Vanguard Zero | Gavrail and Friends

Today's Card for for JP December 29 is Holy Seraph, Raphael.

It's from the upcoming set, Soul Strike Against the Supreme

During the showcase on Vanguard's Youtube Channel some other cards were revealed too.

Here are the card effects

Holy Seraph, Raphael

Grade 4 | 15000+ Power | G Unit

VC GB2: [G Persona Blast] to Recover 1 Damage.

Black Shiver, Gavrail

Grade 3 | 11000 Power | Trigger Unit (ANY)

VC GB2: When a card is placed in your damage zone, during that turn, this unit gains the following ability: "VC: All your front row units get Power+2000."

VC: When your G Unit Strides, [Counter Blast 1] to look at the top 3 cards of your deck and put 1 card to your damage zone and call 1 card from your damage zone. If you called a face-down card, turn the card put into your damage zone face down.

VC: When placed, this unit gains Power+3000 until end of turn.

Nurse of Broken Heart

Grade 2 | 9000 Power | Normal Unit

RC GB1: When a card is placed in your damage zone, during that turn, this unit and your vanguard gain Power +2000.

Dreamlight Unicorn

Grade 2 | 8000 Power | Normal Unit

RC: When placed, [Counter Blast 2] to recover 1 damage RC: When this unit leaves the RC, put the top card of your deck into your damage zone. RC: Resist

Doctroid Refros

Grade 0 | 4000 Power | Trigger Unit (STAND)

RC GB1: [Counter Blast 1 and return this unit to the deck] to return 1 card from the damage zone to the deck. Place the top card of your deck to your damage zone and draw 1 card. This card can only be used once per turn including other cards with the same name.

Mobile Ward, Healing Palace

Grade 3 | 11000 Power | Trigger Unit (ANY)

VC/RC: GB1 When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, [Counter Blast 1] to look at the top 3 cards of your deck and put 1 card to your damage zone. Call 1 card from your damage zone. If you called a face-down card, turn the card put into your damage zone face down.

Thoughts

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It's almost a 1 to 1 port from the TCG to Zero. Of course, with Refros being an exception. Because you know, there's a reason why that card is restricted to 1 in Premium format.

Say what you will but I think immediately implementing a hard 1/turn on Refros was a good choice.

But anyway, Gavrail's Stride Skill is like Gurguit but on steroiods, you not only have a choice among the top 3 cards from your deck, but also from your damage zone.

This will help you establish a board with intercepts more consistently.

Gavrail's GB2, is similar to Shamsiel and will help with tank hits but mostly those those that ban sentinels. If you manage to heal a lot and proc GB2 while keeping your damage low, the ability will also help you fend off consecutive attacks from clans like Nova Grappler, Aqua Force and Royal Paladin... Especially Aqua Force.

The downside to the GB2 is of course, it doesn't work if you're at 5 damage.

An opponent may employ rush tactics against you but it also gives you more cards in the damage zone for you to play with.

Also to help keep your damage to a minimum you have, of course, Raphael, Dreamlight Unicorn and access to another Heal Trigger.

Raphael will be an annoying unit for your opponent - instead of dealing at least 6 damage to you to win, it may potentially go up to 8.

At late game, Raphael, Gavrail and Broken Heart can make it so that you can comfortably survive your opponent's upcoming turn. You can take 1 damage while buffing yourself with about 2000-6000 power depending on your set-up.

You can see how Rin did this vs Tokoha in Vanguard G but spoiler alert, she still lost due to Neo Nectar's absurd numbers.

Even at 1, Dreamlight Unicorn still poses a risk because you're losing on 1 intercept.

I also would rather give that slot for another G2 unit given there are many good Grade 2 units for Angel Feather.

In the video we have seen Black Slice, Harut at RRR rarity so I'm guessing she'll also be an exact port of her TCG Counterpart.

The downside I am finding is that you can't abuse Broken Heart and Gavrail's defense as much as you can in the TCG because of the intercept mechanic. The opponent will eliminate Broken Heart first before a vanguard blow is dealt. So if you really want to get that +4K buff per damage, put her in the back row so you have less things to worry about.

Another downside, well, it may not be a downside to some, is that now there are too many good combos to choose that the space wouldn't allow for.

Here are some supporting units to help you build around Gavrail.

For Grade 3s, you're expected to Stride most of the time anyway, so I just have a few selections.

Chief Nurse, Shamsiel/ The Phoenix, Calamity Flame

Shamsiel is my main choice for a back-up Grade 3.

Not only because I'm biased towards the chief, but also because I appreciate her defensive potential and fits my style of play.

It helps that she's already 11k in JP.

The Phoenix, Calamity Flame works similar but can also be triggered at the rear-guard circle.

If you still want to opt for other back-ups, we have celestials.

Angel Feather Legion

It helps that Batarel and Malchidael share a legion mate. Which means you can run like only 2 of Asmodel just for the sake of not decking out but it will shrink your G2 Space.

If you would choose, pick Batarel to max at 4 because she gives you a free unit from the damage zone to conserve your hand.

Emergency Celestial, Danielle

Danielle's ability to call herself from the damage zone is amazing.

An intercept who can potentially extend the battle is super good.

You can have Danielle and Harut in the same deck for more chances of extending the battle phase but be wary of overcrowding your Grade 2s.

The Nociel Series

Of course, the most important support of the Angel Feathers.

Well, according to me, at least.

They have the same effect to swap out cards from your hand and the drop zone. They allow you to exchange your G2s or G1s for the PG, Stride Fodder or Heal that you checked. The swap is also an indirect countercharge if you chose to get a face-down card in the damage zone.

Thousand Ray, Pegasus

Yep. Only the Grade 1. Wouldn't recommend Million Ray given the Grade 2 lineup is already that cluttered.

Thousand Ray is there mostly as a reliable booster. He's a good grade 1 ride if you manage to pick him up early.

My starter of choice would be Sunny Smile Angel because healing is good.

For Trigger, I'd go for 8 Draws, 1 Refros and 4 Heals because you know, the swaps are a +0 and the additional cards the draws give are really valuable. It gives more chances to get your key cards and more options when swapping.

G Units are a no-brainer. Uriel and Raphael are staple. If you chose to play Celestial Back-up, get Mikhael.

Of course, these are my own opinions based on my own experience and the info I currently have. It will most likely change when I get to try the deck myself.

If there's one thing left to say is be wary of timing out during your Main Phase. This is also why I try to avoid super technical combos because they eat up a lot of time especially in AF where you spend a lot of time choosing cards.

That's it. What are you excited about the upcoming sets? Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!˜