We’re kicking off Day 2 of YCS Pittsburgh with more Feature Match action! Ethan Wagner, from Hull, Massachusetts, won his Round 9 Feature Match yesterday, ending on a high note with his Maliss Deck. He’s facing Alex Mondlak, from Columbus, Ohio, playing Sky Striker R.B.! This is an established strategy up against an up-and-coming one – which will come out on top?

Duel 1

Mondlak won the dice roll and played first. He had a hand of R.B. Stage Landing, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, R.B. Stage Landing, Mulcharmy Fuwalos, and Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!.

He began by playing Stage Landing. Wagner responded with Fuwalos, and Mondlak used Ash Blossom to negate it. Stage Landing brought forth R.B. The Brute Blues. He played his second Stage Landing, but Wagner had an Ash Blossom of his own. Mondlak used The Brute Blues to get a third Stage Landing in hand, and played it to Special Summon R.B. Lambda Cannon. He used Lambda Cannon’s effect, paying 1200 Life Points and destroying it to let him see Wagner’s hand – a second Ash Blossom, Allure of Darkness, and Super Polymerization. He Special Summoned Ash Blossom to Wagner’s field. He played Engage next, adding Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones to his hand and drawing a second Fuwalos. He played Hornet Drones to Special Summon a Sky Striker Ace Token, then used it to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kagari. Kagari returned Engage to his hand. He then used both his monsters to Link Summon R.B. VALCan Booster, which put R.B. Funk Dock in his hand.

He played Funk Dock, putting R.B. Ga10 Driller in hand. He played Engage once more, adding Pillar of the Future – Cyanos to his hand and drawing Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor. He Special Summoned Ga10 Driller, using its effect to destroy itself and Wagner’s Ash Blossom. That triggered Funk Dock’s effect to let him Special Summon R.B. Lambda Blade, which sent R.B. Ga10 Cutter to the Graveyard. He used VALCan Booster’s effect to Special Summon Lambda Cannon, which put Ga10 Cutter in his hand. He Special Summoned the Ga10 Cutter. He used Lambda Cannon and VALCan Booster to Link Summon a new Brute Blues, then Normal Summoned Cyanos. Cyanos brought Sky Striker Ace – Roze to the field. He used Cyanos, Roze, and Lambda Blade to Link Summon R.B. Shepherd’s Crook. Sherpherd’s Crook let him Set R.B. Next Phase from his Deck. He Set Widow Anchor, then used Cyanos’s effect in the Graveyard to bring Roze back to the field.

Wagner played Allure of Darkness, and Mondlak negated it with Cutter. With only Super Polymerization and a Maliss <P> Chessy Cat he drew that turn, he knew there was no way he was coming back from this Duel – he conceded!

Duel 2

Mondlak started this time with a hand of Funk Dock, Engage, Mulcharmy Meowls, Denko Sekka, and Infinite Impermanence.

Wagner took the first turn this time, leading with Allure of Darkness. He drew two and banished Maliss <P> March Hare. He paid 300 Life Points to return March Hare to his hand. He activated Gold Sarcophagus to banish Maliss <P> Dormouse from his Deck, and paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon it. Mondlak Chained Meowls to its effect, drawing R.B. VALCan Rocket. Wagner activated Dormouse’s effect, banishing Maliss <P> White Rabbit, and Special Summoned it as well. Mondlak drew Fuwalos, and activated it immediately. White Rabbit’s effect Set Maliss <C> GWC-06 on the field. He Normal Summoned March Hare, Set another two back row cards, and Set a Field Spell. He played his last card: Allure of Darkness, drawing two cards but failing to get a DARK monster, so he discarded both: Maliss in the Mirror and Dominus Impulse. Wagner used all three of his monsters to Link Summon Maliss <Q> White Binder, letting Mondlak draw R.B. Ga10 Pile Bunker. White Binder banished Maliss in the Mirror, and Mirror’s effect let him banish March Hare from the Graveyard to put a new March Hare in his hand. He flipped up Dimensional Fissure! He passed here, not wanting to feed any more into the Mulcharmy effects.

Mondlak drew Cyanos. He Special Summoned Pile Bunker, then Special Summoned VALCan Rocket. He Normal Summoned Denko Sekka, shutting down Wagner’s Set cards! He played Funk Dock to get Stage Landing, and played that to Special Summon The Brute Blues. He used its effect to get a new Stage Landing. He moved to the Battle Phase, sending Brute Blues to attack, boosted to 4000 ATK since it was pointing to Pile Bunker and VALCan Rocket. The attack let him activate Pile Bunker’s effect to destroy all of Wagner’s cards! Mondlak used Stage Landing in the Graveyard to protect Pile Bunker. The Brute Blues attacked twice for 8000 damage, ending this Match!

Alex Mondlak takes the Match with Sky Striker R.B.!