Joe Bogli’s no stranger to competitive play in the Yu-Gi-Oh TCG! A former World Championship competitor back in 2011, he’s back trying for more glory here today, at YCS Philadelpha. His opponent is David Kreis from Boyertown, Pennsylvania, and he’s been playing Yu-Gi-Oh for about 5 years. This is going to be a great match, and it’s time to Duel! 

Kreis got the Match started with Branded Opening, discarding Gimmick Puppet Nightmare and Summoning Aluber the Jester of Despia to get Branded Fusion from his Deck. He Summoned Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous to follow up, and activated The Bystial Lubellion’s effect to grab Bystial Saronir. He thought for a moment, then activated Branded Fusion sending Fallen of Albaz and another Blazing Cartestia to the Graveyard, to Summon Albion the Branded Dragon.

Kreis used the Albion to banish his Fallen of Albaz along with Gimmick Puppet Nightmare to Summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon. He activated Lubellion’s effect, discarding Bystial Saronir to shuffle Lubellion and Albaz into the Deck and bring out Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon. Saronir’s effect sent Branded Retribution to the Graveyard. Kreis used The Bystial Lubellion to Tribute Albion and bring Lubellion back, then placed Branded Lost on the field from his Deck. He activated Blazing Cartesia’s effect next, to Summon Granguignol the Dusk Dragon. Kreis got Tri-Brigade Mercourier to his hand with Branded Lost, and he sent sent Titaniklad the Ash Dragon to the Graveyard with Granguignol. In the End Phase, he added Blazing Cartestia to his hand with its effect, set Branded Expulsion with Albion, and Summoned Guiding Quem, the Virtuous with Titaniklad to send Fallen of Albaz to the Graveyard. 

Bogli opened with a hand of Dogmatika Punishment, Conquistador of the Golden Land, Solemn Strike, Huaquero of the Golden Land, Pot of Prosperity, and Eldlich the Golden Lord. During the Draw Phase, Kries activated Branded Expulson by Tributing Granguignol the Dusk Dragon to Summon Blazing Cartestia, the Virtuous to his own field, and stick Gimmick Puppet Nightmare on Bogli’s field, locking him out of Special Summons for the turn! Bogli took a moment to read Guiding Quem, making sure he was familiar with the array of threats that Kreis had created on his first turn. Bogli activated Pot of Prosperity banishing 6 cards, only to be met with an Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring that led him to concede the Duel. 

Thanks to a flurry of Fusion Summons and a brutal lock with Gimmick Puppet Nightmare, Kreis keeps Bogli from Summoning and takes the first Duel! Both Duelists were eager to get to the next game.

Bogli Opened with a hand of Conquistador of the Golden Land, There Can Be Only One, Anti-Spell Fragrance, and 2 Huaquero of the Golden Land. He set all 5 Trap Cards and passed play over to Kreis. 

In Kreis’s Draw Phase, Bogli flipped Anti-Spell Fragrance and was met with a confirming nod. Kreiss Normal Summoned Aluber the Jester of Despia and added Branded Fusion to his hand. Kreis attacked for 1800, and in Main Phase 2 he set 2 face-downs, passing play back to Bogli. In the End Phase Bogli activated his Conquistador and Huaquero, and with that play was back to him.

Bogli drew Skill Drain for the turn, and he Xyz Summoned Constellar Pleiades in his Main Phase. He attacked Aluber, the Jester of Despia with Pleiades, then Set the freshly drawn Skill Drain and bounced a face-down from Kreis’s field, trying to keep Kreis from getting to his all-important Fusion Summons. In the End Phase he used Huaquero’s Graveyard effect to set Eldlixir of Scarlet Sanguine from his Deck.

Bogli used Constellar Pleiades in Kreis’s Draw Phase to return Kreis’s other Set card, really applying pressure. Kreiss thought carefully before Normal Summoning Blazing Cartestia, the Virtuous and when he activated Cartesia’s effect to Fusion Summon, Bogli chained Skill Drain, locking Kreis out of that small bit of offense. Kreis set 3 cards face-down and passed play over to Bogli. In the End Phase, Bogli flipped Eldlixir of Scarlet Sanguine and he Summoned Eldlich the Golden Lord. He used Conquistador to Set another Eldlixir of Scarlet Sanguine, and Bogli was up again. 

He Drew Infinite Impermanence for his turn and thought about his next play. After confirming the remaining Life Points, Bogli Summoned Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger over the Constellar Pleiades. He sent the Gaia to attack Kreis’s Blazing Cartestia, the Virtuous and Eldlich the Golden Lord landed a follow-up attack for 2500 damage. Still in the Battle Phase, Bogli Summoned his Set Huaquero of the Golden Land and Banished Blazing Cartesia dealing 1800 more damage, then flipped Eldlixir of Scarlet Sanguine Summoning a second Golden Lord. When he attacked with it, Kreis activated the effect of Bystial Saronir to banish his own Aluber and save his Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Bogli set 1 card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone and passed play over to Kreis.

Kreis led his turn with Fusion Deployment revealing Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon, to Summon Fallen of Albaz. Bogli flipped There Can Be Only One on the Summon, and Kreis had to send a Dragon to the Graveyard, choosing his Fallen of Albaz. He activated Branded Fusion  next, sending Fallen of Albaz and Tri-Brigade Mercourier to Summon Rindbrumm the Striking Dragon. Kreis went to the Battle Phase and attacked Eldlich the Golden Lord with Bystial Saronir, which sent Branded Opening to the Graveyard. Kreiss set a card and passed play to Bogli. 

In the End Phase Bogli banished another Huaquero and set another Scarlet Sanguine. He drew Pot of Prosperity for turn. He activated Eldlich the Golden Lord in the Graveyard, sending the Set Scarlet Sanguine, and pondered if he was going to Summon it. He ultimately chose to do so, and attacked Rindbrumm the Striking Dragon with the Golden Lord for 1000 damage. Rindbrumm’s effect Brough back Fallen of Albaz, and it kept Bogli from making a direct attack with Gaia Dragon the Thunder Charger. Bogli set another Huaquero of the Golden Land with Scarlet Sanguine and passed. 

Kreiss drew for his turn, realized the writing was on the wall and conceded the second Duel! 

Kreiss was up first in a clutch Game 3, starting off with Fusion Deployment to Summon Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous. He used its effect, sending Blazing Cartesian and Despian Tragedy for Granguignol the Dusk Dragon! Granguignol’s effect was Chain Link 1, with Despian Tragedy Chain Link 2. Tragedy got him Aluber the Jester of Despia and Granguignol sent Jinzo: Espa Roba would be proud. He Normal Summoned Aluber to grab Branded Fusion, and he activated it to Summon Albion the Branded Dragon. Kreis used Albion’s effect banishing Fallen of Albaz and Aluber to Summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon. 

He activated Lubellion’s effect discarding Branded Retribution, and Summoned Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon shuffling it an Fallen of Albaz back into the Deck. He Summoned The Bystial Lubellion next, tributing Albion the Branded Dragon, only to be met with Nibiru, the Primal Being. Kreis thought carefully, before deciding not to use Mirrorjade’s effect to banish, which would severely weaken the Primal Being Token. Nibiru hit the field and Kreiss got an 8000 ATK Token for his trouble. 

Kreis pressed on using the effects of Granguignol and Mirrorjade: Granguignol Summoned Despian Queratis, and Kreis set a face-down. In the End Phase, he Set Branded Expulsion with Albion the Branded Dragon and got back Blazing Cartesia. Mirrorjade destroyed Nibiru, the Primal Being.

Bogli drew and was holding Pot of Prosperity, Infinite Impermanence, Compulsory Evacuation Device, Huaquero of the Golden Land, and Conquistador of the Golden Land. He tried for Pot of Prosperity, but lost out to another Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring! Bogli proceeded to set 2 face-downs and went to the End Phase. Kreis used Branded Expulsion to Summon Jinzo on his side, and stuck Bogli with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in Attack Position. 

Kreis was up, switching the 8000 ATK Token to Attack Position and swinging with it for game! David Kreis defeats Joe Bogli, as Branded Despia triumphs over Eldlich here in Round 2.