This Top 32 Match pits two friends against eachother: Jonathon Nagel is a YCS veteran still looking for a win, playing a creative Burning Abyss Deck with tech like Edge Imp Sabres, Mathematician, Mask Change II, Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force, and even Mischief of the Gnomes in his Side Deck. Nagel is known for some pretty creative stuff, so this isn’t out of the ordinary by any means. His opponent, Jordan Gilbert, also has some cool tech such as Main Deck copies of Typhoon. For these two friends, it’s the ultimate test to see who the better Duelist is!

Nagel won the roll and chose to go first.

Duel One:

Nagel opened with a hand of Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, Tour Guide from the Underworld, Maxx “C”, Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Compulsory Evacuation Device. He Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld and activated its effect, Special Summoning a Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck in Defense Mode. He overlayed the Tour Guide from the Underworld with the Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, using its effect to send Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss , Mystical Space Typhoon, and Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard while pumping its ATK to 2500. He activated the Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Special Summoning a Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck in Defense Mode. He Set both Phoenix Wing Wind Blast and Compulsory Evacuation Device before ending.

Gilbert drew and took a moment to consider his options, clarifying how many cards Nagel had left in his hand. He started things off with Snatch Steal, targeting Nagel’s Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, which Nagel ultimately let him resolve. He activated the Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss detaching Tour Guide from the Underworld, sending Allure of Darkness, Typhoon, and Maxx “C” to the Graveyard. He Normal Summoned Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss next, activating Enemy Controller tributing the freshly Summoned Graff in an attempt to take control of Nagel’s Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Nagel Chained Maxx “C” to the Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss effect but the Enemy Controller successfully resolved, allowing Gilbert to Special Summon a Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss off his own from his Deck and Nagel to draw Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force off Maxx “C”. Gilbert followed up by overlaying the two Scarms for a Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, which netted Nagel a Good & Evil in the Burning Abyss off another Maxx “C” draw. He then ditched the Ritual Spell for Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, in an attempt to spin away the newly Summoned Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, which evoked a Mystical Space Typhoon from Gilbert to blow away Nagel’s last back row…but Nagel responded with the Set Compulsory Evacuation Device to bounce away the stolen Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss away from the Snatch Steal. When the dust subtled there was nothing left on the field, and Gilbert activated Foolish Burial to send a Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his Graveyard in order to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, netting Nagel a Snatch Steal off of Maxx “C”. During the End Phase both players searched Tour Guide from the Underworlds off their respective Scarm effects.

Nagel drew Edge Imp Sabres for turn putting him at five cards in hand. After a bit of contemplating, he decided to Normal Summon Tour Guide from the Underworld and used its effect to Special Summon a Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. He overlayed the two Fiends for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then banished Good & Evil in the Burning Abyss from his Graveyard to discard his in hand Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to add Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand. The Graff then triggered, Special Summoning a Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck in Defense Mode. He activated Snatch Steal to take the opposing Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, overlaying it with his Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for another Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He used the previously Summoned Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending Tour Guide from the Underworld, Foolish Burial, and Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his Graveyard while detaching Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and brought back Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, allowing him to Xyz Summon into a board of two copies of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss along with Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction. With a clean 8000 points worth of damage on the board, Gilbert conceded.

Even though the Duel only lasted a few turns, those turns had so much action packed into them that it felt closer to double. Regardless, Nagel shows an impressive amount of skill in his unique variant of Burning Abyss and hopes to advance into the Top 16 needing only one more game win.

Duel Two:

Nagel opened with a hand of Tour Guide from the Underworld, Mathematician, Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Allure of Darkness. He started off by activating Allure of Darkness, drawing Xyz Universe and Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss deciding to banish Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He followed up by Normal Summoning Tour Guide from the Underworld, using its effect to Special Summon a Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. He then overlayed the two Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, detaching Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss sending Compulsory Evacuation Device, Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss , and another Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. One of the Graffs triggered, Special Summoning a Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from Nagel’s Deck. He then Special Summoned a Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand so he could overlay the two Malebranches for a second copy of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, detaching the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to send Foolish Burial, Mask Change II, and Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. He Special Summoned Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Graveyard via Cir, and then Special Summoned Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand so he could overlay the two for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss; he chose not to mill, and simply Set the Xyz Universe before ending.

Gilbert drew and almost immediately activated Mystical Space Typhoon, which caused Nagel to Chain and Special Summon a Stellarknight Constellar Diamond at the cost of two copies of his Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He wasn’t able to add back for either Dante however, stymied by the effect of his own Stellarknight Constellar Diamond. Gilbert read to clarify what Stellarknight Constellar Diamond did, and eventually decided to Special Summon a Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand. He then Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Synchroing it and the Tuner away for Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss; but when the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss activated Nagel negated it with the effect of Stellarknight Constellar Diamond. Gilbert then used the effect of Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss, discarding Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, to spin away the opposing Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. The materials from the Dante, Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, triggered as Nagel Special Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and banished the opposing Virgil. Gilbert also got the Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss effect, Special Summoning Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand. The Cir destroyed itself, bringing back Dante from the Graveyard to the field. Gilbert pressed forward by Special Summoning Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Xyz Summoning Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abys, sending Night Beam, Tour Guide from the Underworld, Flying “C” to the Graveyard. During the End Phase Nagel searched Tour Guide from the Underworld from his Scarm’s effect.

Nagel drew Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss for turn, then went straight to work by Normal Summoning Tour Guide from the Underworld. The Guide Special Summoned a Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss in Defense Mode. He overlayed the two Fiends for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending Xyz Universe, Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss , and Shaddoll Dragon to the Graveyard and triggering Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck, which ultimately self-destructed because he controlled Stellarknight Constellar Diamond. He declared an attack over Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss with the Stellarknight Constellar Diamond, then Set Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss and ending.

Gilbert drew and sent Gorz, Emissary of Darkness, Enemy Controller, and The Beginning of the End to the Graveyard while detaching Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He Set a Monster and in Main Phase 2 he overlayed Downerd Magician over his Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. When he went to End Phase, Nagel activated Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss , sending his two copies of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard to destroy Set Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Downerd Magician. In a new Chain, Nagel added back Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss and Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Dantes. Gilbert Special Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and added back Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. With only a Cir in Defense Position he passed as he got Tour Guide from the Underworld to his hand during the End Phase.

Nagel drew Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for turn, and after some consideration decided to Normal Summon Mathematician and use its effect to send Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. He declared an attack over Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss with Mathematician, and then ran over the Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss with Stellarknight Constellar Diamond once the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss brought it back. Nagel Set Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss before ending, neglecting his Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss search.

Gilbert Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld and used its effect, Special Summoning Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. He milled Flying “C”, Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Dark Hole triggering both Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss effects. Both of them wound up getting copies of Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, one of their effects being negated. He then activated Puppet Plant to steal the opposing Mathematician, causing one of the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to be destroyed and Special Summoning Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss from his Graveyard. He overlayed the Mathematician with the other Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Xyz Summon Ghostrick Alucard, using its effect to destroy the Set Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss . His final card was Snatch Steal, grabbing the opposing Stellarknight Constellar Diamond and having enough damage to win the game!

Duelists shuffled quickly for game three because there was not much time left in the Round; the mood became tense.

Duel Three:

Nagel opened with a hand of Maxx “C”, Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Raigeki, and Mischief of the Gnomes. He Normal Summoned Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and then Special Summoned Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss which prompted Gilbert to Special Summon Flying “C”. Both Malebranches were destroyed, the Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss got a Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss which self-destructed as well. Nagel Set Mischief of the Gnomes befrore adding Tour Guide from the Underworld during the End Phase.

Gilbert drew and activated Night Beam, then Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld and activated its effect to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Nagel had Maxx “C”, so he got a Dark Hole off the Special Summon. Time was called as Gilbert ended his turn.

Nagel drew Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for turn, looking to be in a pretty good position given the situation. He started things off with Dark Hole, clearing away the Flying “C” that was hindering him along with Gilbert’s Tour Guide from the Underworld and Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. The Graff activated, letting Gilbert Special Summon a Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. Nagel then Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld, using its effect to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; he overlayed the two Fiends to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, detaching Graff and sending Xyz Universe, Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Phoenix Wing Wind Blast to his Graveyard. The Graff then triggered, letting Nagel Special Summon a Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. He then Special Summoned a Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand, overlaying it along with the Scarm for another copy of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss; he used the new Dante, detaching Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, to send Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Snatch Steal, and Mischief of the Gnomes to his Graveyard. He then activated the last card in his hand…Raigeki! Gilbert chose not to Special Summon with Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, so Nagel attacked directly with both copies of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss for 5000 points of damage total. In Main Phase 2 he overlayed two copies Downerd Magician, grabbing a Tour Guide from the Underworld during the End Phase.

Gilbert drew to four cards, but Nagel announced that he had something. During his Draw Phase, Nagel banished Mischief of the Gnomes! Gilbert was severely hindered, because now all of his Burning Abyss Monsters’ levels were reduced, meaning he could not Summon anything from his Extra Deck. Gilbert still wanted to go out in style though, as he Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and then used Puppet Plant to take control of an opposing Downerd Magician which in turn destroyed the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and allowed him to bring back Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, which self-destructed and Special Summoned a Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand but with its effect negated. He then used another Puppet Plant on the second Downerd Magician, and attacked for a massive 6000 points of damage. Nagel flashed the Tour Guide from the Underworld he previously searched, both players knowing that Nagel would have the last turn of time. “Nightmare Shark” was the only thing that he had to say, as both players extended hands to shake.

After an unfortunately long couple of games causing the last Duel to go to time, Jonathon Nagel emerges victorious and is onto the Top 16 Battle Pack 3: Monsters League Draft!