Yoichi plays Barou to win the game and become the dominant player. With Nagi’s assistance, he’s hoping to beat the opponent without resorting to Barou’s strategy. Learn more about when to expect Blue Lock Episode 18 below.
What occurred before the 18th episode of Blue Lock? (Recap)
After Kunigami, Reo, and Chigiri accomplished a tri-fusion on a higher plane than even topped geniuses like Barou and Nagi, the score was 1-0 in the other team’s favour. Despite this, Yoichi can’t wait to see how well his team’s new chemical reactions perform and to try out his new, enhanced self against his opponents. Yoichi must use his spatial awareness in conjunction with his other weapons, such as his blind spots and off-ball moves, to establish a new field of view. His vision has improved, allowing him to track each player’s every move with pinpoint accuracy, and his mind has opened up to an abundance of visual information and potential scoring opportunities. Yoichi gives the ball to Barou as play resumes. Yoichi gets by Reo and then waits for Barou to send the ball back to him, but the superstar on the pitch pays no attention to him.
When Kunigami intercepts Barou’s pass, he forces Nagi to cover Chigiri while Yoichi chases down Reo. But Kunigami scored the game’s second goal with his trademark mid-range effort. Nagi immediately makes fun of Barou for what he did, but Barou doesn’t care about him or Yoichi. He prefers to sit back and let Nagi and Yoichi do all the work while he racks up the points. Yoichi understands that in order to induce a novel chemical interaction between Nagi and Barou, he must take charge of the team and broaden his perspective. For example, there is no use in trying to transfer the ball to Barou because there are no clear openings on his side of the pitch, but with Nagi, the options are practically unlimited.
In the opening minute of play, Yoichi sends the ball to Nagi, who manoeuvres out of Chigiri’s way to score for the white team.
The chemical interaction between Nagi and Yoichi surprised everyone, even Kunigami.
Yet Yoichi knew well well that they were barely making ends meet after his chem reaction with Barou had failed. Barou would sooner lose and die than play Yoichi’s way, despite Yoichi’s best efforts to convince him to change his fundamental concept of winning whatever he sees fit. Yoichi is an egotistical striker, much like himself, therefore Barou told him that he will never be able to manage him. Nagi then steps in and reassures Yoichi that the two of them don’t need Barou in order to win the game. At this moment, Reo approaches Yoichi to discuss the situation between them and Nagi. Given that Reo is baffled as to why Nagi would pick Yoichi above him, he is more motivated than ever to beat Yoichi and prove Nagi wrong. In a flash, Reo overcame Yoichi and convinced him that he was the team’s most important member.
Reo is the perfect example of a utility player because of his ability to contribute equally to attack and defence. Further, he heavily uses Kunigami’s might and Chigiri’s agility.
One more goal for the red squad and the white team is entirely wiped out thanks to Kunigami’s efforts. As a result, Yoichi is debating whether or not to abandon Barou’s strategy and instead focus on working together with Nagi instead. Obviously, this isn’t going to cut it, which is why Yoichi thinks he needs to eat Barou whole and rule the pitch instead of maximising his play style. Before the second half began, Yoichi had Nagi keep an eye on him. Yoichi has decided to use Barou rather than Nagi to start the game. Because of the opposition’s familiarity with Nagi, the available paths to the goal are limited. To the amazement of Kunigami, Reo, and Chigiri, it was revealed that Yoichi had just used Barou as a diversion so that he could transfer the ball to Nagi.
In an even more unexpected move, Nagi re-directs the ball to Yoichi, who scores the second goal for the white team and leaves Barou unable to continue. Yoichi will have to be the one to alter and adapt, rather than the other way around. He knows he can’t rely on Barou, and he doesn’t want to risk losing face by relying on him to change, so he uses him instead. To Barou’s dismay, Yoichi didn’t only instruct him to play like he used to; he also called him a donkey and advised him not to bring the squad down. Because of Yoichi’s new demeanour, Reo and the others are wary of him. They went for the rehearsed link-up play, but Barou urgently went for the ball against Kunigami. Even though Reo successfully dislodges it from Barou’s grasp, Yoichi is strategically positioned to snag it and give it to Nagi. Nagi instantly creates a tie by scoring an equalising goal. In light of this, Chigiri makes the conscious decision to develop, especially in the area of decreasing his speed when gaining possession of the ball. In a footrace against Nagi, he comes out on top and scores the fourth goal for the red team. When Yoichi sees Barou laying on the ground, defeated and desperate, he becomes even more eager to win the game.
The 18th episode of Blue Lock: Release Date & Time
On February 11, 2023, countries including the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe will release Episode 18 of Blue Lock. On February 12, 2023, the eighteenth episode of Blue Lock will premiere in Japan.
The release date for Blue Lock Episode 18 in Japan is slated for February 12, 2023, at 1:30 AM JST.
If these details are still accurate, your area will adhere to the following release schedules:
Today at the Pacific Time Zone’s earliest hour, 8:30 AM (February 11, 2023)
10:30 a.m., EST (Central) (February 11, 2023)
It is currently 11:30 AM EST (February 11, 2023)
It is presently 4:30 p.m. in the UK (February 11, 2023)
Episode 18 of Blue Lock is Available Here
On Crunchyroll, you can watch Episode 18 of Blue Lock with English subtitles. The anime will also be available in English, German, French, Brazilian Portuguese, and Latin American Spanish dub. In Japan, you can catch the latest episode of Blue Lock on TV Asahi’s NUMAnimation block, BS Asahi, and AT-X. Future airings of the show will have English subtitling on Bilibili, Animax Asia, and Ani-One Asia.