Mike Albanese hails from New Jersey, and he’s 5-1 with a True Draco Zoodiac Deck.  This strategy can field monsters and Continuous Spells to make Tribute Summoning Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King easier than you might expect.  He’s up against Logan Kite from Tennessee and his Zoodiac Kaiju Deck.  Which one of these Duelists will continue on in the tournament with only one loss?  We’re about to find out!  It’s time to Duel!

Duel 1

Albanese won the roll and elected to go first.

He started with a hand of Speedroid Terrortop, Fire Formation – Tenki, 2 copies of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, and Baobaboon. He activated Fire Formation – Tenki to search for Zoodiac Ratpier, then Speedroid Terrortop was Special Summoned, using its effect to search for Speedroid Taketomborg. He Normal Summoned Zoodiac Ratpier and its effect sent Zoodiac Ramram to the Graveyard. From the Zoodiac Ratpier, Zoodiac Hammerkong was Special Summoned. Zoodiac Hammerkong used the Zoodiac Ratpier’s effect to Special Summon the other Zoodiac Ratpier, then Zoodiac Broadbull was Xyz Summoned over Zoodiac Hammerkong. Zoodiac Broadbull used its effect to search for Lunalight Black Sheep which was sent to the Graveyard to add Fusion Substitute to his hand. Zoodiac Chakanine was Summoned, using its effect to Special Summon Zoodiac Broadbull from the Graveyard, then Fusion Substitute was activated to Special Summon Elder Entity Norden, which Special Summoned Zoodiac Ramram. Norden and Ramram were stacked together for Daigusto Emeral, whose effect sent 3 monsters back to the Deck to draw True Draco Heritage. Zoodiac Boarbow went on top of Zoodiac Ratpier, then Zoodiac Ratpier was detached to Special Summon another Zoodiac Ratpier. Fusion Substitute was banished from the Graveyard to send Elder Entity Norden back to the Extra Deck to draw a card (another Fusion Substitute) which was immediately activated to repeat the process. The draw for the new Daigusto Emeral was Zoodiac Barrage. Albanese then detached Zoodiac Ratpier from the Zoodiac Tigermortar that appeared during the new Fusion Substitute iteration to get back Ratpier from the Deck again. Albanese used Zoodiac Barrage to destroy Daigusto Emeral to Special Summon Zoodiac Whiptail from the Deck. He then used Fusion Substitute’s effect, sending back Elder Entity Norden again to draw a card (Lunalight Black Sheep). He put the Whiptail and the Zoodiac Ratpier on top of each other for another Daigusto Emeral which used its effect, sending back 3 monsters to draw another card (Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit). He activated the third Fusion Substitute for the turn, sending Daigusto Emeral and Zoodiac Tigermortar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Elder Entity Norden again. Elder Entity Norden Special Summoned Ratpier, then Albanese used the 2 monsters to Xyz Summon Zoodiac Chakanine normally. Using Zoodiac Chakanine’s effect, Zoodiac Ramram was Special Summoned, then Albanese used the effect of Zoodiac Ratpier to Special Zoodiac Ratpier from the Deck, then Special Summoned Speedroid Taketomborg. He Xyz Summoned Totem Bird and passed there, having spent 10 minutes on his turn without slow playing.

Kite finally started his turn. He Tributed Albanese’s Totem Bird for Jizukiru, the Star Destroying Kaiju, then activated Interrupted Kaiju Slumber but was met with Albanese’s Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring!  Kite then Special Summoned Speedroid Terrortop, adding Speedroid Taketomborg to the hand. He Special Summoned it and then Xyz Summoned M-X-Saber Invoker!  He used the effect to Special Summon Zoodiac Ratpier from the Deck, then Xyz Summoned Zoodiac Hammerkong on top of Zoodiac Ratpier, then used the Zoodiac Ratpier effect to Special Summon the other Zoodiac Ratpier. Zoodiac Broadbull went on top of Zoodiac Hammerkong, and Albanese attempted to Zoodiac Drident it away, but was met with My Body as a Shield from Kite’s hand!  Zoodiac Drident was negated and destroyed, and Zoodiac Broadbull got to stay on the field. Zoodiac Broadbull’s effect activated but Albanese responded with Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit to destroy it. Zoodiac Broadbull’s effect still resolved, adding Lunalight Black Sheep to the hand, which then added Fusion Substitute to the hand. Zoodiac Barrage was next, destroying itself to Special Summon Zoodiac Ramram. Zoodiac Chakanine was Summoned over Zoodiac Ratpier, whose effect Special Summoned Zoodiac Hammerkong from the Graveyard. Fusion Substitute came down next, sending both Zoodiac Xyz monsters away to Special Summon Elder Entity Norden, which in turn brought back Zoodiac Ratpier. Zoodiac Ramram and Elder Entity Norden were used to Xyz Summon Daigusto Emeral, who sent back 3 monsters to draw a card. He then used Fusion Substitute’s effect to send Elder Entity Norden back to draw a card. Zoodiac Boarbow went over the Zoodiac Ratpier, whose effect was used to Special Summon Zoodiac Ratpier from the Deck. Zoodiac Tigermortar went over the Zoodiac Boarbow, and then Zoodiac Drident went over Tigermortar. In the Battle Phase, Daigusto Emeral attacked over Albanese’s Zoodiac Ratpier. In Main Phase 2, Zoodiac Drident destroyed Albanese’s Zoodiac Barrage. Kite continued by activating Instant Fusion, Special Summoning Elder Entity Norden again, then using it and Zoodiac Ratpier, Kite Xyz Summoned Tornado Dragon!  He Set one Spell/Trap and passed.

Albanese drew the third copy of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. He entered the Main Phase and Normal Summoned Baobaboon, using its effect to draw Dragonic Diagram and sending an Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to the bottom of the Deck. In the Battle Phase, Zoodiac Ramram attacked Zoodiac Drident, forcing Kite to use Zoodiac Drident to destroy Jizukiru, the Star Destroying Kaiju. Baobaboon crashed into M-X-Saber Invoker, Special Summoning 2 copies of Baobaboon from the Deck. He activated both of their effects, drawing Instant Fusion, sending Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring back, then drawing True King’s Return but sending it back. Before leaving the Battle Phase, Kite activated Dimensional Barrier, declaring Xyz. He activated Dragonic Diagram and used its effect to destroy a Baobaboon and add Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King to his hand. He then activated True Draco Heritage, and used its effect to Tribute Summon Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King by Tributing Fire Formation – Tenki and the other Baobaboon. He then used Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King’s effect, banishing Fire Formation – Tenki to destroy Tornado Dragon. He passed there.

Kite drew for turn, and Albanese used Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King’s effect to destroy Daigusto Emeral. In Main Phase 1, Kite banished the in-Graveyard Interrupted Kaiju Slumber to add Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju to his hand, which was Special Summoned to Albanese’s field by Tributing Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King. He then used M-X-Saber Invoker’s effect, detaching the last Material to Special Summon Zoodiac Whiptail from the Deck. Zoodiac Tigermortar came down on top of Whiptail, followed by Zoodiac Chakanine, whose effect Special Summoned Zoodiac Ramram from the Graveyard. Zoodiac Broadbull went on top of Zoodiac Chakanine, and its effect was activated, searching for another Whiptail. Zoodiac Barrage came down next, destroying Zoodiac Ramram and Special Summoning Zoodiac Thoroughblade from the Deck. Zoodiac Ramram activated, Special Summoning Zoodiac Ratpier from the Graveyard. He then used Zoodiac Thoroughblade and Zoodiac Ratpier to Xyz Summon Daigusto Emeral, detaching Zoodiac Thoroughblade to send Daigusto Emeral, Zoodiac Drident and Zoodiac Tigermortar back to the Extra Deck to draw a card. Zoodiac Drident came right back out using Zoodiac Broadbull as the Xyz Material. In the Battle Phase, Zoodiac Drident destroyed Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju with its effect, Whiptail activated from hand targeting the Zoodiac Drident, and Zoodiac Drident attacked over Zoodiac Ramram, then Daigusto Emeral and M-X-Saber Invoker attacked directly.

Albanese drew Zoodiac Barrage. He activated Dragonic Diagram, destroying True Draco Heritage to add Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King to his hand. Heritage’s effect activated, destroying Kite’ face-down My Body as a Shield. Albanese Normal Summoned Zoodiac Whiptail, then used it to Xyz Summon Zoodiac Chakanine, then put Zoodiac Drident on top of it. Zoodiac Drident’s effect was used to try and destroy Kite’s Zoodiac Drident, but Kite chained Forbidden Chalice targeting Albanese’s Zoodiac Drident. Albanese pressed on, putting Zoodiac Broadbull on top of Zoodiac Drident. In the Battle Phase, Zoodiac Broadbull attacked Zoodiac Drident, but Kite used Zoodiac Drident to destroy Zoodiac Broadbull. In Main Phase 2, Albanese activated Instant Fusion, Special Summoning Elder Entity Norden, which Special Summoned Zoodiac Whiptail. Both monsters were used for Daigusto Emeral, which detached Elder Entity Norden to send Zoodiac Drident, Zoodiac Ratpier and Zoodiac Chakanine back to the Deck to draw a card (Terraforming). He activated Zoodiac Barrage, used the effect to target Dragonic Diagram, and Special Summoned Zoodiac Ratpier from the Deck. He activated Terraforming to add another Dragonic Diagram from his Deck to his hand. He activated Dragonic Diagram, and used its effect to destroy Zoodiac Barrage and add True King’s Return from his Deck to his hand. He Set it and passed.

Kite drew for turn, and Albanese activated True King’s Return. He used the effect to try and Special Summon Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King from the Graveyard but Kite Chained Zoodiac Drident to destroy it. Return’s effect activated in the Graveyard, destroying Albanese’s Daigusto Emeral. Kite entered the Main Phase, using Zoodiac Barrage to Special Summon Zoodiac Whiptail, then Zoodiac Broadbull went on top of Whiptail, then Zoodiac Tigermortar on top of that. Zoodiac Tigermortar’s effect switched Broadbull for Zoodiac Thoroughblade to give Zoodiac Tigermortar piercing. With the monsters on the field, Kite had enough monsters to end the game right when time was called.

At end of round procedures, the player with the most wins takes the match, so winning a 40-minute game 1, Kite moves into the final round of Swiss for today with an undefeated record!