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Fail-Condition Grade 3s

What the hell is Saikyo talking about by “fail-con”?

A lot of times I mention a term called ‘fail-condition rides’ and some of you may not know what the hell I’m talking about. Well, essentially, I mean the Grade 3 you ride if the one you really want fails to show up.

Yeah, that’s basic knowledge. You can’t get it 100% of the time, you say. Well, here’s the thing. I have no real issue with having Grade 3s that are not my main gambit (god forbid the retards who run like 4 and use a G3 searching first vanguard THAT IS NOT HOW PROBABILITY WORKS YOU MORONS), but what keeps awesome decks awesome and separates consistent gambits from the coin-tosses is how badly it hurts to ride the secondary option, or how not riding the first option at all hurts.

Deck: Dudley Emperor/Bad End Dragger deck.

Ideal scenario: Emperor over Dragger for one of the most ludicrous finishers ever.

Bad scenario: Just Dragger, or riding Emperor first.

This example of the bad scenario REALLY stings, because without Dragger, Emperor loses its offensive pressure, not to mention it’s a 10k squishy. You are fucking screwed if this ever happens. (Well, there’s that new Stride thingy coming out in June but it would need actual testing first, unnecessary hype is never good). Worse still, you can’t reasonably assure yourself of getting it almost every time because there is no reliable way to search for Dragger first. Whether it works relative to decks as strong as it is tends to be a gamble, really.

So what makes your sub-gambit hurt less? Well, let’s see…how about a Regalia deck with Minerva and CEO Yggdrasil?

Ideal scenario: Ride CEO.

Bad scenario: Ride Minerva.

This is considerably less harsh because Minerva is still by rights an incredible Vanguard to sit on, boasting a re-stand and power up ability for cheap. Even when you feel CEO would be suitable for the occasion, Genesis uses the soul anyway, so at least Minerva can contribute to the cost now and you lose very little (I mean it’s just a shield-less Grade 3 you’re giving up. Negligible).

I know not every deck has options like this, but you should at least be able to justify how powerful your main plan is if you must run that risk, like the Dragger Emperor build. I’ve said it before; if I can name something that’s doing the job better than your deck, the better deck takes priority.

So really, what would make the ideal fail-condition Grade 3 to have in your deck? Well, after some thought, I’ve come up with a few tips in case you’re stuck for ideas.

First, try and think of something that can duplicate a good amount of what the main Grade 3 can do, or at least provide an alternative measure to win if not. The CEO Minerva example above is a good example.

Secondly, it has to not interfere too much with the main ride if/when you do eventually draw and ride it. Take a Metalborg deck. You may think Dryon is the fail-condition ride, but it’s not something to really go out the way to set up, since it’s not got the game ending ability. No, the better fail-con is Super Dimensional Robo Daikaiser, because it’s pretty vanilla too, but at least when you hit Sin Buster, it actually compliments the PG sealing skill with a skill that blows up guardians. And a Critical.

Thirdly, if you have the option, try to run stuff that can search your main ride. The new Stride focused decks should have cards that double as Stride activators, but it can also extend to Superior Ride, such as Strike Dagger Dragon for Eradicators (since your deck sort of flops if he doesn’t arrive and you’re on 4 damage).

These apply unless you run a G3 Legion revival card and your mating partner IS the fail con. In which case, hope your partner’s amazing (they generally tend to be, apart from Great Daiyusha’s case, LGCSSG).

Hopefully I’ve given you a better idea of what sort of alternative vanguard to choose when you’re building the deck. There really is a difference between a careful fall-back plan and just throwing vaguely related shit together like you’re the EA of deck building.

Submit something so I can say “you know how I said ask me X or Y? I’m just kidding” at saikyocardfighter@outlook.com