Angel Fernando Ovalle Rivera is another one of our VIP Duelists, representing Panama as the current National Champion. His opponent is Alan Eduardo Ortega Hernandez who has brought Danger! Orcust this weekend. Ovalle is piloting Salamangreat, a Deck known for its consistency, but can it stand up to the powerful combos that Orcust is able to pull off?

Ovalle won the roll and chose to go first.

Duel One:

Ovalle began with Flame Bufferlo and immediately sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Salamangreat Balelynx. He activated the Bufferlo’s effect along with Salamangreat Balelynx, adding Salamangreat Sanctuary and discarding Salamangreat Jack Jaguar to draw two cards. He then activated the Salamangreat Sanctuary to Link Summon another Salamangreat Balelynx using his Salamangreat Balelynx, before shuffling back a Salamangreat Balelynx to Special Summon Salamangreat Jack Jaguar. He used his monsters to Link Summon Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Set two cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Ortega drew and activated Instant Fusion, Special Summoning Thousand-Eyes Restrict and using it to suck up the Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. He Normal Summoned Orcust Harp Horror next and Ovalle thought for a moment before letting it through. Ovalle used his monsters to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, and banished Orcust Harp Horror to Special Summon Orcust Cymbal Skeleton. He used both monsters to Link Summon The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche, but in response to its effect Ovalle used Infinite Impermanence to stop it. Ortega pressed on with Orcust Cymbal Skeleton, Special Summoning his Galatea, the Orcust Automaton from the Graveyard and then used its effect to shuffle back his banished Orcust Harp Horror to Set Orcustrated Babel from his Deck. He Flipped it, then Xyz Summoned Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star and used its effect to attach his banished Orcust Cymbal Skeleton. He also tried to activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche but forgot that it had its effect negated because of Infinite Impermanence. He activated Danger! Tsuchinoko next after Setting a card, discarding Danger! Mothman, to Special Summon it and draw a card. He then activated the effect of Danger! Mothman discarding Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to draw a card. He moved to Battle Phase and declared attacks with his monsters, and in Main Phase 2 he Link Summoned Galatea, the Orcust Automaton using his Danger! Tsuchinoko and Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, and Set another card before moving to End Phase. During the End Phase Ovalle used Cosmic Cyclone to banish Orcustrated Babel.

Ovalle drew and Normal Summoned Flame Bufferlo, repeating what he did last turn and using it to Link Summon Salamangreat Balelynx. When he tried to activate the effect of Flame Bufferlo, Ortega responded with Orcust Crescendo to negate and banish it. Ovalle pressed on with the effect of Salamangreat Jack Jaguar, shuffling back Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf, to Special Summon it. Ovalle used the effect of Salamangreat Spinny to discard itself, boosting the attack of Jack Jaguar, and then the other effect of Salamangreat Spinny to Special Summon itself. He moved to Battle Phase next, and used Salamangreat Jack Jaguar to destroy The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche, then in Main Phase 2 Link Summoned Knightmare Phoenix and used its effect, discarding Salamangreat Rage, to destroy Ortega’s Set Infinite Impermanence. He then Link Summoned Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and used it to add back Salamangreat Rage before Setting it and ending his turn.

Ortega drew and prompted Ovalle to use his Set Salamangreat Rage and destroy Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. Ortega moved on, Special Summoning Trickstar Corobane and then using Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to Special Summon Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star. In response to the effect of Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, Ovalle ditched the Effect Veiler from his hand to negate it. Ortega moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack with Trickstar Corobane on Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf, but it was saved by Salamangreat Balelynx. He moved on and attacked with Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star next to destroy it before ending.

Ovalle drew Salamangreat Circle! He used it to add Salamangreat Gazelle and Normal Summoned it, activating its effect as well as the Salamangreat Fowl in his hand. He sent Salamangreat Spinny from his Deck to the Graveyard, then used his Salamangreat Fowl to Link Summon Salamangreat Balelynx. He then activated Salamangreat Jack Jaguar to shuffle back a Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf to Special Summon it, before he Link Summoned Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf using Salamangreat Jack Jaguar and Salamangreat Balelynx. He activated Salamangreat Spinny next, Special Summoning it and triggering the effect of Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf to add back Salamangreat Fowl. He overlayed the two Level 3’s to Xyz Summon Salamangreat Miragestallio, using its effect to Special Summon Salamangreat Falco. He then Link Summoned another Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf using Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Salamangreat Falco. He activated the effect of Salamangreat Falco to Set Salamangreat Circle and Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf to add Salamangreat Rage back to his hand. Next Salamangreat Heatleo hit the table, and Ortega used its effect to return Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star to the Extra Deck. He activated the effect of Salamangreat Heatleo to put Trickstar Corobane to 0 ATK thanks to the Effect Veiler in his Graveyard, and destroyed it by Battle leaving 4500. He Set Salamangreat Rage before moving to End Phase, prompting Ortega to banish Orcust Crescendo and add an Orcust to his hand.

Ortega drew and activated Terraforming, using it to grab Trickstar Light Stage. When he activated it, Ovalle responded with Salamangreat Rage to destroy it. Ortega activated Danger! Tsuchinoko next, discarding itself. Its effect triggered to Special Summon it from the Graveyard, the he Normal Summoned the Orcust Harp Horror he added last turn and Link Summoned Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. He banished Orcust Harp Horror next to Special Summon Orcust Cymbal Skeleton from his Deck, then Xyz Summoned Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star over his Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. He activated its effect, prompting Ovalle to Chain Salamangreat Circle, and Ortega sent Salamangreat Sanctuary to the Graveyard.

Ovalle drew and activated Salamangreat Jack Jaguar, shuffling back a Salamangreat to Special Summon it. He then activated the effect of Salamangreat Falco to Special Summon itself by bouncing back Salamangreat Jack Jaguar, then Normal Summoned Salamangreat Jack Jaguar and Special Summoned Salamangreat Fowl from his hand. He used the effect of Salamangreat Heatleo to change the ATK of Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star to 0, and ended the Duel in the Battle Phase!

Ovalle manages to make a huge comeback! Both Duelists dove straight to their Side Decks to prepare for the second game.

Ortega chose to go first in the second Duel.

Duel Two:

Ortega activated Trickstar Light Stage and used it to add Trickstar Candina, then Normal Summoned it to add Trickstar Corobane. He Special Summoned Trickstar Corobane next, and then used both monsters to Link Summon Knightmare Phoenix. He used that to Link Summon Knightmare Mermaid, then discarded Orcust Knightmare for to Special Summon another from his Deck. He used both of those monsters to Special Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, then banished Orcust Knightmare to send Orcust Harp Horror to his Graveyard, which was immediately banished for Orcust Cymbal Skeleton. He used those two monsters to Link Summon The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche, but when he used its effect, Ovalle revealed Effect Veiler. Ortega pressed on and used Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to Special Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton from his Graveyard, then used its effect to shuffle back Orcust Knightmare and Set Orcustrated Babel. He Flipped the Orcustrated Babel before overlaying Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, using it to attach Orcust Cymbal Skeleton from his banished pile as an Xyz Material. He then Set two cards to his back row, and activated the last card in his hand which was Danger! Tsuchinoko. Once it hit the field, he used it and Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton and end his turn.

Ovalle drew and Special Summoned Dinowrestler Pankratops before Normal Summoning Flame Bufferlo. He used the Flame Bufferlo to Link Summon Salamangreat Balelynx, but when he tried to activate its effect it was met with Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He was still able to activate Flame Bufferlo, ditching Salamangreat Foxy to draw a couple cards. He then used the effect of Salamangreat Foxy, discarding Salamangreat Spinny, to attempt to destroy Orcustrated Babel, but that started a huge Chain! Galatea, the Orcust Automaton was Chained targeting Orcust Harp Horror, then Orcust Cymbal Skeleton was Chained targeting Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, then Orcust Knightmare was Chained, then Dinowrestler Pankratops was Chained targeting a Set card, and finally that Set Infinite Impermanence was used on Salamangreat Balelynx! The massive Chain resolved, ultimately letting Ortega Set Orcust Crescendo, Special Summon Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, and send Orcust Harp Horror to the Graveyard before Salamangreat Foxy was Special Summoned. He used the effect of Salamangreat Foxy to destroy Orcustrated Babel, and the effects of The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche and Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star were used to destroy Salamangreat Foxy and send Salamangreat Balelynx respectively. However, Salamangreat Balelynx hit the Graveyard before the effect of The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche had resolved, so he was able to use it to save his Salamangreat Foxy. He Normal Summoned Salamangreat Gazelle next and used it to send Salamangreat Spinny to the Graveyard before he used Salamangreat Foxy to Link Summon Salamangreat Balelynx. He then Special Summoned Salamangreat Spinny and used it along with Salamangreat Gazelle to Link Summon Salamangreat Miragestallio, which he then used to Special Summon Salamangreat Falco. He Link Summoned Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf next using everything but Salamangreat Falco, and activated Salamangreat Jack Jaguar to Special Summon itself and trigger Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf so he could add back Salamangreat Gazelle. He Link Summoned Salamangreat Heatleo next using Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Salamangreat Falco, then activating its effect to spin back the freshly Set Orcust Crescendo to the Deck. He then moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack over The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche with Salamangreat Heatleo, and Ortega brought it right back with Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. In Main Phase 2 he used the effect of Salamangreat Falco to Special Summon itself and bounce back Salamangreat Jack Jaguar before Setting a card and ending the turn.

Ortega drew and used Galatea, the Orcust Automaton to shuffle back an Orcust and Set Orcust Crescendo. When he tried to activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche, Ovalle responded with Infinite Impermanence. Ortega then overlayed Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star over Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, using it to send Salamangreat Heatleo to the Graveyard. Once it fell, Ovalle used Salamangreat Gazelle to Special Summon itself from the hand and kick Salamangreat Roar to the Graveyard. Ortega pressed on and activated Orcust Harp Horror, but Ovalle had Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in his hand to stop it. Instant Fusion was played next, Summoning Thousand-Eyes Restrict, which activated its effect to take Salamangreat Gazelle. He then Link Summoned Galatea, the Orcust Automaton using it and the Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, before moving to Battle Phase and clearing Ovalle’s monsters. Ovalle was left with 5900 Life Points, but got to Set Salamangreat Roar thanks to Salamangreat Falco.

Ovalle drew and Normal Summoned Salamangreat Jack Jaguar so he could Link Summon Salamangreat Balelynx, but when he activated Salamangreat Circle Ortega responded with Orcust Crescendo! Ovalle had Salamangreat Roar to stop it, so he was able to press on and add Salamangreat Gazelle to his hand. He Special Summoned Salamangreat Jack Jaguar next, using both of his monsters to Link Summon Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf, before he Special Summoned Salamangreat Gazelle and used it to send Salamangreat Rage to the Graveyard. He activated Salamangreat Spinny next and overlayed both for Salamangreat Miragestallio, using it to Special Summon Salamangreat Falco. He Link Summoned Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf next using Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Salamangreat Miragestallio, triggering the effect of Salamangreat Miragestallio to bounce away The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche. He activated Salamangreat Falco next, bouncing Salamangreat Fowl, which let him Special Summon Salamangreat Fowl again. He moved to Battle Phase but wasn’t able to deal enough damage to finish the Duel, so Ortega claimed victory of the game and the match ended in a draw!

Both Duelists advanced with a 4-0-1 record to the next Round.