Top 16 Feature Match: Brandon Wong versus Jake Phinney
Brandon Wong has managed to make it all the way to Top 16 with an awesomely innovative Performage Majespecter Deck that has huge combos involving Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Wavering Eyes to close out games and take a much more proactive role than the regular Majespecter lists are capable of. His opponent is no slouch though, Jake Phinney topped the NAWCQ this year and competed at the World Championship in Kyoto. He is Dueling with Nekroz, the Deck of choice for many regulars of the Feature Match Area. Can Wong take his innovative strategy even further or can Phinney
Phinney won the roll and chose to go second.
Duel One:
Wong started with a hand of Majespecter Cyclone, Mystical Space Typhoon, Wavering Eyes, Performage Plushfire, and Performage Mirror Conductor. He activated his Performage Plushfire in his Pendulum Zone and Set Mystical Space Typhoon before he ended his turn.
Phinney Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and used its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. He followed that up with Nekroz Kaleidoscope to Special Summon the Nekroz of Unicore by send Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard, which triggered and let him add Nekroz of Brionac. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack with Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and Nekroz of Unicore in succession, putting Wong down to 4300 Life Points. He moved to Main Phase 2 and overlayed his two Level 4s for Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer but when he tried to use its effect on the Performage Plushfire, Wong responded with Mystical Space Typhoon to blow it away! The Performage Plushfire triggered, prompting Phinney to respond with Maxx “C”, and Wong Special Summoned Performage Damage Juggler via the effect. Phinney pressed forward and activated Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Trishula, and then a Preparation of Rites to grab Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck and Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Graveyard. He ditched the Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Mirror, then activated it banishing Nekroz of Brionac and Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula! He activated its effect and banished Wong’s in hand Performage Mirror Conductor along with the Performage Damage Juggler he had Special Summoned and the Mystical Space Typhoon in his Graveyard. Phinney paused for a moment to consider if he was doing anything else but decided to pass the turn back.
Wong drew Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and that was enough for him to concede!
After a weak opening combined with a line that opened him up to being hit by a Nekroz of Trishula too easily, Wong’s Performage Maspecter Deck falls to the power of Phinney’s Nekroz. Can the Pendulums best the Rituals? Or can Phinney close out the match in just two games?
Wong chose to go second.
Duel Two:
Phinney started with Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and used its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac, which he then ditched to add Nekroz of Unicore, which he used to add back the Nekroz of Brionac that had found it. He Set two to his back row and ended.
Wong opened with Retaliating “C”, Shared Ride, Majespecter Tempest, Majespecter Tornado, and Retaliating “C” before he drew Performage Mirror Conductor. Wong Set all of his Spells and Traps trying to end, but Phinney Flipped Royal Decree during the End Phase!
Phinney drew and announced his phases. He Normal Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands and activated its effect, which prompted Wong to respond with Shared Ride. Phinney ultimately searched Nekroz of Valkyrus and Wong drew Wavering Eyes off of the Shared Ride. Moving to Battle Phase next, Phinney declared attacks with both Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and Senju of the Thousand Hands before he ended.
Wong drew Archfiend Eccentrick for turn and thought for a moment before he placed Performage Mirror Conductor and Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer in his Pendulum Zones which Phinney tried to respond to with Mystical Space Typhoon on Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer, but Wong responded with Wavering Eyes to destroy both of his own Pendulums! He dealt 500 damage to Phinney and added Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku to his hand which he then Normal Summoned to add Majespecter Fox – Kyubi to his hand. He placed the Majespecter Fox – Kyubi on scale along with the Archfiend Eccentrick and Pendulum Summoned Performage Mirror Conductor along with Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer. He Synchro Summoned Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer using Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Performage Mirror Conductor then triggered its effect to Special Summon another copy of Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer. He used the effect of Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer to shuffle back the Royal Decree and destroy his own Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer but when he tried to move to Battle Phase he got blocked by Phinney’s Nekroz of Valkyrus. Wong ended without any further actions.
Phinney drew and announced his phases once again, slamming down Denko Sekka once he hit Main Phase. Now with both of the back row locked down again, Phinney overlayed his Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and Senju of the Thousand Hands for Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer so he could use its effect to spin away Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer. He then activated Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Unicore, and used the Nekroz of Unicore to add back Nekroz of Valkyrus. He activated Nekroz Mirror next which prompted Wong to reveal his Retaliating “C”. Nekroz of Decisive Armor hit the Field for Phinney and Retaliating “C” did for Wong. Phinney used the effect of Nekroz of Decisive Armor to banish Wong’s Set Majespecter Tempest and then moved to Battle Phase clearing the opposing Monsters and leaving Wong with 1100 Life Points. Phinney was forced to pass having his game shot blocked by Retaliating “C”.
Wong drew Performage Damage Juggler and added it to his hand of Maxx “C” that he got off the effect of Retaliating “C” last turn. He announced a Pendulum Summon for two copies of Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer along with Performage Mirror Conductor and Performage Damage Juggler. Wong Synchro Summoned Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer next using Performage Mirror Conductor and a Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer; the Synchro triggered to Special Summon another Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to the Field and Wong used the effect of Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer to destroy his Majespecter Fox – Kyubi and shuffle away Phinney’s Nekroz of Decisive Armor. He overlayed two copies of Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer for Majester Paladin, the Ascending Dracoslayer and used its effect to he could add a Pendulum during the End Phase. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack over Denko Sekka before he moved to End Phase and added Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku to his hand.
Phinney drew and during the Draw Phase, Wong announced he was going to activate Maxx “C”. Phinney Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and used its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac before he ditched the Nekroz of Brionac to find Nekroz of Clausolas. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack with Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer over Majester Paladin, the Ascending Dracoslayer to put Wong down to 950 before he ended.
Wong drew Performage Plushfire and used the effect of Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer to destroy his Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and shuffle back Phinney’s Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer. He placed Majespecter Fox – Kyubi in his Pendulum Zone and then Pendulum Summoned Majespecter Fox – Kyubi along with Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku and Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to the Field, triggering the Majespecter Fox – Kyubi to add Majespecter Tempest. He moved to Battle Phase and Phinney used Nekroz of Valkyrus to negate the first attack along with the rest of the Battle Phase. Wong Set the Majespecter Tempest he had searched before he ended.
Phinney drew and began announcing his phases, and before he got to Main Phase Wong Flipped his Set Majespecter Tornado to banish Phinney’s Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands. After surveying the Field for a second Phinney conceded!
After what seemed like an easy victory for Phinney, Wong manages to scrape it out and take it to a third game. Will he have the same success or can Phinney seal the deal?
Phinney chose to go second.
Duel Three:
Wong drew Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer, Archfiend Eccentrick, Majespecter Cat – Nekomata, and two copies of Performage Damage Juggler. He placed Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer in his Pendulum Zone along with Majespecter Cat – Nekomata and used the effect of Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to destroy the cat and add another copy. He Pendulum Summoned the single Majespecter Cat – Nekomata and moved to End Phase so he could search Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku.
Phinney started off with Nekroz of Brionac and used it to add Nekroz of Unicore. He activated Nekroz of Clausolas next to find Nekroz Kaleidoscope and played it to Special Summon the Nekroz of Unicore he had previously searched. Herald of the Arc Light hit the Graveyard for the Ritual and Phinney grabbed another copy of Nekroz of Unicore thanks to its effect. He then activated Nekroz Cycle and tributed Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz to bring back his Nekroz of Brionac and add Nekroz of Trishula to his hand thanks to the Shurit trigger. Next, he activated the effect of the on Field Nekroz of Brionac to bounce away the Majespecter Cat – Nekomata and tried to get in some damage, but Wong blocked all of the damage with both Performage Damage Juggler. In Main Phase 2 Phinney activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Wong’s Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer before he ended.
Wong drew Retaliating “C” and then banished Performage Damage Juggler from his Graveyard to add Performage Plushfire. He placed it in his Pendulum Zone and then Pendulum Summoned Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku and Archfiend Eccentrick from his hand to the Field; the Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku triggered and Wong added Majespecter Crow – Yata to his hand. Wong then tried to use the effect of Archfiend Eccentrick to destroy Nekroz of Brionac, but Phinney used Nekroz of Trishula to save it. Wong pressed forward and Normal Summoned Majespecter Crow – Yata using it to add Nekroz Cycle to his hand. He then activated the Nekroz Cycle and tributed the Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku to destroy the Nekroz of Brionac.
Phinney drew and time was called. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore but Wong responded with Retaliating “C” so that Phinney wouldn’t get the search from Herald of the Arc Light! Phinney ditched the last card in his hand, Nekroz of Brionac, to add Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz to his hand before he Normal Summoned it. He overlayed Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz and Nekroz of Unicore for Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer and used its effect to spin away the Majespecter Cat – Nekomata in the Pendulum Zone. Because of the Retaliating “C” the Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz was banished, Phinney got to trigger it to banish Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz from his Deck and then bring back the Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz to the Field! He declared attack with Nekroz of Brionac over Majespecter Crow – Yata and Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz over Retaliating “C”, which let Wong search Retaliating “C”, and finally Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer direct to put Wong down to 4700 Life Points.
Wong drew Performage Plushfire for turn and then banished Performage Damage Juggler to add Performage Mirror Conductor. He put the Mirror in his Pendulum Zone and then Pendulum Summoned Performage Plushfire from his hand along with Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer from his Extra Deck. He Synchro Summoned Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer using both of those Monsters, then used its effect to Special Summon Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer from his Deck. He then used the other effect of Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer and blew away his own Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to shuffle away Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz. He then declared an attack with Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer over Nekroz of Brionac before he ended with Phinney at 6550.
Phinney drew Senju of the Thousand Hands and declared, “The heart of the cards!” as he Summoned it. He used its effect to add Nekroz of Valkyrus to his hand and switched Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer to Defense Position before he ended.
Wong drew Wavering Eyes on the last turn of time. He Pendulum Summoned Performage Plushfire and then used the effect of Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer to Special Summon Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer. He activated the Synchro’s effect and blew away his Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to shuffle Phinney’s Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer back to his Extra Deck. He then activated Wavering Eyes to destroy his Pendulum Zones and add Majespecter Fox – Kyubi to his hand and Special Summoned Performage Damage Juggler via the effect of Performage Plushfire. He Normal Summoned Majespecter Fox – Kyubi and used its effect to add Majespecter Tempest to his hand. Now with Phinney at 6050, he overlayed all three of his Level 4s for Tellarknight Ptolemaeus and used its effect to rank up into Constellar Pleiades! He banished Performage Damage Juggler to add Performage Hat Tricker and Special Summoned it before he moved to Battle Phase. He declared an attack with Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer on Senju of the Thousand Hands which prompted Phinney to use his Nekroz of Valkyrus, and in response Wong bounced away his own Synchro so that the Nekroz of Valkyrus would resolve without effect! The Constellar Pleiades ran over the Senju of the Thousand Hands and then the Performage Hat Tricker connected directly leaving Wong with more Life Points thus winning the Duel!
Out of what seemed like nowhere for Jake Phinney, Brandon Wong takes down Nekroz with his Performage Majespecter Deck and moves on to the Top 8!
