Angel Ascencio scored a Top 16 finish at YCS Anaheim back in April, making the cut with Gravekeepers. Today he’s back piloting a new version of the same Deck.  His opponent, Michael Boyd, is running Tengu Synchro: in theory, a favorable matchup for Ascencio.  We’ll see how that theory plays out, as these two undefeated Duelists go head to head!

Ascencio opened the Match with a hand of Solemn Judgment; 2 Solemn Warning; Royal Tribute; Allure of Darkness; and Gravekeeper’s Commandant.  He discarded Commandant to get Necrovalley from his Deck; activated it; and followed up, Setting all his cards and then activating Royal Tribute.  He lost nothing, while Boyd lost Reborn Tengu and Genex Undine!

Boyd drew to 4 cards in hand and Set a single Spell or Trap.

Ascencio drew Compulsory Evacuation Device and Set it.

Boyd passed.

Ascencio drew and Summoned Gravekeeper’s Assailant, but when it attacked, Boyd Special Summoned Tragoedia!  Ascencio didn’t negate the Summon with Solemn Warning.

Boyd switched Tragoedia to Attack Position with 2400 ATK, and attacked to destroy Gravekeeper’s Assailant.  He tried to Normal Summon Lonefire Blossom: Ascencio let it go, but negated its effect with Solemn Warning when Boyd tried to Special Summon another Lonefire from his Deck.

Ascencio drew and set Book of Moon.

Boyd attacked for 2400 Battle Damage, dropping Ascencio to 3200 Life Points.

Ascencio drew Gravekeeper’s Descendant, then activated Allure of Darkness to draw 2 copies of Gravekeeper’s Recruiter.  He banished a Recruiter, then Set his second copy.

Boyd attacked with Tragoedia next turn, but Ascenscio blocked the attack with Book of Moon: Tragoedia went face-down.  Boyd Set a monster, then Set a Spell or Trap.

Ascencio drew another Gravekeeper’s Descendant and Summoned it, Flip Summoning Recruiter and destroying Tragoedia with Descendant’s ability.  Recruiter let Ascencio search out another Recruiter from his Deck, and he attacked with Descendant: Boyd blocked the attack with Enemy Controller, shifting Descendant to Defense Position.  In the End Phase, Boyd destroyed Necrovalley with Mystical Space Typhoon.

Boyd drew to 4 cards in hand with a single monster Set.  Ascencio had 2 cards in hand; 3 cards Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone; and Gravekeeper’s Descendant.  Boyd Normal Summoned Genex Controller, then Flip Summoned Dandylion: Ascencio returned Controller back to Boyd’s hand with Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Ascencio drew Seven Tools of the Bandit and Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter.  He shifted Descendant to Attack Position and ran over Dandylion, letting Boyd Special Summon 2 Fluff Tokens: Recruiter destroyed 1 of them.  Ascencio Tributed Recruiter in Main Phase 2 to destroy the remaining Token, and that got him another Gravekeeper’s Commandant.  He discarded it to search for Necrovalley; activated it; and Set another Spell or Trap, once again in control.

Boyd activated Dark Hole!  He tried to Summon Reborn Tengu, but Ascencio negated the Summon with Solemn Warning.

Ascencio drew and activated Pot of Duality, revealing Gravekeeper’s Descendant, Dark Hole, and another Duality from the top of his Deck: he took the Descendant.  He Summoned it and attacked, dropping Boyd to 2800 Life Points.  Ascencio had 1200 Life Points left himself.

Boyd Set a monster.

Ascencio drew another Necrovalley.  He Summoned another Descendant and attacked with it, destroying Boyd’s Set Genex Controller, and made a direct attack with his second Descendant.  “You’ve got this game,” announced Boyd, looking at his next draw on the following turn and then conceding.

A devastating Royal Tribute combined with some early game restraint with his Solemn Warnings gives Angel Ascencio the first Duel win of this Match!  Play quickly proceeded to the next Duel.

Boyd opened with Reborn Tengu, then Set a Spell or Trap.

Ascencio had Gravekeeper’s Commandant; Rivalry of Warlords; Book of Moon; 2 Pot of Duality; and Dark Hole.  He pitched the Commandant to get Necrovalley from his Deck, then activated Duality to reveal Gravekeeper’s Descendant; Gravekeeper’s Stele; and another Necrovalley.  He added the Stele to his hand, and activated Necrovalley before Setting 2 more cards to his back row.  Boyd destroyed Necrovalley with Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Boyd attacked with Reborn Tengu next turn, and in Main Phase 2 he activated Foolish Burial to send Dandylion from his Deck to his Graveyard.  He Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens.

Ascencio drew Solemn Warning and activated Pot of Duality, revealing Gravekeeper’s Spy, Necrovalley, and another Duality.  He took the Spy, and Set the Spy and Warning.

Boyd took the Spy with Mind Control next turn, and Flip Summoned it to deprive Ascencio of its effect!  He Normal Summoned Genex Ally Birdman, and Ascencio flipped Rivalry of Warlords!  Boyd chose to keep his Tengu, and lost everythig else: the Spy, his Birdman, and his Fluff Tokens.  Tengu scored another direct attack.

Ascencio drew Royal Oppression, and got back his Spy and Commandant with Gravekeeper’s Stele.  He discarded Commandant for another Necrovalley, then activated it.  He Set Spy and Oppression.

Boyd Set another Spell or Trap.

Ascencio drew another Spy, and Flip Summoned his Set copy: Boyd tried to negate its effect with Effect Veiler, but Ascencio Chained Book of Moon to turn his Spy face-down and protect it from Veiler!  That got him Gravekeeper’s Descendant from his Deck, and Ascencio Normal Summoned his second Spy to Tribute it for Gravekeeper’s Descendant.  His target was Boyd’s Book of Moon, and Boyd Chained it to put the Descendant face-down.

Boyd drew for his turn and heaved a sigh: he Set a monster, then Set a Spell or Trap.

Ascencio drew another Gravekeeper’s Stele, and Flip Summoned Spy to Special Summon Gravekeeper’s Recruiter!  He Flip Summoned Descendant; Tributed Recruiter; and destroyed Boyd’s bluffed One for One!  The Recruiter got him another Recruiter, and he Tributed Spy to destroy Boyd’s Set Treeborn Frog.  Descendant attacked over Reborn Tengu, and Boyd Special Summoned another.

Boyd drew to 3 cards in hand, with Descendant on the field.  Ascencio had 3 cards in hand; 2 more Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone; Rivalry; and Descendant.  Boyd Set a Spell or Trap.

Ascencio drew another Descendant. He Summoned Recruiter to Tribute it off, and Boyd Chained the targeted card: Mystical Space Typhoon.  Typhoon destroyed Rivalry, and Ascencio got his last Recruiter with the previous copy. Descendant attacked over Reborn Tengu again, and Boyd Special Summoned his last copy from his Deck.

Boyd activated Giant Trunade to clear the field of Spells and Traps, and then banished Effect Veiler and Birdman to Special Summon Chaos Sorcerer, then attacked with both monsters to destroy Descendant.

Ascencio drew to 8 cards in hand, drawing Compulsory Evacuation Device.  Dark Hole destroyed Tengu and Chaos Sorcerer, and he activated Necrovalley.  He Summoned Gravekeeper’s Descendant, attacked, and Boyd was down to 5400 Life Points.  Ascencio Set 3 cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Boyd Special Summoned Treeborn Frog, and Tributed it in the Standby Phase for Enemy Controller: he targeted Descendant, but Ascencio Chained Compulsory Evacuation Device to take back his Descendant!  Boyd Special Summoned Treeborn Frog in Defense Position.

Ascencio drew Maxx “C” and attacked Treeborn with Descendant.

Boyd activated Treeborn Frog’s effect, and Ascencio pitched Maxx “C” to draw Gravekeeper’s Commandant.  Boyd labored over his last card before deciding to play it: Lonefire Blossom.  He activated its effect, Tributing it to Special Summon Glow-Up Bulb and giving Ascencio another draw with Maxx “C”.  He tuned his monsters together for Formula Synchron, drawing a card, but giving Ascencio another draw: Gozen Match.

Ascencio drew a second Gozen Match, then Normal Summoned Recruiter.  He Tributed Recruiter to destroy Formula Synchron with Descendant; got Gravekeeper’s Assailant from his Deck; and made a direct attack with Descendant.  Boyd sunk to 3400 Life Points, and Ascencio Set 2 more cards, completely filling his back row.

Boyd Special Summoned Treeborn Frog, and Ascencio flipped Gozen Match!  Boyd shook his head and Set his last 2 cards to his back row.

Ascencio Summoned Gravekeeper’s Commandant and Tributed it, targeting Boyd’s Set Enemy Controller.  Neither Duelist noticed that since Gravekeeper’s Commandant was an EARTH Attribute monster, Ascencio shouldn’t have Summoned it with Gozen Match on the field.  Boyd Chained the target of the Descendant’s effect, Tributing Treeborn Frog to take control of Descendant.  Ascencio ended and took his Descendant back.

Boyd drew to 1 card in hand, with a single card Set in his back row: it was stopping him from Special Summoning Treeborn Frog.  He sent Dust Tornado off the top of his Deck to Special Summon Glow-Up Bulb in Defense Position.

Ascencio drew Pot of Duality, and used it to reveal Effect Veiler; Necrovalley; and Gravekeeper’s Spy.  He took the Veiler.  Ascencio Normal Summoned Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Tributing it to destroy Boyd’s bluffed Pot of Avarice, and attacked to destroy Glow-Up Bulb with Descendant.  Again, neither Duelist noticed that Commandant was an EARTH monster.

Boyd Special Summoned Treeborn Frog and Set a Spell or Trap.

Ascencio Summoned Gravekeeper’s Assailant, Tributing it to destroy Boyd’s Set Allure of Darkness.  Another attack from Descendant let him destroy Treeborn Frog.

Boyd Summoned Genex Undine, and Ascencio Chained Effect Veiler’s effect: Boyd still got to send Fishborg Blaster from his Deck to his Graveyard as a cost to activate Undine’s ability.  At this point, Ascencio realized he’d been Summoning Commandants when he shouldn’t have been able to, and after a quick judge call it was decided that since both Duelists had accepted the game state, play would continue after the appropriate Warnings were issued.  Boyd ended his turn.

Ascencio drew Royal Tribute, and attacked Undine with Gravekeeper’s Descendant.

Boyd passed.

Ascencio drew Solemn Judgment and attacked to destroy Treeborn Frog.  His back row was still full.

Boyd Special Summoned Treeborn Frog and Set a monster, then Set a Spell or Trap.

Ascencio drew and Summoned another Descendant.  He attacked with both, destroying Treeborn Frog and Swap Frog.

Boyd Set a monster and a Spell or Trap.

Ascencio attacked to destroy Boyd’s Set Effect Veiler, then made a direct attack with the second Descendant.  He lost Necrovalley in his End Phase to Dust Tornado.

That let Boyd activate Pot of Avarice next turn, shuffling back Chaos Sorcerer, Dandylion, and all 3 copies of Reborn Tengu to his Deck to draw 2 cards.  He activated Dark Hole, but Boyd Chained Starlight Road to negate it!  Boyd activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Gravekeeper’s Commandant, but Ascencion Chained Royal Oppression!  Boyd offered the handshake!

A thunderous Starlight Road backed by Royal Oppression lock down the last moments of the final Duel, as Angel Ascencio scores a 2-0 victory and moves on with a 4-0 record!