We’re at the halfway point of Day 1 here at the 2019 UDS Winter Invitational! Carl Manigat, from New York, is packing a Salamangreat Deck. He’s one of many who have chosen the strategy, recently boosted by new cards from Structure Deck: Soulburner. He’s facing San Jose Duelist Anthony Gausepohl, using a Rank 10 Train Deck! He’s looking to throw down a huge Xyz Summon and win with one huge Battle Phase.

Duel 1

Manigat won the roll and chose to play first. He started with Salamangreat Circle to add Salamangreat Fowl to his hand. He Normal Summoned Salamangreat Falco and used it to Link Summon Salamangreat Balelynx. He activated Balelynx and Salamangreat Gazelle from his hand. He added Salamangreat Sanctuary to his hand, and Special Summoned Gazelle. Gazelle sent Salamangreat Spinny to the Graveyard, and he Special Summoned Fowl from his hand as well. He used Spinny and Gazelle to play Salamangreat Miragestallio, which Special Summoned Salamangreat Jack Jaguar. That was used with Balelynx to play Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. He then played Sanctuary, and used Wolf to play another Wolf. He brought Jack Jaguar back to the field, and Wolf added Gazelle to his hand. Then he used Wolf’s other effect to get back Salamangreat Circle. He used Fowl and Jaguar to play Abyss Dweller and Set two cards in his back row.

Gausepohl had a hand of Pot of Extravagance, Limiter Removal, Urgent Schedule, Red Reboot, and Shaddoll Fusion. He drew Flying Pegasus Railroad Stampede. He started with Pot of Extravagance, banishing six cards from his Extra Deck, and Manigat Chained Abyss Dweller’s effect. Gausepohl drew another Flying Pegasus and another Pot of Extravagance. He played Shaddoll Fusion, fusing Shaddoll Beast and Heavy Freight Train Derricrane into El Shaddoll Shekhinaga! He played Urgent Schedule next, which Special Summoned Ruffian Railcar and Super Express Bullet Train. He stacked Shekhinaga and the Bullet Train for Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max, and fired off 2000 damage! Then, he used Gustav Max to play Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Juggernaut Liebe! He used its effect to gain 2000 ATK, Manigat flipped Salamangreat Roar, and Gausepohl used Red Reboot from his hand! Manigat flipped Roar face-down again, then Set another Roar. Gausepohl Normal Summoned Flying Pegasus and Special Summoned Derricrane, then had both monsters become Level 10! He Xyz Summoned Number 81: Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Super Dora and went to the Battle Phase. His Liebe was powered up to 6000 ATK and attacked twice, obliterating Manigat’s Life Points!

Duel 2

Manigat chose to play second this time, keeping Gausepohl from a starting Battle Phase. Gausepohl started with Super Express Bullet Train, Red Reboot, Shaddoll Fusion, Limiter Removal, and Concentrating Current. He simply passed the first turn since he couldn’t do anything important without a Battle Phase.

Manigat played Salamangreat Circle to get Salamangreat Gazelle. He played Salamangreat Foxy without using its effect, and Link Summoned Salamangreat Balelynx. He used the effects of Balelynx and Gazelle. Their two effects added Sanctuary to his hand and sent Salamangreat Spinny to the Graveyard. He also Special Summoned Fowl from his hand. He Special Summoned Spinny and combined it with Gazelle for Miragestallio, which brought Jack Jaguar to the field. He used it to play Sunlight Wolf. He activated Sanctuary and used Wolf to play another Wolf. Then he Special Summoned Jack Jaguar with its own effect. He went to the Battle Phase and did the same thing Gausepohl did last Duel, winning on his first turn!

Duel 3

Gausepohl chose to play second. Manigat began with a Set back row card.

Gausepohl had Derricrane, two Limiter Removal, and two Concentrating Current. He drew Red Reboot. This was the beginning of an insane hand, but he needed a monster he could actually put on the field. He Set a Current and Reboot.

Manigat flipped Salamangreat Circle to get Salamangreat Foxy and used it to play Balelynx, and used Gazelle from his hand. He searched for Sanctuary and Special Summoned Gazelle, which sent Jack Jaguar to the Graveyard. He played Sanctuary, then used Foxy’s effect in the Graveyard. He discarded Spinny to Special Summon Foxy, then Special Summoned Spinny with its own effect. He used the two to play Miragestallio, which Special Summoned Salamangreat Falco. He used Falco and Balelynx to play Sunlight Wolf. Then, he used Sunlight Wolf to play another Sunlight Wolf. He Special Summoned Jack Jaguar, then used Sunlight Wolf to get Circle back to his hand. He discarded a card to Special Summon Salamangreat Meer, then bounced it to Special Summon Falco. He Special Summoned Meer with its other effect, and attacked with everything!

Carl Manigat takes the Match with his Salamangreat Deck! Gausepohl just couldn’t get enough steam!