Game 1
Hiroki won the roll, leading off the match with a Joystick with Image Inducer. Yuuta matched this with Ape X, searching out and equipping a Thunder Jet. The following turn, she was joined by Yuuta’s own Joystick, equipping her with an Airskimmer that went unanswered by Hiroki.
Hiroki drew a 3-drop off the top of his deck in the form of Speed Demon, Second Chance Speedster. He played him and equipped him with Thunder Jet—a seemingly less-than-stellar play, but not so bad in relation to the nothing that Yuuta played. Speed Demon was sent into Joystick, and Hiroki’s own Joystick jumped into Ape X, getting a Flying Kick to prevent the stunback.
Golden Archer came out with Thunder Jet for Yuuta’s fourth turn, and Hiroki answered back with Hawkeye, Clinton Barton, who he then equipped with Image Inducer. Hawkeye shot Joystick before she could declare a legal attack, and Golden Archer attacked Hiroki’s Joystick, powering-up to avoid getting stunned back. Hiroki opted not to attack with his Speed Demon, and Yuuta played Answer the Call to get Albert Gaines ◊ Nuke. The totals were 32-35 in Hiroki’s favor going into turn 5.
Hiroki used his initiative to get Genis-Vell ◊ Photon with Enemy of My Enemy, playing him as a resource, and then playing Answer the Call for his own Albert Gaines. Yuuta then played the Nuke he got last turn and formed in preparation for Hiroki’s attacks. Speed Demon attacked Joystick and readied, sending Yuuta to 28. Hiroki then flipped Rocket Central and went after Golden Archer, who burned Hiroki for 5. The Nukes stunned each other, and Hiroki was able to attack through for the remaining endurance needed to pull out game 1.
Game 2
Yuuta led off game 2 with Ape X for Thunder Jet, which he then equipped. Hiroki played Electric Eve with an Image Inducer. Hiroki was unable to find anything for turn 2, while Yuuta played Shape and equipped it with an Image Inducer. Electric Eve attacked Shape with a power-up.
Turn 3 began with Yuuta playing a Joystick and an Airskimmer. Hiroki played a Lady Lark, Linda Lewis that was equipped with a second Image Inducer. Shape attacked Lady Lark, who was reinforced by Electric Eve. Joystick then stunned Electric Eve, putting Hiroki to 30. Panacea Potion recovered Shape.
Hiroki played Hawkeye, which was answered by Lady Lark, Skylark with an Airskimmer. Hawkeye activated to stun Ape X and Joystick. Lady Lark went after Shape, stunning them both. Yuuta sent his Lady Lark after Hawkeye, taking advantage of the free recovery he would be getting.
Yuuta unsurprisingly hit Albert Gaines for what must have been the seventh straight game today, and then passed the turn to Hiroki, who didn’t have the 5-drop to match. He eventually settled on Shape and Melissa Gold ◊ Songbird, Sonic Carapace. Hawkeye stunned Shape with his ability. Albert Gaines attacked Hawkeye for the stun, and Lady Lark went after Melissa Gold, putting Hiroki at 4 with Yuuta at a comfortable 24.
Hiroki played the Genis-Vell he’d been holding all game, along with a Thunder Jet equipped to Hawkeye. Yuuta replied with a Photon of his own, setting up and passing back to Hiroki. Hawkeye stunned Yuuta’s Genis-Vell with the help of Other-Earth. After looking at the board a little longer, Hiroki realized he couldn’t win and started shuffling for the deciding game.
Game 3
Hiroki led off with Ape X with a Thunder Jet, which was met with a Joystick from Yuuta. The next turn, Shape came out to join Joystick, and Yuuta passed the back to Hiroki, who also had the Malleable Mutant. Attacks were traded, leaving both players with their Shapes and the endurance totals at 41-42 in Hiroki’s favor.
Hiroki played Lady Lark, Linda Lewis with a Thunder Jet on his initiative, holding Answer the Call and an additional Lady Lark in hand. Yuuta played out Melissa Gold ◊ Songbird and Joystick to join his Shape, giving him a nice board for a defensive turn. The Shapes traded, and Lady Lark went after Joystick with the help of a power-up. Joystick was reinforced by Melissa Gold. Hiroki played Answer the Call to find Golden Archer, but he was outmatched by Yuuta’s chain of Answer the Call for Golden Archer and Panacea Potion on Shape.
Turn 4 began with Hiroki sitting at 40 to Yuuta’s 39. Yuuta played out the Archer he’d found last turn, and Hiroki used the Enemy of My Enemy that he drew to trade his Golden Archer for a Hawkeye, which he then played. Melissa Gold attacked and stunned Lady Lark; Shape reinforced. Joystick attacked Hawkeye, who activated to stun Shape. Golden Archer attacked and stunned Shape, putting Hiroki to 27 and Yuuta to 29. Hiroki used Panacea Potion on Lady Lark and played Answer the Call to find Nuke.
Turn 5 looked as if it was going to be good until Hiroki drew two copies of Electric Eve and was unable to get rid of one of them, leaving him with a small Albert Gains for the turn. Yuuta played Albert Gaines with an empty hand. Hawkeye stunned Golden Archer, who shot back for 6, and Hiroki was forced to team attack Yuuta’s Nuke, sending the game to another turn with him at 12 and Yuuta at 18. At the end of the turn, Answer the Call found Whizzer for Yuuta.
Turn 6 changed course for Yuuta, who was forced to play Melissa Gold and Lady Lark, Linda Lewis instead of the Whizzer in order to keep an empty hand. This was matched by Hiroki, who played Firestar, Hellion and Electric Eve to empty his hand. Melissa Gold attacked Lady Lark, and Electric Eve evaded before she became a target. Nuke attacked Firestar, who Hiroki KO’d to burn Yuuta. With one more attack from Lady Lark, the nail was in the coffin and Yuuta Takami became the third Tokyo $10K Champion!