Joey and Tristan are having a fight, which gets worse when they punch/shove one another and run off. Still sore about losing to Joey, Mai sics dinosaur duelist Rex Raptor on him, with the added condition that Yugi can't help him out of this one. Joey agrees, feeling that he doesn't need to be babied or rescued all the time and must rely on himself so he can teach Serenity how to rely on herself. Meanwhile, Yugi goes to see Tristan and convinces him that while Joey may not need help, he could still use their support.
Joey doesn't do well initially, having his Baby Dragon destroyed before he can combine it with Time Wizard's effect and having stronger monsters lose because of Rex's field power bonus. He manages to rally with Flame Swordsman, but when that's destroyed as well, it takes him remembering his friendship with Tristan to help him. The Swamp and Lava Battleguards, as a team, deflect Rex's attacks—but the dino duelist has a powerful dragon waiting in the wings...
This episode contains examples of:
- A Day in the Limelight: This is the first episode where Tristan has a prominent role, coinciding with his change in voice actors.
- Adaptation Expansion: ... alas, said role was made-up out of whole cloth for the anime; the manga version (which had doled out most of his spotlight in the pre-Duelist Kingdom chapters) was almost entirely about Mai's vendetta.
- Bash Brothers: The Lava and Swamp Battleguards power each other up when they're on the field together.
- Battle Discretion Shot: Joey punching Tristan is done off-screen in the English dub, with only Mai's, Yugi's, and Tea's shocked reactions to it being shown.
- In the End, You Are on Your Own: Remembering her last duel with Joey, Mai forbids him from relying on Yugi's assistance during his match with Rex.
- No Challenge Equals No Satisfaction: Mai's had several easy victories since her duel with Joey. She's not enjoying them.
- Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure: Joey and Tristan have a fight just before Joey decides to duel on his own. They reconcile just in time to make a comeback.
- Underestimating Badassery: According to Mai, she's acquired 8 chips already because other competitors assumed she'd be an easy opponent to beat just because she's a woman.
