Round 3 Feature Match: Anthony Eckroth (VIP) versus Tanner Von Difloe
Anthony Eckroth from Utah started off this tournament with a 2-round Bye thanks to his VIP status. Tanner Von Difloe from Seattle earned both of his wins today by defeating a Burning Abyss Duelist and a Qliphort Duelist in his first 2 rounds. Now, Eckroth is paired against Von Difloe in a Match that pits both of these Duelists’ Nekroz Decks against one another. Eckroth and Von Difloe each put a personal spin on their Nekroz Decks: Eckroth is using D.D. Warrior Lady to banish threatening monsters, including Ritual Monsters Summoned using Djinn Releaser of Rituals, while Von Difloe uses Shaddoll Dragon and Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss alongside Armageddon Knight, in order to gain access to quick monster, Spell, and Trap Card removal. Which of these Duelists will advance with a 3-0 record? We’re about to find it. It’s time to Duel!
Duel One
Von Difloe started off Duel 1 by Setting a monster to his back row.
Eckroth opened up Duel 1 with Mystical Space Typhoon, D.D. Warrior Lady, Nekroz Kaleidoscope, Book of Moon, Preparation of Rites, and Nekroz of Unicore. He activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Brionac to his hand and then discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Valkyrus to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope next, and sent Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard to Summon Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz of Valkyrus from his hand. He Normal Summoned D.D. Warrior Lady next and then attacked Von Difloe’s face-down Shaddoll Dragon with D.D. Warrior Lady. Shaddoll Dragon’s effect returned Nekroz of Valkyrus to Eckroth’s hand before getting destroyed in battle, and then Nekroz of Unicore attacked directly, dropping Von Difloe down to 5700 Life Points. Eckroth Set Mystical Space Typhoon and Book of Moon to his back row before ending his turn.
Von Difloe activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Clausolas to his hand. He discarded it to activate its effect and add Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Deck to his hand. Next, he discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. He activated his Kaleidoscope to send Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard and Summon Nekroz of Unicore. He used his Arc Light’s effect to add Nekroz of Trishula from his Deck to his hand. He activated Nekroz Mirror next, banishing Nekroz of Brionac and Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard to Summon Nekroz of Trishula. Trishula’s effect banished Book of Moon from the field, Kaleidoscope from the Graveyard, and Nekroz of Valkyrus from the hand. Direct attacks from Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz of Trishula dropped Eckroth down to 3000 Life Points.
Eckroth conceded on his next turn, devastated by Von Difloe’s previous play and unable to recover.
Duel Two
Von Difloe started off Duel 2 by activating Preparation of Rites and adding Nekroz of Brionac to his hand. He discarded it to add Nekroz of Clausolas to his hand and then discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Cycle to his hand. He activated Nekroz Cycle, and Eckroth Chained Maxx “C”. Von Difloe Tributed Djinn Releaser of Rituals from his hand to Summon Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard, and Eckroth drew a card thanks to Maxx “C”. While Nekroz of Clausolas remained on the field, Eckroth would be unable to Special Summon, thanks to the effect of Djinn Releaser of Rituals.
Eckroth activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand and then discarded it to add Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Deck to his hand.
Von Difloe passed his turn without making a play.
Eckroth drew to 7 cards in his hand: 4 Ritual Monsters, Nekroz Cycle, Preparation of Rites, and Maxx “C”, but couldn’t do much with Nekroz of Clausolas shutting down his Special Summons. He discarded Nekroz of Trishula in his End Phase and then passed his turn.
Von Difloe Summoned Shaddoll Dragon and attacked directly with it.
Eckroth Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and activated its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Unicore to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Graveyard to his hand and then activated the effect of Nekroz of Brionac to discard it and add Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck to his hand. He activated the effect of Nekroz of Clausolas by discarding it next, and added Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Deck to his hand. He Set the Kaleidoscope and then ended his turn.
Von Difloe discarded Nekroz of Unicore from his hand to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Graveyard to his hand and then activated Nekroz Mirror. He banished Nekroz of Unicore from his Graveyard and Tributed Shaddoll Dragon from his field to Special Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus. Shaddoll Dragon’s effect destroyed Eckroth’s back row Kaleidoscope. Next, Von Difloe discarded Nekroz of Brionac from his hand to add Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to his hand. He Tributed Shurit with Valkyrus to draw a card with Valkyrus’s effect and then added Nekroz of Trishula from his Deck to his hand with the effect of his Shurit. He attacked with Valkyrus, and then Eckroth discarded his own Nekroz of Valkyrus to stop the attack and end the Battle Phase.
Eckroth activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Brionac to his hand and return Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Graveyard to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck to his hand, and then discarded Nekroz of Unicore to add Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Graveyard to his hand. He switched Manju into Defense Position and then Set a card to his back row before passing.
Von Difloe activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck to his hand and return Nekroz Mirror from his Graveyard to his hand. He discarded Unicore from his hand to add Shurit to his hand and then used Valkyrus’s effect to Tribute the Shurit in his hand and draw a card. Next, he used Shurit’s effect to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand. He activated Nekroz Mirror next, and Eckroth Chained Maxx “C”. Von Difloe banished Djinn Releaser of Rituals and Nekroz of Brionac from his Graveyard to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Trishula. He used Nekroz of Trishula’s effect to banish Eckroth’s back row along with a card in his Graveyard and in his hand. He Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands next, and activated Senju’s effect to add Nekroz of Gungnir from his Deck to his hand. Senju attacked next, but Eckroth discarded Nekroz of Valkyrus to stop the attack and end the Battle Phase once again.
But it was all over on the next turn! Eckroth drew another Ritual Spell Card that he couldn’t activate and conceded the Duel, completely locked out by his inability to Special Summon monsters!
Tanner Von Difloe wins Duel 2 after Summoning Nekroz of Clausolas with Djinn Releaser of Rituals on his first turn! Tanner Von Difloe is moving on with a 3-0 record.
