We’re approaching the end of Day 1 here at YCS Mexico City! Rolando Gordon, from Panama, is one of the few Duelists still piloting Gouki. The Gouki strategy was hampered when Knightmare Goblin became Forbidden, restricting their typical combos. In addition, Summon Sorceress is not legal for play in Central America, making things even tougher for the Gouki Duelists! Gordon’s opponent is Cesar Nino, from here in Mexico City. Nino is one of several Duelists using True Draco, but now with an Extra Deck! Most True Draco Duelists eschewed the Extra Deck so they could play The Monarchs Erupt. Now, Duelists are discovering just how good Metaltron XII, the True Dracombatant really is.

Duel 1

Nino won the die roll and chose to play first. He played Pot of Duality, and Gordon thought about using the Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in his hand but chose not to. Duality revealed Pot of Desires, Amano-Iwato, and Ignis Heat, the True Dracowarrior. He took Desires, and Gordon must have been pleased he held onto Ash Blossom. Nino played Dragonic Diagram, then Desires which was indeed lost to Ash Blossom. Nino used Diagram to destroy another Duality in his hand to get True Draco Heritage. He played it and Tribute Summoned Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter. He Set one back row card.

Gordon had a hand of two Instant Fusion, Reinforcement of the Army, and Gouki Twistcobra. He drew Junk Forward. First, he used Reinforcement. Nino Chained both Dinomight and Imperial Order! Dinomight brought True King’s Return to the field. Gordon continued by playing Junk Forward and Twistcobra, and Link Summoned Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights. Isolde and Twistcobra added Gouki Headbatt and another Twistcobra to his hand. Isolde then sent Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade to the Graveyard to Special Summon Gouki Octostretch. He discarded the spare Twistcobra to Special Summon Headbatt, then added Phoenix Blade from his Graveyard to his hand. He Link Summoned Knightmare Phoenix, discarding Phoenix Blade to destroy Imperial Order. His two Goukis also activated, adding Gouki Re-Match and Gouki Suprex to his hand. Now able to play spells again, he used Re-Match to bring back two Goukis, combining them with Isolde for Firewall Dragon! He returned Phoenix Blade to his hand, then used Phoenix to play Knightmare Mermaid. It discarded Phoenix Blade to Special Summon Knightmare Corruptor Iblee and draw World Legacy Succession, and Firewall’s effect also Special Summoned Suprex from the hand. He used Iblee and Suprex to play Knightmare Cerberus, and Suprex added Gouki Riscorpio to his hand. Phoenix Blade came back again, then he played Instant Fusion for Invoked Raidjin. Cerberus and Raidjin were used to play Knightmare Unicorn. Unicorn discarded Phoenix Blade to shuffle away Dinomight and draw Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr, and Firewall Special Summoned Riscorpio. He used that with Mermaid to play a new Knightmare Phoenix, adding Gouki Bearhug to his hand. Firewall Special Summoned Bearhug, and finally Gordon moved to the Battle Phase!

Gordon expertly plays through Imperial Order and takes the Duel on his first turn!

Duel 2

Nino played first, starting with Duality again. He revealed True King’s Return, Majesty Maiden, the True Dracocaster, and Disciples of the True Dracophoenix. He took Majesty Maiden. True Draco Heritage came next, and he Tribute Summoned the Maiden. He Set three cards to his back row.

Gordon began with Twistcobra, Marauding Captain, Octostretch, Bearhug, Instant Fusion, and Suprex. He played Suprex, and Nino flipped Solemn Warning. Gordon passed.

Nino sent Majesty Maiden to attack directly. He Set a back row card.

Gordon drew Gouki Headbatt, and Nino flipped Lose 1 Turn! Gordon Set Octostretch.

Nino played Dragonic Diagram, and Majesty Maiden destroyed Octostretch in battle. Gordon used its effect to search for another Suprex.

Gordon drew Reinforcement of the Army. He Set.

Nino played Pot of Desires, gaining even more of a lead! He used Dragonic Diagram next, destroying Lose 1 Turn to search for True Draco Heritage. Lose 1 Turn was keeping Gordon from doing anything meaningful, so Nino must have something else to replace it. He activated Heritage and Tributed it to play Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter, then Normal Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh! He destroyed Headbatt in battle, and attacked directly with his other two monsters.

Gordon drew Junk Forward. He Special Summoned it, then Normal Summoned Suprex. Nino flipped Skill Drain, and Gordon conceded!

Duel 3

Gordon played first, with a hand of Bearhug, Ash Blossom, Suprex, Instant Fusion, and Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. He played Suprex, Special Summoned Bearhug, and Link Summoned Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights. He used all three of his monsters’ effects, adding Headbatt, Twistcobra, and Suprex to his hand. Isolde then sent Phoenix Blade to the Graveyard to Special Summon Octostretch. He discarded Suprex to Special Summon Headbatt, and Link Summoned Knightmare Phoenix. His two Gouki effects put Gouki Re-Match and Riscorpio in his hand. Re-Match brought the same Goukis back to the field, and he combined them with Isolde for Firewall Dragon. He added Phoenix Blade to his hand. Then, he used Phoenix to play Knightmare Mermaid. It discarded Phoenix Blade to Special Summon Knightmare Corruptor Iblee and draw Octostretch, and Firewall Special Summoned Twistcobra. He combined Iblee with Twistcobra for Underclock Taker, with Twistcobra searching for Headbatt. Firewall Special Summoned Riscorpio, and he used Firewall’s other effect to add Iblee and Octostretch back in his hand. He then used Underclock Taker with Riscorpio to play Knightmare Unicorn. Riscorpio added Twistcobra to his hand, and Firewall Special Summoned Octostretch. He used Octostretch to play Linkuriboh. Firewall Special Summoned another Twistcobra from his hand, and he used it with Linkuriboh to play Knightmare Phoenix. Firewall Special Summoned Iblee, and he used that to Extra Link for another Mermaid. Iblee’s effect Special Summoned it to Nino’s side of the field. Firewall Special Summoned Headbatt, and he combined it with Unicorn to play Topologic Gumblar Dragon! Firewall Special Summoned his second Octostretch, triggering Gumblar. Gordon discarded two random cards (a Gouki and Ash Blossom), forcing Nino to discard Solemn Judgment and Lose 1 Turn. Gordon played Instant Fusion for Invoked Raidjin, combining it with the newer Mermaid for Knightmare Cerberus. It discarded Phoenix Blade to destroy Iblee and draw Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr. He then used Firewall and Phoenix to play Tri-Gate Wizard, co-linked to three monsters! He returned Phoenix Blade one last time. His final field was Mermaid in the Extra Monster Zone, with Tri-Gate Wizard below it, Gumblar in the middle, and Cerberus on the right. Octostretch was off to the left.

When Nino drew his card, Gordon Tributed Octostretch to Special Summon Linkuriboh! Octostretch added Suprex to his hand. Then, since Linkuriboh was next to Gumblar, both players discarded two cards! Nino was left with only two cards in his starting hand! He Set a card in his back row and played Dragonic Diagram. He tried using Diagram’s effect, and it was promptly banished by Tri-Gate Wizard. Nino offered the handshake!

Rolando Gordon creates an unbreakable board to take the Duel and the Match, with Gouki!