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Characters / Cardfight!! Vanguard Cray - Dragon Empire

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Cardfight!! Vanguard Character Index
United Sanctuary | Dragon Empire | Star Gate | Dark Zone | Magallanica | Zoo | Other

Characters appearing in the Collectible Card Game of Cardfight!! Vanguard, which is set on "an Earth-like planet" known as Cray. This page contains characters whose clans are part of the Dragon Empire nation.

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Kagero

    In General 
The Kagero are a group of fire dragons that rule the roost in Dragon Empire. They function as the Aerial Assault Squad.

They focus on nullifying the opponent's rear-guards, using skills that force rear-guards to retire or preventing Intercepts. In turn, they gain additional power when an opponent's Rearguard is successfully put into the Drop Zone.

The Kagero keyword is Blaze: at the start of an attack on your turn, if you have more rear-guards than your opponent, your Vanguard becomes blazing for the rest of the turn, with other skills activating only if your Vanguard is blazing.

In the V-Series, they are mostly the same as before, strong retire abilities with skills that supplement or are reinforced by retires alongside powerful Vanguards. Their Imaginary Gift is Force.

Individual Units

    Blademaster 

Dragonic Blademaster

Forms: Dragonic Blademaster/Dragonic Blademaster "Kouen"/Supreme Heavenly Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Blademaster "Taiten"/Dragonic Blademaster "Souen"

You want to try taking on my blue dragon blade at full power!?
The crescent moon will now be clad in flames......
This is the blade that surpasses the limits...take this! Red Dragon Twin Prison Sword!
An invincible vision is born from the unrivaled blade!
The twin sword stance with no openings unleashes an infinite number of blades.

  • Doppelgänger Attack: The Vision Token called through the ability of the V-series Blademaster cards takes the form of an illusory clone of Blademaster as depicted in its artwork. This is reflected in its ability to perform drive checks when attacking as a rear-guard, effectively giving the player a second vanguard for the turn.
  • Dual Wielding: Blademaster dual wields swords in its "Taiten" and "Souen" forms.
  • Mass Card Removal: The V-series Dragonic Blademaster as well as its "Souen" version share the ability to retire all opposing rear-guards at once with their second skill.
  • Master Swordsman: He is called Blademaster for a reason and was so strong that his invasion of the United Sanctuary was only stopped due to the Stride of Gablade.

    Dauntless 

Dauntless Drive Dragon

Forms: Dauntless Drive Dragon/Dauntless Dominate Dragon "Яeverse"

Overcome the despair! If you do, I shall bestow upon you the dragon's powers!
Enlighten the weak of their feebleness... that is the duty of the strong.

    Dumjid 

Dumjid

Forms:Flare Trooper, Dumjid/Flare General, Dumjid Valor

Don't worry. I'll make it worth your while.
I'll not let him down again!

  • The Atoner: His flavor text as Dumjid Valor implies that he regrets working for Gyze and the pain he brought to his host, Saori.
  • Future Badass: Dumjid Valor is a future possibility in which the became the general of the Flare Troopers to atone for his crimes under Gyze.
  • Pint Sized Power House: He refined his defense to the extreme, which allowed him to survive encounters against other dragons and giants.

    Nouvelle Vague 

Nouvelle Vague

Forms: Transcendence Dragon, Dragonic Nouvelle Vague/Transcendance Divine Dragon, Dragonic Nouvelle Vague L'Express

The moment of calamity has arrived, Catastrophe Coagulation!
The flame of calamity, signals the manifestation of a new age.

  • Gratuitous French: "Nouvelle Vague" and "L'Express" are french for "New Wave" and "The Express" respectively.
  • Limit Break: Transcendance Dragon, Dragonic Nouvelle Vague has the ability.
  • Person of Mass Destruction: He can retire ALL of the opponent's rear-guards at once.
  • Physical God: It's literally a god among dragons. Its stride form is even called a Divine Dragon.
  • Power Nullifier: He can negate your opponent's Triggers during your turn.
    • L'Express does it as well, but only if the opponent has at least five damage.
  • Shields Are Useless: When he attacks, your opponent can't defend with Grade 0s.
    • L'Express prevents the opponent from blocking with Grade 1s instead.
  • Shrouded in Myth: Even Cray's deities don't know if Nouvelle Vague still exists.

    Overlord 

Dragonic Overlord

Forms: Dragonic Overlord the End; Dragonic Overlord "The Яebirth"; Perdition Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord the Great; Dragonic Overlord "The X"; Supreme Heavenly Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord "The Ace"; Dragonic Overlord "The Legend"; Dragonic Overlord "The Destiny"; Supreme Heavenly Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord "The Purge"

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dragonic_overlords.PNG
Left: Original, The End, "the Яebirth". Center: "The Ace". Right: The Great, "The X", "The Legend"
Burn, flame of despair! Eternal Flame
We have arrived. The sought after destination on the road to become the strongest!
Put an end to all. Come forth, Eternal Apocalypse!
Awaken, flames of apocalypse! Eternal Flame Rebirth!
Burst, flame of perdition! Eternal Explosion!
But, to gain strength... means to cross each other's path once more.
Now, the flame of apocalypse is resurrected.
This is the immortal apocalypse! Eternal Blaze!

The commander and strongest general of Kagero, and the dragon who stands above all the dragons, bearing the title of "Overlord". One of the three great heroes who fought in the war against Shadow Paladin, as well as one of the three generals who got captured by Void after it. Considers Blaster Blade his rival.

  • BFS: Has one in all of its forms. In some, he even has two of them.
  • Bling of War: The Яebirth is covered in gold armor.
  • Blood Knight: Will do anything just to get stronger to settle things with its rivals.
  • Cast from Hit Points: His Super Mode is generated by burning up his life-force.
  • Deep Sleep: As an effect for burning up its life force to become The End, Dragonic Overlord falls into an unwakeable sleep after the events of Season 1.
  • Disney Death: The upper echelons of the Empire think it is dead, and even devise a plan to "dispose" off its remains.
  • Dual Wielding:
    • The End has four arms and it dual-wields a pair of burning swords, and a pair of massive guns!
    • The same for the Яebirth
    • Coupled with Fun with Acronyms, Dragonic Overlord The Great was hilariously nicknamed DOGE, mere hours after the release of its skill. It's real.
  • Flaming Sword: The End and the Яebirth wield two.
  • Gone Horribly Wrong: Link Joker wanted to try and Reverse Overlord, but they didn't count on him hijacking Void's power and using it for himself.
  • Hand Cannon: The two guns The End and the Яebirth use.
  • He's Back!: The entire point of the Яebirth is this. After foiling Link Joker's attempt to Reverse him by taking their power for himself, Overlord returns to settle things with Blaster Blade.
  • Hot Wings: In all of his forms
  • Kill It with Fire: His skill, Eternal Flame, lets him wipe out the entire enemy frontline.
  • Limit Break: In his Break Ride incarnation and the Яebirth.
  • Lonely at the Top: Invoked symbolically by the cost of the Яebirth's Limit Break, which requires you to Lock all of your rear-guards.
  • Lost in Translation: The Яebirth's name is a pun, as in Japanese phonetics, 'Reverse' and 'Rebirth' sound exactly the same. Obviously, this pun doesn't work in English.
  • Morton's Fork: It seems that Dragonic Overlord "The Cross" took a lesson from Maelstrom Reverse and now gives one. Either the opponent let it hit to let its Legion Mate, Dragonic Overlord The End's persona blast go off and restand, or guard it to let it's own persona blast go off and retire 2 of their rear guards.
  • Multi-Armed and Dangerous: As the End, the Яebirth, and the Great, Dragonic Overlord has four arms.
  • Our Dragons Are Different: A flame dragon who has four arms in some of its forms.
  • Overly Long Name: At 48 characters, Perdition Imperial Dragon, Dragonic Overlord the Great is the longest name of any card in Vanguard.
  • Proud Warrior Race Guy: To the point he burns out his own life just to be strong enough to fight one last battle against his greatest rivals.
  • Red Baron: "The Crimson Reaper" and "The Wind of the Apocalypse".
  • Sealed Badass in a Can: Was sealed away after his last battle as the End, until Link Joker's failed attempt to Reverse him caused him to return as the Яebirth.
  • The Power of Friendship:
    • Dragonic Overlord the Great can Legion with Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame.
    • Dragonic Overlord "The X", meanwhile, Legions with Dragonic Overlord the End. That's right, he Legions with himself.
    • Considering that Dragonic Neoflame was created from the excess of power overflowing from Dragonic Overlord "The Great", you could say that Overlord "The Great" legions with himself too.
  • There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Eternal Flame. Dragonic Overlord The End ups the ante with Eternal Apocalypse. One of only two cards in the game (at the time) capable of dealing 6 or more damage by itself. And then there's the Яebirth, which can literally guarantee itself two attacks at 21000 Power every single turn.
  • Worf Effect:
    • Despite its huge success in topping real life tournaments, in the original series The End has only managed to win one fight and that was during a montage in which Kai defeated Shion with Overlord's various forms. Averted in the V Series where it managed to win its first fight without problem.
    • The Яebirth fully averts this by curbstomping Ren in its first appearance.
    • Also averted with Dragonic Overlord the Great, who beats Gaillard in his first appearance.

Sub-Clans

    Embodiment 

Tahr

Forms: Emodiment of Spear, Tahr/Spear of the Flame Dragon, Tahr

Penetrate!
A spear superior to a dragon's fang. There are none who disparage it.

  • Artifact of Doom: A cursed spear that increases its user's combativity and vengefulness, turning them into a manica that will fight until their death.
  • Clingy MacGuffin: The lore for its Spear of the Flame Dragon card reveals that, once equipped, the spear cannot be removed until has drained all of its wearer's life force or said wearer dies.

Bahr

Forms: Embodiment of Armor, Bahr/Armor of the Flame Dragon, Bahr

In the East, there is said to exist an armor which possesses demonic powers.
The power of the embodiment event attracts the dragons.

  • Artifact of Doom: The armor Bahr wears comes from an evil deity, which takes away the wearers kind heart.
  • Clingy MacGuffin: The lore for its Armor of the Flame Dragon card also adds that the armor cannot be removed until has drained all of its wearer's life force or said wearer dies.

Aleph

Forms: Dragon Knight Aleph/Embodiment of Victory, Aleph

Let's go! Diablo Trans!
Hear the roar of my soul! Take this, the Diablo Buster!!

  • All Your Powers Combined: His Embodiment of Victory form is essentially Aleph armed with Tahr and Bahr.
  • Awesome, but Impractical: It's original skill was a counterblast of four, which only gave it 3000 power and 1 critical.
  • The Bus Came Back: Aleph's two cards were printed in the very first booster pack, but unlike Bahr and Tahr which later received new cards and retrained versions, it would take over a decade for Aleph to receive a new card.
  • Game Play And Story Integration: As noted above, Embodiment of Victory is Aleph wielding the Tahr spear and Bahr armor. Dragon Knight, Aleph's ability let the player superior ride into Embodiment of Victory at the cost of putting Bahr and Tahr into the soul.
    • Somewhat Downplayed with the V-series retrain of Embodiment of Victory can superior ride itself from hand by putting Bahr and Tahr into the soul but this can only be done if the vanguard is Lahm or another Embodiment of Victory.
  • Required Secondary Power: Both versions of Embodiment of Victory have the ability to soulblast cards in order to countercharge a number of cards equal to the counterblast cost of their Power and critical-increasing skill, enabling the player, making the latter less of a drain on the player's ressources.

Embodiment of Shield, Lahm

No weapons needed. They will be defeated with this shield.

    Perdition 
A group of warriors carrying the name "Perdition", who rallied together to discover the truth behind the change in history.

Perdition units associate the clan's retire focus with column-based effects.

Vortex Dragon

Forms: Vortex Dragon/Perdition Dragon, Vortex Dragonewt/Supreme Heavenly Emperor Dragon, Vortex Desire

The hellfire that whirls through the battlefield, Burning Hell!
The hellfire of Perdition that runs through the battlefield, Burning Purgatory!
The hell-fires of purgatory, will scorch the earth endlessly.

The leader of the advance troop of Kagero and the special force "Perdition".

  • Awesome, but Impractical: Vortex Dragon, like other megablast units requires a cost of five counterblast and 8 soulblast to use its skill..
  • Kill It with Fire:
    • Vortex Dragon's skill Burning Hell can retire three rearguards.
    • Then there's Dragonewt's Trinity Crimson Flame which retires two grade 2 or lower rearguards and deals one damage to the opponent if they have four or less.
  • The Leader: In the future it originated from, Vortex Desire became the leader of the "Perdition" Special Force after Dragonic Overlord got promoted.
  • Names to Run Away from Really Fast: His skill is called Burning Hell.
  • The Power of Friendship: As Vortex Dragonewt, he can perform legion with Perdition Dragon, Whirlwind Dragon.
  • Super-Toughness: His scales are descibed as being hard enough to serve as heavy armor.
  • Took a Level in Badass: As Perdition Dragon, Vortex Dragonewt.

    Seal Dragons 
The Seal Dragons are dragons who were improsoned by the emperor for various reasons. They are all kept in the Magma Prison under direct suprvision and under twice as many locks and seals than the normal prisoner. However several of them were discharged from the prison temporarily in order to help out agains the invasion of Link Joker with some of their seals weakened as well.

Seal Dragons focus much of their attention on anti Grade 2 tactics with preventing intercepts, retiring Grade 2s, Retiring other units and replace them with a Grade 2 in a position they would otherwise should not be.

In General

  • Boxed Crook: They were all released and there seals weakened in order for them to help out against the war against Link Joker.
  • Crippling Overspecialization: Zig-zagged. They focus solely on retiring Grade 2 units, however they have various skills to force the opponent to call Grade 2 units for them to retire.
  • Gameplay and Story Integration: Their lore states their seals limit their powers, which is reflected in the game through their skills being only able to retire Grade 2 units.

Blockade

Forms: Seal Dragon, Blockade/Hellfire Seal Dragon, Blockade Inferno

Vanishing Field! Begone, mere underlings!
This cursed magic will now break the seal and destroy the fiery prison!

  • Ascended Extra: From just another Grade 3 unit to the leader of his own sub-clan.
  • The Dreaded: The higher-ups were reluctant to break the seal for a reason.
  • Power Limiter: But it's been broken to fight back against the invading 'Link Joker'.
  • Took a Level in Badass: The original Blockade's skill was to prevent the opponent from intercepting, Blockade Inferno can retire them.

Tachikaze

    In General 
A clan of warmachine dinosaurs who double as personnel carriers. They act as the Ground Troops for the Dragon Empire.

They tend to sacrifice their own units as a cost for their high-powered attacks, but compensate with skills that call replacement units from the deck.

In addition to replacement units, Ancient Dragons call retired units back to the field.

The Tachikaze keyword is Engorge: When a unit with Engorge attacks, you may retire one or more of your rear-guards to have the attacking unit become engorged for the rest of the turn, and like Blaze, certain skills activate if you have an engorged unit.

In the V-Series, they now come with Armed Equip Gauge, allowing Rear Guards to have cards under them like soul to pay for skills alongside their old mechanic of removing themselves to empower their skills with skills to replenish those losses. Their Imaginary Gift is Accel.

Individual Units

    Gaia 

Gaia

Forms:Emperor Dragon, Gaia Emperor/Frenzy Emperor Dragon, Gaia Desperado/Great Emperor Dragon, Gaia Dynast/New Destruction Emperor, Gaia Devastate

  • Demoted to Extra: In the V-Series Reboot, it was replaced by God Hand Dragon as Rive's ace, which also resulted in Tachikaze being Out of Focus.

Sub-Clans

    Ancient Dragons 
The Ancient Dragons were the first Dinodragons to have existed on Planet Cray. In order to survive a cataclysm, they went into slumber underground. They would later awaken during Link Joker's invasion of Cray.

In General

  • Luck-Based Mission: The True Ancient Dragon all share the ability to, once per turn, increase their critical by 1 if the vanguard's drive check reveal a Front trigger. When the older Ancient Dragon cards were remade for the V-series, they continued this trend by having a skill that let them put the top card of the deck as an equip gauge for themseleves should the player reveal a trigger unit during drive check.

Ancient Dragon, Tyrannolegend

In the distant past, there was a legendary dragon which devoured everything.

  • Extreme Omnivore: Will eat anything, whether it's organic or inorganic.
  • Gatling Good: Is equipped with a pair of Gatling guns on his back.
  • Limit Break: The original version had this ability.
  • Luck Manipulation Mechanic: The V-series Tyrannolegend has the ability to put a Front trigger from the drop zone on top of the deck at the cost of discarding a card. As the Ancient Dragons now have abilities that require Trigger units to be revealed during drive checks, this is rather useful.
  • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: By retiring three Ancient Dragon rear-guards, Tyrannolegend to gain 10000 Power and a critical. Its V-series counterpart can retire one rear-guard after attacking to draw a card.

Spinodriver

FormsAncient Dragon, Spinodriver/Eradication Ancient Dragon, Spinodriver "Яeverse"

Dinodragons will evolve, getting stronger with each passing moment.

  • The Corruption: Received a "Яeverse" version in the V-series.
  • Limit Break: The original Spinodriver was Tachikaze's Break ride unit. The second ability of Spinodriver "Яeverse" references this by requiring the player to have at least four damage in order to activate it.
  • Super Mode: Eradication Ancient Dragon, Spinodriver "Яeverse" is a Cross Ride unit and having his non-corrupted version in the soul will enable its first skill to activate an additional two times.

    Rex 

Tyrant Deathrex

Tear it apart, Tyranno-Fang!

Destruction Dragon, Dark Rex

It's still not enough...... Let me eat you too!

Nubatama

    In General 
A group of ninja beasts and dragons. They act as the Dragon Empire's Black Ops, using their stealth skills to carry out covert assassinations.

In their original incarnation, they gained additional power when you had more cards in your hand than your opponent, supplementing this tactic with skills that forced your opponent to discard. However, this build was discontinued due to balance concerns and superseded by the Murakumo clan until they were reintroduced years later.

Their new speciality following their reintroduction is using the Bind Zone to manipulate the opponent's field and hand, removing cards the opponent could use to defend themselves. Typically, the bound cards would return to their owner's hand at the end of the turn but some Nubatama units have abilities that allow for the opponent's bound cards to be moved to the drop zone in order to make the card loss permanent.

Nubatama's keyword is Afterimage: When your opponent puts a card into their hand from the Bind Zone, if you have six or fewer cards in your hand, you may return a rear-guard with Afterimage to your hand. They later gained a second keyword in Dominate, which allows them to control an enemy unit and force them to attack their own allies.

In the V-Series, they put emphasis on bouncing cards to hand alongside ways to protect their hand leaving the opponent fewer targets to attack. They also have their own tokens units which can intercept from the backrow for additional defense or used to copy the abilities of opposing cards. Their Imaginary Gift is Protect.

Clan-wide Tropes

  • From Nobody to Nightmare: After their reintroduction the clan still had very low showing. Then came G NEXT that introduced the Dominate ablitiy....
  • Hit-and-Run Tactics: Nubatama gained the ability to do this thanks to their Afterimage keyword which returned units with it to the hand when a bound card was returned to the opponent's hand, allowing a player to call units to the field to attack with and get them back at the end of the turn. This continues in the V era where returning units to the hand has become one of the clan's main mechanic.
  • Mind Control: Their Dominate Keyword. It forces an enemy Rearguard to attack their own Vanguard, incrasing the number attacks without risking their own units. They can also force call units from their drop zone or hand to ensure it goes off.
  • Ninja Log: This is the basis for Nubatame's Evil Decoy Tokens. Fittingly, some of the units that can create these tokens have abilities that return themselves or another unit to the hand and call Evil Decoy Token(s) in their stead or even redirect an attack they were the target of to a token already present on the field.

Individual Units

    Hanzo 

Hanzo

Forms: Evil Stealth Dragon Akatsuki, Hanzo/Evil Stealth Dragon Tasogare, Hanzo

Let's begin the struggle of life! Evil Skill, Darkness Ill-dawn!

  • Hit-and-Run Tactics: When a "Hanzo" vanguard attacks, Evil Stealth Dragon Tasogare, Hanzo can be called from the soul by retiring a Grade 0 rearguard with an additional 20000 Power and the ability to attack from the backrow before going back at the end of the turn, leaving an Evil Decoy Token in its stead.
  • Person of Mass Destruction: Evil Stealth Dragon Akatsuki, Hanzo's skill can return any number of rearguards on the field to their owner's hand but if the opponent has a grade 3 or greater vanguard, they will have to discard a number of card equal to the number of units returned to their hand by this ability, leaving their field empty and their hand without any additional card.
  • Status Buff: Both versions of Hanzo have an ability that can increase their power by 20000. In addition, Tasogare's first skill grants all of the player's rear-guards an additional 5000 Shield for the turn.
  • Support Party Member: Evil Stealth Dragon Tasogare, Hanzo has no abilities that can be activated while it's on the vanguard circle. Instead, he's meant to support his Akatsuki counterpart by being able to be rode at the beginning of the opponent's turn to provide additional Protect markers for the players and Shield for their rearguards or by being able to be called from soul when the vanguard attacks in order to be able to attack more than three times during the turn.
  • Temporal Theme Naming: Hanzo's forms have a day to night theme in regards to their names with Akatsuki meaning dawn and Tasogare translating to dusk.

    Houzan 

Houzan

Forms: Martial Artist of Laceration, Houzan/Master Swordsman of Successive Victory, Houzan/Sword Saint of Invincibility, Daihouzan

The match this time, it ended way before the blades were drawn.

  • The Dreaded: Martial Artist of Laceration's flavor text indicate that many came to fear Houzan due to his skill with the sword.
  • Master Swordsman: Houzan's Grade 2 card is literally called such with the Grade 3 Daihouzan taking it further by being called "Sword Saint of Invincibility".
  • Single-Stroke Battle: Alluded to in the Grade 2's flavor text.
"A stroke of the sword. Being able to kill the enemy with just that, is the mark of a true swordsman."
  • Status Buff:
    • Master Swordsman of Successive Victory can gain 10000 Power with its ability whenveer it attacks while the opposing vanguard is at least Grade 2. Additionally, should it be rode upon a Grade 3 while the opponent
    • Daihouzan can gain 5000 Power and an extra drive through his first ability with the possibility og gaining an extra 10000 Power plus a critical should the opponent have a Grade 3 or greater vanguard and no more than one rear-guard.
  • Took a Level in Badass: Houzan's cards depicts his growth from a young martial artist to an older and more experienced "Sword Saint".

    Shiranui 

Forms: Stealth Dragon, Shiranui/Demon Stealth Dragon, Shiranui "Oboro"/Blazing Demonic Stealth Dragon, Shiranui "Zanki"/Evil-eye Hades Emperor, Shiranui "Mukuro"/Evil-eye Vidya Emperor, Shiranui "Rinne"

The third eye. That, is the power of taboos
The strong will dominate the weak. That is the principle of the world.
Answer now. Souls of my dead companions.
Fleeting destiny......It is time to regain all that's lost!
Overcoming the repeated shame, we will dominate our fate!

  • Anti-Villain: Cares deeply for his clansmen and his villainous actions are only due to his desire to end the conflicts caused by the connection of Earth and Cray. He's even innocent of the murder of Dagda.
  • An Arm and a Leg: In the war against the "Void Relics", he lost his right arm and left leg to Gyze after retrieving Luard.
  • Ascended Extra: Shiranui was first released in the side booster THE RECKLESS RAMPAGE, which contained cards not used by any anime character and largely served as a way to give a few otherwise-neglected clans the support they needed. Come G Next, Shiranui is the main villain.
  • The Atoner: He became this upon realizing that he was just an Unwitting Pawn to Gastille.
  • Big Bad: Though he's just a pawn for Gastille, defeating him is the focus of the G Next story arc.
  • Brainwashed and Crazy: His power of Domination allows him to control those who meet the gaze of his evil eye. His murder of Luard's adoptive brother was actually due to being put under such a state by Gastille.
  • Create Your Own Hero: The entire reason that Luard gains the power that he does is Shiranui killing his adoptive brother, giving Luard a motivation to grow as strong as possible while seeking revenge. [[spoiler: Except Shiranui wasn't actually responsible.
  • From Nobody to Nightmare: Shiranui was once a mediocre ninja of little renown with no evil eyes. But when the rest of his clan was slaughtered and he met Atagolord, one of Gastille's cronies, he gained the power of Domination and rapidly rose through the ranks in exchange for doing Gastille's bidding.
  • Heel–Face Turn: Due to his experiences while Diffriding Kazumi, Shiranui repents upon his return to Cray and submits himself to be killed by Luard despite the fact that he never actually committed the murder Luard blames him for.
  • Screw Destiny: Shiranui despises the fact that due to the connection of Earth and Cray, human fighters can affect the lives of those on Cray, leading him to try and sever the bond to stop more units being killed in the conflicts these fights inspire.
  • Touched by Vorlons: Initially just a regular ninja dragon, Shiranui was bestowed the power of Domination by Gastille.
  • Unwitting Pawn: Towards Gastille who used lies to convince him to fight for Gyze.

    Voidmaster 

Steath Dragon, Voidmaster

Turn to stone! Ninjitsu, Evil-Eye Prison!

  • Our Dragons Are Different: A three-eyed dragon ninja.
  • Weak, but Skilled: The original Voidmaster was a Grade 3 with only 9000 power when 10000 and 11000 were the norm but was one of the few cards who could make the opponent discard.

Sub-Clans

    Magatsu 

Magatsu Storm

Forms: Covert Demonic Dragon, Magatsu Storm/Covert Demonic Dragon, Magatsu Storm "Яeverse"

I'm gonna show you the rage of the falling stars! Now, Meteor Shower!
Overconfidence will lead to a shock! Meteor Shower!
I am born from the void. And none shall stop the evil storm that follows.

Originally part of the Murakumo clan, the Magatsu units were changed to be part of the Nubatama clan from the V-Series onward.

  • Blow You Away: As indicated by their names, the Magatsu units use Wind-based ninjutsu techniques.
  • The Corruption: Magatsu Storm has received a "Яeverse" version as part of Clan Collection Volume 4.
  • Discard and Draw: While the Magatsu cards still focus on Hit-and-Run Tactics regardless of the clan, the newer cards that are part of Nubatama focus on returning units to the hand after they've attacked rather than the Doppelgänger Attack tactics used by previosu cards.
  • Doppelgänger Attack: While part of the Murakumo clan, the Magatsu ride chain focused around this aspect of that clan's plasytyle by calling copies of their current vanguard to attack with.
  • The Leader: Storm is the 13th and current Kage who leads the Magatsu clan, succeeding Magatsu Typhoon.
  • Status Buff:
    • Magatsu Storm's Limit Break ability gives it an additional 3000 Power. Furthemore, it gains a continuous increase of 1000 Power with its second ability if Magatsu Gale is in the soul.
    • Its V-series counterpart gives the units it calls with its second ability an additional 5000 Power.
    • Magatsu Storm "Яeverse"'s first ability locks all of the player's non-Magatsu rear-guards before giving all of the player's remaining units an additional 5000 Power.
  • Support Party Member: Unlike other "Яeverse" units, all of Magatsu Storm "Яeverse"'s abilities can only be used while it's a rear-guard and are designed to synergize with the regular Magatsu Storm's own.

Murakumo

    In General 
Another group of ninja beasts and dragons, introduced as a sister clan to Nubatama. Unlike the Nubatama, their stealth skills are used for gathering intelligence and other spy work.

They use a hit-and-run cloning tactic, calling copies of Units from the deck and then returning those Units at the end of the turn. This allows them to apply temporarily field pressure without actually having to waste their hand, leaving them with more options to defend with.

The Murakumo keyword is Shadowstitch: skills which activate when your unit's attack fails to hit.

In the V-Series, cloning is still a major mechanic with some cards acting as another's clone. They also have a strong emphasis on restraining the opponent, usually with the Arrester cards. Their Imaginary Gift is Accel.

Clan-wide Tropes:

  • Doppelgänger Attack: Calls copies of their units from the deck to attack with.
  • Gratuitous Ninja: The second ninja clan in vanguard, after the Nubatama.
  • Self-Duplication: Their main mechanic is to call multiple copies of their units from the deck for a turn. As of the V era, they lost the "for a turn" part.
  • Suspiciously Similar Substitute: To the Nubatama, due to both being ninja clans. Their mechanics are different however.

Individual Units

    Hyakki 

Hyakki Vogue

Forms Covert Demonic Dragon, Hyakki Vogue "Яeverse"/Ambush Demon Stealth Dragon, Hyakki Vogue Nayuta/Covert Demonic Dragon, Hyakki Vogue

Assemble, horde of demons, Stealth Arts, Nightmare Trooper!
The number of clones, exceeded billions in a blink of an eye.

  • The Ace: Nayuta is considered to be the most powerful ninja.
  • Artificial Human: While other Reverse units were Cray natives corrupted by Link Joker, Hyakki Vogue is Link Joker's first succesful attempt at cloning a Cray life form.
  • Future Badass: Nayuta, the reincarnation of the original Hyakki Vogue.
  • Limit Break: Hyakki Vogue "Яeverse" has the ability.
  • The Mole: He is actually the result of the Link Joker's first successful attempt to clone Cray's inhabitants, and was planted in the Dragon Empire to spring into action when the invasion began.
  • Reincarnation: After being defeated by Dauntless Drive Dragon, Hyakki Vogue melted into the ground and was eventually reborn as a baby dragon who, in the distant future, would end up becoming Hyakki Vogue Nayuta.
  • Self-Duplication: He can call another copy of himself when called as the vanguard.

    Shirayuki 

Shirayuki

Forms Fantasy Petal Storm, Shirayuki/Cosmetic Snowfall, Shirayuki/Six Flowers of Phantasms, Shirayuki/Sweetly Smilling Ice Petal, Shirayuki

Perish like a dream. Stealth arts, White Out!
A light dream. White snow that melts in the palms of the hand.

  • An Ice Person: Possess a demonic aura that will freeze those who approaches her.
  • Divergent Character Evolution: The original Shirayuki was a stronger version of Mandala Lord but with the downside of its skill being restricted by Limit Break. With the reboot, both units were remade and Mandala Lord now focuses on the cloning aspect of the clan while Shirayuki kept her focus on decreasing the power of her opponent's unit.
  • Epic Hail: Cosmetic Snowfall, Shirayuki's skill lets the player a unit with the same name as the card serving as her heart.
  • Future Badass: Shirayuki's future self is a mountain deity that not even the upper echelons of the Empire can control.
  • Kill It with Ice: Anyone who approaches her will be frozen to the bone.
  • The Leader: Not of the clan itself but Shirayuki is the chieftain of all Yuki-Onna belonging to the Dragon Empire.
  • Limit Break: The original version of Fantasy Petal Storm has the ability.
  • Master of Illusion: Her appearance as a young girl is just an illusion.
  • Mystical White Hair: Silver hair actually, but it fits otherwise.
  • Our Ghosts Are Different: A yuki-onna who was born from the souls of mountain gods and dying dragons. She's also refered to as a demon in her lore.
  • Physical God: Cosmetic Snowfall, Shirayuki is described as a deity in her lore.
  • Status Effects: The Shirayuki units, with the exception of Cosmetic Snowfall, all share the ability to temporarily decrease the power of an opposing unit. While the original Shirayuki's skill was for defensive purposes only, later units can also use their power-decreasing ability during their turn.
  • Yuki-onna: She is one of these creatures, and dresses all in white.

    Yasuie 

Yasuie

forms: Stealth Rogue of Revelation, Yasuie/Ambush Demon Stealth Rogue, Yasuie Tenma/Stealth Rogue of the Trial, Yasuie/Rogue Deity of the Third Realm, Yasuie Gouma/Dharma Deity of the Five Precepts, Yasuie Genma

Now that you have listened to the teachings, you should no longer have doubts.

A ninja who was cursed by a demonic blade, only for him to exorcise the demon living in said weapon and become able to control the sword's power. He was the first member of Murakumo to become able to perform Stride.

  • Animate Dead: The V-series version of Yasuie is able to call units from the drop zone if they have the same name as a unit on the player's field.
  • Evil Weapon: Yasuie's sword was originally this due to hosting an evil demon within it until Yasuie managed to exorcise it.
  • Shout-Out: Yasuie's name is that of a character from the Kabuki play Kanjinch8D with several of his cards's flavor text being quotes from said play.

Sub-Clans

    Dueling Dragons & Arrester 

Dueling Dragon, ZANBAKU

No one escapes from my sword! Bakugeki Slash!

  • Epic Hail: The retrained version of ZANBAKU has the ability to call any Arrester unit from the deck.
  • Our Dragons Are Different: A dragon swordsman who belongs to a clan of ninja.
  • Took a Level in Badass: The original ZANBAKU forced the opponent to discard a card if they wanted to ride a unit while they already had a Grade 3 vanguard. Its retrained version in the V era can flat-out prevents the opponent from riding instead on top of gaining power and calling an Arrester unit from the deck.

Narukami

    In General 
A clan of lightning dragons who rose to the top spot of the Empire after the Kagero were sealed.

After the sealed Kagero clan was freed, the Dragon Empire took steps to ensure the same thing would never happen again and incorporated certain members of the Narukami into a new secret fighting force: the Eradicators, whose mission is to literally "eradicate" any and all enemies of the Empire.

Following the end of the war against Link Joker in the alternate timeline, the Eradicators had taken massive casualties, reducing their effectiveness as a fighting force. To compensate, a lone warrior assembled troops from across the Empire to form a new special division within Narukami, the Brawlers, who exercise their considerable might to demonstrate the Empire's military power.

Like Gold Paladins, their initial gameplay mechanics were incredibly close to their predecessors, deploying a high-power offensive game that specialised in targeting Rearguard units. Later, the clan distinguished themselves (to a limited extent) by focusing on abilities that increased their own Critical score. G-Booster Set 5 introduced a new tactic where Narukami units aimed to Bind enough opposing Units to activate their "Lightning Strike" ability and power up.

Eradicators, at first, retired units to increase their power and critical scores setting up for powerful finishes. Later, they focus on mass retire strategies and gaining bonus power through that.

Brawlers have a high retire rate as well not only through their own retire abilities but through heavy beatdown tactics as well allowing their Big Bang Knuckle legion to fight nearly the whole field.

In the V-Series, Narukami's skills combine both abilities from the original series and the G-Series, allowing units to remove their opponent's board via Bind and gaining advantage through an open field, even manipulating the opponent's formations to force an open field. Their Imaginary Gift is Accel

Clan-wide Tropes:

  • Divergent Character Evolution: As noted above, the clan started as a Suspiciously Similar Substitute but eventually grew to have its own mechanical identity by having a more aggressive playstyle and access to more varied methods of removal instead of relying solely on retire effects.
  • Herd-Hitting Attack: While the mechanic is not exclusive to them, Narukami tend to get more units that can attack multiple units in a single attack compared to other clans.
  • Shock and Awe: Nearly every unit of the clan is lightning themed in appearance or attacks with the clan's name literally meaning "Resounding God", which is associated with thunder.

Individual Units

    Dungaree 

Dungaree

Forms Sealed Demon Dragon, Dungaree/Demon Conquering Dragon, Dungaree "Unlimited"

I'll show you! Even the followers cower in fear of the sealing powers!
My body feels light... shall I proceed to conquer the skies

    Kaiser 

Vermillion

Forms Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion/Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion "THE BLOOD"

I will take on all of you at once! Vermillion Thunderbolt!
This is the last thunder. Let's go, Vermillion Catastrophe!

  • Cast from Hit Points: THE BLOOD is the result of Vermillion drinking the blood of the Dragon Emperor, which gives him great strength at the cost of his life.
    • The BLOOD's V series retrain actually gives this a mechanical interpretation: his second skill allows him to Soul Blast a Kaiser card to gain a drive for the rest of the turn at the cost of taking a damage at the end of the turn.
  • Expy: A blatant one of Dragonic Overlord: Leader of his respective part of the Dragon Empire's military, has a skill to wipe out the opposing front row, base 11000 Power, wings of the respective element, royal title, skills that requires a Counter Blast 3, sacrifices his own life to achieve a Super Mode...
  • Foreshadowing: In Set 5 the wording for Perfect Guard Units was changed so that they only protected one Unit at a time. A set later, Vermillion has the power to attack multiple Units at once...
  • Limit Break: One of the Units with the new mechanic.
  • No Kill like Overkill: His skill lets him attack the entire opposing frontline at once. Notable in that he's the first card with such an ability.
  • The Power of Friendship: Becomes the Legion Mate to Dragonic Kaiser Crimson in the second G Booster Set.
  • Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Towards Dragonic Overlord due to them both being Kai Toshiki's avatars and having a skill that allows them to attack the entire opponent's front row, which costs three counterblasts.

Dragonic Kaiser Crimson

Now is the time, to surge forth together, Crimson Thunderbolt!

  • Balance Buff: Created as one to Vermillion to make Vermillion's skill more practical and easier to use.
  • Boring, but Practical: His skill at first doesn't seem like much since all he does, other than a small power up ability, is just make the cost for his Legion Mate's skill completely free. However said Legion Mate is Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion. Vermillion attacks the opponent's entire front row. This also isn't a one time ability. There Is No Kill Like Overkill indeed.
  • Limit Break: The first Legion unit to have a Limit Break ability.
  • The Power of Friendship: Being a Legion unit, he thrives on this. However, unlike most Legion Leaders, his own skill is meant to completely support his Legion Mate's skill, to the point it seems that he's the Mate instead.
  • True Companions: To Vermillion.

    Vanquisher 

Dragonic Vanquisher

Sub-Clans

    Brawlers 

Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Dragon

Forms:Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Dragon/Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Buster/True Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Turbo

The punch that rocks the heavens and earth! Howl, Big Bang Knuckle!
After we send these guys flying, you're next!

  • Divergent Character Evolution: The original Big Bang Knuckle Dragon was, as stated below, a stronger, Legion-based version of Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion with both able to attack all of the opponent's front row units in one attack. However, Big Bang Knuckle's Cross Ride and Stride forms's abilities allow the player to choose the units to attack, giving them more flexibility compared to Vermillion who remains limited to attacking the whole front row but gained a Legion unit of its own that makes its skill free to use.
  • Expy: Ability-wise, of Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion with both possessing a skill that let them gain power and attack the front row at once with the main difference being that Vermillion needs Limit Break 4 to use it while Big Bang Knuckle needs to be in Legion.
  • Heroes Fight Barehanded: Like the other Brawlers, Big Bang Knuckle doesn't use weapons when fighting.
  • There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Like Vermillion, he can attack the entire frontrow in one attack. Big Bang Knuckle Buster can attack four units at once.
  • The Powerof Friendship: To unlock his full power, he must Legion with Big Bang Slash Dragon.
  • Super Mode: Big Bang Knuckle Buster is Big Bang Knuckle Dragon's evolved form obtained after sparing with Big Bang Slash.

    Eradicators 

Vowing Sword

Forms Thunder Break Dragon/Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon/Eradicator, Vowing Saber Dragon "Яeverse"

Break the dark clouds! Barbaric Thunder Break!
Go forth, lightning of destruction! Lightning Overbreak!
Looks like you are the ones... who should be eradicated.

  • Ascended Extra: Game-wise, anime-wise and lore-wise. As Thunder Break, it was only seen in Kai's damage zone and was never even used at all, it didn't have much of a role during the War of Liberation wherein it was completely overshadowed by Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion. But as Vowing, not only does it have a prominent role in the game as the 1st Narukami Break Ride, but it has more appearances in the anime and a larger role the current official lore. It's even the first unit to gain a Crossbreak ride.
  • Call-Back: He greatly resembles Amber Dragon Eclipse.
  • The Corruption: Vowing Saber Dragon Я has been corrupted by Link Joker.
  • Dual Wielding: Saber Dragon Я
  • Limit Break: Chronologically one of the first two Units to have this ability.
  • Person of Mass Destruction: As Saber Dragon Я, he can retire all of the opponent's rear-guards just for being Crossbreak ridden and using his Limit Break twice.
  • Super Mode: Vowing Saber Dragon Я

Dragonic Descendant

Forms Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant/True Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant "Zillion"/Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant "Sigma"

Sword of Apocalypse... I'll teach you what that means!
Take this... the absolute power that lies beyond the apocalyse!
It's been recorded in the apocalypse that you will be destroyed here.

  • Cool Sword: His sword is one of the two Swords of Apocalypse, mighty treasures of the Dragon Empire.
  • I Am Not Left-Handed: If his attack fails to hit, he can discard three Eradicators to stand again with his Limit Break.
  • Meaningful Name: His V series retrain adds mechanical resonance to his name by allowing him to copy the skills of a Grade 3 Eradicator he rides over, thus descending from them.
  • Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Eradicator. Sword of Apocalypse isn't exactly a non-threatening name either.
  • Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Like Vermillion, one of Dragonic Overlord. He's even more blatant because his sword is very similar to Overlord's, along with having a skill to stand after attacking. Not to mention using his Especial Counterblast in addition to his Limit Break results in +5000 Power and standing costs a total of three counterblasts together, the same as Overlord.

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