Jeff Walker is only 14 years old, and traveled here from New Jersey this weekend to compete with Teleport Dark Armed! His opponent was almost twice his age — 25 year-old Bryon Mines, the only Lightsworn player in Day 2. Mines was packing a highly innovative build with Quillbolt Hedgehog and Herald of Orange Light, a unique strategy that lets him Synchro summon and negate important monster effects.
Mines opened the match with two copies of Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, two Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, Solar Recharge, and Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid. He activated Solar Recharge, discarding one Celestia. He didn’t send anything of note to the graveyard with Recharge’s effect, but when he summoned Lyla and ended his turn, he sent two copies of Quillbolt Hedgehog to his graveyard! We were one turn in, and this match was already going far better than Mines’ feature match yesterday.
Walker summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, but when he tried to get its Spell Counter, Mines discarded another Celestia for Herald of Orange Light! Walker set three cards to his back row, and lost one of them, Solemn Judgment, to Lyla’s effect on the following turn. Mines activated Charge of the Light Brigade, sending Crush Card Virus, Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, and Wulf, Lightsworn Beast to his graveyard. He searched for Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, and Wulf hit the field!
Mines was left holding, Judgment Dragon, Aurkus, Lyla, and Lumina. He attacked for 2100 damage with Wulf, then sent Heavy Storm, Beckoning Light, and his third Celestia to the graveyard in the end phase. Walker summoned Spirit Reaper next turn to attack and destroy Lyla, and Mines summoned Herald of Orange Light, threatening to bring up those Quillbolts! He special summoned one copy of Quillbolt Hedgehog, but Walker flipped Torrential Tribute when it hit the field — Wulf and Herald were destroyed, while Quillbolt got removed from play. Walker had just two cards left in his hand, plus one card set to his back row. Mines passed with four cards in hand.
Walker set another spell or trap card, then passed his turn. Mines summoned Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, discarded Aurkus, and targeted Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress to try and special summon her — D.D. Crow cut him off, but in the end phase Mines sent his third Quillbolt to the graveyard.
Walker had his third Dark in his graveyard, and he special summoned Dark Armed Dragon! He removed D.D. Crow from his graveyard to destroy Lumina, then made a direct attack. He set his last card to his back row.
Mines summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, then turned her to defense mode to destroy one of Walker’s three set cards. It was Destiny Draw, an obvious bluff, but Mines pressed on with Judgment Dragon anyway! He’d made the right read, and when he activated Judgment Dragon’s effect Walker’s situation was revealed: all three of his set cards had been Destiny Draws! Dark Armed Dragon went down, Judgment Dragon attacked, and its effect sent four cards to Mines’ graveyard in the end phase. He loaded his graveyard with Necro Gardna and another Wulf! Walker scooped up on the turn that followed.
Bryon Mines does a superb job of simplifying the duel, leaning on Walker card by card before unleashing Judgment Dragon! With three Destiny Draw and no Destiny Heroes in sight, there was nothing Walker could do.
“First,” announced Walker, flatly. He summoned Elemental Hero Stratos, searched his deck for Destiny Hero – Fear Monger (telegraphing at least one in-hand Malicious), and ended his turn. Mines activated Gold Sarcophagus, removed Solar Recharge from his deck, and set a monster. “End my turn.” He had two copies of Wulf and two copies of Celestia in his hand, a definite rough beat.
Walker summoned Sangan and attacked with Stratos, destroying Mines’ set Necro Gardna. Sangan dealt 1000 damage and Walker set a spell or trap card to finish out. Mines topped Monster Reincarnation, set it to his back row, and ended.
Sure enough, Walker tributed Sangan for Destiny Hero – Malicious next turn, searching his deck for Krebons. Emergency Teleport got him another Krebons, and he sent it to the graveyard along with Malicious to Synchro summon Colossal Fighter! It was a smart pick — Walker knew that Colossal Fighter would trump Honest if Mines could draw it, eliminating some of his outs. Colossal Fighter attacked, Mines removed Necro Gardna to stop it, and Walker dished out another 1800 damage with Stratos.
Mines got his Solar Recharge next turn, but when he discarded Wulf to activate it Walker chained Solemn Judgment! He summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, sent three irrelevant cards to his graveyard with her effect, and ended.
Walker hammered him next turn. He activated Heavy Storm, followed it up with Destiny Draw, discarding Fear Monger, and Allure of Darkness, removing Spirit Reaper, then removed another Malicious to special summon his last from his deck. He activated Mind Control, summoned Krebons, and Mines conceded the duel.
Jeff Walker battles back, stomping on Mines and punishing his bad hand just as Mines had done to him in Game 1! One final duel would decide the outcome of this match — would Mines’ innovative Lightsworn build make it to the Top 8? He’d sided out of his Quillbolts, bringing in D.D. Crows and Dark Armed Dragon. He was now officially playing Twilight. It was a risky decision at best.
He opened with D.D. Crow, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Honest, Cold Wave, and two copies of Charge of the Light Brigade! He activated Cold Wave, set Ryko, and ended. Walker attacked with Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, and Ryko destroyed it, sending D.D. Crow, Honest, and Monster Reincarnation to the graveyard. A turn later, Charge of the Light Brigade sent another Crow, Necro Gardna, and Dark Armed Dragon to the yard, so Mines could get Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner. Another Charge landed another Gardna in the yard, and got Mines Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior!
He summoned Lumina and pitched Garoth to the graveyard, but lost him to D.D. Crow! Lumina attacked for 1000 damage, and Mines sent Beckoning Light, Gold Sarcophagus, and Wulf to the graveyard in the end phase — Wulf was special summoned!
Walker activated Reinforcement of the Army, searched his deck for Destiny Hero – Fear Monger, and activated Allure of Darkness removing the Fear Monger. He summoned Elemental Hero Stratos, used his effect to search for Destiny Hero – Malicious, and discarded him for Destiny Draw.
“When Destiny Draw resolves, Crow that Malicious!” Mines dropped Crow, and Walker was hosed. He sent Stratos into Lumina and Honest smacked Stratos down! Three set spell or trap cards ended Walker’s turn.
Mines was on fire. He gave a quick count of his graveyard, and then swung for 3100 damage with Lumina and Wulf. Walker was down to 2900 life points, and Mines set Necro Gardna. He sent Honest, Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, and another Wulf to the graveyard in his end phase!
Walker summoned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, activated Brain Control to take one copy of Wulf, and fingered his three set cards: he had one card left in hand. Kycoo attacked Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, removing both of Mines’ Necro Gardnas from his graveyard. He then bumped one Wulf into Mines’ other copy, and activated Emergency Teleport during the battle phase! Krebons came out of Walker’s deck, and he attacked Necro Gardna, failing to destroy it. In main phase 2 Walker Synchro summoned Goyo Guardian. He was suddenly back in control of the match!
Mines topdecked Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner. He summoned her and Walker flipped Solemn Judgment! Mines passed, and next turn he lost Necro Gardna to Goyo Guardian’s attack — the Guardian sucked it up, and Walker set a monster.
He tributed that set monster, Sangan, for Crush Card Virus next turn, revealing Mines’ hand of Lumina and Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid. Walker searched his deck for Armageddon Knight with Sangan’s effect, and Mines summoned Lumina — Walker had another Solemn Judgment! Mines needed Judgment Dragon — it was his only out, and now, thanks to those Solemns, it would mean an instant win. But he’d need to survive for three more turns — if he topped Judgment Dragon early, he’d lose it to Crush Card Virus. Was it even possible to survive that long?
Goyo Guardian swung for 2800 damage, dropping him to 4400 life points. Walker set a monster and had just 500 life points left — Mines topdecked Celestia and lost her. He summoned Aurkus, and Walker attacked it with Goyo to take it. Mines topped Dark Armed Dragon next turn, lost it to Crush Card Virus, and next turn Walker flip summoned Armageddon Knight, turned Aurkus and Necro Gardna to attack mode, and swung with everything for game!
Jeff Walker moves on to the Top 8!