Episode 49 - Shadow Specters

## Shadow Specters

Shadow Specters is the forty-ninth episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! Progression Playoff, and the tenth episode of Season 4, the ZEXAL arc. It debuted on MBT Yu-Gi-Oh's YouTube channel on January 15, 2022. Brent and MBT each use their Fire Fist-heavy strategies to advance past their opponents in their first match to set up a clash in finals. MBT dominates to notch his third consecutive episode win.

## Background

Shadow Specters was released in the TCG on November 7, 2013. This set introduced the "Malicevorous", "Ghostrick", and "Raccoon" archetypes, as well as new support for the "Battlin' Boxer", "Mecha Phantom Beast", "Bujin", "Vampire", and "Noble Knight" archetypes. Other notable cards include Mythic Tree Dragon, Mythic Water Dragon, Pot of Dichotomy, Mistake, White Dragon Wyverburster, and Black Dragon Collapserpent.

MBT is the two-time defending champ, with another chance to become the first player to win three consecutive weeks. Leah is holding on to a strong lead for the season. Gavin enters tied for 2nd still with a chance to make a run for the season title, while Danny and Brent hope to get back on the winning track.

## Matches

### Play-in: Gavin vs. Danny

Gavin is on Hazy Flame Dragons, Danny is playing Bujin. Gavin opens with Hazy Flame Sphynx and Blaster. Danny uses Upstart Golden into Hanzo and makes Heroic Champion – Excalibur. Gavin clears Danny’s Excalibur and attacks for damage with various Dragons. Danny goes into King of the Feral Imps, but Gavin continues to swarm with Dragons and assembles lethal.

Winner: Gavin

### Semifinal 1: Leah vs. Brent

Leah is on Raccoon Ghostrick, Brent is playing Hazy Flame Dragons. Leah Sets cards, Brent makes a Tensu play into Bujintei Kagutsuchi. Brent Summons Blaster but runs into Deep Dark Trap Hole. Brent attacks into Ghostrick Jiangshi and Leah searches. Leah crashes Yuki-onna into Tsukuyomi to flip it face-down. Brent goes into Leviair but Leah uses Breakthrough Skill. Leah crashes Fencing Fire Ferret to pop Leviair. Brent attacks for damage and puts Leah low. Leah survives a turn with Impenetrable Attack. Leah Summons Number 64, but on the crackback Brent clears with Fire Ferret and attacks for game.

Winner: Brent

### Semifinal 2: MBT vs. Gavin

MBT is playing Fire Fist. Gavin opens with Sphynx and Blaster. MBT uses Tensu to go into Tiger King. MBT attacks for damage with Tensen. Gavin uses Nuit and Monster Slots, then Summons some more Dragons but can’t get over Tiger King. MBT pokes in with Tiger King a little, but Gavin eventually gets over it. Gavin goes all the way in with Dragons, but MBT has Spikeshield with Chain to stop his push and Gavin concedes.

Winner: MBT

### Loser's Finals: Leah vs. Danny

Leah sets cards and activates Ghostrick Mansion. Danny Summons Bujintei Susanowo but Leah uses Breakthrough Skill. Leah uses Baby Raccoon Tantan to make Number 64. Leah tries to Full-Force Strike to get over Susanowo but Danny uses Lumenize. Danny uses Monster Slots and draws Bujincarnation, then attacks for a ton of damage. Leah outs Susanowo with Ghostrick Witch. Danny uses Bujincarnation to bring back Susanowo and Centipede, allowing him to out Leah’s board and attack for game.

Winner: Danny

### Finals: MBT vs. Brent

Both players open by Setting cards. MBT attacks over Wolf with Gorilla and sets Tenken from Deck. MBT Summons Dragon and uses Fire Formations to search and pop stuff. MBT Summons Tiger King and clears Brent’s monsters, then uses Gorilla to clear his backrow. Brent uses Monster Slots and Summons Blaster, but MBT is able to attack for game.

Winner: MBT

## Banned Cards

### Mind Meld Ban

* Leah says "Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos"
* Danny says "Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos"

Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos is banned

### Regular Ban

* Leah bans Lumenize
* Danny bans Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms

## Full Banlist

### Extra Deck

* Battlin' Boxer Lead Yoke
* Evolzar Dolkka
* Gauntlet Launcher
* Hazy Flame Basiltrice
* Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack
* Photon Strike Bounzer

### Monsters

* Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos
* Goblindbergh
* Hazy Flame Peryton
* Hieratic Dragon of Nebthet
* Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit
* Inzektor Dragonfly
* Inzektor Hornet
* Madolche Messengelato
* Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms
* Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls
* Wind-Up Knight
* Wind-Up Magician

### Spells

* Attraffic Control
* Fire Formation - Tenki
* Madolche Chateau
* Madolche Ticket
* Murmur of the Forest
* Shard of Greed

### Traps

* Attention!
* Dimension Slice
* Lumenize
* Mind Drain

## Stats to date

### Season 4

Character Points

Character win rate
 Leah
 Gavin
 Brent
 Danny

### Overall

Character win rate
 Leah
 MBT
 Brent
 Danny

### Xyz Summons

Summons this Episode
 Danny
 Gavin
 MBT

Total Xyz Summons
 Brent
 MBT
 Gavin
 Leah

## Notable bits

* MBT’s suggestions for reforms to the point system
* What is the race of the “You click” guy
* Gavin is in the car going to PetSmart and has to get radio play-by-play
* “MBT should search Tenki”
* Breakthrough Skill depicts Dolkka saying “let me into the literature club”
* Leah finally gives in to the counter bit
* A DB bug causes Danny to Normal Summon a Trap Card
* Everyone makes fun of MBT for malding about high rarity one-ofs

## Video Links

SHADOW SPECTERS - Progression Playoff

Progression Playoffs Bad End Episode 14 "We Won That Game"

## Other Pages

Episodes