YCS Philadelphia’s quickly coming to its conclusion! Hunter Lloyd is playing one of the few Labrynth Decks remaining in the tournament, and he’s once again facing a Kashtira match-up! His opponent is Enzo Maximiliano Fiallos Velasco, who’s piloting Kashtira this weekend. Is Maximiliano’s Deck just another Kashtira match-up for Lloyd to defeat, or is this the Match that brings his tournament run to an end?

Lloyd won the dice roll and decided to go first. He opened with Infinite Impermanence, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Big Welcome Labrynth, Labrynth Chandraglier, and Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle. He Set both Trap Cards and used Chandraglier’s effect, discarding Ash Blossom to Set Big Welcome Labrynth from his Deck. After his trap resolved he Summoned Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle in Defense Position and passed his turn.

Maximiliano drew to start his turn and Summoned Kashtira Unicorn. He attempted to activate its effect, but Lloyd responded with Infinite Impermanence. Maximiliano targeted his Unicorn with Book of Moon to avoid Impermanence, and Unicorn successfully resolved. Maximiliano added Kashtira Birth and activated it. Lloyd Chained Welcome Labrynth, but Maximiliano Chained Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to negate it. Lloyd Chained Big Welcome Labrynth in response to Ash Blossom. With Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle thrown into the mix too, the resulting Chain resolved and Lloyd Set Dogmatika Punishment from his Deck, and Summoned Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle, returning Lady Labrynth to the hand. After the Chain resolved, Labrynth Chandraglier activated to return to hand and Lovely Labrynth’s ability kicked in to destroy Kashtira Birth. 

Maximiliano continued with Pot of Prosperity, banishing 6 cards from his Extra Deck to excavate 6 cards from his Deck. He added Kashtira Birth, then activated it. He Normal Summoned Kashtira Fenrir and activated its effect to search for Kashtira Riseheart. He activated Riseheart, then used its effect to banish Kashtira Unicorn and 3 cards face-down from the top of Lloyd’s Deck. Next, he activated Birth to Summon the banished Unicorn. He declared an attack with Fenrir and used its effect to banish Lovely Labrynth. Lloyd decided to Summoned Lady Labrynth and Maximiliano went to the Main Phase 2. He activated Unicorn’s effect to banish Chaos Angel from Lloyd’s Extra Deck. He overlayed for Dark Armed, the Dragon of Annihilation with Unicorn and Riseheart, then he destroyed the Set Dogmatika Punishment and Lady Labrynth. 

Lloyd drew Nibiru, the Primal Being for his turn. He Normal Summoned Labrynth Chandraglier and activated Big Welcome Labrynth in his Graveyard to return Chandraglier back to his hand. He then activated Welcome Labrynth from his Graveyard to return it to his backrow. He passed his turn.

Maximiliano flipped his Unicorn and activated its effect to get Kashtiratheosis. He then activated Fenrir to get a new copy of Fenrir from the Deck. He Normal Summoned Fenrir, then Summoned Unicorn with the effect of Kashtira Birth. He entered his Battle Phase and attacked with Fenrir, and Lloyd activated Big Welcome Labrynth, then Chained Labrynth Chandraglier by sending it to the Graveyard with Nibiru, the Primal Being. Chardraglier Set Big Welcome, and the other Big Welcome Summoned Lady Labrynth from the Deck. Unicorn triggered, and it let Maximiliano banish Albion the Branded Dragon from Lloyd’s Extra Deck. Maximiliano Xyz Summoned Kashtira Arise-Heart with both copies of Unicorn and Fenrir. He then used Kashtiratheosis to Summon his last Unicorn from the Deck. Lloyd conceded, unable to counter the Kashtira Monsters flooding the field!

Despite resolving a number of Trap Cards, Lloyd was unable to establish consistent field presence and his cards were slowly chipped away at by Maximiliano’s Kashtiras. Both duelists started digging through their Side Decks to find cards prepared especially for their respective match-ups.

Lloyd opened with Labrynth Stovie Torbie, Pot of Prosperity, Gozen Match, Dogmatika Punishment, and Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. He activated Pot of Prosperity and banished 6 from his Extra Deck, but it was negated by Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. He Set 2 cards to his backrow, then activated Stovie Torbie to Set Big Welcome Labrynth by discarding Ghost Ogre.

Maximiliano activated Pressured Planet Wraitsoth and searched his Deck for Kashtira Fenrir. He Summoned Fenrir and activated its effect to add Kashtira Riseheart. He activated Kashtiratheosis, and Lloyd Chained Gozen Match. Kashtiratheosis went to the Graveyard and no Kashtira Monsters were Summoned. During the End Phases Lloyd activated Dogmatika Punishment to destroy Fenrir. He sent Tri-Brigade Arms Bucephalus II from his Extra Deck to the Graveyard, and Bucephalus II activated its effect to send Garura, Wings of Resonant Life from the Extra Deck to the Graveyard. Lloyd returned Labrynth Stovie Torbie to his hand and drew Droll & Lock Bird off Garura’s effect. Maximiliano activated Kashtira Birth and Summoned back Fenrir with its effect. He Set 1 to his backrow and during his End Phase Lloyd activated Big Welcome Labrynth, Summoning Lovely and returning Stovie Torbie to his hand. Finally, he used Lovely Labrynth to destroy Fenrir.

Lloyd activated Branded Fusion during his turn to Fusion Summon Albion the Branded Dragon, using Fallen of Albaz and PSY-Framegear Gamma as materials. Lloyd activated Albion, but Maximiliano countered with Infinite Impermanence. Lloyd banished Big Welcome Labrynth to return Albion to the Extra Deck. Albion resolved, and Albaz and Garura were banished from the Graveyard to Summon Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon. Maximiliano conceded, unable to stop the Fusion Summon!

A series of moves by Lloyd on Maximiliano’s turn helped him stall out his opponent’s Kashtira combos! Branded Fusion delivered the finishing blow, despite Maximiliano’s attempts to stop it! Suddenly, everything was riding on the outcome of Game 3.

Maximiliano started the Duel. He Summoned Fenrir and searched his Deck for Kashtira Riseheart. He Summoned Riseheart, then activated its effect to banish Kashtira Birth from his Deck. Lloyd countered with Infinite Impermanence to negate it. Maximiliano Set one to backrow and passed.

Lloyd opened with PSY-Frame Driver, Raigeki, Branded Fusion, Pot of Prosperity, and Infinite Impermanence. He activated Raigeki and Maximiliano Chained Dimensional Shifter. Lloyd activated Prosperity and banished 6 cards from his Extra Deck to excavate 6 cards from his Main Deck. He saw Arianna the Labrynth Servant, Nibiru, the Primal Being, Lava Golem, Labrynth Chandraglier, Skill Drain, and Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle. He added Arianna the Labrynth Servant and the rest went to the bottom of the Deck.

Lloyd activated Branded Fusion to Fusion Summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon, sending Fallen of Albaz and Labrynth Stovie Torbieto the Graveyard for the Fusion Summon. He used Lubellion’s effect, discarding PSY-Frame Driver, but Maximiliano Chained Infinite Impermanence to negate Lubellion. Lloyd Summoned Arianna the Labrynth Servantand activated its effect to search Big Welcome Labrynth, and then entered his Battle Phase. He attacked with Arianna and Lubellion directly, dropping Maximiliano to 3900 Life Points. He passed his turn.

Maximiliano activated Harpie’s Feather Duster, and Lloyd used Big Welcome Labrynth to return Lubellion to his Extra Deck, Summoning Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle. He activated Lovely Labrynth’s effect and Arianna let Lloyd draw a card. He Set Skill Drain with Big Welcome, and Lovely Labrynth destroyed Triple Tactics Talent in Maximiliano’s hand. Maximiliano activated Triple Tactics Talent and drew 2 cards, Summoned Fenrir, and used its effect to search Kashtira Unicorn.

In the Battle Phase, Maximiliano attacked Ariana with Fenrir and Maximiliano activated its effect to banish Lovely Labrynth. In his Main Phase 2 he Normal Summoned Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion and Synchro Summoned Baronne de Fleur using Ghost Belle and Fenrir. Maximiliano used Baronne to destroyed the Set Skill Drain.

Lloyd drew and passed.

Maximiliano drew for his turn and activated Kashtira Birth, then used Birth to Summon Unicorn. By the time Unicorn hit the field Lloyd was ready to concede the duel!

Harpie’s Feather Duster helps Maximiliano launch a final attack on Lloyd’s Life Points! Maximiliano moves on the Top 4 at YCS Philadelphia!