Metagame writer Brian Bodkin is a highly respected duelist in online communities. Though he rarely travels to events, his knowledge of the game has earned him a significant reputation and the admiration of many. Today he was playing Gladiator Beasts, but he was up against a Shonen Jump Champion.
Team Illusion’s Andrew Fredella is playing to represent B.R.A.D.’s Sportscards and Collectibles. Armed with Dark Armed Dragon and a resume of Day 2 finishes too long to call out here, Fredella is the definite odds-on favorite in this matchup with far more real-world creds than Bodkin. A win here would be huge for Bodkin’s reputation.
Fredella won the opening roll and got the match started with Reinforcement of the Army. He took Elemental Hero Stratos from his deck, summoned him, searched out Destiny Hero – Disk Commander with Stratos’ effect and then activated Gold Sarcophagus. Sarcophagus removed Crush Card Virus from his deck (to be claimed two turns from now), and a set spell or trap ended Fredella’s huge turn. “Go ahead.”
Play was to Bodkin, who summoned Gladiator Beast Darius, then activated Smashing Ground to destroy Stratos. “Attack for 1700?” Fredella nodded, and Darius made a direct attack! At the end of the battle phase Bodkin tagged out Darius for Gladiator Beast Bestiari, but lost it to Torrential Tribute. He finished his turn with two set cards to his spell and trap zone.
Fredella shuffled his hand a moment, considering his options. Bodkin took a moment to peruse Fredella’s graveyard, and Fredella eventually matched his opponent with two set cards in his back row. He ended his turn without playing a monster. Had Bodkin just baited out a mistake?
He summoned Gladiator Beast Laquari, then special summoned and tributed Test Tiger. Laquari tagged out, Gladiator Beast Darius tagged in, and it brought back Bestiari with its effect! “Contact Fuse,” announced Bodkin. Gyzarus came out of the Fusion deck, Fredella flipped Solemn Judgment, and Bodkin chained a Solemn of his own! Fredella lost Mirror Force to Gyzarus’ effect and had just three cards left in hand. Bodkin made a direct attack with Gyzarus to lower Fredella to 750 life points, and then tagged out Gyzarus for two copies of Laquari. He was just daring Fredella to use the Crush Card. “Go.”
Fredella drew for his turn, took his Crush Card Virus, and activated Allure of Darkness. He removed Dark Magician of Chaos for its effect. He activated another Allure immediately after, this time removing Jinzo, and set two cards to his back row. He set a monster, ended, and Bodkin looked to destroy the Crush Card Virus with Mystical Space Typhoon in the end phase! He chose wrong though, and the blind Typhoon destroyed Fredella’s bluffed Premature Burial.
He pressed on, and activated Monster Reborn to target Test Tiger on the turn that followed. “That’s fine,” replied Fredella. Why on earth was he not activating Crush Card Virus in response? Bodkin tributed the Tiger, tagged out one of the two Laquari and brought out Gladiator Beast Hoplomus — he was going to force that Crush Card Virus with a monster it couldn’t destroy. Sure enough, Bodkin set his last card to his back row in case of Morphing Jar, Hoplomus attacked, and Fredella flipped Crush Card Virus! Bodkin lost his Laquari, but Fredella’s field was now wide open, and Hoplomus attacked directly. It then tagged out for Darius, which returned Gladiator Beast Laquari to the field from Bodkin’s graveyard. “One Dark in your graveyard?” Fredella confirmed. “Go.”
Fredella set a monster, and Bodkin drew Premature Burial, revealed by the Crush Card Virus. It was all academic now! He brought back Test Tiger with Premature, sent Laquari back to his deck with Test Tiger’s effect and fetched Bestiari. One contact Fusion Gyzarus destroyed Fredella’s set monster, and a single attack ended the duel!
Brian Bodkin captures game 1 against Shonen Jump Champion Andrew Fredella! Bodkin was one win away from scoring a major upset.
“I screwed up in the first game,” groaned Fredella.
“You should’ve Crush Carded in response to Test Tiger, right?”
“Yeah, exactly” confirmed Fredella. “It’s my own misplay.”
“Best of luck,” said Bodkin, passing Fredella his deck to begin the second duel.
Fredella opened up with Allure of Darkness, removing Dark Armed Dragon for its second effect. He was left with Divine Wrath, Snipe Hunter, Heavy Storm, Bottomless Trap Hole, Destiny Draw, and Prohibition, a huge surprise tech card here this weekend. He activated Prohibition, called Bestiari, set another spell or trap, and ended. The ball was in Bodkin’s court.
He summoned Gladiator Beast Murmillo, attacked, and traded out Murmillo for Gladiator Beast Laquari. A set spell or trap concluded his turn. “You have how many in hand?”
“Four,” replied Fredella.
“Go.”
Fredella drew and summoned Snipe Hunter, discarding his freshly-drawn Strike Ninja with priority to destroy Laquari. Snipe Hunter attacked, and Bodkin took the 1500 damage. “My turn?” Fredella considered setting Bottomless, then decided against it: “Go ahead.”
Bodkin summoned another copy of Laquari, and then sent it to destroy Snipe Hunter. “That’s fine,” responded Fredella, losing his Snipe Hunter. “You have two Darks in your graveyard, and you have three in hand?” Fredella nodded. “No tag out,” announced Bodkin. “Go.” Fredella set another spell or trap and passed back.
Laquari hit for 1800 damage and Bodkin didn’t press his luck. “It’s your move.” Fredella passed back and Bodkin swung for another 1800 damage. “Go.” Fredella needed to make a play here to escape this situation.
He just set another spell or trap card and ended. “Play Cold Wave?” Bodkin snapped it to the table and Fredella had no response. Bodkin proceeded to summon Elemental Hero Prisma! “Swing with Prisma for game?”
“Yup,” replied Fredella, scooping up his cards.
“Did you just not draw anything in that opening?”
“Yeah,” responded Fredella. “I’m still hating myself for messing up in that first game.”
“You played well, man. Don’t worry about it.” Bodkin shook Fredella’s hand and both players began de-siding. Brian Bodkin moves on undefeated!