The final round between Ray Punzalan and Matthew Dunn would be perhaps the most important match of the day – at least, it was certainly the most important for these two gentlemen, as the winner of this match would move on to the Top 8, while the loser would miss out by the single win, in eleventh place.

This was Ray’s first trip to a PC Day 2, as he missed out on Day 2 at PC Indy by one win, finishing Day 1 at 3-4. Matt was quite the opposite at Indy, having a solid Day 2 and finishing in 34th place.

In today’s matchup, both players were 13-5 and were on the brink of success or elimination. Matt had the first hint of luck, winning the toss and choosing to go first. Both players chose to mulligan, and missed their 1-drops. Turn 2 found Hornet on Ray’s side, and Hammerhead on Matt’s.

Ray sent Hornet into Hammerhead. Matt powered-up Hammerhead up. Ray responded by setting off a clever chain, flipping Daily Bugle, calling Hammerhead and then flipping an Unexpected Mutation, with the top card of his deck being a Spider-Man, Alien Symbiote, giving Hornet a nice 5 ATK boost. The double-stun flipped Unexpected Mutation back down, and the result was Ray 48, Matt 45.

Turn 3 meant that Matt had initiative. He recruited Prodigy, placing him next to Hammerhead in the front row. Ray brought out Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, placing him in front of Hornet. Matt sent Prodigy into Spidey, flipping and activating Mojoverse. It wasn’t enough, however, as a power-up sent Prodigy to la-la land, while it left Spidey fresh for attack. Matt’s life dropped to 42. Then, Spidey tried the vengeance route, piling into Hammerhead, and stunning him, dropping Matt to 38. Matt recovered Prodigy.

Turn 4 swung the pendulum back to Ray, and he recruited his own Hammerhead and a Rocket Racer. He put everyone in the front row.

Matt wasn’t quite as fortunate in his drop, with only a Wild Pack, which he dropped in front or Prodigy.

Hornet went wild on the Wild Pack, but Matt had an Alley-Oop to stop him. Not to be outdone by a 1-drop, Ray flipped his Unexpected Mutation back up, the top card being a Puma and a 4 ATK boost. When the dust cleared, it was Ray 46, Matt 35, and a double-stun.

Then, Ray sent Spidey and Rocket Racer to team-attack Prodigy, with Spidey’s ability preventing them from being stunned. Matt’s answer was a Spider Senses on Prodigy, but Ray had yet another Unexpected Mutation for Spidey, flipping over an Ezekiel from his deck into the KO’d pile, and gaining a 7-ATK boost. Prodigy stunned, and was Matt’s choice for recovery. Matt had fallen to 27 endurance.

Turn 5 brought Daredevil into Matt’s front row, next to Prodigy. Ray answered with his own Daredevil, in front of his Hammerhead, alongside Hornet, who was protecting Spidey, and Rocket Racer in the support row.

 Matt sent his Daredevil into Ray’s, for a Blind Man’s Mirror Match. Matt’s Daredevil was stun-proof, however, due to his fearless ability. Ray exhausted his Daredevil to Hornet’s ability, and then stunned him. Matt then attacked Hammerhead with Prodigy, activating Mojoverse to give Prodigy a +1 ATK/+1 DEF boost. Hammerhead stunned, and Ray’s endurance dropped to 35. He exhausted all three of his remaining characters to Hornet, dropping Matt to 25.

Ray started turn 6 by recruiting Puma and Prowler, and equipped Hornet with a Sonic Gun. He placed Hornet behind Daredevil, and everyone else in the front row.

Matt recruited Green Goblin, Norman Osborn. He moved Daredevil behind Prodigy, with Green Goblin in support. “It’s a good game,” Matt stated, nodding in appreciation of the matchup, while Ray carefully contemplated his move.

Ray sent his Daredevil, Rocket Racer, and Prowler on a three-man team-attack against the Green Goblin. Matt exhausted Gobbie to flip Sinister Salvo, dropping Ray to 32 endurance. The Goblin stunned, and Matt stunned Rocket Racer in return.

Next, it was Spidey’s turn, attacking and stunning Prodigy, his higher DEF saving him from being stunned in return.

Then, Puma and Hornet swarmed Daredevil, taking him out. Matt stunned Puma in return, and when the dust settled, it was Ray 27, Matt 10. Matt recovered Daredevil, Ray recovered Puma, and it was on to turn 7.

Matt had initiative once again, and he dropped an Ezekiel bomb, gaining a draw of 2 cards. He put him in the front row, alongside Daredevil.

Ray, unfortunately for Matt, also had an Ezekiel, and with his nest of Spider-Friends characters, gained a massive draw of 6 cards. He put Spidey in front of his ], Prowler in front of Hornet, and Ezekiel in front of Puma.

Matt took a moment to take stock of the situation. HE then threw Daredevil into the fray, leaping at Spidey. Ray exhausted Spidey to Hornet’s ability, dropping Matt to 9, and exhausting Daredevil to reinforce. Ray’s endurance was now 24.

Then it was Ezekiel’s turn to attack for Matt, targeting Ray’s Ezekiel. Ray flipped Grounded, and Matt responded flipping and using Osborn Industries, then by activating Mojoverse to boost his own Ezekiel by +1 ATK/+1 DEF. Ray flipped Sticky Situation, not realizing that Mojoverse’s effect lasted throughout the turn. Matt repeated the attack, stunning Ray’s Ezekiel. Ray exhausted his last three characters for Hornet, and recovered Ezekiel. Ray was at 17, Matt at 6.

Turn 8 arrived, and would end it all. Ray recruited Mattie Franklin ◊ Spider-Woman, and equipped her with an Armored Spider Suit. He put Daredevil, in front of Mattie, Ezekiel in front of Hornet, and Prowler and Puma in the front row.

Matt used Osborn Industries before placing a resource, then placed and flipped Clone Saga so that he could recruit Green Goblin, Altered Ego. After a bit of mental calculation, Matt placed Green Goblin in front of Ezekiel, with Daredevil in support.

Ray attacked Daredevil with Mattie, taking a moment to decide between pumping her with one or two face-down characters, eventually choosing to use one, plucking a Prowler from his resource row and, making her 12 ATK/12 DEF. Matt fell to -3, and Daredevil stunned. Then, Ray sent his Daredevil and Puma on a team-attack at Green Goblin, with Puma getting stunned. Matt fell to -12, Ray to 13. Finally, when Ray sent his Ezekiel and Hornet in a team effort towards Ezekiel, Matt scooped, sealing Ray’s eighth position and dropping Matt to eleventh.