Texan Duelists Miguel Soto and Cameron Neal both finished the Swiss Rounds with 8-2 records and then won their Top 32 Matches. Now, they’re facing off in the Top 16, in a Match that will eliminate one of these two Duelists. Miguel Soto – a 2015 World Championship competitor – is piloting the only Atlantean Mermail Deck to make it to the Top 32, while Neal is using a more conventional Performapal Pendulum strategy. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Soto won the die roll and chose to go second.

Neal activated Performapal Guitartle and then played Performapal Lizardraw in his Pendulum Zone. He used Guitartle’s effect to draw a card, and then used Lizardraw’s effect to destroy it and draw another card. Next, he activated Upstart Goblin and gave Soto 1000 Life Points to draw a card. Neal played Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer in his Pendulum Zone next, and then Pendulum Summoned Lizardraw from his Extra Deck, and Pendulum Sorcerer and Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer from his hand. He used his Sorcerer’s effect to destroy the Pendulum Sorcerer in his Pendulum Zone and add Performapal Skullcrobat Joker to his hand. Next, he Normal Summoned Skullcrobat Joker and used its effect to add Performapal Monkeyboard from his Deck to his hand. He combined Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer with Master Pendulum next, in order to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller in Attack Position. Finally, he Set 2 cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Dweller and Pals

Soto opened up with Upstart Goblin, Atlantean Marksman, Mermail Abyssmegalo, Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, Abyss-scale of the Mizuchi, and Instant Fusion. He activated Upstart Goblin to draw Effect Veiler and give Neal 1000 Life Points. He Summoned Atlantean Marksman and attacked Lizardraw to destroy it and send it to the Extra Deck. Then, he Set his Abyss-scale of the Mizuchi, but lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Neal activated Draco Face-Off to Special Summon Vector Pendulum, the Dracoverlord from his Deck in Attack Position, and send Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to his Pendulum Zone. Then, he activated Performapal Monkeyboard and used its effect to add Performapal Silver Claw from his Deck to his hand. He combined Skullcrobat Joker with Vector Pendulum to Xyz Summon Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer and then detached both Xyz Materials from it to activate its effect; but Soto negated its effect with Effect Veiler. Soto flipped Wavering Eyes next, destroying both of his Pendulum Scales, dealing 500 points of damage to Soto, and adding Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer from his Deck to his hand. Next, he activated Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer and Silver Claw in his Pendulum Zones and Pendulum Summoned Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer, Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, and Lizardraw from his Extra Deck. He attacked over Marksman with Castel to destroy it, and then attacked directly with his other 4 monsters to wipe out the rest of Soto’s Life Points!

Full field

A rough start for Miguel Soto allows Cameron Neal to make short work of him in Duel 1!

Duel Two

Soto opened up Duel 2 with Twin Twisters, 2 copies of Flying “C”, and 2 copies of Instant Fusion. He Set Twin Twisters and Instant Fusion and then passed his turn.

Neal activated Upstart Goblin to give Soto 1000 Life Points and draw a card.

Next, he placed Performapal Silver Claw and Guiding Ariadne in his Pendulum Zones and Pendulum Summoned 2 Master Pendulums from his hand. Soto Special Summoned Flying “C” to Neal’s field. Then, Neal Normal Summoned another Master Pendulum.

The Master

Soto drew Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince! He Normal Summoned it and activated its effect to send Atlantean Dragoons from his Deck to his Graveyard and add Atlantean Dragoons from his Deck to his hand. Then, he used the effect of the Dragoons he sent to the Graveyard to add Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Deck to his hand. Soto flipped Instant Fusion next, and Neal Chained Maxx “C”! Soto gave up 1000 Life Points to Summon Norden from his Extra Deck, and Neal drew a card. Then, Soto used Norden’s effect to Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons from his Graveyard, allowing Neal to draw another card. He combined Norden with Dragoons to Xyz Summon Number 37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark in Attack Position, allowing Neal to draw another card. Soto attacked a Master Pendulum with Number 37, and used Number 37’s effect to detach Dragoons and reduce the ATK of Neal’s monsters by 1000. Then, he used the effect of his Dragoons to add Neptabyss from his Deck to his hand. Neal lost 1650 Life Points, and his Master Pendulum was sent face-up to the Extra Deck. Soto attacked Neal’s second Master Pendulum with his on-field Neptabyss, losing 150 Life Points and getting the Neptabyss off of the field. Soto Set Instant Fusion in Main Phase 2 and then ended his turn.

Neal activated Upstart Goblin to give Soto 1000 Life Points and draw a card. Then, he Summoned Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer in Attack Position by sending both of his Master Pendulums face-up to the Extra Deck. Next, he Pendulum Summoned all 3 of his Master Pendulums back to the field in Attack Position. He activated Raigeki to destroy Number 37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark next! Soto used Number 37’s effect to Special Summon Norden from his Graveyard and used Norden’s effect to Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons from his Graveyard in Defense Position. Neal sent 2 Master Pendulums to the Extra Deck, in order to Summon a second Dinoster Power. Then, he activated Wavering Eyes! He sent his Pendulum Scales to the Extra Deck to deal 500 points of damage to Soto and add Archfiend Eccentrick from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned the Eccentrick and Tributed it to destroy Norden. When Norden was destroyed, Atlantean Dragoons was banished. Master Pendulum, both Dinoster Powers, and Flying “C” attacked directly, wiping out all of Soto’s Life Points!

Dracos

Some rough draws for Miguel Soto allow Cameron Neal to take a quick 2-0 victory over him and eliminate him from the tournament! Cameron Neal is moving on to the Top 8!