 |
 |
 |
Round 4 Feature Match:
Richard Clarke versus Nick Ma
Richard Clarke is undefeated here today with his “Disaster Dragon” Deck – a very different Dragon Deck unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a major event before. His opponent is Nick Ma, a Lightsworn Duelist from South Jersey. Ma’s Deck looks to be in the mainstream of Lightsworn Decks at this event, so win or lose, this should be a pretty good demonstration of how Clarke’s strategy performs.
Ma got the match started with “Solar Recharge,” discarding “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to draw two cards and send “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” and “Charge of the Light Brigade” to the Graveyard. He Normal Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” then sent three cards to his Graveyard in his End Phase: “Threatening Roar,” “Gold Sarcophagus,” and “Brain Control.”
Clarke opened with “Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon,” “Red-Eyes Wyvern,” “Prime Material Dragon,” “Book of Moon,” “Future Fusion,” and “Bottomless Trap Hole.” He activated “Future Fusion” to start, declaring “Five-Headed Dragon.” That let him send two copies of “Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon,” two “Red-Eyes Wyverns,” and one copy of “Koa'ki Meiru Drago” to the Graveyard – absolutely the best opening this deck can ask for! He summoned “Red-Eyes Wyvern” and Ma spent a moment reading its text. Clarke then removed it to Special Summon “Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon” from his hand, and activated its effect to Special Summon “Koa'ki Meiru Drago” from his Graveyard.
He activated “Book of Moon” to turn Lyla face-down, destroyed her with an attack from Drago, and attacked directly for 2800 damage with REDMD! He Set “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and in his End Phase he revealed his last in-hand card to keep Drago on the field: “Prime Material Dragon.”
Ma Normal Summoned “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid,” and sent “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” and “Charge of the Light Brigade” to his Graveyard in his End Phase. He couldn’t summon Wulf with Drago on the field.
Clarke drew another “Bottomless Trap Hole.” He activated REDMD’s effect, Special Summoned “Red-Eyes Wyvern” from his Graveyard, and sent Wyvern to attack Aurkus. Sure enough, Ma had “Honest,” and Clarke had succeeded in drawing it out without costing himself much in the long run. He also hadn’t used his Normal Summon, but Drago was keeping him from Special Summoning more copies of REDMD.
In Main Phase 2 he Tributed Drago for “Prime Material Dragon,” but he didn’t Special Summon any more copies of REDMD. Instead, he was freeing his field so that he could Summon “Five-Headed Dragon” next turn.
Ma Normal Summoned “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” and Clarke flipped “Bottomless Trap Hole.” Ma turned Aurkus to Defense Position, sent two cards to his Graveyard, and it was all over. “It’s over, but let’s play it out.”
Clarke Summoned “Five-Headed Dragon” with “Future Fusion,” Special Summoned “Koa'ki Meiru Drago” with REDMD’s effect to block the possibility of Gorz stopping him, and then attacked for game!
Richard Clarke keeps an exceptional level of control over Duel 1, dominating with “Koa'ki Meiru Drago” and managing its effect perfectly by bouncing it on and off the field as required. Unbelievable. Ma spent several minutes engrossed in Side Decking.
In Duel 2, Ma opened by activating “Solar Recharge,” discarding “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress.” He drew two cards, then sent “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” and “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” to his Graveyard. He activated “Charge of the Light Brigade” next, sending “Beckoning Light,” “Threatening Roar,” and another Charge to the Graveyard to get “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” He Summoned her, discarded “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” for her effect, and Summoned Garoth. A Set Spell or Trap Card finished out the turn, and Lumina’s effect scored a major windfall for Ma: she sent two copies of Wulf and a “Necro Gardna” to the Graveyard in the End Phase. Ma didn’t get to draw anything with Garoth but after hitting the pair of Wulf and the “Necro Gardna,” it didn’t seem to matter.
Clarke had “Monster Reborn,” “Exploder Dragon,” “Card of Safe Return,” “Mirror Force,” “Heavy Storm,” and “Book of Moon.” He activated “Heavy Storm,” Ma chained “Threatening Roar,” and Clarke activated “Monster Reborn” to take control of “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress.” He needed to get her off of Ma’s list of potential plays before attacking next turn – she was the biggest threat to his “Mirror Force,” which he needed to resolve in order to fight his way back into the Duel. If he had left Lyla in his opponent’s Graveyard, Ma could’ve easily retrieved her with “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” He Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, then Set “Exploder Dragon.” He sent three cards to his Graveyard in his End Phase.
Ma turned Lumina to Defense Position next turn, then sent Wulf to attack Lyla: Clarke flipped “Mirror Force,” destroying both copies of Wulf and Garoth! Ma discarded a second “Necro Gardna” in his Main Phase 2, bringing Garoth back in Attack Position with Lumina’s effect. He Set a monster and ended, sending “Mirror Force,” “Honest,” and another Lumina to the Graveyard with Lumina’s effect, then sending Celestia and “Brain Control” to the Graveyard with Garoth. He drew a card and play was to Clarke.
He drew “Mystical Space Typhoon” and sent Lyla to attack Lumina – Ma had had three cards in hand, but no “Honest,” and Lumina was destroyed. Clarke then sent “Crush Card Virus,” “Magna Drago,” and REDMD to his Graveyard in his End Phase. “Your turn.”
Ma drew to four cards. Garoth attacked Lyla and Clarke blocked the attack with “Book of Moon.” Garoth went face-down. Ma Flip-Summoned “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” in Main Phase 2, destroyed Clarke’s face-down “Mystical Space Typhoon,” and sent Gorz, “Solar Recharge,” and “Gold Sarcophagus” to his Graveyard. “Monster Reborn” brought back his “Necro Gardna.”
“Somebody’s got a Crush on hand” remarked Clarke, as Ma Set what was obviously “Crush Card Virus.” Clarke lost his top-decked “Koa'ki Meiru Drago” to “Crush Card Virus” next turn, his Lyla was destroyed, and he activated his last card: “Card of Safe Return.”
Ma Special Summoned “Judgment Dragon” and paid 1000 Life Points to clear the field. “Judgment Dragon” attacked for 3000 damage, it sent four cards from Ma’s Deck to his Graveyard, and he had seven cards remaining in his Deck.
Clarke top-decked “Masked Dragon” and Set it. Ma destroyed it with “Judgment Dragon’s” effect, then Normal Summoned Lumina and Special Summoned “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” with her effect. “That’ll do it” remarked Clarke.”
Nick Ma fights back to take a decisive Duel 2! Sending two Wulf and “Necro Gardna” to his Graveyard so early was huge, and Ma made good use of his wad of cards to grind through Clarke’s lackluster hand. The third and final Duel began moments later.
Clarke had two “Light-Imprisoning Mirror,” “Book of Moon,” “Exploder Dragon,” “Monster Reborn,” and “Burst Breath.” He Set “Exploder Dragon,” Set “Light-Imprisoning Mirror,” and ended. “Your move.”
“Draw” announced Ma. He Set a monster and ended. Clarke drew “Magna Drago,” Set it too, and ended. Play was back to Ma.
He Normal Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” ended his turn, and Clarke flipped “Light-Imprisoning Mirror.” He drew “Gold Sarcophagus” and activated it to remove “Future Fusion” from his Deck. He considered Flip Summoning “Exploder Dragon,” but passed.
Ma discarded “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” for “Solar Recharge,” sending “Pot of Avarice” and “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” to his Graveyard to draw two cards. “I hate this move.” He Flip Summoned “Necro Gardna,” Normal Summoned “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and Tuned it to his remaining two monsters for “Red Dragon Archfiend”! “Red Dragon Archfiend” attacked “Exploder Dragon,” destroyed it with its effect, and then destroyed “Magna Drago.” “End turn.”
Clarke drew “Mirror Force.” He activated “Monster Reborn,” brought back his “Exploder Dragon,” attacked, and Ma removed his “Necro Gardna” to keep “Red Dragon Archfiend” on the field. Clarke Set “Mirror Force” and ended.
“Charge of the Light Brigade” sent “Necro Gardna,” “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior,” and “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” to Ma’s Graveyard. He searched out “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” and discarded her for “Solar Recharge,” sending “Heavy Storm” and “Mirror Force” to the Graveyard. “Eahhh…” He really wanted to draw that “Heavy Storm.” Ma Normal Summoned Gale after laboring over his decision.
He then Special Summoned “Judgment Dragon” and activated “Brain Control”! “I’m gonna be an upset man if that is a “Mirror Force.”” Ma heaved a sigh. ““Red Dragon Archfiend” attack.”
“Upset?” asked Clarke politely, flipping “Mirror Force.” Ma lost all of his monsters and was down to three cards in hand. Ouch. Clarke had three cards in hand and drew a fourth, another “Burst Breath,” before claiming his “Future Fusion”! “I need you guys now” he remarked, sending two “Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon,” two “Red-Eyes Wyvern,” and “Koa'ki Meiru Drago” to his Deck for “Five-Headed Dragon.” He Set one card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, removed both of his Wyverns, and Special Summoned two copies of “Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon”! He now had eight cards total to his opponent’s three in hand.
Ma drew to four cards. He activated “Lightning Vortex,” discarding another “Necro Gardna,” and Clarke had to let it go: both copies of REDMD were destroyed. Ma then Normal Summoned Aurkus, attacked for 1200 damage, and Clarke was down to 6800 Life Points.
He drew “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer.” He Normal Summoned it, debated the possibility of “Honest,” and attacked: Ma activated “Honest” from his hand and Clarke suffered another 1200 damage. Ma still had 7200 Life Points and Clarke Set another Spell or Trap to finish his turn. Ma was stuck between the possibility of “Torrential Tribute,” and the reality of “Five-Headed Dragon” next turn.
He Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” next turn, attacked with her and attacked again with Aurkus. Clarke now had 2700 Life Points left. Ma was tapped out, with no cards left in hand.
Clarke drew and had “Burst Breath,” “Book of Moon,” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” in hand. He Summoned “Five-Headed Dragon,” attacked, and the attack was negated with “Necro Gardna.” Ma turned Aurkus to Defense Position and ended.
Clarke finally caught another monster: “Koa'ki Meiru Drago.” He Summoned it, and flipped “Burst Breath”! He Tributed “Koa'ki Meiru Drago” to destroy Lyla and Aurkus, then attempted a direct attack with “Five-Headed Dragon.” Ma removed his last “Necro Gardna” to negate it, and Clarke Set two more cards to his Spell or Trap Card Zone.
Ma sent “Judgment Dragon,” “Threatening Roar,” and “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” to his Graveyard with “Charge of the Light Brigade.” He searched his Deck for “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast,” discarded it for “Solar Recharge,” and drew two before sending “Beckoning Light” and Lumina to his Graveyard. He Set one Spell or Trap, Set a monster, and ended. Clarke drew “Heavy Storm,” not much help since he needed his “Five-Headed Dragon” (which was still tied to “Future Fusion”).
He attacked with the Dragon, destroyed Ma’s “Honest,” and ended. Ma Set his draw, a monster. Clarke drew “Sangan,” Normal Summoned it, and Ma flipped “Torrential Tribute.” He lost his own Lumina, and Clarke searched out “Masked Dragon.” It was close to time being called. Clarke ended. Ma drew and passed. Clarke summoned “Masked Dragon,” attacked for 1400 damage, and dropped Ma to 5800 Life Points. Ma drew, time was called, and Clarke would have two turns to tie or win this Duel. Ma just had to survive for two more turns to win.
He activated “Monster Reborn” and Special Summoned “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” in Defense Position. Ma had six cards left in his Deck. He ended his turn, and Clarke used “Mystical Space Typhoon” to destroy his own “Light-Imprisoning Mirror,” forcing Ma to send two cards to the Graveyard with Aurkus’s effect: “Honest” and “Crush Card Virus.” He still had four cards left in his Deck, more than he needed to survive one more turn.
Clarke drew “Threatening Roar,” totally useless when your opponent isn’t trying to attack you. He Set Threatening, Set “Book of Moon,” and turned “Masked Dragon” to Defense Position. “Your move.”
Ma Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, then used his last card to Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie” in Defense Position. Ma ended his turn, sent Charge and Sarcophagus to his Graveyard with Aurkus. Clarke drew “Debris Dragon,” but had no targets in the Graveyard for its effect. He Normal Summoned it, couldn’t claim its effect, and activated “Light-Imprisoning Mirror.” He Tuned “Debris Dragon” to “Masked Dragon,” Synchro Summoned ““Exploder Dragon”wing” and attacked Aurkus: Ma responded with “Threatening Roar,” Clarke chained “Burst Breath,” and there was simply nothing from there. One more turn would’ve been enough, but the match was over and Nicholas Ma moves on undefeated with Lightsworn!
reported by
Jason Grabher-Meyer
