Round 5 Feature Match: Scott Page Versus Conrad Sanders
Here in Round 5 we were about to plunge into our first Dragon Ruler mirror match of the day. Scott Page and Conrad Sanders are both running builds with Dragunity Corsesca and a lot of emphasis on Synchro Summons, so watch for Crimson Blader and Colossal Fighter to be potential game-shapers in this matchup.
Page had a hand of Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets; Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders;Lightning, Dragon Ruler of Drafts; Effect Veiler; Maxx “C”; and Gold Sarcophagus. He banished Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos from his Deck with Sarcophagus, then added Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks to his hand. He activated its effect, discarding Burner and Redox to Special Summon Blaster, then discarded Lightning for Stream: Sanders Chained Maxx “C”, drawing a card when Page Summoned his Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls. Page ended.
Sanders discarded Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets for Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles’ effect, Special Summoning Redox in Defense Position. He Summoned Dragunity Corsesca, then Tuned it to Redox to Synchro Summon Crimson Blader! Page negated its effect with Effect Veiler, and Sanders – still in Main Phase 1 – activated Monster Reborn to bring back Page’s Redox.
Page Chained the effect of Maxx “C”, drawing a card when Sanders Summoned Redox. Sanders banished to Special Summon back his own Redox, giving Page another card with Maxx “C”. He overlaid them for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack in Defense Position, activating its effect to Special Summon two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens. Blader attacked to destroy Tidal, destroying it, and Sanders ended. Page took back his Dragon in the End Phase.
Page had Maxx “C”; Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms; Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets; Super Rejuvenation; Sacred Sword of Seven Stars; and Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos in hand. He banished Tempest for Sword, drawing Redox and another Sword. He used Tempest to search for Corsesca. Page discarded Redox for Stream’s effect, Special Summoning Tidal, and Sanders had no response. He Special Summoned Redox back from his Graveyard by banishing Stream and Maxx “C”, then Summoned Corsesca to Tune it with Tidal. He Special Summoned Colossal Fighter. Page banished Lightning and Stream from his Graveyard to Special Summon Blaster from his hand, leaving him with Maxx “C”, Rejuvenation, and the dead Sacred Sword of Seven Stars in hand. Redox and Blaster attacked over the Tokens, and Colossal Fighter traded off with Crimson Blader to Special Summon it to Page’s side of the field! Blader attacked Dracossack, triggering Blader’s effect! In Main Phase 2 Page Xyz Summoned a Dracossack of his own. He activated Rejuvenation to draw 2.
Sanders passed, locked down under Crimson Blader.
Page drew another Super Rejuvenation, and added Blasted to his hand from Gold Sarcophagus. He Tributed his two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens for Blaster and attacked with all three monsters for game!
Conrad Sanders tries for an early push with Crimson Blader, but Effect Veiler shuts him down! Scott Page turns the tables a turn later, taking the Blader with Colossal Fighter and winning the Duel with its effect. Sanders would have to win two games back-to-back to pull this match out of the fire.
Sanders opened Game 2 with a single Set Spell or Trap.
Page had Maxx “C” ; Dragunity Corsesca; Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls; Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders ; and not one, but two Super Rejuvenation. He passed.
Sanders passed.
Page drew Effect Veiler and banished Corsesca and Tidal to Special Summon Redox from his hand. Banishing Tidal got him Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets from his Deck.
Sanders drew to seven cards in hand and Set another Spell or Trap. He ended, and Page took back his Redox.
Page drew Effect Veiler. He pitched Stream with Redox to Special Summon Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls, and Normal Summoned Effect Veiler to Synchro Summon Colossal Fighter. It attacked for 2800 Battle Damage. Page activated Super Rejuvenation for two, drawing Sacred Sword of Seven Stars and Book of Moon. He played another, drawing Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms and Swift Scarecrow. That put him back at exactly six cards in hand.
Sanders ditched Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders for Lightning, Dragon Ruler of Drafts, and Page took a moment to count the cards in both Sanders’ Deck, and his own before responding with Maxx “C”. Sanders Summoned Tempest in Defense Position and Page drew Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos.
Page drew Vanity’s Emptiness, a deadly card in this matchup when its controller is ahead as Page was. Page banished Blaster for Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, drawing Maxx “C” and Tempest and getting Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks from his Deck. He activated Burner’s effect, discarding Tempest, and Special Summoned Blaster from his Deck. He took a moment to consider his next move, then Summoned Effect Veiler – Sanders responded by flipping a Vanity’s Emptiness of his own, cutting Page off from a possible Crimson Blader play! Still, Page destroyed Sanders’ Tempest with Colossal Fighter, knocking the Emptiness away, and then Synchro Summoned the Blader anyway. It was a gutsy move that would invite reprisal, but Page Set two cards to his backrow: Book of Moon and Emptiness. Lots of protection.
Sanders banished Lightning and Tempest from his Graveyard to Special Summon back Redox in Defense Position, then searched out Dragunity Corsesca with Tempest’s ability. He Summoned it and Page had no response, allowing Sanders to Synchro Summon Colossal Fighter. Page turned it face-down with Book of Moon. Sanders had six cards in hand, with Colossal face-down and one card Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone. He activated Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand, destroying Emptiness! He flipped his Set Monster Reborn to target Page’s Blaster, and Page Chained Maxx “C” to draw Dark Hole. Sanders slammed the Blaster into Crimson Blader, destroying both, and Set a Spell or Trap.
Page drew Swift Scarecrow and banished both Maxx “C” from his Graveyard to Summon Redox in Defense Position. He banished Burner and Blaster next, Special Summoning back Tempest and drawing out Sanders’ Maxx “C”. Page searched his Deck for Blaster, then Tribute Set Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos.
Sanders banished Corsesca and Redox from his Graveyard to Special Summon Tempest from his hand, searching out Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles. He pitched Pebbles and Blaster from his hand to Special Summon Redox, then Flip Summoned Colossal Fighter. Sanders overlaid Tempest and Redox for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, and Page sent Effect Veiler to the Graveyard to negate its ability.
Page drew Gold Sarcophagus and activated Dark Hole, destroying his own Colossal Fighter and Blaster, as well as Sanders’ Colossal and Dracossack. He Special Summoned Blaster back from the Graveyard by banishing Stream and Redox, getting Reactan with Redox. He then banished Tempest and Redox to Special Summon Tidal, getting Lightning, Dragon Ruler of Drafts from his Deck. He attacked with Tidal, and when he did, Sanders flipped his Set Forbidden Chalice to give it 500 more ATK, knowing he was defeated!
A reversal of fortunes with Colossal Fighter stealing Crimson Blader seal Game 1, while a key Effect Veiler followed by Dark Hole wipe the field and create a winning scenario in Game 2! Conrad Sanders can’t see a Swift Scarecrow to save his life despite Main Decking it, and Scott Page takes a 2-0 victory to move on undefeated!