We’re almost at the end of Day 1 here at the 300th YCS in Richmond! James Dean Winning and Luis Alan Vazquez each have a 6-1 record, and they’re extremely close to making it to Day 2. They’re both playing the Branded Dracotail Deck, a strategy that has been dominant all weekend long. It’s time to Duel!

Duel 1

Winning’s opening hand contained Mulcharmy Purulia, Dracotail Lukias, Dracotail Urgula, and two copies of Dracotail Faimena. 

Vazquez won the die roll and chose to go first! During the Standby Phase, Winning activated the effect of Mulcharmy Purulia. Vazquez began by Normal Summoning Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous, then activated its effect to Special Summon Fallen of the White Dragon from his Deck. He Special Summoned back Ecclesia, then used the two to Synchro Summon Ecclesia and the Dark Dragon! He activated its effect, banishing it to Special Summon Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous, then activated Cartesia’s effect as Winning activated Faimena’s effect. Winning used Lukias and Urgula to Fusion Summon Secreterion Dragon, and Vazquez resolved Cartesia’s effect, using Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion and his own Faimena to Fusion Summon Dracotail Arthalion. Winning used Lukias and Urgula to Set Dracotail Sting and Dracotail Horn to his backrow, as Vazquez used Faimena’s effect to Set Ketu Dracotail.  Vazquez activated Ketu and searched for Dracotail Lukias, then used Lukias and Arthalion to Fusion Summon Dracotail Gulamel. He used the effect of Lukias to Set Rahu Dracotail to his backrow, then activated The Fallen & The Virtuous and sent Albion the Branded Dragon to the Graveyard to destroy Winning’s Secreterion Dragon! Vazquez activated Rahu, using Urgula from Deck and Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion from hand to Fusion Summon Dracotail Arthalion, then added Dracotail Lukias back to hand while popping both Sting and Flame. Finally, Vazquez added Faimena back to hand with the effect of Dracotail Urgula, Set The Fallen & The Virtuous to his backrow, and returned Ecclesia to the field before ending his turn. 

Winning drew a card for turn, but he knew that he didn’t have the resources to break through Vazquez’s board, and conceded the first Duel. 

Duel 2

Winning’s opening hand contained Dracotail Horn, Infinite Impermanence, The Fallen & The Virtuous, Dracotail Urgula, and Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill. He Set three cards to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Vazquez began by sending The Dragon that Devours the Dogma to the Graveyard to Special Summon Fallen of the White Dragon, activating its effect to Special Summon Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous from his Deck. He then activated Rahu Dracotail, using Dracotail Faimena from hand and Dracotail Urgula from Deck to Fusion Summon Dracotail Gulamel. Vazquez activated the effects of Urgula and Faimena, as Winning Chained Dracotail Horn, targeting Gulamel; Vazquez Chained The Fallen & The Virtuous, sending Titanklad to the Graveyard to destroy his own Gulamel as he Set Ketu Dracotail and Dracotail Flame to his backrow, in addition to destroying Winning’s Infinite Impermanence. Vazquez activated Ketu Dracotail, searching for Dracotail Lukias, then Normal Summoned Dracotail Lukias and searched for Dracotail Mululu. He returned Urgula to the Deck to add Faimena back to hand, then activated the effect of Faimena, using Lukias and Mululu to Fusion Summon Secreterion Dragon and Set Dracotail Sting and Rahu Dracotail to his backrow. Afterwards, Winning activated The Fallen & The Virtuous, sending Albion the Branded Dragon to the Graveyard to destroy Vazquez’s Secreterion Dragon. 

Vazquez followed up by activating Branded Fusion, using Fallen of the White Dragon and Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous to Fusion Summon Albion the Branded Dragon. Winning knew that he wouldn’t be able to survive Vazquez’s upcoming attacks, so he conceded. 

Vazquez wins the round and moves on with a 7-1 record!