Pasquale Crociata and Patrick Le both currently hold 4-0-1 records in the tournament. Patrick Le, from Memphis, Tennessee is using a Mermail Deck. Pasquale Crociata, from New York City, is using a Frog Deck focused around Sea Lancer. Crociata specifically designed his Deck to take down Mermails – he’s using 3 copies of Battle Fader, 2 Tragoedia, and Gorz the Emissary of Darkness to stop Mermail Decks in their tracks and set up a retaliation when they swarm the field for a quick win. Will Crociata be able to turn one of his favorite match-ups into a victory in this Round 6 Feature Match?

Duel One

Le started off Duel 1 by Setting a monster.

Crociata opened up with Dark Dust Spirit, Mystical Space Typhoon, Battle Fader, Dark Hole, Dupe Frog, and Poison Draw Frog. He Set Dupe Frog and then ended his turn.

Le Summoned Mermail Abysspike and used its effect. He discarded another Abysspike to search his Deck for Mermail Abyssgunde and add it to his hand. Next, he Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo by discarded Mermail Abyssgunde and Mermail Abyssteus. He used his Abyssmegalo’s effect to add Abyss-squall from his Deck to his hand and then used Abyssgunde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus in Attack Position. Mermail Abysspike attacked Crociata’s face-down Dupe Frog, flipping it face-up. Le lost 400 Life Points and Dupe Frog survived the battle. Next, Le attacked Dupe Frog with Mermail Abyssmegalo to destroy it, and Crociata added Swap Frog from his Deck to his hand with Dupe Frog’s effect. Abyssteus attacked Crociata directly next, dropping him down to 6300 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Le Set a back row and Xyz Summoned Mermail Abyssgaios by combining Mermail Abyssmegalo and Mermail Abyssteus.

Crociata drew Battle Fader next turn. He activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Le’s face-down Abyss-squall and then activated Dark Hole to clear the field!

Le’s face-down Mermail Abysslinde was destroyed, and Le used its effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck. Next, Crociata discarded Poison Draw Frog to Special Summon Swap Frog and used his Swap Frog’s effect to send Ronintoadin from his Deck to his Graveyard. He used Swap Frog’s effect to return the Swap Frog to his hand and then banished Poison Draw Frog from his Graveyard to Special Summon Ronintoadin. He Tributed Ronintoadin to Summon Dark Dust Spirit, using its effect to destroy Mermail Abyssleed. Dark Dust Spirit attacked Le directly, dropping Le down to 5400 Life Points. Crociata ended his turn, returning Dark Dust Spirit to his hand in his End Phase.

Le activated Salvage next turn, returning Mermail Abysslinde and Mermail Abyssgunde from his Graveyard to his hand. He Summoned Mermail Abysslinde and tried to attack directly; but Crociata Special Summoned Battle Fader from his hand to block the attack!

Crociata drew Pot of Duality next turn and activated it. He revealed Effect Veiler, Dupe Frog, and Treeborn Frog from the top of his Deck. Crociata added Dupe Frog to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. He Normal Summoned Swap Frog and used its effect to send Treeborn Frog from his Deck to his Graveyard. Next, he returned Swap Frog to his hand and ended his turn.

Le attacked Battle Fader with Mermail Abysslinde to destroy it.

Crociata drew another Swap Frog next turn. He discarded Dupe Frog to Special Summon Swap Frog and used his Swap Frog’s effect to send Ronintoadin from his Deck to his Graveyard. Next, he banished Dupe Frog from his Graveyard to Special Summon Ronintoadin. Crociata banished another Dupe Frog from his Graveyard to Special Summon another Ronintoadin and then used Swap Frog’s effect to return the Swap Frog to his hand. Next, Crociata combined both Ronintoadins to Xyz Summon Shining Elf, and attacked Mermail Abysslinde to destroy it in battle and deal 100 points of damage to Le. Le Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Deck.

In Main Phase 2, Crociata Tributed Treeborn Frog to Summon Dark Dust Spirit and clear the field! He entered his End Phase and returned Dark Dust Spirit to his hand.

Le Set a card to his back row and passed.

Crociata drew Creature Swap next turn. He Normal Summoned Swap Frog and used its effect to send Poison Draw Frog from his Deck to his Graveyard. Next, he banished Poison Draw Frog to Special Summon Ronintoadin. He combined Ronintoadin with Swap Frog to Summon Daigusto Phoenix and detached an Xyz Material to let it attack twice. He attacked directly for 1500 points of damage twice, dropping Le down to 2300 Life Points.

Le activated Abyss-squall to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed and 2 copies of Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Graveyard. Next, with exactly 5 WATER monsters in his Graveyard, he Special Summoned Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord and used its effect to send Creature Swap and Swap Frog from Crociata’s hand to his Graveyard. Le combined both Abyssmegalos to Summon Number 11: Big Eye and used its effect to take control of Crociata’s Daigusto Phoenix. He detached an Xyz Material from Daigusto Phoenix to let it attack twice and then declared an attack; but Crociata Special Summoned another Battle Fader to block the attack and end the Battle Phase!

Le ended his turn and sent Mermail Abyssleed to his Graveyard.

Crociata drew Maxx “C” next turn. He Special Summoned Treeborn Frog from his Graveyard in his Standby Phase and then Tributed Battle Fader to Summon Dark Dust Spirit. He used its effect to clear the field! Next, he banished Swap Frog from his Graveyard to Special Summon Ronintoadin in Attack Position. Direct attacks from Dark Dust Spirit and Ronintoadin wiped out Le’s last 2300 Life Points!

Pasquale Crociata wins Duel 1 thanks to Dark Dust Spirit! Patrick Le is looking to turn things around in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Le started off Duel 2 by simply passing his turn.

Crociata opened up Duel 2 with Mystical Space Typhoon, Maxx “C”, Tragoedia, Poison Draw Frog, and Dupe Frog. He Summoned Poison Draw Frog and then ended his turn.

Le discarded Mermail Abyssgunde and Atlantean Dragoons to try to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo, and Crociata Chained Maxx “C”! Abyssmegalo was Summoned to the field, and Crociata drew Swap Frog thanks to Maxx “C”. Le used his Abyssmegalo’s effect to add Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand, and used the effect of his discarded Atlantean Dragoons to add Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his Deck to his hand. He attacked Poison Draw Frog with Abyssmegalo. Crociata lost 2300 and Special Summoned Tragoedia from his hand, plus drew Sea Lancer off of Poison Draw Frog’s effect. Le Set 2 cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Crociata drew Dark Hole next turn. He discarded Dupe Frog to Special Summon Swap Frog and then Le used Maxx “C”. Crociata sent Ronintoadin from his Deck to his Graveyard with the effect of Swap Frog. Crociata switched his Tragoedia into Attack Position and then attacked Mermail Abyssmegalo to destroy it with his 3000 ATK Tragoedia. Le lost 600 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Crociata Tributed Tragoedia to Special Summon Vanity’s Fiend!

Le Summoned Mermail Abysspike next turn and activated its effect by discarding Atlantean Heavy Infantry. He searched his Deck for a copy of Mermail Abyssgunde to add to his hand with the effect of Mermail Abysspike, and then destroyed Vanity’s Fiend with the effect of Atlantean Heavy Infantry. Le activated Abyss-sphere next, in order to Special Summon Mermail Abyssturge from his Deck. He combined Mermail Abysspike with Mermail Abyssturge to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller and then detached an Xyz Material from Abyss Dweller to activate its effect. Next, he Special Summoned Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, forcing Crotiata to send Dark Hole and Sea Lancer from his hand to his Graveyard with Moulinglacia’s effect. Direct attacks from Abyss Dweller and Moulinglacia dropped Crociata down to 200 Life Points.

Crociata drew Sea Lancer next turn, and Le activated the effect of his Abyss Dweller to prevent Crociata from using the effects of the cards in his Graveyard.

Crociata promptly conceded, knowing he would be unable to survive another turn.

Duel Three

Crociata opened up Duel 3 with Poison Draw Frog, Light and Darkness Dragon, Sea Lancer, Heavy Storm, and 2 copies of Battle Fader.

Crociata Summoned Poison Draw Frog and ended his turn.

Le Set 2 cards to his back row. He discarded Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus from his hand, and activated his Abyssteus’s effect to add another Mermail Abyssgunde from his Deck to his hand. He attacked and destroyed Poison Draw Frog, dropping Crociata down to 6400 Life Points and allowing him to draw Pot of Duality with his Draw Frog’s effect.

Crociata activated Pot of Duality to reveal Torrential Tribute, Enemy Controller, and Light and Darkness Dragon from the top of his Deck. He added Enemy Controller to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Next, he activated Heavy Storm! Le Chained Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck, and when Le’s face-down Abyss-sphere and face-up Abyss-sphere were destroyed by Heavy Storm, Mermail Abysslinde went down too. Le Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck with Mermail Abysslinde’s effect.

Le attacked with Mermail Abyssteus; but Crociata Special Summoned Battle Fader to negate the attack and end the Battle Phase. In Main Phase 2, Le combined his Level 7 monsters to Summon Mermail Abyssgaios.

Crociata activated Enemy Controller to Tribute Battle Fader and take control of Mermail Abyssgaios. He attacked directly with Abyssgaios to deal 2800 points of damage, and then Tributed Mermail Abyssgaios to Tribute Summon Sea Lancer.

Le Special Summoned Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord! He sent Light and Darkness Dragon and Battle Fader from Crociata’s hand to his Graveyard with Moulinglacia’s effect, leaving Crociata with only 2 Sea Lancers in his hand and 1 on the field. Le activated Salvage next, returning 2 WATER monsters to his hand. He Summon Mermail Abysslinde and attacked Battle Fader to destroy it; then a direct attack from Moulinglacia dropped Crociata down to 3400 Life Points.

Crociata drew Tragoedia and passed.

Le attacked directly with Mermail Abysslinde and Crociata Special Summoned Tragoedia to stay in the Duel. Moulinglacia attacked and destroyed it.

Crociata drew Ronintoadin and Set it.

Le Summoned Mermail Abysslinde. He attacked Ronintoadin with Moulinglacia to destroy it, and then direct attacks from both Mermail Abysslindes wiped out the rest of Crociata’s Life Points!

Patrick Le is moving on with a 5-0-1 record using Mermails!