Ryan Nisker is here, fresh from a Top 8 showing in Toronto with his Chain Burn Deck. Chain Burn has always lingered about the competitive scene, but right now it might be better than ever. With everyone paying Life Points for Soul Charge, on top of other cards like Judgment Dragon or Solemn Warning, it can be easy to burn your way to victory. His opponent is Michigan’s own Doug Zeeff! He recently had been using Ghostrick Spirits, but today is packing Lightsworn. With the new power of their own Tuners and Synchro, Lightsworn have a new lease on life.

Duel 1

Nisker started things off, with a hand of Battle Fader, Waboku, Ojama Trio, Dimension Wall, Chain Strike, and Reckless Greed. He Set Greed and Wall.

Zeeff played Kuribandit and attacked, then excavated Minerva, Lightsworn Maiden, Kuribandit, Soul Charge, Monster Reincarnation, and Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress. He took the Soul Charge, and then Minerva sent a Forbidden Lance.

Nisker drew Secret Barrel. He Set it and Trio.

Zeeff played Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn. He used it to send Judgment Dragon and Eclipse Wyvern to the Graveyard, and Eclipse banished a Judgment Dragon from the Deck. He played Soul Charge next, targeting Lyla and Minerva, and lost 2000 Life Points. Lyla tried to destroy Secret Barrel, and Zeeff took 1600 damage from it. Zeeff tuned Minerva to Lyla for Black Rose Dragon, and Nisker flipped Ojama Trio, Reckless Greed, and Chain Strike! Chain Strike dealt 1600 damage, Reckless Greed gave him Cardcar D and Just Desserts. The Ojama Tokens hit the field, and Black Rose Dragon destroyed them for 900 more damage. Zeeff had only 1900 Life Points remaining! He passed with no plays.

Nisker played Cardcar D, Set Waboku, then used Cardcar for Secret Barrel and Threatening Roar.

Zeeff played Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner , discarding Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms to revive Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn. Raiden sent Lyla and another Raiden to the Graveyard. Zeeff banished Eclipse Wyvern and a Judgment Dragon to bring back Tempest, and the Eclipse Wyvern retrieved the previously banished Judgment Dragon. Next, he Synchro Summoned Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn! He stacked Michael with Tempest for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack! He made two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens, and Tributed one to destroy Waboku – Nisker Chained it.

Nisker simply had to Set Just Desserts and Secret Barrel – Dracossack and its Token left Zeeff vulnerable to all that damage!

Nisker takes a quick win in the first game, but now Zeeff has access to the power of his Side Deck – most likely including Royal Decree. Will it be enough for Zeeff to take two in a row, or is Nisker going to come out on top?

Duel 2

Zeeff played Kuribandit and Set three back row cards. He used Kuribandit to grab Charge of the Light Brigade, sending Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls; Ehren, Lightsworn Monk; and Lightray Diabolos to the Graveyard!

Nisker had 2 Just Desserts, Reckless Greed, 2 Mystical Space Typhoons, and Secret Barrel. He Set Secret Barrel, Reckless Greed, and a Typhoon. In the End Phase Zeeff flipped Royal Decree.

Zeeff played Charge of the Light Brigade next, getting Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner  to his hand and sending another Lumina to the Graveyard in the process. He played Lumina, discarding Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn to revive the same Raiden. In response, Nisker used Mystical Space Typhoon on Royal Decree. Raiden activated his effect, sending no Lightsworn. Lumina and Raiden attacked directly, dropping Nisker to 5300 Life Points. Zeeff Set one more card. In the End Phase, he sent Kuribandit, Lumina, Minerva, and 2 Lyla to the Graveyard.

Nisker drew Threatening Roar. He flipped Reckless Greed to draw Accumulated Fortune and Battle Fader. He Set Threatening Roar, Fortune and Typhoon, but lost the latter two in the End Phase to Zeeff’s own pair of Typhoons!

Zeeff used Lumina to discard Eclipse Wyvern and revive Lyla. Eclipse banished a Judgment Dragon from the Deck, then Lyla destroyed Secret Barrel – Nisker Chained it for 1000 damage. Zeeff Synchro Summoned Scrap Dragon next, destroying his own Needlebug Nest (he didn’t activate it) and Nisker’s Threatening Roar, which was Chained.

Nisker skipped his Draw Phase due to Reckless Greed. He only had Battle Fader and 2 Just Desserts. He Set one copy.

Zeeff used Lumina yet again, bringing Lyla back to the field. It activated, and Nisker dealt 1500 damage with Just Desserts. Zeeff revived Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls next, banishing Eclipse Wyvern and Lightray Diabolos. With Eclipse, he returned Judgment Dragon to his hand and Special Summoned it! Lumina attacked successfully, but the rest of the attacks were blocked by Battle Fader. In Main Phase 2, Zeeff used Judgment Dragon and Scrap Dragon to Xyz Summon Divine Dragon Knight Felgrand, so he wouldn’t run out of cards!

Nisker had only Just Desserts. He Set it, and Tidal returned to Zeeff’s hand.

Lumina discarded Tidal next, reviving Raiden. He Synchro Summoned Michael and paid 1000 Life Points to banish Just Desserts, and Nisker Chained it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough! Zeeff Special Summoned another Judgment Dragon, then attacked with it, Felgrand, and Michael!

We’re moving to the final Duel!

Duel 3

Nisker’s final starting hand was Cardcar D, 2 Battle Fader, Waboku, Accumulated Fortune, and Secret Barrel. He Set his traps, and Cardcar D gave him another Cardcar and Ojama Trio.

Zeeff played Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress. He attacked first, then used its effect to destroy Waboku. Zeeff Set two cards to his back row, then sent Judgment Dragon, Raiden, and Charge of the Light Brigade to the Graveyard.

Nisker drew Mystical Space Typhoon. He Set it and Ojama Trio, then used his new Cardcar to draw Reckless Greed and Ojama Trio. Zeeff flipped Royal Decree in the End Phase.

Zeeff played Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior and attacked directly, leaving Nisker with 4450 Life Points. Zeeff Set one more card to his back row. When Garoth triggered, Nisker played Secret Barrel. Zeeff flipped Mystical Space Typhoon, targeting Nisker’s Mystical Space Typhoon. Nisker Chained Accumulated Fortune, then his own Mystical Space Typhoon on Royal Decree! Nisker drew Waboku and Maxx “C”, then Garoth resolved and sent Ehren and Raiden to the Graveyard, letting him draw two cards! (Zeeff knew Nisker probably had Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Royal Decree, since he was activating a Trap Card. By playing his own Mystical Space Typhoon, he potentially limited the damage he’d take from a Chain Strike, since it can’t activate with multiple cards in a Chain with the same name.)

Nisker drew Accumulated Fortune. He flipped Ojama Trio, then Set Waboku, Reckless Greed, and Accumulated Fortune. He lost Greed in the End Phase to Mystical Space Typhoon.

Zeeff moved Lyla to Attack Position, then targeted a back row card. Nisker Chained Maxx “C”, then Waboku, then Accumulated Fortune! He drew Pot of Duality and Mystical Space Typhoon. Zeeff stacked Lyla and Garoth for Number 80: Rhapsody in Berserk, and Nisker drew a new Maxx “C” thanks to the old one. Rhapsody banished the two Cardcars. Zeeff played Kuribandit, and used it to grab Royal Decree, while also loading Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms and Eclipse Wyvern in the Graveyard! Eclipse banished Judgment Dragon from the Deck.

Nisker drew his third Cardcar D! He played Pot of Duality to reveal Reckless Greed and 2 Just Desserts, choosing a Just Desserts. Cardcar came down, and he Set Desserts and Ojama Trio. Carcar let him draw Twister and Reckless Greed.

Zeeff Normal Summoned Minerva, and Nisker flipped Just Desserts for 2500 damage! Zeeff had 4300 remaining. He tuned Minerva to two of the Ojama Tokens, bringing down Black Rose Dragon to destroy the field! Next, he banished Eclipse Wyvern and Black Rose Dragon to revive Tempest, and Nisker Chained Maxx “C” for a second Reckless Greed. Eclipse grabbed Judgment Dragon, but Zeeff didn’t Summon it. Tempest attacked directly, and Zeeff Set a back row card.

Nisker drew Secret Barrel. Mystical Space Typhoon wiped out Royal Decree, and Nisker was safe to Set all of his traps! Tempest returned to the hand.

Zeeff played Judgment Dragon and paid 1000 Life Points, and Nisker Chained Secret Barrel and both copies of Reckless Greed! He drew Fader, Ceasefire, Pot of Duality, and One Day of Peace. Zeeff Normal Summoned Lumina, and it pitched Eclipse Wyvern to bring back Raiden, and Eclipse banished a Judgment Dragon. Next, he banished Eclipse and a spare Judgment Dragon for Tempest, returning the other Judgment Dragon to his hand. Finally, he tuned Raiden to Tempest for Star Eater, and played his last Judgment Dragon! He stacked both Judgments for Divine Dragon Knight Felgrand, and moved to the Battle Phase. Star Eater attacked, but Battle Fader blocked everything! He’d been hoping Nisker had Swift Scarecrow, but Battle Fader can stop Star Eater and Felgrand! Next turn, Nisker’s Ceasefire ended it all!

Ryan Nisker takes the win, with Chain Burn!