Yang Zing True King Dinosaurs had some great showings in Regional Qualifier Top Cuts last weekend, and the question of whether that deck would make the Top Tables was on a lot of player’s minds heading into this tournament. Tyler Tran is 3-0 so far with his own version of the strategy, and now we’ll see if he can keep up the streak.

 

His opponent is Jeffrey Leung, piloting a Pure Zoodiac Deck here this weekend. This is the matchup that defines the viability of the Dinosaur variants, so this is going to be really interesting to watch. Both of these competitors are basically locals in the Greater Toronto Area, with Tran hailing from Brampton, and Leung living in Markham, so we’re kind of getting a snapshot of the GTA metagame right here, right now.

Leung chose to start the Match, opening with Fire Formation – Tenki to search Zoodiac Thoroughblade. He Summoned it to send Zoodiac Ramram from his hand to his Graveyard, drawing a card with Thouroughblade’s effect. He overlaid Thoroughblade with Zoodiac Hammerkong, then Zoodiac Broadbull, and detached Hammerkong to search his Deck for Zoodiac Whiptail. He overlaid for Zoodiac Chakanine next, detaching Broadbull to revive Hammerkong. He overlaid Chakanine with Zoodiac Tigermortar next, attaching Ramram to Hammerkong. He placed Zoodiac Drident over the Tigermortar, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended.

 

Tran had a hand of True King Agnimazud, the Vanisher; Fossil Dig; Terraforming; two Souleating Oviraptors; and Miscellaneousaurus. He activated Fossil Dig to get Babycerasaurus from his Deck, revealed the Vanisher to try and Special Summon it, and Leung negated the attempt with Solemn Warning. He dropped to 6000 Life Points.

 

Tran pressed on, Normal Summoning Oviraptor to use its search effect. Leung Chained Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit to destroy the Oviraptor, and Tran searched his Deck for Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju when Oviraptor’s effect resolved. He Special Summoned it to Leung’s field by Tributing away Leung’s Drident. He snagged Dragonic Diagram from his Deck with Terraforming, activated its effect, and Leung countered by Chaining Cosmic Cyclone to banish the Diagram from the field and stop its effect from resolving.

 

 

That left Tran with a hand of Babycerasaurus, Souleating Oviraptor, and Miscellaneousaurus, ending his turn.   Leung detached for Hammerkong.

 

Leung overlaid Hammerkong with Zoodiac Broadbull, searching Zoodiac Ratpier. He Normal Summoned it, sent his Zoodiac Combo to the Graveyard, and overlaid Broadbull with Zoodiac Chakanine to detach and revive Zoodiac Ramram. He gave up Ramram and Chakanine to Link Summon Missus Radiant, then used his Zoodiac Ratpier as Xyz Material for Zoodiac Boarbow, linked to Missuss. He went into Tigermortar and used its effect to attach Zoodiac Whiptail to it, then Xyz Summoned Zoodiac Drident on top of Zoodiac Ratpier.

 

He activated Pot of Desires next, banishing ten cards to draw two. Leung moved to his Battle Phase and swung for a total of 8300 Battle Damage with Missus Radiant, Tigermortar,and Dogoran, playing a final Zoodiac Whiptail to make enough damage for game!

 

A flurry of early answers and removal cards give Jeff Leung an easy victory in the first Duel. Could Tran recover with his Dino deck? He’d have to win two games after Side Decking to keep his perfect record, while Leung was just one win away from sitting pretty at four Match wins.

 

“I’ll go first,” announced Tran. This time he had a hand of Ultimate Conductor Tyranno; Petiteranodon; Terraforming; Fossil Dig, and Souleating Oviraptor. He used Dig to fetch Miscellaneousaurus from his Deck, searched Dragonic Diagram with Terraforming, and activated it to destroy Petiteranodon; Diagram got him True King Lithosagym, the Disaster and Petiteranodon’s effect Special Summoned Souleating Oviraptor from his Deck. That got Tran a Babycerasaurus to his hand, and he Normal Summoned it in a flash to feed it to Oviraptor and Special Summon Petiteranodon. That triggered Babycerasaurus’ ability and Special Summoned another Babycerasaurus to the field.

 

Tran unleashed True King Lithosagym, the Disaster, destroying Babycerasaurus and Petiteranodon! He banished Zoodiac Drident, Zoodiac Broadbull, and Zoodiac Chakanine from Leung’s Extra Deck, then used Petiteranodon and Babycerasaurus to Special Summon Jurrac Aeolo and Miscellaneousaurus from his Deck. He Tuned Miscellaneousaurus to Aeolo to Synchro Summon Denglong, First of the Yang Zing and used it to search his Deck for Nine Pillars of Yang Zing! He activated Denglong’s second effect to send Bi’an, Earth of the Yang Zing to the Graveyard, reduced Denglong’s Level to 7, and Tuned it to Souleating Oviraptor for Yazi, Evil of the Yang Zing!

 

That triggered Denglong’s effect to Special Summon Chiwen, Light of the Yang Zing from his Deck, and he Tuned it to Yazi to Synchro Summon Baxia, Brightness of the Yang Zing. He activated its effect, destroyed True King Lithosagym, and revived Chiwen. Destroying True King Lithosagym let Tran revive Yazi, and he Tuned Chiwen to Baxia to make Cloudcastle. Tran used its effect to revive True King Lithosagym, the Disaster, overlaid it with Cloudcastle, and Xyz Summoned True King of All Calamities! Tran Set Nine Pillars and ended.

 

 

Leung drew for his turn and Tran detached True King Lithosagym, the Disaster from True King of All Calamities to put a kybosh on EARTH monster effects. Leung activated Fire Formation – Tenki to search his Deck for Zoodiac Whiptail, then activated Dark Hole. Tran responded with Nine Pillars of Yang Zing to destroy Yazi, negating Dark Hole and sending it back to Leung’s Deck. That triggered Yazi’s Special Summon effect, bringing Suanni, Fire of the Yang Zing out from Tran’s Deck in attack mode. Leung Normal Summoned Zoodiac Ratpier, overlaid it with Zoodiac Hammerkong, then Zoodiac Drident. He Set three cards to his backrow, ending with one card in hand.

 

Tran drew another Souleating Oviraptor; Leung detached Hammerkong from Drident to activate Drident’s effect, targeting True King of All Calamities. Tran detached Cloudcastle to declare EARTH, and Drident’s ability still resolved, destroying Calamities. “Normal Summon Souleating Oviraptor,” announced Tran. “Activate effect?”

 

“It’s good,” replied Leung. Tran went into his Deck to search.

“Ultimate Conductor Tyranno is the card I add with Souleating Oviraptor.” Tran activated Miscellaneousaurus’ effect from the Graveyard, banishing it along with a Babycerasaurus, and Special Summoned another Babycerasaurus in defense mode. He activated the second effect of Oviraptor to feed it the Babycerasaurus, reviving Jurrac Aeolo and triggering the Babycerasaurus’ ability: that got Tran Tyranno Infinity from his Deck, currently at 2000 ATK with two cards banished.

 

Tran continued on, Tuning Suanni, Fire of the Yang Zing and Jurrac Aeolo for Denglong, First of the Yang Zing. He used Denglong’s effect to search his Deck for Yang Zing Path, inspected his Graveyard for options, and activated Path to shuffle back Bi’an, Suanni, and Yazi to draw Cosmic Cyclone and another True King Lithosagym. He had six cards in hand with Denglong, Infinity, and Oviraptor on the field; Leung had one card in hand, three cards Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone, Fire Formation – Tenki active, and Zoodiac Drident in his Extra Monster Zone. Tran muttered his way through some potential plays, seemingly energized and feeling good about his position in the game.

 

He used Denglong’s effect to kick Bi’an, Earth of the Yang Zing to the Graveyard, making Denglong, First of the Yang Zing Level 3. He Tuned it to Souleating Oviraptor for Black Rose Dragon and…

 

…Leung considered his face-downs. “Interesting. How many cards in hand?”

 

“Uh, six!” Tran held them up in proof. Leung took a moment to read Tran’s banished Miscellaneousaurus…

 

…And activated Solemn Warning to stop the Black Rose Dragon.

 

“Interesting,” remarked Tran. “In. Ter. Est. ING.” He paused, looking through his cards. “Uhh. Special Summon Ultimate Conductor Tyranno, banishing Souleating Oviraptor and Babycerasaurus.” Tyranno Infinity went to 4000 ATK.

 

“Sure,” replied Leung.

 

Tran banished Souleating Oviraptor and Petiteranodon for another Ultimate Conductor Tyranno! Tyranno Infinity went to 6000 Attack Points! “Entering Battle Phase, anything?”

 

“No it’s good.” And with that, Tran swung for game, ending it with his massive Tyranno Infinity and not one, but two Ultimate Conductor Tyrannos!

 

 

The tables turn, as Jeffrey Leung gets blown out by a string of giant-sized thunder lizards and Tyler Tran controls the Duel from the get-go. A clutch Black Rose Dragon forces out Leung’s one answer and leaves Tran to sweep the second Duel, just as time for the Round ticks down.

 

Leung activated Fire Formation – Tenki to start Game 3 just as time was called: this was Turn 0 of five remaining turns before the Match would be called on LP.   Leung searched for Zoodiac Ramram with Tenki, then Normal Summoned Zoodiac Thoroughblade, pitching Ramram to draw, and then overlaid into Zoodiac Boarbow. He overlaid that with Zoodiac Chakanine, detached Thoroughblade, and revived Ramram. He overlaid with Zoodiac Broadbull next, detached Chakanine, and searched his Deck for Zoodiac Whiptail. Leung activated Zoodiac Barrage next, destroyed his Ramram to Special Summon Zoodiac Ratpier, and revived Zoodiac Chakanine with Ramram’s effect.

 

Leung attached Whiptail to Chakanine from his hand, detached it for Chakanine’s ability, revived Zoodiac Ramram, and used Broadbull and Chakanine as Link Materials for Missus Radiant! He overlaid Ratpier with Zoodiac Hammerkong, activated Hammerkong’s Ratpier effect to Special Summon another Ratpier, and overlaid Hammerkong with Zoodiac Tigermortar. He overliad that with Zoodiac Drident, activated its effect to detach Tigermortar and destroy his own Ramram, and then revive Zoodiac Whiptail. He overlaid Whiptail and Ratpier to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended.

 

Turn 1 in time. Tran had a hand of Kumongous, the Sticky String Kaiju; Souleating Oviraptor; Babycerasaurus; Interrupted Kaiju Slumber; Dragonic Diagram; and Terraforming. Leung activated Abyss Dweller’s effect to lock Tran out of activating his effects in the Graveyard. Tran searched another Dragonic Diagram with Terraforming, activated Interrupted Kaiju Slumber, and Leung lost all of his monsters! Tran gave Leung Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju, and Special Summoned a Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju for himself. Leung activated Missus Radiant’s effect to get back his Zoodiac Thoroughblade. He had two cards left in hand, and two Set in his backrow. He controlled Fire Formation – Tenki, Zoodiac Barrage, and Gameciel.

 

Tran Normal Summoned Souleating Oviraptor and searched his Deck for Ultimate Conductor Tyranno. He attacked Gameciel with Dogoran to destroy the Sea Turtle Kaiju, then attacked with Oviraptor to drop Leung to 5400 LP. “I will end my turn.”

 

Turn 2 in time. Leung fired back with Dark Hole, destroying Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju and Souleating Oviraptor! He used Shuffle Reborn to revive his Zoodiac Whiptail, overlaid it with Zoodiac Hammerkong, Overlaid that with Zoodiac Chakanine, then detached Hammerkong to revive… Well, he needed a second to run some numbers and decide what he’d bring back.

The action paused. A calculator was consulted.

 

Eventually Leung opted to bring back his Zoodiac Ramram in Attack Position. He overlaid Chakanine with Zoodiac Broadbull, detached Chakanine to search Zoodiac Thoroughblade, and Normal Summoned it. Leung sent another copy to his Graveyard to draw, then activated Barrage’s effect to destroy Ramram and Special Summon Whiptail from his Deck.

 

Ramram’s ability revived the second Thoroughblade, and Leung banished Shuffle Reborn to shuffle back his Barrage, and drew a card. Leung looked at the four cards remaining in his Extra Deck, then overlaid his Broadbull into Zoodiac Tigermortar.

 

“It’s three now, right?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Awesome, awesome.”

 

Leung detached Broadbull from Tigermortar to attach Zoodiac Whiptail to Tigermortar, then overlaid it with Zoodiac Drident. He Set two cards to his backrow, attacked with Whiptail for 1300 Battle Damage, one Thoroughblade for 1700, the next for another 1700, and then Drident… He attached the other Whiptail to it, for a total of 2900 Battle Damage! That was 7600 damage total, leaving Tran at 400 Life Points. Leung Set his last card to his backrow.

 

Turn 3 in time. Tran drew Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. “Okay, good. Now I can breathe and think.” Leung laughed, and Tran joined him. He started going through his hand… “I guess I gotta…” He Tributed Drident away to give Leung Kumongous, the Sticky String Kaiju. Tran activated Dragonic Diagram and activated its effect but lost it to Cosmic Cyclone. Tran played his next Diagram, activated its effect, destroyed Babycerasaurus, and searched his Deck for True King Lithosagym, the Disaster. The Duel stood at 400 LP to 4400 LP. “I’m gonna try to make that zero,” Tran remarked. But Leung negated Babycerasaurus’ effect with Solemn Strike. He dropped to 2900 Life Points.

 

Tran continued, facing down two Set backrows, Kumungous, and two Thoroughblades. He had Ghost Ogre, True King Lithosagym, and Ultimate Conductor Tyranno. He banished Dogoran and Oviraptor to try and Special Summon Ultimate Conductor… and Leung flipped Solemn Warning! Now it was 900 to 400, but all Tran had left was True King Lithosagym and Ghost Ogre. He Set the Ghost Ogre and continued to play it out.

 

Turn 4 in time. Leung overlaid a Thoroughblade with Zoodiac Chakanine, then Zoodiac Drident. He Normal Summoned Maxx “C” just in case, and attacked with Drident to bump off Ghost Ogre, taking 100 damage. But he activated its effect to detroy the Ghost Ogre, and with the way clear, he swung for game!

 

 

Jeffrey Leung squeaks out a hard fought win in Game 3 to finish the final Duel and win the Match! We are now halfway through Day 1, and Jeffrey Leung is 4-0 with Pure Zoodiacs. We’ll keep an eye on Tyler Tran and his Yang Zing True King Zoodiacs throughout the rest of the Swiss Rounds, and stay with us because our first Top Table Update is coming up.