Two-time YCS Champion Barrett Keys has been dominating the tournament, currently 7-1-1 with his Monarch Deck. Uniquely, Keys utilizes an Extra Deck to make powerful Xyz plays unlike many other popular Monrach strategies. Could this new variant of the strategy be the next step? His opponent, Alexander Juneja, has also had a very impressive showing at 7-2. Juneja is the other Phantom Knight Duelist in the tournament and needs a win here if wants a guaranteed slot. Who will best the other with these new strategies?

Keys won the roll and chose to go first.

Duel One:

Keys started with a hand of The Prime Monarch, Pantheism of the Monarchs, Return of the Monarchs, Tenacity of the Monarchs, and Super Quantum Red Layer. He activated Pantheism of the Monarchs and discarded The Prime Monarch to draw Kuraz, the Light Monarch and Super Quantum Red Layer. He banished Pantheism of the Monarchs next to reveal two copies of The Monarchs Stormforth and one copy of Tenacity of the Monarchs, which led Juneja to choose one of the copies of The Monarchs Stormforth. He Special Summoned Super Quantum Red Layer and then activated Return of the Monarchs. He tributed away his Super Quantum Red Layer for another copy, then triggered Return of the Monarchs to add Ehther the Heavenly Monarch to his hand but chose not to add back Super Quantum Red Layer. He Set The Monarchs Stormforth and ended.

Juneja drew and Set five immediately, but when he tried to move to End Phase Keys made sure to tribute his Super Quantum Red Layer for Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, triggering its effect along with Return of the Monarchs. He sent The Prime Monarch and Pantheism of the Monarchs to the Graveyard to Special Summon another copy of Ehther the Heavenly Monarch and added Erebus the Underworld Monarch thanks to Return of the Monarchs. During the End Phase, Ehther the Heavenly Monarch was sent to Keys’ hand.

Keys drew Kuraz, the Light Monarch for turn and then banished Pantheism of the Monarchs to reveal two copies of Tenacity of the Monarchs and The Prime Monarch. Juneja chose to give him The Prime Monarch, but Keys activated the Tenacity of the Monarchs he already had in hand to add Pantheism of the Monarchs. He then activated Pantheism of the Monarchs to ditch the The Prime Monarch so he could draw Reinforcement of the Army nad Erebus the Underworld Monarch. He used the Reinforcement of the Army to add Edea the Heavenly Squire, then Normal Summoned it and tried to activate its effect, but Juneja Flipped Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to stop it. He declared a direct attack with Ehther the Heavenly Monarch before h ended.

Juneja drew and gave his back row a few peaks before he ended his turn. “What a deal,” commented Keys.

Keys activated One for One and discarded Kuraz, the Light Monarch, but Juneja responded with Vanity’s Emptiness to stop it. Keys made sure to Chain The Prime Monarch to Special Summon it in response. He pressed on with the Tribute Summon of Erebus the Underworld Monarch at the cost of The Prime Monarch and Edea the Heavenly Squire, but Juneja had Solemn Warning to stop it. Edea still triggered and Keys got to add The Prime Monarch to his hand. He moved to Battle Phase and declared a direct attack with Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, but Juneja had another Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to stop it. Keys Set The Prime Monarch before he ended.

Juneja drew and Set a card. When he tried to move to End Phase, Keys attempted to Summon his in hand Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. Juneja had Solemn Strike to stop its effect. Keys Special Summoned The Prime Monarch and Juneja Set another back row before he ended.

Keys drew Reasoning and slammed it down. “I guess eight,” Juneja responded. Keys Flipped over an Upstart Goblin and then hit Super Quantum Blue Layer, which he Special Summoned in Defense Position. He then tributed away his Ehther the Heavenly Monarch to Summon Kuraz, the Light Monarch. He activated Kuraz, the Light Monarch and targeted his Return of the Monarchs and Super Quantum Blue Layer, then also triggered his Return of the Monarchs. However, Juneja responded with Twin Twister to destroy Keys’ Return of the Monarchs and The Monarchs Stormforth, so Keys was only able to draw one card: Eidos the Underworld Squire. He triggered Super Quantum Blue Layer and shuffled it along with both Super Quantum Red Layer to his Deck.

Juneja drew and started muttering incoherently under his breath. He Special Summoned Speedroid Terrortop and added Speedroid Taketomborg to his hand before he Special Summoned it. He overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, and then used its effect to send two copies of The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves and one Speedroid Tri-Eyed Dice. He activated The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves and banished it to send The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to the Graveyard. He then banished The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to his hand. He banished Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves from his Graveyard, then Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from his hand. He overlayed both for Leviair the Sea Dragon and detached The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak. He then banished Phantom Knights’ Sword to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves. He overlayed both of those for a second copy of Leviair the Sea Dragon, and used its effect to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves by detaching The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak. He then Flipped his Set Emergency Teleport, and Special Summoned Super Quantum Blue Layer. He overlayed Super Quantum Blue Layer and The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves for The Phantom Knights of Break Sword, then used its effect to destroy itself and The Prime Monarch. He then triggered Super Quantum Blue Layer to shuffle itself back along with The Phantom Knights of Break Sword to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves and The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak. He overlayed both for Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon! He used its effect on Kuraz, the Light Monarch to boost itself to a massive 4700 ATK thanks to The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves. He swung over Kuraz, the Light Monarch, and then directly with Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to put Keys down to 2000 Life Points. In response to the Leviair the Sea Dragon attack, Keys activate The Prime Monarch in his Graveyard and Chained his one on Field so he could shuffle back the cards he would otherwise banish. He drew Super Quantum Red Layer off of the draw, and produced a Defense Position Monster large enough to fend off Leviair the Sea Dragon.

Keys drew Kuraz, the Light Monarch for turn and after a lot of consideration, Tribute Summoned it. He destroyed itself and his The Prime Monarch to draw two cards, but the new cards were irrelevant as he Special Summoned the Super Quantum Red Layer from his hand and banished to Special Summon The Prime Monarch. He overlayed both for Number 61: Volcasaurus and that was it!

After a bit of back and forth, Keys closes out a game thanks to Number 61: Volcasaurus. Can Juneja get a better draw in the following Duels?

Juneja chose to go first.

Duel Two:

Juneja drew and activated Reinforcement of the Army to add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to his hand. He Normal Summoned The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak and then Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from his hand. He overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and activated its effect sending Vanity’s Emptiness, Mask of Restrict, and Phantom Knights’ Sword to the Graveyard. He banished The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his hand, then Set four to his back row before he ended.

Keys had a hand of Tenacity of the Monarchs, The Monarchs Stormforth, Maxx “C”, The Prime Monarch, and Raigeki before he drew another copy of The Prime Monarch. He Set The Monarchs Stormforth, Tenacity of the Monarchs, and The Prime Monarch before he ended.

Juneja drew and detached Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to send Emergency Teleport, Mask of Restrict, and Phantom Knights’ Wing to his Graveyard. He then Normal Summoned Speedroid Terrortop and used its effect to add Speedroid Taketomborg. At the resolution of that effect, Keys tried to use Maxx “C”, but Juneja responded with Phantom Knights’ Wing to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from his Graveyard. He chose to still Special Summon Speedroid Taketomborg and Keys drew Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. He then overlayed for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and Keys drew Super Quantum Red Layer. Juneja detached a material to send two copies Magic Deflector to the Graveyard along with The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak. He banished Phantom Knights’ Sword to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak and Keys drew Edea the Heavenly Squire off of Maxx “C”. Junejea overlayed his Monsters for The Phantom Knights of Break Sword and after a flurry of attacks along with a Phantom Knights’ Sword, the Duel was over.

Only giving his opponent a single turn, Juneja showcases exactly why Phantom Knights is a real Deck. Who will come out on top in the final Duel?

Keys chose to go first.

Duel Three:

Keys opened with Super Quantum Blue Layer, Eidos the Underworld Squire, Pantheism of the Monarchs, Raigeki, and One for One. He Set all of his Spells along with Super Quantum Blue Layer before he ended his turn.

Juneja drew and Normal Summoned The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak before he Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots. He overlayed both for The Phantom Knights of Break Sword. He activated its effect to destroy itself and Keys’ Set Super Quantum Blue Layer, which then triggered to shuffle itself back into the Deck. Juneja triggered The Phantom Knights of Break Sword to Special Summon back both of his Phantom Knights, then overlayed them for Number 66: Master Key Beetle because of their Level Boost. He Set a card and activated the effect of Number 66: Master Key Beetle before he swung directly. He banished The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade, then Set three more to his back row before he ended.

Keys drew but during his Draw Phase, Juneja Flipped the backrow he had protected with Number 66: Master Key Beetle: Mask of Restrict! Unable to beat the lock, Keys was forced to concede.

In lightning fast fashion, Alexander Juneja claims victory on top of Number 66: Master Key Beetle and Mask of Restrict to defeat Barrett Keys and lock himself in for Top 8!