Mexico City’s Eduardo Daniel Cortez Morendo and Jose Felix Maldonado Garrido from Queretaro, Mexico are both currently 5-0-1 in the tournament with their respective Decks. Cortes is using a Fairy Deck that revolves around Herald of Perfection and the new Cyber Angel cards in Dragons of Legend -Unleashed-, while Maldonado is using a Phantom Knight Burning Abyss Deck that he has modified to accommodate the new Forbidden & Limited List. Which of these Duelists will prevail? We’re about the find out. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Cortes opened up Duel 1 with Archlord Kristya, Herald of Perfection, Pre-Preparation of Rites, Cyber Angel Idaten, and Machine Angel Ritual.

He activated Pre-Preparation of Rites to add Dawn of the Herald and Herald of Perfection from his Deck to his hand, and then activated Dawn of the Herald, Tributing Idaten to Ritual Summon Herald of Perfection in Defense Position. He activated Idaten’s effect to increase his Herald’s ATK and DEF by 1000 and banished Dawn of the Herald from his Graveyard to return Idaten from his Graveyard to his hand.

Maldonado Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and activated its effect; but Cortes discarded Herald of Perfection from his hand to negate Tour Guide’s effect and destroy Tour Guide. Next, Maldonado Special Summoned Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand. He tried to Special Summon Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss next, but Maldonado discarded Kristya from his hand to negate its effect and send it to the Graveyard. Maldonado Set 2 cards to his back row before passing his turn.

Cortes drew a card and Maldonado flipped Anti-Spell Fragrance; but Cortes discarded Idaten from his hand to negate Anti-Spell Fragrance and destroy it with his Herald. Next, Cortes Summoned Gale Dogra. He activated its effect by paying 3000 Life Points and sent Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. He used his Herald’s effect to add Cyber Angel Benten from his Deck to his hand. Next, he activated Gale Dogra’s effect again, paying another 3000 Life Points to send another Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. This time, he used the effect of Herald of the Arc Light to add Cyber Angel Idaten from his Deck to his hand. He activated Machine Angel Ritual next, Tributing Benten from his hand to Special Summon Idaten, and used the effects of Benten and Idaten to add Dawn of the Herald and Herald of Perfection from his Deck to his hand. Next, he combined Idaten with Herald of Perfection to Xyz Summon Constellar Ptolemy M7. He detached an Xyz Material to activate its effect and return Cyber Angel Benten from his Graveyard to his hand. Then, he activated Dawn of the Herald and Tributed Benten to Special Summon Herald of Perfection from his hand in Attack Position. He banished Dawn of the Herald from his Graveyard to return Benten to his hand, and used his Tributed Benten’s effect to add Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands from his Deck to his hand. Next, Herald of Perfection attacked and destroyed Libic, and Gale Dogra and M7 attacked directly, dropping Maldonado down to 4650 Life Points.

Maldonado Normal Summoned The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak and then Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from his hand. He combined his 2 monsters to Xyz Summon The Phantom Knights of Break Sword and then attacked Herald of Perfection. Cortes banished Machine Angel Ritual from his Graveyard to protect his Herald. In Main Phase 2, Maldonado activated Break Sword’s effect to try to destroy M7 and Break Sword; but Cortes discarded Manju from his hand to negate its effect and destroy Break Sword. Next, Maldonado activated Break Sword’s effect to Special Summon Silent Boots and Ancient Cloak from his Graveyard in Defense Position. He combined his 2 monsters to Xyz Summon Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon and then detached 2 Xyz Materials from Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon to try to drain half of M7’s ATK. Cortes discarded Manju from his hand to negate the effect of Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon with his Herald of Perfection. Next, Maldonado banished Ancient Cloak from his Graveyard to add Silent Boots to his hand. He banished Silent Boots from his Graveyard next, adding Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his hand. He Set Fog Blade and then ended his turn.

Cortes drew Pot of Desires. He activated the effect of M7 to try to return a card to his hand, but Maldonado flipped Fog Blade to negate its effect and render it unable to attack. Next, Cortes activated Pot of Desires. He banished the top 10 cards of his Deck face-down to draw another Pot of Desires and an Advanced Ritual Art. Cortes upgraded his M7 into Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger, and then attacked directly with Herald of Perfection. Maldonado flipped Twin Twisters and discarded Silent Boots to destroy his own Fog Blade, and the Herald inflicted 1800 points of damage in battle. Gale Dogra attacked directly next, and when Gaia Dragon tried to attack directly, Maldonado banished Fog Blade from his Graveyard to Special Summon Silent Boots. Gaia Dragon attacked and destroyed Silent Boots, dropping Maldonado down to 800 Life Points. Cortes Set Pot of Desires before ending his turn.

Maldonado drew a card and then conceded, overwhelmed by Cortes’s field.

Cortes Summons Herald of Perfection on his first turn and uses it to dominate Duel 1! Maldonado will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Maldonado started off Duel 2 by Special Summoning Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand then then Normal Summoning Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

He combined his 2 monsters to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, and activated its effect by detaching Calcab to send 3 Spell and Trap Cards from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He Set 2 cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Cortes drew a card and then Maldonado flipped Anti-Spell Fragrance! Cortes had Pot of Desires, Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands, Archlord Kristya, Herald of Perfection, and 2 copies of Gale Dogra in his hand. He Summoned Manju and activated its effect to add Advanced Ritual Art from his Deck to his hand. He Set Pot of Desires and Advanced Ritual Art before ending his turn.

Maldonado Normal Summoned Speedroid Terrortop and activated its effect to add Speedroid Taketomborg from his Deck to his hand. Next, he Special Summoned Taketomborg to his field in Defense Position. He combined Taketomborg with Terrortop to Xyz Summon a second Dante in Attack Position. He detached an Xyz Material to send 3 cards from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard, including a Barbar that inflicted 300 points of damage with its effect. Next, he switched his other Dante into Attack Position, and detached Cir from it to send 3 more cards from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Cir’s effect to Special Summon Barbar from his Graveyard, and then attacked directly with both Dantes and Barbar, dropping Cortes down to 1000 Life Points.

Cortes drew Maxx “C” next turn. He flipped Advanced Ritual Art and sent Gyakutenno Megami from his Deck to his Graveyard to Special Summon Herald of Perfection from his hand. He flipped Pot of Desires next, banishing the top 10 cards of his Deck face-down to draw Typhoon and Preparation of Rites. Finally, Cortes Set Typhoon and Gale Dogra before ending his turn.

Maldonado detached an Xyz Material from Dante to send Solemn Strike, Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Silent Boots from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Farfa’s effect to try to banish Herald of Perfection, but Cortes discarded Kristya from his hand to negate Farfa’s effect. Next, Maldonado Normal Summoned Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Cortes discarded Maxx “C” from his hand. Barbar attacked and destroyed Gale Dogra, and then Maldonado ended his turn.

Cortes drew Cyber Angel Benten and then activated Typhoon to destroy Anti-Spell Fragrance. He activated Preparation of Rites next, adding Advanced Ritual Art from his Graveyard to his hand and adding Cyber Angel Idaten from his Deck to his hand. He Set another Gale Dogra and then passed his turn.

Maldonado combined Scarm with Barbar to Xyz Summon another Dante, and then detached Barbar from Dante to send Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Karma Cut, and Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated the effects of Graff and Barbar, using Barbar’s effect to banish 2 Burning Abyss cards from his Graveyard and drop Cortes down to 400 Life Points, and using Graff’s effect to Special Summon Scarm from his Deck in Defense Position. Next, he discarded Farfa from his hand to Special Summon Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal in Attack Position. Scarm destroyed itself with Beatrice on the field, and Farfa’s effect activated; but Cortes negated it with his Herald. Next, Cortes Summoned 2 Silent Boots to his field and combined them to Xyz Summon The Phantom Knights of Break Sword, prompting Cortes to finally concede.

Cortes fights an uphill battle all Duel, eventually stalling out with Herald of Perfection; but Maldonado manages to power through it and take the victory in the second Duel! Cortes will be going first in Duel 3!

Duel Three

Cortes opened up Duel 3 with Cyber Angel Idaten, Dawn of the Herald, Pot of Desires, and 2 copies of Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands. He activated Pot of Desires first, banishing the top 10 cards of his Deck face-down to draw Gyakutenno Megami and Gale Dogra. Next, he Summoned Gale Dogra and activated its effect to pay 3000 Life Points and send Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. He used his Arc Light’s effect to add Cyber Angel Benten from his Deck to his hand. Next, he used Gale Dogra’s effect again, paying 3000 Life Points to send another Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard and using its effect to add Machine Angel Ritual from his Deck to his hand. He activated Machine Angel Ritual and Tributed Benten from his hand to Summon Cyber Angel Idaten in Defense Position. He activated the effects of his 2 Ritual Monsters, adding Advanced Ritual Art and Herald of Perfection from his Deck to his hand. Next, he activated Dawn of the Herald, Tributing Idaten to Summon Herald of Perfection in Defense Position. He banished Dawn of the Herald from his Graveyard to add Idaten from his Graveyard to his hand and then ended his turn.

Maldonado Special Summoned Speedroid Terrortop from his hand and activated its effect, but Cortes discarded Gyakutenno Megami from his hand to negate the effect and destroy it. Time in the round was thereafter called, and Cortes Set a card to each zone.

Cortes drew Pre-Preparation of Rites in the first turn of overtime. He activated it to add Herald of Perfection and Dawn of the Herald from his Deck to his hand. He activated Advanced Ritual Art next, sending Gyakutenno Megami from his Deck to his Graveyard to Ritual Summon Cyber Angel Idaten to his field. He used Idaten’s effect to add Machine Angel Ritual to his hand. Next, he Normal Summoned Manju. He activated its effect to add Idaten to his hand. He activated Machine Angel Ritual, Tributing Manju and Gale Dogra to Summon Idaten. He used Idaten’s effect to add Machine Angel Ritual from his Graveyard to his hand. He combined both Idatens to Xyz Summon Constellar Ptolemy M7, and detached an Xyz Material to activate its effect. Maldonado tried to negate the effect with Effect Veiler; Cortes Chained Herald’s effect; Maldonado Chained Fog Blade; and Cortes Chained Herald’s effect again, allowing himself to resolve M7’s effect. Cortes attacked with his monsters, and Maldonado banished Fog Blade from his Graveyard to block the direct attack.

Maldonado Summoned Tour Guide, and Cortes negated its effect with Herald. He Special Summoned Farfa to his field in Defense Position and then Set a card to his back row.

Cortes activated the effect of M7, and Maldonado Chained Fog Blade; but Cortes discarded Kristya from his hand to negate Fog Blade and destroy it. He used M7’s effect to add Manju to his hand and then upgraded his M7 into Gaia Dragon. He Normal Summoned Manju next, and activated its effect to add Cyber Angel Idaten from his Deck to his hand. He attacked Farfa with Gaia Dragon, inflicting piercing damage, and Maldonado activated Farfa’s effect; but Cortes negated it with his Herald’s effect by discarding a Fairy. Herald and Manju attacked directly, dropping Maldonado down to 3100 Life Points.

Maldonado drew a card and then Set a monster.

Cortes drew Gale Dogra. He Summoned it to the field and then attacked with Gaia Dragon, piercing through a face-down Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. Direct attacks from Cortes’s remaining monsters finished Maldonado off in the final turn of overtime!

Eduardo Daniel Cortes Moreno is moving on with a 6-0-1 record using his Fairy Deck!