Round 5 Constructed Feature Match: Norberto Leon vs. Steven Ma
We’re here with two Los Angeles Duelists for the final round of Swiss today! Norberto Leon took second place in YCS Seattle last year, and is using Mermails in today’s event. He’s up against Steven Ma, who’s using Frog Monarchs. Frog Monarch Decks had a recent boost in popularity after their strong showing in YCS Austin.
Duel 1
Leon began with 2 Mermail Abyssmegalos, Atlantean Dragoons, Deep Sea Diva, Mermail Abysslinde, and Abyss-sphere. He Set Abyss-sphere and Mermail Abysslinde.
Ma Normal Summoned Swap Frog, sending Treeborn Frog to the Graveyard. He returned Swap to his hand and passed.
Leon drew another Abyss-sphere. He played out Diva, and brought Atlantean Marksman to the field. Marksman attacked directly, and Ma blocked with Battle Fader. In Main Phase 2, Leon played Abyss-sphere to get Mermail Abysspike. He tuned Diva to Abysspike, and Synchro Summoned Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier! He returned Marksman and Abyss-sphere to his hand, then Set Abyss-sphere again.
Ma Special Summoned Treeborn Frog from his Graveyard. He stacked Treeborn and Fader for Slacker Magician!
Leon drew his third Abyssmegalo. He discarded Abyssmegalo and Dragoons for another Abyssmegalo’s Special Summon. Using his two search effects, he added Abyss-squall and Deep Sea Diva to his hand. He flipped Abyss-sphere to bring Mermail Abyssgunde to the field. He tried to use Dewloren’s effect, but Ma had Effect Veiler! “That changes everything!” Leon lamented. He Flip Summoned Abysslinde and stacked it with Abyssgunde for Number 17: Leviathan Dragon. He detached Abyssgunde to power it up. Leon Normal Summoned Diva, which brought Atlantean Marksman to the field. Abyssmegalo Tributed Diva to gain a second attack, and Leon entered the Battle Phase. Abyssmegalo attacked twice to take out Slacker Magician. Marksman attacked, and Ma played Gorz the Emissary of Darkness! Marksman’s effect still brought Atlantean Dragoons to the field. Finally, Leon Set Abyss-squall.
Ma revived Treeborn again, then Special Summoned Swap Frog by discarding another Treeborn. Swap’s effect sent Ronintoadin to the Graveyard, then Ma used Swap Frog to return Gorz to his hand. He revived Ronintoadin by banishing Treeborn, then stacked it with Swap for Gachi Gachi Gantetsu. Finally, he Tributed Treeborn for Dark Dust Spirit! He detached a material from Gachi Gachi, and all other monsters were destroyed. Dark Dust returned in the End Phase.
Leon drew Mermail Abyssgunde. He flipped his Abyss-squall, reviving Mermail Abysslinde and both of his Abyssmegalo, stacking them Mermail Abyssgaios. It attacked Gachi Gachi, which detached its last material to survive. In the End Phase, Abysslinde was destroyed, and it brought out Mermail Abyssleed.
Ma brought back Treeborn once again. He activated Soul Exchange, Tributing Abyssgaios for Dark Dust Spirit! All other monsters were destroyed, and Dark Dust returned to the hand again.
Leon drew Monster Reborn! He discarded Marksman and Abyssgunde for Abyssmegalo. Abyssgunde revived Abyssleed, and Abyssmegalo searched out Abyss-sphere. Abyssmegalo attacked directly, and Ma played out Tragoedia in defense position. Abyssleed destroyed it, and in Main Phase 2, Leon stacked his monsters for another Abyssgaios.
Ma wiped it out next turn with Dark Hole, then stole it with Monster Reborn! It hit Leon for 2800 damage.
Leon drew Mermail Abyssteus. He Set both of his Abyss-spheres.
Treeborn returned. Ma sent Abyssgaios to attack, Leon used Abyss-sphere, and Ma Chained Maxx “C”! Leon only brought out Abyssteus in defense position, and it was destroyed.
Leon drew Atlantean Dragoons! He discarded it for Abyssteus, using both to search out Mermail Abysslinde and Deep Sea Diva. He played the Diva and Special Summoned Atlantean Heavy Infantry. Next came Monster Reborn, reviving Abyssmegalo, then Abyss-sphere bringing out Abyssteus. He stacked both Abyssteus for Number 11: Big Eye! He used it to take back his Abyssgaios. He stacked Diva and Infantry for Gachi Gachi Gantetsu. He attacked with his monsters, taking out Treeborn. When the Gachi-boosted Abyssmegalo attacked for 2800 damage, and Ma played Gorz the Emissary of Darkness again.
Ma brought back Treeborn, then Tributed it for Enemy Controller to take Big Eye! Still in the Standby Phase, Treeborn returned once more. He used Big Eye to take Gachi Gachi. The token destroyed Abyssgaios, and Gorz destroyed Abyssmegalo. Finally, Ma Tributed Big Eye for a face-down monster.
Leon drew Mermail Abysspike and conceded, knowing he couldn’t make a comeback!
Steven Ma takes the first Duel, after multiple field wipes thanks to Dark Dust Spirit, then finally stealing most of Leon’s monsters!
(Leon decides not to side out versus his opponent since both Duelist were going to make the top cut)
Duel 2
Leon started off with 2 Mystical Space Typhoons, Dark Hole, Abyss-sphere, Abyss-squall, and Pot of Avarice. He Set Abyss-sphere and a Typhoon.
Ma pitched Ronintoadin to Special Summon Swap Frog, which put Treeborn Frog in his Graveyard. Swap attacked, and Leon blocked with Abyss-sphere, bringing out Mermail Abysslinde. In Main Phase 2, he returned Swap to his hand, then banished Treeborn to bring back Ronintoadin. He Tributed Ronintoadin for Caius the Shadow Monarch, banishing Abysslinde! Finally, he discarded another Treeborn to Special Summon Swap again, sending a Swap to the Graveyard. He returned Caius to his hand, then banished Swap to revive Ronintoadin. He stacked his frogs for Gachi Gachi Gantetsu.
Leon drew Deep Sea Diva. He played it to bring Atlantean Marksman to the field, and Synchro Summoned Ally of Justice Catastor. It attacked, and took off both of Gachi Gachi’s materials via Catastor’s effect and battle. He Set Abyss-squall.
Ma revived Treeborn and Tributed it for Jinzo, then used Heavy Storm! Jinzo struck directly.
Leon drew Abyssmegalo. Dark Hole dealt with Jinzo and Gachi Gachi, and he Set Mystical Space Typhoon.
Ma used Treeborn to Summon Caius the Shadow Monarch, banishing Leon’s Typhoon. It attacked directly.
Leon drew Dragoons and passed.
Ma revived Treeborn and attacked directly with Caius.
Leon drew Mermail Abysspike! He played it, discarding Dragoons. He searched out Mermail Abyssgunde and Mermail Abyssleed. He discarded both for Abyssmegalo, and Abyssgunde revived Abyssleed. Abyssmegalo searched out Abyss-sphere. He used Abyssleed to Tribute Abysspike, and Ma lost Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand. Leon continued with Pot of Avarice, returning Diva, Marksman, Dragoons, Abyssgunde, and Catastor to their appropriate Decks, and drew Deep Sea Diva and Mermail Abyssteus. He sent Abyssleed to destroy Caius, and Xyz Summoned Abyssgaios. He Set Abyss-sphere to finish.
Ma destroyed it next turn with Dark Hole! “Ahh, stop doing that to me! All he did was care…” Leon cried as Abyssgaios went to the Graveyard. Leon used Abyss-sphere before the turn’s end, bringing out Mermail Abysslinde. In the End Phase, Abyss-sphere and Abysslinde were destroyed, and Leon got Abyssmegalo.
Leon drew Atlantean Heavy Infantry. He played Diva, and Ma negated it with Effect Veiler. Abyssmegalo Tributed Diva to attack twice, and did so successfully.
Ma Tributed Treeborn Frog for Caius, and banished Abyssmegalo. Caius attacked directly, leaving Leon with 600 Life Points.
Leon drew Atlantean Dragoons. He discarded it for Abyssteus, adding Abysslinde and Diva to his hand. He played Atlantean Heavy Infantry, then used its effect for Diva, which in turn brought out Marksman. He tuned Diva to Heavy Infantry for Armory Arm and equipped it to Abyssteus. It destroyed Caius, Armory Arm dealt extra damage, and Marksman finished the Duel!
Norberto Leon evens the score, and we’re going to a third Duel!
Duel 3
Ma started with Swap Frog, sending Treeborn to the Graveyard. He returned Swap to the hand.
Leon had 2 Mystical Space Typhoons, Solemn Judgment, Atlantean Heavy Infantry, Atlantean Dragoons, and Mermail Abyssteus. Before he could get started, time in the round was called. There would be five turns after this. He Special Summoned Abyssteus by pitching Dragoons, adding Diva and Abysslinde to his hand. He played Diva to bring out Marksman. It struck directly to bring forth Dragoons. Abyssteus, Dragoons, and Diva dropped Ma to 2900. In Main Phase 2 Leon tuned Diva to Dragoons for Dewloren and returned Abyssteus and Marksman to his hand. He Set Typhoon and Solemn Judgment to finish.
Ma Special Summoned Treeborn, then used Soul Exchange on Dewloren. He Tributed it and Treeborn for Light and Darkness Dragon! He Set a card in his back row.
Leon drew Marksman. He played Mystical Space Typhoon, losing it to Light and Darkness. He played another Typhoon, and Light and Darkness was weakend further. He discarded Heavy Infantry to activate Abyssteus, which Light and Darkness negated (Abyssteus remains in the hand in this case, because Light and Darkness does not destroy.). The Heavy Infantry activated, Light and Darkness negated it, and now it was unable to negate anything more. Leon discarded Marksman for Abyssteus. It added Abyssgunde to his hand, and Ma Chained his Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Solemn Judgment. Leon played Marksman and hit Light and Darkness, bringing out Dragoons. Light and Darkness revived Treeborn, which Abyssteus destroyed. Dragoons hit directly.
Ma revived Treeborn, then used Soul Exchange again! He Tributed Marksman for Caius, and banished Abyssteus.
Leon drew a second Abysslinde. He Normal Summoned it and attacked Caius, brought out Abyssleed, and destroyed Caius. Leon was safely at 7100 Life Points, but Ma had a mere 200. When Ma looked at his next card, he conceded, unable to overcome the massive difference in the time limit!
Norberto Leon is your winner!