Round 6 Feature Match: Deon Patterson vs. Alex Vansant
Alex Vansant and Deon Patterson are squaring off this Round in one of the matchups that’s defined Dueling the past 6 months: Blackwings versus Lightsworn. Sitting at Table 2, these competitors are both undefeated with a 5-0 record.
Patterson opened the match with “Black Whirlwind,” Summoning “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame” to get “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow” from his Deck.
Vansant summoned “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior,” attacked Shura, and Patterson activated Kalut’s effect, verbally confirming he was activating it at the start of the Damage Step. Vansant activated “Honest’s” effect during Damage Calculation, blowing Shura away.
But Patterson fired back, Summoning “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn” and getting “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind” from his Deck! He activated “Brain Control,” took control of Garoth, and attacked with Gale. Vansant seemed to consider a response, but didn’t make one. Garoth attacked next, dropping him to 4850 Life Points, and when Sirocco attacked, Vansant Special Summoned “Tragoedia.” Patterson Tuned Gale to Garoth in Main Phase 2, Synchro Summoned “Blackwing Armor Master,” and Set “Icarus Attack.” He had “Bottomless Trap Hole” and “Tragoedia” in-hand.
Vansant drew to 4 cards with “Tragoedia” on the field, and considered his situation very carefully. “Like, I wish I had good cards. I wish I had stuff I could play.”
“You played that “Honest”,” replied Patterson. Vansant discarded “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” for “Tragoedia’s” effect, taking control of “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn.” He Normal Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” discarded “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast,” and Special Summoned Garoth with Lumina’s effect. He turned Sirocco to Defense Position, then sent 2 “Charge of the Light Brigade,” “Brain Control,” “Necro Gardna” and “Judgment Dragon” to the Graveyard – which meant he would draw no cards for the effect of Garoth.
Patterson drew and activated “Allure of Darkness,” removing “Tragoedia” from his hand. He had “Heavy Storm,” “Blackwing – Bora the Spear,” and “Bottomless Trap Hole” in-hand, with “Black Whirlwind” and “Blackwing Armor Master” on the field, plus “Icarus Attack” Set. He Normal Summoned Bora, got Kalut from his Deck, attacked Lumina with “Blackwing Armor Master,” and Vansant removed “Necro Gardna” to keep her from being destroyed. Bora then attacked Sirocco, and Sirocco went down.
“Reprieve? Reprieve, reprieve, reprieve?” Vansant drew, hoping his chant would change his luck. His reaction was neutral: he turned Lumina to Defense Position, attacked Bora with Garoth, and Patterson Tributed Bora for “Icarus Attack.” He destroyed Lumina and Garoth.
Next turn he Normal Summoned Kalut, searched his Deck for “Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North,” and sent Armor Master to destroy “Tragoedia” in battle. He attacked directly with Kalut, then discarded another copy to seal the Duel!
Alex Vansant makes a good technical play on his first turn of the Duel, but his hand just seemed to fall apart from that point forward. Patterson had no problem scoring the win, and both competitors spent some time with their Side Decks before the second Duel started. Would Vansant bring in “Consecrated Light”?
Yes he would! Vansant Summoned “Consecrated Light” as his first move in the second Duel, Setting a card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone to back it up. Patterson Set a Spell or Trap, Vansant Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” and Patterson activated “Light-Imprisoning Mirror.” Vansant attacked for 1700 damage with Lyla, then turned “Consecrated Light” to Defense Position.
“Lots of DARK monsters I hope?” joked Vansant.
Patterson activated two copies of “Black Whirlwind,” then tried to Normal Summon “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow” – he didn’t realize that “Light-Imprisoning Mirror” doesn’t stop Continuous Effects like those of “Consecrated Light.” He was corrected by the Table Judge, Kalut was returned to his hand, and he Set a Spell or Trap.
Next turn Vansant “got greedy” (in his own words), and Summoned “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” – Patterson flipped “Torrential Tribute” to wipe the field! Vansant Set Torrential as well, and when Patterson Summoned Kalut, Vansant destroyed it. Vansant activated “Charge of the Light Brigade,” sending “Beckoning Light,” “Judgment Dragon,” and “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” to his Graveyard to get “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” from his deck. Aurkus attacked, and Patterson’s only move next turn was to Set another Spell or Trap.
Vansant activated another Charge, searching for a Lyla and Summoning it. “I hope you don’t have that “Mirror Force”.” He attacked with Aurkus, and slammed right into “Mirror Force.”
Patterson drew “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame,” Summoned it, and got “Blackwing – Bora the Spear” and a Kalut from his Deck with his pair of Whirlwinds. He Special Summoned Bora, attacked with it for 1700 damage, then made another direct attack with Shura. Vansant dropped to 4500 Life Points. Patterson fearlessly set yet another Spell or Trap Card.
“I have outs for days,” declared Vansant, who then proceeded to draw for his turn and look less than thrilled. He activated yet another Charge, sending “Mystical Space Typhoon,” “Necro Gardna,” and “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to his Graveyard – he couldn’t Special Summon the Wulf with “Light-Imprisoning Mirror” on the field. He got Lumina from his Deck, Summoned her, and attacked Shura. During damage calculation he activated “Honest,” pushing over Shura for 1000 damage – he’d wanted to draw out that Kalut, and had failed to do so. He discarded “Necro Gardna” in Main Phase 2 for Lumina’s effect, just trying to get the “Necro Gardna” into the Graveyard, but Patterson hit him with “Royal Oppression,” destroying Lumina!
Next turn Patterson activated “Allure of Darkness,” removed “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor” from his hand, and Summoned another Shura. That got him “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind” and another Kalut. Vansant had 4500 Life Points to his opponent’s 3300, and Patterson attacked with Bora – Vansant blocked with a “Necro Gardna,” then blocked Shura with another “Necro Gardna.”
Vansant drew for his turn and Set a monster. “You have 2 Kaluts!” He was clearly frustrated – but had he set another “Consecrated Light”? The answer, was no. Patterson attacked with Bora next turn, hit “Honest,” and dropped both Kaluts to send Vansant packing.
Deon Patterson sweeps Alex Vansant 2-0, as an aggressive play costs Vansant his “Consecrated Light” and Patterson capitalizes! He moves on undefeated!
Check out what our panel of experts had to say after the Duel.
Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)
As Vansant quickly acknowledged in Duel 2, he shouldn’t have Summoned the Garoth that allowed Patterson to flip “Torrential Tribute.” Up until that point, he had complete control over the Duel, with “Consecrated Light” shutting down Patterson’s plays and Lyla attacking for damage.
Michael McTavish (Top 8 Finalist – 2009 Canadian National Championship)
Unfortunately, Vansant “got greedy” in his own words, which cost him the Match. If he had played the Match conservatively and waited for a better chance to strike, the Match may have had a different outcome. Waiting for a “Mystical Space Typhoon” or “Heavy Storm” would probably have been a better plan, especially with “Light-Imprisoning Mirror” on the field as well.
P.J. Tierney (Duelist from across The Pond)
In Duel 1, Vansant attacked Patterson’s “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame” with his “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior.” Patterson activated the effect of “Blackwing – Kalut the Moonshadow” at the start of the Damage Step, while Vansant waited and activated his “Honest” during Damage Calculation, gaining Shura’s ATK, along with the 1400 ATK boost that Kalut gave to Shura. Knowing how cards like “Honest” and “Blackwing – Kalut the Moonshadow” work when they’re played against each other is very important if you’re using a Deck that contains either of these cards, and Vansant knew exactly what he was doing.
Vansant’s eagerness cost him dearly in Duel 2. He had a “Consecrated Light” and “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” on the field, while Patterson had a “Torrential Tribute” set. Since “Consecrated Light” stops DARK monsters from being Summoned, Vansant was in a good position, as Patterson’s Blackwing Deck was full of DARK monsters. Unfortunately, he gave Patterson a chance to make a comeback when he summoned his “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior.” Patterson activated “Torrential Tribute” to get rid of Vansant’s monsters, including the “Consecrated Light,” and was able to win the Duel moments later.