AJ is 11 years old, and traveled here this weekend from New Jersey to play his Tenyi Swordsoul Deck. His opponent is 13 year-old Connor from Portland, playing an anti-meta Mekk-Knight Deck. These two competitors are seated at Table 1 this round: Connor was undefeated, while AJ was 2-1 and looking to even the score. 

AJ won the roll and opted to go first. He Special Summoned Tenyi Spirit – Ashuna, and used it to Link Summon Monk of the Tenyi. He activated Pot of Desires, banishing ten cards to draw two more. He Summoned Swordsoul of Mo Ye, revealed Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan and Special Summoned a Swordsoul Token to Synchro Summon Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao. He made Chixiao’s effect Chain Link 1 and Moye Chain Link 2, drawing with Mo Ye and searching Swordsoul Blackout.

He banished Ashuna to Special Summon Tenyi Spirit – Adhara, then Link Summoned another Monk of the Tenyi. He used Adhara to get back Ashuna, then activated Vessel for the Dragon Cycle to send Tenyi Spirit – Shthana to his Graveyard, searching Tenyi Spirit – Vishuda. “I’ll let you cut, cuz I’m not going back in.”

AJ pitched Ashuna to Special Summon Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan, Summoned his Token, and used them both to Synchro Summon Sinister Sovereign – Qixing Longyuan, He finished his turn setting two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone. 

Connor’s hand was Harpie’s Feather Duster, Dark Ruler No More, World Legacy’s Memory, Mekk-Knight Red Moon, Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight, and Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju. He activated Dark Ruler, then blew away AJ’s Blackout and Infinite Impermanence with Harpie’s Feather Duster. He Normal Summoned Girsu for its effect and AJ met it with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, cutting him off. Connor followed up, activating Girsu’s second effect to Summon two World Legacy Tokens, one to his field and one to AJ’s, then used his to Link Summon Linkuriboh with his Token. 

He activated Memory next, Special Summoned Mekk-Knight Purple Nightfall from his Deck, and banished it to get Mekk-Knight Blue Sky. He Summoned it and used its effect to search his Deck for Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse and Mekk-Knight Yellow Star. AJ took the opportunity to read each card, being very careful to understand exactly what was going on in this matchup. Always smart. 

“Let me think… I will… Special Summon Mekk-Knight Red Moon,” announced Connor, placing it beneath Linkuriboh. AJ read that too. Connor Linked Linkuriboh and Blue Sky to Link Summon Mekk-Knight of the Morning Star. He discarded to search World Legacy’s Secret from his Deck, used Red Moon to banish Blue Sky and destroyed Swordsoul Sinister Sovereign – Qixing Longyuan. One problem down. He summoned Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse, moving Red Moon, and banished to use Red Moon to destroy Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao. 

“I’ll go to battle.” Connor attacked and destroyed AJ’s Token with Girsu, pushed Mekk-Knight of the Morning Star into Monk, and AJ used Shthana to bring it back.  Connor destroyed the fresh monk with Red Moon. In Main Phase 2, he Link Summoned a second Morning Star, then Linked both of them to Link Summon Mekk-Knight Crusadia Avramax! He Set Secret to end.

AJ snapped into action and moments later he was Synchro Summoning another Grandmaster – Chixiao. Connor responded with Secret, Special Summoning Indigo Eclipse to the same column to negate Chixiao’s effect. AJ pressed, Normal Summoning Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous to use its effect, and Connor chained Indigo Eclipse’s ability to move it and shut AJ down again. AJ used the effect of Vishuda from the Graveyard to bump Indigo Eclipse off the field, got back Tenyi Spirit – Shthana, and passed.

Connor drew Infinite Impermanence and Special Summoned Mekk-Knight Purple Nightfall. He Tributed AJ’s Chixiao to stick him with Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju, then banished Indigo Eclipse to search Mekk-Knight Blue Sky. He Set World Legacy’s Secret, searched and summoned Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight, and used it to send World Legacy – “World Chalice” to his Graveyard. He Link Summoned Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, traded it up for Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, and sent AJ’s Monk to the graveyard. Mekk-Knight Crusadia Avramax swung over Gameciel and gained 2200 attack. Dingirsu nailed AJ for 2600 damage and he dropped to 2400 Life Points.  

Connor tried to finish up his turn by overlaying Dingirsu with Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder! But AJ dropped Nibiru, the Primal Being! Connor got a Primal Being Token with 6000 ATK and 3000 DEF, and he quickly Linked it off for Link Spider. He bumped the Nibiru off the field to end.

AJ Special Summoned Tenyi Spirit – Vishuda, and Link Summoned Monk of the Tenyi with it. He attacked Connor’s Link Spider, destroying both. He banished Shthana to Special Summon Monk, and attacked directly. Connor dropped to 5800 Life Points. But it wasn’t enough! Connor drew another Dark Ruler No More, Special Summoned Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse, activated Chalice, and AJ was already conceding to get to Game 2.

AJ makes a big set-up to open the Match, but Dark Ruler No More gives Connor every opening he needs to fight back! A meticulous series of plays allow Connor to pick his opponent’s field apart card by card with negations and destruction effects, grinding his way to a win in the first Duel.

AJ was ready to vie for a comeback, but he certainly didn’t want to see another Dark Ruler No More. He started it up with Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan , a Token, and quickly made Baronne de Fleur. He Special Summoned Mo Ye next to make another Token, and another Synchro Summon: Grandmaster – Chixiao. He drew a card and searched Swordsoul Blackout. Pot of Desires was next for a quick two draws, and AJ set a card to his backrow to end his turn.

Connor’s hand was World Legacy – “World Chalice”, Mekk-Knight Blue Sky, Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight, World Legacy’s Memory and not one, but two copies of Pot of Prosperity. He activated a Prosperity to banish six cards from his Extra Deck, then revealed Mekk-Knight Yellow Star, Nibiru, the Primal Being, World Legacy’s Memory, Harpie’s Feather Duster and two copies of Mystic Mine: he took a Mine.

He activated the Mine, forcing AJ to negate it with Baronne de Fleur. Connor followed up with Girsu and Set a backrow. He Special Summoned Mekk-Knight Blue Sky, then used it to search his Deck for Mekk-Knight Purple Nightfall. AJ used Blackout, destroying Blue Sky and Girsu. Moments later Connor searched Mekk-Knight Red Moon, Special Summoned it, and banished his Girsu to blow away AJ’s Baronne. Connor attacked for 2300 damage and ended.

AJ Special Summoned Ashuna, Link Summoned Monk of the Tenyi, then activated Vessel for the Dragon Cycle to search his Deck, getting Vishuda. He Special Summoned it, banished Ashuna, and Special Summon Tenyi Spirit – Adhara. That gave him what he needed to Synchro Summon Baxia, Brightness of the Yang Zing, and he targeted Connor’s two backrow cards: Connor Chained Memory to try and salvage some value, and AJ responded with the effect of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in response.

AJ Normal Summoned Mo Ye, revealed, Summoned his Token, and Synchro Summoned Draco Berserker of the Tenyi.  Adhara let him get back Ashuna, and when he revealed a Longyuan Connor conceded.

The tables were turned! AJ was now back in the Match, one win away from keeping his X-1 record and dragging Connor down to the same score! Connor opted to let AJ go first for the third and final Duel.

AJ activated Pot of Desires to draw two cards: five minutes remained on the clock. He Special Summoned Vishuda, activated Vessel, made a few more moves at a lightning-quick pace and ended up with Draco Berserker.  He Summoned Swordsoul of Mo Ye, got his Token, and Synchro Summoned Grandmaster – Chixiao. He sent Shthana and got a Mo Ye. AJ got back his Ashuna, revealed it for Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan, and made another Synchro Summon: Swordsoul Sinister Sovereign – Qixing Longyuan. He Set one card his Spell and Trap Card Zone and ended.

Connor was in trouble, holding Dinowrestler Pankratops, Terraforming, World Legacy’s Memory, Mekk-Knight Blue Sky, Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight, and World Legacy’s Secret. He Special Summoned Pankratops and destroyed Qixing Longyuan. He got Mystic Mine with Terraforming, and he Normal Summoned Girsu. AJ flipped Swordsoul Blackout to keep the field under control. Connor sent “World Chalice” to the Graveyard, and AJ used Shthana to bring back his Monk of the Tenyi.

Connor was just not getting through AJ’s field. He Set a card to his backrow, Special Summoned Mekk-Knight Blue Sky, and lost out to Effect Veiler.  He Set his last card and ended.

AJ banished Ashuna to Summon Adhara, used that to Link Summon Monk of the Tenyi and used Adhara to get back his Shthana. He revealed it for Swordsoul of Mo Ye, played through the Pankratops, and moments later he was attacking for game with a field of Mo Ye, two Monks, and a Chixiao, just as time was being called!

AJ battles back from his Game 1 loss to take two wins back-to-back, moving on with a 3-1 record with Tenyi Swordsoul!