Traviis Massengale has traveled this weekend from Topeka, Kansas, making it to the Top 16 yet again.  His opponent this round is Jordan Faulkenberry, hailing from the self-described “backwoods of South Carolina.”  Faulkenberry’s piloting an interesting T.G. Flamvell Deck that sailed under the radar of most competitors this weekend.  We’ve never seen a Deck like Faulkenberry’s in a Feature Match before, so we’re  hoping for an excellent show!

Faulkenberry opened the Match with a hand of Flamvell Firedog; T.G. Warwolf; Horn of the Phantom Beast; TG1-EM1; Torrential Tribute; and Mirror Force.  He Set all 4 Trap Cards, then Summoned Firedog.

Massengale Set a monster, then Set a Spell or Trap.

Faulkenberry drew Dimensional Prison, and Summoned Warwolf.  He flipped TG1-EM1, giving Massengale control of Warwolf, and taking his face-down Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter!  He Flip Summoned it to destroy Massengale’s Set Book of Moon, and he Chained it to turn Warwolf face-down.  Ryko sent T.G. Rush Rhino, Flamvell Magician, and Pot of Duality to the Graveyard.  Firedog attacked the Warwolf, and Faulkenberry flipped Horn of the Phantom Beast, attaching it to Firedog.  When Firedog destroyed the Warwolf, Faulkenberry drew a card with the Horn’s effect, getting T.G. Striker.  Ryko made a direct attack, and Faulkenberry used his Warwolf’s effect to get T.G. Rush Rhino from his Deck in the End Phase.

Massengale Set another monster, and Set another back row card.

Faulkenberry drew Giant Trunade, and attacked into Mirror Force, losing Ryko, Firedog, and his Horn of the Phantom Beast.  He Set a monster.

Massengale blasted him with Nobleman of Extermination next turn, removing Faulkenberry’s Torrential Tribute from the game.  He Set a second monster.

Faulkenberry drew another Striker, and Set it too.

Massengale passed.

Faulkenberry drew his third Striker, and Flip Summoned 1 of his on-field copies.  It attacked, bouncing off Massengale’s Pyramid Turtle.  Massengale destroyed Faulkenberry’s Mirror Force in the End Phase with Mystical Space Typhoon.

Massengale Normal Summoned another Turtle, and Flip Summoned Spirit Reaper.  One Turtle attacked a Striker, but the next attacked into Dimensional Prison.  Spirit Reaper couldn’t attack, and Faulkenberry got T.G. Warwolf from his Deck with the destroyed Striker’s effect.

Faulkenberry drew another Flamvell Firedog, and had 5 cards in hand with Striker on the field.  Massengale had 2 cards in hand, with 2 monsters on the field: Turtle and Reaper.  Faulkenberry Summoned Rush Rhino, and sent both of his monsters to hammer damage through Spirit Reaper.  Massengale dropped to 5600 Life Points, and Faulkenberry Set a Spell or Trap.

Massengale activated Charge of the Light Brigade, sending 3 cards off the top of his Deck to the Graveyard to search out Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.  He activated Monster Reborn to bring back Card Trooper from his Graveyard, then sent Lonefire Blossom, Glow-Up Bulb, and Seven Tools of the Bandit to the Graveyard to boost the Trooper to 1900 ATK.  Trooper attacked to destroy Rush Rhino; Pyramid Turtle destroyed Striker; and Spirit Reaper attacked to force Faulkenberry to discard his last T.G. Striker.  He Normal Summoned Ryko in Main Phase 2, then Special Summoned Glow-Up Bulb from his Graveyard (he sent Dandylion to the Graveyard, but his field was too clogged to use its effect).  He had a combined total of 13 Levels worth of potential Synchro Materials, so after a bit of thought he Tuned the Bulb to Reaper, Ryko, and Trooper to Synchro Summon Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!  It removed Flamvell Magician from Faulkenberry’s Graveyard; his Giant Trunade from the field; and his Warwolf from his hand.  Massengale then activated Pot of Avarice, returning Card Trooper; Spirit Reaper; 2 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunters; and Spirit Reaper from his Deck to his Graveyard to draw 2 cards.  Faulkenberry got T.G. Rush Rhino and T.G. Warwolf from his Deck in the End Phase.

Faulkenberry drew Solemn Judgment and Set it.  He Summoned Flamvell Firedog, and attacked over Pyramid Turtle.  Massengale used the Turtle’s effect to Special Summon Goblin Zombie in Defense Position.  Massengale activated another Pot of Avarice next turn, and Faulkenberry conceded.

A big early game comes crashing down under the weight of Trishula, as Travis Massengale inches 1 step closer to the Top 8!

Faulkenberry opened with a hand of King Tiger Wanghu; TG1-EM1; Solemn Judgment; Horn of the Phantom Beast; Torrential Tribute; and Nobleman of Crossout.  He Summoned King Tiger and Set everything else.

Massengale Set a monster, then activated Creature Swap: Faulkenberry negated it with Solemn Judgment.  Massengale Set 3 cards to his back row.

Faulkenberry drew T.G. Striker, and flipped Nobleman of Crossout to remove Massengale’s Goblin Zombie from the game.  King Tiger made a direct attack.

Massengale drew, then blasted Faulkenberry’s Torrential Tribute with Mystical Space Typhoon.  He Summoned Zombie Master; attacked with it; and Faulkenberry activated Horn.  But Massengale had the answer: he Chained Seven Tools of the Bandit to negate the Horn and its ATK boost, and King Tiger went down!

Faulkenberry drew Monster Reborn.  He Normal Summoned Striker, then ended his turn with TG1-EM1 locked and loaded.

Massengale attacked, and Faulkenberry let the attack through: Striker was destroyed.  Massengale Set a monster, and Faulkenberry got T.G. Rush Rhino from his Deck in the End Phase.

Faulkenberry drew another Striker, and Special Summoned it in Defense Position with its effect.  He Normal Summoned Rush Rhino, and Massengale turned it face-down with Book of Moon.

Massengale Flip Summoned Spore, using it to attack T.G. Striker.  Faulkenberry responded with TG1-EM1, trading his Striker for Massengale’s Zombie Master.  Massengale replayed Spore’s attack, sending it to crash into the Defense Position Rush Rhino.

Faulkenberry drew another Rush Rhino and Normal Summoned it.  He turned his second Rhino to Attack Position, and ran over Spore and T.G. Striker before making a direct attack for 2000 Battle Damage.  In the End Phase, he claimed Striker’s effect to add T.G. Warwolf to his hand.

Massengale Set a monster, and Set a Spell or Trap.

Faulkenberry drew Flamvell Firedog.  He attacked with Rush Rhino, revealing Massengale’s Set Debris Dragon!  Rhino couldn’t get over the Dragon, so Faulkenberry just Set Warwolf.

Massengale Set a Spell or Trap.

Faulkenberry drew another Firedog.  He activated Monster Reborn, Special Summoning his Striker ack to the field to Tune it to Rush Rhino for Naturia Barkion.  Barkion attacked to destroy Debris Dragon, and Rush Rhino attacked for game!

Jordan Faulkenberry plays an aggressive second Duel, taking control with TG1-EM1 and clinching his triumph with Naturia Barkion!  Massengale would play first in the final Duel.

Massengale Normal Summoned Lonefire Blossom; Tributed it for another; and Tributed that to Special Summon Tytannial, Princess of Camellias.  Charge of the Light Brigade sent Plaguespreader Zombie, Book of Moon, and Pyramid Turtle to the Graveyard, getting him Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.  He Set 2 cards to his back row.

Faulkenberry had Royal Oppression; T.G. Rush Rhino; Book of Moon; Nobleman of Crossout; Mystical Space Typhoon; and Horn of the Phantom Beast.  He Set everything save Nobleman of Crossout, and lost his Book of Moon to Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Massengale Summoned Goblin Zombie, and put a card back on top of his Deck to Special Summon Plaguespreader Zombie from the Graveyard.  He Tuned it to Goblin Zombie for Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, and when Faulkenberry responded with Royal Oppression, Massengale Chained Solemn Judgment to force his Summon through!  Goblin Zombie got him Mezuki from his Deck, and he discarded it to bounce away the Set Rush Rhino.  He discarded Debris Dragon and Glow-Up Bulb to bounce what remained of Faulkenberry’s back row, and removed Mezuki to Special Summon Goblin Zombie. He Special Summoned Glow-Up Bulb, Tuned it to Goblin Zombie for Magical Android, and attacked with everything to take the Match!

Travis Massengale wins on his second turn thanks to Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier and moves on to the Top 8!