We’ve reached the Top 8 here at YCS Pittsburgh! In this Feature Match, we have John Alexander Wilkin facing off against Logan Samuel Shepard. Both of these Duelists are piloting the Yummy Mitsurugi strategy that has proven to be extremely powerful this weekend. The winner will advance to the Top 4 and compete for a spot in the finals of YCS Pittsburgh. Let’s find out who will be moving on!

Duel 1

Wilkin won the die roll and chose to go first! Shepard’s opening hand contained Droll & Lock Bird, Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji, Mitsurugi Prayers, Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi, and Mulcharmy Fuwalos.

Wilkin started by activating the effect of Marshmao☆Yummymao, Special Summoning it. On resolution, Shepard activated the effect of Mulcharmy Fuwalos! Wilkin used Marshmao☆Yummy to Link Summon Yummy☆Snatchy and place Yummyusment☆Mignon to the Field Spell Zone, as Shepard drew a card. Wilkin activated the effect of Mignon, Special Summoning back Marshmao from the Graveyard, then used the two to Synchro Summon Cupsy☆Yummy Way! He activated its effect to search for Cupsy☆Yummy and Cooky☆Yummy, then discarded Mitsurugi Great Purification. Wilkin Special Summoned Cupsy☆Yummy and searched for Yummy☆Surprise, Special Summoned Cooky☆Yummy from hand, then activated Yummy☆Surprise to Special Summon Marshmao☆Yummy from the Graveyard and add Surprise back to hand! He used Marshmao and Cooky to Link Summon I:P Masquerena, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended his turn. 

Shepard began his turn in the Draw Phase by activating Mitsurugi Prayers, Tributing Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji from hand. Wilkin Chained the effect of Cupsy☆Yummy Way, Special Summoning Cooky☆Yummy and Yummy☆Snatchy from the Graveyard, as Shepard searched for and Special Summoned Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Aramasa. Wilkin used the effect of Cooky to destroy Shepard’s Aramasa, as Shepard searched for Mitsurugi Ritual and Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi. In Main Phase 1, Shepard activated Mitsurugi Ritual, Special Summoning Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi from hand by Tributing Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi from Deck. Meanwhile, Wilkin activated the effects of Snatchy and I:P, Synchro Summoning Lollipo☆Yummy Way and Link Summoning Gorgon of Zilofthonia! Shepard had tried to negate I:P’s effect with Murakumo’s effect, but Wilkin discarded Lollipo☆Yummy so that I:P’s effect could resolve. In the following Chain, Wilkin resolved Cupsy’s effect to draw a card, as Shepard resolved Habakiri’s effect to search for Mitsurugi Mirror. 

Shepard Normal Summoned Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi and added Mitsurugi RItual back to hand. On resolution, Wilkin activated the effect of Snatchy, using Snatchy and Cupsy to Synchro Summon Cooky☆Yummy Way, activating its effect to flip Shepard’s Murakumo and Kusanagi face-down. Shepard followed up by activating Mitsurugi Mirror, Tributing Futsu from hand to Special Summon Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi from the Graveyard as Wilkin Chained the effect of Cooky☆Yummy Way to Special Summon Lollipo☆Yummy and Yummy☆Snatchy from the Graveyard. Shepard activated Futsu’s effect to search for Mitsurugi Prayers, as Wilkin activated the effect of Lollipo to banish the Mitsurugi Mirror from Shepard’s Graveyard. On resolution, Wilkin activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird! Shepard then activated Mitsurugi Ritual once again, Tributing the face-down Murakumo to Special Summon another Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi from Deck. On resolution, Wilkin activated the effect of Snatchy once again, using Snatchy and Lollipo to Synchro Summon Lollipo☆Yummy Way, and activating its effect to Special Summon Cupsy☆Yummy and Lollipo☆Yummy from the Graveyard. Shepard entered the Battle Phase and attacked Cupsy with Habakiri, though his other Habakiri couldn’t attack as Gorgon of Zilofthonia was pointing to it! 

Shepard went to Main Phase 2, and used the two copies of Habakiri to Xyz Summon The Zombie Vampire. Both players sent 4 cards from the top of their Decks to the Graveyard, and Shepard Special Summoned back a Cupsy☆Yummy that he had sent! Shepard used The Zombie Vampire to Link Summon Gravity Controller, then used Cupsy and Controller to Synchro Summon Lollipo☆Yummy Way! He Special Summoned Cupsy and Marshmao from his Graveyard, then used Cupsy to Link Summon Yummy☆Snatchy and placed Yummyusment☆Mignon from his hand to the Field Spell Zone. He activated the effect of Mignon, Special Summoning back Cupsy from the Graveyard, then used Marshmao and Snatchy to Link Summon S:P Little Knight and banish Wilkin’s Gorgon! Shepard followed up by activating Yummy☆Surprise, Special Summoning Marshmao☆Yummy and adding Surprise back to hand. Finally, he Set two cards to his backrow. During the End Phase, Wilkin activated his own copy of Yummy☆Surprise, Special Summoning Marshmao☆Yummy from his Graveyard and adding Surprise back to hand, as Shepard Chained the effect of Lollipo☆Yummy Way to Special Summon Cupsy and Snatchy from his Graveyard. 

Wilkin began his turn by activating Dark Ruler No More! In response, Shepard Chained Yummy☆Surprise, targeting his own Marshmao and Cupsy, as well as Wilkin’s Lollipo☆Yummy and Lollipo☆Yummy Way. Wilkin Chained the effect of Lollipo☆Yummy Way, Special Summoning Cooky☆Yummy and Cupsy☆Yummy from the Graveyard, and Shepard Chained S:P’s effect, banishing it and Wilkin’s Marshmao until the End Phase. In a new Chain, Wilkin activated Cooky’s effect to destroy one of Shepard’s Snatchys, and used Cupsy’s effect to draw a card. On resolution, Shepard activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird; Wilkin Chained Mitsurugi Prayers, but Shepard followed it up by activating the effect of a second Droll! 

Wilkin used Cooky to Link Summon another Yummy☆Snatchy, Synchro Summoned Cooky☆Yummy Way, then Special Summoned Lollipo☆Yummy from hand and targeted the Murakumo in Shepard’s Graveyard. Here, Shepard Chained Mitsurugi Prayers, Tributing Kusanagi; however, he was unable to resolve either effect of Prayers, due to the effects of Droll & Lock Bird and Dark Ruler No More. Wilkin Chained the effect of Cooky☆Yummy Way, Special Summoning Yummy☆Snatchy and Cooky☆Yummy as Shepard’s Murakumo was banished. 

Wilkin entered the Battle Phase and destroyed Shepard’s Snatchy in battle, then proceeded to Main Phase 2. He Normal Summoned Mulcharmy Fuwalos, used it to Link Summon Salamangreat Almiraj, then used Almiraj and Cupsy☆Yummy to Synchro Summon Lollipo☆Yummy Way and Special Summon Cupsy☆Yummy and another Snatchy from the Graveyard! He used Lollipo☆Yummy Way and Cupsy☆Yummy to Synchro Summon Shamisen Samsara Sorrowcat, activated Mignon’s effect to Special Summon Lollipo☆Yummy from the Graveyard, then used Sorrowcat and Lollipo to Synchro Summon Herald of the Arc Light! Finally, he used Cooky and Snatchy to Link Summon S:P Little Knight and banish Shepard’s Mignon, then activated Surprise to Special Summon Marshmao from the Graveyard and add Surprise back to hand. During the End Phase, S:P and Marshmao returned to their respective fields. 

Shepard drew Lollipo☆Yummy for turn! He began his turn by Normal Summoning Cupsy☆Yummy and searching for Cooky☆Yummy. On resolution, Wilkin activated the effect of Snatchy, using Marshmao and Snatchy to Synchro Summon Cooky☆Yummy Way and flip Shepard’s Marshmao face-down! Shepard Chained S:P’s effect, attempting to banish his Cupsy and Wilkin’s Herald, but Wilkin Chained the effect of Herald to negate S:P’s effect! Wilkin activated Herald’s other effect, searching for Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi. Shepard activated Mitsurugi Prayers, Special Summoning Kusanagi from the Graveyard as Wilkin Chained the effect of Cooky☆Yummy Way to Special Summon Cooky☆Yummy and Yummy☆Snatchy from the Graveyard. Wilkin activated Cooky’s effect to destroy the Kusanagi, as Shepard added Mitsurugi Prayers back to hand. Shepard then Set a card to his backrow. During the End Phase, Wilkin activated Yummy☆Surprise, returning Shepard’s face-down cards, as well as two of his own Yummy monsters, back to their respective hands. 

Wilkin began his turn by Special Summoning Marshmao☆Yummy from hand and adding Yummy☆Surprise back to hand! He then activated the effect of Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi, Special Summoning and Tributing Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji to search for Mitsurugi Ritual. He then activated Ritual, Tributing Habakiri to Special Summon Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi, then activating Habakiri’s effect to search for Mitsurugi Prayers and Special Summon it out. Finally, he Special Summoned Cooky☆Yummy from hand and proceeded to the Battle Phase. He attacked directly with all of his monsters, reducing Shepard’s Life Points to zero! 

Duel 2

Shepard chose to go first in game 2! He opened with Yummyusment☆Acroquey, Pre-Preparation of Rites, Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji, Nibiru, the Primal Being, and Forbidden Droplet. He started by Normal Summoning Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji and searching for Mitsurugi Prayers. He then activated Pre-Preparation of Rites, but Wilkin Chained the effect of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring! Shepard Set two cards to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Wilkin began his turn by activating his own Pre-Preparation of Rites, searching for Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi and Mitsurugi Mirror. He then activated Habakiri’s effect, Special Summoning and Tributing Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji from the Deck and searching for Mitsurugi Ritual. Next, he activated the effect of Marshmao☆Yummy, Special Summoning it, then activated Ritual, Special Summoning Habakiri from hand by Tributing another Habakiri from the Deck. He used the effect of the Tributed Habakiri to search for Mitsurugi Prayers, as Shepard activated his own Prayers, Tributing Saji; Wilkin tried to negate Prayers with the effect of Murakumo, but Shepard discarded Yummyusment☆Acroquey so that his Prayers could resolve successfully. Shepard searched for both Habakiri and Mitsurugi Ritual. 

Wilkin used Marshmao to Link Summon Yummy☆Snatchy, but when he activated its effect, Shepard Chained Forbidden Droplet! Wilkin then Normal Summoned Droll & Lock Bird, used Droll and Snatchy to Synchro Summon Cupsy☆Yummy Way, and searched for Cupsy☆Yummy and Cooky☆Yummy, then discarded Mulcharmy Fuwalos. He Special Summoned Cupsy and searched for Yummyusment☆Mignon, used Cupsy to Link Summon Yummy☆Snatchy, then activated Mignon and used its effect to Special Sumon Marshmao☆Yummy from the Graveyard. However, here, Shepard activated the effect of Nibiru, the Primal Being! 

All of Wilkin’s monsters were Tributed and replaced with a Primal Being Token. However, Wilkin was able to continue! He activated the effect of the Tributed Murakumo, searching for Mitsurugi Prayers and Special Summoning it back to the field. He used the Primal Being Token to Link Summon Link Spider, then Special Summoned Cooky☆Yummy from hand. He used Cooky and Link Spider to Synchro Summon Lollipo☆Yummy Way and Special Summoned back Cooky and Marshmao to the field. Finally, he activated Mitsurugi Mirror, Tributing Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi from hand to Special Summon another Habakiri from his Graveyard. He went to the Battle Phase and attacked Shepard’s Life Points directly with all of his monsters to take the Duel! 

With the 2-0 victory, Wilkin is moving on to the Top 4 here at YCS Pittsburgh!