Sponsored:  Bushiroad has announced information about the new animation season as well as gameplay and format changes for one of its flagship trading card games (TCG) Cardfight!! Vanguard through the Vanguard Project 2.0 Strategy Meeting livestream on YouTube.  Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress is the latest in the series, with major developments in the story setting, as well as various improvements and changes to the TCG’s core mechanics.

Animation
The series is set in the fictional Kanazawa, Kaga Prefecture, and features a whole new cast of characters.  The new protagonist, Yu-yu Kondo, is a 15-year-old junior-high schooler who becomes enthralled by the world of Cardfight!! Vanguard.

The character designs for Vanguard overDress are by CLAMP, who are renowned for their iconic works such as Cardcaptor Sakura and Magic Knight Rayearth.  The anime production company working on this project is Kinema Citrus.  In order to appeal to a wider audience, more resources were dedicated to improving the animation.

The first season of the Vanguard overDress animation will begin airing on April 3, 2021 with Japanese dubbing and English subtitles.  It will run for 12 episodes and feature the opening song "ZEAL of Proud" by Roselia, and the ending song "Y" by Argonavis.  A second season is scheduled for October 2021, and will run for 13 episodes.

Gameplay
The first major change to the trading card game is the consolidation of the game’s 24 major clans - factions with their own play style and aesthetic - into 5 Great Nations.  Previously, each clan would receive upgrades via new booster pack releases at least once a year.  Under this new system, all 5 Great Nations will receive upgrades with each booster.

Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress also introduces the ride deck.  To advance the game, players increase the grade of their vanguard by "riding" a card from their hand.  Previously, there was a chance that players may lack the necessary card.  The ride deck system prevents this by allowing players to ride from a pre-determined deck that is set aside at the start of the game.

Also new to the game is the "Over Trigger," a new type of trigger unit.  Central to Cardfight!! Vanguard’s gameplay is the "trigger check" system, where players have a chance to turn the tide by revealing trigger units from the top of the deck when attacking or when being dealt damage.  Over Triggers emphasize this concept by granting massive boons to the user when revealed.

In Cardfight!! Vanguard V, players could gain Imaginary Gifts when riding grade 3 units in order to gain an edge over their opponents.  With Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress, a new grade 3 ability – Persona Ride – has been revealed.  When players perform Persona Ride, all of their front row units will gain a boost, thereby gaining an edge over their opponents.

Format
With Cardfight!! Vanguard V, the game was split into two formats – Standard, where only cards released during the V series and bear the "V" icon at the bottom of the card can be used; and Premium, where all cards can be used.  With the release of the first Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress products, this definition will be changed.

Standard will consist only of cards bearing a new "D" icon instead.  Premium will remain the format where all cards can be used, but a new format, V Premium, will be implemented, where only cards bearing the "V" icon can be used.  New support cards bearing the "V" icon will continue to be released during this new era via extra booster releases, or PR cards.

Product Schedule
The first five Start Decks for Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress will be released on May 14, 2021.  These are special products that are meant for players to use to pick up the game and contain a ready-for-play deck.  There are 5 different start decks, one for each Great Nation.  To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Cardfight!! Vanguard, overDress Start Deck Volume 1-5 will be sold at a special price of MSRP US$3.99 per deck.  For roughly the price of a regular Booster Pack, players will get everything they need to start playing.

The first Booster Pack product will be released a week later, on May 21, 2021.  The booster pack product will contain cards that can be used to strengthen the start decks, or to build entirely new decks altogether.

For more information on the animation, gameplay changes and improvements, and the product release schedule, please visit the following web page.

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