James Wilcox and two of his friends all have 2-0 records here today, all playing one of the breakthrough Decks of the tournament: Wonder Wand Gravekeepers. This new spin on the tried and tested theme plays a lot like its predecessor, but now packs draw power and enough muscle to power over Stardust Dragon, all thanks to the Equip Spell Wonder Wand!

But Wilcox will have his work cut out for him! His opponent is Jamil Pirani, who’s here this weekend playing Frog Monarchs: the Deck Wilcox describes as his worst matchup. With Caius the Shadow Monarch to banish his key cards, and Light and Darkness Dragon to lock down his best effects, Wilcox may find himself the victim of a quick and methodical defeat.

Pirani passed his opening turn, not playing any cards.

Wilcox had a hand of Heavy Storm; Trap Dustshoot; Gravekeeper’s Commandant; Necrovalley; Gravekeeper’s Assailant; and Solemn Warning. He Set Dustshoot.

Pirani Set a monster.

Wilcox drew Wonder Wand and passed.

Pirani Flip Summoned Treeborn Frog, then discarded Battle Fader to Special Summon Glow-Up Bulb from his Deck with One for One. He Tuned it to Treeborn to Synchro Summon Formula Synchron, drawing a card. Wilcox activated Trap Dustshoot, revealing Pirani’s hand of Gorz the Emissary of Darkness; Caius the Shadow Monarch; Tragoedia; Effect Veiler; Pot of Avarice; and Heavy Storm. Wilcox sent Caius back to Pirani’s Deck, and Pirani passed.

Wilcox drew Gravekeeper’s Descendant and activated Necrovalley. He Summoned Descendant, and attacked to destroy Formula Synchron. He Set Heavy Storm to finish out.

Pirani Special Summoned Treeborn Frog.

Wilcox drew Torrential Tribute and Summoned Gravekeeper’s Assailant, using its effect to turn Treeborn Frog to Attack Position: Assailant blew through Treeborn to hammer home 1900 Battle Damage. Pirani didn’t Special Summon Tragoedia, leaving himself open to use Gorz instead, and Wilcox attacked into it. Pirani went to 4100 Life Points and Special Summoned Gorz, along with an Emissary of Darkness Token: Wilcox Tributed Assailant with Descendant’s effect to destroy Gorz in Main Phase 2.

Pirani Special Summoned Treeborn Frog again, then sent Mystical Space Typhoon to his Graveyard from the top of his Deck to Special Summon Glow-Up Bulb. He tuned Bulb to the Emissary Token to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon, then activated Heavy Storm to destroy Necrovalley and Wilcox’s Heavy. Stardust Dragon then attacked over Descendant.

Wilcox drew Royal Tribute, but no longer had the Necrovalley on field to play it. He did have Gravekeeper’s Commandant, but it was his only remaining monster. His other cards were Torrential Tribute; Wonder Wand; and Solemn Warning. He Summoned Commandant and attacked Treeborn, then equipped Commandant with Wonder Wand. In Main Phase 2 he sent Commandant to the Graveyard, drawing Starlight Road and Gravekeeper’s Spy with Wonder Wand’s effect. He Set four cards to his back row – everything but the Spy.

Pirani Special Summoned Treeborn Frog, and Wilcox flipped Torrential Tribute. Pirani sent Stardust Dragon to the Graveyard to negate the Torrential, and when Pirani tried to Special Summon Stardust back in the End Phase, Wilcox negated the Summon with Solemn Warning.

Wilcox drew another Gravekeeper’s Commandant, and pitched it to get Necrovalley from his Deck. He activated it, then Set Spy and activated Royal Tribute: Pirani discarded Effect Veiler; Vanity’s Fiend; and Tragoedia.

Pirani activated Pot of Duality next turn, taking Caius the Shadow Monarch over Enemy Controller and Monster Reborn. He Tributed Treeborn for Caius, banishing Gravekeeper’s Spy and making a direct attack with Caius! Wilcox was down to 1600 Life Points! He drew Royal Tribute next turn and immediately conceded the first Duel!

James Wilcox just can’t overcome Jamil Pirani’s high-level monsters, and is forced to resign the first Duel! He’ll have to win the next two Duels back-to-back if he was to recover his lost footing.

Wilcox started Duel 2 with Dark Hole; Dimensional Prison; Torrential Tribute; Gravekeeper’s Commandant; Necrovalley; and Royal Tribute! He activated Necrovalley; Summoned Commandant; and Set Prison, before activating Royal Tribute. Pirani discarded four cards: Puppet Plant; Gorz the Emissary of Darkness; Cyber Dragon; Caius the Shadow Monarch! His last card was Monster Reborn: not very useful with Necrovalley in play.

Pirani passed next turn.

Wilcox drew a second Commandant next turn, and attacked with both to knock Pirani down to 3800 Life Points.

Pirani drew and passed again.

Wilcox went in for another attack with a Commandant, but this time Pirani had Battle Fader to protect his Life Points! He Special Summoned it for its effect, and Wilcox Set another card to his back row.

Pirani Tributed Battle Fader next turn for Raiza the Storm Monarch, but lost out to Solemn Warning. Wilcox was defeated a turn later by another two attacks from the Commandants!

James Wilcox evens the Match score in a matter of mere moments, opening with a thunderous four-card Royal Tribute that robs Pirani of all of his monsters, leaving him with nothing but a dead Monster Reborn. This last Duel would decide the victor.

Pirani Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh and Set a single card to his back row to protect it.

Wilcox had Torrential Tribute; Bottomless Trap Hole; Gravekeeper’s Commandant; Dimensional Prison; Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer; and Gravekeeper’s Stele. He Set Kycoo, then Set Torrential and Prison. He lost the Torrential in his End Phase, as Pirani flipped Mystical Space Typhoon.

Pirani attacked with Thunder King, losing it to Dimensional Prison. He Set a monster.

Wilcox drew Pulling the Rug, and Flip Summoned Kycoo. He Normal Summoned Commandant, then attacked with it, destroying Pirani’s Set Treeborn Frog! Kycoo made a direct attack and banished Treeborn Frog from Pirani’s Graveyard. He Set Pulling the Rug.

Pirani gave a groan: “That actually really hurt.” He pitched Puppet Plant to take control of Kycoo, then attacked with Kycoo to destroy Commandant. In Main Phase 2 Pirani Tributed Kycoo for Caius the Shadow Monarch, and Wilcox responded with Pulling the Rug to destroy Caius!

Wilcox drew another Bottomless Trap Hole and Set it.

Pirani passed.

Wilcox drew Gravekeeper’s Descendant and attacked for 1500 Battle Damage. Pirani dropped to 4700 Life Points, and Special Summoned Tragoedia with 3 cards in hand.

Pirani drew to 4 cards, and attacked to destroy Descendant.

Wilcox drew Trap Dustshoot and Set it.

Pirani drew to 5 cards and Wilcox activated Dustshoot: Monster Reborn; Soul Exchange; Battle Fader; Effect Veiler; and Caius the Shadow Monarch. He lost Caius back to his Deck, and attacked for 2400 Battle Damage with Tragoedia.

Wilcox drew another Kycoo, and activated Stele to get back his Commandant and Descendant. He hucked Commandant to the Graveyard to get Necrovalley from his Deck; activated it; and Set Commandant.

Pirani ran the Commandant over next turn with Tragoedia.

Wilcox drew Solemn Warning and Set Descendant.

Pirani ran it down with Tragoedia.

Wilcox Drew and Set another Descendant.

Pirani attacked to destroy it, then Set a monster.

Wilcox drew Pot of Duality, activating it to reveal Gravekeeper’s Recruiter; Gravekeeper’s Spy; and Dimensional Prison. He added Prison to his hand, and Set 3 cards to his back row.

Pirani Tributed his Set Battle Fader for Raiza the Storm Monarch, and Wilcox negated the Summon by paying 2000 Life Points for Solemn Warning. Pirani had 6 cards in hand, meaning Tragoedia had 3600 ATK. Pirani passed.

Wilcox Set a monster.

Pirani activated Soul Exchange next turn, Tributing his Tragoedia and Wilcox’s Set Gravekeeper’s Recruiter for Light and Darkness Dragon! Recruiter’s effect triggered; the Dragon’s effect Chained to try and negate it; and Wilcox Chained Bottomless Trap Hole to banish the Dragon! Recruiter’s effect resolved successfully, and got Wilcox another Recruiter from his Deck. Pirani had no other moves to play for the turn.

Wilcox Summoned Recruiter and attacked into Battle Fader. He Set another Spell or Trap.

Pirani activated Enemy Controller next turn, Tributing Battle Fader to take control of Gravekeeper’s Recruiter. Recruiter made an attack, lowering Wilcox to 800 Life Points. He handed the Recruiter back.

Wilcox drew and activated Royal Tribute! Pirani lost Effect Veiler; Puppet Plant; and Battle Fader, once again holding a dead Monster Reborn as his last card in the face of Necrovalley.

Pot of Duality got Pirani a choice of Heavy Storm; Tragoedia; and Swap Frog. “I can’t even play my Reborn, because I’m on Duality.” He took Swap Frog and Summoned it, sending Treeborn Frog to his Graveyard from his Deck. He had 3000 Life Points left.

Wilcox drew Gravekeeper’s Commandant! He Summoned it, and made two attacks to destroy Swap Frog and lower Pirani to 200 Life Points. Wilcox had 800 left himself. Next turn Pirani revealed his hand: Soul Exchange and Monster Reborn. Pirani offered the handshake!

Light and Darkness Dragon backfires on Jamil Pirani, and James Wilcox battles back with a second massive Royal Tribute to steal the Duel, and the Match! Wilcox moves on with a 3-0 record.