Top 4 Feature Match: Honorable Arnold Alvarado vs. Travis Massengale
Many called this tournament the death of Gravekeepers, assuming that the Deck would falter in the face of the speedy Six Samurai. But now, Travis Massengale is playing Gravekeepers in the Top 4, competing against Honorable Six Samurai Duelist Arnold Alvarado. He’d defeated many Samurai Duelists on the way here – but could Massengale’s luck hold out? Or would luck even be a factor?
Massengale started off the Match with a hand of Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Solemn Warning, Gravekeeper’s Assailant, Royal Tribute, Pot of Duality, and Book of Moon. He discarded Commandant to get Necrovalley from his Deck; activated it; Summoned Assailant, and Set everything in his hand. He activated Royal Tribute, revealing Alvarado’s hand of Shien’s Squire, Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, Reinforcement of the Army, Upstart Goblin, and Monster Reborn. He discarded Squire and Grandmaster. Duality got Massengale Gravekeeper’s Spy over Dark Hole and Bottomless Trap Hole.
Alvarado drew to 4 cards in hand, and activated Upstart Goblin to draw a card. He Set 2 cards to his back row, then Set a monster.
Massengale attacked into Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki with Gravekeeper’s Assailant, then Set a monster.
Alvarado got Kagemusha of the Six Samurai from his Deck with Reinforcement of the Army and tried to Normal Summon it. Massengale turned it face-down with Book of Moon, and Alvarado Set his last card to his back row.
Massengale drew another Commandant, then Flip Summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy to Special Summon Gravekeeper’s Descendant! He Tributed Spy for Descendant’s effect, but lost Descendant to Musakani Magatama! He Normal Summoned Commandant and Alvarado turned Assailant face-down with Book of Moon. Commandant attacked to destroy Kagemusha, and Massengale Flip Summoned Assailant.
Alvarado passed.
Massengale punched through Kageki with Commandant, then made a direct attack with Assailant.
Alvarado Set another Spell or Trap.
Massengale attacked, and lost both of his monsters to Mirror Force.
Alvarado Set a monster.
Massengale drew Royal Tribute, adding it to his hand of an extra Necrovalley.
Alvarado Flip Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, and Massengale removed it with Bottomless Trap Hole.
Massengale drew and tried to Summon Descendant, but Alvarado negated the Summon with Solemn Warning.
Alvarado flipped his Set Gateway of the Six and Normal Summoned Kizan, passing.
Massengale destroyed Kizan with Smashing Ground and Set a Spell or Trap Card.
Alvarado got Kagemusha from his Deck with Shien’s Smoke Signal; tried to Summon it; and lost it to Solemn Warning.
Massengale Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter and attacked to drop Alvarado to 400 Life Points! Alvarado conceded after seeing his next draw.
A Royal Tribute opening sets the pace of the Duel in Tray Massengale’s favor, and Arnold Alvarado just can’t quite struggle back! Massengale takes the first Duel; now just a single win away from the Finals.
Alvarado started the second Duel with Upstart Goblin, drawing a card and boosting his opponent’s Life points to 9000. He used Shien’s Smoke Signal to get Kagemusha of the Six Samurai, then activated Gateway of the Six! He Normal Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki; Special Summoned Kagemusha; and used Gateway to get Grandmaster of the Six Samurai from his Deck. He Tuned Kagemusha to Kageki to Synchro Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En, then Special Summoned Grandmaster. Alvarado got another search with Gateway, this time nabbing Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan. He Special Summoned that, then Set 2 of his 3 remaining cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.
Massengale had Book of Moon, Kinetic Soldier, Smashing Ground, Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, Gozen Match, and Necrovalley. He Set Kinetic Soldier, Gozen Match, Book, and Smashing.
Alvarado Special Summoned a second Kizan, and got another Kagemusha from his Deck with Gateway. He Normal Summoned it, and Massengale tried to turn it face-dow with Book of Moon. After much consideration, Alvarado decided not to negate the Book with Shi En’s effect. He attacked with Kizan; hit Kinetic Soldier; and dropped to 6300 Life points. Alvarado destroyed the Soldier in Main Phase 2 with Smashing Ground.
Massengale drew and activated Pot of Duality, revealing Mystical Space Typhoon, Royal Oppression, and Solemn Warning. He took Mystical Space Typhoon. He activated Necrovalley and again, Alvarado let it go. He then Set Recruiter and the Typhoon.
Alvarado Flip Summoned Kagemusha, and Massengale responded with Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Alvaradon’s Set Solemn Warning. Alvarado Tuned Kagemusha to Kizan to Syncro Summon Naturia Barkion, then flipped Spell-Shattering Arrow to destroy Necrovalley. Barkion attacked; Recruiter went down; and Massengale got Gravekeeper’s Commandant from his Deck. Kizan, Grandmaster, and finally Shi En all made direct attacks, dropping Massengale to 1800 Life Points. Alvarado set a Spell or Trap.
Massengale drew Gravekeeper’s Descendant, then discarded Commandant to search out Necrovalley. He activated Necrovalley, still trying to draw out Shi En’s effect so he could flip Gozen Match, and succeeded! Shi En negated Necrovalley, Massengale activated Smashing Ground to destroy Barkion, and Massengale… conceded, realizing that even with Gozen Match, he couldn’t recover.
Gateway of the Six blows the Match wide open for Alvarado, who starts off strong and keeps the pressure up to take the second Duel! One more Duel would decide who would head to the Finals.
Massengale opened with Solemn Warning, Kinetic Soldier, Spirit Reaper, Thunder King Rai-Oh, Gravekeeper’s Commandant, and Necrovalley. He discarded Commandant to get another Necrovalley, and activated it. He Sumoned Thunder King and Set Warning. “Your go.” Alvarado breathed a sigh of relief – no Royal Tribute.
Alvarado Set 5 cards to his back row.
Massengale drew Gravekeeper’s Descendant, and Summoned Spirit Reaper. He turned Thunder King to Defense Position, and attacked with Reaper to make Alvarado discard Musakani Magatama.
Alvarado flipped Spell-Shattering Arrow next turn to destroy Necrovalley, and Set a fifth Spell or Trap. Still no monsters.
Massengale drew Gravekeeper’s Assailant and Summoned Descendant. He activated his second Necrovalley and attacked with Descendant: Alvarado played another Arrow, destroying Necrovalley and reducing the damage to 1500. Reaper made a direct attack as well, and in Main Phase 2 Massengale turned Thunder King Rai-Oh back to Attack Position.
Alvarado Set a fifth Spell or Trap again.
Massengale turned Thunder King back to Defense Position, and attacked with Reaper and Descendant for another 1800 Battle Damage. He Set a Spell or Trap.
Alvarado passed.
Massengale attacked with Descendant and Reaper, and Alvarado turned Reaper away with Book of Moon.
Alvarado Set another Spell or Trap.
Massengale attacked with Descendant again, dropping Alvarado to 1100 Life Points. He turned Thunder King to Attack Position and Set a third Spell or Trap.
Alvarado drew to 2 cards in hand with 5 cards Set, and conceded!
Arnold Alvarado revealed a pile of Gateways, Magatamas, and other cards he couldn’t use, and Massengale moved on to the Finals! Gravekeepers are still alive in Championship-level competition!
