Duelists this weekend were forced to choose between the Advanced Format Main Event at YCS Richmond and the overlapping Genesys Proto-YCS that is taking place alongside it. Jeff Jones from Chesterfield, Michigan is a 2-time YCS Champion who made the choice to compete in the Genesys Proto-YCS. Jones is relying on his Branded Despia Darklord Deck this weekend, and he’s Dueling against Lucas Daffern from Dayton, Ohio. Daffern is using an Artmage Deck, which is popular with many Genesys Duelists. Only one Duelist can prevail in this Match. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Daffern started his turn and Jones activated the effect of Mulcharmy Purulia from his hand in the Draw Phase. Daffern activated the effect of Theorealize in Main Phase 1 to send Medius the Pure from his Deck to his Graveyard and look at the top card of Jones’s Deck. He placed it on the bottom of the Deck and then activated the effect of Medius in his Graveyard. He Special Summoned it by returning Hecahands Godos from his hand to his Deck. He activated the effect of Medius the Pure on his field to try to Special Summon a “Power Patron” monster and Jones negated its effect by activating the effect of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Daffern Set a card to his back row and then ended his turn.

Jones drew Branded Opening and added it to his hand of Banishment of the Darklords, Guiding Quem, the Virtuous, and Darklord Contact.

He activated Banishment of the Darklords to add Darklord Gulgolet from his Deck to his hand. Next, he activated Branded Opening. He sent Gulgolet to the Graveyard and Special Summoned Aluber the Jester of Despia from his Deck in Defense Position. He activated its effect to add Despia, Theater of the Branded to his hand and then used the effect of the Gulgolet in his Graveyard to add Darklord Dance from his Deck to his hand. He activated Darklord Contact to Special Summon Gulgolet from his Graveyard and then activated its effect to Special Summon two Level 6 Darklord Tokens. Next, he activated Despia, Theater of the Branded and used its effect to fuse together his two Tokens into Darklord Eveningstar! He used Eveningstar’s effect to Set The Sanctified Darklord and Banishment of the Darklords from his Deck. He activated Eveningstar’s effect to pay 1000 Life Points and copy the effect of Banishment in his Graveyard. He added Darklord Ixchel from his Deck to his hand and then shuffled Banishment back into his Deck. He used Ixchel’s effect by discarding Ixchel and Dance from his hand and then drew Dramaturge of Despia and Mulcharmy Purulia from his Deck. He attacked Medius the Pure to destroy it with Eveningstar, dropping Daffern down to 6800 Life Points. In the End Phase, Jones flipped Artmage Pact –Awakening–  to Special Summon Artmage Graflare from his Deck.

Daffern Special Summoned Artmage Finmel from his hand and drew a card. Next, he activated Graflare’s effect to target The Sanctified Darklord and destroy it; but Jones Chained it. He sent Gulgolet from his field to his Graveyard to negate Finmel’s effect and gain 2400 Life Points. He used Gulgolet’s effect to add Darklord Morningstar from his Deck to his hand. Next, Daffern Normal Summoned Medius the Pure and attempted to activate its effect; but Jones Chained his Eveningstar’s effect by paying 1000 Life Points. He targeted Darklord Dance to copy its effect and then banished Gulgolet from his Graveyard to fuse it with Morningstar and Dramaturge in his hand. He Fusion Summoned The First Darklord and then Daffern Special Summoned Artmage Power Patron from Medius’s effect. Jones activated the effects of his Dramaturge and The First Darklord, and Daffern Chained his Power Patron’s effect to Fusion Summon Artmage Diactorus. Jones Special Summoned Dramaturge to his field and The First Darklord destroyed all cards on Daffern’s field as its effect resolved! Daffern conceded, realizing that he couldn’t mount a comeback.

Jeff Jones wins the first Duel of the Match with his Branded Despia Darklord Deck!

Duel Two

Daffern started off Duel 2 by activating Radiant Typhoon Vision to draw 2 cards and discard Forbidden Chalice from his hand.

He then activated Artmage Vandalism -Assault- and used its effect to add Medius the Pure from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned it and then used its effect to Special Summon Artmage Power Patron from his Deck. He activated the Power Patron’s effect to fuse it with Medius and Fusion Summon Artmage Diactorus. He used Power Patron’s effect to add Artmage Academic Arcane Arts Acropolis from his Deck to his hand. He activated the effect of Artmage Litera in his hand to Special Summon it. He activated Artmage Academic Arcane Arts Acropolis next and used the additional Normal Summon it granted him to Summon Medius the Pure before ending his turn.

Jones opened up Duel 2 with Ultimate Slayer, Darklord Dance, Herald of the Orange Light and 2 copies of Fusion Deployment. He drew another Ultimate Slayer for his turn and then activated it. He targeted Diactorus and sent Garura, Wings of Resonant Life from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. Diactorus returned to the Extra Deck and Jones drew Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous with Garura’s effect. He activated Fusion Deployment next, revealing Titaniklad the Ash Dragon from his Extra Deck and Special Summoned Fallen of Albaz from his Deck. He activated Fallen of Albaz’s effect by discarding Fusion Deployment, but Daffern Chained the effect of Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit from his hand to destroy Fallen of Albaz! Jones Special Summoned Blazing Cartesia from his hand next and activated its effect. He fused it with Herald of Orange Light in his hand and Special Summoned Granguignol the Dusk Dragon to his field. He activated its effect to send Darklord Gulgolet from his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Gulgolet’s effect to add Darklord Djehuty from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned Djehuty and activated its effect to Special Summon Darklord Ixchel from his Deck. Jones activated Darklord Dance next! He banished Gulgolet from his Graveyard along with Ixchel from his field to Fusion Summon Darklord Eveningstar with an extra 1000 ATK. Next, he used Eveningstar’s effect to Set Banishment of the Darklords and The Sanctified Darklord from his Deck. He flipped up Banishment to activate it and added Darklord Ixchel from his Deck to his hand. Next, he tried to enter his Battle Phase and Daffern activated Litera’s effect to Special Summon Artmage Power Patron from his Graveyard and return the Litera to his hand while still in the Main Phase. Then, Daffern used his Power Patron’s effect to fuse it with Medius the Pure and Summon Artmage Diactorus. He used the Power Patron’s effect to add Artmage Varnish Alteration from his Deck to his hand. But Jones activated another Ultimate Slayer by sending Darklord Eveningstar from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard and returned Diactorus back to the Extra Deck! Jones used the effect of Eveningstar to copy Darklord Dance next, and Fusion Summoned another Darklord Eveningstar. With that, Daffern conceded, realizing that he would be defeated by direct attacks from Granguignol and both copies of Darklord Eveningstar!

Jeff Jones takes the 2-0 victory with his Branded Despia Darklord Deck in Round 1 of the Genesys Proto-YCS!