Round 10 Feature Match: Frazier Smith Versus Joseph Slone
Let’s check in with Frazier Smith! The winner of YCS Atlanta in 2010, Smith is one of the most storied and proven competitors in this tournament, holding more YCS top cut showings than he can count (around ten), and making the top cut in the last two North American WCQ’s! His opponent this round is Joseph Slone, a breakout Duelist from Kentucky who’s demonstrated a ton of ability with Dragon Rulers this weekend. Slone is no slouch, and could be a real threat here on the bubble. The winner of this match would likely lock their seat in the Top 64, while the loser would have to win their next match.
Slone started off the match by activating Gold Sarcophagus to banish Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos, searching Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks. He discarded Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls for Burner’s effect, Summoning Blaster from his Deck, the banished Tidal and Burner to Summon Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders. That let him add Tidal to his hand from his Deck. He overlaid both Dragon Rulers for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack in Defense Position, then activated its effect to Special Summon two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens.
Smith had a hand of Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos; Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks; Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms; Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles; Effect Veiler; and Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets. He pitched Tempest for Reactan, Summoning Redox, then banished Reactan and Tempest to Special Summon Blaster from his hand. He used Tempest’s effect to add another Tempest to his hand, then discarded it for Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets’ effect, bringing Tidal to the field. He overlaid it with Redox for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, Summoning its Tokens, then attacked one of Slone’s Tokens with Blaster. Dracossack attacked the next Token, and Smith ended his turn with Veiler and Burner in hand.
Slone Set a Spell or Trap, then activated Card Destruction, discarding his Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets, Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls, and Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders to draw two more cards. Smith drew his own Card Destruction, plus Tidal. Slone detached Redox from Dracossack to Summon two more Tokens, then Special Summoned back Tidal by banishing Blaster and Redox from his Graveyard: he searched his Deck for Flamvell Guard, then Reactan. He discarded Lightning, Dragon Ruler of Drafts and Reactan to Special Summon Tempest from his Deck, turned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack to Attack Position. Tidal and Dracossack attacked both of Smith’s Tokens, and in Main Phase 2 Slone overlaid Tempest and Tidal to make Number 11: Big Eye. He used its effect to steal Smith’s Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, then Tributed a Token to destroy Smith’s Blaster. Super Rejuvenation got him five cards in the End Phase! He discarded down to six, pitching Flamvell Guard.
Smith drew Stream, adding it to his hand of Tidal and Card Destruction. He Special Summoned Blaster by banishing Tempest and Redox, searching copies of each to his hand. He followed up with Card Destruction: Slone dropped double Effect Veiler; Sacred Sword of Seven Stars; Dragunity Corsesca; Swift Scarecrow; and Tempest. Smith drew Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets; Burner; Gold Sarcophagus, and Super Rejuvenation! He pitched Stream and Burner to Special Summon Tidal from his Deck, then banished two Streams from his Graveyard to revive another Tidal. That was all of Smith’s big Dragon Ruler effects now used for the turn. He sent the one Tidal to attack Big Eye, then took out a Token with Blaster, before moving to Main Phase 2 to make a Number 11: Big Eye of his own! He detached a Tidal to take Slone’s one Dracossack that still had a Material, then detached that Material to Summon two more Tokens. He Tributed one of them to destroy Slone’s second Dracossack, leaving him with nothing but a Set card on the field. Smith had discarded six Dragons by now, so he Set one card, then activated Super Rejuvenation to draw six cards!
Slone took his banished Blaster, then flipped Heavy Storm to start his turn, destroying Smith’s Gold Sarcophagus. He had seven cards in hand with a bare field, to Smith’s six cards in hand with Big Eye, Dracossack, a Token, and Blaster. Slone banished Tempest with Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, drawing two cards and choosing not to activate Tempest’s effect. He destroyed Smith’s Token by pitching Burner for Blaster, then cleared the field with Dark Hole! Slone now had five cards in hand against an empty field, with all of his Dragon Ruler effects still playable. He discarded Reactan and Tidal to Special Summon, and Smith Chained Maxx “C”, drawing as Slone Summoned Redox. Smith had fourteen cards left in Deck. Slone banished a Dracossack and a Reactan to bring back Tempest, then then banished Blaster and Corsesca to Summon Tidal. He entered his Battle Phase then attacked with Tempest and Tidal – Smith dropped to 3000 Life Points, and Slone Set three cards to his back row before playing Rejuvenation for 2 cards.
Smith drew for his turn, now holding nine cards! He activated Sarcophagus to banish Maxx “C”, then banished Blaster with Sacred Sword of Seven Stars to draw two cards – Smith searched his Deck to add another Blaster to his hand. He activated Heavy Storm to Slone’s two backrow cards: Gold Sarcophagus and Return from the Different Dimension, destroying both! He cleared the field with Dark Hole next, then played Reactan, pitching Blaster to Summon Redox in Defense Position. He banished Dracossack and Lightning to Special Summon Tempest, then banished Maxx “C” and Reactan to bring up Redox. He overlaid both copies of Redox to Xyz Summon Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, then detached one for its effect: Slone activated Maxx “C”, and drew a card for Smith’s Tokens. Smith Summoned Corsesca and Tuned it to the Tokens to Synchro Summon Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei”. He banished two Burners to Special Summon Tidal and Slone had now Swift Scarecrow to survive the turn, immediately conceding!
Frazier Smith captures a back-and-forth opening Duel, taking the win and dropping his opponent from 8000 to 0 with less than half a dozen cards left in his Deck! Could Slone battle back to win two consecutive Duels? We were about to find out.
Slone opened with a secure enough hand that he felt alright passing his first turn.
This time around, Smith had Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders; Dark Hole; Swift Scarecrow; Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks; Electric Virus; and Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms. He pitched Redox for Burner, Special Summoning another Redox – Slone Chained Maxx “C” to draw a card, and Smith passed.
Slone activated Gold Sarcophagus to banish Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls, getting another Tidal from his Deck. He pitched it for Burner, Special Summoning Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos. Slone followed up with Electric Virus, taking Smith’s Blaster and making Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack! He detached to Summon two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens, then attacked for 2600 Battle Damage. In Main Phase 2 he Tributed everything for Obelisk the Tormentor and Set one card, then activated Rejuvenation to draw two!
Smith drew Sacred Sword of Seven Stars and played it to banish Tempest: he drew Heavy Storm, and Super Rejuvenation, then searched out a Tempest. He activated Heavy Storm, destroying Slone’s Set Mystical Space Typhoon, then destroyed Obelisk with Dark Hole! He banished Redox and Burner to bring up Blaster, then discarded Tempest for Reactan, Special Summoning Redox from his Deck. Blaster attacked and Smith overlaid it with Redox in Main Phase 2 for a Defense Position Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack. He tried to use its effect, but Slone Chained Effect Veiler. Smith played Super Rejuvenation to draw two cards. The Duel stood at 5200 Life Points to 5400, with Smith narrowly leading.
Slone banished Tempest for Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, searching nothing. He pitched Redox for Lightning, Dragon Ruler of Drafts, Summoning Tempest from his Deck, then Special Summoned Redox from his Graveyard by banishing Blaster and Burner. He searched out Flamvell Guard with Blaster, eyeing Smith’s Dracossack! He Normal Summoned it, Tuned it to Tempest for Crimson Blader, and banished Flamvell Guard and Lightning for Tidal. He Special Summoned it, tried to move to his Battle Phase: Smith negated blader’s effect with Effect Veiler. Tidal destroyed Dracossack and Crimson Blader made a direct attack, lowering Smith to 2600 Life Points.
Slone overlaid his Dragons for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack and made his Tokens.
Smith had Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, Swift Scarecrow, Electric Virus, and Tidal. He banished Tidal with Sword to draw Super Rejuvenation and another Electric Virus , searching Stream. He ditched a Virus to take Dracossack, then detached to Special Summon two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens. He Tributed Dracossack to destroy Slone’s backrow – Return from the Different Dimension. “Gaia Charger’s a card,” groaned Slone, knowing he was in danger if Smith had a Tuner to go with those Tokens. Smith pressed on, banishing Tempest and Blaster to Special Summon Redox: he searched out Dragunity Corsesca and Blaster, getting that Tuner he needed! He Summoned it, Tuned it to the Tokens for Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei”, and shifted one of Slone’s Tokens to Attack Position! Smith then Special Summoned Tidal with Stream, overlaid for Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger, and attacked both of Slone’s Tokens for just enough damage to win!
Frazier Smith captures easily the best Dragon Ruler mirror match we’ve Featured this weekend, taking a 2-0 victory in a back-and-forth contest! Smith may now be a lock for his third consecutive Top 64!