With no standout feature match evident in Round 1, why not see what Anthony Alvarado was doing? Many big players here are defining their style for this format, and for Overdose, that means innovating Diamond Dude Turbo. Alvarado is an experienced veteran of the Shonen Jump circuit, and today he’s taken a page out of teammate Kris Perovic’s playbook.
He’s up against Chicago native Teddy Webb, a 19 year-old student who’s running, of all things, Reptiles. Would we see some fancy footwork from the Tactical Evolution archetype? We would find out shortly.
Alvarado opened the match with Elemental Hero Stratos, searching his deck for Destiny Hero – Malicious. He discarded Malicious for Destiny Draw, drew two cards, then set a spell or trap to finish out. Webb fired back with a set card to each zone and ended. Alvarado searched his deck for Exiled Force with Reinforcement of the Army next turn, summoned it, and blew away Webb’s face down Cobra Jar. Stratos attacked, Webb took 1800 damage, and then activated Damage Condenser! He discarded Venom Cobra, searched his deck for Alien Warrior, and brought it out in attack position.
A set monster joined Alien Warrior next turn, backed up by a set spell or trap. Another Reinforcement of the Army hit the table from Alvarado moments later, and he searched his deck for Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude. Every draw was falling into place for Alvarado. He removed Malicious from his graveyard, special summoned his other in attack mode, and then equipped Stratos with Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade. Alvarado tributed Stratos for Monster Gate, sent twelve spells to the graveyard, including two more Divine Swords, and special summoned Dark Magician of Chaos! The Magician’s effect let him return Dimension Fusion to his hand. Everything was coming up Alvarado.
Exiled Force and Stratos were removed from the graveyard to send Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade back to Alvarado’s hand. He activated Dimension Fusion next, brought back Stratos, Malicious, and Exiled Force, and destroyed Webb’s face down Pot of Avarice with Stratos’ effect. Exiled destroyed Webb’s face down Des Feral Imp, Alvarado summoned Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude, and Lightning Vortex sealed the first duel!
Anthony Alvarado sweeps his first game of the day in record time, with Overdose’s newest build of Diamond Dude Turbo. Webb would need to do a lot better than that to stay alive in this match.
He opened the second duel with a set monster, and Alvarado set a spell or trap card; Webb set another monster. A turn later he activated Heavy Storm to destroy Alvarado’s set Call of the Haunted, tributed his face down Des Feral Imp and Venom Cobra for Vennominon, The King of Poisonous Snakes, and then discarded Alien Shocktrooper for Snake Rain to send Balloon Lizard, Alien Warrior, Venom Cobra, and another Vennominon to the graveyard! Alvarado was shocked, as was the small group of onlookers seated in the grandstand overheard. Vennominon went to 3500 ATK, Webb set his last two cards to his back row, and Vennominon swung to drop Alvarado to 4500 life points. Suddenly the tables had turned: Vennominon was massive, and Webb had set Rise of the Snake Deity . . .
But Alvarado activated Heavy Storm next turn, and Webb had no recourse but to chain The Transmigration Prophecy to return Call of the Haunted to Alvarado’s deck and Snake Rain to his own! Rise of the Snake Deity was destroyed, as were all of Webb’s hopes to use Vennominaga, The Deity of Poisonous Snakes. Reasoning brought out Stratos, Alvarado searched for Malicious with his effect, and Alvarado blew away Vennominon with Lightning Vortex, discarding Malicious. He removed his discarded Malicious from play, brought out another, then tributed Malicious for Monster Gate to special summon Exiled Force. Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude hit the field next, and Alvarado flipped Card Destruction with the Dude’s effect before attacking. He set a spell or trap and Webb set his topdeck to his back row.
Alvarado activated Diamond Dude again next turn, sending Destiny Hero - Dasher to the bottom of his deck. Three direct attacks then ended the match in short order!
Anthony Alvarado narrowly escapes the surprising threat of Vennominaga, The Deity of Poisonous Snakes, taking his first win of the day!