Attack!!

Sequence of attack.

So how do we choose which of our units to attack? When do we attack? Does it make a difference? I'll be discussing these problems in this article. So, how do we decide which of our units to attack first? There are basically 3 ways of attacking if you have a full field. Attacking with the vanguard first, then the remaining 2 rearguards, attacking with one rearguard, followed by the vanguard and then the last rearguard and finally attacking with both rearguard then the vanguard.

Attacking with the vanguard followed by rearguards

Now this attacking sequence is normally used if you have no stand triggers in your deck, mostly critical triggers. By attacking with the vanguard first, if it is guarded completely by your opponent, using high guard units or a perfect guard, you would be able to place the effects of the triggers you drew to your rearguard, not wasting them. If you had attacked with both your rearguards, the triggers will be wasted as no other units can make use of them.

Attacking with one rearguard then vanguard, lastly with the second rearguard

This attacking sequence will normally be used by decks that have both stand and critical triggers. By attacking with one rearguard first, you can be sure that if you drive check a stand trigger, you would be able to stand one of your rearguards. This attack sequence also allows you to place a critical trigger onto the remaining rearguard if your vanguard's attack is guarded. Normally I would attack with a high unboosted power rearguard first as when I drive check a stand trigger, it would still have enough power to attack the opponent's vanguard with a unit boosting it. If you would have a low power column and a high power column, you would attack with the low power column first, otherwise, if your opponent damage checks a trigger your low power column will not be able to attack.

Attacking with both rearguards and then the vanguard

This attacking sequence is usually used if you use a lot of stand triggers. However do note that even if you have a lot of stand triggers in your deck, it is still not very encouraged to use this attack sequence. By attacking with both rearguards first, you are sure that you will be able to make use of both stand triggers if you are able to drive check them, however, this possibility is actually quite small. If you attack with both rearguards and your vanguard is guarded while you drive check a heal trigger, the 5k boost will be wasted since you can't place it anywhere else. I would still recommend using the second attack sequence, but maybe you could attack with a full column, an attacking rearguard with a boosting unit so if you really drive check 2 stands, you would still be able to stand 2 units. This attack sequence and the first attack sequence is also useful if you wish to remove your opponent's grade two to prevent them from intercepting. This attack sequence will be mainly used by Aqua Force when they are out.

When to attack

So when do we start attacking your opponents. It is normally a good idea to attack with your vanguard for its drive checks as it will help increase your hand size even if the attack is pointless. However, there are instances where this is not a very good idea. In the first turn, if your opponent needs a damage for counterblast, it may be better to lose the card advantage and not attack, foiling your opponent's plans. One example is if your opponent have barcgal, by not allow him a counterblast, he would not be able to use the barcgal superior ride into blasterblade. This, of course you have to decide if by not allowing him to counterblast, is the advantage more than an additional card in your hand and one point of damage to him. Always remember that if your opponents have 4 damage, he would be able to activate limit breaks and at 5, he would have the chance to megablast. Also the number of unflipped damage he have left would also justify if you should attack his vanguard or his rearguard to prevent him from counterblasting. These are all factor you could consider when you are deciding if you should attack your opponent's vanguard or rearguards.

Sometimes at late game, if you think you cannot deal the last damage to your opponent, it may be better to just attack his rearguards to slow him down and continue the assault the next turn. I had once read an article for magic the gathering that mentions, the first 19 life is unimportant, only the last 20th point of damage will decide if you win or lose. I feel that in cardfight! Vanguard, the first 4/5 damage is not important(although at 4 damage there is the fear that your opponent may critical trigger you thus ending the game), only the last damage will determine if you win or lose the game. If you attack randomly, you may have just given your opponent the advantage instead!!! So play more, hone your abilities and find out the various circumstances on when is it better to attack the vanguard and when is it better to attack the rearguards.

Keep cardfighting!!