We’re halfway through the first day of the WCQ! We’ve got Eric Tran, from southern California, using his Nekroz Deck. He has to face the power of Florida Duelist Tristan Trucott’s Burning Abyss Deck, specifically using Secret Village of the Spellcasters in an effort to defeat Decks like Nekroz!

Duel 1

Tran won the die roll and chose to go second. Trucott’s hand was Terraforming, Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Effect Veiler, Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss, and Tour Guide From the Underworld. He played Tour Guide and Special Summoned Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He stacked his Fiend-type monsters for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in Defense Position, then played Terraforming to add Secret Village of the Spellcasters to his hand. He used Dante next, detaching Libic and sending Crush Card Virus, Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. Libic Special Summoned Graff from the hand, Cir Special Summoned Barbar back to the field, and Barbar banished Libic to deal 300 damage. Trucott stacked Graff and Barbar for another Dante, sending Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Dark Hole, and a Secret Village of the Spellcasters to the Graveyard by detaching Graff. Graff’s effect Special Summoned Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Deck. Trucott Set Fire Lake to finish.

Tran discarded Nekroz of Brionac to get Nekroz of Clausolas, then had that get Nekroz Cycle. He played it, Tributing Djinn Releaser of Rituals and Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to bring Brionac back from the Graveyard! Trucott Chained to Shurit’s effect with Fire Lake (Tributing Dante and Scarm), destroying Brionac. Shurit gave Tran Nekroz of Trishula, and Dante’s effect put Graff into Trucott’s hand. Tran banished Nekroz Cycle and Clausolas to get Nekroz Mirror from his Deck. He played the Mirror, banishing Brionac and Djinn Releaser of Rituals from the Graveyard for Trishula! Trucott used Effect Veiler, but Tran used Book of Eclipse! Trishula went face-down, and its effect banished each Dante from the field and Graveyard, and Secret Village from the hand! The Barbar Xyz Material hit the Graveyard and banished Fire Lake to do some damage. In the End Phase, Trucott’s Scarm added Rubic to his hand.\

Trucott had only Rubic and Graff, and drew Terraforming. He Special Summoned Rubic and Normal Summoned Graff, and Synchro Summoned Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss! Graff’s effect brought Cir to the field. Virgil destroyed Trishula in battle, and Cir struck directly. Trucott Set Terraforming to finish.

Tran played Bull Blader and traded it with Virgil! Virgil’s effect gave Trucott a Scarm. Next, Tran used Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz Mirror to his hand. He pitched Unicore to get Trishula from the Graveyard, then Ritual Summoned it with Nekroz Mirror, banishing Shurit from the Graveyard! Trishula’s effect banished Cir from the field, Scarm from the hand, and Virgil from the Graveyard.

Trucott drew Maxx “C” and Set it. He had only that and his Set Terraforming.

Tran played Senju of the Thousand Hands, adding Nekroz of Brionac to his hand. Senju destroyed Maxx “C”, and Trishula attacked directly dealing the first damage to Trucott’s Life Points.

Trucott drew Vanity’s Emptiness and Set it.

Tran destroyed it next turn with Mystical Space Typhoon. He ditched Brionac from his hand to search out Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz, and Normal Summoned it. Senju, Sorcerer, and Trishula ended the Duel!

Tran powers through Trucott’s indimidating opening with multiple Trishula Summons!

Duel 2

Trucott decided to play second. Tran led with Senju of the Thousand Hands for Nekroz of Clausolas, which got Nekroz Kaleidoscope. He played that, sending Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard for Nekroz of Unicore, and Herald added Nekroz Cycle to his hand. Next, he stacked Senju and Unicore for Lavalval Chain, which sent Djinn Releaser of Rituals to the Graveyard. He played Nekroz Cycle, banishing the Djinn to Ritual Summon Clausolas in Defense Position! Preparation of Rites was next, adding Nekroz of Brionac and Nekroz Cycle to his hand. He used Brionac to get Nekroz of Gungnir.

Trucott’s hand was Effect Veiler, Secret Village of the Spellcasters, Scarm, Cir, Barbar, and Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He Set Scarm.

Tran sent Lavalval Chain to attack, but bounced harmlessly off Scarm’s 2000 DEF. Tran used Reinforcement of the Army to add Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to his hand, then Tributed it with Nekroz Cycle, bringing down Nekroz of Brionac. Shurit’s effect added Nekroz of Trishula to Tran’s hand. Then, he used Lavalval Chain to put Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands on top of his Deck. Finally, he returned Lavalval Chain to his Extra Deck with his Brionac’s effect.

Trucott drew Terraforming. He played Barbar and passed.

Tran played Manju to get Nekroz of Unicore. He took out Barbar with Bionac.

Trucott drew Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He played Cagna and destroyed Manju in battle, still trapped by the effect of Djinn Releaser of Rituals.

Tran played Senju to search for Nekroz of Gungnir, protecting the Djinn-Summoned Clausolas. Brionac took out Cagna.

Trucott drew Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss! This was what he needed to get out of lockdown! Farfa attacked Senju and was destroyed, but had its effect negated by Tran’s Nekroz of Trishula!

Tran played Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and searched out Nekroz Mirror. He stacked Senju and Manju for Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer and tried to use its effect on Scarm, but it was negated by Effect Veiler. Tran got Trishula back to his hand with Unicore, then Summoned it with Nekroz Mirror! Trucott knew it was all over!

Once the Duel was finished, he lamented the fact that he hadn’t used Effect Veiler on Lavalval Chain earlier in the Duel. If he’d done that, Djinn Releaser of Rituals wouldn’t have hit the Graveyard, and the Duel would have been completely different.