So, you're ready to dive into the world of Cardfight!! Vanguard and build your own powerful deck! That's awesome! It's a fantastic card game with a lot of depth, and understanding the deck size is the very first, and most crucial, step. Let's break it down, because it's a bit more than just a single number!
Step 1: The Core Deck Size - It's All About Balance!
Let's get straight to the point. In the current Standard format of Cardfight!! Vanguard (the most common and widely played format), your main deck must have exactly 50 cards. No more, no less. This is a hard and fast rule that you must follow for your deck to be legal for play in tournaments and even casual games.
But wait, there's a twist! This isn't the only set of cards you need. You also have a separate deck called the Ride Deck.
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| How Many Cards In A Vanguard Deck |
Step 2: Understanding the Main Deck and the Ride Deck
The 50 cards you build are your main deck, from which you draw and call units to your Rear-guard Circles. But what about your starting Vanguard and the units you ride? That's where the Ride Deck comes in.
Sub-heading: The Ride Deck - Your Guaranteed Ride Chain
Tip: Take a sip of water, then continue fresh.
The Ride Deck is a crucial part of the modern game. It is a separate stack of cards, and it must contain 4 cards, one of each Grade from 0 to 3. You start the game with a Grade 0 from your Ride Deck as your First Vanguard, and then each turn, you can reveal the next Grade in your Ride Deck and ride it without having to discard a card from your hand, a cost that is required when riding from your main deck.
Why is this a game-changer? It guarantees that you can ride up to Grade 3, ensuring you hit your most powerful unit and activate your "Persona Ride" turn, a critical power-up in the D-Series format.
So, to answer the question, a complete Vanguard deck in the Standard format consists of:
50 cards in the Main Deck
4 cards in the Ride Deck
This makes a total of 54 cards that you bring to a game.
Step 3: Deck Composition - It's More Than Just Grades!
Now that you know the numbers, let's talk about what makes up those 50 cards in your main deck. It's not just a random assortment of units; there are specific rules and ratios to follow.
Sub-heading: The Trigger Unit Requirement
Within your main deck, you must have exactly 16 Trigger Units. These are the cards with a specific icon in the top right corner:
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
Critical Triggers: Give +10000 Power and a Critical to a unit.
Draw Triggers: Give +10000 Power and allow you to draw a card.
Front Triggers: Give +10000 Power to all units in the front row.
Heal Triggers: Give +10000 Power and allow you to heal a damage if your damage zone is equal to or greater than your opponent's.
Over Triggers: These are a powerful, game-changing trigger that give +100,000,000 Power and an additional effect.
You have specific limits on how many of each type of trigger you can include:
Up to 4 Heal Triggers
Up to 8 each for Critical, Draw, and Front Triggers
Exactly 1 Over Trigger (in total, between your main and ride deck).
This means your 16 triggers will be a combination of these types, with one of them being your designated Over Trigger.
Sub-heading: The "4-of" Rule
This is a fundamental rule in most TCGs, and Vanguard is no exception. You can only have up to 4 copies of any card with the same name in your entire deck, including your main deck and your ride deck. So, if you have two copies of "Blaster Blade" in your Ride Deck (which you shouldn't, as you can only have one of each grade), you could only have two more in your main deck.
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Sub-heading: Recommended Grade Ratios
While there's no strict rule on the number of each grade (besides the 16 triggers), experienced players have developed general ratios that work well. A common starting point for a 50-card main deck is:
Grade 3: 7-9 cards
Grade 2: 10-12 cards
Grade 1: 13-15 cards
Trigger Units: 16 cards (as per the rule)
Grade 0 (non-trigger): The one you put in your Ride Deck.
Remember, these are just recommendations. Your specific deck's strategy will determine the ideal ratio. For example, a deck that relies heavily on Grade 2 units might run more of them, while a deck that needs its Grade 3 Vanguard to be on the board as soon as possible might run more Grade 3s.
QuickTip: Look for lists — they simplify complex points.
Step 4: Putting It All Together
Let's recap. You're building a deck with:
A 50-card Main Deck:
This includes 16 Trigger Units.
The remaining 34 cards are your normal units and orders.
You can't have more than 4 copies of any single card name across your whole deck (Main Deck + Ride Deck).
A 4-card Ride Deck:
One Grade 0, one Grade 1, one Grade 2, and one Grade 3.
You start the game with the Grade 0 as your First Vanguard.
These cards are separated from your main deck.
Following these steps will ensure you have a legal and functional deck for your next Cardfight!!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Vanguard deck construction:
How to determine my starting Vanguard? Your starting Vanguard is the Grade 0 card from your 4-card Ride Deck. You place it face down on the Vanguard Circle at the start of the game and flip it over when the game begins.
How to use an Over Trigger? You can only have one Over Trigger in your entire deck (Main Deck + Ride Deck). When it is revealed during a Drive Check or Damage Check, it triggers a powerful effect that is unique to that specific Over Trigger, often giving a massive power boost and another effect.
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
How to know if a card is in the Standard format? Standard format cards have a 'D' icon in the bottom left corner. You can only use cards with this icon in a Standard deck.
How to choose the best trigger lineup? The best trigger lineup depends on your deck's strategy. Critical triggers are good for aggressive decks, Draw triggers for decks that need more hand size, and Front triggers for decks that want to power up their entire front row. The Over Trigger is almost always included.
How to deal with the 4-of-a-kind limit when using a Ride Deck? The 4-of-a-kind limit applies to your entire deck, including both the Main Deck and the Ride Deck. If you put one copy of a card in your Ride Deck, you can only include up to three more copies of that same card in your Main Deck.
How to make a G-Zone deck? The G-Zone is used in the Premium format, not Standard. A G-Zone can contain up to 16 G units (Grade 4 units), which are used for "Stride." You build a main deck of 50 cards (without a Ride Deck) and a separate G-Zone.
How to use Set Orders? Set Orders are a new type of card that is played into the Order Zone. They stay on the field and provide a continuous effect. They are included in your 50-card main deck.
How to build a deck for V Premium format? In V Premium, you build a 50-card main deck and do not use a Ride Deck. You also use cards with a 'V' icon, and your deck is restricted to a single Clan.
How to build a deck for Premium format? Premium format allows you to use all cards from all sets. You build a 50-card main deck, a G-Zone of up to 16 cards, and do not use a Ride Deck.
How to ensure my deck is legal for a tournament? Always check the official Bushiroad website for the latest Fighter's Rules and banned/restricted card lists for the format you are playing in. This is the best way to ensure your deck is legal and ready for competition.
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