"Turbulent Whirlpool" - Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom

Hello everyone, Ascriptmaster back with another Cardfight!! Vanguard deck profile. This deck focuses on the Maelstrom series in Aqua Force and how their playstyle has changed and improved since Fighter's Collection 2014, specifically with the addition of a new Break Ride and the "Limit Break Enabler" cards to allow the deck a faster and more disruptive playstyle.

Hover over a picture to show its card effect

Blue Storm Marine General, Demetrius

[AUTO] Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):[Counter Blast (1)] When an «Aqua Force» rides this unit, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose your vanguard, and until end of turn, that unit gets [Power]+10000, and [AUTO](VC):When this unit attacks a vanguard, if it is the fourth battle of that turn or more, draw two cards, choose one of your opponent's rear-guards, and retire it.".
[AUTO](VC):When this unit attacks a vanguard, this unit gets [Power]+2000 until end of that battle.

Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom

[AUTO](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):When this unit attacks a vanguard, if it is the fourth battle of that turn or more, until end of that battle, this unit gets [Power]+5000 and "[AUTO](VC):[Counter Blast (1)] When this unit's attack hits, you may pay the cost. If you do, draw a card, choose one of your opponent's rear-guards, and retire it.".
[CONT](VC/RC):If you have a non-«Aqua Force» vanguard or rear-guard, this unit gets [Power]-2000.

Blue Storm Karma Dragon, Maelstrom "Яeverse"

[AUTO](VC) Limit Break 4 (This ability is active if you have four or more damage):[Counter Blast (1) & Choose one of your rear-guards, [Rest] it, and lock it] When this unit attacks a vanguard, if it is the fourth battle of that turn or more, you may pay the cost. If you do, until end of that battle, this unit gets [Power]+5000/[Critical]+1 and "[AUTO](VC): At the end of the battle that this unit attacked, if the attack did not hit during that battle, draw a card, choose one of your opponent's rear-guards, and retire it.". (The locked card is turned face down, and cannot do anything. It turns face up at the end of the owner's turn.)
[CONT](VC): If you have a card named "Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom" in your soul, this unit gets [Power]+2000.
[CONT](VC/RC): Lord (If you have a unit without a same clan as this unit, this unit cannot attack)

Grade 0

Officer Cadet, Erikk
4 Angler Soldier of the Blue Storm Fleet
4 Blue Storm Soldier, Missile Trooper
4 Supersonic Sailor
4 Blue Storm Soldier, Kitchen Sailor

Grade 1

4 Blue Storm Battle Princess, Electra
4 Shortfin Mako Soldier of Blue Storm Armada
3 Blue Storm Marine General, Hermes
3 Wheel Assault

Grade 2

4 Tidal Assault
3 Blue Storm Marine General, Gregorios
3 Blue Storm Marine General, Spyros

Grade 3

3 Blue Storm Marine General, Demetrius
3 Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom
3 Blue Storm Karma Dragon, Maelstrom "Яeverse"

Thanks to Shortfin Mako Soldier of Blue Storm Armada, any and all of this deck's Limit Break 4 abilities can activate early, allowing for quick pressure from their abilities. Each possesses an effect to draw and retire units if it's the fourth attack of the turn, increasing defenses and disrupting the opponents' field. Maelstrom's effect is especially useful early game because its on-hit requirement occurs at a time when the opponent has fewer resources to guard with, and doesn't require a heavy commitment to Counterblast. Demetrius, as the break ride of the deck, helps immensely with mid-game to late-game pushes as its draw and retire only require the Vanguard attack fourth, regardless of whether it hits or misses. Finally, Maelstrom "Яeverse" adds critical pressure and threatens with field disruption should its attack be guarded, creating a lose-lose situation.

However, all three of these Aqua Force Vanguards require the fourth attack, so most of the deck is tailored towards achieving that goal. Spyros and Tidal Assault stand themselves after attacking, and Wheel Assault swaps units' positions to allow for more attacks. This gives a multitude of options to obtain that fourth attack, and if the situation arises where there are multiple options to gain the fourth attack, the deck can simply use the cheaper option if possible, or if "Яeverse" is the Vanguard, locking the standing unit for its skill instead.

The deck presents many different options to utilize its Grade 3 units. If Maelstrom and "Яeverse" are both available, a crossride can be formed, and if Demetrius is available, break riding either becomes an easy option, either riding it on Maelstrom for a super-powerful "Яeverse" next turn, or riding Maelstrom on it and crossriding the next. Because of the usefulness of Demetrius, Officer Cadet Erikk was chosen over Blue Storm Cadet Marios, which adds on-hit pressure and gains more opportunities to search for Maelstrom and "Яeverse", to gain extra chances of obtaining Demetrius or another Grade 3.

An ideal trigger lineup for the deck involves a good mix of Critical and Stand triggers. Critical triggers push the opponent towards 6 damage very quickly, and Stand triggers add extra pressure after the Vanguard because most units will be at rest by the time the Vanguard attacks, preventing wasted triggers when it is completely blocked. This deck specifically uses 8 critical and 4 stand, which aims to maximize the number of Blue Storm units so Spyros' especial Counterblast can be used, and also allows for the use of 4 Supersonic Soldier, which flips damage face-up to allow other units to use their skills more often, especially the Vanguard's.