Pat Smith traveled here this weekend from Columbus, Ohio, and is playing Gladiator Beasts. So far, he has a 4-1 record.

Smith’s opponent, Brian Winkleblech, has a 4-1 record as well, and his deck has been the talk of the tournament. Winkleblech is playing Lightsworn, with an interesting new twist that’s been shocking his opponents: Manticore of Darkness. He uses the end-phase abilities of his Lightsworn monsters, along with Foolish Burial, to set up an infinite draw loop with Card of Safe Return, similar to the Exodia decks of old. Then, he draws out his entire deck until he gets three Judgment Dragon and Heavy Storm.

Let’s see how the two fare against each other.

Smith won the roll and opened with Cold Wave. He summoned Gladiator Beast Laquari and ended his turn. Winkleblech set a monster and turned it back over to Smith. Smith summoned Spirit Reaper, set a card to his back row, and attacked with Gladiator Beast Laquari—Laquari hit Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, which destroyed Spirit Reaper and sent three monsters, including Wulf, Lightsworn Beast to Winkleblech’s graveyard. Winkleblech special summoned Wulf.

That left Smith to decide on tagging out Laquari. He didn’t. On Winkleblech’s turn, he drew Judgment Dragon. His graveyard consisted of Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, and another Judgment Dragon.

“I’m so bad. I didn’t even tag out.” Smith couldn’t believe his misplay. Neither could I.

Winkleblech attacked with Wulf, but Smith discarded Heavy Storm to activate Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, sending Wulf back to the top of Winkleblech’s deck. Winkleblech had another Ryko though, and he set it, knowing that if it was flipped next turn, he’d get the Wulf back. A set spell or trap ended his turn.

Smith set a monster, set a spell or trap, and ran right into Ryko! It destroyed Smith’s set monster, Sangan, and then sent Wulf, Lightsworn Beast, another Ryko, and Honest off of Winkleblech’s deck to the graveyard. Wulf was special summoned again, and Smith used Sangan to search his deck for D.D. Crow. Laquari tagged out to Gladiator Beast Murmillo. Smith used it to destroy Wulf, and then he special summoned Test Tiger. Next, he tagged out Murmillo for Gladiator Beast Laquari and brought it to the field with 2100 ATK.

In the end phase, Winkleblech flipped Royal Decree. He activated Card of Safe Return, and then he activated Foolish Burial to send Wulf, Lightsworn Beast to his graveyard! He special summoned it, drew, and then normal summoned Jain, Lightsworn Paladin. He sent Jain to attack Laquari, didn’t boost her with Honest, and then struck for 2100 damage with Wulf. It was the right play—Winkleblech had solid control over the game, and keeping Honest as a defensive option instead of just pitching it for 2100 damage was the right way to go. Loading Jain into the graveyard also got him one step closer to playing Judgment Dragon.

Smith set a second spell or trap and ended his turn. Winkleblech normal summoned Honest, special summoned Judgment Dragon, and attacked for game! Smith hadn’t even bothered playing D.D. Crow.

A series of misplays from Pat Smith handed Brian Winkleblech the game 1 victory on a silver platter! Play moved to game 2.

Smith summoned Elemental Hero Stratos, and searched his deck for Elemental Hero Prisma. He set a spell or trap card, and ended his turn. Winkleblech discarded Wulf, Lightsworn Beast for Solar Recharge. He drew two, then sent Honest and Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner to his graveyard from the top of his deck. He summoned another copy of Lumina, discarded Necro Gardna for her effect, and brought another Lumina to the field. Then Winkleblech discarded Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, special summoned her, and turned her to defense mode, threatening Smith’s face-down Book of Moon. He chained it, turning down one of the two copies of Lumina.

Winkleblech then activated Premature Burial, bringing Honest back to the field and returning it to his hand. He attacked with Lumina, pitched Honest, and pressed over Stratos for 1000 damage. Why he didn’t just special summon Wulf to make the same attack plus 300 damage without giving up card presence, I have no idea. In the end phase, he sent six cards to the graveyard, none of which were Lightsworn monsters. It was a dismal turn.

Next turn, Smith summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, activating its effect to send Gladiator Beast Bestiari to the graveyard. He then special summoned Test Tiger, and tagged out Prisma for Gladiator Beast Darius. Darius brought back Bestiari, and Smith contact fused both monsters for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus. Gyzarus’s effect wiped out both of Winkleblech’s copies of Lumina, and Gyzarus attacked. Winkleblech removed Necro Gardna to keep Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress on the field. Smith passed, again not tagging out.

Winkleblech drew: he had two Judgment Dragon and Jain, Lightsworn Paladin in hand. He summoned Jain, ended his turn, and sent five cards, including Wulf, Lightsworn Beast, to his graveyard. He special summoned it to finish out, and ended up with four different Lightsworn in his graveyard. Despite all the questionable plays, he was still going to destroy Smith next turn.

Smith summoned Gladiator Beast Murmillo and attacked with Murmillo into Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress. Gyzarus then attacked Jain, and Smith finally tagged out. Murmillo was sent back to the deck for Gladiator Beast Laquari, while Gyzarus was tagged to special summon Gladiator Beast Murmillo, destroying Wulf and another Laquari. Smith ended with nothing in his back row.

Smith drew. He had Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter and two Judgment Dragons, not enough to finish off Smith, who had 7000 life points left. He summoned one Dragon, paid 1000 life points to wipe the field, and then summoned the other Dragon. He set Ryko, and would be seriously kicking himself if he lost to Gyzarus next turn. Both Dragons attacked, and Smith sent eight cards from his deck to his graveyard.

Gladiator Beast Bestiari hit Smith’s side of the field, and he sent it to attack Ryko. Winkleblech let the attack go, not negating it with Necro Gardna, and destroyed Bestiari with Ryko. Ryko netted him a free Wulf, Lightsworn Beast, and Smith immediately offered the handshake.

Questionable play decisions all around, but Brian Winkleblech managed to take a 2-0 victory; unfortunately, without showing off his infinite draw loop.