The BEST episodes of Cardfight!! Vanguard season 5
Every episode of Cardfight!! Vanguard season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Cardfight!! Vanguard season 5!
This story takes place a little further in the future—There are now billions of card game players in the world, to an extent where card games have become a necessity, a part of our lives.The protagonist of this story, Aichi Sendo, is a timid boy in his third year of middle school. He had been living his life looking backward rather than forward, trying not to stand out. However, he had one thing that kept him going - the Blaster Blade, a card from a card game that was given to him when he was little. That card is the reason why he begins to engage in Cardfights, something that changes his life drastically. The name of the card game is Vanguard. The game takes place in a different planet called Cray. It is a place similar to our own planet, but unlike planet Earth, Gods and Demons, Dragons and other mythical creatures still roam the land. It is also a world where both Magic and Science have advanced hand in hand. Countries with advances in different fields and cultures rule over different parts of the planet Cray. And due to a never before seen play system, it becomes popular throughout the world. Aichi, immediately attracted by Vanguard, meets friends such as Misaki Togura and Kamui Katsuragi, along with other rivals. Through friendly rivalry with them, Aichi begins to enjoy a fulfilling life. Aichi, however, has a goal: to once again battle with a Vanguard Fighter by the name of Toshiki Kai. Toshiki Kai is an aloof and cold-hearted high schooler who has outstanding abilities in the world of Vanguard. He is also the reason why Aichi started playing the game. For him, Kai is the person who saved him from his boring life and introduced him to Vanguard. In order to get better at Vanguard, Aichi puts his soul into it every day. He wishes that someday, he'll be able to battle Kai and have him recognize his worth.
#1 - Shin Nitta
Season 5 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/28/2015
After learning from Mikuru that his father was a cardfighter and died while on Vanguard business, Chrono feels lost on what he should do. He tries to talk to Shin about it but decides not to. Sensing Chrono is troubled over something, Shin proposes to have a fight with him as a way to find the answer for himself. Shin shows that despite his appearance, he is a highly skilled fighter as he counters Chrono's tactics with his Murakumo deck. At the end of this fierce battle, Chrono manages to win on a gamble. Afterwards, Shin deduces that Chrono was asked by a family member to stop playing Vanguard, and Chrono realizes that he loves the game so much that he cannot quit. So, Chrono eventually confronts Mikuru and tells her his true feelings about Vanguard. Revealed to be acquainted with Shin and hearing from him about how much Vanguard changed Chrono's life, Mikuru now understands Chrono's feelings and allows him to continue playing the game.
#2 - Jaime Alcaraz
Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/4/2015
Chrono takes on a quest from a foreigner who wants him to show how Vanguard is played in Japan. At the rendezvous point, Chrono meets the client, a young Spanish man named Jaime Alcaraz. Despite what the quest said, the overly-positive Jaime is more interested in sightseeing and learning about Japanese culture than playing Vanguard. After much shopping, sidetracks, and run-ins with Shion and Tokoha, Chrono and Jaime overhear two children arguing; one little boy wants to have a cardfight with the other older boy, who refuses him. Jaime persuades that boy into fighting by offering him the delicacies he bought throughout the day. So, the two boys fight, and the younger boy manages to win. Afterwards, the two kids become friends, and Jaime decides to give all of his food with both of them. Just when Jaime finally wants to play Vanguard with Chrono, Mamoru appears and reveals Jaime's real identity; he is actually a rising star fighter from the European League and has been invited to Japan to compete as part of the Euro team in an interleague match against the Tokyo team (which Mamoru is a member of). In the end, Jaime recommends for Chrono to watch the match and then takes his leave with Mamoru.
#3 - Conclusion
Season 5 - Episode 48 - Aired 10/4/2015
Surviving a devastating attack from Kouji's Genesis Dragon, Excelics Messiah, Chrono makes one last attack to win the fight. At that moment, Chrono sees a vision of a little dragon, and then Chrono's Depend Card turns into that dragon: Chrono Dran. After finally revealing his name to Chrono, Kouji tells all that he knows to him. He informs Chrono that the Depend Card allows its holder to call a unit from Planet Cray to Earth and manifest itself as that card. Kouji also reveals that there is another person like Kanzaki who already has many Depend Cards to fulfill his own ambitions: Ryuzu Myoujin, a former member of the Vanguard Association and former friend of Chrono's father, Ribe Shindou. After telling Chrono what happened to Ribe, Kouji takes his leave. In the end, Chrono discovers that it was Kouji who had been secretly giving him more Gear Chronicle cards all along.
#4 - Chrono vs. Ibuki
Season 5 - Episode 47 - Aired 9/27/2015
After Kanzaki's resignation, the United Sanctuary branch was left in disarray with many of its staff members and fighters leaving. Fortunately, Kouji temporarily returns to revise the branch and make it more hospitable than before, thus bringing back the lost staff and fighters. Later, Kouji calls out Chrono to tell him about the Depend Card. However, Chrono insists on cardfighting Kouji and finally settle the score with him. Meanwhile, Shin meets with Mikuru to talk about Chrono's father...
#5 - The Power to Transcend
Season 5 - Episode 46 - Aired 9/20/2015
Despite the overwhelming power of Kanzaki's Aurageyser Doomed, Chrono still has fun with the fight as he manages to completely protect himself from Kanzaki's assault. This leaves the audience in awe and Taiyou realizing the error of his ways. As he and the crowd start to liven up, Chrono makes one final attack with his Chronojet Dragon on Kanzaki. The force is so great that it destroys the GIRS system. Mysteriously, the attack makes it through and hits Kanzaki, which makes him come to a realization. In the end of the arduous fight, Chrono defeats Kanzaki, who suddenly declares that he will resign as manager of the United Sanctuary branch. Afterwards, Chrono and Taiyou reconcile, and Kouji pays a visit to Shin...
#6 - Chrono vs. Kanzaki
Season 5 - Episode 45 - Aired 9/13/2015
The epic battle between Chrono and Kanzaki begins. If Chrono wins, then Kanzaki must admit that his elitist philosophy is wrong. But if Kanzaki wins, then he will take Chrono's Gear Chronicle deck. Learning from his prior defeat to Kanzaki, Chrono puts up a close fight while carrying the feelings of all his friends. However, Kanzaki soon strides his true trump card: the fearsome Supremacy Black Dragon, Aurageyser Doomed...
#7 - Chrono vs. Taiyou
Season 5 - Episode 44 - Aired 9/6/2015
The final game of the special match commences as Chrono fights Taiyou while trying to convince him that his current mindset is wrong. Unfazed by Chrono's plays and words, Taiyou calmly counters his moves and takes control of the fight. However, Chrono is cheered on by his friends and is reminded of the connections he made through Vanguard. Hoping to convey the message that Vanguard is more about fun and friendship to Taiyou, Chrono strides Chronodragon Nextage and wins the game, thereby winning the special match for Team TRY3. Before he and Taiyou could talk more, Kanzaki suddenly announces that he will fight against Chrono.
#8 - Stride Force
Season 5 - Episode 43 - Aired 8/30/2015
During an intermission, Team TRY3 and Kamui sneak into the headquarters of the United Sanctuary branch. They are eventually caught and brought in front of Kanzaki, who reveals his true ambitions. Kanzaki has been using the branch to set up harsh regimens to train fighters who would wear special bracelets, which transfers a unique energy called "Stride Force". The gathered energy was supposed to be used to awaken the previously-mentioned miracle card, dubbed the "Depend Card", but Kouji had stolen it and escaped during the special match. After Kanzaki releases the group, Chrono is given the Depend Card by Kamui, who had received it from Kouji prior to the infiltration. With the card currently blank, Chrono regains focus on getting Taiyou back to his normal self in the upcoming final game of the special match. Elsewhere, Kouji is on the run but is confronted by Shouma. After recalling his encounter with the original owner of the Gear Chronicle deck who told him about the Depend Card, Kouji fends off Shouma and continues onward.
#9 - Tokoha vs. Rin
Season 5 - Episode 41 - Aired 8/16/2015
Following Taiyou being revealed as the newest member of Team Demise, the first game of the special match between TRY3 and Demise begins with Tokoha facing off against Rin. Like the last time they fought, Rin tries to taunt and irritate Tokoha. However, Tokoha instead remains calm and has fun with the battle, which infuriates Rin. After realizing how much Rin is stuck up on Mamoru, Tokoha wins the fight with her new G unit Dream-spinning Ranunculus, Ahsha. Soon afterwards, a disgusted Rin quits Team Demise, and the special match moves on to the next game, which will be between Shion and Shouma.
#10 - Nextage
Season 5 - Episode 40 - Aired 8/9/2015
TRY3 finally receives the invitation to the promised match against Team Demise. At the same time, the Dragon Empire branch chief, Ryutarou Oyama, plans to hold an assembly to discuss with all the other chiefs about the United Sanctuary's harsh training programs. Believing the special match is a chance to show the fun of Vanguard to the fighters of the United Sanctuary branch, Team TRY3 attempts to convince Ryutarou to hold off on the assembly until afterwards. This leads to a cardfight between Chrono and Ryutarou, with Chrono successfully conveying his honest feelings of wanting to display how fun Vanguard can be. After the fight, Ryutarou explains that the assembly will still be held but after the special match. Until then, TRY3 individually train themselves for the upcoming match, with Shion and Tokoha gaining new cards for their efforts. Finally, the day of the special match arrives...
#11 - Solar Eclipse
Season 5 - Episode 39 - Aired 8/2/2015
Jaime returns to Japan and gives Chrono a new Gear Chronicle card. Then, Chrono gets an idea to bring Taiyou along with his friends for a day of fun in an effort to have Taiyou smile again. Near the end of the day, Doujima, a top-ranked Dog Trainer from the United Sanctuary branch, appears to take Taiyou back. Chrono decides to fight Doujima, using the new Gear Chronicle card, Chronodragon Nextage, to win the long and difficult battle. However, Taiyou still feels the need to become stronger and returns to the branch with Doujima. Although Chrono failed to change Taiyou's perspective, he stays determined to show him how fun Vanguard can be. But unbeknownst to Chrono, Taiyou is selected to undergo a special training program...
#12 - Miracle Card
Season 5 - Episode 38 - Aired 7/19/2015
After Team TRY3 is reunited, Kouji informs the trio about how the United Sanctuary Branch uses their harsh training programs to strengthen cardfighters and how these people are participating in them of their own volition. With TRY3 still believing the branch's ways are wrong, Kanzaki decides to fight the team by himself. As Kanzaki makes his counterarguments to TRY3, he reveals that a certain fight he had was what influenced him into becoming the elitist he is today. After mentioning something about a "miracle card" that he encountered, Kanzaki defeats TRY3. Later, it is revealed that Kanzaki's true goal is using the branch's training programs to fulfill the conditions of making that miracle card appear before him again and then claim it.
#13 - Dog Trainer
Season 5 - Episode 37 - Aired 7/12/2015
Using the special bracelets awarded to them for winning the tournament, TRY3 infiltrates the United Sanctuary branch. However, a security guard mistakes them as native fighters and separates the trio. Tokoha is horrified by the harsh training programs of the branch and decides to confront Rin about it. Elsewhere, Shion is taken to a GIRS arena where he is challenged to a cardfight by that guard who is in fact Yuya as Shion had suspected. While battling against Yuya's new Shadow Paladin deck, Shion is forced to wear the bracelet which delivers physical pain to him whenever he takes damage. When Shouma appears to spectate the match, Yuya reveals how it was Shouma who invited him to the branch. Yuya eventually rose up the ranks and gained the position of Dog Trainer, a security personnel/disciplinary teacher who punishes losers and enforces the branch's mottoes of "winning is everything" and "weakness is a sin" to others. Offended and outraged upon hearing of the branch's morals, Shion swiftly defeats Yuya and then confronts Shouma. Meanwhile, Chrono meets with Taiyou again and tries to convince him that his current mentality of wanting to become strong is not right. As Chrono attempts to flee from the facility with Taiyou, Kouji stands before him.
#14 - United Sanctuary
Season 5 - Episode 36 - Aired 7/5/2015
Team TRY3 participates in a tournament held at the United Sanctuary branch. The top three fighters will earn not only the right to be part of the branch's special selection but also the chance to fight against Team Demise. As the tournament progresses, TRY3 notices the peculiar behavior and "winning is everything" mentality of the United Sanctuary branch's fighters. In the final round, Chrono faces a familiar friend: Taiyou Asukawa, who has drastically changed from his former timid soft-spoken self. Unbeknownst to Chrono, Taiyou was subjected to a special strengthening program in which he fought against Chrono's Gear Chronicle deck in simulations, thus turning him into a cold calculating fighter. In spite of Taiyou predicting and countering Chrono's every move, Chrono turns the fight around in his favor and wins. After Taiyou is taken away by a security guard who suspiciously looks like Yuya Karasumori, TRY3 is appointed the winner of the tournament. However, the team feels that something is amiss...
#15 - Shion vs. Shouma
Season 5 - Episode 42 - Aired 8/23/2015
The rematch between Shion and Shouma commences. While making strong offensive and defensive plays, Shouma thinks that Shion is still the prideful person who tries to do everything but ends up with mediocre results. Because of this, Shouma predicts this fight will end the same way as the last time they battled. However, Shion believes his possibilities are endless as he strides his new G unit Aerial Divine Knight, Altmile to turn Shouma's prediction on its head and make a comeback victory.
#16 - Shion's Pride
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/7/2014
Tokoha invites Chrono and Shion to a special Vanguard quiz competition event, which is split into three phases. Shion easily wins the first phase, a game in which players are given a picture of a card and must buzz in and call the card's right name as fast as possible. In the second phase, a scavenger hunt, Chrono wins due to Shion prioritizing to help an injured boy. The boy has a pessimistic attitude, but Shion tries to cheer him up by vowing to win the entire event. In the third and final phase, Chrono and Shion race through an obstacle course. Despite some mistakes and with some unexpected help from Chrono, Shion barely manages to reach the goal and win the event, thus fulfilling his promise to the boy.
#17 - The Dark Ones
Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/5/2015
After Chrono makes amends with Tokoha and Shion, the three take on a quest that will award Chrono enough points to return to grade 2. In this quest, the trio faces unusual challenges such as standing on top of a stack of pillows, cosplaying, and traversing a maze. They eventually reach the end where Chrono engages in a cardfight with the quest giver, an eccentric man referring to himself as "Vlad III". After winning a long hard-fought battle against Vlad's Dark Irregulars deck, Chrono gains not only the points to reach grade 2 but also the title of "Vlad IV" (much to Chrono's disapproval).
#18 - Kouji vs. Mamoru
Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/12/2015
Mamoru invites Kouji for dinner where they play a game of Vanguard while discussing about Chrono, the incident at the team tournament, and their different beliefs in Vanguard; Mamoru believes in having fun while Kouji is more focused on winning. Meanwhile, with only a week until the regional tournament's entry deadline, Tokoha and Shion help Chrono complete as many quests as possible to gain the necessary amount of points to reach grade 3. However, Chrono ends up missing out on a lot of quests in order to help a young lost boy. All hope seems lost until Mamoru, knowing Chrono's circumstances, creates a special quest, which Chrono, Tokoha, and Shion immediately accept, that will award enough points for Chrono to level up to grade 3.
#19 - Birth of a Team
Season 5 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/19/2015
The special quest that Chrono, Tokoha, Shion, and many other fighters are participating in is a survival game/scavenger hunt on a mountain. Teams must find star coins scattered across the mountain, pass obstacles, and bet the coins in cardfights against other teams. Upon reaching the goal line, the coins will then be converted into points towards a fighter's grade. As Chrono, Tokoha, and Shion fight and gain coins, they come across many of their friends and have a fun time together. Near the finish line, Chrono defeats Tsuneto and acquires all of his coins, thus giving Chrono enough points to reach grade 3. Now eligible to enter the regional tournament with Tokoha and Shion, Chrono officially names their team "TRY3".
#20 - Taiyou Asukawa
Season 5 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/26/2015
Shin has Chrono teach a young shy boy named Taiyou Asukawa on how to play Vanguard. In the midst of the teaching fight, Taiyou explains how lonely and depressed he felt before getting into Vanguard, which Chrono can relate to. Although Chrono wins, Taiyou nonetheless feels more confident in himself, and Shin is inspired to play Vanguard again.
#21 - Vortex Cupid
Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/1/2015
One day, a socially awkward teenager named Ogawa had a cardfight with a girl who he fell in love with at first sight. Unfortunately, the girl accidentally left behind an Angel Feather card (Battle Cupid, Nociel), and having never learned her name, Ogawa has not been able to find her or give the card back to her. One month later, he eventually makes a quest that Chrono, Shion, and Tokoha accept to locate that girl and return her card. With little information to go on, the trio nonetheless searches for her. After much investigation, they eventually track the girl, Hinako, at her school. Shion and Tokoha feel that Ogawa should personally give her card back, but he is too scared to see her. Then, Chrono decides to shuffle the card amongst four others and has Ogawa draw one of them. If Ogawa picks the Nociel card, then he will be the one to return the card, but if not, then Chrono will. Ogawa gathers his courage, draws the right card, and returns it to her. For completing this quest, Chrono, Shion, and Tokoha are given an equal amount of points. Afterwards, Shion and Tokoha suspect that Chrono had actually shuffled the Nociel card amongst other copies of it so that Ogawa would pick it no matter what. To their surprise and disappointment, Chrono reveals that he did not do so.
#22 - Yuichirou Kanzaki
Season 5 - Episode 27 - Aired 5/3/2015
After much preparation by Team TRY3, the regional tournament finally begins. It opens with an exhibition match between last year's national champion Toyoyama and Yuichirou Kanzaki, the director of the United Sanctuary region and the man in charge of this tournament. Toyoyama seemingly has the upper hand until Kanzaki brutally retaliates and finishes the match. After Kanzaki gives a speech of elitism, the regional tournament starts as Team TRY3 makes it past the first round.
#23 - Again, The Wanderer
Season 5 - Episode 28 - Aired 5/10/2015
TRY3's opponent in the second round is Team Wanderers led by Takeru Baba, which leads to a rematch between him and Chrono. As they have another intense cardfight, Chrono learns that Takeru fights for the sake of his sickly younger brother Hayato, which causes him to falter. But with some encouragement from Tokoha, Chrono regains his fighting spirit and wins the battle, thus advancing TRY3 to the third round.
#24 - Team Demise
Season 5 - Episode 29 - Aired 5/17/2015
TRY3 makes it past the qualifying rounds into the top 16 of the tournament. Their upcoming opponent is Team Demise, which is coached by Kouji. While Chrono faces off against Demise's Sugiru Kariya, Shion reminisces about the time when he first got into playing Vanguard. In spite of Kariya's expert and ruthless plays, Chrono pulls off a comeback and wins the game.
#25 - Rin Hashima
Season 5 - Episode 30 - Aired 5/24/2015
While Kamui fights Kouji to determine his intentions, Tokoha battles against Team Demise's Rin Hashima, a girl with a sadistic personality and a grudge against Mamoru. Throughout the cardfight, Rin taunts Tokoha by bringing up Mamoru into the conversation before finally defeating her. As Shion prepares himself for his next fight, Tokoha is left feeling depressed.