Welcome to the Top 4! It’s been a cinderella story as Yishan McNabb from Alameda, California has Golden Castle of Stromberg has taken the rogue strategy to the Semi-finals. He’s taking on Garon Williams from Norfolk, Virginia and his Sky Striker Deck. Both of these Duelists are talented enough to get here, but only one can move on to the Finals. Can the fairy tale reach it’s thrilling conclusion?  It’s time to Duel!

Duel 1

McNabb won the roll and elected to go second. Williams started with a Set card then activated Sky Striker Airspace – Area Zero, using its effect to add Sky Striker Ace – Raye to hand and send the Set Terraforming. He Normal Summoned Sky Striker Ace – Raye then sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku. He Set Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster and in the End Phase added Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! from his Deck to his hand with Shizuku’s effect.

McNabb activated Glife, the Phantom Bird, discarding it to add Golden Castle of Stromberg from his Deck to his hand. (Williams remarked: “It’s gonna be one of those, huh…”) Pot of Desires was next, banishing the top 10 to draw 2 cards. He Special Summoned Dinowrestler Pankratops from his hand then activated the Golden Castle of Stromberg, using its effect to Special Summoned Hexe Trude from his Deck! He used its effect to destroy Williams’s Set Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster which Williams chained on Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku. McNabb activated Danger! Bigfoot!’s effect in his hand. Williams hit Eater of Millions. Danger! Bigfoot! came down and McNabb drew a card. Hexe Trude attacked over Shizuku, and Williams brought Sky Striker Ace – Raye back from the Graveyard. Hexe Trude’s second attack went after Sky Striker Ace – Raye but Williams used Sky Striker Ace – Raye’s effect tagged Sky Striker Ace – Kaina onto the Field. Kaina’s effect was activated targeting Pankratops. Until the end of the turn, Pankratops could not attack. Hexe Trude attacked over Sky Striker Ace – Kaina then Danger! Bigfoot! attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, Hexe Trude and Danger! Bigfoot! were overlaid to Xyz Summon Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy.

Williams Set Metalfoes Fusion then used the Sky Striker Airspace – Area Zero’s effect to find Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster. Metalfoes Fusion went to the Graveyard. Williams then activated Sky Striker Maneuver – Afterburners! on Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy but McNabb used the Xyz Monster’s effect to negate the Spell and absorb it as a material. Williams activated Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!, and added Sky Striker Ace – Raye from his Deck to his hand then drew a card. He Normal Summoned Sky Striker Ace – Raye then sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kagari whose effect added back Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! which was activated to add Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor from his Deck to his hand and draw Solemn Judgment. Metalfoes Fusion went back into the Deck from the Graveyard to draw Sky Striker Mecha – Shark Cannon. Williams activated Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor targeting McNabb’s Dinowrestler Pankratops. McNabb pondered for a moment, then passed it to Williams’s field. He used the Dinosaur’s negated effect targeting the Golden Castle of Stromberg just to get Pankratops off the field and keep his Sky Striker Spells live. He Set 2 copies of Sky Striker Mecha – Shark Cannon, Solemn Judgment and Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booste. Sky Striker Ace – Kagari swapped out for Shuziku and in the End Phase, Williams added Sky Striker Mecha Modules – Multirole from his Deck to his hand.

McNabb banished the top 10 cards of his Deck due to Golden Castle of Stromberg’s effect. Still in the Standby Phase, Williams activated his Set Sky Striker Mecha – Shark Cannon to Special Summon the Dinowrestler Pankratops in McNabb’s Graveyard. McNabb chained Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy and Williams chained the second Shark Cannon to force the Special Summon. McNabb still absorbed the negated Shark Cannon as a material. McNabb activated Danger! Bigfoot! from his hand. McNabb hit the Danger! Bigfoot! and it was discarded. Bigfoot’s effect destroyed Williams’s Shizuku and Sky Striker Ace – Raye came out of the Graveyard. McNabb Special Summoned Eater of Millions, banishing 10 cards form his Extra Deck. McNabb counted the cards in his Main Deck: 9 cards left. McNabb revealed Danger! Thunderbird!. Williams hit it, and the bird’s Graveyard effect destroyed Williams’s Set Solemn Judgment. In the Battle Phase, McNabb activated Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher in his hand, banishing 8 cards form the Deck to Special Summon it. Gizmek attacked Sky Striker Ace – Raye and Williams activated Sky Striker Ace – Raye’s effect, Tributing it to Special Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kaina and its effect targeted McNabb’s Eater of Millions, preventing it from battling this turn. Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher continued its attack on Sky Striker Ace – Kaina, Williams activated Dinowrestler Pankratops to destroy McNabb’s Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy. Then Williams activated his Set Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster to protect Sky Striker Ace – Kaina from battle and card effect destruction. Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher’s new attack hit the Sky Striker Ace – Kaina for damage. McNabb ended his turn with one card in his Deck.

Williams drew Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Sky Striker Ace – Kaina swapped out for Sky Striker Ace – Hayate. Area Zero revealed 3 non-Sky Striker cards, so the targeted Sky Striker Ace – Hayate stayed in place. Sky Striker Ace – Hayate swapped out for Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku. He didn’t have a play out of the field though and scooped up his cards. McNabb takes the first Duel with just one card left in his Deck and is one Duel away from the Finals!

Duel 2

Williams elected for McNabb to go first. McNabb started off with Glife the Phantom Bird, discarding it to add Golden Castle of Stromberg. Its effect Special Summoned Hexe Trude from his Deck. He then activated Pot of Desires, banishing the top 10 cards to draw 2 more. He activated Trade-In, discarding Danger! Thunderbird! to draw 2 cards. He Set 2 cards to the back and passed.

Williams activated Foolish Burial Goods, sending Metalfoes Fusion from his Deck to the Graveyard. He activated Twin Twisters, discarding another Foolish Burial Goods destroying the McNabb’s Set Called by the Grave and Twin Twisters. Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! came down next, adding Sky Striker Ace – Raye from Williams’s Deck to his hand and drawing Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor. Williams Normal Summoned Sky Striker Ace – Raye and sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kagari whose effect let Williams pick up Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! from the Graveyard which was activated to add Sky Striker Maneuver – Afterburners! and draw another Twin Twisters. Sky Striker Ace – Kagari swapped out for Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku. Williams put the Metalfoes Fusion in his Graveyard back into the Deck to draw Upstart Goblin. He activated it and drew Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. Williams activated Sky Striker Mecharmory – Hercules Base on Shizuku then activated Sky Striker Maneuver – Afterburners! to destroy McNabb’s Hexe Trude and his own Sky Striker Mecharmory – Hercules Base. Williams sent some cards from his Graveyard back into the Deck with Hercules Base’s effect. He Set cards to his backrow and added Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! to his hand with Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku’s effect.

McNabb banished the top 10 cards of his Deck from Golden Castle of Stromberg. He had no way out of the situation and we’re going to a third Duel! This one would decide who’s going to the Finals!

Duel 3

McNabb elected for Williams to go first. He started off with 4 sets and Normal Summoned Sky Striker Ace – Raye. In the End Phase, Sky Striker Ace – Raye was Tributed to tag Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku in and her effect added Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! from his Deck to his hand.

McNabb activated Pot of Desires, banishing 10 cards to draw 2 more. Terraforming was next, adding Golden Castle of Stromberg from McNabb’s Deck to his hand. He activated the Field Spell and used its effect to Special Summon Hexe Trude from his Deck! Hexe Trude’s effect destroyed Williams’s Set Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor which Williams chained on Hexe Trude. Hexe Trude destroyed Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku in battle, and Sky Striker Ace – Raye came out of the Graveyard. McNabb Set 2 cards to the back. In the End Phase, Williams activate Sky Striker Ace – Raye’s effect to bring Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku in, and Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku’s effect added Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! from his Deck to his hand, giving him 2 in his hand.

Williams drew Sky Striker Ace – Raye for turn. He activate one of his Sky Striker Mobilize – Engages!, adding Sky Striker Mecha Modules – Multirole from his Deck to his hand. he activated Sky Striker Mecha Modules – Multirole, then used its effect to send his Set Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones to the Graveyard. After the Chain resolved, McNabb used his Cosmic Cyclone to banish Sky Striker Mecha Modules – Multirole. Williams activated the second Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!, adding Sky Striker Maneuver – Afterburners! from his Deck to his hand and drawing Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster. Shizuku swapped out for Sky Striker Ace – Kagari which got back Engage which was activated to add Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor from his Deck to his hand and draw Reinforcement of the Army. He activated it to add Sky Striker Ace – Raye from his Deck to his hand. He then activated Sky Striker Maneuver – Afterburners! to clear Hexe Trude and the Golden Castle. Sky Striker Ace – Kagari attacked directly for 2100, leaving McNabb at 4900 LP. Sky Striker Ace – Kagari swapped for Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku and in the End Phase, Williams added Sky Striker Mecharmory – Hercules Base from his Deck to his hand with Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku’s effect.

McNabb counted his Deck: 19 cards. He flipped his Set Pot of Desires, banishing 10 to draw 2 more. Now there’s 7 cards left. Not enough for a Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher. He activated Twin Twisters, discarding Pot of Desires, destroying Williams’s Set Sky Striker Mecha – Widow Anchor and Sky Striker Mecha – Shark Cannon. McNabb activated the Golden Castle of Stromberg then activated Monster Reborn to bring back Hexe Trude. Hexe Trude’s effect destroyed Williams’s Set Infinite Impermanence which was chained targeting Hexe Trude. Next, McNabb Special Summoned Eater of Millions, banishing 14 cards from his Extra Deck, leaving just one card. Eater of Millions and Hexe Trude Link Summoned the last card in McNabb’s Extra Deck: Knightmare Phoenix. Its effect destroyed Williams’s last Set card: Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster. With the backrow clear, McNabb free to Normal Summon the biggest Gren Maju Da Eiza in YCS Feature Match history! 34 banished cards = 13,600 ATK!! One attack over Shizuku was all that was needed!

Yishan McNabb is moving to the Finals with Golden Castle of Stromberg!