Billy Brake and Jeff Jones are two well-known Duelists that have been building a Deck together ever since Mermails were first released. Now, these two friends, running identical Mermail Main Decks (without Genex Undine), are Dueling against one another in a Feature Match that will determine which one of these Duelists advances to the Top 32, and which one will be eliminated.

Duel One

Jones started off Duel 1!

He Summoned Mermail Abysspike and activated its effect. He discarded Atlantean Dragoons to search his Deck for Mermail Abyssgunde with Abysspike’s effect. Then he used the effect of his Dragoons to search his Deck for Mermail Abyssmegalo and add it to his hand. Jones Set a card to his back row before passing.

Brake opened up with Solemn Judgment, Heavy Storm, Mermail Abyssgunde, Atlantean Heavy Infantry, Solemn Judgment, and Mermail Abyssleed.

He activated Heavy Storm to destroy Jones’s face-down Mystical Space Typhoon and then discarded Atlantean Heavy Infantry, Mermail Abyssgunde, and Atlantean Dragoons to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed. He used the effect of Atlantean Heavy Infantry to destroy Jones’s Mermail Abysspike and then used the effect of Atlantean Dragoons to add Deep Sea Diva to his hand. He Summoned the Diva and used its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman. He attacked directly with Atlantean Marksman first, dropping Jones down to 6600 Life Points and using his Marksman’s effect to Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons from his Deck. Direct attacks from Deep Sea Diva, Atlantean Dragoons, and Mermail Abyssleed dropped Jones down to 2900 Life Points.

Jones activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Brake’s Solemn Judgment and then discarded Mermail Abyssgunde and Atlantean Dragoons to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo from his hand. He searched his Deck for Abyss-squall to add to his hand with Abyssmegalo’s effect, and added Deep Sea Diva from his Deck to his hand with his Dragoons’s effect. He used Mermail Abyssgunde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abysspike. Next, he Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva and used its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his Deck. He used his Infantry’s effect to Normal Summon Atlantean Marksman, and then Tuned Deep Sea Diva with Atlantean Heavy Infantry to Synchro Summon Armory Arm! Jones equipped his Mermail Abyssmegalo with Armory Arm and then Tributed Mermail Abysspike to allow Abyssmegalo to attack twice.

Mermail Abyssmegalo attacked over Mermail Abyssleed and Atlantean Dragoons to deal 6800 points of damage to Brake through Battle Damage and Armory Arm’s effect. Jones attacked Deep Sea Diva with Atlantean Marksman next, wiping out Brake’s last 1200 Life Points!

An explosive hand allows Jeff Jones to take the first victory over Billy Brake! Brake will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Brake opened up Duel 2 with Mermail Abysslinde, Deep Sea Diva, Abyss-sphere, and 3 copies of Mermail Abyssmegalo.

He Set Mermail Abysslinde and Abyss-sphere before ending his turn.

Jones Summoned Mermail Abysspike and activated its effect by discarding Atlantean Dragoons. He searched his Deck for Atlantean Marksman to add to his hand with Mermail Abysspike’s effect and he added Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand with the effect of Atlantean Dragoons. Next, he discarded Mermail Abyssleed and Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo from his hand. He used Mermail Abyssmegalo’s effect to add Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand and used Mermail Abyssgunde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed. Next, Jones attacked Brake’s face-down Mermail Abysslinde with Mermail Abysspike, destroying it in battle and allowing Brake to activate its effect. “There are no good choices here,” Brake sighed. He Special Summoned Mermail Abyssgunde and then Mermail Abyssmegalo attacked and destroyed Abyssgunde. A direct attack from Mermail Abyssleed dropped Brake down to 5300 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Jones Tributed his Mermail Abysspike with the effect of Mermail Abyssleed to send Brake’s in-hand Mermail Abyssmegalo to the Graveyard. Jones combined Mermail Abyssleed with Mermail Abyssmegalo in Main Phase 2 to Summon Mermail Abyssgaios and then Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Brake drew Deck Devastation Virus next turn. He Summoned Deep Sea Diva and activated its effect. Jones Chained Maxx “C”! Brake Special Summoned Atlantean Marksman from his Deck, and Jones drew a card. Next, Brake Tuned Deep Sea Diva with Marksman to Summon Ally of Justice Catastor, allowing Jones to draw another card. Brake Set Deck Devastation Virus. Jones activated Abyss-sphere in Brake’s Main Phase to Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck, and then Abyss-sphere and Mermail Abysslinde were destroyed in Jones’s End Phase, allowing Jones to Special Summon Mermail Abysspike from his Deck with Mermail Abysslinde’s effect. He discarded Atlantean Marksman from his hand to activate Mermail Abysspike’s effect, and added Mermail Abyssgunde to his hand with Mermail Abysspike’s effect. Jones targeted Brake’s face-down Abyss-sphere with the effect of Atlantean Marksman, and Brake Chained it to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck, allowing Jones to draw another card thanks to Maxx “C”.

Jones activated the effect of Mermail Abyssgaios. Brake used Deck Devastation Virus, Tributing Catastor and forcing Jones to discard Mermail Abyssgunde, Mermail Abysslinde, and 2 copies of Deep Sea Diva, leaving Jones with Mermail Abyssteus and Abyss-sphere. Jones attacked Mermail Abysslinde with Mermail Abysspike, and Brake Special Summoned an Abysspike from his Deck. He used Abysspike’s effect to discard Mermail Abyssmegalo and add Mermail Abyssgunde from his Deck to his hand. Jones Set Abyss-sphere before ending his turn.

Brake drew Mermail Abyssleed next turn. He discarded it along with Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo. He added Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand with Abyssmegalo’s effect and Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed from his Graveyard with the effect Mermail Abyssgunde. Brake combined Mermail Abyssmegalo with Mermail Abyssleed to Xyz Summon Mermail Abyssgaios and then attacked Mermail Abysspike to destroy it and drop Jones down to 6800 Life Points.

Jones drew Tragoedia next turn. He activated Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck.

He attacked Mermail Abyssgaios, using Mermail Abysslinde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Deck and Special Summoning Tragoedia in Defense Position after taking the damage. Jones attacked Brake’s Gaios with his own, destroying them both, and then attacked directly with Mermail Abyssmegalo to drop Brake down to 3900 Life Points.

Brake drew Maxx “C”. He activated Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck and then attacked Tragoedia to destroy it.

Jones drew Maxx “C” but lost it to Deck Devastation Virus. He attacked Mermail Abysslinde to destroy it and Brake Special Summoned Mermail Abyssteus from his Deck in Defense Position.

Brake drew Atlantean Dragoons.

Jones Set a back row.

Brake drew Tragoedia.

Jones discarded Atlantean Marksman to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus and Brake used Maxx “C” to draw a card. Next, Jones combined Mermail Abyssteus with Mermail Abyssmegalo to Summon Mermail Abyssgaios and Brake drew another card. Jones attacked and destroyed Mermail Abyssteus.

Brake activated Pot of Avarice next turn! He sent Deep Sea Diva, Mermail Abyssteus, Mermail Abyssgunde, Mermail Abyssmegalo, and Mermail Abysslinde from his Graveyard to his Deck to draw Atlantean Dragoons and Deep Sea Diva. Brake Set Abyss-sphere and ended his turn.

Jones attacked with Mermail Abyssgaios next turn and Brake flipped Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde. Jones destroyed it, and Brake Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike. He discarded Atlantean Dragoons to activate its effect, adding Atlantean Marksman to his hand. He used the effect of Dragoons to add Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand.

Brake drew Maxx “C” next turn. He discarded Marksman and Dragoons to Special Summon Abyssmegalo. He was out of cards to search his Deck for with Abyssmegalo, but targeted Jones’s face-down Forbidden Lance with Atlantean Marksman and added Atlantean Heavy Infantry to his hand with the effect of Dragoons. Jones Chained Forbidden Lance to weaken Abyssmegalo. Brake Summoned Atlantean Heavy Infantry next, and used its effect to Summon Deep Sea Diva too. Jones detached an Xyz Material from Abyssgaios to negate the effects of Brake’s monsters. Brake Tributed Atlantean Heavy Infantry to activate the effect of his Mermail Abyssmegalo and destroy Jones’s monster, and then Tuned Deep Sea Diva with Abysspike to Summon Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier.

Jones Set a card to his back row and passed.

Brake Summoned Mermail Abysspike and didn’t use its effect. He attacked with Mermail Abysspike and Jones lost 1600 Life Points. Next, Brake activated Mind Crush naming Tragoedia, and Jones flipped Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Mind Crush. Jones revealed Gorz the Emissary of Darkness from his hand, and Brake ended his turn.

Jones drew Dark Hole and cleared the field with it! He had only Gorz in hand, and Brake had no cards in his possession!

Brake drew and passed.

Jones drew and passed.

Brake drew and passed.

Jones drew and passed.

Brake Summoned Deep Sea Diva and used its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman. He attacked with Marksman, dropping Jones down to 2500 Life Points. Next, Jones Special Summoned Gorz! Brake Special Summoned Dragoons from his Deck with Marksman. He attacked directly with Diva next.  In Main Phase 2, Brake Tuned Deep Sea Diva, Atlantean Dragoons, and Atlantean Marksman together to Synchro Summon Mist Wurm, and returned Jones’s Gorz and Emissary of Darkness Token to his hand.

Jones drew a card and Set it to his back row.

Brake activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Graveyard. Then he attacked with Mist Wurm, and Jones used Forbidden Lance to weaken it. He dropped down to 600 Life Points and Special Summoned Gorz with a Token in Defense Position. Mermail Abyssleed destroyed Gorz.

Jones Set a back row and a monster before ending his turn.

Brake attacked and destroyed both of Jones’s monsters.

Jones conceded on his next turn, unable to defeat Mermail Abyssleed and Mist Wurm!

Billy Brake makes a huge comeback with some help from Deck Devastation Virus to push the Match to a third and final Duel! For one of these Duelists, this will be the last Duel of the tournament!

Duel Three

Jones Set 2 cards to his back row and Set a monster.

Brake opened up with Mermail Abyssleed, Mermail Abyssteus, 2 copies of Maxx “C”, and 2 copies of Mermail Abyssmegalo. He discarded Mermail Abyssleed to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus and used Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abyssgunde to his hand. Next, Brake discarded Mermail Abyssmegalo and Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo. He used Mermail Abyssmegalo’s effect to add Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand, and used Mermail Abyssgunde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Graveyard. Brake tried to combine Mermail Abyssteus with Mermail Abyssmegalo to try to Summon Number 11: Big Eye; but Jones flipped Solemn Judgment and negated it Summon by giving up half of his Life Points! Brake Set Abyss-sphere and then Jones flipped his own. Brake Chained Maxx “C” and drew a card when Jones Special Summoned Mermail Abysslinde. Brake attacked Jones’s face-down Marksman with Mermail Abyssleed to destroy it. Brake Set another back row and then entered his End Phase. Jones sent his Mermail Abysslinde and Abyss-sphere to the Graveyard, and then Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike from his Deck. Brake drew another card, and Jones discarded Atlantean Marksman to search his Deck for Mermail Abyssgunde. He destroyed Brake’s face-down Abyss-sphere with Marksman.

Jones Summoned Deep Sea Diva and activated its effect; but Brake discarded another Maxx “C”! Jones Special Summoned Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his Deck in Defense Position, and Brake drew a card. Next, Jones Tuned Deep Sea Diva with Atlantean Heavy Infantry and Mermail Abysspike to Synchro Summon Scrap Dragon, allowing Brake to draw another card. Jones attacked Abyssleed with Scrap Dragon and Brake Special Summoned Tragoedia after taking the damage. Brake activated Mind Crush to force Jones to discard Mermail Abyssgunde and Jones Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike with Abyssgunde’s effect. He discarded Dragoons with Abysspike’s effect and searched his Deck for Diva and Mermail Abysslinde to add to his hand.

Brake Summoned Deep Sea Diva next turn. He activated its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman and then Tuned both monsters together to Summon Ally of Justice Catastor. He attacked with Catastor to destroy Scrap Dragon and then Set Deck Devastation Virus.

Jones drew a card and Brake flipped Deck Devastation Virus to force Jones to discard everything in his hand except for Atlantean Dragoons and Gorz. Jones Summoned Dragoons and attacked Brake directly with it.

Brake Summoned Mermail Abysspike next turn and discarded Atlantean Dragoons to add Mermail Abyssmegalo and Mermail Abysslinde to his hand. Next, he discarded Mermail Abyssgunde and Mermail Abysslinde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo. He used Mermail Abyssgunde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed, and Jones conceded!

Billy Brake is moving on to the Top 32 with the Mermail Deck that he and Jeff Jones built together!