Here's a quick guide and tips for Shadow Paladin Spectral Duke Dragon and Chromejailer Dragon Deck users in the RPG mobile card game Vanguard ZERO. Available for Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store).
A new unit for the Black Steed! Chromejailer can up it's own power and Critical with a skill that does not require any Counterblast, and it can even increase your rear-guards in the process. Aim for continuous attacks with "Spectral" or aim for a finishing move!
Shadow Paladin Duke/Chrome 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.
- Conviction Dragon, Chromejailer Dragon (G3) = Aim for x4 (Gold Paladin card), your sub Vanguard for this build.
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.
- Conviction Dragon, Chromejailer Dragon (G3) = Aim for x4 (Gold Paladin card), your sub Vanguard for this build.
Suggested Cards To Add (Budget Cards)
Grade 1 Cards
- Darkside Pegasus (G1) = Limit to x1~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) = Add x2~x4 to help recycle a card in hand, to get more Grade 2 Intercept cards, a Sentinel Card (PG), or any cards that you need.
- Darkness Maiden, Macha (G2) = Limit to x2, 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. Would recommend using this unit if you are running Draw Triggers.
- Black Sage, Charon (G1) = Add x1~x3, nice base Power and Defense.
- Blackmane Witch (G1) = Add x2~x3. When placed, retire 1 of your other rear-guards to call the top card of your deck. Works great with Darkness Maiden, Macha (G2).
Grade 2 Cards
- Blaster Dark Spirit (G2) = Add x4. When placed from your deck, CB1 to retire 1 of your opponent's grade 2 or less front row rear-guards.
- Cursed Lancer (G2) = Add x1~x3, for "Counter Charge" to use more "Counter Blasts".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 x1~x3 Arianrhod (G1) with x1~x3 Black Sage, Charon (G1) if you like.)
(*Replace x1~x3 Arianrhod (G1) with x1~x3 Black Sage, Charon (G1) if you like.)
(*Replace x4 Nemain (G2) with x2 Macha (G2) and x2 Cursed Lancer (G2) if you like, especially if you want to run Draw Triggers.)
Trigger Sets
Rank Fight Trigger Set
- Critical Trigger (x9), Draw Trigger (x0), Stand Trigger (x0), and Heal Trigger (x4)- Critical Trigger (x0), Draw Trigger (x9), Stand Trigger (x0), and Heal Trigger (x4)
- Refer to the build above (screenshot) for example Triggers Set for specific cards. Reduce Draw Triggers and/or adjust deck lineup 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.
- Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer (G2) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 2 ride.
- Chromejailer Dragon (G3) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 3 ride, also a nice backup in case your ride chain failed.
- Any Grade 1 Card = Keep x1 or x2 to be used as sacrifice for your "Vortimer" ride chain skills.
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 3 ride (best if you have the "Vortimer" cards above).
- Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) = Keep x1, to ensure a Grade 3 ride (best if you have the "Vortimer" cards above).
- 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 Chromejailer Dragon (G3) next turn if available to try and use it's Persona Blasts early on.
- It is also ok to ride straight to Chromejailer Dragon (G3) and use Spectral Duke Dragon (G3) later on. Feel free to switch Vanguards depending on the situation.
- Opponent's Damage is Below 4 = Before using Limit Break skill, better attack the Vanguard with your Rear Guards first at least once because Chromejailer Dragon (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. Also ok if you want to use it to overcome "defensive Triggers".
How to Use Conviction Dragon, Chromejailer Dragon (G3)
- (VC): Persona Blast (discard a Conviction Dragon, Chromejailer Dragon (G3) from your hand) to look at 4 cards from the top of your deck, and call 2 cards.
- Use Arianrhod (G1) to filter cards and try to get copies, but don't overdo it though because you might run out of cards. Best used during the early to mid part of the battle to increase your field presence and pressure your opponent with Crits.
- Also use Persona Blasts to pay the cost of it's Limit Break skill if needed.
- TIP: If possible, choose non-Trigger cards to thin out your deck and increase your Trigger Chance! Go for Grade 2 cards like Blaster Dark Spirit (G2) to also help you retire 1 of your opponent's Intercepts cards!
- (VC): LB4 (1/Turn) Retire 2 of your rear-guards to get +10,000 Power/Critical+1 until end of turn.
- Opponent's Damage is Below 4 = Before using Limit Break skill, better attack the Vanguard with your Rear Guards first at least once because Chromejailer Dragon (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. Also ok if you want to use it to overcome "defensive Triggers".
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 Chromejailer Dragon (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).
- 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.
- Blaster Dark Spirit (G2) = When placed from your deck, CB1 to retire 1 of your opponent's grade 2 or less front row rear-guards.
- Darkness Maiden, Macha (G2) = CB2, used to call a Grade 1 card from your deck
- Note: Also consider other card effects that requires Counter Blasts if needed.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/Chrome Deck Build and Guide for the Card Battle RPG mobile game - Vanguard ZERO. Available for Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store).
