Welcome to Day 2 of YCS Minneapolis! For this Match, we have two rogue Decks. Maury Rosario is here from Anchorage, AK, playing Exosisters! He’s up against someone who traveled from even farther – David Erpen, here from Zurich, Switzerland! Erpen is using a Thunder Dragon strategy, with the new Bystial monsters as ways to banish his Thunder Dragons to trigger their effects.

Duel 1

Rosario started with a hand of Mystic Mine, Exosister Pax, Dark Ruler No More, and 2 Exosister Sophia. He played Pax, searching for Exosister Martha. He activated Martha’s effect, Special Summoning it and Exosister Elis. He Xyz Summoned Exosister Kaspitell, then used it to get Exosister Stella. He Normal Summoned Stella, then Special Summoned Exosister Sophia. Its effect let him draw another Exosister Pax. He Xyz Summoned Exosister Mikailis. Its effect added Exosister Returnia to his hand. He then used Mikailis and Kaspitell to play Exosisters Magnifica in Defense Position. He Set Pax and Returnia.

Erpen started with The Bystial Lubellion’s effect to add Bystial Magnamhut to his hand. He Normal Summoned Batteryman Solar, which sent Thunder Dragonroar. He then activated Magnamhut, targeting the Dragonroar, and Rosario responded with Pax to Special Summon Stella. Magnamhut resolved, banishing Dragonroar and Special Summoning itself. Stella’s effect let Rosario play Kaspitell, and Dragonroar Special Summoned Thunder Dragondark. Solar’s effect created a Batteryman Token. Erpen used all four of his monsters to play Saryuja Skull Dread! Rosario responded to Erpen’s effects with Magnifica, banishing Saryuja. Then Dragondark’s effect added Thunder Dragonhawk to Erpen’s hand. Finally, Sayuja’s effect resolved to let Erpen draw four cards, returning three to the bottom of his Deck. Erpen Special Summoned Chaos Dragon Levianeer, banishing a mix of LIGHT and DARK monsters. Rosario responded to its effect with Magnifica’s effect, tagging it out for Mikailis. Erpen used Levianeer to destroy Mikailis and the Set Returnia.

Erpen continued his turn, and played Allure of Darkness, banishing Danger!? Tsuchinoko?. He Set one card in his back row, then played Chaos Emperor, the Dragon of Armageddon in his Pendulum Zone. He Special Summoned Dragonroar with Dragonhawk, then activated Danger!? Jackalope? with two cards in his hand. He discarded the Jackalope, which Special Summoned Danger! Nessie!. Erpen used Chaos Emperor, which destroyed itself to add Magnamhut to his hand. He then Special Summoned the Chaos Emperor from his Extra Deck. It attacked Kaspitell, dropping Rosario to 5700 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, he used all his monsters to Link Summon Hieratic Seal of the Heavenly Spheres and I:P Masquerena. In his End Phase, Magnamhut’s lingering effect added Levianeer to his hand.

Rosario drew a second Mystic Mine. He played Dark Ruler No More and Mystic Mine. He passed.

On his turn, Erpen flipped Branded Beast! He Tributed his Hieratic to destroy Mystic Mine, and revealed his hand of pure gas to show that he had the game in hand. Rosario agreed, and accepted defeat!

The Duelists quickly hit their Side Decks, hoping for an advantage in the next game.

Duel 2

Rosario played first again, and opened with Martha, Returnia, Cosmic Cyclone, Pot of Prosperity, and Set Rotation. He used Martha, Special Summoning it along with Exosister Elis. He played Prosperity, banishing six cards to reveal Martha, Dimension Shifter, Called by the Grave, Stella, Sophia, and another Prosperity. He took Called by the Grave. He Xyz Summoned Mikailis, and used its effect to add Exosister Vadis to his hand. He played Set Rotation next, getting Zombie World to Erpen’s side and Necrovalley to his own, each face-down. He flipped Necrovalley, then Set the rest of his hand. He was in a solid position.

…but Erpen had Lightning Storm! Rosario flipped Vadis to get Exosister Irene and Sophia to the field… and Erpen played Raigeki!

Erpen played Chaos Space, discarding Black Dragon Collapserpent to get The Bystial Lubellion. Lubellion’s effect added Magnamhut. He Special Summoned White Dragon Wyverburster, then used Chaos Space’s effect in the Graveyard to draw a new card. He continued with a flurry of monsters, completely unimpeded now that Rosario had no cards left. Rosario offered the handshake!

David Erpen is victorious with Thunder Dragons!