Anthony Alvarado’s one of three Duelists in the Top 32 playing a strategy built around the new Master Hyperion card from The Lost Sanctuary Structure Deck. Alvarado is playing a build that runs The Agent of Creation – Venus to make big combos with Mystical Shine Balls and Genex Ally Birdman. His opponent is Robert Nguyen, one of several Debris Synchro Duelists in the playoffs.

The match began with a handshake, and Alvarado drew his opening hand: Cards from the Sky, Darklord Desire, Royal Decree, The Agent of Creation – Venus, The Agent of Miracles – Jupiter, and The Agent of Mystery – Earth. He Summoned Earth to fetch another Agent of Creation from his Deck, then activated Cards from the Sky, banishing Agent of Miracles to draw another Cards from the Sky and Genex Ally Birdman. He banished Agent of Creation to draw Honest and another Birdman with the second Cards from the Sky, then Set Decree.

Nguyen activated Foolish Burial to send Dandylion to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens. He Normal Summoned Debris Dragon, Special Summoned Dandylion, and Synchro Summoned Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, banishing Alvarado’s Agent of Mystery from the field, his Honest from his hand, and his Cards from the Sky from the Graveyard. Nguyen attacked for 2700 Battle Damage.

Alvarado drew Master Hyperion! He Summoned The Agent of Creation – Venus, then paid 500 Life Points to Special Summon a Mystical Shine Ball from his Deck. He paid 1000 more Life Points to Summon 2 more, bringing them all out in Attack Position. Alvarado returned a Shine Ball to his hand to Special Summon a Birdman, then paid 500 more Life Points to Special Summon back the Shine Ball from his hand. He Tuned all three Shine Balls to Birdman to Synchro Sumon Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, and banished Nguyen’s Trishula from the field, his Dandylion from his Graveyard, and Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter from his hand! Trishula and The Agent of Creation attacked to destroy both of Nguyen’s Fluff Tokens, and Alvarado ended, holding 3 cards in hand with Royal Decree Set, plus Trishula and Agent of Creation on the field.

Nguyen drew to 4 cards in hand, and Normal Summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress. He activated her effect to destroy Royal Decree, turning her to Defense Position, and ended, sending Solemn Judgment, Call of the Haunted, and Debris Dragon to his Graveyard in the End Phase.

Alvarado drew Archlord Kristya! He counted 3 Fairies in his Graveyard (the Shine Balls) and Tributed The Agent of Creation – Venus to Tribute Summon Darklord Desire. He Special Summoned Kristya to return The Agent of Creation from his Graveyard to his hand, then reduced Darklord Desire’s ATK by 1000 Attack Points to send Lyla to the Graveyard. With no chance of interference from Gorz the Emissary of Darkness, Alvarado made attacks with Desire, Trishula, and Kristya, dropping Nguyen to 500 Life Points. He conceded the Duel next turn.

Anthony Alvarado plays out of a first turn Trishula to unleash a Trishula of his own, courtesy of The Agent of Creation – Venus and four Mystical Shine Ball Summons! Darklord Desire and Archlord Kristya seal the deal, placing Alvarado one win away from the Top 16. Nguyen would open the second Duel.

Nguyen opened with Lonefire Blossom, Tributing it to Special Summon Dandylion from his Deck in Defense Position. He Set 4 cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Alvarado had Archlord Kristya, Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, Pot of Duality, Master Hyperion, Royal Oppression, and Effect Veiler. He activated Duality, revealing Royal Decree, The Agent of Mystery – Earth, and Genex Ally Birdman from the top of his Deck. he added Decree to his hand. He Set Oppression and Decree, and Nguyen activated Call of the Haunted in the End Phase to bring back Lonefire.

Nguyen Tributed Dandylion for Lonefire’s effect, and Alvarado Chained Royal Oppression to try and negate the Special Summon. Nguyen countered with Seven Tools of the Bandit! Oppression was destroyed, and Nguyen brought out another Lonefire from his Deck, Special Summoning 2 Fluff Tokens. He Tributed the first Lonefire for the effect of the second, and Special Summoned Spore in Defense Position. He Tuned it to a Fluff Token for Formula Synchron, drawing a card with its effect. He attacked with Lonefire and the Synchron.

Alvarado drew The Agent of Mystery – Earth, and activated Royal Decree. He Summoned Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, and attacked Formula Synchron. Nguyen responded with Mirror Force, and Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Royal Decree! Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo was destroyed. Alvarado moved to Main Phase 2, and Nguyen Tuned his Formula Synchron to Lonefire for Ally of Justice Catastor.

Nguyen drew to 4 cards in hand and attacked for 2200 Battle Damage with Catastor. He controlled Catastor and a Fluff Token. He Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Alvarado drew another Master Hyperion. He Summoned Agent of Mystery to get The Agent of Creation – Venus from his Deck, then attacked with it to destroy Nguyen’s last Fluff Token.

Nguyen attacked with Catastor next turn to attack Agent of Mystery, destroying it.

Alvarado drew another Agent of Mystery, and Summoned The Agent of Creation – Venus. He activated her effect with priority, paying 500 Life Points to Special Summon a Mystical Shine Ball from his Deck. He paid another 500 for a second Shine Ball, bringing them both out in Defense Position. He had 2 Hyperion, The Agent of Mystery, Kristya, and Effect Veiler in his hand, with 2 Shine Balls and The Agent of Creation on the field. He banished Agent of Mystery from his hand to Special Summon Hyperion, then banished the Agent from his Graveyard to destroy Catastor with Hyperion’s ability! The Agent of Creation and Hyperion both made direct attacks, but when Hyperion hit, Nguyen Chained his Set Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy his Call of the Haunted and Special Summon Gorz the Emissary of Darkness! He Special Summoned an Emissary of Darkness Token, and Alvarado ended.

Nguyen drew to 4 cards in hand. the Duel stood at 3300 Life Points to 2700, with Alvarado narrowly leading. His Graveyard didn’t have any Fairies, but he had 4 on the field with that Kristya still in hand. Gorz attacked Hyperion, and The Emissary of Darkness Token took down The Agent of Creation. Alvarado dropped to 2200 Life Points, and Nguyen activated Pot of Avarice in Main Phase 2, shuffling 2 Lonefires, Spore, Ally of Justice Catastor, and Dandylion back into his Deck, leaving Formula Synchron and Gorz in his Graveyard. He drew 2 cards, then Set 2 to his back row. He Special Summoned Chaos Sorcerer in Defense Position, banishing his Gorz and Synchron, then Banished a Shine Ball.

Alvarado drew Genex Ally Birdman. He banished Agent of Creation from his Graveyard to Special Summon Hyperion, but Nguyen negated the Summon with Solemn Judgment. Alvarado Normal Summoned Birdman, then Tuned it to his last Shine Ball for Ally of Justice Catastor. It attacked to destroy the Emissary of Darkness Token. Nguyen activated Mind Control next turn to take Ally of Justice Catastor, then swung for the win with Chaos Sorcerer!

Robert Nguyen pulls off not one, but two big Chained Mystical Space Typhoon combos to outplay Anthony Alvarado’s Royal Decree and make a surprising Special Summon with Gorz the Emissary of Darkness! The fancy footwork pays off, evening the Match score to 1-all and taking us to a third Duel.

Alvarado opened with Genex Ally Birdman, Enemy Controller, Forbidden Chalice, Mystical Shine Ball, and 2 Solemn Warning. He Set everything but Birdman.

Nguyen considered his hand a moment, then Set a monster and 2 cards to his back row.

Alvarado drew Cards from the Sky. He Flip Summoned Shine Ball, then returned it to his hand to Special Summon Birdman. Nguyen activated Mind Crush, making Alvarado discard the Shine Ball. Birdman attacked, and ran into Nguyen’s Debris Dragon for 600 Battle Damage.

Nguyen tried to Normal Summon Card Trooper, but Alvarado stopped it with Solemn Warning.

Alvarado drew another Birdman, and turned Debris Dragon to Attack Position with Enemy Controller. Birdman attacked to destroy it.

Nguyen tried to Special Summon Cyber Dragon, and Alvarado negated the Summon with his second Warning. Nguyen Set a Spell or Trap.

Alvarado drew Master Hyperion, holding Birdman and cards from the Sky. He Normal Summoned a second Birdman and attacked with both, dropping Nguyen to 4800 Life Points. Alvarado had 3400 left himself.

Nguyen activated Dark Hole to destroy both Birdmen, then Set a monster.

Alvarado drew Royal Decree, then banished Hyperion to draw another Shine Ball and another Hyperion with Cards from the Sky. He Set Decree and Shine Ball, and lost Decree to Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Nguyen activated Monster Reborn, targeting his Cyber Dragon to Special Summon it. He Flip Summoned Effect Veiler, and Tuned it to the Dragon to Synchro Summon Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. He discarded another Veiler to target Alvarado’s Set Shine Ball with Brionac’s effect. Alvarado negated the bounce with Forbidden Chalice, but Nguyen attacked it anyways, destroying it.

Alvarado drew and Set a monster.

Nguyen discarded Chaos Sorcerer with Brionac to bounce away Alvarado’s Set monster. He attacked directly.

Alvarado Set his monster again, and it was all over a turn later as Brionac bounced it away again, and struck to end the Match!

Robert Nguyen moves on to the Top 16!