Top 8 Feature Match: Jeff Jones vs. Larry Musgrove
Welcome to the Top 8! Jeff Jones from Michigan is no stranger to the YCS Knoxville. He’s here with Orcust Phantom Knight and he’s playing against Larry Musgrove from Cincinnati, Ohio, the last Salamangreat player left in the tournament. Before the round started, Jeff said “We played 7 times between different tournaments and Larry’s never won but I’m feeling that it’s Larry’s day!” Let’s see where the cards will fall. It’s time to Duel!
Duel 1
Jones won the roll and elected to go first. Jones started with a hand of Effect Veiler, Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay, Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and Called by the Grave. He started with Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! adding Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones. He activated it to Summon a Sky Striker Ace Token then Link Summoned Sky Striker Ace – Kagari which added back the Hornet Drones from the Graveyard. He activated it and used the Token and Kagari to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus. Musgrove activated Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay from his hand but Jones chained Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to negate the effect and keep Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay in Musgrove’s hand. Jones used Cerberus to Link Summon Knightmare Mermaid whose effect was met with Effect Veiler but Jones chained Called by the Grave to negate Veiler’s effect and banish it. Jones used Mermaid and the Summoned Orcust Knightmare to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, whose effect dumped Orcust Harp Horror from the Deck to the Graveyard. Jones used Harp Horror, banishing it from the Graveyard to Special Summon Orcust Cymbal Skeleton from the Deck. He used both monsters to Link Summon The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche, whose effect sent The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak from the Deck to the Graveyard and Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade from the Deck directly to the field. The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak was banished from the Graveyard to add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from Jones’s Deck to his hand, then Orcust Cymbal Skeleton was banished from the Graveyard to Special Summon Galatea from the Graveyard back to the field. He Set a card then Xyz Summoned Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star using Galatea as the Xyz Material. He also Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from his hand then used both monsters to Link Summon another Galatea. Jones Set another card and passed.
Musgrove activated Salamangreat Circle to add Salamangreat Gazelle. He Normal Summoned Salamangreat Gazelle and activated its effect and Salamangreat Fowl’s effect from his hand. Fowl was Special Summoned and Salamangreat Spinny was sent from the Deck to the Graveyard. Fowl’s effect let Musgrove discard Salamangreat Rage to destroy Jones’s Set Orcust Crescendo. Spinny and Gazelle were used to Xyz Summon Salamangreat Miragestallio whose effect was activated but Jones chained Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to negate Miragestallio’s Special Summon effect.
Jones used Galatea’s effect, sending Orcust Harp Horror back to the Deck to Set Orcustrated Babel from the Deck which was activated immediately. Jones went to activate another Orcust effect from his Graveyard but Musgrove opted to concede the first Duel with the game out of hand at this point.
Duel 2
Musgrove elected to go first. He Normal Summoned Lady Debug, used its effect to add Salamangreat Spinny from his Deck to his hand. Lady Debug went to the Graveyard to Link Summon Salamangreat Baelynx. Baelynx’s effect was chained with Jones’s Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay which was Special Summoned, allowing Jones to draw 2 cards and put one back with Musgrove’s Baelynx added Salamangreat Sanctuary from his Deck to his hand. Salamangreat Spinny’s effect boosted Baelynx’s ATK, then Gazelle’s effect let Musgrove Special Summon it from his hand. Spinny hopped out of the Graveyard and the 2 monsters were used to Xyz Summon Salamangreat Miragestallio whose effect Special Summoned Salamangreat Jack Jaguar from the Deck in Defense Position. Salamangreat Miragestallio and Salamangreat Baelynx were used to Link Summon Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. Salamangreat Jack Jaguar came out of the Graveyard and was sent back to the yard to make another Salamangreat Baelynx. Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf’s effect let Musgrove add Salamangreat Gazelle back to his hand from the Graveyard. Both monsters to used to Link Summon another Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf whose effect let Musgrove add Salamangreat Rage back to his hand. Salamangreat Jack Jaguar came out of the Graveyard, then he activated Will of the Salamangreat to Summon Salamangreat Falco from his hand, then used both monsters to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller.
Jones had a hand of Dinowrestler Pankratops, Twin Twisters, Called by the Grave, Terraforming, Foolish Burial and Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!. Abyss Dweller’s effect was activated in the Draw Phase preventing all of Jones’s Graveyard effects this turn. Jones Special Summoned Dinowrestler Pankratops and attacked over the Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. Musgrove activated Salamangreat Rage on Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. Jones chained Dinowrestler Pankratops’s effect to destroy Musgrove’s Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. Musgrove banished Baelynx from the Graveyard to protect it and Musgrove’s Salamangreat Rage destroyed Jones’s Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay. In Main Phase 2, Jones activated Terraforming to add Trickstar Light Stage from his Deck to his hand which was activated to add Trickstar Candina from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned the Trickstar and her effect added another Trickstar Light Stage which was activated to add Trickstar Corobane from his Deck to his hand. Corobane was Special Summoned by its effect then both monsters were sent to the Graveyard to Link Summon Knightmare Phoenix. Jones activated Phoenix’s effect discarding Twin Twisters while Musgrove chained Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay, Special Summoning it drawing 2 and putting one back while Will of the Salamangreat was destroyed. Jones then activated Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!, adding Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones to his hand and drawing a card. Knightmare Phoenix went to the Graveyard to Link Summon Knightmare Mermaid whose effect discarded World Legacy – “World Wand” and Jones chained Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones. The Chain resolved, Special Summoning a Sky Striker Ace Token then an Orcust Knightmare from the Deck. The Token was used to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kagari which got back Hornet Drones. Kagari and Knightmare Mermaid were used to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus, discarding Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones to try and destroy Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf which prompted Musgrove to chain Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay’s effect to negate it with Musgrove discarding Salamangreat Fowl. After the chain resolved, Musgrove activated a Salamangreat Gazelle in his hand, Special Summoning it and used the on field effect to send Salamangreat Foxy from the Deck to the Graveyard. Knightmare Cerberus and Orcust Knightmare were used to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star was Xyz Summoned using Galatea as the material. Jones used Dingirsu’s effect to send Musgrove’s Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf to the Graveyard. Jones Set Called by the Grave and passed.
Musgrove used the effect of Salamangreat Spinny then sent it and Salamangreat Gazelle to the Graveyard to Xyz Summon another Salamangreat Miragestallio. Its effect activated and Jones chained Called by the Grave banishing the Salamangreat Miragestallio in Musgrove’s Graveyard, negating the effect of the one on the field! Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay and Salamangreat Miragestallio were used to Link Summon Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze! Her effect Special Summoned the Knightmare Phoenix in Jones’s Graveyard. Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze and Knightmare Phoenix were used to Link Summon Salamangreat Heatleo. Salamangreat Jack Jaguar came out of the Graveyard then was used to Link Summon Salamangreat Baelynx whose effect let Musgrove add Salamangreat Sanctuary from his Deck to his hand. He activated Salamangreat Sanctuary then use the Field Spell’s effect to make another Salamangreat Heatleo and used its effect to make Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star’s ATK become equal to the Baelynx in Musgrove’s Graveyard (500 ATK). Musgrove cleared Jones’s field with attacks. He Set one and passed.
Jones drew for turn and Musgrove used Abyss Dweller’s effect. By detaching Salamangreat Falco, he used its effect to Set Salamangreat Rage from his Graveyard back to the field. Jones had no way to make any plays under Abyss Dweller so he conceded the Duel and we’re going to a decisive third Duel! (After the Duel Musgrove said “Jeff is the one who told me to play two Salamangreat Miragestallio!”)
Duel 3
Jones started with a hand of Effect Veiler, Orcust Knightmare, another Effect Veiler, Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade and Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay. He Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade and passed.
In Musgrove’s Draw Phase he activated Salamangreat Circle to add Salamangreat Gazelle from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned Salamangreat Spinny and used it to Link Summon Salamangreat Baelynx. Its effect was used with Gazelle in his hand, but Jones Chained Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay then Chain Effect Veiler! Gazelle’s effect sent Salamangreat Roar form the Deck to the Graveyard. Spinny hopped out of the Graveyard and both monsters made Salamangreat Miragestallio. Its effect was activated and Jones had the second Effect Veiler to negate it. Salamangreat Miragestallio and Salamangreat Baelynx were used to Link Summon Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. Mirage’s effect bounced Jones’s Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay back to his hand. Musgrove activated Will of the Salamangreat to Special Summon Salamangreat Falco from his hand. He then used Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf’s effect to add Salamangreat Gazelle back tom the Graveyard. Both monsters attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, Falco and Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf were used to Link Summon Salamangreat Heatleo. Heatleo’s effect was negated by Jones’s Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade.
Jones drew Trickstar Light Stage for turn. He activated Foolish Burial but Musgrove negated it with Salamangreat Roar. Jones then activated Trickstar Light Stage adding Trickstar Candina from his Deck to his hand. Trickstar Light Stage’s effect froze the remaining Set on Musgrove’s field. Trickstar Candina was Normal Summoned and its effect added Trickstar Corobane from Jones’s Deck to his hand. Corobane was Special Summoned then both monsters were used to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus. Musgrove activated Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay, drawing 2 cards and sending one back and Special Summoning the Dragon. Knightmare Cerberus went away to Link Summon Knightmare Mermaid. Its effect let Jones Special Summon Orcust Knightmare from the Deck. Musgrove tried to activate Artifact Lancea from his hand to prevent cards from being banished for the rest of the turn but Jones had the Called by the Grave to negate the effect and banish Lancea from Musgrove’s Graveyard. Galatea, the Orcust Automaton was Link Summoned, whose effect sent Orcust Harp Horror from the Deck to the Graveyard, then Harp Horror was banished to Special Summon Orcust Cymbal Skeleton from the Deck. Orcust Cymbal Skeleton and Galatea, the Orcust Automaton went into the Graveyard to Link Summon The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche. Its effect sent The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to the Graveyard to Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade from the Deck. Jones then banished Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to Special Summon Galatea from the Graveyard. He then activated The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak form the Graveyard to add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots form his Deck to his hand. Jones then used Galatea’s effect, shuffling back Orcust Knightmare back to the Deck to Set Orcust Crescendo from his Deck. Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star was Xyz Summoned using Galatea as a material, then as a new Chain, The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche’s effect was Chain Link 1, targeting Musgrove’s Will of the Salamangreat and Chain Link 2 was Dingirsu to send Musgrove’s Salamangreat Heatleo to the Graveyard. Musgrove saved the Will of the Salamangreat with Salamangreat Baelynx’s Graveyard effect. Dingirsu attacked over Musgrove’s Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay and The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, Jones Special Summoned The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots then used it and Dingirsu to Link Summon another Galatea. He then used Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade from the Graveyard to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from the Graveyard, then used it and Galatea to Link Summon Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator. He Set 2 cards and Musgrove was forced to activated Infinite Impermanence in the End Phase thanks to Trickstar Light Stage.
Musgrove Normal Summoned Salamangreat Gazelle. He used its effect and Chained Salamangreat Fowl from his hand. Fowl was Special Summoned and Gazelle’s effect sent Salamangreat Jack Jaguar from his Deck to his hand. Falco’s Graveyard effect returned the Gazelle to his hand and Falco was Special Summoned. Falco was sent to the Graveyard to Link Summon Salamangreat Baelynx. Baelynx and the Gazelle in Musgrove’s hand activated their effects. Jones Chained Orcust Crescendo to negate and banish Salamangreat Gazelle. Baelynx resolved adding Salamangreat Sanctuary from Musgrove’s Deck to his hand. Musgrove used Fowl’s effect discarding Salamangreat Sanctuary trying to lock down Jones’s Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade and Jones chained it. Fowl and Baelynx were used to Link Summon Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. Salamangreat Jack Jaguar came out of the Graveyard and Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf’s effect added back a Salamangreat card. Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Salamangreat Jack Jaguar were used to Link Summon another Sunlight Wolf. Wolf’s effect got back Salamangreat Sanctuary then Spinny came out of the Graveyard then both monsters were used to Link Summon Salamangreat Heatleo. Salamangreat Sanctuary came down next and Musgrove used the effect to make another Heatleo using the first one as the Link Material. Musgrove’s monsters attacked and after the Battle Phase Jones was left at 3200 LP. Musgrove used Will of the Salamangreat’s effect, sending it to the Graveyard to Special Summon Salamangreat Miragestallio and 2 Level 4 Salamangreat Monsters to the field. The 2 monsters were used to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller.
Musgrove activated Abyss Dweller in the Draw Phase, and Jones chained the Orcust Crescendo in his Graveyard, banishing it to add Orcust Cymbal Skeleton from banished to hand. Musgrove activated Falco in a new chain to Set Will of the Salamangreat from his Graveyard back to the field. Jones now had a hand of Orcust Cymbal Skeleton and World Legacy – “World Wand” and no access to Graveyard effects. He Normal Summoned Orcust Cymbal Skeleton and attacked over the Salamangreat Miragestallio in Defense Position.
Musgrove Salamangreat Jack Jaguar effect sending then he used Salamangreat Falco to return Salamangreat Jack Jaguar back to his hand, He then Normal Summoned Salamangreat Jack Jaguar and attacked with all his monsters to end it!
Larry Musgrove moves on to the Top 4!