Adam Thomas hails from Jacksonville, Florida, and at nineteen years of age he has managed to score a 3-1 record with Exodia. Normally I wouldn’t dip into the 3-1 pool yet for feature matches, but the number of people demanding that I cover this deck was simply overwhelming. Thomas’ strategy really could make it big this weekend, and duelists here in Orlando are pretty excited about that prospect.

He’s up against Jose Serrano, from Puerto Rico, who has a Volcanic Monarch deck and the sweetest hair in the building. Serrano won the roll and opened the first duel with a set card to each zone.

“I just want to make a point,” stated Thomas. “I’ve been playing Exodia for years, and I’d be happy with a Top 16.” He activated Upstart Goblin, drew, activated Swords of Revealing Light to reveal Serrano’s set Apprentice Magician, and then set a card to each zone. Serrano flipped Phoenix Wing Wind Blast in the end phase, discarded Volcanic Shell, and spun away Thomas’ set monster. He paid 500 life points, searched his deck for another Shell, and then tributed for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch — it cost Thomas his in-hand Sangan. “Go.”

Thomas drew into Morphing Jar, setting it and ending. Serrano tributed for another Thestalos, this time making Thomas discard Big Shield Gardna. Thomas was in good shape because he hadn’t drawn into any Exodia pieces yet, meaning that his Morphing Jar could be complication-free. Serrano set a spell or trap and ended.

Thomas drew into the Left Leg of the Forbidden One, making Morphing Jar a little more complicated. Still, he set his other monster, flip summoned Morphing Jar to discard his Left Leg, and set three cards: two to his back row and one monster. He drew into multiple pieces of Exodia off the Jar.

Serrano set a card to each zone and ended; Swords of Revealing Light was destroyed. Tomas drew, activated Level Limit - Area B, then chained Skill Drain. He followed it up with Reckless Greed, and then chained Accumulated Fortune! He drew four cards total, and then activated Upstart Goblin before setting two cards to his back row. Monster Reincarnation let him trade another Skill Drain for his Left Leg and he ended, holding three limbs and Scapegoat.

Serrano set a card to each zone and ended. Thomas passed, and lost his Skill Drain in the end phase to Dust Tornado. That let Serrano flip summon Crystal Seer for her effect, and he proceeded to flip summon Volcanic Rocket for Blaze Accelerator. He chained Torrential Tribute to its effect, and Thomas chained Emergency Provisions to send his Level Limit to the graveyard. Then, with three effects yet to resolve he chained Accumulated Fortune! It was a risky play, giving up his Level Limit, but it got him two more cards. Serrano’s Torrential Tribute wiped the field and destroyed Thomas’ set Emissary of the Afterlife; he searched his deck for his fourth piece of Exodia, now just needing the head.

Premature Burial brought back Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch for Serrano, and he summoned Sangan, making a pair of direct attacks. Thomas was still at 4900 life points.

He set three cards to his back row, holding nothing back save for his Exodia pieces — another Thestalos would be trouble. Serrano sent Breaker the Magical Warrior, Raiza the Storm Monarch, Volcanic Shell, Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, and Crystal Seer back to his deck with Pot of Avarice, drawing two. He attacked with Sangan and Thomas flipped Scapegoat; Sangan and Thestalos destroyed two of the Sheep Tokens. Sangan was tributed in main phase 2 for Raiza the Storm Monarch, and Thomas chained Torrential Tribute, the non-targeted card. He then chained Emergency Provisions, sending away his Torrential Tribute and keeping Serrano from blocking his draws. Serrano set a second card to his back row and ended.

Thomas drew, set a spell or trap, and ended. Serrano summoned Snipe Hunter, discarded Volcanic Shell, and Thomas chained the target, Legacy of Yata-Garasu. It got Thomas Accumulated Fortune, a dead draw at the moment. Snipe Hunter attacked for 1500 damage. Serrano ended.

. . . And Thomas topdecked Exodia the Forbidden One! He revealed his hand immediately: “I’ll summon Exodia.” Serrano blinked a moment, and then scooped his cards. Thomas gave one of the longest sighs of relief I’ve ever heard.

A flurry of aggressive draws pays off for Adam Thomas, leading him to claim victory with Exodia! Both duelists began side decking, and Serrano needed to take some time doing so. What does the average duelist nowadays side against freaking Exodia?

“I’ll go first,” announced Serrano. Thomas folded his palms for a moment and picked up his hand; he had the head: one down, five to go. Serrano set a card to each zone and ended. Thomas set three cards to his back row, a monster, and passed — Serrano flipped Royal Decree, a potentially devastating move.

He then flip summoned Crystal Seer, and tributed for Mobius the Frost Monarch, destroying Thomas’ set Reckless Greed and Good Goblin Housekeeping! Mobius attacked into Emissary of the Afterlife, letting Thomas search out a piece of Exodia.

Thomas drew, set a monster, and ended. Serrano set a monster and passed. Thomas set another monster, and Serrano flip summoned yet another Crystal Seer. He set a monster, set a spell or trap, and ended, unwilling to attack.

Thomas was holding two pieces of Exodia and Solemn Judgment, and drew into Jar of Greed. He passed, Serrano passed, and he drew into Accumulated Fortune. He passed, Serrano, passed, and Thomas set a spell or trap. Serrano summoned Snipe Hunter, targeted a monster with Treeborn Frog and missed. He discarded Volcanic Shell and missed again! He discarded Pot of Avarice and missed a third time! It was almost a shame — Thomas was going to go down in history as a lucky duelist more than a skilled one if things continued this way.

Serrano discarded one more card, Twister, and finally blew away Thomas’ set Big Shield Gardna. He then contemplated attacking. Snipe Hunter attacked first, destroying Thomas’ set Emissary of the Afterlife — it got him another piece of Exodia. Mobius attacked, and Thomas took the damage from both it and Sangan. Thomas was down to 4100 life points.

“Everything depends on this draw,” noted Thomas. He topdecked another Legacy of Yata-Garasu, which he set, alongside his other two useless traps. It seemed as if there was no way out of the situation Royal Decree had trapped him in. He had four pieces of Exodia now and just needed one more, but could his one unknown set card save him?

Serrano summoned Card Trooper and sent three cards to his graveyard, answering the Question: no. Thomas took attacks from Crystal Seer, Card Trooper, Sangan, Snipe Hunter, and Mobius, and the match proceeded to a third duel.

Jose Serrano fights back with Royal Decree, dominating his opponent and narrowly squeaking out a victory.

Thomas opened the third duel with two set spell or trap cards and a set monster. Serrano set a card to each zone and ended. Thomas drew Accumulated Fortune, set it, and ended. “Go.”

Snipe Hunter came down again for Serrano, who discarded Volcanic Shell to target Thomas’ monster. Thomas chained Good Goblin Housekeeping, Legacy of Yata-Garasu, and Accumulated Fortune! He drew four cards, and then sent one to the bottom of his deck. Snipe Hunter destroyed Big Shield Gardna, Serrano flip summoned Sangan, and both monsters attacked Thomas for a total of 2500 damage. Serrano then paid 500 life points to search his deck for another Volcanic Shell. He then discarded the Shell to try and destroy his own Sangan, but missed! He set a second spell or trap to end.

He flipped Trap Dustshoot in Thomas’ draw phase, and chose between two pieces of Exodia, sending one back to Thomas’ deck. Thomas set five cards to his back row and ended, losing Jar of Greed to Serrano’s Dust Tornado in the end phase.

Serrano paid another 500 life points to search for his final Volcanic Shell next turn, then attacked for another 2500 damage. Thomas had just 3000 life points remaining. Serrano discarded his last Shell and destroyed Thomas’ set Mystical Space Typhoon, then set a spell or trap. During Serrano’s end phase Thomas flipped Good Goblin Housekeeping, this time drawing two and sending back a limb of Exodia. He drew next turn, set two cards to his back row and ended.

Serrano discarded Blaze Accelerator for Snipe Hunter, but Thomas chained Skill Drain, paying 1000 life points — two attacks would take him out of the duel if he didn’t have some sort of trick up his sleeve. Serrano activated Heavy Storm, and Thomas chained Dark Bribe! He was running out of options and things were headed downhill. Snipe Hunter attacked, Sangan swung for what would have been game, but Thomas played Emergency Provisions in response to send away his Skill Drain for 1000 life points! Snipe Hunter then shot Brain Control at Thomas’ remaining card, Torrential Tribute, and there was nothing Thomas could do — he topdecked Dark Bribe and promptly offered the handshake.

Jose Serrano defeats the native Exodia duelist to move on with a 4-1 record! Adam Thomas’s goal of making it to Day 2 with Exodia just got a lot harder.