Jose Lagunes took down YCS Atlanta with full power Performapal Pendulums, but since has opted to switch to Burning Abyss Phantom Knights for this tournament. He ended first after Swiss, so even though he has chosen to switch strategies, he has clearly shown proficiency given his Swiss record. Esala Wathathantrige may not have a Championship under his belt, but he is no stranger from the YCS Top Cut. He has chosen to use Performapal Pendulum Deck this weekend, a strategy that we will probably see a lot less of come tomorrow with the Forbidden & Limited List taking effect. Can Lagunes take down another YCS? Or will Wathathantrige show that credentials only mean so much? The winner will advance to Top 16, the loser will be out of the tournament.

Lagunes won and chose to go first.

Duel One:

Lagunes started with a hand of Tour Guide from the Underworld, The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak, Foolish Burial, Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Speedroid Terrortop. He Special Summoned Speedroid Terrortop and used it to add Speedroid Taketomborg to his hand so he could Special Summon it. He used Foolish Burial next, sending The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves which he then banished to send The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots. He overlayed both Speedroirs for Leviair the Sea Dragon, then used its effect to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves by detaching Speedroid Taketomborg. He Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld next and used it to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He banished The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his hand, then overlayed Tour Guide from the Underworld and The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves for a second Leviair the Sea Dragon. He used its effect to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots by detaching The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves. He overlayed The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots and Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then used its effect to send Speedroid Terrortop, Twin Twister, and The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves by detaching The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots. He then discarded Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to stack Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal over Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, and Set his Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. During the End Phase the Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered which let him add Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand.

Wathathantrige began with Upstart Goblin, granting Lagunes 1000 Life Points to draw a card. He activated Guiding Ariadne along with Performapal Lizardraw in his Pendulum Zone, then Pendulum Summoned Guiding Ariadne, Performapal Silver Claw, and Rescue Hamster from his hand. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack with Performapal Silver Claw over Leviair the Sea Dragon thanks to its pump, and then moved to Main Phase 2 where he overlayed Rescue Hamster and Performapal Silver Claw for Abyss Dweller. He tried to end his turn, which prompted Lagunes to activate Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal, which Wathathantrige responded to with Abyss Dweller, but LAgunes had Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to make sure his effects resolved. He detached a Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to send Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, which Wathathantrige responded to with Maxx “C”. Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss was Special Summoned thanks to Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, then Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss triggered to add back Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Lagunes drew Maxx “C” for turn and began going off. He banished Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves, then used Leviair the Sea Dragon to Special Summon a The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves. He overlayed both for The Phantom Knights of Break Sword and used its effect to destroy itself and Abyss Dweller, which triggered the The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots and brought back both The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves. He overlayed them for Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, and used its effect on Guiding Ariadne. He then used Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal to detach and send Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, which was enough to set up the win!

End Field of Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal, Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, Leviair the Sea Dragon, and Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon

An insane turn one allows Lagunes to pull way too far ahead for Wathathantrige’s weak hand to compete. Can Wathathantrige showcase why the Performapal Pendulum Deck was so deserving of its hits on the Forbidden & Limited List? Or will Lagunes pave the way to another victory?

Wathathantrige chose to go first.

Duel Two:

Wathathantrige started with Upstart Goblin once again to draw a card. He placed both Guiding Ariadne and Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer in his Pendulum Zone, then used the effect of Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to destroy Guiding Ardiadne and trigger its effect. He revealed two copies of Chaos Trap Hole and a Solemn Strike, prompting Lagunes to give him Solemn Strike. He placed Rescue Hamster in his Pendulum Zone and Lagunes used Maxx “C”. Rather than press, Wathathantrige Set a Monster and two back row before he ended.

Lagunes had a hand of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Twin Twister and Maxx “C” before he drew another Maxx “C”. He gave Rescue Hamster a read to make sure he understood what it did, then decided to just Set Twin Twister and end.

Wathathantrige drew to a single card, and during his Draw Phase Lagunes used another Maxx “C”. He Flipped his Set Vector Pendulum, the Dracoverlord and Normal Summoned Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer, then swung in with both the forces of LIGHT and DARK to put Lagunes down to 5200. Wathathantrige tried to end, but during his End Phase Lagunes Flipped his Set Twin Twister to destroy Solemn Strike and Chaos Trap Hole. He had fed Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Twin Twister, so he got to trigger it and add Tour Guide from the Underworld to his hand.

Lagunes drew Foolish Burial for turn and began with Tour Guide from the Underworld. He used her effect to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, then overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He detached Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to use its effect, sending Speedroid Terrortop, Twin Twister, and The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to the Graveyard. The Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered to let him Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, then he activated Foolish Burial to send Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard and trigger it to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He overlayed Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for Super Quantal Mech Beast Grampulse and used its effect to destroy Rescue Hamster. He attacked over Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer with Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then in Main Phase 2 discarded Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to stack Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal on top of his Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He banished The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his hand and Set it. During the End Phase, he added Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss with Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Wathathantrige drew and looked through his Extra Deck. He could not find a play that was worthwhile though, and simply Set his Monster moving to End Phase. During the End Phase, Lagunes detached Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss from Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal and sent The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves to the Graveyard. Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss triggered to let him add back Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Lagunes drew Raigeki for turn. He detached Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from Super Quantal Mech Beast Grampulse to destroy the Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer in the Pendulum Zone. Then the Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered, banishing three Malebranches to deal 900. He Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss which then destroyed itself so he could trigger it and Special Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He discarded Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss next to stack Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal on top of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then triggered the Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to banish the Set Monster. He banished The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves next to send Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his Graveyard, before he detached Tour Guide from the Underworld from Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal to send The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak. He banished Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak, then moved to Battle Phase and that was it!

End Field of double Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal, The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak and Super Quantal Mech Beast Grampulse.

With expert skill and a bit of luck, Jose Lagunes swiftly defeats Esala Wathathantrige to move onto the Top 16!