Alex Mondlak and Steven Gleason currently have 10-3 records in the tournament and are sitting at table 13 in Round 14. Now, they’re facing off against one another! While it’s likely that both Duelists will fall just short of the Top 8 cut, they’re still competing for the special Top 16 Effect Veiler promo card; the Top 32 Card Trooper promo card; and the Anotherverse Stratios Game Mat that only the Top 32 will earn. There are great prizes on the line, so both Duelists will be giving this Match their all. Mondlak is using an unconventional R.B. Sky Striker strategy while Gleason is piloting a Branded Dracotail Deck. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Gleason started off the Match by activating Branded Fusion, losing out to Mondlak’s Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Next, he activated Ketu Dracotail to add Dracotail Lukias from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned it and activated its effect, and Mondlak Chained Infinite Impermanence to target it, trying to negate its effect; but Gleason Chained the effect of Faimena in his hand, fusing Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion from his hand with the Lukias on his field. He Summoned Dracotail Arthalion and then resolved Lukias’s effect to add Dracotail Faimena from his Deck to his hand. He used Arthalion’s effect to return Ghost Belle to his hand and used Lukias’s effect to Set Rahu Dracotail from his Deck. He flipped Rahu and used its effect to fuse Faimena from his hand with Dracotail Urgula from his Deck and Summon Dracotail Gulamel. He used the effects of Faimena and Urgula to Set Dracotail Flame and Dracotail Horn from his Deck and then activated the effect of Urgula in his Graveyard. He returned it to his Deck to return Faimena from his Graveyard to his hand.

Mondlak drew Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! and added it to his hand of Pillar of the Future – Cyanos, R.B. Next Phase, and Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion. He activated the Engage and used its effect to add Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones from his Deck to his hand and then activated it. Gleason Chained Dracotail Flame to try to negate it, but Mondlak Chained Ghost Belle’s effect in his hand to negate the Flame! Mondlak Special Summoned a Sky Striker Ace Token, and then Gleason activated the effect of Faimena in his hand. He Chained Gulamel’s effect to destroy the Token and then fused together his two on-field monsters to Summon Secreterion Dragon. Next, Mondlak Normal Summoned Cyanos and activated its effect; but when Gleason Chained the effect of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring from his hand to negate it, Mondlak conceded.

Steven Gleason wins the first Duel of the Match with his Dracotail Deck! Alex Mondlak chose to go first in the second Duel.

Duel Two

Mondlak opened up Duel 2 with Infinite Impermanence, Sky Striker Ace – Roze, R.B. Last Stand, R.B. Stage Landing, and R.B. Ga10 Cutter.

He activated R.B. Stage Landing to Special Summon R.B. The Brute Blues to the Extra Monster Zone and then used the effect of The Brute Blues to add R.B. Stage Landing from his Deck to his hand, prompting Gleason to activate the effect of Droll & Lock Bird from his hand. Next, Mondlak activated another Stage Landing and Special Summoned R.B. Shepherd’s Crook from his Extra Deck linked to The Brute Blues. He used Shepherd’s Crook’s effect to Set R.B. Next Phase from his Deck to his field and then Special Summoned Ga10 Cutter from his hand. He Set Infinite Impermanence and Last Stand before trying to leave his Main Phase. While still in the Main Phase, Gleason activated the effect of Faimena in his hand, fusing two copies of Pan from his hand to Summon Arthalion. He used Arthalion’s effect to target Shepherd’s Crook and The Brute Blues, returning them to the Extra Deck, and used the effect of Pan to Set Ketu Dracotail and try to destroy Ga10 Cutter; but Mondlak protected the Ga10 Cutter by banishing a Stage Landing from his Graveyard. Mondlak continued his Main Phase by Normal Summoning Roze and then sent Roze to the Graveyard to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku. He sent Shizuku and Ga10 Cutter to the Graveyard to Link Summon R.B. VALCan Booster. He used the Booster’s effect to Special Summon Ga10 Cutter from his Graveyard linked to the Booster and then ended his turn.

Gleason activated Ketu Dracotail, but Mondlak used Ga10 Cutter’s effect to negate it by destroying the Cutter and paying 700 Life Points. Next, Mondlak flipped Last Stand and Special Summoned R.B. Lambda Blade from his Deck linked to Booster. He used the Blade’s effect to send R.B. Lambda Cannon from his Deck to his Graveyard and then used Lambda Blade’s effect. He paid 1400 Life Points and destroyed the Blade to take control of Arthalion until the End Phase. Gleason activated Rahu Dracotail next. He fused Faimena from his hand with Urgula from his Deck to Summon Dracotail Arthalion. He activated Arthalion’s effect targeting Pan in his Graveyard; Chained Urgula’s effect from the Graveyard; and Chained Faimena’s effect from the Graveyard. Mondlak Chained Infinite Impermanence to negate the Arthalion’s effect and then the effects of Urgula and Faimena resolved. He Set Flame from his Deck with Urgula’s effect and destroyed the face-down Next Phase, and he Set Dracotail Horn from his Deck with Faimena’s effect. Next, he returned Urgula from his Graveyard to his Deck in order to add Faimena from his Graveyard to his hand. Gleason attacked Booster with Arthalion, and Mondlak protected his Booster from destruction by banishing Stage Landing from his Graveyard. In the End Phase, the Arthalion on Mondlak’s field was destroyed due to the effect of Lambda Blade.

Mondlak drew Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! and then Gleason activated the effect of Horn to try to return Booster to the Extra Deck; but Mondlak banished Last Stand from his Graveyard to negate the effect of Horn. Mondlak used his Booster’s effect to Special Summon Lambda Cannon from his Graveyard linked to the Booster and then used the Lambda Cannon’s effect to add Cutter from his Graveyard to his hand. He sent his 2 monsters to the Graveyard to Link Summon The Brute Blues and Gleason activated the effect of Arthalion in his Graveyard to Special Summon it. Next, Gleason activated Faimena’s effect in his hand to fuse his two on-field monsters and Summon Filia Regis, then used Filia Regis’s effect to banish The Brute Blues and return Filia Regis to the Extra Deck.

Gleason drew a card and passed his turn with no play.

Mondlak drew Cyanos and then Special Summoned Cutter from his hand. He Normal Summoned Cyanos next and used its effect to Special Summon Roze from his Graveyard. He sent Roze to the Graveyard to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Hayate and then sent Hayate and Cyanos to the Graveyard to Link Summon Booster. Gleason Special Summoned Arthalion from his Graveyard since 2 monsters were sent to the Graveyard at the same time. Mondlak used his Booster’s effect to add R.B. Funk Dock from his Deck to his hand. He activated it and when Gleason tried to negate its effect with Flame, Gleason used Cutter to stop the Flame! Mondlak added R.B. Operation Test from his Deck to his hand with Funk Dock’s effect and activated it. He Special Summoned Lambda Cannon from the Graveyard and used its effect to add Cutter from his Graveyard to his hand. He used the Cannon’s effect to destroy the Cannon by paying 1200 Life Points and forced Gleason to Special Summon Mululu from his hand with its effect negated. Next, he used Funk Dock’s effect to Special Summon R.B. Ga10 Pile Bunker from his Deck. He then used Operation Test’s effect to return Pile Bunker to his hand and gain 1500 Life Points. He Special Summoned Pile Bunker back to his field and then banished Cyanos from his Graveyard to Special Summon Roze from his Graveyard. He sent Roze to the Graveyard to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kagari and then sent his 2 Link Monsters to the Graveyard to Link Summon The Brute Blues. He added Stage Landing to his hand with the effect of The Brute Blues and then activated Stage Landing to Summon R.B. Shepherd’s Crook. Gleason conceded, and the Match moved into a third and final Duel!

Gleason chose to go first in the third Duel.

Duel Three

Gleason started off Duel 3 by activating Ketu Dracotail.

He added Lukias from his Deck to his hand and then Normal Summoned it. He activated Lukias’s effect to add Dracotail Urgula from his Deck to his hand and then activated Rahu Dracotail. He used its effect to fuse Urgula and Phryxul from his hand with Pan from his Deck. He Special Summoned Arthalion and used the effect of Arthalion targeting Pan and Urgula. He Chained the effects of Urgula, Phryxul, and Pan in his Graveyard, Setting Dracotail Flame, Dracotail Horn, and Dracotail Sting from his Deck to his field with their effects. Next, he activated the effect of Faimena in his hand and fused Urgula from his hand with Lukias on his field to Special Summon Dracotail Gulamel. Next, he used Lukias’s effect to Set Ketu Dracotail from his Deck. He used Urgula’s effect by returning it from his Graveyard to his Deck and returned Faimena from his Graveyard to his hand.

Mondlak opened up Duel 3 with Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones, Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor, R.B. Stage Landing, R.B. Ga10 Pile Bunker, and Cyanos. He drew Dinowrestler Pankratops for his turn and then activated Widow Anchor to negate the effect of Gulamel. Next, he activated Hornet Drones to Special Summon a Sky Striker Ace Token to his field. Gleason activated Faimena’s effect by fusing Pan from his hand with Arthalion on his field. He Special Summoned Filia Regis and then used Pan’s effect to Set Rahu Dracotail from his Deck and destroy the Token. Next, Mondlak Special Summoned Pankratops from his hand in Defense Position. He Tributed it to destroy Filia Regis and Gleason activated Pan’s effect to Special Summon Dracotail Phryxul from his Graveyard since Filia Regis was destroyed. He used Phryxul’s effect to Special Summon Lukias from his Graveyard and return Phryxul to his hand. He used Lukia’s effect to add Faimena from his Deck to his hand. Next, Mondlak Special Summoned Pile Bunker from his hand. He Normal Summoned Cyanos next and activated its effect to Special Summon Roze from his Deck. Mondlak sent Roze to the Graveyard to Link Summon Kagari and used Kagari’s effect to try to bring back Hornet Drones; but Gleason Chained Sting to banish Roze and Hornet Drones from the Graveyard, return a card from his Graveyard to his Deck, and draw a card. Next, Mondlak sent Cyanos and Kagari to the Graveyard to Link Summon VALCan Booster. He activated VALCan Booster’s effect, and Gleason Chained Dracotail Horn to return the Booster to the Extra Deck, return Sting from his Graveyard to his Deck, and draw a card. The Booster’s effect resolved to add Stage Landing from Mondlak’s Deck to his hand, prompting Gleason to activate the effect of Droll & Lock Bird in his hand. Mondlak activated Stage Landing next, but Gleason Chained Flame to negate it. Mondlak activated another Stage Landing and Special Summoned The Brute Blues. Gleason activated the effect of Nibiru, the Primal Being to Tribute all monsters on the field and Summon the Nibiru! Mondlak got a Primal Being Token in Defense Position with 7600 ATK and 4500 DEF. Mondlak banished Cyanos from his Graveyard to Special Summon his banished Roze and then sent Roze to the Graveyard to Link Summon Hayate. He attacked directly with Hayate but then conceded, realizing he had no follow-up play to make and realizing that he would be defeated on the next turn.

Steven Gleason defeats Alex Mondlak’s R.B. Sky Striker Deck with his Branded Dracotail Deck to complete the Swiss Rounds of YCS Pittsburgh with an 11-3 record!