Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V - Episode 074

"Mask of the Clown" is the seventy-fourth episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V anime. It first aired in Japan on September 20, 2015.

Summary
Yuya recaps that the Friendship Cup is definitely wrong, but he still couldn't do anything about it. Moon Shadow then appeared, even though he should have been sent underground; it turned out that Declan Akaba sent Moon Shadow underground on purpose to collect information. Moon Shadow delivered a message from Riley; though the Lancers came to protect the Synchro Dimension, no-one in the City believes them, so they have to make them recognize their strength by defeating Jack. Yuya vowed to win with his Dueling, and bring smiles to the faces of everyone in the City.

Melissa Claire announces the final match of the Friendship Cup's first round; Shay Obsidian vs. Dennis Macfield. Dennis smiles, while Shay remembers his last Duel with Dennis, where he became suspicious as to whether Dennis was really from LID. Shay muses that back then, Dennis showed off his combat techniques, something that you definitely don't learn at LID. Dennis comments to himself that Shay is probably thinking something like that, and declares that he'll make sure that he'll destroy Shay this time, bit by bit. Yuya is surprised that Shay is Dueling Dennis, since they are both Lancers, and he wonders if it is intended to turn them against one another.

In the Capital Building, Gael explains that Declan may not be pleased with this matchup. Bordeaux explains that this match is quite noteworthy to them, and White Taki agrees. Declan replies that he isn't displeased and that he finds the match compelling as well.

Shay enters the Duel Palace on his Duel Runner to the sound of fans cheering his name. Melissa narrates that Shay is the defunct Underground Dueling Arena's strongest and most popular Duelist. Dennis enters next, and Melissa describes him as the talk of the town after his performance in Central Park. The women in the crowd are quite taken, calling Dennis cuter in person, and Dennis waves to the crowd, declaring that he'll bring a dazzling illusion to the citizens of the City overflowing with friendship. He tosses three cards into the air and declares "It's showtime!" causing the cards to explode into fireworks that take the shape of his "Performage Trapeze Magician" and the crowd cheers. Melissa declares that their Duel may just be a match worthy of wrapping up the Friendship Cup's first round. She declares that they can't you definitely can't not look forward to the Duel. She wonders how the Duel will develop, and claims that she's shaking with excitement. Shay and Dennis reach the starting line, and Dennis tells Shay that even though they're comrades, they're still fighting, so they should do their best. Shay comments that they let the Duel prove whether or not they are really comrades. Dennis comments that Shay is so cold. Melissa declares the activation of the Action Field; the Field Spell Card "Cross Over Accel". The purple light saturates the field, and the Action Cards disperse before the holographic starting board appears and begins counting down. Melissa declares, "Turbo Duel…Acceleration!" and Shay and Dennis start off, declaring "Duel!"

Shay declares that he'll expose Dennis's true colors, and he accelerates to take the first corner and the first turn as Melissa narrates. He starts by Summoning "Raidraptor - Skull Eagle", and then activates the Spell Card "Raidraptor - Call" to Special Summon another copy from his Deck. He overlays his two Level 3 monsters to Xyz Summon "Raidraptor - Fiend Eagle". Melissa declares that the monarch of the underground Xyz Summoned in an instant. The effects of the overlayed "Skull Eagles" activate, increasing the ATK of "Fiend Eagle" by 300 each, to 1600. Shay proceeds to activate the effect of "Fiend Eagle", detaching an Overlay Unit to inflict damage to his opponent equal to a Special Summoned monster's ATK, and he chooses "Fiend Eagle" itself. "Fiend Eagle" creates a shadow of purple light that reduces Dennis's LP to 2400. Dennis asks if Shay is going with that again, and Shay asks what Dennis means. Snapping his fingers, Dennis declares his discerning magic; there's a "Rank-Up-Magic" card in Shay's hand right now, and he remembers Shay using "Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force" in their last Duel. Dennis comments that just like last time, Shay will be planning to Summon a higher-Rank monster. Shay looks at his hand, where there is indeed a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell Card, "Rank-Up-Magic Doom Double Force". One girl in the crowd calls Dennis amazing, and another asks Dennis to see through her heart too, prompting everyone else to look at her. Dennis chides Shay for using a predictable hand, as he'll bring down the crowd's blood, and Shay insults him. Dennis continues, claiming that an entertainment show has to be full of surprises. Shay smirks, commenting that Dennis plans to discourage his enemy and gain the upper hand. LID doesn't teach that tactic. Dennis asks in confusion if that is meant to be a compliment, and Shay Sets two cards, ending his turn.

Dennis declares his turn and draws, but he tuts to himself as he laments internally at the sight of his "Polymerization". Shay narrows his eyes. Dennis irritably asks the card what it wants him to do. Dennis adds the card to his hand, and he declares that after his discerning magic comes the biggest trick of the century, before he snaps his fingers. "Fiend Eagle" loses its other Overlay Unit, much to Shay's surprise. Dennis yodels quietly, asking if that is "Performage Cup Tricker". "Cup Tricker" is holding the Overlay Unit, and it puts it beneath a cup, shifts it around, and gasps happily as it reveals that the cup is empty. Dennis snaps his fingers, reassuring Shay that he's just kidding. By detaching an Overlay Unit from an Xyz Monster, he was able to Special Summon "Cup Tricker" from his hand. Shay calls Dennis's use of Shay's Overlay Units clownish antics. Dennis comments that that's not all; in addition, the targeted Xyz Monster loses 600 ATK. "Fiend Eagle" returns to 1000 ATK and Shay curses. Next up, Dennis activates the Spell Card "Magical Pendulum Box", allowing him to draw two cards, but he can only add Pendulum Monsters to his hand. He draws "Performage Overlay Juggler" and "Performage Bonus Dealer", and exclaims, "WOW! Both are Pendulums!" The "Magical Pendulum Box" card lets out a fanfare of victory, and Dennis proceeds to use the Scale 3 "Bonus Dealer" and the Scale 6 "Overlay Juggler" to Set the Pendulum Scale. He explains that he can now simultaneously Summon monsters from Levels 3 to 5. Dennis chants, "Pendulum Summon! Appear now, my Performages!" as he Pendulum Summons "Performage Wind Sucker", "Performage Wing Sandwichman", and last but not least, "Performage Ball Rider". Shay notes the three Level 5 monsters, and he asks Dennis if he plans to Xyz Summon. Dennis activates the Pendulum Effect of "Bonus Dealer", allowing him to draw two cards since he Pendulum Summoned three "Performages". He draws "Performage Magic Tactician" and "Performage Fire Dancer", the latter of which he Normal Summons. He overlays the Level 4 "Fire Dancer" and "Ball Rider", and he chants, "Show must go on! Artisan of the stage, swoop down from the skies! Xyz Summon! Appear now! Rank 4! Performage Trapeze Magician!" Melissa narrates that Dennis also Xyz Summoned in the very first Xyz showdown in Friendship Cup history. She calls it a red-hot development worthy of the first round finale. Shay observes that if Dennis keeps this up he'll pull the same trick as last time. He suggests that Dennis reveal who he really is now? Dennis reassures Shay that his show is still going on. He overlays the Level 5 "Cup Tricker", "Wind Sucker" and "Wing Sandwichman", and he chants, "Arrive, hell's artist! Xyz Summon! Rank 5! Performage Shadow Maker!"

With "Shadow Maker" as the target, Dennis activates the effect of "Trapeze Magician", detaching an Overlay Unit to allow a monster to attack twice this turn. Then he activates the effect of "Shadow Maker" since it was targeted by an effect, detaching an Overlay Unit in order to Special Summon another "Shadow Maker" from his Extra Deck. The second "Shadow Maker" appears from the extended shadow of the first. Dennis activates the effect of the "Cup Tricker", which was detached and sent to the Graveyard, allowing him to transfer one Overlay Unit from one Xyz Monster to another. He detaches an Overlay Unit from the "Shadow Maker" that he Xyz Summoned and attaches it to the newly Summoned one. Then he uses the second Overlay Unit of "Trapeze Magician" to allow the second "Shadow Maker" to attack twice this turn as well. With "Shadow Maker" targeted by an effect, Dennis activates its effect, detaching an Overlay Unit and Special Summoning his third "Shadow Maker" from his Extra Deck. Melissa asks what this is; Dennis now has four Xyz Monsters on his field, and what's more; two of them can attack twice. She gets flustered over the math, before the total is given to her; 15500 damage. Dennis declares his Battle Phase, attacking "Fiend Eagle" with "Trapeze Magician". "Trapeze Magician" swings on its staff and kicks "Fiend Eagle", destroying it and reducing Shay to 2500 LP.

Shay immediately activates a Continuous Trap Card targeting "Trapeze Magician"; "Raidraptor - Target Flag". The "Raidraptor" crest appears on "Trapeze Magician's" mask, and Shay explains that he draws a card and then reveals it. He declares that he's drawn "Raidraptor - Last Strix"; a Monster Card, and he states that when the monster targeted by the effect of "Target Flag" leaves the field, "Target Flag" will be destroyed and Shay can check Dennis's hand. Dennis looks at the "Polymerization" in his hand, and Shay further explains that all cards that are the same card type as the card that Shay drew will be destroyed and sent to the Graveyard when he checks Dennis's hand. Dennis notes that even if Shay does that, Dennis will be taking out Shay's LP here anyway and he resumes his Battle Phase. Shay activates a Quick-Play Spell Card, "Rank-Up-Magic Doom Double Force". He Special Summons the destroyed Rank 3 "Fiend Eagle", treats it as Material and overlays it, Xyz Summoning a "Raidraptor" that is double its Rank. He chants, "Prideful falcon! Spread those wings dyed with the blood of heroes, and charge through the path of revolution! Rank-Up-Xyz Evolution! Appear now! Rank 6! Raidraptor - Revolution Falcon!"

Melissa calls the Xyz Summon using a destroyed monster impressive, and Shay activates the effect of "Revolution Falcon" as it was Ranked-Up using a "Raidraptor" monster as Material; destroying an opponent's Special Summoned monster and inflicts half its ATK to Dennis as damage. Ordering "Revolution Falcon" to reveal Dennis's true colors with its revolutionary flames, he tells it to destroy "Trapeze Magician". "Revolution Falcon" opens a port on its base and concentrates a fireball from it before descending towards "Trapeze Magician". Dennis comments that that isn't good since "Trapeze Magician" is the star of his show. He activates the effect of the "Performage Magic Tactician" in his hand, sending it to the Graveyard since a monster he controls was targeted by an effect, and then sending another card on his field to the Graveyard in order to change the target of the effect. He sends one "Shadow Maker" to his Graveyard and changes the target to another "Shadow Maker", which burns in the flames. Dennis explains that "Shadow Maker" was destroyed, but Dennis won't take any damage due to the effect of "Trapeze Magician". He sighs in relief at somehow being able to protect "Trapeze Magician", who laughs sinisterly. Dennis ends his turn, noting that the effect of "Revolution Falcon" would have reduced the ATK of his Special Summoned monsters to zero. Shay scoffs and he turns away. In her room, Zuzu asks what is with this Duel. Yuya wonders what Shay means by revealing Dennis's true colors. Declan and Jean-Michel Roger watch intently. Dennis drives up beside Shay, and Shay asks Dennis how long he plans on hiding his true colors. Dennis asks what Shay is talking about; as his show doesn’t have tricks like that. "Trapeze Magician" laughs.

Accelerating around a corner, Shay declares his turn and draws, adding the card to his hand before activating the effect of "Revolution Falcon". By using an Overlay Unit, he can attack all monsters his opponent controls once each. "Revolution Falcon" absorbs its Overlay Unit and spirals into the sky as Shay declares his Battle Phase and orders "Revolution Falcon" to attack "Trapeze Magician" first. Dennis comments that he said it's no good, and he accelerates to snatch up an Action Card. "Revolution Falcon" opens its hatches as Shay orders, "Revolutional Air Raid", and it drops bombs from the sky. Dennis activates the Action Spell, "Battle Change", allowing him to choose his opponent's attack targets. Shay is shocked, as Dennis switches the attack target to "Shadow Maker". Shay reminds Dennis that as he knows, when "Revolution Falcon" battles a Special Summoned monster, that ATK and DEF of that monster become zero. "Revolution Falcon" blasts flames from its turbines, reducing the ATK of "Shadow Maker" to zero. The bombs fall…but "Shadow Maker" transforms into an Overlay Unit and the bombs explode on the track. Dennis comments that it's too bad; he used "Shadow Maker" as an Overlay Unit for "Trapeze Magician" with the Pendulum Effect of "Performage Overlay Juggler". Yuya watches as Shay calls it a temporary measure, asking if Dennis forgot that Shay can attack all of his enemies. "Revolution Falcon" blasts more flames from its turbines that reduce the ATK of "Trapeze Magician" to zero. Shay declares "Revolutional Air Raid" again, and "Revolution Falcon" drops a second payload. Yuya begins to realize that the Duel is familiar, and Shay declares that he doesn't plan on enjoying any show with Dennis; to him, this is a battlefield. Yuya remembers "Revolution Falcon" bombing the Solid Vision "Neo Heartland City", and he gasps that it's just like back then.

Dennis reaches for an Action Card, but Shay decelerates and blocks him from getting the card. "Trapeze Magician" dives for the card itself, but the bombs hit, blasting the Spellcaster into the air and destroying it. Dennis screams his monster's name as its mask hits the ground and dissolves, the fragments floating back to Dennis. Melissa states that Dennis's ace monster, "Trapeze Magician" has finally been destroyed, so now Dennis's LP will fall. But Dennis's LP doesn't change, much to Melissa and Shay's surprise. Dennis sadly explains that he activated the Action Spell, "Damage Vanish". "Trapeze Magician" gave it to Dennis in his last moments, and it reduced the battle damage that he took to zero. Shay observes that Dennis hung on by the skin of his teeth, but now his show is over. He activates the effect of the Continuous Trap "Target Flag", destroying it since "Trapeze Magician" left the field, and then forcing his opponent to reveal his hand.

Dennis frowns, and Shay tells Dennis to show them his true colors. Dennis holds up the "Polymerization" card, asking Shay if this is what he wanted to see. Roger muses, "Fusion", and Shay mutters that he knew it and he tells Dennis to go ahead and use that card. He Sets two cards face-down and ends his turn.

Dennis comments that it's time to show Shay his ultimate entertainment. He returns "Polymerization" to his Wrist Dealer, and then he darkly declares his turn and draws a card. He's drawn the Spell Card "Ancient Gear Chaos Fusion", which he immediately activates. He sends "Polymerization" from his hand to the Graveyard and banishes Xyz Monsters from his Graveyard; "Trapeze Magician" and his three "Shadow Makers", a number equal to the number of Fusion Materials that he needs. Dennis then negates the effects and Summoning conditions of the Fusion Material Monsters in his Deck and Extra Deck and Special Summons them. He declares each of their names; "Ancient Gear Hunting Hound", "Double Ancient Gear Hunting Hound", "Triple Ancient Gear Hunting Hound", and "Ultimate Ancient Gear Hunting Hound", Special Summoning all four "Ancient Gear" monsters. Yuya is shocked to see "Ancient Gear" monsters, and Celina rudely mutters "that other guy…" Dennis fuses all four "Ancient Gear" monsters and he chants, "Mechanized hound dogs that inherit the ancient soul! Merge those ten heads, unleash chaos and become tremendous strength! Fusion Summon! Appear now! Level 10! Ancient Gear Chaos Giant!" The gigantic Fusion Monster appears in the sky and Melissa gasps that it's enormous, asking what it is. Zuzu is shocked that Dennis Summoned such a huge monster. Shay looks back, recognizing the monster from the Invasion of Xyz Dimension. Multiple "Chaos Giants" marched through the burning city, and Shay himself fled from them. Dennis comments that it looks like Shay has seen the monster before, and Shay snaps that Dennis is from Duel Academy. Yuya, Zuzu, Celina, and Riley are all shocked. Gael asks Declan what this means, and if he cares to explain. Declan asks the Executive Council what they expect him to say. Bordeaux points out that Duel Academy is their enemy, correct? Why is that enemy with Declan? Declan replies that he had considered the possibility that their enemy had wormed its way into the Lancers, but what about the Council? Roger watches as Melissa states that the monster is Level 10, a gigantic behemoth of a monster with 4500 ATK.

Dennis smiles and he coldly tells Shay to let the hunting game begin.

Featured Duel: Shay Obsidian vs. Dennis Macfield
At the start of the Duel, the Field Spell Card "Cross Over Accel" is activated, as per the rules of an Action Duel and a Turbo Duel. It will allow the players to use Action Cards, but they may only have one in their hand at a time.

Turn 1: Shay Shay Normal Summons "". He activates "", which lets him Special Summon a Level 3 or lower "Raidraptor" monster from his Deck with the same name as a monster he controls. He Special Summons a second. Shay overlays his two Level 3 monsters to Xyz Summon in Attack Position. As they were used as Overlay Units, the effects of both "Skull Eagles" activate, increasing the ATK of the Xyz Summoned monster by 300 each ("Fiend Eagle": 1000 → 1600). Shay activates the effect of "Fiend Eagle", detaching an Overlay Unit during either player's turn to inflict damage to his opponent equal to the ATK of a Special Summoned monster on the field. Shay chooses "Fiend Eagle" (Dennis: 4000 → 2400 LP). Shay's hand contains "Rank-Up-Magic Doom Double Force", "Raidraptor - Reactor" and "Raidraptor - Target Flag". Shay Sets two cards.

Turn 2: Dennis Dennis draws "Polymerization". He activates the effect of the "Performage Cup Tricker" in his hand, letting him detach an Overlay Unit from an Xyz Monster to Special Summon it from his hand and decrease the ATK of the Xyz Monster by 600. He detaches an Overlay Unit from "Fiend Eagle" and Special Summons in Attack Position ("Fiend Eagle": 1600 → 1000). He then activates "Magical Pendulum Box" letting him draw two cards and reveal them. If they are both Pendulum Monsters, he will add them to his hand, but if either or both is not, they will both be sent to the Graveyard. He draws "Performage Bonus Dealer" and "Performage Overlay Juggler" - both Pendulum Monsters. Dennis activates and  in his Pendulum Zones. He Pendulum Summons, and  from his hand, all in Attack Position. Dennis activates the Pendulum Effect of "Bonus Dealer", which lets him draw two cards if he Pendulum Summons three or more "Performage" or "Performapal" monsters at the same time. He draws "Performage Fire Dancer" and "Performage Magic Tactician". He Normal Summons. Dennis overlays the Level 4 "Fire Dancer" and "Ball Rider" to Xyz Summon in Attack Position. He then overlays the Level 5 "Wind Sucker", "Wing Sandwichman", and "Cup Tricker" to Xyz Summon in Attack Position.

Dennis activates the effect of "Trapeze Magician", detaching an Overlay Unit to let a monster he controls attack twice during this turn's Battle Phase. He targets "Shadow Maker". Because "Shadow Maker" was targeted by a card effect, Dennis activates its effect, detaching "Cup Tricker" to Special Summon another copy of from his Extra Deck. As "Cup Tricker" was detached, its effect activates, which lets him attach an Overlay Unit he controls to a different Xyz Monster he controls. He attaches the Overlay Unit of the first "Shadow Maker" to the second one. Dennis activates the effect of "Trapeze Magician" again and targets the second copy of "Shadow Maker", letting it attack twice this turn. Because the second "Shadow Maker" was targeted by a card effect, Dennis activates its effect, detaching an Overlay Unit to Special Summon a third from his Extra Deck. "Trapeze Magician" attacks and destroys "Fiend Eagle" (Shay: 4000 → 2500 LP), but Shay activates his face-down "Raidraptor - Target Flag". This lets him draw and reveal a card, then target a monster his opponent controls. When that monster leaves the field, his opponent must reveal his hand and all cards of the same type as what Shay drew will be destroyed. He draws a monster, "Raidraptor - Last Strix" and targets "Trapeze Magician". Shay then activates his face-down "Rank-Up-Magic Doom Double Force", allowing him to Special Summon an Xyz Monster from his Graveyard that was destroyed by battle, then Xyz Summon a "Raidraptor" monster whose Rank is double that of the Summoned monster, by using that monster as the Overlay Unit. He Special Summons "Fiend Eagle" and overlays it to Xyz Summon in Attack Position. As it was Xyz Summoned by using a "Raidraptor" Xyz Monster as an Overlay Unit, Shay activates the effect of "Revolution Falcon", destroying 1 monster his opponent controls and inflicting damage to him equal to half the ATK of that monster. He targets "Trapeze Magician", but Dennis activates the effect of the "Performage Magic Tactician" in his hand, sending it and 1 monster he controls to the Graveyard, and then changing the target to another appropriate monster he controls. He sends 1 "Shadow Maker" to the Graveyard and switches the target of the effect of "Revolution Falcon" to another "Shadow Maker". "Shadow Maker" is destroyed, with the effect of "Trapeze Magician" preventing Dennis from taking effect damage.

Turn 3: Shay Shay activates the effect of "Revolution Falcon", detaching an Overlay Unit to allow it to attack all monsters Dennis control once each this turn. "Revolution Falcon" attacks "Trapeze Magician", but Dennis finds and activates the Action Card "Battle Change", allowing him to change the attack target of each monster that Shay controls once per turn. He changes the attack target of "Revolution Falcon” to "Shadow Maker". Dennis then activates the Pendulum Effect of "Overlay Juggler", attaching "Shadow Maker" to "Trapeze Magician" as an Overlay Unit. A replay occurs and "Revolution Falcon" attacks "Trapeze Magician", its first effect reducing the ATK and DEF of "Trapeze Magician" to 0 as "Trapeze Magician" is a Special Summoned monster. ("Trapeze Magician": 2500/2000 → 0/0) Dennis attempts to grab an Action Card, but Shay blocks him. "Trapeze Magician" is destroyed, but its remains allow Dennis to find and activate the Action Card, "Damage Vanish", reducing the battle damage that he would have taken to 0. Since "Trapeze Magician" was destroyed, "Target Flag" is destroyed via its own effect and Dennis reveals his hand, which contains "Polymerization". Shay Sets two cards.

Turn 4: Dennis Dennis draws "Ancient Gear Chaos Fusion" and subsequently activates it. By sending "Polymerization" from his hand to his Graveyard and selecting one "Ancient Gear" Fusion Monster in his Extra Deck, he can banish monsters from his Graveyard that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck equal to the number of the selected Fusion Monster’s Fusion Material monsters, and then Special Summon those Fusion Material Monsters from his Deck, Extra Deck or Graveyard with their effects negated, ignoring the Summoning conditions. Dennis banishes "Trapeze Magician" and all three copies of "Shadow Maker" from his Graveyard to Special Summon from his Deck and,  and  from his Extra Deck. The effect of "Ancient Gear Chaos Fusion" then sends the Special Summoned Fusion Materials to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon in Attack Position.

Featured cards
The following cards appeared in this episode. Cards in italics debuted here.