Round 2 of the playoffs starts now! Four teams will battle it out for the rights to face Rampage HK (#1) and Bad Bones (#2) in the semifinals. It’s the first taste of playoff action for the #3 and #4 seeds, as Rampage (#3) faces off against Ultra Instinct (#8), and Oversweep (#4) takes on the Enraged Pandas (#6). Thanks to the free bye they earned, Rampage and Oversweep have had extra time to scout out their competition and prepare their strategies. The odds certainly favor the higher seeded teams, but in the game of Yu-Gi-Oh!, anything can happen. As the legendary duelist Mario Begay once said, “All you need is Magician of Faith, Pot of Greed, and Delinquent Duo.”
Rampage (#3) vs Ultra Instinct (#8)
After barely sneaking into the playoffs, Ultra Instinct upset the #5 seed LRG in round 1. They’re looking to prove that win was no fluke here in round 2, but the competition is getting tougher. One thing that may work in their favor is warring with a shortened roster. While they went toe to toe against LRG in round 1 with a 7 player lineup, they’re a couple toes short in round 2, electing to only bring their top 5 players into battle. The strategy makes sense: it’s easier to beat 5 tough opponents than it is to beat 7 tough opponents. One player getting hot and winning two matches in a row has a much bigger impact when there’s only 5 players on each side.
As for Rampage, they had some tough decisions to make. Rampage wanted to bring their full 7 man roster, but the rules of the league dictate that if two teams choose to war with different size rosters, the war is played with the lesser size between the two. Thus, Rampage was forced to bench two players: Moxies and Krebz619. While the 5 players Rampage chose are more than capable of winning, the move does hurt their team in terms of deck diversity. Moxies is the only Rampage player known for playing decks other than Chaos Turbo and Warrior. Without him in the lineup, it’s fairly easy for UI to predict what deck each Rampage player will be bringing and build their own decks accordingly.
Wild Card – UI: Gibbination (8W-7L Regular Season)
Gibbination was the anchor for UI in round 1 but never got called into action, as AJ Hussein was able to finish off the last of the LRG roster. He’s eager to enter the fray here in round 2, so much so that he’s leading the lineup this time. While more likely than not he brings Chaos Turbo, Gibbination has been known to keep a few tricks up his sleeve. His tech choices, his plays, and his level of sobriety may surprise you.
Wild Card – Rampage: Ghostrider15 (5W-1L Regular Season)
While Ghostrider only finished 48th in the Season 1 Player Rankings, it wasn’t for lack of winning, it was for lack of playing. He posted one of the best regular season win rates in the whole league (83.3%), but he hasn’t played since week 6. If there’s one sure thing in Goat Format, it’s that Ghostrider will play Chaos Turbo. He’s one of the most accomplished Chaos Turbo players ever, and although he hasn’t won a major event yet, he’s had numerous impressive runs and finishes. What’s less sure is if Ghostrider will be in top form after such a long hiatus. Has he been keeping up with the game, testing with teammates, scouting the competition, tweaking his main deck and side deck? Only Rampage knows for sure, but the fact that he made the cut for their 5 man lineup shows that they have faith in him.
Weak Link – UI: Shaggy Powers (1W-3L Regular Season; 1W-1L Playoffs)
Ultra Instinct or Ultra Intimidated? After a lot of talk about warring with their full 8-man roster, it seems that Ultra Instinct captain Shaggy Powers had a change of heart after the team’s victory in round 1. Despite claiming a win in the war against LRG, Shaggy has decided to declare himself the weak link and retreat from the battlefield. The duelist that once stated that he “believes in himself more than anything in the world” appears to have stopped believing. I guess WorldGoneMaad was right when he said “Shaggy bout to be a ‘at least I got my 1 win’ ass mufucka.” Regardless of whether UI wins here or not, we likely won’t be seeing Shaggy again this season.
Weak Link – Rampage: Lukaz (8W-6L Regular Season)
This guy wins everything. He’s gotta be due for a loss, right? Right???
Trump Card – UI: AJHussein (9W-5L Regular Season; 1W-0L Playoffs)
As the 2022 UK National Goat Format champion, it’s no surprise that AJHussein was the best performing player on UI during the regular season. With 1 win already in the playoffs, he’s anchoring the team for their most important war yet. If he ends up being needed, at least UI knows their fate will be in their most capable player’s hands.
Trump Card – Rampage: Labounty (8W-7L Regular Season)
Here’s a little Goat Format trivia for you. Although Chaos Sorcerer is one of the most defining cards of modern Goat Format, only one player topped a premier event in 2005 with a copy of Chaos Sorcerer in their main deck. Who was that player? Answer: Jonathan Labounty, captain of team Rampage, who made top 8 with a copy of Chaos Sorcerer at the 2005 US Nationals. With a list of accomplishments a mile long, including 4th at last year’s Goat Format World Championship, Labounty hasn’t stopped running the game since 2005. He anchors Rampage this round, if they even need him.
Prediction: Rampage wins with more than 2 lives remaining
Fake Vegas Odds: Rampage -376 ML
Oversweep (#4) vs Enraged Pandas (#6)
The Enraged Pandas have been running hot, and they’re looking to burn team Oversweep here in round 2. They’ve switched up their lineup this time, sticking the MVP from round 1, Jase, at the front and moving their former lead, WZ, to the anchor position. Like Ultra Instinct, they’ve elected to only bring 5 players this round. Oversweep would have preferred to bring their full roster, but the 5 players they’ve chosen would make any team nervous. Oversweep has to be the favorite here, but if the Pandas bring “the disgusting,” things could get interesting.
Wild Card – EP: Puy (5W-7L Regular Season; 0W-1L Playoffs)
The “Burn Queen” and leader of the Enraged Pandas, Puy is second in the lineup for EP this round. If Jase, currently undefeated in the playoffs, can ever be stopped, Puy will be next in line to pick up where he left off. Though she became well known in the Goat scene for playing burn, she’s since branched off into decks like Gravekeeper/Warrior, Zombies, and even Last Turn to keep her opponents guessing. Whoever she faces first will have to tread carefully.
Wild Card – Oversweep: Aalvarado (11W-3L Regular Season)
“Overdose’s Heavy Hitta” Anthony Alvarado dominated Season 1, finishing with the title of Season 1 MVP. He’s got a couple of other titles too, like FLC 14 champion. Oh, and Shonen Jump Charlotte 2005 Champion. No big deal. We don’t know what deck he’s bringing this round – he’s been seen playing Chaos Turbo, Warriors and, more recently, Panda Burn featuring Chain Energy – but we do know the man just doesn’t stop winning.
Weak Link – EP: Giorgione (4W-4L Regular Season)
We don’t know a lot about Giorgione. Thanks to Jase, Giorgione didn’t see any action in round 1. He was last seen in week 14 taking an 0-2 loss to InsiDs and, before that, an 0-2 loss to Indoors in week 12. It’s likely he’ll be called upon this round. Does he have what it takes to prevent EP’s season from being over and swept out of the playoffs?
Weak Link – Oversweep: GeistD (2W-8L Regular Season)
If you asked anyone before the season what GeistD’s record would be, no one could have predicted he would finish 2-8, in 112th place overall. He’s one of the winningest players ever in Goat Format, and the only player to win both 2 GFCs and 2 FLCs. So why does he keep losing? Is it just variance? You’d think after 10 matches things would’ve evened out for him. Is it deck choice? Maybe the game has just passed him by, and his version of Decree Chaos Control can’t keep up anymore. Whatever it is, Oversweep is counting on him to turn things around by placing him at the start of their lineup. If he goes 0-1 in this war, I think he’s legally required to change his name to GeistL.
Trump Card – EP: Jase (6W-2L Regular Season; 4W-0L Playoffs)
Coming off of four straight wins over Eloteros, it’s no question that Jase is the Trump Card for EP. They’ve elected to start him first against Oversweep so that he can try to keep his hot streak going. Things are looking good for him to extend his win streak to five, as his first opponent is Oversweep’s worst performing player. Smoker_ better keep himself ready.
Trump Card – Oversweep: James Arc (7W-5L Regular Season)
No one will be happier to read James Arc’s name here than James himself (well, maybe Ivan). The man loves to brag about himself. But can you blame him? With a resume that includes FLC 22 champion and 3rd place at last year’s Goat Format World Championship, James is widely regarded as one of the top players in today’s game. James is no stranger to iron man competitions either. He knocked out 5 players in the USA vs Italy iron man war earlier this year. Will Giorgione or Don’t Copy be able to get revenge for their fallen countrymen, or will they become James’s next victims?
Prediction: Oversweep wins with more than 1.5 lives remaining
Fake Vegas Odds: Oversweep -285 ML
