Lucas Johnson from Muskegon, Michigan and Sebastian Rodriguez from Hialeah, Florida both have 7-1-2 records going into this final Swiss Round, and they’re both using interesting strategies. Johnson is using a Drytron Deck, which is a Deck that was once popular but hasn’t seen much recent tournament success. Rodriguez is using a Scareclaw Mannadium Deck, capable of putting up fields full of monsters that are capable of negating an opponent’s card effects. Each of these two Duelists will need a victory in this round in order to maintain any hope of a Top 32 finish, so the stakes are high. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Rodriguez Special Summoned Kashtira Fenrir from his hand and then Normal Summoned Scareclaw Reichheart.

He activated its effect to add Scareclaw Arrival to his hand and then Special Summoned Mannadium Meek from his hand in Defense Position. He sent Reichheart to his Graveyard to Link Summon Scareclaw Light-Heart and used its effect to add Primitive Planet Reichphobia to his hand. He activated it and used its effect to add Visas Starfrost to his hand. He activated his on-field Fenrir’s effect to add Scareclaw Kashtira to his hand and then activated Scareclaw Arrival to Special Summon his Reichheart back to his field. He then activated the effect of Mannadium Riumheart to Special Summon it from his hand and destroy Reichheart. He added Mannadium Abscission to his hand with Riumheart’s effect and then activated it by targeting his Meek. He destroyed the Meek and added Peaceful Planet Calarium to his hand. He used Meek’s effect to Special Summon another Mannadium Meek from his Deck as a Level 4 monster. Next, he banished Abscission from his Graveyard to Special Summon Visas Starfrost from his hand. He Tuned Starfrost with Riumheart to Synchro Summon Baronne de Fleur and then banished Visas Starfrost and Reiumheart from his Graveyard to Special Summon Vicious Astraloud from his Extra Deck in Defense Position. He Tuned Astraloud with Mannadium Meek to Synchro Summon Crimson Dragon. He used Crimson Dragon’s effect, targeting Baronne de Fleur, and returned the Crimson Dragon to his Extra Deck to Special Summon Bystial Dis Pater. He used Bystial Dis Pater’s effect to Special Summon Visas Starfrost and then activated the effect of Scareclaw Kashtira to Special Summon it from his hand by banishing Scareclaw Arrival. He sent Light-Heart and Scareclaw Kashtira to the Graveyard to Link Summon Cross-Sheep and then Special Summoned Light-Heart from his Graveyard with its effect. He sent Cross-Sheep, Light-Heart, and Visas Starfrost to the Graveyard to Link Summon Apollous, Bow of the Goddess and then ended his turn.

Johnson opened up Duel 1 with Drytron Fafnir, Drytron Beta Rastaban, Forbidden Droplet, Drytron Gamma Eltanin, and Meteonis Drytron. He drew Drytron Alpha Thuban for his turn and then activated Drytron Fafnir to add Drytron Nova to his hand. He activated Drytron Nova and then Chained Forbidden Droplet! He sent Fafnir, Nova, Alpha, and Gamma to the Graveyard to negate the effects of all of Rodriguez’s monsters! He Special Summoned Drytron Zeta Aldhibah from his Deck in Attack Position and then activated the effect of Alpha in the Graveyard to Special Summon it by Tributing Zeta. He added Cyber Angel Benten to his hand with Alpha’s effect. He Tributed Benten from his hand to Special Summon Zeta from his Graveyard and add Meteonis Drytron from his Deck to his hand. Next, he used Benten’s effect to add another copy of Benten from his Deck to his hand. He combined Alpha and Zeta to Xyz Summon Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir and used its effect to send Drytron Delta Altais from his Deck to his Graveyard. Next, he activated Meteonis Drytron. He detached an Xyz Material from Fafnir to Special Summon Benten from the Graveyard. Next, he activated Delta’s effect by Tributing Benten to Special Summon Delta and draw Triple Tactics Talent. He added another Benten to his hand with his Benten’s effect. He then used Gamma’s effect in the Graveyard to Special Summon it by Tributing Benten from his hand. Gamma Special Summoned Zeta from the Graveyard, and Johnson added Cyber Angel Natasha to his hand with the effect of Benten. Next, Johnson returned Meteonis Drytron to his hand from his Graveyard by reducing Delta’s ATK by 1000. Then, he activated it to Ritual Summon Natasha by detaching an Xyz Material from Fafnir. He used Natasha’s effect targeting Fafnir to gain Life Points and then sent Natasha and Delta to the Graveyard to Link Summon I:P Masquerena. Next, he used Natasha’s effect by banishing Benten from his Graveyard to Special Summon Natasha and take control of Baronne de Fleur. He used Natasha’s effect to gain more Life Points and then sent Masquerena and Natasha to the Graveyard to Link Summon Knightmare Unicorn. He discarded Beta from his hand to return Apollousa to the Extra Deck with Unicorn’s effect. Next, he sent all 4 monsters in his Main Monster Zone to the Graveyard to Link Summon Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess. He Special Summoned Natasha from the Graveyard again by banishing Benten and took control of Bystial Dis Pater. He used Natasha’s effect to gain more Life Points by targeting Dis Pater and then used the effect of Beta in his Graveyard to Tribute Benten and Special Summon the Beta. He used Benten’s effect to add Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to his hand. He sent Unicorn and Natasha to the Graveyard to Link Summon Accesscode Talker and Rodriguez finally conceded!

Rodriguez’s incredible first-turn field is ripped apart by Johnson’s Forbidden Droplet, allowing Johnson to take a decisive victory in the first Duel of the Match!

Duel Two

Rodriguez Normal Summoned Mannadium Riumheart and activated its effect to add Mannadium Meek to his hand. He Special Summoned Meek and then activated the effect of Visas Starfrost to destroy Meek and Special Summon Starfrost. He used Meek’s effect to Special Summon another Meek from his Deck as a Level 4 monster. Next, he Tuned Riumheart with Starfrost to Synchro Summon Baronne de Fleur in Defense Position. He banished Riumheart and Starfrost to Special Summon Vicious Astraloud from his Extra Deck and then Tuned Meek with Astraloud to Synchro Summon Crimson Dragon. He used Crimson Dragon’s effect targeting Baronne to return Crimson Dragon to his Extra Deck and Special Summon Bystial Dis Pater. He used Dis Pater’s effect to Special Summon Visas Starfrost, then sent Starfrost to the Graveyard to Link Summon Light-Heart. He used Light-Heart’s effect to add Reichphobia to his hand. He activated Reichphobia and used its effect to add Scareclaw Reichheart to his hand. He Special Summoned Reichheart and used its effect to add Scareclaw Arrival to his hand and draw a card. Next, he sent Light-Heart and Reichheart to the Graveyard to Link Summon S:P Little Knight and Set 2 cards to his back row before passing his turn.

Johnson opened up Duel 2 with Triple Tactics Talent, Drytron Alpha Thuban, Drytron Meteonis Draconids, Drytron Nova, and Drytron Fafnir. He drew Meteonis Drytron for his turn and then activated Drytron Fafnir to add Drytron Nova to his hand. Next, he activated the Nova to try to Special Summon a monster from his Deck, but Rodriguez used Baronne’s effect to negate its activation and destroy it. Johnson activated the other Drytron Nova in his hand! He Special Summoned Delta from his Deck and then sent Delta to the Graveyard to Link Summon Relinquished Anima. Next, he activated Triple Tactics Talent to take control of one of Rodriguez’s monsters. Rodriguez Chained the effect of Little Knight to banish Dis Pater and Baronne from his field, forcing Johnson to take control of S:P Little Knight. Next, Johnson activated the effect of Delta in his Graveyard by discarding Alpha. He Special Summoned Delta and then revealed Meteonis Drytron from his hand to draw Cyber Angel Benten! Next, he activated the effect of Alpha in the Graveyard by discarding Benten, and Rodriguez Chained Called by the Grave to banish the Alpha. Johnson added Choju of the Trillion Hands from his Deck to his hand with Benten’s effect. He Tributed Anima to Tribute Summon Choju and activated its effect. Rodriguez Chained Forbidden Droplet by sending Reichphobia to the Graveyard and then Johnson Chained Little Knight’s effect to banish Little Knight and Choju from the Duel. Choju’s effect resolved to add Meteonis Drytron and Amorphactor Pain, the Imagination Dracoverlord to his hand. Next, he activated Meteonis Drytron to Special Summon Amorphactor Pain by Tributing Draconids from his hand, forcing Rodriguez to skip his next Main Phase 1. Finally, he used his Meteonis Drytron’s effect in the Graveyard to return it to his hand by reducing Delta’s ATK to 0 on the field. In the End Phase, Baronne, Little Knight, Dis Pater, and Choju returned to the field since they were all banished by Little Knight.

Rodriguez skipped his Main Phase due to Amorphactor Pain’s effect and then attacked Choju with Little Knight to destroy it. In Main Phase 2, Rodriguez activated Scareclaw Arrival to Special Summon Visas Starfrost and used it as a Link Material to Summon Light-Heart. He used Light-Heart’s effect to add Reichphobia to his hand and then activated it to add Reichheart to his hand. He Special Summoned it and then used its effect to add Scareclaw Arrival from his Deck to his hand and draw a card. He used Reichphobia’s effect to destroy Amorphactor Pain and then Baronne’s effect to destroy Delta. Next, he activated Arrival to Special Summon Visas Starfrost from his Graveyard and then Synchro Summoned Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign – Chengying. He Special Summoned Vicious Astraloud by banishing 2 monsters from his Graveyard and used Chengying’s effect to banish Fafnir from the field and Delta from the Graveyard.

Johnson finally conceded, seeing no way to recover. The Match is going to a third and final Duel!

Duel Three

Johnson opened up Duel 3 with Cyber Angel Benten, Drytron Meteonis Draconids, Jack-In-The-Hand, Triple Tactics Talent, and Drytron Fafnir.

He activated Jack-In-The-Hand to reveal Delta, Zeta, and Alpha from his Deck. Rodriguez took the Zeta, Johnston took the Alpha, and Delta returned to the Deck. Next, he activated Drytron Fafnir to add Drytron Nova to his hand and then activated it to Special Summon Zeta. He Tributed Zeta to Special Summon Alpha from his hand and added Amorphactor Pain to his hand. Next, he activated Zeta’s effect to Tribute Benten, Special Summon Zeta, and add Meteonis Drytron to his hand. He added Choju to his hand with the effect of Benten. Next, he combined Zeta and Alpha to Xyz Summon Mu Beta Fafnir and used its effect to send Gamma to his Graveyard. He activated Meteonis Drytron and detached an Xyz Material from Fafnir to Special Summon Benten. He Tributed Benten to Summon Choju and used the effects of Benten and Choju to add Herald of Orange Light, Benten, and Meteonis Drytron to his hand. Next, he used Gamma’s effect in the Graveyard to Special Summon it by discarding Benten. He Special Summon Zeta and added a Natasha to his hand with Benten’s effect. Next, he activated Meteonis Drytron and Ritual Summoned Natasha by detaching an Xyz Material from Fafnir. He gained 1000 LP by targeting Fafnir with Natasha’s effect, then returned Meteonis Drytron to his hand with its effect. He activated Meteonis Drytron once again to Ritual Summon Amorphactor Pain, forcing Rodriguez to skip his next Main Phase. Next, he Link Summoned I:P Masquerena.

Rodriguez skipped his Main Phase, then entered his Battle Phase and used Evenly Matched! Johnson kept his Amorphactor Pain and banished his other cards face-down. Johnson pressed on by using Peaceful Planet to get Riumheart and Normal Summon it. He used its effect to add Meek to hand. He Special Summoned Meek and then Synchro Summoned Mannadium Triskuta, but its effect was negated by Amorphactor Pain. With just seconds left for time in the round, Rodriguez conceded, down by 1000 Life Points.

Lucas Johnson finishes the Swiss Rounds with an 8-1-2 record using his Drytron Deck!