One of the biggest surprises of Day 1 was the sheer volume of Raccoon action we saw in Feature Matches.  After a handful of successful Regional Top 8 showings the past two months, Raccoons hit Las Vegas in a surprisingly big way.  Almost as surprising was the strong showing put in by Hieratic variants of all shapes and sizes in yesterday’s Swiss Rounds: the Deck was a constant presence in our Top Table Updates from Round 5 on forward.

This morning we’re kicking off Day 2 with a Feature Match that pits those two strategies against eachother, as a pair of competitors with 7-2 records square off to try and win out for the next two rounds.  A pair of back-to-back victories would virtually guarantee a spot in the Top 32.  A single defeat would spell ruin: one loss here is enough to effectively eliminate either man from competition.

Mackenzie King Franklin hails from Albuquerque New Mexico, playing Raccoons.  Denny Yu’s from Sacramento California, piloting Hieratic Rulers.

Welcome to Day 2, YCS Las Vegas.

Yu opened up with Hieratic Dragon of Eset, and Special Summoned Hieratic Dragon of Su, triggering Eset’s effect to Special Summon Labradorite Dragon from his Deck.  Upstart Goblin got him a draw, and he stacked his monsters to Xyz Summon Hieratic Dragon King of Atum.  He detached Su to Special Summon Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos with Atum’s effect, then banished both Hieratics to Special Summon Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders.  That let him overlay for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, which Special Summoned two Mecha Phantom Beast Token, and he Set one card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone to end – a strong opening!

Franklin had a hand of Book of Moon; Baby Raccoon Ponpoko; Kalantosa, Mystical Beast of the Forest; Torrential Tribute; Baby Raccoon Tantan; and Dark Hole.  Franklin leveled the field, dropping Dark Hole and Chaining Book of Moon to turn Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack face-down to destroy it!  He Set Tantan and Torrential Tribute.

Yu activated Card of Consonance, pitching Labradorite Dragon to draw two.  Another Upstart Goblin got him another draw; he had three cards in hand with one Set. He Special Summoned Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit, then Tributed it for Su, triggering Tefnuit’s ability to revive Labradorite.  Franklin considered a moment: “Mm.  This is a tough decision.  One card in hand?”

“Yeah.  Torrential Tribute?”

“Yeah, I’ll activate it.”  Franklin flipped Torrential to clear the field, revealing and destroying his own Tantan along with the Dragons.  Yu banished to Special Summon both of his Dragon Rulers, attacked with both, and dropped Franklin to 5600 Life Points.  In Main Phase 2 Yu made another Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, for two more Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens.

“Can I sack you?”  Franklin ripped Wind-Up Kitten!  He tried to Summon it, but Yu had Solemn Warning!  Franklin passed with a blank field and two cards in hand.

Yu drew to two in hand as well, controlling his Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack.  “That would’ve been juicy, if that would’ve worked,” remarked Franklin, slightly wistful.  Yu considered his moves… “Hmmm…”  He banished Blaster and Dracossack to Special Summon Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms, and used Blaster’s effect to search out Flamvell Guard.  He Summoned it, Tuning it to his two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens for Black Rose Dragon.  “Not activating effect!”  Both duelists laughed, and Yu attacked with Dracossack, Black Rose, and Tempest for game!

A big, ambitious opening for Denny Yu pays off, and Solemn Warning cuts off Mackenzie Franklin from what might’ve been a spectacular topdecked out otherwise!  Yu takes Game 1.  Both competitors flew their Side Decks to get to the second Duel.  Remember: a loss here will effectively knock one of these competitors out of the tournament.  Franklin was clinging to his Top 32 dreams by the tips of Ponpoko’s little raccoon fingers.

“Let’s see how this one goes.”  Franklin opened the second Duel with Debunk; Upstart Goblin; Mirror Force; D.D. Crow; Mystical Space Typhoon; and the one, the only Obedience Schooled!  He activated Upstart Goblin to draw Bottomless Trap Hole, then Set everything but Crow and Obedience.

Yu Normal Summoned Hieratic Dragon of Eset, then Tributed it to Special Summon Hieratic Dragon of Su: Franklin banished it with Bottomless, and Yu Special Summoned Labradorite Dragon from his Deck.  He Set one card to his back row, ended, and Franklin blew it away with Mystical Space Typhoon: Yu’s Typhoon was destroyed.

Franklin drew Baby Raccoon Ponpoko and activated Obedience Schooled: Yu Chained Maxx “C”, and Franklin Chained Debunk to shut it down!  He Special Summoned Baby Raccoon Ponpoko; Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter; and Tree Otter.

Franklin Normal Summoned his second Ponpoko to Special Summon Baby Raccoon Tantan in face-down Defense Position, then overlaid Ryko and Ponpoko for Number 64: Ronin Raccoon Sandayu.  Yu borrowed it a moment to read it, and Franklin activated its effect to Special Summon a Kagemusha Raccoon Token with 1200 ATK (courtesy of Tree Otter’s 1200 Attack Points).  He overlaid Tree Otter and the other Ponpoko for another Ronin Raccoon Sandayu, then Special Summoned a second Kagemusha Raccoon Token with 1200 ATK.  He ran one Sandayu over Labradorite Dragon, then made three direct attacks to drop Yu to 5600 Life Points.

Yu Set one card to his back row.

Franklin drew Dimensional Fissure and activated it.  He attacked with everything for 4400 Battle Damage; Yu was just one Kagemusha Raccoon Token poke away from losing this game!

He flipped Reckless Greed next turn, then drew another card with Upstart Goblin.  He drew another with a second copy, sitting on five cards in hand with a bare field.  He Special Summoned Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit, Normal Summoned Debris Dragon, and activated its effect to target Labradorite Dragon for revival.  He overlaid Labradorite and Tefnuit for Hieratic Dragon King of Atum, activated its effect and Special Summoned Su in Defense Position.  He activated Su’s effect next, Tributing an Eset from his hand to destroy Franklin’s Mirror Force.  That triggered Eset’s ability, Special Summoning another Labradorite Dragon from Yu’s deck.  He overlaid it with Su for a second copy of Atum, bringing out another Su.  He Tributed another Eset for Su, this time destroying Dimensional Fissure, intending to bring back Labradorite Dragon: Franklin banished the Labradorite with D.D. Crow.  Yu Special Summoned Flamvell Guard from his Deck instead, then Synchro Summoned Black Rose Dragon by Tuning the Guard to Su.  He Special Summoned Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls.  He overlaid both Atum’s with Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Chargers!

Yu considered his next moves carefully.  He stacked Black Rose and Tidal for Number 11: Big Eye, taking a Ronin Raccoon Sandayu.  “Enter Battle Phase…”  One Thunder Charger smashed over a Kagemusha Raccoon Token for 1400 Battle Damage.  The second Thunder Charger took out the other Kagemusha Raccoon Token.  Yu sent the stolen Sandayu to butt heads with the loyal one, destroying both, and Yu attacked with Debris Dragon into Franklin’s last monster: Tantan.  Tantan was destroyed, but Franklin used its effect to Special Summon Kalantosa, Mystical Beast of the Forest in Defense Position to destroy Number 11: Big Eye!  Yu ended.  The Duel stood at 1200 Life Points to 7200 with Franklin still technically leading.  But things looked grim.

Franklin drew one card: Thunder King Rai-Oh.  “I feel like I have to do this or I’ll die.”  He Summoned Thunder King, pressed it over Debris Dragon, and knocked Yu down to 300 Life Points.

Yu couldn’t draw under Reckless, but he banished Black Rose Dragon and Eset to bring back Tidal.  He sent one Thunder Charger to pierce through Kalantosa, Tidal took out Thunder King, and the second Thunder Charger made a direct attack to drop Franklin to 2700 Life Points.

Franklin drew Baby Raccoon Ponpoko, considered his options, and offered the handshake!  “You got it, man.”

Mackenzie Franklin drops to a 7-3 record, but Denny Yu moves on still alive in this tournament, with an 8-2 Match score and a shot at the Top 32 with Hieratic Rulers!