Here's a quick guide and tips for Shadow Paladin Spectral Duke Dragon and PBO Deck users in the RPG mobile card game Vanguard ZERO. Available for Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store).
The Black Steeds contains units from 2 clans. for Shadow Paladin, it is a lot easier to call for more rear-guards than Gold Paladin with just "Nemain" and "Badhabh Caar". Use this to your advantage and attack as much as you can at the start! Finish the game with Spectral Duke's Limit Break!
Shadow Paladin Duke/PBO Deck
Notable Info
- Crit Vanguard = Can do 2 or more damage per attack.- Field Control = Can retire units controlled by the opponent.
- Multi Attacks = Can attack more than 3 times in 1 turn.
First Vanguard and Sentinel Cards (PG)
- Dark Shield, Mac Lir (G1) = Add at least x2, but aim for x3 or x4.
- Scout of Darkness, Vortimer (G1) = Add x4 (Gold Paladin card), recommended as Grade 1 Vanguard to activate your FV's skill.
- Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer (G2) = Add x4 (Gold Paladin card), recommended as Grade 2 Vanguard, to activate Vortimer's (G1) skill, and to add +1,000 Power to your Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) later on.
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = Aim for x4 (Gold Paladin card), your main Vanguard for this build.
- Phantom Blaster Overlord (G3) = Aim for x4, your sub Vanguard for this build.
- Darkside Pegasus (G1) = Limit to x2, used to Boost a column's Power (+2,000) if needed, especially for Grade 2 units. Also useful to help Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) hit higher without using a Booster.
- Gigantech Commander (G2) = Limit to x1~x2 (Gold Paladin card), can reach 11,000 Power if you have more rear-guards than your opponent.
- Darkness Maiden, Macha (G2) = Limit to x1~x2, optional, possible sub for Nemain (G2) (RRR cards replacement). CB2 to call a Grade 1 or less card from your deck to another rear guard circle in the same column as this unit. Balance with your other Counter Blast users.
- Gigantech Destroyer (G3) = Add as filler (Gold Paladin card), can reach 12,000 Power when attacking a Vanguard.
- NOTE: Feel free to try other cards not listed here, and add any Grade 3 cards you have available, just make sure to follow the recommended Trigger Set below.
- Skull Witch, Nemain (G2) = Add x3~x4, low base Power that requires a Booster, but an awesome card used to draw 2 cards (CB1 and discard a card).
- NOTE: Feel free to try other cards not listed here, and add any Grade 3 cards you have available, just make sure to follow the recommended Trigger Set below.
Recommended Cards (Must Have)
- Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer (G2) = Add x4 (Gold Paladin card), recommended as Grade 2 Vanguard, to activate Vortimer's (G1) skill, and to add +1,000 Power to your Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) later on.
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = Aim for x4 (Gold Paladin card), your main Vanguard for this build.
- Phantom Blaster Overlord (G3) = Aim for x4, your sub Vanguard for this build.
Suggested Cards To Add (Budget Cards)
Grade 1 Cards
- Black Sage, Charon (G1) = Add x3~x4, nice base Power and Defense.- Darkside Pegasus (G1) = Limit to x2, used to Boost a column's Power (+2,000) if needed, especially for Grade 2 units. Also useful to help Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) hit higher without using a Booster.
- Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod (G1) = Limit to x1~x2 if you want to use, to help recycle a card in hand, to get more Grade 2 Intercept cards, a Sentinel Card (PG), or any cards that you need.
Grade 2 Cards
- Cursed Lancer (G2) = Add x3~x4, for "Counter Charge" to use more "Counter Blasts".- Gigantech Commander (G2) = Limit to x1~x2 (Gold Paladin card), can reach 11,000 Power if you have more rear-guards than your opponent.
Grade 3 Cards
- Dark Mage, Badhabh Caar (G3) = Add x4, when placed, call the top card of your deck. Also consider placing this unit to your back row depending on your strategy.- Gigantech Destroyer (G3) = Add as filler (Gold Paladin card), can reach 12,000 Power when attacking a Vanguard.
- NOTE: Feel free to try other cards not listed here, and add any Grade 3 cards you have available, just make sure to follow the recommended Trigger Set below.
RRR and Other Cards (If Available)
- NOTE: Feel free to try other cards not listed here, and add any Grade 3 cards you have available, just make sure to follow the recommended Trigger Set below.
Example Deck Builds
- NOTE: For cards that you don't have, just use the guide above to add filler cards to your deck for now, but if you want to add cards to the existing ones, feel free to do so. Also note that new cards might become available in the future, so feel free to test them out as well.
(*Use as reference, feel free to remove/add cards.)
(*Replace x2 Gigantech Commander (G2) with x2 Macha (G2) if you like.)
(*Replace x2 Gigantech Commander (G2) with x2 Macha (G2) if you like.)
Trigger Sets
Rank Fight Trigger Set
- Critical Trigger (x9), Draw Trigger (x0), Stand Trigger (x0), and Heal Trigger (x4)- Critical Trigger (x7~x5), Draw Trigger (x2~x4), Stand Trigger (x0), and Heal Trigger (x4)
- Refer to the build above (screenshot) for example Triggers Set for specific cards. Reduce and balance Draw Triggers if you are getting "Deck Outs".
For Non Rank Fight Battles
- NOTE: Feel free to experiment with other Trigger Sets according to your preference. Add more Critical Triggers and/or Stand Triggers if you want to use this deck for certain events, like non Rank Fights that would require you to finish the battle asap.Shadow Paladin Battle Strategies
Mulligan (Starting Cards)
- Scout of Darkness, Vortimer (G1) = Keep x1, your main priority!
- Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer (G2) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 2 ride.
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 3 ride.
- Any Grade 1 Card = Keep x1 or x2 to be used as sacrifice for your "Vortimer" ride chain skills.
- Dark Shield, Mac Lir (G1) = Keep at least x1.
- Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer (G2) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 2 ride.
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 3 ride.
- Any Grade 1 Card = Keep x1 or x2 to be used as sacrifice for your "Vortimer" ride chain skills.
- Dark Shield, Mac Lir (G1) = Keep at least x1.
Basic Battle Strategies
- Focus on riding all "Vortimer" chain to activate your FV's skill, and to call 2 cards from the top of your deck to the field by sacrificing 1 rear guard (prepare by placing a Grade 1 card to the back row before riding Vortimer (G2) and Spectral Duke Dragon (G3)).- Basically, what you want to do here is to ride Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) to activate Vortimer's (G2) skill then ride PBO (G3) next turn if available since Spectral Duke Dragon's (G3) skill is LB4.
- In case of a miss-ride, just also go and ride PBO (G3) and use Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) later on if needed. Feel free to switch Vanguards depending on the situation.
How to Use Phantom Blaster Overlord (G3)
- Useful skill for clearing an Intercept, to open up more attack opportunities.
- (VC): When it attacks a Vanguard, Persona Blast (discard a PBO (G3) from your hand), and this unit gets +10,000 and Critical +1 until end of turn.
- Opponent's Damage is Below 4 = Before using Persona Blast, better attack the Vanguard with your Rear Guards first at least once because PBO (G3) without a Booster can easily reach 21,000 Power. Use a Booster if needed vs Vanguard with higher base Power.
- Opponent's Damage is 4 = You can also use this unit to attack first to check if you can end the battle, or at least pop a Sentinel Card (PG).
- Opponent's Damage is 5 = Not recommended to use skill, unless he/she doesn't have Sentinel Cards (PG) left (4/x), no cards in hand, or if you want to gamble, to deal 2 Damage in case your opponent draws a Heal Trigger.
How To Use Spectral Duke Dragon (G3)
- (VC): If Vortimer (G2) is in your soul, this unit gets +1,000 Power.
- (VC): LB4, 1/Turn At the end of the battle that this unit attacked a Vanguard, CB2 and retire 2 of your rear guards to stand this unit, and draw a card. This unit loses "Twin Drive!!" until end of turn.
- It's skill will let you filter cards and do multi attacks when needed, but the cost is a bit high so plan which units to sac before using it's skill (if possible, avoid using Intercepts as sacrifice).
- If this unit's Power is lower than your opponent's Vanguard, use Darkside Pegasus (G1), or you can swing your first attack unboosted, to try and get Triggers to buff this unit, then do a re-stand to attack again with your Booster (works great with Critical Triggers).
- One of the best ways to use this skill is when your opponent's Damage is at 5, let your rear guards attack first then use your Vanguard to attack twice, to try and break through their Sentinel Cards (PG).
- This skill kinda relies on Triggers (especially against 12,000+ base Vanguards), so if most of your Triggers appeared during the early stage, it might be better to ride or stay with PBO (G3) for the rest of the battle, unless you have Darkside Pegasus (G1) cards to support.
Counter Blasts
- Skull Witch, Nemain (G2) = Awesome card used to draw 2 cards (CB1 and discard a card).
- Phantom Blaster Overlord (G3) = CB2 and retire one of your rear-guards, and retire one of your opponent's rear-guards.
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = LB4 1/Turn At the end of the battle that this unit attacked a Vanguard, CB2 and retire 2 of your rear guards to stand this unit, and draw a card. Save CBs if you want to use this.
How To Build 21,000+ Power Columns
Vanguard + Booster
- Phantom Blaster Overlord (G3) = 11,000 base Power Vanguard (can be pushed to 21,000 with Persona Blast).- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = 10,000 base Power Vanguard (11,000 Power if you have Vortimer (G2) in Soul).
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) + Charon (G1) = 18,000~19,000 total Power (23,000~24,000 Power with +5,000 "Trigger Check" buff).
Rear Guards + Booster
- Black Sage, Charon (G1) = 8,000 Power Booster.- Charon (G1) + Any Rear Guard with 8,000~12,000 Power = 16,000~20,000 total Power (21,000~25,000 Power with +5,000 "Trigger Check" buff).
- Darkside Pegasus (G1) = Buff a unit's Power (+2000 until the end of turn). Buff columns listed above or these example columns:
- Charon (G1) + PBO (G3) = 19,000 total Power (21,000 Power with buff).
- Charon (G1) + Gigantech Commander (G2) = 19,000 total Power (21,000 Power with buff).
- Charon (G1) + Gigantech Destroyer (G3) = 20,000 total Power (22,000 Power with buff).
- NOTE: Other cards not included here are also OK to use but some are very situational or unsustainable, use them if you like. Also adjust the numbers above depending on your Booster's Power.
More Vanguard ZERO Tips and Guides:
- Beginner's Tips Re-Rolling Guide- Beginner's Quick Tips and Guide
- Beginner's Quick Battle Tips
- Farming Materials and Crafting Cards Tips and Guide
That's it guys, thank you for checking our Shadow Paladin Duke/PBO Deck Build and Guide for the Card Battle RPG mobile game - Vanguard ZERO. Available for Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store).
