It’s Round 1 of YCS Las Vegas! We’re kicking things off with Las Vegas’s very own Michael Balan, facing off against Kristijan Mukulic from New Mexico. Balan’s opted to take

Duel 1

Mikulic led off with Summoner Monk! He discarded Stoic Challenge for Summoner Monk’s effect, and Special Summoned Star Drawing! Next, he stacked his monsters for Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, and Star Drawing’s effect let him draw a card. He Set two back row cards.

Balan began with a hand of Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit, Flamvell Guard, Bottomless Trap Hole, Gold Sarcophagus, Dragon Shrine, and drew a second Flamvell Guard. He used Gold Sarcophagus first, banishing Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms to get it in two turns. Tempests’s effect activated when it was banished, and Balan got Debris Dragon to his hand. Dragon Shrine came next, putting Labradorite Dragon and Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos in the Graveyard. He Special Summoned Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit, then Normal Summoned Debris. Debris revived Labradorite Dragon, and Balan Xyz Summoned Hieratic Dragon King of Atum. Its effect brought Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls to the field. Balan banished Tefnuit from the Graveyard and Flamvell Guard from his hand to bring Blaster to the field as well, and he Xyz Summoned Number 11: Big Eye to steal Silent Honor ARK! He used Atum to Xyz Summon Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger, and attacked with everything but Number 11: Big Eye. Mikulic had 2300 Life Points left. Balan Set Bottomless Trap Hole, but lost it to Mikulic’s Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Mikulic took back Silent Honor Ark with Mind Control, then used its effect to eat up Big Eye. Next, he activated Rank-Up-Magic Barian’s Force! He played Number C101: Silent Honor DARK! He stole Atum as an Xyz Material thanks to Barian’s Force, then Silent Honor DARK’s effect swiped Gaia Dragon for another Xyz Material! Mikulic’s Xyz Monster now had four other Xyz Monsters attached to it!

Mikulic Normal Summoned Star Drawing. Silent Honor DARK wiped out Debris Dragon, then Star Drawing attacked directly, leaving Balan with 4600 Life Points.

Balan drew Dragon Shrine, and it sent Labradorite Dragon and Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders to the Graveyard. He banished Debris and Labradorite Dragon to bring back Redox, then Normal Summoned Flamvell Guard to Synchro Summon Colossal Fighter. He banished Redox and Flamvell Guard to revive Blaster, and moved to the Battle Phase. Colossal Fighter attacked Silent Honor DARK, and both monsters came back to the field with their effects, while Mikulic gained 2800 Life Points. Colossal Fighter attacked Silent Honor DARK yet again, but this time only Colossal Fighter returned. Colossal Fighter attacked a third time, wiping out Star Drawing, and Blaster struck directly, leaving Mikulic with 1100. In Main Phase 2, Balan revived Tidal and Xyz Summoned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack in defense position, made two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens, and passed.

Mikulic only Set a monster. Next turn, Balan’s Dracossack destroyed the Set V Salamander. Colossal Fighter attacked directly, and it was all over!

Kristijan Mikulic makes a huge Rank-Up play, but Colossal Fighter proved to be too much trouble!

Duel 2

Mikulic started this time with four Set back row cards.

Balan had Solemn Warning, Hieratic Dragon of Eset, Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms, Cards of Consonance, A Wingbeat of Giant Dragon, and Dragon Shrine. He played Dragon Shrine first, loading Labradorite Dragon and Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos into the Graveyard. He activated Blaster’s effect, banishing the same Labradorite Dragon and Tempest from his hand, and Mikulic Chained Soul Drain. Blaster had already activated, but Tempest could not. He Normal Summoned Eset, then played A Wingbeat of Giant Dragon to wipe out Soul Drain, Mystical Space Typhoon, Torrential Tribute, and Seven Tools of the Bandit! Mikulic had not played the Torrential Tribute, thinking Balan might have had more moves. Balan struck directly with Blaster, then Set Solemn Warning and Cards of Consonance.

Mikulic Set a monster, and Blaster returned to the hand.

Balan drew Hieratic Dragon of Su. He Normal Summoned Eset, then Tributed it for Su. Eset brought Labradorite Dragon to the field, and he Xyz Summoned Hieratic Dragon King of Atum. That brought out Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls, and Balan Special Summoned Blaster by banishing the Hieratics in his Graveyard. He Xyz Summoned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, made two tokens, then used Dracossack to wipe out the Set Goblindbergh. He used Atum to Xyz Summoned Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger, then attacked with it and Dracossack. Mikulic was left with 1600 Life Points.

Mikulic played Summoner Monk, and discarded Rank-Up-Magic Barian’s Force to bring Star Drawing to the field. He stacked his Spellcasters for Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, but lost it to Solemn Warning! That left him wide open, and Balan finished things off next turn!

Kristijan Mikulic’s Rank-Up Deck makes some awesome plays, but Michael Balan was able to overcome it with Hieratics!