Lock

“	You can't move; you can't attack; you can't even retire. All you can do is just float there.	”
—Suiko Tatsunagi, Episode 130

BT13-007EN-RRR — Star-vader, Chaos Breaker Dragon

"Lock" (呪縛ロック Rokku) is a mechanic which refers to the action of turning a rear-guard face down, changing the state of that rear-guard from a "unit" to a "locked card". This action was introduced in Trial Deck 11: Star-vader Invasion. It is largely associated with the Link Joker clan, and can only be found outside of Link Joker on "Яeverse" units, units corrupted by Link Joker.

In the original anime, Lock is visually shown as two black rings collapsing onto the unit reverting it into card form and on the table, the face down card is shown to emit sparks when the player attempts to touch it, and at the end of the turn, all cards that were affected return to be face up automatically without making a turn.

In Cardfight!! Vanguard G, the locked state is shown as a red sphere engulfing the unit on the field. However, the Star-vaders' variation continue with two orbiting black rings around the locked card. This is done on purpose to differentiate between "invaders" and "native beings of Cray".

Despite this mechanic being relatively unique, as well as requiring reminder text when it was first introduced, lock is not considered to be Link Joker's keyword.

How it Works

When a rear-guard is locked, it turns face down and remains face down on the circle it was locked on until the end of its owner's turn. A "locked card" loses all characteristics present on its face-up side, as well as other characteristics that it received before being locked. A locked card is not a rear-guard (and hence it is not a unit either, although it is still regarded as a card, specifically a "locked card"), and while it is locked, the circle where it is on is not regarded as a rear-guard circle, but as a "locked circle". A locked card cannot be referred to as standing nor resting, but physically, the player is free to choose the orientation to place their locked cards (being vertically the most common).

Since a locked card is not a unit, it cannot be used to perform any action; it cannot attack, boost, intercept, use abilities, be used to pay costs, be moved to another circle or zone, or be retired by calling another unit over it. A locked can only be used by effects that explicitly affect a locked card or any cards in general. Including the locked circle, it can only used by effects that explicitly say "locked circle" or "any circle" in general (e.g. Perfect Performance, Ange).

If a G unit that is rear-guard becomes locked, it must be put into to G zone face up after it turned face down.

If an effect or cost says "put it on (RC) as a locked card", that card is never regarded as a unit during the process, and its AUTO abilities cannot activate. It the card put face down on the circle is a Protect card, it disappears from the game immediately.

In the Japanese edition, when you would put a card from a hidden zone (such as your deck) on (RC) as a locked card, you are allowed to look at the card first, then place the card on (RC) as locked. The card's AUTO abilities still cannot activate.

Unlock

When a locked card becomes face up due to any method, it will cease to be a locked card, and it is regarded as being "unlocked" (解呪アンロック Anrokku), while the circle will return to its original type. "Unlocking a unit" means "turn the locked card face up in [Stand] state". A locked card becomes face up normally at the beginning of its owner's end phase, but it can be done during any phase with effects or costs as well, even if the effect or cost doesn't explicitly state "unlock" (e.g. Blue Wave Armor General, Galfilia). A locked card that is unlocked returns to being a rear-guard in the circle where it is located. However, the unlocked card is considered to be a different card than the original, and therefore, all effects and power that the card received before it was locked disappear (For example, if a rear-guard was called due to the effect of "Magia", and was subsequently locked, the rear-guard that was called does not return to the soul). Also, the unlocked card is not considered as being placed on the circle, and thus AUTO abilities with the "placed on" condition are not activated.

Starting from Booster Set 14: Brilliant Strike, there are cards that can unlock with their effects, most notably Salvation Lion, Grand Ezel Scissors, who can unlock all of your locked cards with his Limit Break. This allows units to nullify the opponent's locking efforts or force them to relock units. G Trial Deck 5: Fateful Star Messiah introduced the first cards whose effects are activated when they are unlocked.

Omega Lock

"Omega Lock" (Ωオメガ呪縛ロック Omega Rokku) is a special variation of lock introduced in Booster Set 15: Infinite Rebirth.

When a locked card is affected by Omega Lock, during the owner's next turn, on his or her end phase, they cannot unlock that card. Said locked card will only be unlocked during the owner's next end phase after it is affected. However, locked cards affected by Omega Lock still can be unlocked normally or with effects during any phase in any turn, excluding the "next end phase" where they cannot be unlocked by anything. If a locked card is affected by Omega Lock multiple times in the same turn, it will not prolong the Omega Lock's duration of two turns. In the card text, Omega Lock is referred to as "cannot be unlocked during the next end phase".

In the anime, Omega Lock is depicted as "locking the locked card".

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: If I have Liberator of the Round Table, Alfred as my vanguard and 1 of my 5 rear-guards has been locked, will my vanguard's power be 19000 or 21000 due to his Limit Break?
Answer: 19000. Your locked cards do not exist as rear-guards on the field anymore.
Question: If my vanguard is Dragonic Overlord and my only rear-guard is an Embodiment of Armor, Bahr which will be locked, will my Dragonic Overlord gets [Power]-2000?
Answer: Yes. It will be treated as though you have no rear-guards, meaning Dragonic Overlord will get power-2000.
Question: If my vanguard is Perfect Performance, Ange, and all of my rear-guards are locked, can I return those locked rear-guards to my hand?
Answer: Yes, as Ange chooses cards on any circle that is not your Vanguard circle. Locked cards are on locked circles, so they will be returned to the owner's hand.

Comprehensive Rulings

Comprehensive Rules: English Edition (January 19, 2024)

Lock: 10.22
Locked Cards: 3.8
Locked Circles: 3.18, 4.6.7
Unlocking: 6.8.1, 10.22.5, 10.24
G unit interactions: 10.22.8
Dominate interactions: 10.35.2.4

Comprehensive Rules: Japanese Edition (December 22, 2021)

Placing as Locked: 10.21.9.1

List of Cards

Can Lock

Can Omega Lock

Link Joker

Can Unlock

Cray Elemental

Earth Elemental, Pokkur

Genesis

Goddess of Law, Justitia

Gold Paladin

Kagero

Seal Dragon, Georgette

Link Joker

Murakumo

Stealth Beast, Metamorfox

Narukami

Gravity Bolt Dragon

Royal Paladin

Can Put Cards as Locked

Link Joker

Black Bullet of Iron Star, Photosphere (From the hand)
Death Star-vader, "Omega Fall" Glendios (From the damage zone)
Death Star-vader, "Omega Loop" Glendios (From the top deck)
Death Star-vader, Chaos Breaker Deluge (From the hand)
Death Star-vader, Chaos Universe (From the hand)
Destiny Dealer (V Series) (From the top deck)
Genesis Machine Deity, Altwilder (From the hand)
Harmonics Messiah (V Series) (From the deck)
Lady Battler of the Gravity Well (V Series) (from the top deck)
Claw of Occlusion, Ghastly Nail (From the hand)
Star-vader, Chaos Breaker Close (From the hand)
Star-vader, Cold Death Dragon (From the top deck)
Star-vader, Globuladia (From the drop zone)
Star-vader, Mulepton (From the hand)

Trivia

The kanji used for lock "呪縛" (Jubaku) can be translated as "Curse" or "Spell".
The kanji used for unlock "解呪" (Kaiju) can be translated as "Dispel" or "Disenchant".