Many Pegasus League Deck Challenge Tournaments were run here today. Here’s one of the Top 4 matches from Tournament #2.

Darryl Huang is running a Gemini Deck today and will be going up against Chris Alarcon’s X-Saber Deck in this round of the tournament. X-Sabers were a popular Deck choice in the tournament and Geminis were underrepresented. How will these two Decks fare when pitted against one another?

Huang won the dice roll and opened up with “Mystical Space Typhoon,” “D.D. Warrior,” “Swords of Revealing Light,” “Burden of the Mighty,” “Birthright,” and “Kunai with Chain.” He Set “D.D. Warrior” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” before ending his turn.

Alarcon drew for his turn and then Set a monster in Defense Position before ending. Huang drew “Gemini Trap Hole” next turn and set it to his Spell and Trap Zone.

Alarcon drew a card and then Flip Summoned “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.” He sent One for One,” “Fissure” and “Book of Moon” to the Graveyard after destroying Huang’s Set “D.D. Warrior” with Ryko’s effect. Then he Normal Summoned “Marauding Captain” and activated its effect to Special Summon “XX-Saber Ragigura” in Defense Position. Ryko and Marauding Captain attacked, and Huang dropped down to 6600 Life Points. Alarcon ended his turn.

Huang drew “Gemini Summoner” next turn. He Summoned it to the field and then activated “Burden of the Mighty.” He attacked Alarcon’s “Marauding Captain” and Alarcon dropped to 7400 Life Points. He Set “Kunai with Chain” face-down in his second Main Phase before ending his turn.

Alarcon drew for turn and then switched Ryko to Defense Position. He Set 1 card to his Spell and Trap Zone before play passed back to Huang.

Huang drew “Big Bang Shot” and then activated “Mystical Space Typhoon” to destroy Alarcon’s Set “Compulsory Evacuation Device.” He equipped “Gemini Summoner” with “Big Bang Shot” and attacked Alarcon’s Defense Position Ragigura. Alarcon dropped to 6500 Life Points thanks to the piercing effect of “Big Bang Shot.”

On Alarcon’s next turn, he drew a card, Set a monster, and ended. Huang drew “Mind Control” next turn. He activated it on Alarcon’s Set monster and saw that it was a “Summoner Monk”! He took control of it and then Flip Summoned it. It immediately shifted to Defense Position. Next, Huang discarded “Swords of Revealing Light” from his hand to Special Summon “Dark Valkyria” from his Deck. “Gemini Summoner” attacked Ryko and Alarcon dropped to 4700 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Huang Normal Summoned “Dark Valkyria” from the field to give it a Spell Counter. Then he removed the counter to destroy “Summoner Monk” and Set cards to his back row until all the slots in his Spell and Trap Zone were filled.

On his next turn, Huang drew “Silent Doom.” He switched “Dark Valkyria” to Defense Position and attacked with “Gemini Summoner,” only to lose it to “Mirror Force”! He ended his turn, happy to have switched the position of his “Dark Valkyria.”

On his next turn, Alarcon Summoned “Summoner Monk.” It switched to Defense Position and then he activated its effect by discarding “Mystical Space Typhoon.” He Special Summoned “Rescue Cat” from his Deck with its effect and then Tributed the Cat to Special Summon 2 copies of “X-Saber Airbellum” from his Deck. Airbellum attacked “Dark Valkyria” and destroyed it, but Huang retaliated with “Gemini Trap Hole”! All of Alarcon’s monsters were destroyed, including his face-down Ragigura. In his second Main Phase, Alarcon Special Summoned “XX-Saber Gardestrike.” He now had no hand and only one face-down Trap Card. He flipped that card: “Gottoms’ Emergency Call”! He Special Summoned an Airbellum in Attack Position and Ragigura in Defense Position. He activated Ragigura’s effect and returned another Ragigura from his Graveyard to his hand. Then he ended his turn.

Huang had “Birthright” and “Kunai with Chain” face-down with “Burden of the Mighty” on the field. He also had “Blazewing Butterfly” and “Silent Doom” in his hand. He activated “Birthright” and brought “Dark Valkyria” back onto the field. Then he Normal Summoned “Blazewing Butterfly.” “Blazewing Butterfly” attacked Airbellum and Valkyria attacked Gardestrike. Thanks to Burden, both Airbellum and Valkyria were destroyed. Alarcon dropped to 4300 Life Points after both attacks.

On his next turn, Alarcon drew a card, Set a monster, and ended his turn. Next turn, Huang Normal Summoned his on-field “Dark Valkyria” in order to give it its effect. Then he removed the counter it gained to destroy Alarcon’s Set “D.D. Warrior Lady.” Both of Huang’s monsters attacked and after Ragigura was destroyed, Alarcon dropped to 2500 Life Points. Alarcon Set one card to his Spell and Trap Zone next turn and ended his turn with no other play.

Huang activated “Hidden Armory” and searched his Deck for “Supervise” by sending “D.D. Warrior Lady” to the Graveyard. He equipped the “Blazewing Butterfly” with “Supervise” before attacking directly with “Blazewing Butterfly,” but Alarcon activated “Scapegoat” to block the attack! Butterfly and Valkyria destroyed 2 “Sheep Tokens” and Huang Set a “D.D. Warrior” before ending his turn.

Alarcon activated “Mystical Space Typhoon” to destroy “Birthright” and Valkyria went down with it. He passed to Huang, who drew “Sakuretsu Armor” and Set it. Huang attacked a “Sheep Token” with “Blazewing Butterfly” next and then ended his turn. Alarcon ended his next turn without making a single play.

On Huang’s next turn, he activated “Silent Doom” to Special Summon “Dark Valkyria” to the field. Then he Normal Summoned to give it its effect before flipping “D.D. Warrior.” Since Huang had “Blazewing Butterfly” on the field too, Alarcon’s 1 “Sheep Token” wouldn’t be enough to save him. Alarcon scooped up his cards and Duel 2 began shortly after.

Alarcon chose to begin the second Duel. He Summoned “XX-Saber Fulhelmknight” and Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Huang opened up with “Blazewing Butterfly,” 2 copies of “Supervise,” “D.D. Warrior,” “Reinforcement of the Army,” and “Justi-Break.” He began his turn by activating “Reinforcement of the Army” and searching his Deck for “Future Samurai” to add to his hand. He Summoned it to the field and Alarcon flipped “Book of Moon” to put it face-down. Huang Set “Justi-Break” and “Supervise” before ending his turn.

Alarcon began his next turn by activating “Giant Trunade.” Both of Huang’s Set cards were returned to his hand! Then Alarcon’s Fulhelmknight attacked and destroyed Huang’s “Future Samurai.” Alarcon Set 1 Spell or Trap Card before ending his turn.

Huang drew “Blazewing Butterfly” next turn! It was a huge top deck with his 2 in-hand copies of “Supervise”! He Summoned the “Blazewing Butterfly” and then equipped it with “Supervise.” Next he attacked with the Butterfly, but Fulhelmknight negated the attack with its effect. Huang ended his turn with “Justi-Break” face-down.

Alarcon Summoned “D.D. Warrior Lady” to the field next turn. “D.D. Warrior Lady” attacked “Blazewing Butterfly” and destroyed it in battle. Alarcon chose to remove both monsters from play, too. Since “Supervise” was sent to the Graveyard, Huang was able to Special Summon “Future Samurai” with its effect. Alarcon activated “Fissure” in Main Phase 2 to destroy it.

Huang drew “Birthright” next turn. He Set it along with a “D.D. Warrior” before ending.

Alarcon drew and then Tributed Fulhelmknight for “XX-Saber Gardestrike.” Gardestrike attacked the Set “D.D. Warrior” and both monsters were removed from play.

Next turn, Huang top decked “Future Samurai” and Summoned it. He equipped it with “Supervise” and attacked, dropping Alarcon to 6400 Life Points. He ended his turn and Alarcon was up.

Alarcon drew a card and Set a second card to his Spell and Trap Zone. He passed without playing a monster.

Huang drew “Mystical Space Typhoon” and used it on the card Alarcon just Set, destroying “Dark Bribe.” He attacked with “Future Samurai” and Alarcon dropped to 4800 Life Points. Huang ended his turn.

Alarcon drew a card, Set a second card to his Spell and Trap Zone, and then ended his turn.

Huang drew “Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade” and equipped it to his “Future Samurai” to boost it to 1900 ATK. Huang attacked, but Alarcon flipped “Scapegoat” to block an attack. Huang flipped “Birthright” to Special Summon another “Future Samurai” from his Graveyard during the Battle Phase and used it to take down a second “Sheep Token.”

On his next turn, Alarcon Summoned “XX-Saber Fulhelmknight.” He Tuned it to his 2 remaining “Sheep Tokens” to Synchro Summon “Ally of Justice Catastor.” Catastor attacked Huang’s “Future Samurai” that had been returned with “Birthright,” but Huang flipped “Justi-Break,” destroying “Ally of Justice Catastor” and the “Future Samurai” equipped with “Supervise”! “Supervise” was sent to the Graveyard, and Huang Special Summoned “Future Samurai” once again.

On his next turn, Huang drew “Nightmare’s Steelcage” and attacked with both of his “Future Samurais.” Alarcon dropped to 1600 Life Points.

On Alarcon’s next turn, he normal Summoned Ragigura and flipped “Gottoms’ Emergency Call” to Special Summon 2 copies of Fulhelmknight from his Graveyard. Then he Special Summoned “XX-Saber Faultroll” from his hand. Faultroll attacked the “Future Samurai” that was Special Summoned with “Birthright” and Huang dropped to 7200 Life Points. He Set one card to his back row in his second Main Phase and then ended his turn.

Huang drew “Gemini Summoner” next turn. He had “Future Samurai” on the field with “Gemini Summoner,” “Silent Doom,” and “Nightmare’s Steelcage” in his hand. Alarcon had 2 copies of Fulhelmknight, a Ragigura, and a Faultroll on the field with no hand and 1 card Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Huang Normal Summoned his on-field “Future Samurai” and then activated its effect by removing “Future Samurai” and “D.D. Warrior” from his Graveyard. He destroyed Faultroll. Then he Set both Spell cards in his hand to his Spell and Trap Zone and ended his turn.

Alarcon top decked another Faultroll! He Special Summoned it to the field and then used it to attack “Future Samurai.” Huang dropped to 6400 Life Points. Alarcon attacked with both copies of Fulhelmknight and his Ragigura next, dropping Huang to 3600 Life Points.

Huang drew “D.D. Warrior” next turn. He Summoned “Gemini Summoner” and then declared an attack on Fulhelmknight. Alarcon used Fulhelmknight’s effect to negate the attack. He was now out of attack negations. In his second Main Phase, Huang activated “Nightmare’s Steelcage,” but Alarcon negated it with “Dark Bribe.” Huang drew “Dark Bribe” off of it.

Alarcon drew “Marauding Captain” next turn and Summoned it to the field in Attack Position. He Tuned it to Fulhelmknight and Ragigura to Synchro Summon “X-Saber Urbellum.” Then he activated the effect of Faultroll to Special Summon Ragigura and return a Faultroll in his Graveyard to his hand. He Special Summoned the Faultroll and then Tuned it to Fulhelmknight to Synchro Summon “XX-Saber Gottoms.” He Tributed Ragigura with the effect of Gottoms and Huang lost his last in-hand card: “D.D. Warrior.” Then Alarcon activated the effect of his Faultroll to Special Summon Ragigura in Defense Position, and used the effect of Ragigura to return Faultroll from his Graveyard to his hand. He Summoned the Faultroll once again! Gottoms attacked “Gemini Summoner” and Huang dropped to 2000 Life Points. Urbellum attacked it next, and “Gemini Summoner” was destroyed. The 2 remaining attacks from Faultroll were more than enough to finish off Huang.

Huang would be starting the Third Duel! Huang opened up with “Supervise,” “Swords of Revealing Light,” “Gemini Soldier,” “Dark Valkyria,” “Sakuretsu Armor,” and “Kunai with Chain.”

He Set “Gemini Soldier” along with “Sakuretsu Armor” and “Kunai with Chain” before ending his turn.
Alarcon drew a card for his turn and then activated “Mystical Space Typhoon” to destroy Huang’s Set “Sakuretsu Armor.” Then he Summoned Fulhelmknight and attacked Huang’s Set “Gemini Soldier.” Huang flipped “Kunai with Chain” to block the attack and switch Fulhelmknight to Defense Position. Alarcon Set 1 card to his Spell and Trap Zone before ending his turn.

Huang drew “Future Samurai” next turn. He Summoned “Dark Valkyria” and then equipped his “Gemini Soldier” with “Supervise.” “Dark Valkyria” attacked Fulhelmknight, but Alarcon activated his Set Trap Card, “Mirror Force”! Huang’s monsters were destroyed along with “Supervise.” Huang Special Summoned “Dark Valkyria” back from the Graveyard thanks to “Supervise’s” effect. Huang activated “Swords of Revealing Light” and then ended his turn.

Alarcon Summoned “Summoner Monk” next turn. After it switched to Defense Position, he discarded “One for One” to Special Summon “Rescue Cat” from his Deck. He Tributed the Cat to Special Summon “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” and “X-Saber Airbellum” from his Deck. Then he Tuned Ryko, Monk, and Airbellum to Synchro Summon “Mist Wurm” and bounced all of Huang’s cards back to his hand! Alarcon switched Fulhelmknight to Attack Position and then attacked with both of his monsters, dropping Huang to 4200 Life Points.

Huang drew “Gemini Summoner” next turn. He Summoned it and attacked Fulhelmknight, dropping Alarcon to 7800 Life Points. He reactivated “Swords of Revealing Light” before ending his turn.

Alarcon activated “Mind Control” next turn. He used it to take Huang’s “Gemini Summoner” and then Summoned “X-Saber Airbellum” to the field. Next he Tuned them together for “Ancient Fairy Dragon” and activated its effect to Special Summon Ragigura in Defense Position. Ragigura allowed Alarcon to return Fulhelmknight to his hand. Alarcon ended his turn and Huang was up.

Huang Summoned “Future Samurai” and attacked and destroyed Ragigura. Alarcon then Set 1 card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone before ending his turn.

Huang drew a card and Summoned “Future Samurai” from the field to give it its effect. Then he removed “Gemini Soldier” from his Graveyard to try to destroy “Ancient Fairy Dragon,” but Alarcon flipped “Book of Moon” to put “Ancient Fairy Dragon” face-down and save it.

Play passed back to Alarcon, who was still under the effect of “Swords of Revealing Light” for one more turn. He Set a card to his back row and ended his turn, unable to attack.

On Huang’s next turn, he drew “Hidden Armory.” Then he removed “Gemini Summoner” from his Graveyard to try to destroy “Mist Wurm,” but Alarcon activated a second “Book of Moon” to flip the Wurm face-down and save it. Huang equipped his Samurai with “Big Bang Shot” to boost it up and then attacked “Mist Wurm,” dropping Alarcon down to 7300 Life Points. Alarcon flipped “Ancient Fairy Dragon” next turn and attacked “Future Samurai,” dropping Huang to 4100 Life Points.  He Normal Summoned Fulhelmknight before ending his turn.

Huang drew “Dark Bribe” and then activated “Hidden Armory,” sending the top card of his Deck to the Graveyard in order to search his Deck for “Supervise” and add it to his hand. Huang Set “Dark Bribe” and “Supervise” along with “D.D. Warrior” before ending.

Alarcon attacked with “Ancient Fairy Dragon” on his next turn and ran it into a face-down “D.D. Warrior.” Both monsters were removed from the game. Fulhelmknight attacked directly and Huang dropped to 2800 Life Points.

Huang drew and Summoned “Dark Valkyria” next turn. Then he tried to equip it with “Supervise” and almost lost out to “Dark Bribe.” But Huang chained his own “Dark Bribe” to save his “Supervise.” Valkyria got a Spell Counter and Huang removed it to destroy Fulhelmknight. He attacked directly with “Dark Valkyria” and Alarcon dropped to 5500 Life Points.

On his next turn, Alarcon Summoned Fulhelmknight and then flipped his face-down Emergency Call. He Special Summoned another Fulhelmknight and a Ragigura with it, returning “X-Saber Airbellum” to his hand with Ragigura’s effect. Then he ended his turn.

Huang drew Big Bang Shot and declared an attack, but Fulhelmknight negated it. Alarcon Special Summoned Faultroll next turn. Then he Normal Summoned “D.D. Warrior Lady.” Alarcon Tuned “D.D. Warrior Lady,” Ragigura, and Fulhelmknight together to Synchro Summon “Colossal Fighter” with 3000 ATK. Then he activated the effect of Faultroll to Special Summon Fulhelmknight from his Graveyard in Attack Position. Next, he Tuned Fulhelmknight with Faultroll to Synchro Summon “XX-Saber Gottoms.” Gottoms attacked “Dark Valkyria” and Huang dropped to 1500 Life Points. Supervise was sent to the Graveyard and Huang Special Summoned “Dark Valkyria” from his Graveyard with its effect. “Colossal Fighter” attacked the “Dark Valkyria” but Huang flipped “Justi-Break.” Since “Dark Valkyria” was now a Normal Monster, all of Alarcon’s monsters were destroyed! Play passed to Huang.

On Huang’s next turn he drew “Big Bang Shot” and equipped it to “Dark Valkyria” along with a “Supervise.” “Dark Valkyria” attacked and Alarcon dropped to 3300 Life Points.

Alarcon Summoned “Rescue Cat” on his next turn and tried to activate its effect, but realized he didn’t have enough Beasts in his Deck to do it. He was forced to end his turn with no other play and only a “Rescue Cat” on the field in Attack Position.

Huang drew “D.D. Warrior” next turn and Summoned it to the field. Then he removed a Spell Counter from “Dark Valkyria” to destroy “Rescue Cat” and attacked for game with both of his monsters.

After a long, intense, back-and-forth Match, Darryl Huang wins the Match with his Gemini Deck and moves on to the Finals!

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Post-Event Analysis!
See what our expert had to say about this Duel after the event was over.

Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)

“Gottoms’ Emergency Call” is one of the strongest cards an X-Saber Duelist has at his disposal, but it can be equally strong against him. Since there needs to be an X-Saber on either side of the field to activate it, and it can Special Summon monsters from either Graveyard, “Gottoms’ Emergency Call” works almost as well against X-Sabers as it does in an X-Saber Deck. Huang may consider adding a few copies of “Gottoms’ Emergency Call” to his Side Deck for the next time he enters a Pegasus League Deck Challenge filled with X-Saber Decks.

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