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Round 6 Feature Match:
Augustin Herrera versus Chris Pittao
Chris Pittao has topped five SHONEN JUMP Championships and one National Championship, while Augustin Herrera has topped six SHONEN JUMP Championships. Neither has won a title yet, however. Pittao is running Lightsworn, while Herrera is running a new Synchro Cat variant with “Volcanic Rocket,” “Blaze Accelerator,” and “Wild Fire.”
Herrera opened with “Monster Reborn,” “Cold Wave,” “Volcanic Rocket,” “Wild Fire,” “Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind,” and “Solemn Judgment.” He summoned “Volcanic Rocket,” searched out “Blaze Accelerator” from his Deck and added it to his hand. He Set “Cold Wave” and ended.
“Draw phase, anything?” asked Pittao. Herrera shook his head, and Pittao took a moment to consider his predicament. There was no way he could’ve predicted that Herrera was running Synchro Cat at this point. He Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” used her effect to blow away “Cold Wave,” and then Set one Spell or Trap Card before sending “Phantom of Chaos,” Gale, and another Lyla to his Graveyard.
Herrera drew another “Solemn Judgment”! He attacked Lyla with “Volcanic Rocket,” Set one Solemn, and ended. So far the Synchro Cat part of the Deck didn’t seem to be coming together too well. He lost Solemn to Pittao’s face-down “Heavy Storm” next turn, and Pittao took “Volcanic Rocket” with “Brain Control.” He Normal Summoned “Plaguespreader Zombie,” Tuned it to Rocket, and Synchro Summoned “Goyo Guardian” for an attack of 2800 damage. A Set Spell or Trap ended the turn.
“Giant Trunade” came off the top of Herrera’s Deck, and he activated “Blaze Accelerator.” Pittao chained “Mystical Space Typhoon” to destroy it. Herrera brought back Rocket with “Monster Reborn,” took back his “Blaze Accelerator,” then Normal Summoned Gale! He halved Goyo’s ATK, “Volcanic Rocket” ran it over, and Gale made a direct attack. Herrera Set Solemn.
Pittao Set a monster and Herrera finally got “Summoner Monk”! He Normal Summoned it, turned it to Defense, and then traded his “Blaze Accelerator” for “Rescue Cat”! He sent the Cat to the Graveyard, brought out two copies of “X-Saber Airbellum.” He Tuned one Airbellum to Monk, Synchro Summoned “Arcanite Magician” in Attack Position, and used its effect to destroy Pittao’s face-down monster: “Necro Gardna.” Herrera attacked with “X-Saber Airbellum” and Pittao had to run some numbers to figure out what to do. Pittao had just two cards in hand.
“I think that’s game no matter what,” remarked Pittao. Pittao had 5400 Life Points left, and the threat of “Dark Strike Fighter” eventually led to a concession. There was no way out.
A huge demonstration of the abilities Herrera’s Deck wields, as we see “Blaze Accelerator” searched, traded for “Mystical Space Typhoon,” recycled off “Monster Reborn,” and finally discarded for “Summoner Monk” and a win with “Rescue Cat”! Pretty spectacular stuff. Both competitors did a little Side Decking before Pittao opened Duel 2.
He did so with “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” and a Set Spell or Trap. He sent “Crush Card Virus” and “Necro Gardna” to the Graveyard in his End Phase.
Herrera’s hand consisted of “Summoner Monk,” two “X-Saber Airbellums,” “Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind,” “Threatening Roar,” and “Heavy Storm.” Herrera Summoned Airbellum, attacked Aurkus, and Pittao responded with “Threatening Roar.” Herrera Set his own Roar and ended. Pittao activated “Solar Recharge,” discarded “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” drew two, and sent “Mirror Force” and “Judgment Dragon” to the Graveyard. He activated “Heavy Storm,” Herrera chained “Threatening Roar,” and Pittao was clearly stymied. He turned Aurkus to Defense Position, Set a Spell or Trap, and ended. He scored “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” in his End Phase, Special Summoning it in Attack Position.
Herrera drew a second “Summoner Monk.” He Normal Summoned it, Tuned it to Airbellum, and then wiped the field with “Black Rose Dragon.” Pittao lost his Aurkus, Wulf, and “Mystical Space Typhoon”! Herrera then Set his “Heavy Storm.” Pittao attacked with “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” next turn, and destroyed the Storm. He passed with nothing Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone.
Herrera drew “Blaze Accelerator.” He Normal Summoned another Airbellum, attacked Lyla, and Pittao didn’t activate his “Necro Gardna’s” effect. Herrera ended, and Pittao summoned “Phantom of Chaos.” He removed Lyla from the Graveyard to mimic her ATK, attacked over Airbellum, and sent three more cards to his Graveyard in the End Phase.
Herrera spent some time checking through Pittao’s Graveyard – he had just one “Necro Gardna.” Herrera drew “Sangan,” Summoned it, and attacked “Phantom of Chaos” to destroy it. Pittao had four cards in hand, and activated “Charge of the Light Brigade” to send “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter,” “Solar Recharge,” and a second “Necro Gardna” to his Graveyard. Charge got him Lumina, he Normal Summoned her, and he discarded Wulf to Special Summon it. Wulf ran over “Sangan,” Lumina made a direct attack, and Augustin dug through his deck with “Sangan’s” effect to fetch “D.D. Crow.” More cards hit the Graveyard.
Herrera drew, and had Blackwing – Gale, “Neo-Spacian Dark Panther,” “Summoner Monk,” “D.D. Crow,” and “Blaze Accelerator.” He Normal Summoned Monk, discarded Accelerator for the Monk’s effect, and Special Summoned “Volcanic Rocket”! He took back his Accelerator, then ended his turn after considering an attack on Lumina. He didn’t make one.
Pittao discarded “Plaguespreader Zombie” for Lumina’s effect, trying to Special Summoned another Wulf. Herrera discarded “D.D. Crow” to remove Wulf on the chain. Pittao then Normal Summoned another “Phantom of Chaos,” removing “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness” to get its ATK. He attacked with the Phantom into Monk, sent Wulf to destroy “Volcanic Rocket,” and made a direct attck with Lumina. Pittao Set his last card to his back row and ended, sending a third “Necro Gardna” to his Graveyard. He had six cards left in his Deck. Herrera had only 3000 Life Points remaining.
He Set “Mystic Tomato,” hoping to outlast Pittao. “What is that? What is that, face-down Jar?” asked Pittao. “That’s what I don’t want it to be! It’s probably a Tomato.”
“You’re about to find out” remarked Herrera.
“Yes we are.” Pittao considered his options for a while, before removing “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” for Phantom’s effect. Phantom attacked the Set Tomato, and Herrera looked through his deck – there wasn’t much help. He had to Summon “Gravekeeper's Guard,” which quickly fell to Wulf. Lumina made a direct attack and Herrera was down to 900 Life Points. Pittao had 7000 Life Points, but only six cards left in his Deck. He lost three more to his Graveyard (“Monster Reincarnation,” “Brain Control,” and Garoth) and ended.
Herrera drew “Solemn Judgment.” He Normal Summoned “Neo-Spacian Dark Panther,” copied “Phantom of Chaos,” and then removed “Summoner Monk” to mimic its effect. He discarded “Blaze Accelerator,” Special Summoned “Volcanic Rocket” from his Deck, and returned “Blaze Accelerator” to his hand. Dark Panther attacked Lumina and Pittao flipped “Threatening Roar.” Herrera Set two Spell or Trap Cards and ended.
Pittao drew and had two cards left in his Deck. He mimicked “Judgment Dragon” with “Phantom of Chaos,” blew up the field, and dropped his second “Judgment Dragon” for game! We were going to Duel 3!
Herrera opened with “Volcanic Rocket,” “Mystical Space Typhoon,” “Mystic Tomato,” “X-Saber Airbellum,” “Monster Reborn,” and “Cold Wave.” He set Tomato, Set “Mystical Space Typhoon,” and ended. Pittao tossed “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” to “Solar Recharge,” drew two, and sent another Recharge and “Phantom of Chaos” to the Graveyard. He Set a card to each Zone, Set another Spell or Trap, and ended. Herrera blew away Pittao’s “Threatening Roar” with an End Phase “Mystical Space Typhoon.”
He drew “Giant Trunade” next turn. He Normal Summoned “Volcanic Rocket,” searched out “Blaze Accelerator,” and Flip Summoned “Mystic Tomato.” Tomato attacked, Pittao tributed his face-down “Necro Gardna” for “Crush Card Virus,” and Herrera lost “Volcanic Rocket” from the field! He lost Airbellum from his hand, and revealed “Blaze Accelerator,” Reborn, Trunade, and “Cold Wave.” When “Mystic Tomato” attacked off the replay Pittao removed “Necro Gardna” to block the damage – that seemed a bit overzealous.
Pittao activated “Monster Reincarnation,” discarding “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to take back “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” He Summoned her, Set one card to his back row and ended, sending three more cards to his Graveyard – nothing of note.
Herrera drew and revealed “Pot of Avarice,” then sent “Mystic Tomato” to attack Lumina – Pittao flipped “Threatening Roar.” Pittao tributed Lumina for “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” destroyed “Mystic Tomato,” and attacked for 2300 damage. He ended and Herrera drew “Rescue Cat.”
“You don’t play “Honest,” do you?” He Normal Summoned the Cat, traded it for “X-Saber Airbellum” and “Neo-Spacian Dark Panther,” and Synchro Summoned “Goyo Guardian.” Goyo attacked Celestia, Herrera took control of her in Defense Position, and Herrera ended without activating “Pot of Avarice.” He couldn’t activate it now – he was still under “Crush Card Virus.”
“That Cat screwed everything up,” groaned Pittao. He Normal Summoned Garoth, attacked Celestia, and ended. Herrera drew “Wild Fire.” He activated “Pot of Avarice” and sent back every monster in his Graveyard save ‘Rescue Cat” to his Deck – he wanted to use that with “Monster Reborn.” He drew “Gravekeeper's Guard,” “Book of Moon,” and then brought back the Cat with Reborn. He sent it to the Graveyard for two copies of “X-Saber Airbellum,” Normal Summoned “Gravekeeper's Guard,” and considered his attacks. Since Pittao had wasted that first “Necro Gardna,” Goyo was free to attack Garoth and take it. One Airbellum made Pittao discard his last in-hand card, “Lightning Vortex,” and the rest of the monsters made direct attacks. Herrera Tuned Airbellum to Garoth for “Dark Strike Fighter” and Pittao had 3350 Life Points left.
Herrera Tributed everything to Dark Strike and this match was over! Augustin Herrera moves on with a 5-1 record, packing Volcanic Cat.
reported by
Jason Grabher-Meyer
