Steven Antwan is a familiar face and a long-time veteran of the YCS circuit, and this weekend he’s traveled here from Phoenix Arizona to play Noble Knights.  His opponent, Los Angeles’ Jesse Vela, is piloting one of the most hyped picks of the tournament: Geargia.  Could Medraut and Co. overcome what may be the most popular strategy this weekend?  We were about to kick off Round 1 and find out!

 

Antwan opened the day with a hand of Pot of Duality; Gwenhwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms; Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr; Honest; Fiendish Chain; and Mystical Space Typhoon.  Duality revealed his Noble Knight Medraut, Torrential Tribute, and Dark Hole, adding Medraut to his hand.  He Set Chain and Typhoon, then Set Honest.

 

Vela Set two cards to his ack row, and Set a monster.

 

Antwan drew Noble Knight Borz.  He Flip Summoned Honest to return it to his hand, then Normal Summoned Borz; Vela borrowed it for a moment to read it, and had no response to the Summon.  “I’ll activate Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr,” announced Antwan, playing to a measured, confident pace.  Vela blasted it on the Chain with Mystical Space Typhoon, and Antwan activated its effect to re-equip it to Borz.  Vela had believed that by Chaining his Typhoon to the activation of Antwan’s Noble Arms he’d circumvent the re-equip effect, but a quick rulings check confirmed that Antwan would get to re-attach it.  Play moved on.

 

Antwan activated Borz’s effect, revealing Noble Arms of Destiny, Noble Arms – Excaliburn, and Noble Arms – Gallatin: he added Excaliburn to his hand, sending Destiny and Caliburn to his Graveyard.  He activated Arfeudutyr’s effect to destroy Vela’s Set Geargiarmor, then attacked to drop Vela to 6800 Life Points.  “And it’s your turn.”

Vela drew to four cards in hand with one card still Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone.  He took Arfeudutyr for a moment, reading it carefully again, and then Normal Summoned Geargiaccelerator.  He Special Summoned a second copy, then overlaid them for Number 50: Blackship of Corn: he detached to try and send Borz to the Graveyard, but Antwan fired back with Fiendish Chain!  Vela Set Compulsory Evacuation Device, but lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon in his End Phase.

 

Antwan drew another Borz and used Arfeudutyr’s effect again, destroying Vela’s Set Full House!  His Borz effect revealed Noble Arms – Caliburn, Noble Arms – Excaliburn, and Noble Arms of Destiny, getting him Destiny and sending the other two to the Graveyard.  He Normal Summoned the second Borz, equipped it with Noble Arms of Destiny, and overlaid both monsters to Xyz Summon Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus!  He re-equipped Arfeudutyr and Destiny via their own effects, then activated Artorigus’ effect to equip it with Noble Arms – Excaliburn and Noble Arms – Gallatin.  He detached a Material to destroy Black Ship, then made a direct attack for 3200 battle damage!  Vela was down to 3600 Life Points.  “Your turn.”

Vela drew to two cards in hand with a blank field.  He Normal Summoned Geargiano Mk-II to revive his Geargiaccelerator and ended.

 

Antwan drew Noble Knight Gawayn.  He Normal Summoned Medraut, allowing him to Special Summon Gawayn, and Xyz Summoning Blade Armor Ninja!  He detached to turn it into a double attacker, then ran over Geargiaccelerator, returning Geargiarmor to Vela’s hand.  Blade Armor Ninja attacked to destroy Geargiano Mk-II, and Antwan sealed the deal with a direct attack from Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus!

 

An early misunderstanding of Noble Arms mechanics puts Jesse Vela at an early disadvantage, and Steven Antwan presses with repeated activations of Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr and Noble Knight Borz to take a commanding win in the first Duel!  Side Decking was a mechanical process for Antwan, who clearly came prepared for this matchup, while Vela made a string of adjustments double-checking all the way.

 

Vela Set three cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, then Set a monster.

 

Antwan had Effect Veiler; Gwenhwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms; Noble Knight Drystan; Torrential Tribute; Kaiser Colosseum; and Solemn Warning.  He Set Gwenhwyfar, Torrential, and Warning.

 

Vela tried to Flip Summon Geargiarmor, and Antwan blasted it with Solemn Warning to negate the attempt.  Vela followed up with Geargiano Mk-II, Special Summoning Geargiano from his hand!  Seeing his opponent over-invested, Antwan flipped Torrential Tribute to clear the field, sending his Gwenhwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms to the Graveyard where she was still live!  Vela Set a fourth Spell or Trap Card.

 

Antwan drew Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr, Set it, and Set Colosseum.  He lost both to Mystical Space Typhoons in his End Phase!

 

Vela Set a third card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

 

Antwan drew Thunder King Rai-Oh and tried to Summon it, but it was his turn to lose out to Solemn Warning!  He had nothing but Veiler and Drystan left.

 

Vela Set a third card again.

 

Antwan drew Noble Arms – Gallatin and Set it.  Vela flipped Call of the Haunted in the End Phase to bring back Geargiarmor.

 

Vela activated its effect next turn, trying to turn it face-down, but Antwan hit it with Veiler to keep it face-up.  Vela attacked instead, dishing out 1100 Battle Damage.  He Set another Spell or Trap.

 

Antwan drew Reinforcement of the Army and Summoned his other card, the Drystan.  He equipped it with Gwenhwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms from his Graveyard, then used Drystan’s effect to try and destroy Geargiarmor: Vela countered with Fiendish Chain!  Antwan had no answer.

 

Vela flipped his Geargiarmor face-down, then Flip Summoned it to search his Deck for Geargiano Mk-II.  He Special Summoned Geargiaccelerator, then Normal Summoned Geargiano Mk-II to revive Geargiano.  He overlaid them for Ghostrick Alucard to destroy Antwan’s Set Gallatin, then took Drystan with Mind Control!  He stacked it with Geargiaccelerator to Xyz Summon Number 101: Silent Honor ARK.  He made direct attacks with Geargiarmor, Alucard, then Honor ARK to finish the game!

 

Jesse Vela battles back after playing through an early Torrential Tribute that could’ve been ruinous, recovering and stabilizing the Duel to take decisive control!  This one was headed to Game 3: Antwan’s surprise factor advantage seemed to be dwindling.

 

He opened the third Duel with Noble Arms – Caliburn; Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr; Thunder King Rai-Oh; Noble Knight Gawayn; and two Noble Knight Drystan.  He Summoned Thunder King and backed it up with Caliburn, Setting it as a bluff.

 

Vela Set a monster and two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

 

Antwan drew Noble Knight Medraut and attacked with Thunder King, flipping Geargiarmor and keeping its effect from resolving thanks to Thunder King’s ability.  Geargiarmor remained in face-up Defense Position.  In Main Phase 2 Antwan Normal Summoned Drystan, but Vela responded with DNA Surgery, turning all monsters into Machine-Types!  That kept Antwan from equipping Drystan with his Noble Arms, both of which required Warrior-Types!  Antwan Set his Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr as another bluff.

 

Vela Normal Summoned Geargiarsenal and attacked Thunder King with it, trading to destroy both monsters.  In Main Phase 2 he flipped Geargiarmor face-down, Set a card to his backrow and ended.

 

Antwan drew Noble Knight Borz next.  He Summoned his second Drystan, overlaid for Constellar Omega, and attacked to destroy Geargiarmor.  Vela still got his search, getting Geargiaccelerator from his Deck.  He flipped Call of the Haunted in the End Phase to bring back Geargiarmor!

 

Vela drew for his turn, flipped his Geargiarmor face-down and back face-up, getting Geargiano Mk-II from his Deck.  He Special Summoned Geargiaccelerator, overlaid for Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, then used its effect to take Omega as an Xyz Material.  A successful attack dropped Antwan to 5900 Life Points.  Vela finished his turn by Setting another backrow card.

Antwan drew a second Noble Knight Borz and Summoned it, Special Summoning Noble Knight Gawayn to Xyz Summon Evilswarm Exciton Knight!  But Vela had Divine Wrath!  The Exciton Knight might’ve been Antwan’s last desperate bid.

 

Vela Summoned Geargiano Mk-II and revived Geargiano with its effect.  He Xyz Summoned Ghostrick Alucard to blow away Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr, then attacked with both monsters for a combined total of 3900 Battle Damage.  Antwan had 2000 Life Points left.  Vela still had his full 800.  Once again, he Set another backrow card.

 

Antwan drew and activated Pot of Duality, revealing Reinforcement of the Army, Mystical Space Typhoon,  yet another Borz: he took Reinforcement and activated it to search his Deck for Gawayn.  He Set Borz, but Vela bounced it away with Compulsory Evacuation Device and it was all over!  Antwan was left to concede.

 

The tables turn after a promising Game 1 victory, as Jesse Vela wins out in Games 2 and 3 to take his first Match of the day!  Geargias defeat Noble Knights.