Round 3 Feature Match: James Ribis Versus Dayton Yuen
While Shaddolls were huge the first weekend when Duelist Alliance first debuted, Satellarknights quickly pulled ahead to match them in the following weeks of competition. But we’ve seen a tremendous amount of variety amongst the Regional Top 8 versions we’ve seen: Duelists have run as few as eight “Satellarknight” monsters, or as many as thirteen or more, creating vastly different takes on the strategy. James Ribis is pushing the envelope even further this weekend, gearing his Deck to take advantage of Satellarknight Alsahm and aiming to win with burn damage.
His opponent is Dayton Yuen, from Mount Albert right here in Ontario. He’s running Chaos Dragons, an uncommon pick that may be able to outspeed Ribis’ strategy. This one could go either way, though a strong defensive set-up in the early game for Ribis could cause big problems for Yuen; the Chaos Dragon strategy traditionally tries to push through backrow aggressively, which could leave Yuen vulnerable to Magic Cylinder, Battleguard Howling, and Dimension Wall.
Ribis won the roll, decided to open the Duel, and had a hand of Satellarknight Alsahm; Stellarnova Alpha; Soul Charge; Just Desserts; and Battleguard Howling. He Summoned Alsahm to burn Yuen for 1000 damage, then Set three cards to his backrow.
Yuen activated Dragon Shrine to send Lightpulsar Dragon to his Graveyard. He sent Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon and Eclipse Wyvern to his Graveyard to Special Summon back Lightpulsar, then Normal Summoned Card Trooper to send Chaos Sorcerer, Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning, and another Dragon Shrine to his Graveyard. Yuen attacked with Trooper, and Ribi flipped Battleground Howling!
Ribis targeted Lightpulsar Dragon, kicking it back to Yuen’s hand and dealing 2500 burn damage! Trooper then collided with Alsahm to destroy it, dishing out 500 Battle Damage.
Ribis drew another Satellarknight Alsahm! He Summoned it for another 1000 damage to knock Yuen down to 3500 Life Points, then swung over Card Trooper for another 1000 Battle Damage.
Yuen banished Eclipse Wyvern and Chaos Sorcerer to Special Summon Lightpulsar Dragon, swinging over Alsahm to destroy it. Yuen Set one card to his backrow.
Ribis drew Soul Charge and targeted both of his Alsahm’s! He brought them both back, taking 2000 damage himself and then burning Yuen for another 1000 damage. Yuen was down to 1500 Life Points, while Ribis was at 4600. He Set Stellarnova Alpha.
Yuen Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld, activated its effect, and lost out to Stellarnova Alpha! Tour Guide was destroyed. Yuen attacked with Lightpulsar to destroy Alsahm.
Ribis drew Satellarknight Deneb, activating its effect while Yuen Chained Book of Moon. Ribis got Satellarknight Altair from his Deck, and Deneb went face-down. Pot of Duality revealed the Top 3 cards from Ribis’ Deck: they were Deneb; Dimension Wall; and the third and final Alsahm. Ribis took Dimension Wall. He Set it to end his turn.
Yuen Summoned another Tour Guide, this time succeeding in Special Summoning Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. Ribis responded with Just Desserts, dealing the precise 1500 damage he needed to win!
Yuen let Ribis go first again, and this time Ribis had D.D. Crow; Magic Cylinder; Battleguard Howling; Satellarknight Deneb; and Satellarknight Vega. He Summoned Vega to Special Summon Deneb, searching his Deck for Satellarknight Altair. He overlaid for Starliege Paladynamo. He Set Howling and Cylinder.
Yuen blasted the Howling with Mystical Space Typhoon to start his turn, then Summoned Card Trooper to send three cards to his Graveyard, boosting Trooper to 1900 ATK: Dragon Shrine and two Tour Guides. “Go ahead.” The Trooper couldn’t get over Paladynamo.
Ribis drew a second Magic Cylinder and swung over Card Trooper with Paladynamo. “I’ll Set one…” Ribis Set a card to his back row… “And I’ll end my turn.”
Yuen Set a single Spell or Trap Card, then Normal Summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress to destroy one of the Cylinders. In the End Phase Lyla sent Tour Bus From The Underworld, Tour Guide from the Underworld, and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon to his Graveyard. Yuen used the Bus’ effect to send back Tour Guide to his Deck.
Ribis drew Just Desserts and attacked to destroy Lyla with Paladynamo. He Set Just Desserts and then asked to see Yuen’s Graveyard for a moment.
Yuen drew for his turn, and Ribis dropped D.D. Crow to banish Lyla. But Yuen had another one! The second Lyla popped Ribis’ second Cylinder. In the End Phase Lyla sent Charge of the Light Brigade, Gorz the Emissary of Darkness and Black Dragon Collapserpent to Yuen’s Graveyard.
Ribis drew Dimension Wall and detached to try and shut down Lyla with Paladynamo: that baited out Yuen’s Set card, Fiendish Chain. Ribis Summoned Altair, Special Summoned Deneb with Altair’s effect, and used Deneb to get another Altair from his Deck. He overlaid for Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer, then shuffled away Yuen’s Lyla. Ribis Set Dimension Wall.
Yuen Summoned Eclipse Wyvern, rammed it into Castel to destroy his own monster, and banished Dark Armed Dragon from his Deck. With four cards in hand he banished the Wyvern and Collapserpent to Special Summon Chaos Sorcerer! That got him his Dark Armed Dragon from his ‘removed zone’. Yuen activated Sorcerer’s effect to banish Castel and ended.
Ribis drew Call of the Haunted. He Summoned Altair but lost its effect to Yuen’s Effect Veiler. Ribis Set Call.
Yuen banished Tour Guide and Veiler from his Graveyard to Special Summon Lightpulsar Dragon, then banished Altair with the Sorcerer’s ability. Yuen attacked with Lightpulsar to destroy Starliege Paladynamo; its draw effect let Ribis score Stellarnova Alpha. When Yuen moved to his End Phase Ribis flipped Call to bring back Altair, with brought back Deneb, which searched another Altair from Ribis’ deck.
Ribis drew his third Magic Cylinder. He overlaid Altair and Deneb to Xyz Summon Number 101: Silent Honor ARK in Defense Position, then detached to take Lightpulsar Dragon as an Xyz Material. He followed up with Satellarknight Altair to bring back Deneb, this time grabbing Satellarknight Alsahm from his Deck. Ribis Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.
Yuen banished Altair with Chaos Sorcerer, then wiped the field with Dark Hole: Honor ARK remained on the field, detaching Lightpulsar to survive. Yuen banished to Special Summon Darkflare Dragon, attacked Honor ARK with it, and crashed into Magic Cylinder. He dropped to 3600 Life Points.
Ribis drew Stellarnova Alpha. He Set it, then Summoned Alsahm for a quick 1000 damage.
When Yuen tried to Foolish Burial next turn Ribis negated it by yarding Alsahm for Stellarnova Alpha, drawing a Dimension Wall. Yuen attacked with Darkflare to destroy Honor ARK.
Ribis passed.
Yuen passed
Ribis drew Secret Barrel and couldn’t Set it, his backrow now full.
Yuen attacked with Darkflare Dragon. Ribis responded with Dimension Wall, Chained Just Desserts, and Yuen Chained Book of Moon! He still took 500 damage from Desserts, but by flipping his Darkflare Dragon face-down he nixed the damage from Dimension Wall!
Ribis Summoned Deneb to get another Alsahm, attacked to destroy Darkflare Dragon, and Set two cards to his backrow. Yuen had just 2100 Life Points left.
Yuen activated Dragon Shrine to send White Dragon Wyverburster to his Graveyard, then banished Wyverburster and Tour Bus to Special Summon Lightpulsar Dragon. “I’ll end my turn.” Yuen was clearly not keen to attack into another Cylinder or Wall.
But Ribis Normal Summoned Alsahm for 1000 damage, overlaid for Gagaga Cowboy, dealt 800 damage with its effect, and finished the Match with Secret Barrel for 600 more Life Points! Not a lot of damage, but it was enough to finish the Duel!
Satellarknight Alsahm after Satellarknight Alsahm pays off, as James Ribis burns his way to victory here in Round 3! It’s a fascinating application of the Satellarknight theme.
