We’re in the Top 32! We saw Will Isely’s HERO Deck yesterday, and he’s one of the only HERO Duelists to fight his way into the top cut. He’s up against Samuel Pedigo, who’s taken second place in the North American WCQ. He’s playing a Deck which it seemed people had forgotten about, but has had a resurge of popularity here in Austin – Geargia! It’s single elimination from here on, so only one of these Duelists will remain in the tournament after this!

Duel 1

Pedigo started off with Pot of Duality, revealing Mystical Space Typhoon, Cardcar D, and Geargiarsenal. He took Geargiarsenal, then played Machina Gearframe to get a Machina Fortress to his hand. He Set two cards to his back row.

Isely had Pot of Duality, Breakthrough Skill, Dimensional Prison, Noble Knight Gawayn, Elemental HERO Neos Alius, and Gemini Spark. He played Neos Alius and took down Gearframe in battle. In Main Phase 2 he played Pot of Duality, choosing Miracle Fusion instead of Gorz the Emissary of Darkness or Photon Thrasher. He Set Breakthrough Skill, Prison, and Spark.

Pedigo played Geargiarsenal and Tributed it for Geargiarmor. He turned it face-down and added a third card to his back row. In the End Phase, Isley used Spark to destroy Geargiarmor and drew Reinforcement of the Army.

For his Draw Phase, he got Torrential Tribute. Reinforcement of the Army got him Elemental HERO Stratos, but when he tried to play it, it was negated by Fiendish Chain. He added Torrential Tribute to his back row.

Pedigo passed.

Isely drew Crusader of Endymion. He Summoned it, and Pedigo had no response. It dropped Pedigo to 6000 Life Points.

Pedigo destroyed Isely’s monsters with Dark Hole, then Set a back row card.

Isely drew Solemn Warning. He played Gawayn and lost it to Dimensional Prison. Isely Set Solemn Warning, and in the End Phase, Pedigo revived Geargiarmor with Call of the Haunted, but Isely destroyed it with Torrential Tribute!

Pedigo Set a second and third card to his back row.

Isely drew another Miracle Fusion! He banished Stratos and Crusader for Elemental HERO The Shining, but lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole.

Pedigo played Geargiarsenal and Isely negated its effect with Solemn Warning.

Isely drew Monster Reborn! He used it to revive Neos Alius and attacked into Mirror Force.

Pedigo Set a monster.

Isely drew Heavy Storm and passed. He only had Neos Alius in his Graveyard, so he couldn’t use his second Miracle Fusion.

Pedigo used Pot of Duality, and flipped over Mystical Space Typhoon, Monster Reborn, and Solemn Judgment. He took Solemn Judgment. He Set a monster and a back row card.

Isely drew and Set Mystical Space Typhoon.

Pedigo Flip Summoned Karakuri Watchdog mdl 313 “Saizan” and Geargiaccelerator, and Isely used Mystical Space Typhoon on the most recently Set card he knew to be Solemn Judgment. Pedigo continued by Synchro Summoning Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X “Bureido”, but its effect was negated by Breakthrough Skill!

Isely drew Elemental HERO Bubbleman. He Normal Summoned it, then used Miracle Fusion to fuse it with Neos Alius from his Graveyard, bringing out Elemental HERO The Shining! It attacked Bureido, but was lost to Dimensional Prison!

Pedigo turned Bureido to defense position to draw a card with its effect. He Normal Summoned Cardcar D next, and Set two back row cards before using Cardcar’s effect.

Isely drew and Set Solemn Judgment, but lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon.

Pedigo switched Bureido back to attack position to draw another card, then lost it to Isely’s Dimensional Prison. He Set a back row card and a monster.

Isely drew Neos Alius. He played Heavy Storm to destroy Warning and Fiendish Chain, then sent his Neos Alius to attack… but it was Geargiarmor! It survived the battle and added Geargiaccelerator to Pedigo’s hand.

Pedigo flipped Geargiarmor face-down, then up again for another Geargiaccelerator. He Special Summoned both Geargiaccelerators, then stacked one with Geargiarmor for Gear Gigant X! He added Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi” to his hand, then brought back Geargiarmor with Monster Reborn. He turned it face-down, then played Nishipachi to turn it up again. He added Geargiarsenal to his hand, then tuned Nishipachi to Geargiarmor for Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei”. He Special Summoned Saizan and tuned that to Geargiaccelerator for Scrap Dragon! That gave him enough total ATK finish off the rest of Isely’s Life Points!

Samuel Pedigo takes an explosive win, suddenly rushing the field with Synchros and Xyz! Side Decking went swiftly, and the next Duel was quickly upon us.

Duel 2

Isely had Honest, Neos Alius, E – Emergency Call, and 3 Gemini Sparks! He Set 2 Sparks and Summoned Neos Alius.

Pedigo played Geargiarsenal and Tributed it to bring out Geargiarmor. He turned it face-down, then backed it up with two Spell/Trap Cards. In the End Phase, Gemini Spark destroyed Geargiarmor and gave Isely another E – Emergency Call.

Isely drew Photon Thrasher for his turn. He played an E – Emergency Call to get Elemental HERO Stratos, which added another Neos Alius to his hand. Stratos struck for 1800 damage, and he Set E – Emergency Call. In the End Phase, Pedigo revived Geargiarmor with Call of the Haunted.

He turned the Geargiarmor face-down next turn, then up once again. Its effect gave him a Geargiarsenal. He Special Summoned a Geargiaccelerator, then stacked his machines for Gear Gigant X! He detached Geargiaccelerator from Gear Gigant X, then added the same Geargiaccelerator to his hand. Pedigo Set a back row card and didn’t attack.

Isely drew Thunder King Rai-Oh. He thought a while before playing Neos Alius. He sent it to attack Gear Gigant X, then used Honest to win the battle! Stratos attacked as well, and Pedigo played Mirror Force. Isely Chained Gemini Spark, and Pedigo Chained the targeted Dust Tornado to destroy E – Emergency Call. Spark gave Isely Heavy Storm, and he Set it. He Special Summoned Photon Thrasher before ending his turn.

Pedigo destroyed Storm with Mystical Space Typhoon, then played Geargiarsenal and Geargiaccelerator. He stacked them for Gear Gigant X, and had it return Geargiarmor from his Graveyard to his hand before it destroyed Thrasher in battle. Pedigo Set two back row cards.

Isely drew Crusader of Endymion and Summoned it, then backed it with his last Gemini Spark.

Pedigo used Gear Gigant X again, getting Geargiaccelerator. Gear Gigant X attacked Crusader, and Isely used Spark. He Tributed Crusader to destroy Pedigo’s Solemn Warning and draw Trap Stun. Gear Gigant X hit directly instead, making the score 5400 to 4300 in Isely’s favor. Pedigo used Pot of Duality in Main Phase 2, revealing Mirror Force, Call of the Haunted, and Mind Control. He took Call. He Set a monster and a back row card.

Isely drew Dark Bribe. He Set it, Trap Stun, and played Rai-Oh.

Pedigo flipped up Geargiarmor, unable to use its effect while Rai-Oh was in play. He Special Summoned Geargiaccelerator in defense position, then turned Geargiarmor down again. Gear Gigant X destroyed Rai-Oh in battle.

Isely drew and Set Mirror Force.

Pedigo flipped up Geargiarmor again, this time able to use it. He added Geargiaccelerator to his hand. He turned his on-field Geargiaccelerator to attack position and attacked, losing his three monsters to Mirror Force! He added Geargiarsenal to his hand with Geargiaccelerator’s effect, now with four total in his hand. He played the Geargiarsenal and used it to get Geargiarmor, and turned it face-down. He added one card to his back row.

Isely drew and Summoned Neos Alius. He passed without attacking.

Pedigo flipped up Geargiarmor to add Geargiaccelerator to his hand. He Special Summoned it, then played Mind Control. Isely wasn’t having any of it, and negated it with Dark Bribe. Pedigo played Mystical Space Typhoon on Isely’s Trap Stun, and he Chained it. Pedigo Chained to that with two copies of Call of the Haunted! He revived two Geargiarsenals! He Special Summoned Geargiaccelerator, giving him five Geargia on the field, so each Geargiarsenal had 2500 ATK! He attacked with all of his monsters, wiping out Neos Alius and the rest of Isely’s Life Points!

Samuel Pedigo is going to the Top 16 with Geargia!