Friday, July 19, 2013

News: FR2013 Sapporo and Nagoya Decklists, Dudley Emperor and Raging Form Proliferate, Ancient Dragons Debut in Pro Play

The last regional decklists for Fighter's Road 2013 have gone out, confirming that the first place cardfighters from Sapporo and Nagoya's Open division tournaments, Nakamura Kousuke and Fukuno Hyouga, seized their respective titles using Dudley Emperor and Raging Form Dragon. Second place in Sapporo went to Nishihita Naoki's Descendant deck, while second in Nagoya went to Sasaki Daichi and his own Emperor build. Although outnumbered due to their late arrival, the sleeper hit of Dudley Emperor and surprising success of Raging Form have left a serious impact on the Japanese format. The combined deck representation from the winning lists of these two events shows 6 Dragonic Descendant, 5 Raging Form Dragon, 4 Liberator Garmore and 3 Dudley Emperor, 1 Ancient Dragon, 1 Majesty Lord Blaster, 1 Dragonic Overlord The End, 1 PR♥ISM, 1 Nebula Lord and 1 dedicated Vowing Saber Dragon “Я” decks. Following these tournaments, Raging Form Dragon's price has risen to being one of the most expensive RRRs in the Japanese format, at 2100 JPY/approximately 21 USD. Meanwhile Diarmuid, Nebula Lord and the original Luquier are all tied behind him at 1500 yen.

Sapporo's Open tournament also marks the pro debut of Tachikaze's Ancient Dragons build, with Satou Yuu's Tyranno Legend making it into the top 4. The actual brackets for which decks will be used in the fight for the national title is not set in stone, as the cardfighters competing may change their decks prior to the championship finals in August.

Surprisingly, the winning team from Sapporo's Open class team tournament included a cardfighter emulating the reigning North American national champion Kaden Kawakami. Jinma Nobuoaki ran an even more extreme variation of Kawakami's DOTE model, with twelve stand triggers instead of six. The grade 3 makeup is relatively rare for the current Japanese format, as most Kagerou cardfighters would prefer Dauntless Drive Dragon as a supporting unit in order to give their deck a limit break and guaranteed extra drive checks, but Jinma instead stuck with the classic, crossride-centric model.

Meanwhile the Nagoya regional has marked the return of established pro cardfighter Koyanagi Keita, who also appeared in Nagoya's previous summer team tournament during FR2012. Koyanagi has since retooled his Dudley Emperor deck to follow the current Bad End Dragger trend, but also further expanded upon it using the search card Jelly Beans and the Dudley series units to bypass gradelock by being able to search for his grade 1 and 2 rides directly. The strategy was previously seen in the Sendai team tournament, where Katou Hirohisa similarly applied it for better overall consistency. Notably, Koyanagi's team included another veteran, Fujii Takaya, who ran a Spectral Duke Dragon deck in the previous year but is now using a PR♥ISM deck. As at FR2012, Koyanagi's team has a Shadow Paladin cardfighter onboard as their lead player, and they have once again come out as Nagoya's first place team.

Sapporo Open Class Regional Tournament
Regional Champion: Nakamura Kousuke/中村航介
Grade 0
x1 Mecha Trainer (FVG)
x4 Cheer Girl, Tiara HT
x4 Cheerful Lynx DT
x4 Sonic Breaker CT
x4 SIlence Joker CT
Grade 1
x4 Wonder Boy
x4 Reckless Express
x2 Cheer Girl, Marylin
Grade 2
x4 Highspeed Brakki
x4 Panzer Gale
x3 Devil Summoner
x3 Treasured, Black Panther
Grade 3
x3 Bad End Dragger
x4 Demonic Lord, Dudley Emperor
x2 Juggernaut Maximum

Runner-up: Nishihata Naoki/西畑直希
Grade 0
x1 Ambush Dragon Eradicator, Linchu (FVG)
x4 Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Demonic Dragon Eradicator, Seiobo HT
x4 Divine Spear Eradicator, Pollux CT
x4 Eradicator Dragon Mage DT
Grade 1
x2 Rising Phoenix
x4 Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld
x4 Eradicator, Demolition Dragon
x3 Iron Blood Eradicator, Shuki
x2 Eradicator of the Ceremonial Bonfire, Castor
Grade 2
x4 Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon
x3 Fiendish Sword Eradicator, Cho-ou
x3 Dragonic Deathscythe
Grade 3
x2 Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant
x4 Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon
x2 Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon

Doctor O Prize: Satou Yuu/佐藤優
Grade 0
x1 Ancient Dragon, Babyrex (FVG)
x4 Ancient Dragon, Ornithohealer HT
x4 Ancient Dragon, Titanocargo DT
x4 Ancient Dragon, Firepteryx CT
x4 Ancient Dragon, Dinodile CT
Grade 1
x3 Ancient Dragon, Paraswall
x3 Ancient Dragon, Gattling Allo
x4 Ancient Dragon, Iguanagorg
x4 Ancient Dragon, Tri-Plasma
x1 Sonic Noah
Grade 2
x4 Ancient Dragon, Dinochaos
x4 Anicent Dragon, Beamankylo
x3 Ancient Dragon, Cryolopher
Grade 3
x4 Ancient Dragon, Spinodriver
x3 Anicent Dragon, Tyranno Legend

Sapporo Junior Class Regional Tournament
Regional Champion: Fukuno Hyouga/福野氷河
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x1 Knight of the Future, Llew CT
x1 Margal DT
x2 Quiet Sage, Sharron ST
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
Grade 1
x2 Flash Shield, Iseult
x2 Flashing Jewel Knight, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x2 Knight of Friendship, Kay
x1 Pongal
x1 Lake Maiden, Lien
x1 Borgal
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 Blaster Dark
x2 Knight of Loyalty, Bedivere
x1 Star Call Trumpeter
Grade 3
x2 Majesty Lord Blaster
x2 Swordsman of the Explosive Flames, Palamedes
x3 Alfred Early
x1 King of Knights, Alfred
x1 Soul Saver Dragon

Runner-up: Sasaki Daichi/佐々木大智
Grade 0
x1 Spark Kid Dragoon (FVG)
x4 Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Demonic Dragon Eradicator, Seiobo HT
x4 Zephyr Eradicator, Hayate ST
x4 Eradicator Dragon Mage DT
Grade 1
x1 Rising Phoenix
x3 Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld
x1 Wyvern Guard, Guld
x2 Eradicator of the True Flames, Kougaiji
x2 Eradicator of the Ceremonial Bonfire, Castor
x2 Eradicator, Demolition Dragon
x1 Thunder Fist Eradicator, Doui
x1 Red River Dragoon
x1 Dust Storm Eradicator, Tokou
Grade 2
x1 Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon
x3 Twin Gun Eradicator, Hakushou
x1 Homing Eradicator, Rochishin
x2 Eradicator, Thunder Boom Dragon
x1 Assassin Sword Eradicator, Susei
x1 Dragonic Deathscythe
x2 Demonic Dragon Berserk, Garuda
Grade 3
x2 Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant
x3 Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon
x2 Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon
x1 Eradicator, Electric Shaper Dragon

Doctor O Prize: Murono Kaitei/室野快帝
Grade 0
x1 Frontline Revenger, Claudas (FVG)
x4 Healing Revenger HT
x4 Freezing Revenger DT
x4 Grim Revenger CT
x4 Revenger, Air Raid Dragon CT
Grade 1
x4 Dark Revenger, Mac Lir
x4 Morale Revenger, Dorin
x4 Transient Revenger, Masquerade
x1 Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod
x1 Revenger of Malice, Dilan
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Dark Revenger
x4 Nullity Revenger, Masquerade
x3 Black Clothed Revenger, Tartu
Grade 3
x4 Revenger, Raging Form Dragon
x4 Illusion Revenger, Mordred Phantom

Vanguard Fight High School 2013 Summer, Open Class Sapporo Regional Tournament Championship Team
Imagawa Hirosuke/今川博介
Grade 0
x1 Ambush Dragon Eradicator, Linchu (FVG)
x4 Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Demonic Dragon Eradicator, Seiobo HT
x4 Divine Spear Eradicator, Pollux CT
x4 Eradicator Dragon Mage DT
Grade 1
x2 Rising Phoenix
x4 Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld
x4 Eradicator, Demolition Dragon
x4 Eradicator of the Ceremonial Bonfire, Castor
Grade 2
x2 Twin Gun Eradicator, Hakushou
x2 Dragonic Deathscythe
x3 Fiendish Sword Eradicator, Cho-ou
x4 Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon
Grade 3
x4 Eradicator, Vowing Saber Dragon “Я”
x4 Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon

Saitou Takashi/齋藤隆
Grade 0
x1 Spring Breeze Messenger (FVG)
x2 Flame of Victory CT
x4 Liberator of Hope, Epona CT
x2 Strike Liberator CT
x4 Armament Liberator, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Liberator HT
Grade 1
x2 Barcgal Liberator
x4 Curved Blade Liberator, Josephus
x4 Little Liberator, Marron
x4 Halo Liberator, Mark
Grade 2
x3 Blaster Blade Liberator
x4 Liberator of the Flute, Escrad
x4 Liberator of Royalty, Phallon
Grade 3
x4 Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred
x3 Wolf Fang Liberator, Garmore

Jinma Nobuoaki/神馬伸昭
Grade 0
x1 Red Pulse Dracokid FVG)
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Flame Seed Salamander ST
x4 Lizard Soldier, Gan-lu ST
x4 Lizard Runner, Nafud ST
Grade 1
x2 Seal Dragon, Kersey
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragon Monk, Gojo
Grade 2
x2 Wyvern Strike, Tejas
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x2 Berserk Dragon
x2 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End
x4 Dragonic Overlord

Vanguard Fight High School 2013 Summer,  Student-only Class Sapporo Regional Tournament Championship Team
Kuwamura Daichi/桑村大地
Grade 0
x1 Spark Kid Dragoon (FVG)
x4 Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Demonic Dragon Eradicator, Seiobo HT
x4 Divine Spear Eradicator, Pollux CT
x4 Eradicator Dragon Mage DT
Grade 1
x3 Rising Phoenix
x4 Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld
x4 Eradicator, Demolition Dragon
x3 Iron Blood Eradicator, Shuki
Grade 2
x1 Twin Gun Eradicator, Hakushou
x4 Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon
x4 Fiendish Sword Eradicator, Cho-ou
x2 Dragonic Deathscythe
Grade 3
x2 Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant
x4 Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon
x2 Eradicator, Sweep Command Dragon

Chisaki Tetsuya/地崎鉄也
Grade 0
x1 Star-vader, Dusttail Unicorn (FVG)
x4 Star-vader, Stellar Garage HT
x4 Star-vader, Nebula Captor DT
x4 Star-vader, Weiss Soldat CT
x4 Star-vader, Meteoliger CT
Grade 1
x2 Opener of the Black Door
x4 Demonic Claw Star-vader, Lanthanium
x4 Demonic Bullet Star-vader, Neon
x4 Barrier Star-vader, Promethium
Grade 2
x3 Soaring Star-vader, Krypton
x4 Furious Claw Star-vader, Niobium
x4 Unrivaled Star-vader, Radon
Grade 3
x4 Star-vader, Infinite Zero Dragon
x4 Star-vader, Nebula Lord Dragon

Den Ryouhei/伝涼平
Grade 0
x1 Creeping Dark Goat (FVG)
x4 Healing Revenger HT
x4 Freezing Revenger DT
x4 Grim Revenger CT
x4 Revenger, Air Raid Dragon CT
Grade 1
x4 Dark Revenger, Mac Lir
x4 Morale Revenger, Dorin
x4 Transient Revenger, Masquerade
x1 Revenger of Malice, Dilan
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Dark Revenger
x4 Nullity Revenger, Masquerade
x4 Black Clothed Revenger, Tartu
Grade 3
x4 Revenger, Raging Form Dragon
x4 Illusion Revenger, Mordred Phantom

Nagoya Open Class Regional Tournament
Regional Champion: Hirago Masaki/平子真幸
Grade 0
x1 Creeping Dark Goat (FVG)
x4 Healing Revenger HT
x4 Grim Reaper CT
x4 Grim Revenger CT
x4 Revenger, Air Raid Dragon CT
Grade 1
x4 Dark Revenger, Mac Lir
x4 Morale Revenger, Dorin
x4 Transient Revenger, Masquerade
x1 Revenger of Malice, Dilan
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Dark Revenger
x4 Nullity Revenger, Masquerade
x4 Black Clothed Revenger, Tartu
Grade 3
x4 Revenger, Raging Form Dragon
x4 Illusion Revenger, Mordred Phantom

Runner-up: Nakamae Shuuta/中前秀太
Grade 0
x1 Mecha Trainer (FVG)
x4 Cheer Girl, Tiara HT
x4 Cheerful Lynx DT
x4 Sonic Breaker CT
x4 SIlence Joker CT
Grade 1
x4 Wonder Boy
x4 Reckless Express
x3 Cheer Girl, Marylin
x3 Medical Manager
Grade 2
x4 Highspeed Brakki
x4 Panzer Gale
x4 Devil Summoner
Grade 3
x3 Bad End Dragger
x3 Demonic Lord, Dudley Emperor
x2 Juggernaut Maximum

Doctor O Prize: Yamane Takashi/山根誉史
Grade 0
x1 Little Fighter, Cron (FVG)
x4 Liberator of Hope, Epona CT
x4 Strike Liberator CT
x4 Armament Liberator, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Liberator HT
Grade 1
x4 Barcgal Liberator
x2 Liberator, Flare Mane Stallion
x4 Little Liberator, Marron
x4 Halo Liberator, Mark
Grade 2
x4 Liberator of the Flute, Escrad
x4 Blaster Blade Liberator
x4 Liberator of Royalty, Phallon
Grade 3
x4 Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred
x3 Wolf Fang Liberator, Garmore

Nagoya Junior Class Regional Tournament
Regional Champion: Niwa Kensuke/丹羽健輔
Grade 0
x1 Eradicator, Blade Hang Dracokid (FVG)
x4 Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Demonic Dragon Eradicator, Seiobo HT
x4 Divine Spear Eradicator, Pollux CT
x1 Eradicator Dragon Mage DT
x3 Eradicator, Blue Gem Carbuncle DT
Grade 1
x2 Suppression Eradicator, Dokkasei
x3 Wyvern Guard, Guld
x1 Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld
x4 Eradicator, Demolition Dragon
x2 Iron Blood Eradicator, Shuki
x4 Eradicator of the Ceremonial Bonfire, Castor
Grade 2
x2 Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon
x4 Supreme Army Eradicator, Zuitan
x4 Homing Eradicator, Doui
Grade 3
x2 Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant
x1 Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon
x2 Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon
x2 Eradicator, Vowing Saber Dragon “Я”

Runner-up: Gotou Yuusuke/後藤優介
Grade 0
x1 Spark Kid Dragoon (FVG)
x4 Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Demonic Dragon Eradicator, Seiobo HT
x4 Divine Spear Eradicator, Pollux CT
x4 Eradicator Dragon Mage DT
Grade 1
x2 Rising Phoenix
x4 Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld
x4 Eradicator, Demolition Dragon
x4 Iron Blood Eradicator, Shuki
Grade 2
x4 Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon
x3 Fiendish Sword Eradicator, Chou-ou
x4 Homing Eradicator, Rochishin
Grade 3
x2 Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant
x1 Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon
x3 Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon
x2 Eradicator, Vowing Saber Dragon “Я”

Doctor O Prize: Honda Naoki/本田直己
Grade 0
x1 Liberator, Cheer Up Trumpeter (FVG)
x4 Liberator of Hope, Epona CT
x4 Strike Liberator CT
x4 Armament Liberator, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Liberator HT
Grade 1
x2 Barcgal Liberator
x3 May Rain Liberator, Bruno
x4 Curved Blade Liberator, Josephus
x2 Little Liberator, Marron
x2 Halo Liberator, Mark
Grade 2
x3 Blaster Blade Liberator
x3 Liberator of the Flute, Escrad
x2 Liberator of Royalty, Phallon
x2 Liberator, Bagpipe Angel
x2 Cloudy Sky Liberator, Geraint
Grade 3
x2 Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred
x3 Wolf Fang Liberator, Garmore
x3 Solitary Liberator, Gancelot

Vanguard Fight High School 2013 Summer, Open Class Nagoya Regional Tournament Championship Team
Shirai Yoshiyuki/白井克幸
Grade 0
x1 Frontline Revenger, Claudas (FVG)
x4 Healing Revenger HT
x4 Grim Reaper CT
x4 Grim Revenger CT
x4 Revenger, Air Raid Dragon CT
Grade 1
x4 Dark Revenger, Mac Lir
x4 Morale Revenger, Dorin
x4 Transient Revenger, Masquerade
x1 Sacriledge Revenger, Berith
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Dark Revenger
x3 Nullity Revenger, Masquerade
x3 Black Clothed Revenger, Tartu
x2 Skull Witch, Nemain
Grade 3
x4 Revenger, Raging Form Dragon
x4 Illusion Revenger, Mordred Phantom

Koyanagi Keita/小柳敬太
Grade 0
x1 Mecha Trainer (FVG)
x4 Cheer Girl, Tiara HT
x4 Cheerful Lynx DT
x4 Sonic Breaker CT
x4 SIlence Joker CT
Grade 1
x2 Wonder Boy
x3 Reckless Express
x3 Cheer Girl, Marylin
x1 UFO
x1 Commander, Garry Gannon
x1 Dudley Daisy
x2 Dudley Dan
Grade 2
x2 Highspeed Brakki
x1 Brave General, Zachary
x1 Treasured, Black Panther
x4 Dudley Mason
Grade 3
x4 Bad End Dragger
x3 Demonic Lord, Dudley Emperor
x2 Juggernaut Maximum
x3 Jelly Beans

Fujii Takaya/藤井貴哉
Grade 0
x1 Angelic Star, Coral (FVG)
x4 Drive Quartet, Flows HT
x4 PR♥ISM-Miracle, Adria
x4 PR♥ISM-Miracle, Canaria
x4 Drive Quartet, Shuplu CT
Grade 1
x3 Mermaid Idol, Sedna
x4 Mermaid Idol, Erie
x4 Fresh Star, Coral
x4 Mirror Diva, Biscayne
Grade 2
x1 PR♥ISM-Smile, Ligurian
x2 Girls Rock, Rio
x3 PR♥ISM-Promise, Celtic
x4 Shiny Star, Coral
Grade 3
x1 Eternal Idol, Pacifica
x4 PR♥ISM-Image, Vert
x3 Aurora Star, Coral

Vanguard Fight High School 2013 Summer,  Student-only Class Nagoya Regional Tournament Championship Team
Kyouen Seima/京円星磨
Grade 0
x1 Little Fighter, Cron (FVG)
x4 Liberator of Hope, Epona CT
x4 Strike Liberator CT
x2 Armament Liberator, Gwydion DT
x2 Flame of Victory CT
x4 Elixir Liberator HT
Grade 1
x1 Silver Fang Witch
x3 May Rain Liberator, Bruno
x2 Little Liberator, Marron
x4 Halo Liberator, Mark
x4 Curved Blade Liberator, Josephus
Grade 2
x4 Liberator of the Flute, Escrad
x2 Blaster Blade Liberator
x4 Liberator of Royalty, Phallon
x2 Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane
Grade 3
x4 Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred
x2 Solitary Liberator, Gancelot
x1 Wolf Fang Liberator, Garmore

Fushida Noriaki/藤田宜明
Grade 0
x1 Frontline Revenger, Claudas (FVG)
x4 Healing Revenger HT
x4 Freezing Revenger DT
x4 Grim Revenger CT
x4 Revenger, Air Raid Dragon CT
Grade 1
x4 Dark Revenger, Mac Lir
x4 Morale Revenger, Dorin
x4 Transient Revenger, Masquerade
x2 Buranbau Revenger
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Dark Revenger
x3 Nullity Revenger, Masquerade
x4 Black Clothed Revenger, Tartu
Grade 3
x4 Revenger, Raging Form Dragon
x4 Illusion Revenger, Mordred Phantom

Imani Michi/今仁道
Grade 0
x1 Spark Kid Dragoon (FVG)
x4 Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Demonic Dragon Eradicator, Seiobo HT
x4 Divine Spear Eradicator, Pollux CT
x2 Eradicator Dragon Mage DT
x2 Eradicator, Blue Gem Carbuncle DT
Grade 1
x3 Rising Phoenix
x4 Eradicator Wyvern Guard, Guld
x4 Eradicator, Demolition Dragon
x2 Iron Blood Eradicator, Shuki
x1 Eradicator of the Ceremonial Bonfire, Castor
Grade 2
x4 Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon
x3 Fiendish Sword Eradicator, Cho-ou
x4 Dragonic Deathscythe
Grade 3
x2 Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant
x4 Eradicator, Gauntlet Buster Dragon
x1 Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon
x1 Eradicator, Vowing Saber Dragon “Я”