We have another Genesys Qualifier finals Feature Match! Pittsburgh local Kris Johnston is here with his Tombkeeper Deck, the same strategy that made the finals of the YCS Anaheim Genesys Invitational. This Deck was affected by the recent points update, but Johnston has shown that it’s still a more than capable Deck. On the other side, we have Ryker Hatfield, from West Virginia, playing Ice Barriers! This powerful Synchro strategy enables a ton of sweet plays, and is very customizable thanks to its only pointed card being Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.

Duel 1

Hatfield won the dice roll and played first. Johnston had a hand of Dark Ruler No More, Solemn Strike, Torrential Tribute, The Man with the Mark, and Destructive Daruma Karma Cannon.

Hatfield started the Duel by Normal Summoning Revealer of the Ice Barrier, discarding Nibiru the Primal Being for its effect to Special Summon Hexa Spirit of the Ice Barrier. Hexa Spirit sent Mirror Mage of the Ice Barrier to the Graveyard, and that let him add Speaker for the Ice Barriers to his hand. He Special Summoned Georgius, Swordman of the Ice Barrier, which brought Mirror Mage to the field. He tuned Georgius to Revealer to Synchro Summon Lancea, Ancestral Dragon of the Ice Mountain. He then used Mirror Mage’s effect, Tributing Hexa to Special Summon three Ice Barrier Tokens and increase Mirror Mage’s Level. He tuned Mirror Mage to a Token for Coral Dragon, then tuned that to another Token for Adamancipator Risen – Dragite. He played Medallion of the Ice Barrier to get another Revealer in his hand, then Set one back row card to finish the turn.

Johnston drew Verdict of Anubis. He played Dark Ruler No More to shut down Hatfield’s monsters, then Normal Summoned The Man with the Mark. He got Treasures of the Kings, activating it to then Set Apophis the Serpent. He Set Verdict, then used Treasures to get Merciless Scorpion of Serket in hand. He Special Summoned Scorpion by banishing Nibiru the Primal Being from his Deck. He used Scorpion to get Temple of the Kings. He activated it, which allowed him to flip up Apophis the Serpent even though it was Set this turn. He Special Summoned Apophis, which also Set Apophis the Swamp Deity. He flipped up Swamp Deity as well. He used both Apophis monsters to play Divine Serpent Apophis! He used Divine Serpent to Set his other two Apophis traps. He went to the Battle Phase, sending Scorpion to attack Dragite. Hatfield flipped his Trap Card: Ice Barrier! Scorpion was destroyed, and Johnston took 3000 damage. Hatfield then banished Ice Barrier from the Graveyard to send General Raiho of the Ice Barrier to the Graveyard, adding Mirror Mage to his hand. In Main Phase 2, Johnston Set Destructive Daruma Karma Cannon.

Hatfield Normal Summoned Revealer and activated its effect, discarding Mirror Mage. Johnston responded with both Apophis traps, with Swamp Deity negating Revealer, and Apophis the Serpent Setting another Swamp Deity. The discarded Mirror Mage put General Wayne of the Ice Barrier in his hand, and he Special Summoned it. It put Freezing Chains of the Ice Barrier in his hand. He played Freezing Chains, and Johnston flipped Verdict of Anubis to negate it and wipe Hatfield’s monsters out, burning for 5050 damage! Lancea brought Trishula, Zero Dragon of the Ice Barrier to the field, and Johnston flipped up his second Swamp Deity to negate it. Hatfield Special Summoned Icejade Ran Aegirine, discarding Speaker, and he got an Icejade Token. Johnston flipped Daruma Karma Cannon to flip all monsters face-down, getting his traps to activate again next turn! Since the Icejade Token couldn’t be flipped face-down, Karma Cannon removed it from the field.

Johnston drew Apophis the Serpent. He used Treasures to get Anubis the Last Judge, and used that to get The Man with the Mark. He Normal Summoned it, getting another Treasures. He Set Solemn Strike, then flipped up Swamp Deity. He used Divine Serpent Apophis to destroy the face-down Trishula. Hatfield tried using Trishula’s effect, but thanks to Temple of the Kings, Johnston was able to flip up Solemn Strike! He attacked with everything to end the first Duel!

Duel 2

Johnston started this time with Solemn Strike, Swamp Deity, Anubis the Last Judge, Ultimate Slayer, and Destructive Daruma Karma Cannon.

Hatfield Normal Summoned Revealer, discarding Nibiru just like last Duel to Special Summon Hexa Spirit. Hexa Spirit sent Mirror Mage to the Graveyard, and that put Georgius in his hand. He Special Summoned Georgius, which revived the Mirror Mage. He tuned Georgius to Revealer for Lancea, then used Mirror Mage’s effect, Tributing Hexa Spirit to get three Ice Barrier Tokens. He tuned Mirror Mage to a Token for Coral Dragon, then that to the other Tokens for Dragite. Coral Dragon let him draw a card. He used Icejade Ran Aegirine, sending a Hexa Spirit to the Graveyard, and got an Icejade Token with it. He Synchro Summoned Icejade Gymir Aegirine! He Set two cards in his back row.

Johnston drew Nibiru, late as it so often is. He activated Ultimate Slayer, sending Golden Cloud Beast – Malong to the Graveyard to return Lancea to the Extra Deck. Malong then bounced away the Dragite. He used Anubis the Last Judge to add The Man with the Mark to his hand, and Normal Summoned it. Hatfield used Aegirine to banish The Man with the Mark, and The Man’s effect put Treasures in his hand. He played Treasures, and Hatfield flipped Cosmic Cyclone to banish it. Johnston Set all his Trap Cards.

Hatfield tried going to the Battle Phase, and Johnston flipped Apophis the Swamp Deity. Hatfield banished it with Aegirine, then attacked irectly.

Johnston drew Droll & Lock Bird. He Set it.

Hatfield played Medallion of the Ice Barrier, adding Revealer to his hand. He Normal Summoned it and discarded Effect Veiler for its effect to Special Summon Hexa Spirit. Hexa Spirit sent Mirror Mage to the Graveyard, which put Georgius in his hand. He Special Summoned it, and it revived a Revealer. Johnston flipped up Karma Cannon, and Hatfield passed the turn with his board now face-down.

Johnston drew Mulcharmy Fuwalos and Set it.

Hatfield flipped up all his monsters, then tuned Georgius to Revealer for Lancea. Hexa Spirit sent Mirror Mage to the Graveyard, and that let him put General Wayne in his hand. He Special Summoned Wayne, which got Freezing Chains in his hand. He tuned Hexa Spirit to Revealer for Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier! He played Freezing Chains to revive Hexa Spirit. He activated Brionac’s effect, discarding Speaker to try and return one of Johnston’s monsters – Johnston flipped Solemn Strike to negate and destroy it. With that Life Points payment, that was still enough for Hatfield to attack with everything and end the Duel!

Duel 3

Johnston played first in the final Duel – a huge advantage with his trap heavy strategy. He opened with Droll & Lock Bird, Ultimate Slayer, Solemn Strike, Anubis the Last Judge, and Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju. He used Anubis to put The Man with the Mark in his hand, and Normal Summoned it – Hatfield had Effect Veiler. Johnston Set Solemn Strike.

Hatfield Special Summoned Ice Doll, sending Mirror Mage to the Graveyard. He activated Ice Doll and Mirror Mage, adding Revealer and Speaker to his hand. He Normal Summoned Revealer, discarding Speaker for its effect, and Johnston flipped Solemn Strike! Hatfield Set one back row card to finish.

Johnston drew The Man with the Mark and Normal Summoned it, adding Treasures of the Kings to his hand. He activated it, and Hatfield flipped Cosmic Cyclone to banish it. Johnston Xyz Summoned Time Thief Redoer and attacked Ice Doll.

Hatfield drew, and Redoer attached a Gameciel from Hatfield’s Deck. Hatfield passed.

Johnston drew Destructive Daruma Karma Cannon. In the Standby Phase, Redoer stole another Gameciel! It attacked directly. He Set Daruma.

Redoer stole a Georgius. Hatfield played Medallion to get Revealer, and Normal Summoned it. He Special Summoned Georgius from his hand, which revived Mirror Mage. Johnston flipped Karma Cannon, then Chained Redoer’s effect to temporarily banish itself. It returned in the End Phase.

Johnston drew Droll & Lock Bird, and Redoer stole an Ice Doll. It attacked over Georgius, and Georgius put Hexa Spirit in Hatfield’s hand.

Redoer stole The Winged Dragon of Ra – Sphere Mode from Hatfield’s Deck. Hatfield Flip Summoned his monsters, using Revealer to discard a Sphere Mode and Special Summon Hexa Spirit from the Deck. Hexa Spirit sent Mirror Mage to the Graveyard, and that let him add Speaker to his hand. Johnston used Droll & Lock Bird. Hatfield used Mirror Mage and Revealer to Synchro Summon Lancea, then Special Summoned Speaker from his hand. He used Speaker and Hexa to play Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. With its effect, he discarded Nibiru to target Redoer – Johnston temporarily banished it in response. Lancea and Brionac attacked directly, dropping Johnston to just 900 Life Points! Redoer returned in the End Phase.

Johnston drew Temple of the Kings, and Redoer attached the third Sphere Mode from Hatfield’s Deck. Johnston played Ultimate Slayer, sending Malong to return Lancea to the Extra Deck. Malong then bounced away Brionac. Redoer attacked directly, and he Set Temple as a bluff.

In the Standby Phase, Redoer attached Revealer. Hatfield Special Summoned Icejade Ran Aegirine, and Special Summoned an Icejade Token. He Synchro Summoned Lancea and attacked Redoer for exactly 900 damage, ending the Match!

Ryker Hatfield takes this one with Ice Barriers! We’ll see these two talented Duelists in tomorrow’s Genesys Invitational!