We’re almost at the end of Day 1 here at YCS Vancouver! Many Duelists are hopeful to make it to Day 2 and earn a YCS Promo Card, and maybe even make it into the Top 32. For this round’s feature match, we have a couple of strategies that have been very popular over the last several months; Kevin Ing is piloting the Mitsurugi Ryzeal Deck, which has dominated the competitive scene over the last several months, while Garnet Hawthorne is piloting Orcust Mitsurugi. Each of these Duelists is still undefeated, so a win will guarantee a spot on Day 2; regardless, both players have their eyes set on making it to the top cut. It’s time to Duel!

Duel 1

Ing won the die roll and chose to go first! His opening hand contained Mulcharmy Purulia Sword Ryzeal, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Forbidden Droplet, and Ext Ryzeal. He started by sending Ryzeal Duo Drive to the Graveyard to Special Summon Ext Ryzeal, but when he activated its effect, Hawthorne responded with Infinite Impermanence. Next, Ing Special Summoned Sword Ryzeal and searched for Ice Ryzeal. He Normal Summoned Ice and Special Summoned Star Ryzeal from the Deck, activating its effect to place Ryzeal Cross to his side of the field. He used Ice and Star to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Duo Drive, attaching to it the Duo Drive in his Graveyard, then he used Ext and Sword to Xyz Summon King of the Feral Imps. He activated King’s effect, adding Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi to his hand. He then activated Habakiri’s effect, Special Summoning Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji and Tributing King, then searched for Mitsurugi Ritual. He activated Ritual, Special Summoning Habakiri from his hand by Tributing Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi and Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Aramasa from the Deck, then activated their effects to add Ritual back to his hand and search for another copy of Habakiri. He activated Mitsurugi Ritual again, Tributing the Habakiri from his field to Special Summon Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi from the Deck, then used Habakiri’s effect to search for Mitsurugi Prayers and Special Summon back Habakiri. Ing then activated Duo Drive’s effect, detaching two materials to search for Node Ryzeal and Ice Ryzeal. He Special Summoned Ice by sending Mulcharmy Purulia from his hand to the Graveyard, then used Saji and Ice to Xyz Summon Gallant Granite. He then activated Granite’s effect to search for Nibiru, the Primal Being! He activated Mitsurugi Prayers, Tributing Murakumo to Special Summon Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Aramasa from the Deck, then searched for another copy of Mitsurugi Prayers and Special Summoned back Murakumo. He used Aramasa and Gallant Granite to Xyz Summon Eclipse Twins, Special Summoned Node Ryzeal, then activated Node’s effect to send Eclipse Twins to the Graveyard and Special Summon back Sword Ryzeal. He used Sword and Node to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Detonator and attach Eclipse Twins to it as Xyz Material. He activated the effect of Ryzeal Cross, returning two Ryzeal monsters to the Deck to draw a card. Finally, he Set 3 cards to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Hawthorne started his turn by activating Orcustrated Babel. He Normal Summoned Orcust Harp Horror, then used it to Link Summon Galatea-i, the Orcust Automaton. Next, he activated Galatea-i’s effect, discarding Nibiru, the Primal Being; however, on resolution, Ing detached a material from Detonator to negate the effect of Galatea-i. Hawthorne then activated the effect of Harp Horror, banishing it from his Graveyard, but Ing Chained the effect of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring! Hawthorne then activated Triple Tactics Talent, and Ing responded by activating the effect of Ryzeal Detonator, as well as Mitsurugi Prayers, Tributing Murakumo. He used Detonator to destroy itself and Special Summoned Habakiri from the Graveyard, as Hawthorne resolved Talents to take control of Ing’s Habakiri. In a separate chain, Ing used the effect of Eclipse Twins to Special Summon Ryzeal Detonator and attach it with Gallant Granite, as well as Murakumo’s effect to Special Summon itself and search for Mitsurugi Prayers. In a separate chain, Ing attached Eclipse Twins to Detonator and used Murakumo’s effect to destroy Hawthorne’s Galatea-i. With no other plays to make and Ing having more than enough monsters on board to attack for game the following turn, Hawthorne conceded the first Duel.

Duel 2

Ing’s opening hand contained Mulcharmy Fuwalos, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Forbidden Droplet, Mitsurugi Ritual, and Harpie’s Feather Duster.

Hawthorne started his turn by activating Foolish Burial, sending Orcust Harp Horror to the Graveyard. He then activated the effect of Harp, and Ing responded with the effect of Mulcharmy Fuwalos! Hawthorne resolved Harp and Special Summoned Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight, but when he attempted to activate its effect, Ing responded with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Hawthorne then activated Girsu’s other effect, Special Summoning a Token to each player’s side of the field. Finally, he Set two cards to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Ing drew Ext Ryzeal for turn! During the Standby Phase, Hawthorne activated Gozen Match. However, during the Main Phase, Ing activated Harpie’s Feather Duster! Hawthorne Chained Dimensional Barrier, calling Xyz, as Gozen Match was destroyed. Ing then Normal Summoned Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Aramasa, searching for Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi. However, when Ing activated Habakiri’s effect, Hawthorne Chained Dominus Impulse! Since there were Traps in Hawthorne’s Graveyard, the Habakiri in Ing’s hand was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. Ing switched the Token to Attack Position, then entered the Battle Phase and used the Token to attack Girsu, destroying the Token, and attacked Hawthorne’s Token with Aramasa. In Main Phase 2, Ing Set a card to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Hawthorne began his turn by activating the effect of Girsu, but Ing responded with Forbidden Droplet, sending Aramasa to the Graveyard to negate Girsu’s effect. Hawthorne then used GIrsu to Link Summon Galatea-i, the Orcust Automaton, then activated its effect, discarding World Legacy – World Wand to add Orcustrated Babel to hand. He banished Wand from his Graveyard to Special Summon the banished Orcust Harp Horror, then used Harp and Galatea-i to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. He returned Wand to the Deck to Set Orcust Crescendo, then banished Orcust Harp Horror from his Graveyard to Special Summon Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight from the Deck and send Orcust Knightmare to the Graveyard. Hawthorne then used Galatea to Xyz Summon Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star and attach Harp Horror to it as Xyz Material, then banished Orcust Knightmare to send Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to the Graveyard. He then banished Girsu to Special Summon Galatea-i, the Orcust Automaton from the Graveyard, then used Galatea-i and Girsu to Link Summon Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy. He activated Dharc’s effect, Special Summoning Aramasa from Ing’s Graveyard, then used Dharc and Dingirsu to Link Summon Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator. He banished Cymbal to Special Summon Galatea from the Graveyard, then used Longirsu and Aramasa to Link Summon Enlilgirsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight! Finally, Hawthorne used Enlilgirsu’s effect to add Girsu back to his hand, Normal Summoned Girsu, then entered the Battle Phase and attacked directly with all of his monsters to wipe out Ing’s remaining Life Points. With that, we’re onto a game 3!

Duel 3

Ing chose to start game 3, with an opening hand of Bonfire, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Artifact Lancea, There Can Be Only One, and Triple Tactics Talent. He started his turn by activating Bonfire, searching for Ice Ryzeal. On resolution, Hawthorne activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird! Afterwards, Ing activated Triple Tactics Talent, revealing Infinite Impermanence, Dominus Impulse, Droll & Lock Bird, and Orcust Harp Horror in Hawthorne’s hand, and chose to return Harp Horror to the Deck. Next, Ing Normal Summoned Ice Ryzeal, but Hawthorne responded with Infinite Impermanence! Ing Set a card to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Hawthorne drew a card for turn, but passed without making any plays. 

Ing drew a card, and activated Mitsurugi Prayers during the Draw Phase. However, Hawthorne responded with Dominus Impulse! Ing went straight to the Battle Phase, attacked Hawthorne’s Life Points directly, and ended his turn. 

Hawthorne once again drew a card, and passed turn without making any plays!

Ing drew Sword Ryzeal for turn! He immediately Special Summoned it and searched for Ext Ryzeal. Hawthorne didn’t have any cards he could use to stop Ing’s ensuing plays, and chose to concede. 

With that, Ing improves to a 6-0 record here at YCS Vancouver!