DEFEND THE GENTLE ILLUSION… | DIVINEZ SEASON 5 EPISODE 4 REACTION | CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD

Okay so here’s a interesting thing, after looking at the set list there’s space for a brand new dark states deck so I think Erika will actually be using a new version of odium, possibly a dual nation card.

This guy especially since his Vanguard is very Narukami coded and his red hair and hair trigger anger reminds me of Naoki but a Naoki who never reunited with Aichi and learned Vanguard.

He’s if Naoki essentially took a darker path.

His Ace with it’s effects even Mirrors Armour Break Dragon one of Naoki’s ace units especially it’s V incarnation.

Man, GZ handle this wayyy better even that season is kinda mid

Yeah…I know Mikoto gonna lost 😂. But the fact that if you lost you basically out does make this high stakes for sure. Man Ryuga life really was unfortunate. But then again I think it speaks to the theme of this season as to: What is your true wish.

One gripe I have is that I actually kinda wish Ryuga didn’t have any holes and that he is truly feels that this Fantome is where he is happy cuz how mess up his previous one (ironically the one that make this happen is his own Father who force Ryuga himself to perfection), but they still lean on “He has that one Friend” 🤣😅. Writer, make your mind pal, you did that with Suo already, atleast don’t repeat that trope to Ryuga 🤣🤣. Friends are cool and all, but Family is important you know? I feel like they will send the wrong message that you can ditch your family for friend.

While I was watching this episode I was feeling bad for Ryuga during his flashback and then the moment where he punches the bully and the screen blacks out an ad starts playing and I just laughed so hard at the timing 🤣.

Ever since I saw Alphard’s design, I was stoked for this episode. Now it’s out, boy o boy am I happy for this guy, cause his song and design are killer.

When thinking of Alphard’s ability, I predicted an offensive skill if they wanted to do something with the standard retire. And what I love about him is that he’s Blangdmire on crack. Thundecrack to be precise. He plays like Aelquilibra in the power up sense but with some retire (he probably most likely has SB2 as the cost), but also does some Drum Bunker piercing damage with that lighting drill as a pseudo-Divine Skill, and I really liked the offensive philosophy shown in his deck by turning anger into power.

Ryuga really explodes, a pun on his Bakugo VA which you can really hear in his finishing move. From his sad history, he seems to be set up in a showdown against Akina based on what was presented since his friend Kaito (hearing that, I think of Yugioh Zexal) resembles Kenta, so that can probably put some thematic similarities between Akina. Parodies aside, I agree with your statement of Ryuga vs Michiru, since he’d love to face off against a relatively unknown fighter. But having him spar against Mikoto does make sense.

Sympathies for your Mikoto loss, but her downfall makes sense as a parallel to Ryuga. She plays a Lyrical deck around increasing your allies and powering 1 of them and hand size for some defensive options, a stark contrast to Ryuga’s self-Vanguard power up and field wipe, showing that regardless of how amazing the defense, Alphard can pierce through it. Character-wise, I hope she acts as a catalyst for Ryuga to reevaluate his views due to her also struggling initially and potentially getting avenged. No thoughts on her Mythisch, though.

Writing-wise, big things are being set up with this story, and it’s truly weird to have lil Sis (not sure if she’s Erika or Hikari, so I’ll just refer to her as Sis), but it now makes sense why Magnolia Fantome was showcased early. And this season’s definitely bringing back my childhood fears of the Reverse due to its Zombie-apocalypse stakes. While not as bad here, this episode truly makes the stakes of “Lose Your Consciousness or Lose Yourself” higher.

Overall, an episode worth the wait for, but just for Alphard. Hopefully he’ll be a threatening deck I’d like to play with some extra support. I can keep making the Alphard car puns by saying this Alphard “drives”.

Small notes:

– When Ryuga punches the guy, he starts with his right hand. Alphard’s weapon is on his right arm. Coincidence?
– Nao’s quote on Alphard’s glory skill “Is that even allowed?!”. Have you not seen Blangdmire do it before?
– Speaking of the glory skill, I’m glad they didn’t explain it like Blangdmire, cause that added to the surprise. We saw Mikoto drive check a useless PG, but it’s good they didn’t draw attention to it.

Here’s something really cool they could do have akina change sides. Like his resolve is already the weakest of all the verity fighters so have him take over the parabolic by choice after all the only problem he currently has with it is that not everyone is given a happy life so have him fix that himself make make akina and Fantôme Rezael the final boss of the season that Erica has to beat and convince to come back to verity.

Hello, it's me again. Did you had a nice week?

Well, today's episode was both sick and too serious and suspense. I would give 100000/100000.

First, let's go with the character, Fushimi Ryuga.

There are some homage with this character. It reminds me that Ren Suzugamori in the V Series was also the son of politician. He was also got traumatized by his parents and fall into Psyqualia and power and making him isolated from his friends but Tetsu stayed with him. But Ryuga have some differences. The reason is that he has made himself isolated. He had to talk with Kaito to solve the inner problem. I could understand Ryuga's background tragedy as there are really some families that has same situation as him. However, I must draw a line on him because he's just applying the yardstick as black and white, good and evil. I know Kurumi also has a problem but she is trying to communicate with them in peaceful way even though they know they cannot intersect each other. But Ryuga's attitude will only make as a enemy to each other. Otherwise, he also has really tragic and full of despair similar to Kai and Chrono, or Misaki. I could finally understand why he also wants Parallactic World to be real. Bushi made a character and voice actor quite good. With the voice actor, Bakugo is playing card games after My Hero Academia has over. Well, lol.

Second, the unit trivial part.

Piercing Thunder Dragon, Alphard "Fantôme"'s ability resembles Armor Break Dragon. Just manliness unit. Using all of his power and giving a strong heavy strike on opponent. It was also good to look at his special move named "Vanishing Ray Voltackler", just reminds me of Tempest Bolt Dragon's "Voltaic Kaiser Thunderbolt". Narukami's special move name is just sick you know.

Also the name, Alphard, is the brightest star in the constellation Hydra, the Water Snake. The name is derived from the Arabic al-fard (الفرد), meaning “the solitary one,” because it appears in a desolate area of the sky without other bright stars nearby. Which just a fitting name with the situation of being solitude. And his original clan is Brandt Gate as Ryuga used in fight with Kaito. Also, the Habitable Zone is Brandt Gate unit.

And, the Mythisch of Ever-changing, Urtineas. I don't know where her name has originated from.

Finally, the story part.

It was quite good episode to explain Ryuga Fushimi throughout the story. His background story was quite heavy and suspense. However, I was quite disappointed because I expected Mikoto and Megumi Fantôme fight as Magnolia and Krysrain has connection in the background story. Units and fights were awesome. But I still cannot agree to Ryuga, Because if he knows everything they are evil and invaders, then why don't he change? Mikoto kindly lend her hands for Ryuga but he is not trying to change himself. I can understand his situation. However, his attitude will just make enemies around. Making himself "Isolated."

My point for the January episodes, now all the Fantôme Fighters' situations are clear, they are quite selfish sorry to say it.

Well, I'm kinda worried about Akina, as he will fight them in the future.

And for the finishing touch. What? Hikari??????????????????????????????????????????????????? OH MY GOD, then Liael is coming back? I've never expected that and fighting with Megumi (Fantôme)

Episode 5 is Hikari VS Megumi (Fantôme). Then what's next. Bushi, you guys are making the plot more unimaginable. I cannot predict what will happen in the future.

Look through the Parallactic, Reclaim the Verity.

That's all for today. Have a nice week and see you next time ^^.

Ngl, I was kinda expecting Alphard Fantome to gain power increases depending on the number of empty rearguard circles (a la Tempest Bolt) of all players, but this is still potentially terrifying.

Also, it's a deck that has both opponent rearguard removal and consistent four attacks.
I approve.

How long before someone makes 8 crit 7 draw 1 OT Alphrad?

I think there’s a non zero chance Erika/Hikari end up losing too she sounds like she’s on the losing side in the preview

Lial mythish confirmed

Why did Mikoto have to be the first of the Mythisch Fighters to lose? Of all people, the girly girl loses to the rude, masculine villain. Typical. Is this sexism at its finest?

One point that someone in a post pointed out to me is that we still have the prequel manga that's supposed to come out at a later point which will probably cover the month before Akina awoke as a Mystic so will likely get some fights starring her in that 😅 I too was also difficult because her unit was actually really beautiful but her opponent did have a valid reason for wanting to stay in this alternate reality . Honestly it's the father's fault being a politician. 😂😅

I was really sad that Mikoto lost (proud Krysrain user BTW ✊) but the one thing that could redeem this loss somewhat would be if she ends up helping the edgy boy fix his life even though she's become a Fantome NPC and proving what she said of wanting to "understand the Fantome Fighters" to be true. Here's hoping they do that for her at least, make her loss relevant to the story instead of just writing her off… AGAIN… 😢

With how critical you both are for some of these episodes granted some are valid you both better be taking notes of maybe one day you can both do your own Vanguard campaign with some players cuz I expect Peak Cinema Cory and call back if you are going to go on about Ryugas edgy appearance and whatnot I will hold you to that. 😂😅

My hot take about this episode is that it really reinforces the idea that I believe Mikoto should have not been chosen to be a mythisch and Erika should have been instead. Erika works well thematically in this season. This episode should have been a Akina vs Ryuga fight where Ryuga defeats Akina and he loses his Mythisch forcing focus and attention to the other cast to pick up the slack until Akina pulls a Link Joker season aichi and recovers his Mythisch card.

Instead, Mikoto is treated as expected. Fodder character to fall for the plot rather than actually meaning something.

As for Alphard, that unit is gonna be interesting in this format. It's armor-break gimmick to one shot an opponent makes it really dificult for most decks to contend with. It's different from blandgmire as Blangdmire only is a deck that aims to turn wide guard restrict the last 3 swings with massive 2 crit swings. But Alphard appears to put all stakes on the vanguard for an assualt that is larger than blangdmire's vanguard swings by the time it wants to use the divine skill. I think the only problem with it is its set up and the level of piece reliance it has that makes it recoverability probably perdictably awful. Makes me wonder if the conditions for the fantome skill is either a one trick pay 4 crimson moon poney or it binds 4 crimson moons and for the rest of the fight you'll be able to access that armor breaking skill.

Can I just say that Ryugas reasoning was something I wanted to hear from any of the antagonist in stride gate, cause while chrono and the gang were correct on what they were saying, I was a little annoyed that the baddies didn't clap back with "and who gave you the right to choose your ideals over those in worse situations irl compared to yourselves"

Like I love chrono and the gang but I felt like they were on a bit of a high horse they needed to get knocked off of?

So I ended up learning recently if you go back into the episode and look at Ryuga's expression when he lands that next punch after him yelling, you can see a crazy smile in there which god damn that might have also been why his Friend felt hella scared of his friend from seeing that.

heat stamping seems uber strong for fantome skill turn, if you can stack four it might be worth the lowered regaurd output on a bet on the vanguard turn, as 40,000 power (50 with persona ride) before even alphards normal skill, the numbers go BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Being trapped in Fantasma locks one's true self away from oneself, it's not a place to seek happiness, but rather escapism, later turned into a prison that twists its resident's personality and character into someone other than oneself. One can only grow stronger if he or she faces the truth head on, which is the reality of the world, and make some changes for one's better life.

And with that, I'm fully sided with the Mythischs, Bearers of the Truth.

It isn't broken in the slightest. In most cases, it'll lose before it gets fantome skill. If it does gets fantome skill off and the opp survives, it's more so a guaranteed win for opp since the rest of what the vg does is absolute garbage