The Win a Goat Grand Prix Entry tournament series continued
this weekend with two complete events played through NeoGoat Pro.
Both tournament runs were recorded, allowing us to follow every round from
the opening pairings to the final result.
Friday Tournament — Lorska’s Harpie Ladies
Friday’s tournament featured three rounds, all included in the first video.
Lorska claimed the Goat Grand Prix entry with
Harpie Ladies, piloting the deck successfully through all
three matches.
The video presents Lorska’s complete tournament run, making it possible to
see how the Harpie strategy adapted to each opponent and handled the different
situations encountered throughout the event.
Friday Tournament: Lorska’s three matches with Harpie Ladies
Sunday Tournament — Jinzo Takes the Entry
The second video covers Sunday’s Win a Goat Grand Prix Entry
tournament. This event lasted four rounds, and the complete competition is
shown in chronological order, from Round 1 through Round 4.
Jinzo finished the tournament in first place and secured the
second Goat Grand Prix entry of the weekend. Since every round was recorded,
viewers can follow the development of the tournament and the matches that
ultimately decided the winner.
Sunday Tournament: All four rounds from Jinzo’s winning run
NeoGoat Pro as a Tournament Tool
These events also provide another example of how NeoGoat Pro
can be used as a complete tournament platform. Players can register for the
scheduled event, receive their round and table assignments, enter their
matches and report results without relying on a separate tournament website.
Having the tournament structure and the dueling platform in the same program
makes online events easier to organize and follow. It also allows complete
tournament runs like these to be preserved and presented as part of an
ongoing video series.
Congratulations to Lorska and Jinzo for
winning their respective events and earning their Goat Grand Prix entries.
Gaona claimed the tournament with Monarch Hydro Banisher, a tempo-focused deck that combines the pressure of Hydrogeddon and Banisher of the Radiance with the removal and hand disruption provided by the Monarchs. The supplied replays document Gaona's duels against Jinzo, Orangebreaker, and Palacios on the road to the championship.
Watch All Six Duels
The full video contains all six tournament duels in chronological order: Jinzo vs. Gaona, Orangebreaker vs. Gaona, and the final between Palacios and Gaona.
Jinzo took the opening duel with a steady stream of battle damage. Banisher of the Radiance and Spirit Reaper established the early advantage on Turn 3, and the monster Jinzo then became the main finisher. Its direct attacks on Turns 5 and 7 pushed Gaona down to 2,000 LP. After paying 800 LP for a play on Turn 9, Jinzo attacked directly once more to end the game.
Final LP: Jinzo 6,200 — Gaona 0.
Game 2 — Gaona wins by surrender on Turn 12
Gaona answered with a more aggressive Monarch plan. Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch defeated Gigantes in battle, while Banisher of the Radiance added direct damage and restricted graveyard interaction. Later, Hydrogeddon cleared Yellow Gadget and Green Gadget in successive battle phases. With Jinzo reduced to 1,300 LP and Gaona still at 2,500, Jinzo surrendered on Turn 12.
LP at surrender: Jinzo 1,300 — Gaona 2,500.
Replay note: the two supplied files show the players tied at one game each. A deciding game, if one was played, was not included with the replays.
Match 2: Orangebreaker vs. Gaona
Game 1 — Gaona wins on Turn 9
Orangebreaker opened with a Dinosaur strategy built around Jurassic World and Hydrogeddon, but Gaona immediately punished the first attack: Hydrogeddon ran into Gravekeeper's Spy and Orangebreaker took 100 battle damage. On the following turn, Gravekeeper's Spy and D.D. Warrior Lady attacked directly for a combined 2,700 damage.
Tribe-Infecting Virus then became the central threat. It connected directly on Turns 5 and 7 before delivering the final 1,600 damage on Turn 9.
Final LP: Gaona 4,800 — Orangebreaker 0.
Game 2 — Gaona wins on Turn 22
The second duel developed into a much longer resource battle. Gaona's Hydrogeddon won an early mirror battle and converted it into additional field presence, but Orangebreaker answered with a 2,200-point direct attack from Sabersaurus. The duel then slowed considerably as both players traded monsters and removal.
Gaona's sided Gilasaurus broke through for 1,700 damage on Turn 10. Jinzo eventually decided the game, attacking directly for 2,400 on Turn 20 and repeating the attack on Turn 22 for lethal damage.
Final LP: Orangebreaker 0 — Gaona 4,200.
Side Deck changes before Game 2:
Gaona sided in: 2 Gilasaurus.
Gaona sided out: 1 Banisher of the Radiance and 1 Gravekeeper's Spy.
Orangebreaker: no Main Deck changes.
Recorded result: Gaona wins 2–0.
Final: Palacios vs. Gaona
Game 1 — Gaona wins on Turn 23
The first game of the final was a long control duel. Hydrogeddon gave Gaona the first major life-point advantage with direct attacks on Turns 7 and 9. Asura Priest continued the pressure, landing two more direct attacks and reducing Palacios to 1,400 LP by Turn 15.
Palacios prolonged the duel with Spirit Reaper, Sheep Tokens, and Thousand-Eyes Restrict, but Gaona kept removing each defensive layer. Tribe-Infecting Virus finally found a clear attack on Turn 23 and dealt the last 1,600 damage.
Final LP: Gaona 7,100 — Palacios 0.
Game 2 — Gaona wins by surrender on Turn 24
Palacios struck first with D.D. Warrior Lady, but Gaona quickly turned the duel around. Mobius the Frost Monarch attacked directly for 2,400, followed by an 1,800-point direct attack from Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer. By Turn 12, Palacios had been reduced to only 100 LP.
Palacios survived for several more turns, but Gaona retained control through Tribe-Infecting Virus and a succession of Monarchs, including Mobius, Thestalos, and Zaborg. Unable to build a path back into the game, Palacios surrendered on Turn 24.
Palacios sided out: 1 Book of Moon, 2 Gravekeeper's Spy, 1 Mystic Swordsman LV2, 1 Nobleman of Crossout, and 1 Pulling the Rug.
Final result: Gaona wins 2–0 and becomes the tournament champion.
Why Monarch Hydro Banisher Won
Gaona's deck was able to change roles from game to game. Hydrogeddon punished smaller monsters and created immediate momentum; Banisher of the Radiance disrupted graveyard-based plans; and the Monarchs converted established monsters into high-impact removal and pressure. After siding, Gilasaurus added speed whenever a faster clock was more valuable than additional defensive cards.
The final also demonstrated the deck's staying power. Gaona could win quickly with direct attacks, but the same list remained effective through 20-turn control games. That flexibility carried Monarch Hydro Banisher through the tournament and earned Gaona the championship.
Tournament-Winning Decklist
Note: Reconstructed decklist based on the replays, not the official list.
This past weekend, NeoGoat Pro hosted another online tournament featuring four recorded matches, several different deck styles, and a special prize for the eventual champion.
🏆 Special Prize:
The tournament winner received a free entry to the Goat Grand Prix taking place in Monterrey this October.
With more than an ordinary tournament victory on the line, the event brought together strategies ranging from Paladin and Chaos decks to Gadgets, Warriors, and the aggressive Beast list that eventually captured the championship.
The recorded matches also offered another look at NeoGoat Pro as a platform for organized online competition. Players were able to complete their matches through the official client while viewers could follow the most important games of the tournament.
Featured Match Results
Match 1
Paladin Dark & White vs Good Stuff
Good Stuff Wins
The first featured match presented two very different approaches to NeoGoat. Paladin Dark & White brought a more thematic strategy centered around powerful Dragon monsters, while Good Stuff relied on individually efficient cards and a flexible collection of answers.
When the match was over, the versatility of Good Stuff had secured the first recorded victory of the weekend.
Match 2
Gadgets vs Gadget Monarch
Gadget Monarch Wins
Match 2 was a resource-oriented battle between two Gadget strategies. The regular Gadget deck focused on maintaining card advantage through its familiar search chain, while Gadget Monarch added Tribute Summons and larger threats to the same general engine.
It was the Gadget Monarch variant that emerged from the match with the win, demonstrating the additional finishing power that Monarchs can bring to the Gadget package.
Match 3
Beast vs Warrior
Beast Wins
The future champion entered the featured matches against Warrior. The Beast deck combined large attackers such as Mad Dog of Darkness and Berserk Gorilla with Hydrogeddon, King Tiger Wanghu, Nimble Momonga, and a substantial removal package.
Warrior had access to the dependable monsters and battle tools that have made it one of NeoGoat's most established strategies, but Beast successfully advanced to the final.
Final
Beast vs Chaos
Beast Wins
The final placed the aggressive Beast strategy against Chaos, one of the most explosive styles available in the format. Chaos offered powerful momentum swings and dangerous late-game threats, while Beast continued to apply pressure through efficient attackers, removal, and battle manipulation.
Beast completed its tournament run with another victory, earning the championship and the free entry to the Goat Grand Prix in Monterrey.
The Winning Beast Deck
The Beast deck that won the tournament and secured the Grand Prix entry.
The champion used an unconventional 48-card Beast list built to place immediate pressure on the field. Rather than relying on a single combo, the deck could win through raw attack power, battle-based advantage, removal, or disruptive cards such as King Tiger Wanghu and Royal Decree.
Fast Offensive Pressure
Mad Dog of Darkness, Berserk Gorilla, Hydrogeddon, and Unexpected Dai gave the deck several ways to establish attackers quickly.
```
Battlefield Control
Triple Smashing Ground, Book of Moon, Shrink, and Creature Swap helped the deck clear opposing monsters and control combat.
Multiple Engines
Nimble Momonga, Giant Rat, Green Baboon, Bazoo, and The Rock Spirit gave the list additional lines beyond ordinary Beastdown pressure.
Back-Row Disruption
Three copies of Royal Decree could force opponents to play without their Trap Cards, while the Side Deck offered answers for several different matchups.
```
# Main Deck — 48 Cards
3 Mad Dog of Darkness
1 Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest
2 Berserk Gorilla
1 D.D. Assailant
2 King Tiger Wanghu
3 Hydrogeddon
1 Tribe-Infecting Virus
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 Bazoo the Soul-Eater
1 D.D. Warrior Lady
1 Giant Rat
1 D.D. Warrior
1 Exiled Force
3 Nimble Momonga
1 The Rock Spirit
2 Unexpected Dai
1 Nobleman of Extermination
1 Heavy Storm
2 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Dark Factory of Mass Production
3 Smashing Ground
2 Book of Moon
1 Creature Swap
2 Shrink
1 Pot of Greed
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Scapegoat
1 Call of the Haunted
1 Mirror Force
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Ring of Destruction
3 Royal Decree
# Side Deck — 15 Cards
2 Royal Oppression
1 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast
2 Legacy of Yata-Garasu
1 Mobius the Frost Monarch
2 Spell Shattering Arrow
1 Mystic Swordsman LV2
1 Nobleman of Crossout
2 Cipher Soldier
2 Banisher of the Radiance
1 King Tiger Wanghu
Another Step Forward for NeoGoat Pro
This tournament showed the variety that continues to develop inside NeoGoat. Seven recognizable strategies appeared across the four featured matches, and the championship was ultimately won by a deck that combined classic Beastdown ideas with several unusual card choices.
Most importantly, the event gave online players a direct connection to a major in-person tournament. The champion will now be able to compete in the Goat Grand Prix in Monterrey this October without paying the tournament entry fee.
Congratulations to the tournament champion!
More NeoGoat Pro matches, decklists, online events, and tournament announcements will be shared soon.
The July 28 NeoGoat tournament brought together 17 players for
five rounds of competition. The event was still played under the
June 2026 NeoGoat banlist, giving players one more opportunity to compete
in that environment before the next format update.
Three featured matches were recorded during the tournament. Rounds 3 and 4 could not be
filmed because the recording device was running low on battery, but recording resumed in
time for the decisive table-one match in Round 5.
Round 1 – Monarch Zombie vs Dino Chaos Loaner
The opening featured match paired a Monarch Zombie strategy against the
Dino Chaos loaner deck. The Monarch deck combined tribute monsters with
Gravekeeper’s Spy, Vampire Lord, Spirit Reaper, and a large trap lineup, while the loaner
deck used Dinosaurs, Normal Monster support, and
Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning.
Duel 1
Monarch Zombie opened by setting a monster, which was revealed as
Gravekeeper’s Spy after Hydrogeddon attacked it. The Spy summoned another
copy, immediately providing tribute material for
Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch. Thestalos discarded Kycoo the Ghost
Destroyer and then destroyed Hydrogeddon in battle.
Dino Chaos answered with Tribe-Infecting Virus, discarding Archfiend
Soldier to destroy the Pyro monster and then Sabersaurus to clear the Spellcasters.
Premature Burial revived Kycoo, allowing both monsters to attack while Kycoo banished the
two Gravekeeper’s Spies from the Graveyard.
Monarch Zombie summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, destroyed Tribe in battle, and then
used Breaker’s Spell Counter during Main Phase 2 to destroy Premature Burial, taking Kycoo
with it.
Dino Chaos continued applying pressure with Unexpected Dai, bringing out
X-Head Cannon. and Hyper Hammerhead followed, while Monarch Zombie used Scapegoat, later the Monarch Zombie player summoned another Thestalos.
The duel escalated when Dino Chaos banished Archfiend Soldier and X-Head Cannon to summon
Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning. BLS, Hyper Hammerhead, and
Spirit Reaper pushed through the remaining monsters and tokens, with Spirit Reaper also
discarding a card.
Monarch Zombie survived the attack and later used Mirror Force to destroy both BLS and
Hyper Hammerhead. Several smaller exchanges followed involving Spirit Reaper,
Tribe-Infecting Virus, Sabersaurus, Destroyersaurus, Sand Moth, Mystical Space Typhoon,
and Smashing Ground.
During the End Phase of his opponent, Dino Chaos revived BLS with Call of the Haunted. With the Chaos
monster ready to attack again, the Monarch Zombie player conceded while revealing a
Royal Decree.
Dino Chaos won the first duel.
Duel 2
Dino Chaos came extremely close to ending the match quickly, reducing the opposing player
to only 700 Life Points. However, Monarch Zombie stabilized by using
Royal Decree and Jinzo to shut down the loaner deck’s
trap lineup.
Jinzo eventually delivered the winning attack. Dino Chaos revealed Ring of Destruction,
Mirror Force, and Bottomless Trap Hole—three powerful traps that had all been neutralized
by Jinzo’s continuous effect.
Monarch Zombie tied the match at one duel each.
Duel 3
The deciding duel demonstrated an important detail when playing the Dino Chaos loaner
deck. Dino Chaos opened with Unexpected Dai to summon a Dinosaur Normal
Monster. Although that created immediate field presence, it ultimately became the mistake
that shaped the duel.
In this particular loaner deck, Unexpected Dai is often better saved for a
LIGHT or DARK Normal Monster. Doing so helps prepare the Graveyard for
Black Luster Soldier. Dino Chaos later held BLS for several turns but could not summon it
because there was no LIGHT monster available to banish.
Meanwhile, Monarch Zombie established control with Vampire Lord. Its
ability to return from the Graveyard made the Dino player’s Smashing Grounds much less
effective, allowing the control deck to preserve its advantage and eventually win the
deciding duel.
Monarch Zombie won the match 2–1.
Round 2 – Time Seal Chaos vs Good Stuff
Round 2 featured a Chaos deck built around disruption from
Time Seal against a more traditional Good Stuff deck.
The Chaos strategy successfully controlled the pace of the match and prevented the
opposing deck from establishing its normal rhythm.
By combining Chaos threats with repeated interruptions, the Time Seal deck accumulated
enough advantage to take the featured match.
Time Seal Chaos won the match and eventually finished the tournament in third place.
Rounds 3 and 4
Unfortunately, the featured matches from Rounds 3 and 4 were not recorded because the
recording device was running low on battery. Recording resumed in time for the decisive
table-one match in the fifth and final round.
Round 5 – Hydro Banisher Monarch vs Chaos Return
The tournament concluded with a table-one match between
Hydro Banisher Monarch and Chaos Return. Both decks
entered the final round competing for the tournament title.
The Monarch deck combined its tribute-monster engine with Hydrogeddon and Banisher of the
Radiance. Hydrogeddon provided additional offensive pressure and field presence, while
Banisher interfered with Graveyard-based strategies and made it more difficult for Chaos
decks to prepare their strongest summons.
Chaos Return still had access to the explosive combination of Chaos monsters,
banished resources, and Return from the Different Dimension. However, Hydro Banisher
Monarch controlled the match successfully and claimed the tournament victory.
Hydro Banisher Monarch won the match and finished the tournament in first place.
Chaos Return’s run to the final table earned it second place.
Final Standings
🥇 Hydro Banisher Monarch
🥈 Chaos Return
🥉 Time Seal Chaos
Final Thoughts
With 17 players and five rounds, the July 28 tournament provided another strong showing
for the June 2026 NeoGoat environment. Chaos strategies occupied two of the three podium
positions, with Chaos Return finishing second and Time Seal Chaos taking third, but it was
Hydro Banisher Monarch that ultimately conquered the tournament.
The winning deck demonstrated how flexible a Monarch strategy can become. Hydrogeddon
allowed it to create pressure without relying entirely on tribute summons, while Banisher
of the Radiance disrupted Graveyard-dependent opponents and directly challenged the Chaos
decks that remained among the strongest strategies in the tournament.
The Round 1 Dino Chaos loaner match also provided a useful lesson for future players:
Unexpected Dai is not always meant to be activated immediately. Saving it for the correct
LIGHT or DARK Normal Monster can be essential when preparing the Graveyard for a chaos mosnter.
Congratulations to the champion, the rest of the podium, and all
17 players who participated.
NeoGoat Pro has begun hosting its first official online competition, giving players a dedicated way to play the format, find opponents and participate in organized events from home.
This first selection of recorded matches includes one match from the inaugural NeoGoat Pro online tournament, followed by two additional matches played through the official online server. Together, the three videos offer an early look at the variety of strategies already appearing in the game's online environment.
Match classification:
Match 1 was played as part of the first official NeoGoat Pro online tournament. Matches 2 and 3 were additional online server matches and were not part of that tournament.
Match 1 — Chaos vs Gadget Hybrids
🏆 TOURNAMENT MATCH
The first recorded match from the inaugural online tournament featured Chaos against Gadget Hybrids, bringing together two strategies built around card advantage but using very different methods to obtain it.
Chaos looks to control the early exchanges, load the Graveyard with the correct Attributes and eventually convert those resources into powerful late-game summons. Gadget Hybrids instead rely on the constant replacement value generated by the Gadget monsters, combining that reliable monster flow with flexible removal and additional offensive packages.
This matchup highlights one of the central questions of NeoGoat deck building: whether explosive power can overcome a strategy designed to keep producing resources turn after turn.
Match 2 — Hydro Banisher vs Warriors
🌐 ONLINE SERVER MATCH
The second video moves away from the tournament bracket and into the regular NeoGoat Pro online server, where Hydro Banisher faced Warriors.
Hydro Banisher combines the battle pressure of Hydrogeddon with the disruptive presence of Banisher of the Radiance. When its monsters begin winning battles, the deck can quickly establish a threatening field while simultaneously interfering with strategies that depend on the Graveyard.
Warriors answer with a more adaptable collection of attackers, removal effects and searchable utility monsters. The matchup becomes a contest over battle position and tempo: Hydro Banisher wants its first successful attack to generate momentum, while Warriors try to prevent that advantage from ever developing.
Match 3 — Warriors vs Relinquished
🌐 ONLINE SERVER MATCH
The final featured server match presented one of the most unusual pairings of the group: Warriors against a dedicated Relinquished deck.
Warriors bring dependable attackers and efficient answers, but Relinquished can completely change the state of the field by absorbing an opposing monster. That ability forces the Warrior player to consider not only which monster to summon, but also how dangerous that same monster could become after being taken by the opponent.
Ritual strategies require additional setup, but their unusual effects can punish conventional decks that are not prepared for them. This duel demonstrates the type of creative deck building that NeoGoat encourages beyond the format's established control and beatdown strategies.
NeoGoat Pro Online Is Underway
These matches represent the beginning of organized online play through NeoGoat Pro. The first tournament match provided a competitive test for the new system, while the additional server duels showed how players can use the game to find opponents and explore different decks outside scheduled events.
More tournament matches, community duels and NeoGoat Pro events will be shared as the online player base continues to grow.
Download NeoGoat Pro, enter the online server and become part of the next recorded match.
The NeoGoat World Cup returned to Card Point for Day Two, with only four countries still in contention: Spain, Norway, France and Switzerland. After ten teams and thirty players completed four rounds of Swiss, the tournament moved into its single-elimination playoff stage.
Under the World Cup team rules, Players A, B and C faced the same positions on the opposing team, and a country needed to win two of the three tables to advance. Shared card limits and each country's three Selection Cards continued to make every lineup feel different.
Semifinal: Norway defeated Spain. Final: France defeated Norway. NeoGoat World Cup 2026 Champion: France.
Semifinal — Norway vs Spain
Both teams had reached the playoff stage with three sharply differentiated decks, but Norway found the two table wins it needed and advanced to the championship match.
Norway's lineup combined Rock Monarch control, Water Return and a Horus Dragon/Fusion strategy. Spain answered with Gadget and Wildheart pressure, Warrior Chaos control and an experimental Water/Plant build. The clash showed exactly what the shared-card system was designed to create: three very different games contributing to one team result.
Final — Norway vs France
The second featured video is the final between Norway and France. One of the most memorable details came from France's captain, Lauro, who brought in the one-copy Great Maju Garzett from his Side Deck as a surprise tech card.
France secured the championship when Norway's Player A and Player C lost their matches, giving France the two table victories required to take the round. After a full weekend of shared resources, unusual deckbuilding and simultaneous team play, France became the first NeoGoat World Cup champion.
Team France with the NeoGoat World Cup trophy and Rescue Rabbit – eFootball Collaboration Promo cards.
Day Two Decklists
Below are the complete registered lists for the four teams that reached Day Two. The team image gives a quick visual overview; open each player section to view the full Main, Extra and Side Deck.
France (Francia)
Selection Cards: Heavy Storm / Pot of Greed / Mirror Force
Lineup: Giovanni — Panda/Ojama Burn; Lauro — Earth Warrior and HERO Fusion; Mike — Banisher Warrior Aggro.
Deck A — Giovanni
# Main
2 Big Shield Gardna
2 Book of Moon
1 Ceasefire
1 Chain Energy
2 Des Koala
1 Exiled Force
1 Giant Trunade
1 Gravity Bind
3 Gyaku-Gire Panda
1 Heavy Storm
1 Injection Fairy Lily
3 Just Desserts
1 Level Limit - Area B
1 Mage Power
1 Magic Cylinder
1 Marshmallon
1 Messenger of Peace
1 Mirror Force
1 Morphing Jar
2 Nightmare Wheel
3 Ojama Trio
1 Pot of Greed
1 Ring of Destruction
3 Secret Barrel
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Swords of Revealing Light
3 Wave-Motion Cannon
# Extra
# Side
3 Double Snare
2 Mobius the Frost Monarch
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
3 Poison of the Old Man
3 Raigeki Break
3 Rivalry of Warlords
Deck B — Lauro
# Main
2 Bazoo the Soul-Eater
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Call of the Haunted
2 Command Knight
1 D.D. Assailant
2 D.D. Warrior
1 Dimension Fusion
1 Dust Tornado
3 Elemental HERO Wildheart
2 Fissure
2 Giant Rat
1 Gigantes
3 Goblin Attack Force
1 Heavy Storm
2 Miracle Fusion
1 Mirror Force
1 Mystic Swordsman LV2
1 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast
1 Pot of Greed
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Return from the Different Dimension
3 Sakuretsu Armor
2 Shield Crush
2 The Rock Spirit
1 United We Stand
# Extra
2 Elemental HERO Gaia
1 Elemental HERO Nova Master
# Side
2 Brain Control
2 Cipher Soldier
3 Des Wombat
2 Gaia Power
2 Granmarg the Rock Monarch
1 Great Maju Garzett
1 Shield Crush
2 Spell Shield Type-8
Deck C — Mike
# Main
2 Banisher of the Radiance
1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
2 Blade Knight
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 Creature Swap
1 D.D. Warrior Lady
1 Don Zaloog
3 Enemy Controller
1 Heavy Storm
3 Hydrogeddon
1 King Tiger Wanghu
2 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
1 Mirror Force
1 Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke
2 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Pot of Greed
1 Premature Burial
3 Royal Decree
1 Scapegoat
3 Shrink
3 Smashing Ground
1 Spirit Reaper
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Tribe-Infecting Virus
1 Tsukuyomi
1 Zombyra the Dark
# Extra
# Side
1 Asura Priest
1 Jinzo
1 King Tiger Wanghu
1 Lightning Vortex
1 Mind Control
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Nobleman of Crossout
2 Rush Recklessly
2 Soul Exchange
1 The End of Anubis
3 Zaborg the Thunder Monarch
Norway (Noruega)
Selection Cards: Pot of Greed / Heavy Storm / Dimension Fusion
Lineup: Martinz — Rock Monarch Control; Diego — Water Return; Pollo — Horus Dragon and Fusion.
Deck A — Martinz
# Main
2 Big Shield Gardna
1 Book of Moon
2 Brain Control
1 Cipher Soldier
2 D.D. Warrior
1 Enemy Controller
2 Fiend's Sanctuary
1 Giant Rat
1 Gigantes
1 Granmarg the Rock Monarch
1 Heavy Storm
1 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
2 Legendary Jujitsu Master
1 Metamorphosis
1 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Pot of Greed
3 Royal Decree
1 Rush Recklessly
2 Sand Moth
1 Shrink
3 Soul Exchange
2 The Rock Spirit
3 Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch
2 Zaborg the Thunder Monarch
2 Zombyra the Dark
# Extra
# Side
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 D.D. Warrior
1 Dimension Fusion
1 Giant Rat
1 Legendary Jujitsu Master
2 Nobleman of Crossout
2 Tsukuyomi
Deck B — Diego
# Main
3 Abyss Soldier
1 Aqua Spirit
2 Botanical Girl
1 Creature Swap
1 Dimension Fusion
1 Dust Tornado
1 Giant Trunade
1 Heavy Storm
3 Hydrogeddon
3 Lekunga
1 Mirror Force
2 Mobius the Frost Monarch
3 Mother Grizzly
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Nightmare Penguin
1 Pot of Greed
1 Premature Burial
1 Return from the Different Dimension
1 Ring of Destruction
1 Sakuretsu Armor
2 Shield Crush
2 Shrink
1 Sinister Serpent
1 Swords of Revealing Light
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Tribe-Infecting Virus
2 Umiiruka
# Extra
1 Dark Balter the Terrible
1 Dark Blade the Dragon Knight
1 Darkfire Dragon
1 Dragoness the Wicked Knight
1 Fiend Skull Dragon
1 Fusionist
1 Gatling Dragon
1 King Dragun
1 Master of Oz
1 Ojama King
1 Reaper on the Nightmare
1 Ryu Senshi
1 Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon
# Side
2 Banisher of the Radiance
1 Book of Moon
1 Ceasefire
1 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
1 Lord Poison
2 Nobleman of Extermination
1 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast
1 Raigeki Break
1 Sakuretsu Armor
1 Smashing Ground
1 Soul Release
1 Spell Shattering Arrow
Deck C — Pollo
# Main
1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
3 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Call of the Haunted
1 D.D. Warrior Lady
1 Dimension Fusion
1 Dragon's Mirror
1 Dust Tornado
3 Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast
3 Gravekeeper's Spy
1 Heavy Storm
3 Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4
3 Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6
2 Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8
3 Level Up!
2 Lightning Vortex
2 Luster Dragon
1 Magic Cylinder
1 Mausoleum of the Emperor
2 Metamorphosis
2 Mirage Dragon
1 Morphing Jar
2 My Body as a Shield
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Pot of Greed
1 Scapegoat
1 Stamping Destruction
1 Summoner Monk
1 Unexpected Dai
# Extra
1 Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon
1 Dark Balter the Terrible
1 Dark Blade the Dragon Knight
2 Darkfire Dragon
1 Fiend Skull Dragon
1 Five-Headed Dragon
1 Gatling Dragon
2 King Dragun
1 Master of Oz
1 Ryu Senshi
1 The Last Warrior from Another Planet
1 Thousand-Eyes Restrict
1 Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon
# Side
2 Des Wombat
1 Divine Dragon Ragnarok
3 Good Goblin Housekeeping
1 Jinzo
1 Level Limit - Area B
1 Mausoleum of the Emperor
2 Messenger of Peace
1 Shield Crush
1 Smashing Ground
1 The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion
1 Tyrant Dragon
Spain (España)
Selection Cards: Heavy Storm / Pot of Greed / Royal Decree
# Main
1 Berserk Gorilla
3 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Chiron the Mage
1 Creature Swap
1 D.D. Assailant
2 D.D. Warrior
3 Elemental HERO Wildheart
1 Fissure
2 Giant Rat
2 Green Gadget
1 Heavy Storm
1 Injection Fairy Lily
1 Lightning Vortex
1 Limiter Removal
2 Miracle Fusion
1 Mirror Force
1 Pot of Greed
2 Red Gadget
3 Royal Decree
2 Rush Recklessly
3 Shield Crush
3 Shrink
2 Smashing Ground
2 Yellow Gadget
# Extra
3 Elemental HERO Gaia
1 Elemental HERO Nova Master
# Side
1 Ancient Gear Beast
3 Banisher of the Radiance
2 Chiron the Mage
1 Fissure
2 Mystic Swordsman LV2
1 Rush Recklessly
2 Spell Shattering Arrow
3 Widespread Ruin
Deck B — Costeño
# Main
1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
3 Blade Knight
2 Book of Moon
1 Brain Control
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 D.D. Warrior Lady
1 Don Zaloog
2 Dust Tornado
1 Exiled Force
3 Gravekeeper's Spy
1 Heavy Storm
2 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
2 Magic Drain
2 Mobius the Frost Monarch
1 Mystic Swordsman LV2
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke
2 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Pot of Greed
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Ring of Destruction
3 Sakuretsu Armor
1 Smashing Ground
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Spirit Reaper
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Tsukuyomi
1 Zombyra the Dark
# Extra
# Side
1 Dark Scorpion - Cliff the Trap Remover
1 Deck Devastation Virus
2 Des Wombat
1 Dust Tornado
2 King Tiger Wanghu
2 Mind Control
2 Pulling the Rug
3 Royal Decree
1 Zombyra the Dark
Deck C — Pepe Salazar
# Main
3 Abyss Soldier
1 Aqua Spirit
2 Botanical Girl
1 Brain Control
1 Call of the Haunted
1 Dimension Fusion
2 Enemy Controller
2 Fairy King Truesdale
1 Frost and Flame Dragon
1 Giant Trunade
1 Gravity Bind
1 Heavy Storm
3 Hydrogeddon
1 Lekunga
1 Lightning Vortex
2 Lonefire Blossom
2 Lord Poison
3 Magic Planter
2 Metal Reflect Slime
1 Miracle Fertilizer
1 Morphing Jar
2 Mother Grizzly
1 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Pole Position
1 Pot of Greed
1 Premature Burial
3 Royal Decree
1 Sinister Serpent
1 Sylvan Hermitree
1 Tribe-Infecting Virus
# Extra
# Side
2 Berserk Gorilla
3 D.D. Survivor
2 Lava Golem
2 Malevolent Catastrophe
1 Metal Reflect Slime
1 Royal Oppression
2 Skill Drain
2 Umiiruka
Switzerland (Suiza)
Selection Cards: Breaker the Magical Warrior / Pot of Greed / Heavy Storm
# Main
2 Berserk Gorilla
1 Book of Moon
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 Call of the Haunted
1 Deck Devastation Virus
2 Dust Tornado
3 Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast
3 Giant Orc
1 Giant Trunade
2 Goblin Attack Force
1 Heavy Storm
2 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
3 Legacy of Yata-Garasu
1 Metamorphosis
2 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Pot of Greed
1 Premature Burial
3 Sakuretsu Armor
1 Shield Crush
3 Skill Drain
3 Smashing Ground
2 Zombyra the Dark
# Extra
1 Darkfire Dragon
1 King Dragun
1 The Last Warrior from Another Planet
# Side
3 Banisher of the Radiance
2 Barrel Behind the Door
1 Cipher Soldier
3 Enemy Controller
1 King Tiger Wanghu
2 Royal Decree
1 Spell Canceller
2 Spell Shattering Arrow
Deck B — Sobrino
# Main
1 Big Shield Gardna
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 Ceasefire
1 Creature Swap
2 Des Koala
2 Des Lacooda
3 Giant Rat
1 Gravity Bind
3 Gyaku-Gire Panda
1 Heavy Storm
1 Injection Fairy Lily
3 Just Desserts
1 Level Limit - Area B
1 Magic Cylinder
1 Mask of Darkness
1 Morphing Jar
3 Nightmare Wheel
3 Ojama Trio
1 Pot of Greed
1 Ring of Destruction
3 Secret Barrel
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Swords of Revealing Light
3 Wave-Motion Cannon
# Extra
# Side
2 Big Shield Gardna
2 Chain Energy
2 Curse of Darkness
1 Dust Tornado
2 Fissure
2 Greenkappa
1 Spell Shattering Arrow
3 Threatening Roar
Deck C — Meme
# Main
1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
1 Blade Knight
1 Book of Moon
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Brain Control
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 D.D. Warrior Lady
2 Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive
1 Don Zaloog
1 Exiled Force
3 Gravekeeper's Spy
1 Heavy Storm
3 Jar of Greed
1 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
1 Mirror Force
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Mystic Swordsman LV2
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
2 Night Assailant
2 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast
1 Pot of Greed
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Scapegoat
2 Shrink
1 Sinister Serpent
3 Thunder Dragon
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Tribe-Infecting Virus
1 Upstart Goblin
# Extra
# Side
1 Brain Control
2 Cipher Soldier
2 Des Wombat
1 Jinzo
2 King Tiger Wanghu
2 Mobius the Frost Monarch
1 Royal Decree
1 Soul Exchange
1 Spell Canceller
2 The End of Anubis
Closing Thoughts
Day Two completed the story started during the Swiss rounds. Norway eliminated Spain and earned a place in the final, but France's combination of Burn, Earth Warrior/Fusion and Banisher-based pressure proved strong enough to win the title. Great Maju Garzett also gave the final a fitting NeoGoat moment: an unexpected card appearing on the biggest stage of the event.
Congratulations to France, and thank you to every team that represented a country in the first NeoGoat World Cup.
The Swiss stage of the NeoGoat World Cup 2026 is complete. A total of 10 teams and 30 players took part in four rounds of team competition, making this one of the largest and most distinctive NeoGoat events we have organized so far.
The tournament was played at Card Point, a new store for our local community. The new setting worked very well for the event, with a friendly atmosphere, plenty of team discussion and three duels taking place simultaneously during every round.
Because card limits were shared across all three members of each team, every country had to distribute its resources carefully and create three different strategies. That deckbuilding challenge became one of the most entertaining parts of the tournament, producing several matchups that would rarely appear together in a normal event.
The complete rules, team construction system, Selection Cards and prize information can be found in the original announcement:
The first featured team match immediately showed how varied the World Cup lineups could be. Argentina's aggressive Warrior deck faced Norway's Rock and Monarch control strategy, while Argentina's Gravekeepers met a Water Return deck built around Hydrogeddon, Abyss Soldier and banished-card recovery.
The third table paired a Gadget and Monarch strategy against Norway's Horus Dragon deck. That gave the round three very different battles at once: direct Warrior pressure, a fight over the Graveyard and field control, and a Dragon strategy looking to reach Horus LV8 or turn its larger monsters into powerful Fusion threats.
Round 2 — Morocco vs Egypt
Morocco and Egypt brought another wide mix of strategies. Morocco's Skill Drain Zombie beatdown deck was paired against an Egyptian Gadget and Vampire hybrid, placing large effect-free attackers and Zombie recursion against steady Gadget advantage, Monarchs and recurring Vampire threats.
At the other tables, Morocco's dedicated Elemental HERO Fusion deck faced an Earth and Zombie beatdown strategy, while a more traditional Good Stuff and Chaos deck played against Egypt's defensive Metamorphosis and Monarch toolbox. It was a good example of the World Cup concept: familiar NeoGoat fundamentals mixed with unusual archetypes and hybrid decks.
Round 3 — Switzerland vs Mexico
Round 3 produced one of the broadest strategic contrasts of the recorded matches. Switzerland entered with Burn, Skill Drain beatdown and classic Good Stuff, while Mexico answered with Gravekeepers, Dino Chaos and Harpies.
Across the three tables, Switzerland's Burn strategy faced a Necrovalley control deck, large Skill Drain attackers met Hydrogeddon and Dinosaur tempo, and a staple-heavy Good Stuff deck was paired against Harpies using Hunting Ground, Winged Beast swarming and back-row removal. Each table demanded a completely different approach from the players and their captains.
Round 4 — The Final Push
Unfortunately, the fourth round could not be recorded. It still provided an exciting finish to the Swiss stage, with the final playoff positions being decided across the last five team matches of the day.
After four rounds, Spain, Norway, France and Switzerland secured the four places in the playoff stage. The teams will return during the next few days for the semifinals and final, where the first NeoGoat World Cup champion will be decided.
NeoGoat World Cup 2026 Playoff Field
Spain
Norway
France
Switzerland
More World Cup Decks Coming Next
Before the elimination matches begin, the next blog post will give a dedicated spotlight to the decklists from Egypt, Chile, England, Morocco, Argentina and Mexico.
Together, those six countries supplied a large part of the event's deckbuilding variety. Their lineups included Gravekeepers, Burn, Elemental HERO Fusions, Zombies, Dinosaurs, Harpies, Water strategies and several creative hybrid builds.
Their lists will complete our coverage of the Swiss field before attention moves fully toward the four teams still competing for the title.
The first stage gave us four rounds of team strategy, unusual deckbuilding decisions and a very enjoyable day at Card Point. Now the playoff field is ready.
The June 30th NeoGoat tournament brought 10 players together for a very unusual night: half tournament, half football watch party. While the duels were going on, everyone was also keeping an eye on the Mexico vs Ecuador World Cup match ⚽, so the room had that strange but fun mix of tense card-game silence, sudden soccer reactions, and the usual NeoGoat arguments over timing windows.
The featured matches gave us a good spread of the current local field: Water Plant, Hydro Banisher, Burn, Warrior, and Earth Zombie all showed up on camera. By the end of the night, Warrior took first place, Burn finished second, and Water Plant landed in third.
Featured Duel 1 - Water Plant vs Hydro Banisher
The first recorded match was Water Plant against Hydro Banisher, and it quickly became the rules-discussion match of the night. A long pause happened when Hydro Banisher argued that Botanical Girl would miss timing after being destroyed by battle while connected to Miracle Fertilizer.
After the judge reviewed the situation, the ruling was that Botanical Girl did not miss timing in that case, so the duel continued. From there, Water Plant managed to survive the disruption and keep grinding through the long game. In the last duel of the match, Pole Position ended up being the tech that won Water Plant the match. By chaining it to Book of Moon at the key moment, Plant kept its field from falling apart and took over the duel.
It was not the fastest duel of the night, but it was definitely the one that made everyone stop watching the football game for a moment.
Featured Duel 2 - Water Plant vs Burn
The second featured match was one of the most interesting ones: Water Plant against Burn. This was a full back-and-forth match where both decks showed what they were trying to do.
In the first duel, Water Plant opened with Lonefire Blossom into Sylvan Hermitree, but Burn slowed things down with Nightmare Wheel. The key turn came when Plant used Miracle Fertilizer to revive Lonefire, then followed with Giant Trunade, returning Fertilizer, Nightmare Wheel, and the set backrow. After that, Lonefire brought out Fairy King Truesdale, Abyss Soldier bounced the set monster, Fertilizer came down again, and a second Truesdale joined the field. Plant pushed through with a huge board and took the first duel.
The second duel was Burn at its nastiest, and also had one messy rules moment. Burn opened with Pot of Greed, Des Koala, Reflect Bounder, and later Lava Golem, forcing Water Plant to spend resources just to stay alive. When Lava Golem tributed Plant’s Botanical Girl and Abyss Soldier, Plant activated Botanical Girl and searched Lord Poison. That search was actually invalid, since Botanical Girl should miss timing when tributed this way, but no judge was nearby and Burn allowed the play to continue.
Even with that extra card, Burn kept applying pressure. Plant used Tribe-Infecting Virus to discard Lord Poison and destroy Lava Golem, then later tried to rebuild with Miracle Fertilizer, Sylvan Hermitree, and Frost and Flame Dragon. One of the best plays of the match came when Plant activated Nobleman of Crossout on Burn’s set monster, but Burn chained Ceasefire, flipping the target face-up as Giant Germ. That made Nobleman fail to banish it, while Ceasefire also dealt 1500 damage.
From there, Burn finished the duel perfectly. Plant kept trying to stabilize, but in the End Phase Burn activated three copies of Nightmare Wheel on Hermitree. The Wheels dropped Plant to 500, and then the saved Giant Germ attacked into Hermitree, was destroyed, and inflicted the final 500 damage. It was a brutal Burn finish: even after allowing an invalid Botanical Girl search, Burn still found the exact line to close the game.
The third duel was much cleaner for Water Plant. Lonefire brought out Hermitree again, but D.D. Warrior Lady removed it early. Plant rebuilt with Mother Grizzly, Lord Poison, and Abyss Soldier. Burn seemed to draw too many monsters and not enough real defensive pieces, and after Abyss Soldier bounced the last set monster, Plant attacked for the win.
Water Plant won the match. Burn deck can suddenly turn the duel into a math problem.
Featured Duel 3 - Warrior vs Earth Zombie
The third featured match was Warrior against Earth Zombie. This one was more direct than the Plant matches: less looping, more pressure, more removal, and more battle-phase punishment.
Earth Zombie tried to play through the grind, but Warrior kept the pace high and did not let the Zombie side comfortably establish its engine. The Warrior deck used its usual mix of efficient attackers, spot removal, and tempo swings to keep forcing bad trades. Once Warrior got ahead, Earth Zombie never fully recovered.
Warrior took the match and kept building momentum toward the final result of the night.
Featured Duel 4 - Water Plant vs Warrior
The last featured duel put Water Plant against Warrior, with both decks already having strong tournament runs. Water Plant had shown that it could grind through removal, abuse Miracle Fertilizer, and suddenly build a threatening board out of the Graveyard. Warrior, on the other hand, had the cleaner tempo plan.
This time, Warrior came out on top. The deck had enough pressure and interaction to keep Water Plant from freely setting up its recursion engine, and the match ended with Warrior securing the win.
That result gave Warrior first place for the June 30th event.
Final Standings
1st Place: Warrior
2nd Place: Burn
3rd Place: Water Plant
Overall, this was a fun 10-player night with a very different atmosphere from the usual local tournament. The World Cup match in the background made the room louder, stranger, and more relaxed, but the duels still delivered: a rules pause, a triple Nightmare Wheel finish, a Plant comeback, and a Warrior deck closing the tournament in first place.
Not a bad night for NeoGoat. Not a bad night for football either.
This is a brief tournament report for the June 23 NeoGoat event. We had four rounds of play, but due to limited time this article will stay short and focus mostly on the recorded matches and the final round highlight.
The event still gave us a useful snapshot of the current NeoGoat field: established Good Stuff shells, combo-oriented strategies, and the usual midrange piles fighting for position. Even with a shorter write-up, the matches are worth checking out, especially the final round.
Round 1
Round 1 opened the tournament with the usual early-round uncertainty: players still finding their rhythm, testing hands, and trying to figure out what kind of field they had entered. In NeoGoat, the first round often tells you a lot about the room, but not always about who will actually make it to the top.
Round 2
By Round 2, the tournament started to settle into a more familiar pace. The slower decks had to prove they could survive pressure, while the more explosive decks had to show they could win without overextending into the classic NeoGoat punishment cards.
Round 3
Round 3 was the point where the standings began to matter. Every small exchange became more important, and the difference between having a clean follow-up and running out of gas started to decide games.
Round 4 – Reasoning Gate vs Good Stuff
The final round featured Reasoning Gate against a Good Stuff deck, and the Reasoning strategy took the match.
This was the most important result of the event. Good Stuff remains one of the safest and most flexible choices in NeoGoat, but Reasoning Gate showed that it can still attack the format from a different angle. Instead of trying to trade one-for-one forever, the deck pressures the opponent with explosive turns, awkward summons, and the constant threat of turning one spell into a major swing.
The match was a good reminder that NeoGoat is not only about clean midrange play. A deck that forces the opponent to respect high-impact cards like Reasoning and Monster Gate can punish hands that are built only to answer normal board development.
Final Thoughts
This was a short report, but the tournament still gave us a clear takeaway: Reasoning Gate deserves attention. Good Stuff is still strong, consistent, and hard to punish, but it is not untouchable.
When a combo deck can survive long enough to force its power cards through, the match can shift very quickly. June 23 ended with Reasoning Gate taking the final round over Good Stuff, giving the tournament a very different finish from the usual midrange grind.
Round 3 was where the tournament started getting heavier. No more free breathing room, no more casual warm-up duels. Every match had that feeling of “one bad set, one bad attack, one bad read, and your tournament starts falling apart.”
The fourth round was not played as a full round. Instead, only the match for first place was played, so this post covers the Round 3 matches first and then closes with the final match. Results are kept at the end, so watch first if you do not want spoilers.
Round 3 - Efra vs Gaona
This match opened with a clean contrast: Efra trying to keep the game moving with Dekoichi, Don Zaloog, Thunder Dragon and removal, while Gaona leaned into Gravekeeper pressure, Necrovalley, Rivalry of Warlords and annoying flip monsters.
The first duel had a lot of little exchanges that mattered. Gravekeeper's Guard bounced pressure back, Ring of Destruction punished an early summon, and Creature Swap turned the board into a mess. From there, the match kept shifting between control pieces and direct pressure.
The later games got more uncomfortable. Banisher of the Radiance, Jinzo, Necrovalley, Rivalry and Heavy Storm all showed up at different moments, and one of the biggest swings came from a Metamorphosis line into King Dragun. It was not a clean match. It was one of those games where both players keep asking “is this enough?” and the answer keeps changing.
Round 3 - Epydemius vs Kztoor
This one was much more direct. Big bodies, battle traps, Skill Drain attempts, Brain Control swings, and a lot of monsters getting thrown into each other until somebody finally ran out of board.
Epydemius started with the kind of opening that looks scary on paper: Giant Orc into Deck Devastation Virus. Kztoor had to play through hand reveals, graveyard pressure from Kycoo, and a series of monster trades involving Berserk Gorilla, Goblin Attack Force, Zombyra and D.D. Assailant.
Nimble Momonga bought time, Torrential Tribute reset the table, and both players had moments where they looked ready to steal the duel back. But this match was always dangerous because the board never stayed small for long. One Brain Control, one Premature Burial, one clean attack sequence, and the whole duel could flip.
Round 3 - Arena vs Angel
This was probably the weirdest match of the round in the best way. Arena brought the heavy monster package with Mausoleum of the Emperor, Reasoning, Monster Gate, Horus, Jinzo and Dark Magician of Chaos. Angel answered with a normal monster engine, Heart of the Underdog, Order to Charge, Unexpected Dai and Black Luster Soldier.
The first duel already showed what kind of match this was going to be. Spirit Reaper stalled, Heart of the Underdog started threatening extra cards, Morphing Jar blew everything open, and Black Luster Soldier appeared early enough to make the table nervous.
The second and third duels went even harder into the nonsense. Mausoleum paid life points to cheat out tribute monsters, Dark Magician of Chaos recycled Brain Control, Monster Gate found bodies at exactly the kind of moments that make people complain, and Horus LV8 turned one answer into nothing. It was ugly, explosive, and very NeoGoat.
Round 3 - Grondal vs Castro
This match was slower and more annoying. Not bad annoying. Real NeoGoat annoying. Dekoichi, Tsukuyomi, Night Assailant, Sinister Serpent, Scapegoat, Sakuretsu, Ring of Destruction, Nobleman and small direct attacks that slowly became impossible to ignore.
The first duel had Don Zaloog doing Don Zaloog things early, ripping cards while tiny bits of damage kept adding up. Castro had answers, but the pressure kept coming back in small pieces. The game became a grind over who could keep one monster alive long enough to matter.
The second duel had a strange Creature Swap start, trading Sinister Serpent and Cipher Soldier, and from there the game turned into a long fight over value. Dekoichi drew cards, Swords of Revealing Light bought time, Ring punished Airknight, and Kycoo eventually became a huge problem because the graveyard started to matter more and more.
Round 3 - El Vic vs Pipe
This match had a different pace. El Vic leaned on the HERO and plant engine, while Pipe had the usual pile of removal, traps and Chaos pressure waiting to punish anything too cute.
The first duel opened with Lonefire Blossom climbing into Sylvan Hermitree, but Pipe had Raigeki Break and Dust Tornado ready to cut off the early setup. For a moment it looked like Pipe had stabilized with Breaker and Blade Knight, but Miracle Fusion changed the shape of the duel fast. Nova Master came down, started threatening cards, and suddenly every battle phase mattered.
The second duel was tighter and nastier. Night Assailant punished the first attack, Marshmallon forced a strange Ring of Destruction and Solemn Judgment sequence, and Prisma plus Kycoo gave El Vic a way to keep pushing without overextending too much. Pipe still had Lily, Thunder Dragon, Solemn and Torrential floating around, so the duel never really felt safe.
Pending Match - Charly vs Tona
This pairing was listed as pending in the log, so there is no match video or duel breakdown included here. If the replay shows up later, it can be added as an update.
The Final Match for First Place - El Vic vs Efra
And then came the only match played as Round 4: El Vic vs Efra for first place.
This was not just another match in the list. This was the last table standing. El Vic had already shown that the HERO engine could turn small setups into big swings, especially with Miracle Fusion turning used monsters into real pressure. Efra had the Chaos shell, Thunder Dragon fuel, Monarchs, Don Zaloog, Jinzo, Tsukuyomi and the kind of removal package that makes every normal summon feel like bait.
The first duel started fast. El Vic pushed early with Wildheart, UFO Turtle and Hydrogeddon, forcing Efra to answer instead of sitting comfortably behind setup cards. Efra fought back with Exiled Force, Smashing Ground and a Premature Burial line that led into Zaborg. Then Miracle Fusion entered the table and the game suddenly became about whether Efra could survive long enough to land the big Chaos threat.
That threat did appear. Black Luster Soldier hit the field at one of those moments where the whole duel seems like it is about to collapse. But the answer was waiting. The final match was not going to be decided by one big monster that easily.
The second duel was the real grind. Don Zaloog started ripping cards, Miracle Fusion tried to swing the field back, Ring of Destruction blew up a Gaia before it could take over, and both players kept trading the exact cards that looked like they were about to win the game. Torrential Tribute cleaned up a Spy board. Bottomless answered another Black Luster Soldier. Call of the Haunted, Mirror Force, Swords of Revealing Light, Raigeki Break, Pot of Greed and Heavy Storm all took turns making the duel look almost over.
But it still was not over.
By the time the match reached the third duel, both decks had already shown the same message: nothing stays safe. Prisma started the pressure. Gravekeeper's Spy tried to slow it down. Royal Decree threatened to shut off traps, then Breaker removed it. Wildheart kept attacking through the usual trap nonsense. Lonefire Blossom found Sylvan Hermitree. Then Efra found the kind of midgame line that makes a final feel like a final: Brain Control, tribute, Jinzo, and Tsukuyomi turning the combat math into a nightmare.
El Vic still had plays. Don Zaloog forced a discard. Bottomless was still around. Kycoo tried to matter. But Jinzo and Tsukuyomi kept asking the same question every turn: can you really survive one more battle phase?
That is the kind of final this was. Not clean, not pretty, and not decided in the first big swing. It dragged both players through removal, traps, fusion pressure, Chaos threats and tribute monsters until finally there was no more room left.
Final Result
In the final match for first place, Efra defeated El Vic.
A good closing match for the event: El Vic pushed hard with HERO pressure and Miracle Fusion lines, but Efra survived the scary turns, answered the biggest threats, and closed the tournament with the Chaos/Monarch grind doing exactly what it is built to do.
Congratulations to ShadowEfra for taking first place. Solid run, good reads, and enough patience to survive that final. Well deserved.
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