One of the unique strategies that have seen a lot of success this weekend is Performage Challenger. Never having seen any success prior to this event, two Duelists managed to make the Top Cut piloting similar lists. What gave this Deck such a big boost? Well as a Rank 4 Xyz-centric strategy, Instant Fusion and Elder Entity Norden both do a lot of work and tie the Performage and Heroic Challenger themes together. Jake Mattern is one of those two Duelists and because the other has lost in Top 32, now the only one remaining in the tournament.

Ryan Levine has gone with a much more mainstream choice, using Nekroz packing his own copies of Instant Fusion and Elder Entity Norden to help him produce game winning damage and flexible answers. Ryan Levine is coming off of a Top 16 finish at this past YCS Toronto, and now he is trying to outdo his past performance.

Will Mattern be successful with his Performage Challenger Deck? Or will Ryan Levine snuff out the strategy from the tournament? One Duelists will make it into Top 8, the other will be packing their bags, albeit with some awesome prizes.

Levine won the roll and chose for Mattern to go first.

Duel One:

Mattern opened with a hand of Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades, Performage Trick Clown, Compulsory Evacuation Device and two copies of Performage Hat Tricker. He Set Compulsory Evacuation Device to the back row and ended his turn.

Levine activated Reinforcement of the Army to add Nekroz of Clausolas which he then ditched to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope. He then discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Unicore, and with the combo assembled he activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore sending Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard. The Herald of the Arc Light triggered letting Levine add Nekroz Cycle, and Levine kept pressing with Senju of the Thousand Hands to search Nekroz of Valkyrus. He overlayed both Level 4 Monsters for Diamond Dire Wolf, which Mattern chose to Compulsory Evacuation Device. Levine then banished Nekroz Kaleidoscope and Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Cycle, then activated the Nekroz Cycle, tributing Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz, to Special Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus. The Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz triggered which let him search Nekroz of Trishula, which he then Special Summoned by activating Nekroz Mirror and banishing Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz. He activated Instant Fusion next to Special Summon Elder Entity Norden and Special Summon Senju of the Thousand Hands. He overlayed both for Abyss Dweller and with the boost that the Xyz provided for all of Levine’s WATER Monsters, he was able to attack for game!

Levine manages to grind through a back row and boldly goes in for game even with the possibility of Performage Damage Juggler. Risks do pay off sometimes, and this one allowed Levine to secure the first Duel in very quick fashion.

Duelists moved to their Side Decks to adjust accordingly, both desperately looking for that edge that could help them succeed in the match.

Mattern chose for Levine to go first.

Duel Two:

Levine activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Brionac, then used Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Unicore, and then used that same Nekroz of Unicore to add back the Nekroz of Brionac he just discarded wanting to Set up a Nekroz card in his Graveyard so that he could use Nekroz of Valkyrus if need be. He Set a back row before he ended.

Mattern opened with a hand of Performage Hat Tricker, Performage Damage Juggler, Heroic Challenger – Assault Halberd, D.D. Warrior Lady, and Gravekeeper’s Commandant before he draw a Retaliating “C” for turn. He Normal Summoned Heroic Challenger – Assault Halberd and tried to declare an attack which Levine allowed. Mattern triggered the Heroic Challenger – Assault Halberd to add another copy and then took a minute to survey his hand. He ultimately chose to not make any further actions and passed the turn.

Levine drew to five cards and started by discarding Nekroz of Brionac to add Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz. He activated Nekroz Cycle which Mattern chose to respond to with Retaliating “C”! The Insect came down and Levine tributed Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz to Special Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus, but both the Nekroz Cycle and Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz were banished. The Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz still triggered allowing Levine to add Nekroz of Clausolas to his hand. He activated Raigeki to destroy the Heroic Challenger – Assault Halberd and Retaliating “C”, which did let Mattern add Maxx “C” to his hand, but getting the Retaliating “C” off the Field was important. He activated Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope, and then activated the effect of Nekroz of Valkyrus, tributing Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz, to draw a card. The Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz added Nekroz of Unicore, and then Levine activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore and send Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard, but Mattern responded to the Ritual Spell with Maxx “C” which let him draw another copy of Maxx “C” once Nekroz of Unicore hit the field. The Herald of the Arc Light let Levine add Nekroz of Valkyrus before he went to Battle Phase and declared an attack with Nekroz of Unicore, but the attack with Nekroz of Valkyrus was blocked by Performage Damage Juggler. Levine Set a second card to his back row before he ended.

Mattern drew Performage Trick Clown and then banished Performage Damage Juggler from his Graveyard to add Performage Hat Tricker. He Normal Summoned D.D. Warrior Lady, then ditched his Gravekeeper’s Commandant to add Necrovalley to his hand! He activated the Necrovalley and tried to enter Battle Phase but Levine activated Mystical Space Typhoon to blow away the Field Spell. When Mattern tried to swing into Nekroz of Unicore, Levine had Nekroz of Valkyrus to block the attack and banish Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz in the process! The Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz then triggered to send Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz to the Graveyard. With a hand full of Monsters and being stifled by Nekroz of Unicore, Mattern was forced to pass.

Levine drew to one card, then activated the effect of Nekroz of Valkyrus, tributing itself and Nekroz of Unicore to draw two cards. Next, he banished Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz and Nekroz Kaleidoscope to add Nekroz Cycle; this triggered Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz which Mattern chose to respond to with Maxx “C”, and once Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz hit the board Mattern drew Mathematician. Levine didn’t falter, he activated Nekroz Cycle tributing the Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz to Special Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus, which let Mattern draw Vanity’s Emptiness. He added Nekroz of Brionac and used its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore, which he then Summoned using Nekroz Kaleidoscope sending Herald of the Arc Light to his Graveyard. This time Maxx “C” gave Mattern Breakthrough Skill, and the Herald of the Arc Light let Levine add Nekroz of Trishula to his hand. He then activated Nekroz Mirror to Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula, letting Mattern draw Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades, but the Nekroz of Trishula banished the little defense that Mattern had and allowed Levine to attack and end the Duel!

After a couple of devastating games, Ryan Levine showcases just how powerful Nekroz can be by defeating Jake Mattern and moving on to the Top 8!