Duel Disk Test Battle: Yugi vs. Kaiba!

“Since the Duel Disk has decided that I’ll go first, I won’t hold back!” Yugi said with a smile, drawing five cards as the red words “First Round” appeared on the Duel Disk’s life point counter.

“Hmph, bring it on!” Kaiba retorted, drawing his cards in turn.

“My turn, I draw!” Yugi declared. “First, I summon ‘Elemental HERO Blazeman’ in attack position!”

A warrior of fire attribute, his body black and white, clad in orange armor and mask. Rated as an “SR Gold” card in the system’s card library, Blazeman had been acquired by Yugi for 500 gems, purchased from the “Shop” that opened after the Kingdom Finals, forming the core of his basic Elemental HERO deck.

“Blazeman has two effects, but only one can be activated per turn. Now, I activate his first effect! When he’s summoned, I can add a ‘Polymerization’ Spell Card from my deck to my hand.”

As Yugi announced the effect, a green-bordered Spell Card slid out from the deck slot, pushed out by the Duel Disk’s internal mechanism.

Unlike the original anime’s Duel Disk, which required duelists to search for their cards manually, this version, with assistance from Yugi’s company, Illusion Corp, featured an automated card selection function, eliminating this inconvenience.

“Next, I activate the Spell Card ‘Polymerization’ to fuse ‘Elemental HERO Clayman’ and ‘Elemental HERO Burstinatrix’ from my hand!”

It was the first time Yugi had used Clayman and Burstinatrix as fusion materials. The monster formed by their union was a turret-like hero excelling in both offense and defense.

“Fusion Summon—Elemental HERO Rampart Blaster!”

(Elemental HERO Rampart Blaster, Level 6, DEF: 2500)

“Although fusion monsters of level six or lower can attack the turn they are summoned, since I’m going first, after setting two cards, my turn ends.”

In the anime’s Battle City arc, the rules stated that a fusion monster couldn’t attack the turn it was summoned unless the Spell Card “Quick Attack” was used. But with Yugi’s input, he wouldn’t let such a rule hamper his Elemental HERO deck.

After a week of intense discussion with Kaiba, both sides compromised: fusion monsters of level six or lower could attack the turn they were summoned unless otherwise specified; level seven or higher fusion monsters required “Fusion Quick Attack” or an effect granting immediate attack. Of course, card effects could override this.

Fusion Summoning required at least three cards—fusion materials plus Polymerization—so even the fusion-averse Kaiba agreed to this rule after Yugi’s persuasion.

To differentiate between “Quick-Play Spells” and the specific Spell “Quick Attack,” Yugi added “Fusion” to the card’s name during printing, making it “Fusion Quick Attack”—clearly a spell exclusive to fusion monsters.

[Yugi: 4000 LP, Hand: 1, Monster Zone: Elemental HERO Blazeman, Elemental HERO Rampart Blaster, Spell/Trap Zone: 2 Set]

“My turn, I draw!” Kaiba’s eyes lit up at the blue-bordered monster in his hand. So it begins? As expected from my exclusive “Blue-Eyes” series!

“I activate the Ritual Spell Card ‘White Dragon Descent’ from my hand! I tribute the level three ‘Dark Juggler Peter’ and the level three ‘Masked Dragon’ from my hand! Ritual Summon—Paladin of White Dragon!”

A small, rounded white dragon emerged from the abyss, carrying a silver-armored knight wielding a shining sword.

(Paladin of White Dragon, Level 4, ATK: 1900)

“Next, I banish ‘Dark Juggler Peter’ from my graveyard to Special Summon a second Peter from my deck. Then I activate ‘Pot of Greed’ to draw two cards… and play ‘Cost Down,’ discarding a card to lower the levels of monsters in my hand by two.”

After this flurry of actions, Kaiba was left with just one card in hand. On his field stood the Ritual Summoned Paladin and a black-and-white-masked Peter brought out by its effect.

(Dark Juggler Peter, Level 3, DEF: 1200)

“With ‘Cost Down’s’ effect, I tribute Peter to Tribute Summon the level six ‘Blue-Eyes White Dragon!’”

“Roar!!”

Peter was sent to the graveyard, replaced by the gleaming form of Kaiba’s beloved White Bride, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

(Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8, ATK: 3000)

“Battle Phase! Paladin of White Dragon, attack Yugi’s Blazeman!”

Mounted on the white dragon, the Paladin raised his holy sword, ready to strike down Blazeman. But just then, a metal shield flew out, blocking the attack in the nick of time.

“Trap Card—‘Hero Barrier!’ It protects my ‘Elemental HERO’ monster from battle damage once!”

With Yugi’s explanation, Kaiba saw his attack fail, the holy sword unable to advance. The Paladin, frustrated, could only return to Kaiba’s field.

“Hmph! I knew you’d use that card! But my Blue-Eyes White Dragon is still here! Go—Burst Stream of Destruction!”

Hero Barrier was a staple in Elemental HERO decks, and Kaiba had anticipated it. But no matter—he still had his beloved White Bride.

“Boom!”

This time, there was no second trap to block Blue-Eyes’ white-hot blast. But as the white beam destroyed Blazeman and threatened Yugi, a transparent barrier appeared, deflecting the battle damage.

“Trap Card—‘Soul Barrier.’ As long as Rampart Blaster is on my field, I take no battle damage.”

“Tch!”

Soul Barrier. Kaiba hadn’t expected Yugi to set two such useful cards in one turn. It reminded him of a conversation with Yugi’s friend, who once complained: “Kaiba, Yugi is annoyingly cautious! He didn’t lose a single LP against Mai Valentine!”

It seems that was no exaggeration.

(Kaiba cursed under his breath, frustrated by Yugi’s dogged defense.)

“I activate Paladin’s effect! By tributing it, I can Special Summon another ‘Blue-Eyes White Dragon’ from my deck!”

Unlike his rash moves in the original anime, this time Kaiba attacked first, then tributed Paladin to Special Summon a Blue-Eyes.

“This Blue-Eyes summoned by Paladin’s effect can’t attack, but that’s fine—my Battle Phase is over.”

With that, Kaiba ended his turn, having used up all his resources summoning his first Blue-Eyes. No cards left to set.

[Kaiba: 4000 LP, Hand: 0, Monster Zone: Blue-Eyes White Dragon x2, Spell/Trap Zone: 0]