Manpreet Rattan hails from Montreal, and like so many competitors this weekend he’s undefeated in Round 5 with Shaddols.  While the Artifact variant of Shaddolls hasn’t appeared to be very popular thus far in Day 1, Rattan’s playing Artifact Sanctum and Artifact Moralltach.

His opponent is Toronto’s Hunter Raymond Knight, currently 4-0 with Frog Monarchs!  The release of The Monarchs Stormforth has created a surge of interest in Monarch strategies, and Knight’s banking on tech choices like Jinzo and Majesty’s Fiend to give him an edge in this tournament.  So far the plan’s been working! With just four Rounds left, let’s see if Knight can keep his streak alive.  Knight won the roll and opted to let his opponent go first.

Rattan opened up with Mathematician, sending Shaddoll Squamata, then Shaddoll Falco to his Graveyard.  He Special Summoned Falco with its effect and Set three cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Knight had a hand of Maxx “C”; Foolish Burial; Jinzo; Raiza the Storm Monarch and two Dupe Frog.  He Set a Dupe Frog, activated Foolish Burial to send Treeborn Frog to his Graveyard, and Rattan flipped Sinister Shadow Games in the End Phase to yard Shaddoll Beast.  He flipped his Shaddoll Falco to Special Summon the Beast, then drew for its effect.

Rattan Flip Summoned Shaddoll Beast and drew for its effect, pitching Falco and reviving it.  He Tuned Falco to Mathematician to Synchro Summon Armades, Keeper of Boundaries, then attacked with it, destroying Dupe Frog and suppressing its search effect!  Shaddoll Beast made a direct attack, and Rattan Set another card to his backrow.

Knight drew Effect Veiler and revived his Treeborn Frog.  Knight moved to Main Phase 1, Tributed Treeborn Frog to Tribute Summon Jinzo, and ran over Armades.

Rattan Flip Summoned Shaddoll Falco, Knight negated its ability with Effect Veiler, and Rattan banished Armades and Falco to Special Summon Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning!  He used its double attack ability to destroy Jinzo and then make a direct attack, followed by presses from Falco and Beast.  In Main Phase 2 he made El Shaddoll Winda with Shaddoll Fusion.

Knight drew Sea Lancer, brought back Treeborn, and Tributed it for Raiza the Storm Monarch.  He targeted Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning with Raiza’s ability and Rattan shut it down with Breakthrough Skill.  When Knight moved to his Battle Phase Rattan blew Raiza away, flipping Artifact Sanctum to Special Summon Artifact Moralltach, and Knight conceded then and there not wanting to see a time scenario in the Game 3 he was now hoping to see.

Manpreet Rattan takes a brutal Game 1 after kicking out from under the effect of Jinzo!  An early game Armades, Keeper of Boundaries keeps Hunter Raymond Knight from getting his Dupe Frog search, and it was all down hill from there.  Knight would choose to go first in Game 2.

Knight had Caius the Shadow Monarch; Breakthrough Skill; Mathematician; Dupe Frog; Jinzo.  He Summoned Mathematician to send Treeborn Frog to his Graveyard, then Set Breakthrough.

Rattan Normal Summoned Shaddoll Dragon, attacked to destroy Mathematician, and its effect drew Knight Effect Veiler.  Rattan Set two cards to his back row.

Knight drew Swap Frog and Set Dupe Frog.

Rattan Set another monster and ran Dragon into Dupe Frog, bouncing off harmlessly.

Knight drew Ronintoadin.  He considered his moves a moment, then discarded Ronintoadin to Special Summon Swap Frog.  He sent another Dupe Frog to his Graveyard with Swap Frog’s ability, bounced Swap Frog back to his hand, and banished Dupe Frog to Special Summon Ronintoadin.  He Tributed that for Jinzo and attacked to destroy Shaddoll Dragon.  Rattan dropped to 7400 Life Points.  “You may go.”

Rattan Flip Summoned Shaddoll Squamata and Knight negated its Flip Effect with Effect Veiler.  Rattan Normal Summoned another Squamata, then overlaid them both for Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer.  He detached two Xyz Materials to send Jinzo back into the Deck.

Knight drew Mobius the Mega Monarch, banished Treeborn Frog to Special Summon Ronintoadin, then Tributed Ronintoadin and Dupe Frog for Mobius!  Knight destroyed Rattan’s Chain Disappearance, Artifact Sanctum, and Artifact Moralltach, triggering the Sanctum and Moralltach’s effects!  The Sanctum destroyed Knight’s one Set backrow card, Breakthrough Skill, keeping him from using it to stop Artifact Moralltach’s effect once it hit the field!  Rattan used its ability to destroy Mobius, and Knight was left with nothing but two cards in hand.

Rattan attacked with Moralltach and Castel to drop Knight to 3900 Life Points.  Rattan Set a monster, Set a Spell or Trap and ended.

Knight drew Majesty’s Fiend, holding Caius and Swap Frog.  Knight banished to Special Summon Ronintoadin again, and when Ronintoadin hit the field Rattan had Chain Disappearance to banish it!  Knight shook his head and swiftly offered his opponent the handshake.

An ambitious play with Mobius the Mega Monarch leads to absolute ruin in the second Duel, as Manpreet Rattan has simply answer after answer to make short work of Hunter Raymond Knight!