Matthew Clark is a Missouri Duelist, packing a new take on an old strategy: Mausoleum of the Emperor! The strategy recently made an impressive showing in the South American WCQ, so a few Duelists are trying their hands at it today. He’s up against Jarmond Sharkey from Chicago, packing Geargia! Whoever takes a win here will have a great start to their road to the World Championship!

Duel 1

Clark had Angel 07, Majesty’s Fiend, Forbidden Dress, Photon Sanctuary, Terraforming, and Mausoleum of the Emperor. He led with Sanctuary, then Tributed a Photon Token for Majesty’s Fiend. He Set Terraforming and Forbidden Dress.

Sharkey Set a monster and three back row cards.

Clark drew another Photon Sanctuary. He switched his Photon Token to Attack Position, then destroyed Geargiano with Majesty’s Fiend.

Clark Normal Summoned Geargiaccelerator, then used Torrential Tribute, but Clark used Forbidden Dress to save Majesty’s Fiend! Sharkey Set a back row card.

Sharkey drew Archlord Kristya. He attacked with Fiend into Fiendish Chain. In Main Phase 2 he used Photon Sanctuary, then Tribute Summoned Angel 07!

Clark used Book of Moon on Angel 07, then Normal Summoned Geargiarsenal! He attacked and destroyed the Angel, then in Main Phase 2 got Geargiarmor. He turned it face-down and passed.

Sharkey drew another Forbidden Dress. He activated Mausoleum of the Emperor and 2000 Life Points to bring forth Archlord Kristya! Kristya destroyed Geargiarmor, and Sharkey got Geargiaccelerator from his Deck. Clark Set Dress.

Sharkey Set another back row card and a monster.

Clark drew Jinzo! He Tributed his negated Majesty’s Fiend for Jinzo, and destroyed Geargiaccelerator in battle. Kristya hit directly.

Sharkey Set a back row card and a monster.

Clark drew Pot of Duality, and used it to reveal Terraforming, Soul Exchange, and another Pot of Duality. He didn’t like the options, so he went with the second Pot of Duality. Jinzo destroyed Geargiarmor in battle, then Kristya dropped Sharkey to 2500. When Sharkey drew his next card, he conceded!

Clark takes a commanding first Duel, limiting Sharkey’s options at every turn!

Duel 2

Sharkey began with a Set monster and three back row cards. Clark had Pot of Duality, Mausoleum, Terraforming, Forbidden Lance, Royal Decree, and Angel 07. Terraforming got another Mausoleum, then Pot of Duality revealed Soul Exchange, Forbidden Dress, and System Down. He went with System Down. Mausoleum came down, then he Set Royal Decree and System Down.

Sharkey flipped Geargiarmor and searched out Geargiaccelerator. He Special Summoned it, combining his monsters for Diamond Dire Wolf. He used its effect to destroy itself and System Down. He Normal Summoned Geargiarsenal next, and attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, Geargiarsenal brought in Geargiarmor, and it went face-down.  Sharkey Set a back row card, and Clark flipped Decree in the End Phase.

Clark drew Dark Hole and played it, then used Mausoleum to bring down Angel 07. He attacked directly, then Set Lance. Because he didn’t actually Tribute Summon the Angel 07, its effect would not be applied.

Sharkey played Upstart Goblin, then played Geargiarsenal to get Geargiano. He Special Summoned Geargiaccelerator, then used Geargiano to get Geargiarsenal back. He Xyz Summoned Gear Gigant X and searched for another Geargiaccelerator.

Clark drew Jinzo. He sent Angel 07 to destroy Gear Gigant X, and Gear Gigant X revived Geargiano.

Sharkey destroyed Royal Decree with Mystical Space Typhoon. He Special Summoned Geargiaccelerator, then used Geargiano to revive Geargiaccelerator. At that, he used Torrential Tribute, adding Geargiarsenal and Geargiarmor back to his hand. Geargiarsenal came down and attacked directly, then it brought in Geargiarmor. Sharkey flipped Geargiarmor face-down and Set a third back row card.

Clark drew Vanity’s Fiend. He tried to play Jinzo via Mausoleum, but lost it to Solemn Warning! He had a mere 1600 Life Points left, and passed.

Sharkey flipped up Geargiarmor to grab Geargiano Mk-II, which he played and to revive Geargiano. He Xyz Summoned Ghostrick Alucard, targeting Clark’s Forbidden Lance. He Chained it to weaken Alucard. Sharkey attacked with his monsters, leaving Clark with only 500 Life Points! He flipped Geargiarmor face-down again, and Set a fourth card to his back row.

Clark drew Pot of Duality, and took Soul Exchange. He played it, Tributing Geargiarmor for Vanity’s Fiend, but Sharkey’s Bottomless Trap Hole left him wide open next turn!

Sharkey has evened up the score! A constant flow of search effects and a clutch Mystical Space Typhoon let him fight back!

Duel 3

Clark opened the last game with Terraforming, System Down, Majesty’s Fiend, Dark Hole, and 2 copies of Angel 07. Terraforming got him a Mausoleum, and he played it to bring down Majesty’s Fiend.

Sharkey used Upstart Goblin, then Set a monster and four back row cards.

Clark drew his third Angel 07. Ouch. He sent Majesty’s Fiend to attack, and Clark activated Geargiagear for a Geargiano and Geargiano Mk-II, then used Needle Ceiling! Clark used Dark Hole on the remaining face-down monster in Main Phase 2, a Geargiano Mk-II, then played an Angel 07 with Mausoleum.

Sharkey Set a monster.

Clark drew Royal Decree. Angel 07 attacked Geargiaccelerator, which returned Geargiano Mk-II to his hand. In Main Phase 2, Clark used System Down, to empty Sharkey’s Graveyard! He Set Royal Decree.

Sharkey Set a monster and a back row card. Clark flipped Decree, but Sharkey had Mystical Space Typhoon!

Clark drew Forbidden Lance. He played another Angel 07 with Mausoleum, and moved to the Battle Phase. One Angel destroyed Geargiano Mk-II, and the other attacked directly.

Sharkey played Upstart Goblin and passed.

Clark drew Jinzo! He Tributed an Angel 07 to play it, and Sharkey picked up his cards!

Matthew Clark is victorious, with Mausoleum of the Emperor!