News: New Years' Trio Festival 2013 Osaka Championship Results

Just today the first results of the commemorative New Years' Trio Festival were posted on CF-Vanguard, welcoming the new year with the opening to 2013's pro season. This event can be seen as a continuation of the Vanguard Fight Team Festival begun in January-February 2012; such team-based tournaments are the norm for beginning the new year. Today's results come from Osaka, a city home to many famous pro cardfighters like Kakuhara Misaki and 2012 National Runner-Up Kanamaru Makoto. While last year saw Royal Paladin, Shadow Paladin, Kagerou and Oracle Think Tank as the dominant decks of the time, this year is divided between Royal Paladin, Gold Paladin, Narukami and Oracle Think Tank decks.

An important development on the Narukami side is that the clan has a clear, distinct identity now due to the onset of Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD." Beyond being a less powerful clone of Kagerou, Narukami has struggled to establish itself as both a distinct and viable clan within the past year, but now pro decks are finally settling into a niche for it as multiple grade 3 rides become an exploitable center of the deck's strategy in addition to its retire strategy. "THE BLOOD" has proved to be the most popular deck of those presented today, though he has not quite lived up to The End's legend as a format-defining unit.

Much to the chagrin of classical purists, this is also the first time in history that Blazing Lion, Platina Ezel-based Gold Paladin has really proved itself in a professional environment. Criticized for being a blank card at less than five damage, and for his strain on counterblast, Platina has been a difficult unit to gauge and build around effectively. His lack of a persona blast or soulblast-based boosting unit for the rearguard has also weakened the idea of running both the crossride and its preceding ride at four, a trait unique to this particular generation of crossride. The format of team tournaments however, better lends itself to the emergence of a wider variety of decks, as less powerful builds have more of a chance in the trio fights than in the juniors' and seniors' divisions. This was demonstrated in the last 2012 championship, where the Dark Irregulars, Pale Moon, waning Shadow Paladin and pre-crossride Aqua Force all placed within the team tournaments despite being heavily unpopular in the other two divisions.

The Blaster deck has also been firmly established as still kicking, with a variant having emerged that similar to the now-restricted Tsukuyomi variant runs just four grade 3s, using a grade 2 lineup which consists exclusively of Blaster units and Starcall Trumpeter to ensure that Wingal Brave's skill goes off. With one new pro, Tachibana Souten, going so far as to add a single Blaster grade 1 to the deck, this new variant is extremely dangerous. Blaster Blade Spirit seems to have replaced Gallatin altogether for the foreseeable future due to his compatibility with Wingal Brave, and his retire combo with Starcall Trumpeter. While the deckbuild does not seem to have been widely circulated prior to the Osaka tournaments, future events are projected to see a resurgence in Blaster decks due to Majesty Lord Blaster now having the winning qualities of both its past self and the restricted Tsukuyomi, with Blaster Blade Burst arriving at the end of January to replace Soul Saver Dragon in the deck. For some fighters, concern over further amendments to the restricted list because of this indie deck potentially seeing mass adaption is already budding.

Of all these surprises however, the most directly shocking of all is that a possible revival of standardized three perfect defense is at hand; in a curious trend, two of the three A Block, all three B Block, one from C Block, and one Trio Championship deck from F Block have reverted to the old style of play, a model which was outmoded in the parallel English pro scene by the introduction of the limit breaks that are now endemic to the Japanese format. Until these tournament results came in, running four perfect defense cards was a nigh-unquestionable part of the tournament scene. How this will be resolved remains yet to be seen; the 2013 Trio Festival will pick up again further down the line with the Tokyo results.

New Year's Trio Festival 2013 Trio Championship, Osaka
A Block Championship Team
Gotou Hiroshi/後藤啓志
Phantom Blaster Overlord (Shadow Paladin)

Tokumitsu Kenta/徳満健太
Spectral Duke Dragon (Gold Paladin)

Kawachi Yoshirio/河内良弘
Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD" (Narukami)
B Block Championship Team
Tonoi Wataru/殿井渉
Blazing Lion, Platina Ezel (Gold Paladin)

Nakaya Haruhi/中矢一日
Battle Sister, Fromage (Oracle Think Tank)

Ueyama Naoki/上山尚樹
Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD" (Narukami)
C Block Championship Team
Maeda Atsushi/前田惇
Scarlet Witch, CoCo (Oracle Think Tank)

Hisano Masanori/久野雅徳
Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD" (Narukami)

Tachibana Souten/立華奏天 (Note; this name is most likely a pseudonym, lifted partially from the anime/light novel series "Angel Beats!" If this is their actual birth name, then they have supreme, all-surpassing luck.)
Blaster deck; Majesty Lord Blaster, Exculpate the Blaster with Soul Saver Dragon (Royal Paladin)
D Block Championship Team
Kubo Yoshinori/久保慶典
Blazing Lion, Platina Ezel (Gold Paladin)

Nakamura Koujiro/平岡晃次郎
Galactic Beast, Zeal (Dimension Police)

Umehara Shunei/梅原俊瑛
Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD" (Narukami)
E Block Championship Team
Anonymous/匿名
Scarlet Witch, CoCo/Battle Sister, Cookie (Oracle Think Tank)

Tanabe Kazuki/田辺一樹
Blaster deck; Majesty Lord Blaster with Soul Saver Dragon (Royal Paladin)

Matsushita Shin'ya/松下晋也
Spectral Duke Dragon (Gold Paladin)

F Block Championship Team
Sakagami Ryouta/阪上良太
School Hunter, Leo-pald (Great Nature)

Fujii Taichi/藤井太智
Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD" (Narukami)

Yagi Ryousuke/八木亮輔
Spectral Duke Dragon/Blazing Lion, Platina Ezel (Gold Paladin)

News: Trio Battle Results for Fighter's Road 2012 Nagoya, Hiroshima and Kanazawa

Below are the championship and runner-up teams for the Fighter's Road 2012 Trio Battle regional competitions. The three first-place teams below will go on to the national championship alongside five other teams, where one among them will be crowned as the strongest team of cardfighters in Japan.

These are the results for Nagoya, Hiroshima and Kanazawa. The outcome of the Fighter's Road events in Tokyo, Hakata, Sendai, Sapporo and Osaka has yet to be resolved.

Nagoya Regional Finals
Championship Team
Koyanagi Keita/小柳敬太
Grade 0
x1 Mecha Trainer
x4 Sonic Breaker CT
x4 Cheerful Lynx DT
x4 Cheer Girl, Tiara HT
x4 Silence Joker CT
Grade 1
x4 Wonder Boy
x3 Cheer Girl, Marylin
x4 Reckless Express
x1 Dudley Daisy
x2 Commander Gary Ganon
Grade 2
x4 Highspeed, Brakki
x4 Panzer Gale
x3 Field Driller
Grade 3
x4 Juggernaut Maximum
x4 Demonic Lord, Dudley Emperor

Yamamoto Reio/山本礼央
Grade 0
x1 Fullbau
x4 Grim Reaper CT
x4 Abyss Freezer DT
x4 Abyss Healer HT
x4 Death Feather Eagle CT
Grade 1
x4 Dark Shield, Mac Lir
x4 Black Sage, Charon
x4 Blaster Javelin
x1 Nightmare Painter
Grade 2
x3 Darkness Maiden, Macha
x4 Skull Witch, Nemain
x1 Blaster Dark
x4 Knight of the Void, Masquerade
Grade 3
x4 Phantom Blaster Dragon
x4 Phantom Blaster Overlord

Fujii Takaya/藤井貴哉
Grade 0
x1 Black Dragon Whelp, Vortimer
x4 Flame of Victory CT
x4 Silent Punisher CT
x4 Weapons Dealer, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Sommelier HT
Grade 1
x4 Halo Shield, Mark
x4 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
x4 Jet Black Harbinger, Vortimer
x1 Charjgal
x1 Silver Fang Witch
Grade 2
x4 Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane
x3 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
x4 Knight of the Dark Dragon, Vortimer
x1 Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion
Grade 3
x4 Spectral Duke Dragon
x3 Great Silver Wolf, Garmore

Runner-Up Team
Tosaki Tatsuya/都嵜龍矢
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x4 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x2 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
Grade 2
x2 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x3 Bellicosity Dragon
x2 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Murase Takuya/村瀬拓也
Grade 0
x1 Fullbau
x4 Grim Reaper CT
x4 Abyss Freezer DT
x4 Abyss Healer HT
x4 Death Feather Eagle CT
Grade 1
x4 Dark Shield, Mac Lir
x4 Black Sage, Charon
x4 Blaster Javelin
x2 Nightmare Painter
Grade 2
x2 Darkness Maiden, Macha
x3 Skull Witch, Nemain
x1 Blaster Dark
x1 Moonlight Witch, Vaha
x4 Knight of the Void, Masquerade
Grade 3
x2 Dark Mage, Badhabh Catha
x3 Phantom Blaster Overlord
x3 Dragonic Overlord The End

Koga Kenta/古賀健太
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave
x1 Future Knight, Llew CT
x1 Weapons Dealer, Govanon DT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Margal DT
x3 Alabaster Owl CT
x3 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Lake Maiden, Lien
x3 Toypugal
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x1 High-Dog Breeder, Akane
x4 Blaster Dark
x2 Starcall Trumpeter
Grade 3
x2 King of Knights, Alfred
x1 Solitary Knight, Gancelot
x1 Swordsman of the Explosive Flames, Palamedes
x4 Majesty Lord Blaster

Hiroshima Regional Finals
Championship Team
Hashida Hayao/橋田駿
Grade 0
x2 Wingal Brave
x4 Future Knight, Llew CT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x3 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Knight of Friendship, Kay
x1 Knight Squire, Alen
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 Blaster Dark
x1 Starcall Trumpeter
Grade 3
x4 Solitary Knight, Gancelot
x4 Majesty Lord Blaster

Suga Takaya/壽賀貴哉
Grade 0
x1 Fullbau
x4 Grim Reaper CT
x4 Abyss Freezer DT
x4 Abyss Healer HT
x4 Death Feather Eagle CT
Grade 1
x1 Gururubau
x4 Dark Shield, Mac Lir
x4 Black Sage, Charon
x1 Nostrum Witch, Arianrhod
x4 Blaster Javelin
x1 Nightmare Painter
Grade 2
x2 Darkness Maiden, Macha
x3 Skull Witch, Nemain
x1 Blaster Dark
x4 Knight of the Void, Masquerade
x1 Cursed Lancer

Grade 3
x3 Phantom Blaster Dragon
x4 Phantom Blaster Overlord

Nishijima Daiki/西島大貴
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x3 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
x1 Demonic Dragon Mage, Raksha CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x3 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x1 Flame of Promise, Aermo
x2 Flame of Hope, Aermo
Grade 2
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x2 Bellicosity Dragon
x3 Berserk Dragon
x2 Dragon Armored Knight
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Runner-Up Team
Ishida Rin/石田輪
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave
x1 Weapons Dealer, Govanon DT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Margal DT
x3 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Black Sage, Charon
x4 Lake Maiden, Lien
x2 Knight of Friendship, Kay
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 Blaster Dark
x4 Starcall Trumpeter
x2 Knight of Loyalty, Bedivere
Grade 3
x1 Solitary Knight, Gancelot
x4 Majesty Lord Blaster

Otani Hiroyuki/大谷裕之
Grade 0
x1 Godhawk, Ichibyoshi
x4 Lozenge Magus HT
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike CT
x4 Psychic Bird CT
x4 Battle Sister, Ginger CT
Grade 1
x4 Battle Sister, Chocolat
x3 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
x4 Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Tsukuyomi
x4 Dark Cat
Grade 2
x2 Silent Tom
x4 Goddess of the Half Moon, Tsukuyomi
x4 Oracle Guardian, Red Eye
x4 Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime
Grade 3
x4 Goddess of the Full Moon, Tsukuyomi

Nishimura Shunsuke/西村駿佑
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x3 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
x1 Red Gem Carbuncle DT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x2 Flame of Hope, Aermo
Grade 2
x3 Burning Horn Dragon
x4 Bellicosity Dragon
x4 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End


Kanazawa Regional Finals
Championship Team
Nakajima Yuuichi/中嶋裕一
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x1 Dragon Dancer, Monica DT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x3 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x1 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x1 Flame of Promise, Aermo
Grade 2
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x3 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Kawata Kazuyoshi/川田一喜
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave
x1 Weapons Dealer, Govanon DT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Margal DT
x3 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x2 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Toypugal
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 Blaster Dark
x4 Starcall Trumpeter
Grade 3
x3 Swordsman of the Exploding Flames, Palamedes
x4 Majesty Lord Blaster

Iida Yuki/飯田裕貴
Grade 0
x1 Godhawk, Ichibyoshi
x4 Lozenge Magus HT
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike CT
x2 Dream Eater DT
x4 Psychic Bird CT
x2 Battle Sister, Ginger CT
Grade 1
x4 Battle Sister, Chocolat
x4 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
x1 Weather Girl, Milk
x4 Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Tsukuyomi
x1 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist
x2 Dark Cat
Grade 2
x4 Silent Tom
x4 Goddess of the Half Moon, Tsukuyomi
x3 Oracle Guardian, Red-Eye
x2 Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime
Grade 3
x4 Goddess of the Full Moon, Tsukuyomi

Runner-Up Team
Horikawa Takashi/堀川崇
Grade 0
x1 Blaujunger
x3 Three Minutes DT
x4 Red Lightning CT
x1 Fighting Battleship, Prometheus CT
x4 The Gong ST
x4 Wall Boy HT
Grade 1
x3 Clay-doll Mechanic
x4 Twin Blader
x4 Death Army Guy
x4 Blaupanzer
Grade 2
x2 Genocide Jack
x4 Magician Girl, Kirara
x3 Death Army Lady
x2 Blaukruger
Grade 3
x4 Asura Kaiser
x3 Beast Deity, Azure Dragon

Horikawa Kanata/堀川奏太
Grade 0
x1 Crimson Lion Cub, Kyrph
x4 Flame of Victory CT
x1 Grassland Breeze, Sagramore
x4 Silent Punisher CT
x4 Weapons Dealer, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Sommelier HT
Grade 1
x2 Sleygal Dagger
x4 Halo Shield, Mark
x4 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
x3 Charjgal
Grade 2
x3 Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane
x4 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
x2 Mage of Disaster, Trip x2 Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion
Grade 3
x2 Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel
x2 Holy Mage, Manawydan
x4 Great Silver Wolf, Garmore

Horikawa Eiki/堀川詠生
Grade 0
x1 Future Knight, Llew CT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Margal DT
x3 Alabaster Owl CT
x2 Wingal Brave
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x1 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Toypugal
x1 Knight of Friendship, Kay
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x1 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x4 Blaster Dark
x2 Starcall Trumpeter
Grade 3
x2 King of Knights, Alfred
x2 Swordsman of the Explosive Flames, Palamedes
x3 Majesty Lord Blaster