Round 5 featured the surprise undefeated deck of the tournament, a Superman Robots deck featuring Longshot, piloted by Raymond Purnama. Squaring off against him was David Kwon and his much more conventional Green Lantern deck. Purnama won the flip for choice and elected to take the odd initiative.
Turn 1 featured an ideal start for Purnama with Longshot along with Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Kwon simply laid a resource and passed. Purnama missed with Longshot twice, once naming Superman Robots and Ka-Boom!, and once naming the ’bots and Cover Fire. Play went to turn 2.
Kwon played his resource and Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern, digging out a Chopping Block. Purnama just passed after laying a resource and flipping Bad Press. Kwon sent Kyle into Longshot, and in response, Purnama used Longshot, along with his School, naming Cover Fire and Superman Robots. He missed both times, and both characters stunned, dropping each player to 48 endurance.
On the third turn, Purnama started assembling his army, laying his first copy of Superman Robots, and also flipped a second copy of Bad Press. Kwon underdropped for his turn, adding only G’Nort, and equipped Catcher’s Mitt onto Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern. Purnama sent his Robot into Kyle Rayner, stunning him. Purnama then passed the rest of his attack, as did Kwon. Purmana used his Longshot/Xavier’s School combo, naming Cover Fire and Superman Robots once again. For the first time in the match he hit, netting a Cover Fire and two ’bots.
On the fourth turn, Kwon recruited Ch’p and gave a Chopping Block to G’Nort. Purnama made the obvious play, a boosted Superman Robots, making both of his ’bots 6 ATK/6 DEF. Kwon sent Kyle Rayner into Longshot, which Purnama allowed. Purnama then used Longshot twice, but once again, he missed both times. Longshot went down, and Purnama took 3. Then, Ch’p went after one of the ’bots. Kwon powered-up Ch’p, which Purnama matched with a power-up of his own. Purnama then went for a Cover Fire, but Kwon was able to trump by flipping Oa. Purnama hesitated for a long time over a Home Surgery in his hand before electing to exhaust the defending Robot in an attempt to recover Longshot. While this play would surely not work in the face of the Chopping Block, it did force the issue on the Block, preventing Kwon from chopping the more valuable Superman Robots. Kwon Chopped in response as expected, and then Purnama was able to ship his other Superman Robots into G’Nort for 6 endurance loss. He followed up with a devastating Ka-Boom! targeting Oa. Kwon recovered Ch’p and KO’d his G’Nort.
Purnama continued the assault on the fifth turn, boosting another Superman Robots. Kwon again under-dropped, recruiting Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth. Purnama sent a ’bot into Kyle Rayner, which Kwon allowed. Rayner went down, and then Purnama followed up with another ’bot onto Hal Jordan. Kwon allowed the attack, but exhausted Hal to a Guardians Reborn, recovering Kyle. Purnama tried to take down Ch’p with his remaining Robot, but Kwon had a Cover Fire to prevent the stun. Purnama passed to Kwon, who had no attacks—all the robots were too big for Ch’p to tangle with.
The next turn saw Kwon under-drop again, this time replacing his old Kyle Rayner with a new one, searching out a Light Armor, and attaching it to Ch’p. Purnama, again, had a boosted Robot. Kwon sent his Armored Ch’p into the Robot and flipped Battle of Wills, preventing the stun back. Kwon had no further attacks. Purnama then attacked one of his robots into Kyle Rayner, which seemed like a mistake, as attacking Hal first would prevent Kwon from using Guardians Reborn if he had it (since Kyle’s willpower is too low, and Ch’p was already exhausted.) Fortunately, all Kwon could do was reinforce. Purnama then took down Hal with one Robot and deliberated for a long time before deciding to trade his last ready ’bot for Ch’p. Purnama lost a ’bot during recovery, while Kwon kept Ch’p.
The seventh turn featured another boosted Superman Robots from Purnama, while Kwon added Sinestro, Green Lantern of Korugar to his side. Purnama wisely team attacked Sinestro with two ’bots, which Kwon allowed, and a ’bot and Sinestro were stunned. When Purnama sent his ’bot into Ch’p to nearly seal the game, Kwon flipped a freshly plucked Guardians Reborn, recovering Sinestro and stunning the attacking ’bot in the process.
Kwon was able to barely stave off death for one turn, but he would need a major turn 8, down in endurance by a total of 28 to 9. All Kwon could muster, however, was a boosted Guy Gardner, Strong Arm of the Corps. Purnama could only muster one Robot. Kwon sent Ch’p into a Superman Robots, but Purnama had a Cover Fire. With Purnama’s army of Robots, Kwon had no way of killing Purnama or preventing his Guy Garnder from getting stunned, so he extended the hand.
Raymond Purnama wins!