Matthew Winford is currently 5-1 with a Monarch variant utilizing an Extra Deck. We saw this Deck break out initially at the UDS Invitational in LA as well as YCS Las Vegas, and since this tournament makes it seem like it has become a very popular choice. His opponent is Jesse Gallet who is piloting another strategy that has recently broken out into the competitive scene, a combination of Burning Abyss and Phantom Knights. Both engines try to abuse Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, and with the release of Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal the Deck only got better. Can the might of the Monarchs vanquish the power of Burning Abyss and Phantom Knights combined?

Gallet won the roll and chose to go first.

Duel One:

Gallet began by Special Summoning Speedroid Terrortop and using it to add Speedroid Taketomborg to his hand. He Normal Summoned The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves and then overlayed them both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He sent a Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, a Mask Change II, and a Speedroid Taketomborg before he banished The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves to send The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots which he then banished to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He Set two to his back row and ended.

Winford opened with two copies of The Monarchs Stormforth, Emergency Teleport, Eidos the Underworld Squire, Super Quantum Blue Layer, and drew Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit for turn. He Set Super Quantum Blue Layer and Emergency Teleport before he ended his turn.

Gallet drew and activated Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending Twin Twister, The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots, and Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. The Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered to Special Summon Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He switched Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to Attack Position and declared an attack over Super Quantum Blue Layer, which triggered to shuffle itself back in the Deck. In Main Phase 2, Gallet activated the effect of The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his hand. He Set it to his back row before ending.

Winford drew Erebus the Underworld Monarch for turn. During his Standby Phase he Flipped Emergency Teleport, but Gallet had Maxx “C” to make sure things didn’t get too crazy. Winford Special Summoned Super Quantum Blue Layer but when he tried to activate its effect, Gallet used Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to negate it. He Normal Summoned Eidos the Underworld Squire next, then tributed it along with Super Quantum Blue Layer to Tribute Summon Erebus the Underworld Monarch. The effect of Erebus the Underworld Monarch was negated by Solemn Strike, while Super Quantum Blue Layer successfully shuffled itself back in the Deck. He Set The Monarchs Stormforth and ended his turn.

Gallet drew and activated Twin Twister during his Standby Phase, discarding The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak, to blow away Winford’s Set card. Winford Chained The Monarchs Stormforth, but Gallet pressed on by banishing The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to add The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves to his hand. He Normal Summoned it causing Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to destroy itself, the Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots and overlayed it along with the other Phantom Knight for Leviair the Sea Dragon. He used the effect of Leviair the Sea Dragon to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots, then Special Summoned Speedroid Taketomborg from his hand. He overlayed those two for a second copy of Leviair the Sea Dragon, then used it to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves. Winford used his Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit to destroy the Leviair the Sea Dragon, but its effect still resolved to Special Summon the The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves. He Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from his hand and overlayed it with The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He then banished The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from his Graveyard to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his hand. He activated the effect of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and milled Speedroid Terrortop, Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He activated the effect of Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss banishing just Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to deal 300. He switched Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to Attack Position and swung in with all of his Monsters, leaving Winford at 2400 Life Points. He Set his last two cards and ended his turn.

Winford drew Erebus the Underworld Monarch for turn and conceded.

End Field of two Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, Leviair the Sea Dragon

Gallet capitalizes on Winford’s weak hand in the first Duel, showcasing the power of Burning Abyss Phantom Knights without even Summoning Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal. Can Winford manage to win two Duels in a row?

Winford chose to go first.

Duel Two:

Gallet Set three to his back row and a Monster before ending his first turn.

Winford opened with hand of Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, Erebus the Underworld Monarch, Emergency Teleport, and two copies of Tenacity of the Monarchs before he drew a second copy of Emergency Teleport. He began with Tenacity of the Monarchs revealing Erebus the Underworld Monarch to add Pantheism of the Monarchs to his hand, then activated the Pantheism of the Monarchs discarding the second copy of Tenacity of the Monarchs to draw Twin Twister and another Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. He activated Emergency Teleport and Special Summoned Super Quantum Blue Layer, triggering it to add Super Quantum Red Layer to his hand. He banished Pantheism of the Monarchs next and revealed three copies of The Monarchs Stormforth, forcing Gallet to give him a copy. He played it, then tributed away his Super Quantum Blue Layer along with Gallet’s The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak for Erebus the Underworld Monarch, but lost the Erebus the Underworld Monarch to Solemn Warning. The Super Quantum Blue Layer still triggered to shuffle itself back in the Deck. He Special Summoned Super Quantum Red Layer and then declared a direct attack with it, leaving Gallet at 4000 Life Points. He Set Emergency Teleport before ending his turn.

Gallet drew and gave both Graveyards a look through. He banished The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak and used it to add The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves, then Set a Monster and ended his turn.

Winford drew Erebus the Underworld Monarch for turn and activated Twin Twister, ditching the Erebus the Underworld Monarch to blow away Solemn Strike and Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He activated the Set Emergency Teleport next, Special Summoning Super Quantum Blue Layer from his Deck and activating it to add Super Quantum Red Layer. He tributeed both Super Quantum Blue Layer and Super Quantum Red Layer for Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, triggering its effect along with Super Quantum Blue Layer. He sent Pantheism of the Monarchs and Frost Blast of the Monarchs to the Graveyard to Special Summon another Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, then the Super Quantum Blue Layer shuffled itself back. He activated Frost Blast of the Monarchs banishing The Monarchs Stormforth to get rid of the Set The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves, then banished Pantheism of the Monarchs to reveal two copies of The Monarchs Stormforth along with Tenacity of the Monarchs. Gallet gave him Tenacity of the Monarchs, then Winford moved to Battle Phase. One attack got blocked via Gallet Special Summoning The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves via Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade, but the other Ehther the Heavenly Monarch hit directly. In Main Phase 2, Winford activated Tenacity of the Monarchs and revealed Ehther the Heavenly Monarch to add The Monarchs Stormforth to his hand. He Set the Spell and an Ehther the Heavenly Monarch returned to his hand.

Gallet drew for turn and conceded!

End Field of just Ehther the Heavenly Monarch

An impressive series of turns by Winford allows him to take his turn capitalizing on Gallet’s weak hand, pushing the match to a third and final Duel! Who will emerge victorious?

Gallet chose to go first in the final Duel.

Duel Three:

Gallet Special Summoned Speedroid Terrortop but opted not to use its effect. He Normal Summoned The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves, then overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He milled Mask Change II, Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss off of the Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, triggering Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He banished The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves to send The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots, then banish The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He Set two to his back row and during the End Phase added Tour Guide from the Underworld to his hand via Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Windofrd had two copies of Pantheism of the Monarchs, Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, Super Quantum Red Layer, and Tenacity of the Monarchs before he drew Twin Twister. He began with Tenacity of the Monarchs, revealing Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, to add The Prime Monarch to his hand. He activated Pantheism of the Monarchs and ditched The Prime Monarch to draw Tenacity of the Monarchs and The Monarchs Stormforth. He then banished Pantheism of the Monarchs from his Graveyard to reveal Frost Blast of the Monarchs, as well as two copies of The Prime Monarch. Gallet gave him one of the traps, and Winford ditched it for a second Pantheism of the Monarchs. He drew Emergency Teleport and The Prime Monarch this time, then surveyed the Field to consider his next move. He activated Twin Twister ditching the third The Prime Monarch to his Graveyard, blowing away both of Gallet’s Phantom Knights’ Fog Blades. He Special Summoned Super Quantum Red Layer then followed it up with Emergency Teleport to Special Summon Super Quantum Blue Layer, which triggered to add Super Quantum Red Layer to his hand. He banished Tenacity of the Monarchs to Special Summon a copy of The Prime Monarch, then tributed it along with Super Quantum Blue Layer for Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. Both it and the Super Quantum Blue Layer triggered, allowing Winford to send Frost Blast of the Monarchs as well as Pantheism of the Monarchs to the Graveyard so he could Special Summon a second Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, then the Super Quantum Blue Layer shuffled itself back. He moved to Battle Phase and time was called. He declared an attack with Super Quantum Red Layer over Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, which triggered to Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Then he declared an attack with Ehther the Heavenly Monarch over Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, which triggered to add Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He followed it up with an attack from the last Ehther the Heavenly Monarch over Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He Set The Monarchs Stormforth entered his End Phase where both Ehther the Heavenly Monarch returned to his hand and Gallet searched Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Gallet Special Summoned Speedroid Terrortop and then Special Summoned Speedroid Taketomborg. He overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then sent Solemn Strike, Magic Deflector, and Mask of Restrict to his Graveyard. He ditched Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand next to Special Summon Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal, which triggered the Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Winford responded with The Monarchs Stormforth, and Gallet sat back to consider his next move. When Gallet tried to end his Main Phase, Winford snapped into action and activated Ehther the Heavenly Monarch by banishing The Monarchs Stormforth. He tributed away Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal and Super Quantum Red Layer to Summon it, so both Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and Ehther the Heavenly Monarch triggered. Winford sent Return of the Monarchs and Escalation of the Monarchs to Special Summon Erebus the Underworld Monarch from his Deck, while Gallet activated Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to add the other Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss back to his Extra Deck. Gallet clarified that he was still in Main Phase, then Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld and activated its effect to Special Summon Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He overlayed both Fiends for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then used its effect to send Twin Twister, Raigeki, and Mask of Restrict by detaching Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. The Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss then triggered, banishing Winford’s Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. Gallet ditched Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand next to Special Summon Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal, then triggered the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Special Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. After giving his Graveyard one last look through, he Set a back row and ended his turn. During the End Phase, Erebus the Underworld Monarch returned to the hand, Ehther the Heavenly Monarch returned to the Field, and Winford Special Summoned The Prime Monarch.

Winford drew Emergency Teleport for turn and dove for his Graveyard. He entered his Main Phase and then activated Frost Blast of the Monarchs to blow away Gallet’s Set Solemn Strike, then began doing some math. He started with Tenacity of the Monarchs, revealing Erebus the Underworld Monarch, and added The Monarchs Stormforth to his hand. He banished Tenacity of the Monarchs to Special Summon The Prime Monarch, but Gallet responded by activating Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal detaching Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to send Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. The Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss triggered to add back Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and the Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered to banish the freshly Summoned The Prime Monarch. Winford activated The Monarchs Stormforth next, tributing his The Prime Monarch along with Gallet’s Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal for Erebus the Underworld Monarch. He activated its effect, and once Gallet saw the two Monarch spells/traps he conceded!

End Field of double Ehther the Heavenly Monarch and Erebus the Underworld Monarch

Matthew Winford manages to climb out after losing game one, and moves