Nigel Lamb is a local Duelist from Niagara Falls, Ontario, and he took a short drive to compete in this weekend’s YCS with his Fire King Snake-Eye Azamina Deck. Now, he’s facing off against Drakken Wilson from Sudbury, Ontario and his Yubel Deck.

Fire King Decks got a big boost from the release of Rage of the Abyss with the addition Fire King Courtier Ulcanix, and Lamb is hoping that boost to his Deck will help him win this weekend. Lamb is also taking advantage of the new Dominus Impulse Trap Card, which is quickly emerging as a popular card in Decks that don’t rely on LIGHT, EARTH, or WIND monsters. Wilson’s Yubel Deck is newly improved by Rage of the Abyss too. It now features Lacrima the Crimson Tears, which is used in conjunction with previously released Fiendsmith cards. Yubel Decks have recently emerged as one of the most dominant Decks in the newest Advanced Format, but support for WATER and FIRE Decks in Rage of the Abyss could leave Yubel Decks in the dust this weekend. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Lamb opened up Duel 1 with Bonfire, Fire King High Avatar Kirin, Effect Veiler, Fire King Island, and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring.

He activated Bonfire to add Snake-Eye Ash to his hand, and Wilson activated the effect of the Droll & Lock Bird in his hand! Lamb was no longer able to add cards from his Deck to his hand! Lamb ended his turn with a clear field!

Wilson activated Nightmare Throne and activated the effect, and Lamb used the effect of the Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in his hand to negate it. He Normal Summoned Samsara D Lotus next, prompting Lamb to negate its effect with Effect Veiler. Next, Wilson activated Fiendsmith’s Tract and added Fabled Lurrie to his hand. He discarded it, then used its effect to Special Summon it. He sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem and then used Requiem’s effect to Tribute it and Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears from his Deck. He activated Lacrima’s effect to send Fiendsmith Engraver from his Deck to his Graveyard and then sent Lacrima and his Lotus to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence. He used its effect to return Lacrima, Engraver, and Lurrie from his Graveyard to his Deck and Special Summon Fiendsmith’s Desirae. Next, he used Requiem’s effect in the Graveyard to equip it to Desirae and attacked directly with both Sequence and Desirae, dropping Lamb down to 3400 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, he Set a card to his back row and then ended his turn.

Lamb drew Called by the Grave for his turn and then Normal Summoned Snake-Eye Ash. He activated its effect, and when Wilson tried to negate its effect with Infinite Impermanence, Lamb Chained the effect of his High Avatar Kirin to destroy the Ash and Summon Kirin! He resolved Ash’s effect to add Snake-Eyes Poplar from his Deck to his hand and then used Poplar’s effect in his hand to Special Summon it. He activated its effect on the field to try to get a card from his Deck, but Wilson negated its effect with Desirae’s effect. Next, Lamb activated Fire King Island. He used its effect to destroy Poplar and add Sacred Fire King Garunix from his Deck to his hand. He activated Sacred Fire King Garunix’s effect in his hand to Special Summon it and then used its on-field effect to destroy Fire King Courtier Ulcanix from his Deck and increase Sacred Fire King Garunix’s Attack Points by 400. Next, he used Ulcanix’s effect to Special Summon Fire King High Avatar Garunix from his Deck in Defense Position. He combined Sacred Fire King Garunix and Fire King High Avatar Garunix to Xyz Summon The Zombie Vampire and used its effect by detaching the Sacred Fire King Garunix. He sent 4 cards from the top of each Deck to the Graveyard, including a Diabellstar the Black Witch that was sent to his own Graveyard! He Special Summoned it thanks to The Zombie Vampire’s effect and then used Diabellstar’s effect to Set Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from his Deck to his field. Next, he used The Zombie Vampire and Diabellstar to Link Summon Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy and used its effect to Special Summon Samsara D Lotus. He used the Lotus and Dharc to Link Summon Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames and then used Promethean Princess’s effect to Special Summon Snake-Eye Ash from his Graveyard. He used Ash’s effect to send it to the Graveyard along with Kirin and Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon from his Deck. He used Flamberge Dragon’s effect to move Sequence into Wilson’s back row. Next, he Link Summoned Salamangreat Raging Phoenix and used his Flamberge Dragon’s effect to Special Summon Poplar and Ash from his Graveyard. He used Raging Phoenix as a Link Material to Summon Worldsea Dragon Zealantis and then used its effect to banish all monsters and Summon them back to the field. He then used the effect of his Promethean Princess in the Graveyard to Special Summon it and destroy Wilson’s newly Summoned Desirae and his own Poplar. Next, he used Raging Phoenix’s effect to Summon it back from the Graveyard, and Chained Poplar’s effect to put the Poplar into his back row. Wilson activated the effect of Fiendsmith’s Desirae to try to send Fire King Island from the field to the Graveyard, but Lamb Chained Called by the Grave to banish Desirae and negate its effect! Next, Lamb sent Raging Phoenix and Ash to the Graveyard to Link Summon Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and used Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye to send the Poplar in his back row to the Graveyard and Special Summon Snake-Eye Oak from his Deck linked to Sunlight Wolf. He used Oak’s effect to Special Summon Ash from his Graveyard and Sunlight Wolf’s effect to add Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring from his Graveyard to his hand. Direct attacks from all five of Lamb’s monsters wiped out Wilson’s 8000 Life Points!

Nigel Lamb takes the first Duel with his Fire King Snake-Eye Azamina Deck!

Duel Two

Wilson started off Duel 2 by activating Nightmare Throne.

He activated its effect, but lost out to Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Wilson activated Fiendsmith’s Tract next, and added Fabled Lurrie from his Deck to his hand. He discarded it, and then used its effect to Special Summon it from the Graveyard. Next, he sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem and used Requiem’s effect to Tribute it and Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears. He used Lacrima’s effect to send Fiendsmith Engraver from his Deck to his Graveyard. He used Requiem’s effect in the Graveyard to Equip it to Lacrima and then Summoned Necroquip Princess by sending Requiem and Lacrima to the Graveyard. Next, he Special Summoned Engraver from his Graveyard by shuffling Lurrie from his Graveyard back into his Deck, and he used Necroquip and Engraver as Link Materials to Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence. He used its effect to return Engraver and Requiem from his Graveyard to his Deck and Summon Aerial Eater. He activated its effect to send Samsara D Lotus from his Deck to his Graveyard and then sent Sequence and Aerial Eater to the Graveyard to Link Summon Muckraker From the Underworld. He activated its effect to Special Summon Samsara D Lotus and discard Spirit of Yubel. He used the Lotus’s effect to Special Summon Spirit of Yubel and then used the Spirit’s effect to Set Nightmare Pain from his Deck to his field. He activated it and then used its effect to destroy Spirit of Yubel and add Gruesome Grave Squirmer from his Deck to his hand. Next, he used his Spirit of Yubel’s effect to Special Summon Yubel from his Deck. He Special Summoned Gruesome Grave Squirmer next and destroyed his Yubel. He used Yubel’s effect to Special Summon Yubel – Terror Incarnate from his Deck. He sent Spirit of Yubel and Yubel from his Graveyard to his Deck to Special Summon Phantom of Yubel and then sent Gruesome Grave Squirmer and Terror Incarnate to the Graveyard to Link Summon Unchained Soul Lord of Yama. He used Yama’s effect to add Unchained Soul of Sharvara from his Deck to his hand. Lamb conceded the Duel with Fire King High Avatar Kirin, Diabellstar the Black Witch, The Hallowed Azamina, and Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon in his hand, before Wilson could even finish his turn.

A strong start for Drakken Wilson allows him to take a quick victory in Duel 2! The Match is going to a third and final Duel!

Duel Three

Lamb opened up Duel 3 with Called by the Grave, Different Dimension Ground, Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye, and 2 copies of Triple Tactics Thrust. He Set the Different Dimension Ground in his Main Phase and then passed his turn.

Wilson drew a card and then Lamb activated Different Dimension Ground in the Standby Phase so that all monsters sent to the Graveyard would be banished for the turn. In the Main Phase, Wilson Set a card to his back row and passed.

Lamb drew Skill Drain. He Set it to his back row along with the Called by the Grave in his hand and then ended his turn.

Wilson Normal Summoned Fabled Lurrie and sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem. He activated its effect by Tributing it, but Lamb Chained Called by the Grave to banish it and negate its effect. Wilson Set a card to his back row before passing.

Lamb drew Bonfire! He activated it, but lost out to Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. That allowed Lamb to finally activate a copy of Triple Tactics Thrust! He Set a Bonfire to his field with its effect and then ended his turn, hoping it would still be there on his next turn.

Wilson drew a card and passed.

Lamb flipped the Bonfire he Set on the previous turn, but lost out to Ash Blossom again! But once again, that allowed him to use Triple Tactics Thrust, and he Set another Bonfire from his Deck to his field. He Set Infinite Impermanence next and then ended his turn.

Wilson returned Yubel and Yubel – Terror Incarnate from his hand to his Deck to Summon Phantom of Yubel from his Extra Deck and then ended his turn.

Lamb drew Deception of the Sinful Spoils and then flipped his Bonfire. He added Snake-Eye Ash from his Deck to his hand and then Wilson activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird. Lamb passed his turn, no longer able to add cards from his Deck to his hand due to Droll & Lock Bird’s effect.

Wilson Normal Summoned Dark Beckoning Beast and activated its effect. Lamb Chained Skill Drain by paying 1000 Life Points, and Wilson Chained the effect of the Sharvara in his hand to destroy the Dark Beckoning Beast and Summon Sharvara. He resolved his Beckoning Beast’s effect to add Opening of the Spirit Gates from his Deck to his hand and then activated it to add a Dark Beckoning Beast from his Deck to his hand. He attacked directly with Sharvara, dropping Lamb down to 5000 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Wilson sent Phantom of Yubel and Sharvara to the Graveyard to Link Summon Unchained Soul of Rage and used his Sharvara’s effect to Set Escape of the Unchained from his Deck to his field.

Lamb drew Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and then activated Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye by sending Skill Drain to the Graveyard. He Chained Infinite Impermanence to negate the effect of Unchained Soul of Rage and then Special Summoned Legendary Fire King Ponix from his Deck. He activated its effect, but lost out to Wilson’s Infinite Impermanence. Next, Lamb activated Deception of the Sinful Spoils. He activated its effect, but Lamb Chained Escape of the Unchained to destroy it along with his Unchained Soul of Rage. Wilson used Rage’s effect to add Sharvara back to his hand and then Lamb Normal Summoned Ash and used its effect to add Snake-Eyes Poplar from his Deck to his hand. He used Poplar’s effect to Special Summon it to the field. He sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Relinquished Anima and then sent Poplar into his back row with its effect. Next, he used Ash’s effect by sending the Ash and Poplar to the Graveyard, and Special Summoned Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon from his Deck. He sent Ponix and Anima to the Graveyard to Link Summon Dharc, and used its effect to Special Summon Dark Beckoning Beast from Wilson’s Graveyard. Next, he sent Flamberge Dragon and Dharc to the Graveyard to Link Summon Promethean Princess and used Flamberge Dragon’s effect to Special Summon Ash and Ponix. He used Promethean Princess’s effect to Special Summon Flamberge Dragon from his Graveyard next, and then sent Promethean Princess and Dark Beckoning Beast to the Graveyard to Link Summon Amphibious Swarmship Amblowhale. Next, he Link Summoned Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf by sending Ash and Ponix to the Graveyard. He tried to enter his Battle Phase, but in the Main Phase, Wilson Special Summoned Sharvara from his hand by destroying his last face-down card – an Infinite Impermanence that was in the same column as the Infinite Impermanence Lamb activated earlier in the turn. Lamb used his Flamberge Dragon’s effect to put Sharvara into Wilson’s back row and then direct attacks from Lamb’s monsters wiped out all of Wilson’s Life Points!

Nigel Lamb uses his Fire King Snake-Eye Azamina Deck to win the first Swiss Round and advance with a 1-0 record!