Eddie Goodlander is playing a heatedly debated build of Gladiator Beasts here today — a deck with no Test Tiger or Elemental Heroes, packed with removal like Hammer Shot and Compulsory Evacuation Device. So far he had a 4-1 record, but could he make it through another TeleDAD match?

Paura opened with Reinforcement of the Army, searching Elemental Hero Stratos, and summoning him to get Destiny Hero – Malicious. Paura set two cards to his back row, passed, and Goodlander summoned Gladiator Beast Laquari. Paura flipped Trap Dustshoot, but revealed a hand full of spells and traps — no monsters! Fissure let Goodlander take down Stratos, Laquari attacked, and when it tagged out to Bestiari Paura activated Torrential Tribute to destroy it. Goodlander set one spell or trap to end.

Paura did the same. Goodlander topped another Laquari, summoned it, and attacked for another 1800 damage. The tag was made to Bestiari again, and Paura chained his set Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Goodlander’s face-down Compulsory Evacuation Device. Goodlander set another card to his back row. “Your move.”

Allure of Darkness let Paura trade his Dark Armed Dragon for two more cards; he set a monster, ended, and Goodlander attacked Paura’s set Sangan, netting Paura Plaguespreader Zombie. Goodlander tagged out to Gladiator Beast Equeste, getting back his Bestiari.

Paura activated Heavy Storm, Goodlander chained Waboku, and Paura chained Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Destiny Hero – Malicious to spin away Equeste. Paura removed one Malicious to summon another, and then normal summoned Plaguespreader. He Synchro summoned Thought Ruler Archfiend and ended with two cards in hand.

Goodlander set a card to each zone and ended. “Go.” Paura special summoned Plaguespreader and Malicious, Goodlander responded with Book of Moon to turn down Plaguespreader, and mere moments later Goodlander was attacking, then contact Fusing for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus to clear Paura’s field! It was ruled that Plaguespreader would go back to the graveyard since it had been turned face down.

“Good matchup for you so far,” remarked Paura.

“Yeah! It’s good, but TeleDAD’s always tough,” confessed Goodlander.

Goodlander set a spell or trap to finish out. Paura special summoned Thought Ruler Archfiend with Monster Reborn, attacked, and Gyzarus was destroyed! Goodlander passed next turn, ate 2700 damage from Thought Ruler, and suddenly the tables had turned. Paura was at 7500 life points, thanks to Thought Ruler’s effect.

Another set card hit each of Goodlander’s zones, but Paura smelled the bluff! He swung with Thought Ruler Archfiend and destroyed Bestiari, gaining even more life points! “Go ahead. Man, all this life!” Goodlander drew Gladiator Proving Ground next turn, used it to get Laquari, and summoned it. He activated Smashing Ground, destroyed Thought Ruler, and made a direct attack, but Paura had Gorz!

He summoned him, and then summoned his token; Goodlander was unfazed. He tagged out for Gladiator Beast Darius, brought back Bestiari to the field, and contact Fused for Gyzarus again! Both Gorz and the Token were destroyed. Play was to Paura.

He summoned Krebons as his only move. Goodlander summoned Laquari, flipped his set Book of Moon, then attacked Krebons with Laquari. Krebons was destroyed, Gyzarus attacked for 2400 damage, and Goodlander traded Laquari for Gladiator Beast Retiari! Retiari removed Plaguespreader from Paura’s graveyard, and Gyzarus tagged in two more Laquari at 2100 ATK each. “Your move.”

Paura played Allure of Darkness, ditching Dark Armed Dragon. He summoned Snipe Hunter and Goodlander responded with Solemn Judgment; the duel stood at 4800 life points to 2100. Paura took one Laquari with Brain Control, ran it into the other, and ended, still not in control of the match but staunching his proverbial bleeding.

Retiari smacked him with an attack next turn, and Goodlander brought out his third Laquari by tagging Retiari out. Paura drew to three cards in hand, set two to the back row, and Goodlander attacked into Phoenix Wing Wind Blast with Laquari next turn. He summoned Equeste, ended, and Paura passed his next turn. Goodlander swung for game next turn with Laquari and Equeste!

Goodlander has some trouble keeping Paura under control, but keeps the upper hand anyway, eventually taking the win in Game 1! “That Dustshoot wasn’t too bad!” Both competitors did some serious side decking.

Paura opened Game 2 with Allure of Darkness, removing Krebons before setting two cards to his back row and setting a monster! Goodlander summoned Darius . . . “Attack into Crush?”

“Yeah!” laughed Paura, flipping Crush Card Virus and tributing Plaguespreader Zombie. Goodlander lost Darius, plus two Bestiari from his hand! He set one spell or trap to end. Paura discarded Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude for Destiny Draw next turn, then set a spell or trap card.

Goodlander activated Gladiator Proving Ground, searched for Laquari, and summoned it. When he attacked, Paura discarded Destiny Hero - Doom Lord for Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, tried to spin away the Laquari so Goodlander would have to draw it and lose it to Crush, but lost out to Compulsory Evacuation Device! Goodlander took back his Laquari.

Paura summoned Dark Armed Dragon next turn! He removed Destiny Hero - Doom Lord to destroy Goodlander’s face-down Gladiator Beast War Chariot, but when the Dragon attacked, Goodlander flipped Waboku. Goodlander passed next turn, ate 2800 damage from Dark Armed, and set one spell or trap next turn.

Goodlander set Compulsory Evacuation Device and passed. Paura activated Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand, targeted Goodlander’s Compulsory Evacuation Device, and Goodlander chained it, targeting Dark Armed Dragon. Paura chained Solemn Judgment, and with no more face-down cards on the field he knew it was over! He summoned Snipe Hunter, attacked with his two monsters, and then activated two copies of Emergency Teleport in the battle phase for the win!

“That’s ‘GG’,” remarked Goodlander, scooping up his cards and going for his side deck. Paura was sided and ready for Game 3 in mere seconds.

I’ll play first announced Goodlander. He set a monster, set a spell or trap, and ended. “Your move.” Paura discarded Destiny Hero – Malicious for Destiny Draw, drew two, and activated Mystical Space Typhoon; it destroyed Goodlander’s Bottomless Trap Hole. That left Paura free to special summon his second Malicious, which he followed with a copy of Krebons courtesy of Emergency Teleport. Together they let him Synchro summon Colossal Fighter, and brought his third Malicious to the field next. He normal summoned Plaguespreader Zombie, Synchro summoned a second Colossal Fighter, and special summoned Dark Armed Dragon! He removed Krebons to destroy Goodlander’s face-down Bestiari, and then attacked for game with all three monsters!