's limit break and showing them a vision of the current Cray. Having witnessed the sealing of the Royal and Shadow Paladins, as well as the Kagerou clan, Tatsunagi then creates a pair of subtle altercations in the world's timeline. Following their fights, Kai's deck is replaced with a Narukami one, and Aichi's with a Gold Paladin deck.


Aichi is the only character to recognize these changes. After this, the rest of Team Q4 has no memory of them ever using their previous clans. For all purposes, the world has collectively forgotten the Royal Paladins and Kagerou.

Later, Tatsunagi announces the commencement of the Vanguard Fight Circuit on television, and issues an invitation to Team Q4, prompting them to enter the Circuit. Takuto keeps a close eye on all of the participating teams as the Singapore stage of the Circuit develops, up until the semifinals where Sendou Aichi and Christopher Lo clash.

Appearing before the two of them in a vision of Cray while simultaneously shutting down outside access to the Singapore stage's arena, Takuto draws out Aichi's dormant PSY Qualia. Simultaneously he awakens Chris', and sits back to watch their fight unfold.
Spoilers end here.

Universal Notes: Takuto's surname contains the kanji for stand up (the tachi in tachigare; 立) and calm or lull (凪).

Decks and Play Style

Tatsunagi fights using a Gold Paladin deck, backed by powerful limit break skills which overwhelm his opponents. Takuto's cards are associated with superior calls and the use of highbeast units to support his knights.

Rides 66-Current: Great Silver Wolf (11/50 cards)
Grade 0

x1 Grassland Breeze, Sagramore (FVG)
x1 Silent Punisher CT
x1 Weapons Dealer, Gwydion DT
Grade 1
x1 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
x1 Evil Slaying Swordsman, Haugan
x1 Sleygal Dagger
x1 Blessing Owl
Grade 2
x1 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
x1 Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion
x1 Charging Chariot Knight
Grade 3
x1 Great Silver Wolf, Garmore

Citations and External Links
1. "立凪タクト." Kero Kero Ace Vol. 52 May 26 Mar. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <http://cf-vanguard.com/information/0326_kerokero/>.