Welcome to YCS San Mateo! We’re starting off Round 1 with Joseph Warren from nearby San Leandro, up against Ivan Lu from San Fransisco. This matchup will pit two FIRE Decks against each other, Lu’s Fire Kings against Warren’s Brotherhood of the Fire Fist!

Duel 1

Warren Set three back row cards to begin the YCS.

Lu started off with Swift Scarecrow, Call of the Haunted, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, Fire King Avatar Barong, Vanity’s Emptiness, and Mystical Space Typhoon. He Summoned Barong and attacked directly, scoring the first damage. He Set Emptiness and Mystical Space Typhoon.

Warren Set a fourth back row card and a monster. In the End Phase, Lu destroyed the freshly Set Mystical Space Typhoon with his own Typhoon.

Lu drew another Mystical Space Typhoon and used it, but Warren Chained another of his own Typhoons, destroying Emptiness. Barong destroyed Warren’s Neo Flamvell Hedgehog and it banished Emptiness from the Graveyard.

Warren played Crane Crane, revived Hedgehog, and Synchro Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Horse Prince! Its effect Special Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Rooster, which added Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Spirit to his hand. Horse Prince destroyed Barong in battle, then Rooster hit directly. Lu had 6100 Life Points, to Warren’s 6200.

Lu drew Book of Moon. He Set it and Call of the Haunted.

Warren activated Fire Formation – Tensu, and used it to Normal Summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear. Rooster sent Tensu to the Graveyard to Set Fire Formation – Gyokkou, then activated it on the Set Book of Moon. When Warren moved to the Battle Phase, Swift Scarecrow shut him down.

Lu drew Dark Hole! He wiped away Warren’s monsters, but had no followup.

Warren played Spirit next turn, reviving Rooster and adding Bear to his hand. Next, he Synchro Summoned another Horse Prince, bringing Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Leopard to the field. Leopard got another Gyokkou to the field, and Warren activated it to lock down Call of the Haunted. Horse Prince attacked to deal 2400 damage, bolstered by the two Fire Formations. Warren Set a third face-down back row card.

Lu drew Breakthrough Skill. He knew Warren had Bear in his hand, and he wouldn’t be able to survive another assault – he conceded!

Joseph Warren takes a decisive victory over Ivan Lu’s weak opening hand! The Duelists moved to their Side Decks, hoping to gain an advantage over each other’s FIRE Deck.

Duel 2

Lu started this time with Fencing Fire Ferret , Mystical Space Typhoon, Call of the Haunted, Pot of Duality, Coach Soldier Wolfbark, and Fire King Avatar Yaksha. He played Pot of Duality first, revealing Book of Moon and two copies of Onslaught of the Fire Kings. He took Onslaught, then Set Yaksha.

Warren led off with Leopard, using it to Set Fire Formation – Tenki. He activated that, adding Spirit to his hand. He Set three additional cards to his back row.

Lu drew Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys – this time it’d be useful with Yaksha in the mix. He Flip Summoned Yaksha and attacked directly. He Set Mystical Space Typhoon and Call of the Haunted, but lost both to Warren’s Mystical Space Typhoon and Dust Tornado!

Warren took a moment to read Yaksha, then played Spirit to revive Leopard. He Synchro Summoned Horse Prince, which Special Summoned Rooster. Rooster’s effect gave him Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla. Horse Prince destroyed Yaksha, and Yaksha let Lu destroy Sacred Phoenix from his hand! Rooster attacked directly, and Warren passed.

Lu drew Swift Scarecrow. In his Standby Phase, he Special Summoned Sacred Phoenix Warren Chained Compulsory Evacuation Device to return it to Lu’s hand. With his field clear now, Lu used Onslaught of the Fire Kings to Special Summon Fire King High Avatar Garunix! Next, Lu played Wolfbark to revive Yaksha. He Xyz Summoned Maestroke the Symphony Djinn. Maestroke took out Rooster, and Garunix destroyed Horse Prince. In the End Phase, Garunix was destroyed.

In Warren’s Standby Phase, Garunix came back, and Lu detached a material from Maestroke to keep it around. Warren had five cards in hand and 5400 Life Points, while Lu had 5900. Warren played out Crane Crane to bring back Rooster, then Xyz Summoned Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction! Acid Golem wiped out Garunix, which replaced itself with Yaksha from the Deck. In Main Phase 2, Warren used Tensu to play Leopard, and Tributed it to Set Tenki. He used that to put Bear in his hand. Finally, he Set one to his back row.

Lu drew a second Fencing Fire Ferret. He turned Maestroke and Yaksha to defense position, and Set Ferret.

Warren detached a material from Acid Golem, then played Bear. It used Tenki to take Maestroke’s last material, then Bear and Acid Golem destroyed Maestroke and Yaksha. Yaksha destroyed Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys from Lu’s hand.

Lu drew Skill Drain and revived Phoenix, but it was negated by Fiendish Chain. He Set Skill Drain and Ferret.

Warren took 2000 damage from Acid Golem, then played Gorilla. He used Gorilla to destroy Skill Drain. Acid Golem took out Phoenix, then Bear collided with Ferret, destroying both monsters.

Lu drew another Skill Drain. He Set it.

Warren took 2000 again from Acid Golem, leaving him with only 900. He used Gyokkou to lock down Skill Drain. Gorilla attacked Ferret, and both effects activated. Gorilla was destroyed and Warren dropped to 400, and Gorilla got Tensu.

Lu drew Mystical Space Typhoon and destroyed Tensu.

Warren detached Acid Golem’s last material to stay in the game. He thought a moment and realized he wouldn’t be able to deal enough damage, and his own Acid Golem would finish him off!

Ivan Lu stalls out the game holding off his Skill Drains to turn Joseph Warren’s own card against him! We’re going to a third Duel, with 11 minutes remaining in the round.

Duel 3

Warren played Leopard and Tributed it to get Tenki. He played that to search out Spirit, then Set three back row cards.

Lu’s final opening hand was Call of the Haunted, Dark Hole, Fire King High Avatar Garunix, Fire King Avatar Garunix (Remember there are two different Garunix cards!), Fire King Avatar Yaksha, and Fire King Avatar Barong. He Summoned Barong and struck directly. He Set Call and lost it to Warren’s Mystical Space Typhoon.

Warren played Spirit and revived Leopard. He Synchro Summoned Horse Prince, which brought Rooster into play. Rooster’s effect gave him Gorilla. Horse Prince destroyed Barong in battle, then Rooster hit directly.

Lu drew Coach Soldier Wolfbark. He blasted Warren with Dark Hole, then Set the small Garunix.

Warren played Gorilla and it collided with Garunix’s 1700 DEF. He Set a back row card.

Lu drew Onslaught of the Fire Kings and Set Yaksha.

Warren drew and activated Soul Drain! He played Rekindling next, returning Spirit and Leopard to the field. He used them to Synchro Summon another Horse Prince, which brought Rooster to the field. Rooster put Bear in his hand. Horse Prince destroyed Garunix, Gorilla destroyed Yaksha and got Tenki, and Rooster attacked directly. Warren had 6200 Life Points, but Lu had only 4300. In Main Phase 2, Warren used Tenki for another Bear, then used Rooster to trade Tenki for Fire Formation – Tensen.

Lu drew Circle of the Fire Kings. He played Onslaught to bring Garunix to the field, then played Wolfbark. Wolfbark targeted Barong, and Warren used Maxx “C”! Barong hit the field, and Lu Xyz Summoned Maestroke.  He used Maestroke to turn Horse Prince face-down, destroying it with Garunix in battle. Maestroke attacked Gorilla, and Warren used Tensen to win the battle, taking Maestroke’s last Xyz Material away. Lu knew he had no way to come back while Warren drew all those cards and had Soul Drain!

Joseph Warren is victorious with Fire Fists!