There’s a LOT of cool Decks on the tournament floor here in Day of YCS Niagara Falls, and while we already showed you two returning strategies with brand-new innovations in our Round 1 Feature Matches, this time we’re gonna show you something completely different: Maciej Jan Michaelec is piloting a Runick Dark Magician Deck today, leveraging Toy Box, Toy Soldier, and Toy Tank from Battles of Legend: Terminal Revenge to score huge draw power with Magicians’ Souls. From there it… well, you’ll see what it does.

His opponent is Dwyght Hezekiah Mack, playing a more traditional Runick Stun strategy. Runick Stun’s a provent tournament menace, locking down opponents and banishing all their cards to break their plays, and eventually Decking them out! So which build’s better: the proven tournament standby, or the wacky pile with Toys and Dark Magician cards? We were about to find out…

Michaelec won the roll, opening Duel 1 with a hand of Runick Freezing Curses, Runick Slumber, Runick Destruction, Forbidden Droplet, and Toy Box. “Draw Phase…” He activated Destruction to Special Summon Hugin the Runick Wings, using her effect to send Curses from his hand to the Graveyard; that let him search his Deck for Runick Fountain. Michaelec activated it, then followed up with Slumber, targeting Hugin to banish three cards off his opponent’s deck. That gave him what he needed to activate Fountain to draw three cards. Michaelec played Toy Box next to Set two Toy cards from his Deck to his Spell and Trap Card Zone: Toy Soldier and Toy Tank.

Michaelec activated Magicians’ Souls’ effect, Special Summoning it by sending Dark Magician from his Deck to his Graveyard! Here it comes… He used Souls’ effect to send the Toys to his Graveyard, drew two cards, and Chained the effects of the Toy monsters to Special Summon both back to the field! Toy Soldier’s effect triggered as it hit, getting Michaelec Guiding Quem, The Virtuous from his Deck. He Normal Summoned Quem next, sent Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous to the Graveyard with Quem’s ability, and overlaid the Toy monsters to Xyz Summon Daigusto Emeral.

Quem’s effect let Michaelec Special Summon Blazing Cartesia from the Graveyard, and Daigusto let him detach Toy Soldier to Special Summon Dark Magician!  He Tuned Hugin and Quem to Synchro Summon Muddy Mudragon, used its effect to Fuse with Dark Magician, and unleashed Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon! “Thinking…” Michaelec took a moment to consider his next move…

…Before activating Soul Servant, placing Illusion of Chaos on top of his Deck. Michaelec banished Soul Servant to draw the Illusion, then revealed Illusion to search his deck for Dark Magician Girl! He placed a card on top of his Deck to complete the Illusion’s effect and Link Summoned Cross-Sheep. He used Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous to Fusion Summon The Dark Magicians, then Cross-Sheeped Blazing Cartesia back. He Linked away Cross-Sheep and Blazing Cartesia to Link Summon S:P Little Knight, Set Forbidden Droplet and ended his turn, taking back his Blazing Cartesia. Michalec ended on a field of Little Knight, Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon, and The Dark Magicians!

The vibe didn’t last: Mack drew for his turn and tributed all three of Michaelec’s monsters for The Winged Dragon of Ra – Sphere Mode, neutralizing everything with one play! He Set a card to his back row, activated Runick Freezing Curses, and Special Summoned a Hugin of his own! But Michaelec wasn’t about to go quietly: he flipped Forbidden Droplet to shut Hugin down and that effectively ended Mack’s turn.

Could Michaelec rebuild? He was certainly going to try: he used Illusion of Chaos to seek out another Magicians’ Souls, used Toy Box to Set another Toy Soldier and Toy Tank, and used Souls to send Illusion of Chaos from his Deck to his Graveyard to Special Summon Souls. He tried to use its effect to send his Set Toy cards to his Graveyard to draw two cards, but Mack flipped Skill Drain! Michaelec responded with Runick Destruction on Skill Drain, and Mack Chained Runick Flashing Fire to destroy Souls. Cards were banished on both sides of the table for the Runick spells and Michaelec was able to draw his two cards with Souls.

Michaelec pressed on: he Special Summoned both Toy Soldier and Toy Tank, and he activated the effect of the Soldier… Mack Chained Runick Destruction, but Michaelc Chained Flashing Fire to Summon Hugin the Runick Wings. Toy Soldier resolved to get him another Toy Box, and Runick Fountain let Michaelec recycle his Flashing Fire and Destruction to draw two cards. He now had seven cards in hand while Mack was almost tapped out: all Mack had left was Hugin and one remaining card in-hand.

Michaelec brought out Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous, used Runick Freezing Curses to Special Summon Geri the Runick Fangs, then Linked away everything except Toy Soldier to Link Summon Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians. He used her effect to bring back Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon, then Linked off Soldier and Selene for Accesscode Talker! Michaelec used its effect to destroy Mack’s Hugin, then Mack’s Fountain, and Michaelec skipped to Main Phase 2. He Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, took back Cartesia and ended.

Mack drew to two cards in hand, gave a slight chuckle, and passed his turn. Michaelec drew for turn, moved to the Battle Phase, attempted to swing for 5300 damage with Accesscode, and then attacked for game with Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon!

Maciej Michalec’s plan comes together, Dwyght Mack shatters it with a clutch Sphere Mode, and Michaelec grinds out the win anyways! A huge defensive play from Mack sent the Duel clean off the rails, but Michaelec takes Game 1 with authority, demonstrating the insane draw power and grind game that the Runick Dark Magician Deck commands. Can Mack fight back to take Games 2 and 3? Or were we about to see Dark Magician claim victory in a YCS Feature Match? Let’s find out!

Mack opened Duel 2 with Runick Smiting Storm to Special Summon Hugin the Runick Wings, trading his Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell to search his Deck for Runick Fountain. He activated it immediately, then Set a card to his backrow to finish out.

Michaelec had Guiding Quem, The Virtuous, Secret Village of the Spellcasters, Runick Tip, Runick Freezing Curses, Soul Servant, and Magician’s Rod. He led with Runick Tip, banishing one of Mack’s cards to search his Deck for Runick Destruction. Michaelec moved to his Main Phase, activated Secret Village and Mack thought a moment, then let it go. Michaelec Normal Summoned Quem, Mack Chained the effect of Ghost Sister & Spooky Dogwood, and Quem let Michaelec send Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuousto the Graveyard. Michaelec activated Freezing Curses to Special Summon Hugin, he made Hugin’s effect Chan Link 1, sending Magician’s Rod; and Chain Link 2 was Quem.

He revived Quem, Mack gained Life Points with Spooky Dogwood, and Michaelec got Runick Fountainfrom his Deck. He used Blazing Cartesia’s effect to Summon Granguignol the Dusk Dragon, and used its effect to send Dark Magician to the Graveyard. Mack gained 2500 Life Points. He Set two cards to his backrow, skipped his Battle Phase, and took back Blazing Cartesia to end his turn.

Play was to Mack. He Set one card to his back row and ended, locked down under Secret Village of the Spellcasters.

Michaelec drew a card and looked at his options. “This is embarrassing… but it’s okay…” He Normal Summoned Blazing Cartesia and moved to the Battle Phase. Mack flipped Synchro Zone, so Michaelec couldn’t attack! He moved to Main Phase 2, flipped Soul Servant, and got Magicians’ Souls from his deck. He banished Soul Servant to draw a card, then used Magicians’ Souls’ effect to send Dark Magician Girlto his Graveyard as cost, then Special Summoned her. He dropped the Souls, Tuned Blazing Cartesia and Dark Magician Girl together, and Synchro Summoned Chaos Angel to banish Mack’s Runick Fountain!

It was time: Michaelec replaced his Secret Village with Runick Fountain, Linked Blazing Cartesia to Granguignol the Dusk Dragon and Link Summoned S:P Little Knight. Mack responded with Freezing Curses to target Little Knight, and Michalec Chained Little Knight’s effect to target Little Knight and Hugin. Michaelec ended his turn, and the Little Knight and Hugin returned to the field. “Misplays misplays misplays,” muttered Michaelec, displeased with his decisions. Replacing the Secret Village might have been risky…

But no. Mack Set a card to his backrow, then Set another, and moved to his End Phase. Michaelec flipped Runick Destruction to destroy Synchro Zone, and he used Fountain to draw three new cards. Mack passed.

Michaelec moved to next turn, drew for his Draw Phase, and used Illusion of Chaos to search his Deck for Magicians’ Souls. He placed a card on top of his Deck, then activated Freezing Curses to Special Summon Hugin. Her effect let Michaelec pitch Toy Soldier to search his Deck for another Runick Fountain, he activated Toy Box, and Set Toy Soldier and Toy Tank from his Deck.

Magicians’ Souls let Michaelec send Illusion of Chaos to his Graveyard, and Michaelec Special Summoned it. He sent his two Toy monsters to his Graveyard looking for Souls’  draw effect, Mack flipped Freezing Curses on it, and S:P Little Knight got Souls off the field and away from the negation. Michaelec drew two cards for Souls’ effect, and Soldier and Tank got him another Toy Box (and Quem back to the field). Michaelec Linked away S:P Little Knight and Hugin for Cross-Sheep, revived Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous, overlaid his Toy monsters for Daigusto Emeral, and Special Summoned Dark Magician!

Michaelec Linked Cross-Sheep and Blazing Cartesia for Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians, Special Summoned back Blazing Cartesia and Summoned The Dark Magicians! He Link Summoned Accesscode Talker next, cleared Mack’s Drowning Mirror Force, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended his turn to take back Blazing Cartesia.

Mack was down to topdecking. He drew a card for his turn, checked his Graveyard, and Set  a monster as his only move.  Next turn Michalec blew it away with Accesscode and Mack immediately offered the handshake, facing down a board of Chaos Angel, Accesscode Talker, and The Dark Magicians!

Maciej Jan Michalec takes a 2-0 victory here in Round 2, chalking up the win with Runick Dark Magician!