We talked about Ultimate Duelist Ryan Murakami in our UDS Belt Gallery post earlier today, but now we’re following up with him to see how he’s doing, along with the rest of his team, The Murakami Casino. Decks that can run Dimension Shifter are making a comeback this format, and just like last year Floowandereeze is one of the best. Murakami’s playing a Floowandereeze build this weekend, packing tech cards like Dimensional Fissure and Rivalry of Warlords, bolstered by the new Quick-Play Spell Card Swallow’s Cowrie from Phantom Nightmare.

His opponent is Joseph Baker from Team JJA, piloting a dedicated Snake-Eyes Deck. In theory Murakami has an edge here with lots of Main Decked cards to take down the Snakes. But we’ll have to see how this one goes. Baker won the roll and would open the first Duel.

Baker opened the Match Summoning Snake-Eye Ash, searched Snake-Eyes Poplar, Special Summoned it in defense and used its effect to get Divine Temple of the Snake-Eye. He Special Summoned Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon, Linked away Poplar for Linkuriboh, and placed it in his Spell and Trap Card Zone. He used the effect of Snake-Eye Ash to send Ash and Poplar to the Graveyard, and Special Summoned Snake-EyeOak from his Deck. He used Oak to bring back Ash, Linked Oak away to Link Summon Linkuriboh and brought out another Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon with Oak’s effect. He Link Summoned I:P Masquerena and brought back Ash and Oak. 

Baker continued, Linking Oak to I:P Masquerena to unleash Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames. He used her effect to revive Flamberge Dragon, and used that to place Masquerena in the Spell and Trap Card Zone. Baker Link Summoned Amphibious Swarmship Amblowhale next, and he passed with two cards in his backrow.

Murakami’s hand was Harpie’s Feather Duster, Rivalry of Warlords , Swallow’s Cowrie, Floowandereeze and the Advent of Adventure, Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map, and Pot of Duality. He activated Duality and Baker responded with the effect of Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon to Special Summon I:P Masquerena. Murakami revealed the top three cards from his Deck as Duality resolved: another Duality, Mist Valley Apex Avian, and Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map. 

He took Apex Avian and sent the rest back to his Deck. He activated Advent by banishing Apex Avian from his hand, searched his Deck, and got Floowandereeze & Robina. He activated Map, Baker Chained I:P Masquerena’s effect to Link Summon, and Linked it with Flamberge Dragon for S:P Little Knight. He used Little Knight’s banishing effect to target Map as Chain Link 1, and made Flamberge Dragon’s “Special Summon 2” effect as Chain Link 2. Baker brought back his Snake-Eye monsters to score another search with Snake-Eyes Poplar.  

Murakami Normal Summoned Robina, Baker blasted it with Infinite Impermanence, and Murakami responded by Chaining Swallow’s Cowrie. He resolved his two effects to get Floowandereeze & Eglenand Floowandereeze & Stri. Baker targeted the Eglen with Little Knight’s effect and banished both. Murakami searched Floowandereeze & Empen, brought out Floowandereeze & Stri and banished his opponent’s Flamberge Dragon from the Graveyard.

Murakami moved to the Battle Phase, and Baker swapped Poplar on the field for Linkuriboh. Murakami attacked Oak to force Baker’s Linkuriboh, and when a replay occurred Murakami opted not to attack. He Set his two remaining cards and ended.

Baker drew for his turn and Murakami flipped Rivalry of Warlords. Baker Chained the effect of S:P Little Knight to banish S:P Little Knight and Stri, so he wouldn’t just lose out to Rivalry. Baker continued: he turned his Ash and Oak to attack mode, Summoned another Oak, searched Poplar, Summoned it, and searched Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye. Murakami checked his Set card and gave it a thumbs-up. Baker Summoned Snake-Eye Birch, moved to the Battle Phase for five quick attacks, and after a brief count Murakami conceded to the lethal damage.

Joseph Baker sets up a big board on Turn 1 and rides it to victory, as Ryan Murakami finds a couple of silver bullets but no Dimension Shifter! Now a Duel behind, he’d need to pull out all the stops to take the win with Floowandereeze. Meanwhile Baker just needed one more game like that to capture a Match win for Team JJA. Further down the table, the B game was 1-0 for Team JJA, and the C game was 1-1. If Baker could clinch the win here it would be huge for JJA.

Murakami opened with Floowandereeze & Robina, Floowandereeze & Eglen, Dimensional Fissure, Pot of Extravagance, and Floowandereeze and the Unexplored Winds. He immediately activated the Fissure, then played Pot for six to get… Not Shifter. He took Rivalry of Warlords and moved on, Summoning Robina and losing out to Infinite Impermanence. Murakami Set Rivalry and passed.

Baker opened up with Snake-Eye Oak, searched Snake-Eyes Poplar, Summoned it and searched Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye, placing it in his Field Spell Zone. That’s not where that goes: he’d meant to take Divine Temple of the Snake-Eye but grabbed the wrong card, and was now stuck with it. Murakami flipped Rivalry  and Baker activated Bonfire next searching Snake-Eye Birch. He blasted the Rivalry with Cosmic Cyclone, Linked off Snake-Eye Ash for Linkuriboh (banishing the Ash due to Dimensional Fissure), then Linked Linkuriboh and Poplar for Knightmare Phoenix. 

He discarded a second Bonfire to power the Phoenix’s effect, destroyed Dimensional Fissure, and searched Snake-Eye Oak. He Summoned it, Special Summoned Snake-Eye Ash, Link Summoned Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames, brought back Knightmare Phoenix, and Linked away the Princess for Salamangreat Raging Phoenix. HE Link Summoned Worldsea Dragon Zealantis and moments later he was attacking for 4400 damage with Phoenix and Zealantis. Murakami had no recourse and swiftly conceded! 

Ryan Murakami comes prepared to take advantage of the Snake-Eyes matchup, but Joseph Baker manages to dodge every silver bullet. Baker takes the win, and Team JJA takes the Team Match!