Episode 45 - Abyss Rising

## Abyss Rising

Abyss Rising is the forty-fifth episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! Progression Playoff, and the sixth episode of Season 4, the ZEXAL arc. It debuted on MBT Yu-Gi-Oh's YouTube channel on December 4, 2021. Siberian makes an appearance to kind of confirm ATK/DEF modification rulings, and the editor, Jules, interrupts twice to explain why they cut certain parts of the video, as well as to justifiably complain about how awful the game is. In the games, Leah and Gavin ascend to finals with their Madolche strategies. In an interminable slog of a final match, Leah eventually prevails, sneaking in the final blow just before the heat death of the universe.

## Background

Abyss Rising was released in the TCG on November 8, 2012. It introduced the "Heraldic Beast", "Mermail", and "Duston" archetypes, as well as additional support for the "Heroic", "Spellbook/Prophecy", and "Madolche" archetypes. Other notable cards include Nimble Angler, Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, Gagaga Cowboy, Madolche Queen Tiaramisu, Abyss Dweller, and Bahamut Shark.

Danny enters as the defending champion. Brent comes in as the leader in wins, while Leah is leading in points. Gavin is still looking for his first win of the season, while MBT looks to rise from the bottom of the standings.

## Matches

### Play-in: MBT vs. Gavin

Gavin is playing Madolche, MBT is playing Chronomaly Ninja. Gavin opens with Chouxvalier and Ticket. MBT counters with Bull Blader. Gavin Summons Butlerusk and searches Chateau. Gavin begins plussing hard with Ticket and Chateau and attacks for a lot of damage. MBT uses Super-Transformation to Summon Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon, but Gavin crashes with Chouxvalier and keeps adding cards. MBT has no answers, and Gavin wins.

Winner: Gavin

### Semifinal 1: Leah vs. Brent

Leah is playing Madolche, Brent is on Level 4 toolbox. Leah opens Mewfeuille and Messengelato, Chateau and Ticket. Brent Sets a monster. Leah attacks for damage, but Brent drops a Gagaga Gardna. Brent Summons Fairy King Albverdich. Leah outs it with Baaple and gets more damage. Brent tries to survive for a couple of turns, but Leah overwhelms with card advantage and Brent can’t overcome it.

Winner: Leah

### Semifinal 2: Danny vs. Gavin

Danny is playing Ninjas. Gavin starts with Cruffsant and Chateau. Gavin attacks into Wind-Up Honeybee. Danny makes Gandiva and attacks, but Gavin has Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon to beat it. Danny uses Hanzo to search Freezing and live another turn. He uses Ebisu to remove Chateau for a turn, then Summons Excalibur to get some damage in. Gavin draws Ticket, and Danny concedes.

Winner: Gavin

### Loser's Finals: Brent vs. MBT

Brent tries to use Bull Blader and Arfeudutyr, but MBT uses Shadow Sealing to banish the Bull Blader. Brent Special Summons Photon Thrasher and uses Dimension Slice. MBT uses Earth and Flame Armor to make Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja, but Brent has Butterflyoke. Brent goes into Blade Armor Ninja and uses Dimension Slice, but MBT chains Shadow Sealing to out Blade Armor. Brent assembles lethal, but forgot about MBT’s Aqua Armor Ninja in the GY. MBT turns the tide with an Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon play. Brent uses Butterflyoke to survive, then Summons back his Flame Tiger on the next turn. MBT uses Upstart Golden Ninja to go into a Rank 4 and win the game.

Winner: MBT

### Finals: Leah vs. Gavin

Leah opens with Chateau. Gavin opens with Chouxvalier and Ticket. Leah attacks with Cruffsant into Chouxvalier and then uses Fiery Fervor. Gavin uses Baaple to out Cruffsant. Leah draws Ticket. Both players pass back and forth for several dozen years. Gavin tries to accomplish something, but Leah uses Impenetrable Attack. Leah makes a small push for damage using Ego Boost and Fiery Fervor. Leah uses Photon Papilloperative on Baaple to finally attack for game.

Winner: Leah

## Banned Cards

### Mind Meld Ban

* MBT says "Madolche Chateau"
* Brent says "Madolche Chateau"

Madolche Chateau is banned

### Regular Ban

* MBT bans Madolche Messengelato
* Brent bans Madolche Ticket

## Full Banlist

### Extra Deck

* Evolzar Dolkka
* Photon Strike Bounzer

### Monsters

* Goblindbergh
* Hieratic Dragon of Nebthet
* Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit
* Inzektor Dragonfly
* Inzektor Hornet
* Madolche Messengelato
* Wind-Up Knight
* Wind-Up Magician

### Spells

* Attraffic Control
* Madolche Chateau
* Madolche Ticket
* Murmur of the Forest
* Shard of Greed

## Stats to date

### Season 4

Character Points

Character win rate
 Brent
 MBT
 Gavin
 Danny

### Overall

Character win rate
 Leah
 MBT
 Brent
 Danny

### Xyz Summons

Summons this Episode
 Danny
 Gavin
 Leah
 MBT

Total Xyz Summons
 Brent
 Danny
 Gavin
 Leah

## Notable bits

* “Danny told me Madolches were bad!!”
* Madolche Malewife
* Brent got in touch with Jimmy
* Malewife Messengelato Manipulated
* Cruffsant is wearing clothes, so it could be a person in a dog suit
* YYZ was playable in Guitar Hero 3
* Shoutout to RJ for teaching everyone how to pronounce Welsh card names
* Jules interjects to skip large periods of time where the players don’t know how to play yugioh (Thank you Jules)
* During the Madolche mirror
	+ MBT lies in bed to take a nap, then asks Danny to play Edison
	+ Brent is watching Ludwig
	+ Siberian threatens to call time in the round
	+ MBT undergoes joker-fication and threatens the players' lives several times

## Did Joseph mald?

Not during his games, but definitely during the Madolche mirror.

## Other Pages

Episodes