Honorable Jonathan Herrera made it to the Top 16 today with his Six Samurai Deck, and is now facing off against Froilan Salvador’s Blackwings. This is a common matchup here in Texas, and it’s very likely that we’ll see a lot more of it in the near future, so the result in this Match may be a strong predictor of future success.

Herrera opened up with Giant Trunade, Solemn Warning, Mirror Force, Book of Moon, Musakani Magatama, and Reinforcement of the Army. He activated Reinforcement of the Army to search his Deck for Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan and Summoned it to the field. Then he Set Solemn Warning, Mirror Force, Musakani Magatama, and Book of Moon, ending his turn.

Salvador Set 4 cards to his back row and passed.

Herrera drew Dust Tornado next turn. He attacked with Kizan, and Salvador dropped down to 6200 Life Points. Herrera Set Dust Tornado and ended his turn.

Salvador Set Book of Moon next turn, but lost it to Dust Tornado in the End Phase.

Herrera drew Book of Moon next turn. He tried to attack directly with Kizan, but Salvador blocked the attack by putting Kizan face-down with Book of Moon.

Salvador tried to Summon Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame next turn, but Herrera negated the Summon by activating Solemn Warning. Salvador fought back by activating Monster Reborn to revive Shura and declaring an attack with it, against Herrera’s face-down Kizan. Herrera activated Mirror Force, and Shura was destroyed. Kizan was saved!

Herrera drew another copy of Kizan next turn. He activated Giant Trunade and then flipped the Kizan he had before Normal Summoning his second copy. He attacked with both copies of Kizan, dropping Salvador down to 2600 Life Points. Herrera Set 3 cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Salvador activated Allure of Darkness on his next turn, drawing 2 cards and removing Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow from his hand. Then he activated Pot of Duality, revealing Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North, Shura, and Seven Tools of the Bandit from the top of his Deck with its effect. He added Shura to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Salvador Summoned Shura next, and Herrera activated Book of Moon to put it face-down right away.

Herrera drew Kagemusha of the Six Samurai next turn and Summoned it. He Tuned it with Kizan to Synchro Summon Naturia Barkion, and Salvador flipped Royal Oppression and paid 800 Life Points to try to negate Barkion’s Summon. But Herrera activated Musakani Magatama to negate and destroy Royal Oppression, and Barkion hit the field! Kizan attacked over Salvador’s face-down Shura, and then Barkion attacked directly, wiping out Salvador’s remaining 1800 Life Points!

Despite a slow start, Honorable Jonhathan Herrera is able to dominate the early Duel with Kizan and finish off Froilan Salvador with Naturia Barkion! Salvador will be going first in Duel 2!

Salvador started things off by activated Allure of Darkness. He drew 2 cards and removed Dark Armed Dragon from his hand with its effect. He Summoned Blackwing – Bora the Spear next, and Set 4 cards to his back row.

Herrera opened up with Six Samurai United, Solemn Warning, 2 copies of Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki, Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, and Dimensional Prison. He Summoned Kizan and Salvador flipped Book of Moon to immediately put it face-down. Herrera Set Dimensional Prison and ended his turn.

Salvador attacked Kizan with Bora, and when Herrera flipped Dimensional Prison to try to remove Bora from the Duel, Salvador negated it by paying 1000 Life Points with Seven Tools of the Bandit.  Kizan was destroyed and Herrera lost 1200 Life Points.

Herrera activated Giant Trunade next turn. He activated Six Samurai United next, and then Normal Summoned Kageki, activating its effect to Special Summon another copy of Kageki from his hand and putting 2 Bushido Counter on his Six Samurai United due to his Summons of both Kagekis. Next, he sent Six Samurai United to the Graveyard to draw Mystical Space Typhoon and Musakani Magatama from his Deck. Herrera looked disappointed with his draws. He attacked Bora with Kageki, not realizing that it only gains the Attack Point boost if he has a different Samurai on the field. He lost Kageki and 1500 Life Points. Herrera Set all of his Spells and Traps, ending his turn.

Salvador attacked Kageki with Bora and destroyed it. He Set 3 cards to his back row and passed, losing Gozen Match to Herrera’s Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Herrera drew Gateway of the Six next turn. It didn’t help, since he had no monsters.

On Salvador’s next turn, he attacked with Blackwing – Bora the Spear and pitched 2 copies of Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow from his hand to bring it up to 4500 ATK, making it strong enough to wipe out Herrera’s remaining 3800 Life Points!

A hopeful Six Samurai United goes wrong for Honorable Jonathan Herrera, allowing Froilan Salvador to defeat him with ease. Herrera will be going first in Duel 2!

Herrera opened up with 2 copies of Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki, Legendary Six Samurai – Mizuho, Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, Six Samurai United, and Musakani Magatama. He Summoned Kageki and used its effect to Special Summon Mizuho from his hand, putting 2 Counters on his Six Samurai United. He sent the Six Samurai United to the Graveyard to draw 2 copies of Shien’s Smoke Signal from his Deck. Next, he Special Summoned Grandmaster of the Six Samurai from his hand and Set Musakani Magatama and Shien’s Smoke Signal in his back row. Play passed to Salvador.

Salvador discarded Puppet Plant from his hand to take control of Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, and then attacked Mizuho with Grandmaster. In Main Phase 2, he Tributed Grandmaster to Summon Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn. He Set 2 cards in his back row before ending his turn.

Herrera drew Six Samurai United next turn. He flipped his face-down Shien’s Smoke Signal to search his Deck for Kagemusha of the Six Samurai and then activated Six Samurai United. Salvador Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to try to destroy Six Samurai United, but Herrera flipped Musakani Magatama to negate the Mystical Space Typhoon. Herrera Summoned Kageki next, and activated its effect to Special Summon Kagemusha of the Six Samurai. But when it hit the field, Salvador flipped Gozen Match, and Herrera sent Kagemusha to the Graveyard. Herrera sent his Six Samurai United with 2 Bushido Counters on it to the Graveyard in order to draw Giant Trunade and Solemn Warning.

Salvador attacked Kageki with Sirocco next turn, dropping Herrera to 5700 Life Points. He Set a monster and ended his turn.

Herrera drew Mirror Force next turn. He Set it and passed.

Salvador Special Summoned Blackwing – Bora the Spear next. He activated Sirocco’s effect to give Bora its Attack Points and then attacked with Bora, but Herrera flipped Mirror Force to destroy Sirocco and Bora.

Herrera drew Torrential Tribute next turn. He activated Giant Trunade to return Gozen Match to Salvador’s hand and then activated Shien’s Smoke Signal to grab Kagemusha from his Deck. He Summoned Kagemusha and Tuned it with Kageki to Summon Magical Android, then attacked Salvador’s face-down Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor to destroy it. Salvador Set Torrential Tribute and Solemn Warning in Main Phase 2 and gained 600 Life Points in his End Phase thanks to his Android’s effect.

Salvador removed Vayu and Sirocco from his Graveyard to Special Summon Blackwing Armed Wing, and then Special Summoned Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind from his hand. Herrera negated Gale’s Summon with Solemn Warning. Next, Salvador Normal Summoned Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North and activated its effect to Special Summon Blackwing – Bora the Spear from his Graveyard. He Tuned Blackwing Armed Wing with Blizzard to Summon Scrap Dragon, and Herrera flipped Torrential Tribute to clear the field. Salvador activated Monster Reborn next to revive Scrap Dragon, and Set a Trap Card. He ended his turn without attacking.

Herrera drew Bottomless Trap Hole next turn and Set it.

Salvador Set Bora and destroyed Bora and Herrera’s Bottomless Trap Hole with his Scrap Dragon’s effect. Scrap Dragon attacked directly.

Herrera drew and Set Kagemusha next turn.

Salvador Set Blizzard and destroyed it to take down Salvador’s face-down Kagemusha and make a Duel-ending attack with Scrap Dragon!

Froilan Salvador beats the odds and defeats Honorable Jonhathan Herrera’s Samurai Deck with his Blackwings in a close 2-1 victory! Froilan Salvador is moving on to the Top 8!