Jae Kim, also known as JAELOVE from the Pojo gaming website, has created a few innovative deck ideas. One of those ideas has become more popular since the deck made it into the Top 8 of a regional in Northern California, consisting of around 150 duelists. The deck’s strategy is based on Strike Ninja’s multi-trigger effect and the constant removal of multiple D. D. Scout Planes. The sheer swarm of the deck creates many options for the duelist using both monsters, whether they offer the Scout Planes to tribute summon a monster, or offer the Scout Planes to an effect like Cannon Soldier. In fact, a duelist by the name of Ryan Cook placed in the Top 32 with a very similar deck theme.

Today, Jae Kim brought a Zombie Control deck that uses underrated trap cards, such as Mind Crush and Trap Dustshoot, along with zombies such as Pyramid Turtle, Spirit Reaper, and Vampire Lord. His opponent during this final match was Ian Wingrove. The duelist who wins this duel will make it into the Top 8 for the Las Vegas TCG Championship.

Jae’s opening plays were best described by Confiscation and Trap Dustshoot. This immediately hurt Ian’s options before he could even use his cards. Trap Dustshoot was used after he used Snatch Steal on Ian’s Goblin Attack Force, offered it to summon Airknight Parshath, and attacking directly, which allowed Jae to draw a card. After Ian flipped a Fiber Jar, both duelists traded blows for two turns.

Jae gained the advantage when Ian seemingly took the game into his control. He used Emergency Provisions to remove his Mirage of Nightmare, and took Ian’s attacks directly from Jinzo and a goblin revived with Premature Burial. However, Jae began his turn by playing Heavy Storm, then finished it with Snatch Steal on Ian’s Jinzo, which attacked directly to win the game.

Jae 1, Ian 0

After both players used their side decks, Ian began the second duel. However, Jae could not get the right cards at the right time during this game, while Ian managed to draw the monsters he needed to force Jae’s life points down quickly. Once Jae gained an advantage with his Ryu Kokki, Ian played Swords of Revealing Light, which flipped Jae’s Fiber Jar prematurely. This gave Ian the chance to attack Jae directly to win the game.

Jae 1, Ian 1

Jae succeeded in reducing Ian’s hand down to one card, but at the cost of 3900 of his own life points. Jae was able to claim the advantage once again with change of heart on one of Ian’s monsters, which was offered to summon Airknight Parshath. However, Ian succeeded in summoning Mobius the Frost Monarch, who destroyed Airknight Parshath and caused Jae to lose his advantage once again. Though Jae was able to turn the tables once again, Ian was able to draw Fiber Jar. Ian took advantage of Jae’s clear field by attacking directly with some of his monsters. This put the life point totals at 2100 for Jae and 5800 for Ian. However, time was called during Jae’s turn, and there was no possible way he could reduce Ian’s life points below his own at that point.

Jae 1, Ian 2

Ian moved on to the Top 8 single elimination bracket. Jae finished in fifteenth place.