We drive from Utah to Indianapolis in 2 days staying at a hotel in Lincoln NE, we have four in my car, and 3 in Andrew's car it was a long drive but we got there eventually. We get there Wed. Night around 9:00 pm Eastern time. We check in to our hotel and start calling our family letting everyone know we have arrived safely. So now its time to start thinking about Pokemon!
So for the 3 and 1/2 weeks before nats I had been play testing with Magneboar hard, I thought it was really good, I felt it was a little inconsistent but when it set up I loved it, I played a yanmega tech in mine to help with the energy problem it would have from time to time. But the day before we left i tried making it straight Yanmega/Magnezone. It was my first Megazone list which was kind of bad, but I had already in about 7 games liked it WAY more then Magneboar. So once I got to the hotel I made a lot of changes to my Megazone and tested a lot, I felt like it was the best deck and that it was really consistent which was the main thing I liked more about it then Magneboar. So I decided that I will be playing it for US Nats.
Day 1
I get 2 bye's from winning Mountain West Regional. Which gives me plenty of time to take some pictures of my friends playing and hang out until after lunch and round 2.
Round 3 vs Sebastian M. Mew/Pluff/Muk/Vileplume with a Jirachi tech.
We flip the coin and I lose it, so I go second. He gets a decent turn 1 fills up his bench, but only benches ONE oddish though and see offs a Jumpluff. My hand is decent and I attach to a magnemite and bench a couple Yanma's and pass. He isn't able to rare candy or evolve his oddish so he's forced to attack with a mew. I am able to snipe the oddish with mega, so now I don't have to worry about vileplume and w/o vileplume OHK's are easy on mews and I win this game. GG Sebastian!
3-0
Round 4 vs Joseph P. Kingdra/Cinccino
We flip and I win the coin flip and get to go first. I get a great start to his great start as well. But I'm able to turn 2 Judge him after eek, and start sniping Minccino's. My judges seem to have hurt him a lot because he wasn't able to get out Cinccino's the whole game and i sniped 2 Minccino's 4 times for 2 KO's, so I go on to win this game. GG Joseph!
4-0
Round 5 vs Mike F. Megazone with a 2-1-2 Kingdra line.
We flip and I lose the coin flip and go second. He gets a turn 1 collector and attaches energy. I also have a good hand and use collector and attach energy and eek. He gets a turn 2 Kingdra/Magnezone and Yanmega and I believe he judges me and starts using reversals and taking prizes, I get a few ok things off of judge but I'm too far behind and go on to lose this game. GG Mike!
4-1
Round 6 vs Javier S. Cinccino/Yanmega/Reshiram/Nine Tails
We flip and I win the coin toss and go first. I'm glad I'm going first this game because I have a t2 Yanmega/Judge in my hand so I bench a Cleffa in case I draw dead off of judge and after his turn I take a prize via circulator then Judge and sonic boom. He didn't draw well off of the Judge and I get too far a head and win this game. GG Javier!
5-1 after the first day.
Day 2 Round 7 vs Shawn Barger Kingdra/Donphan/Magnezone
We flip and I lose the coin toss and go second. His hand is bad and he doesn't do much and passes. I also have a bad hand but at least I have a collector to find that my 1 Cleffa is prized. The one thing I have going in my hand is a Magneton, I pass and he top decks a communication to find out that his 1 Cleffa is prized also! He is forced to bench something and pass. I top deck a Magnezone which is great for my next turn cause this turn I evolve into Magneton. After I get Magnezone going I start setting up and takes prizes and win this game. GG Shawn!
6-1
Round 8 vs Stephan Q. Vileplume/Gengar Prime/Slow King/Mime JR.
We flip and I lose the coin toss and go second. His start looks really good, attaches energy to Gastly and lost zones the top card of my deck, a lightning energy. I draw and have a good hand, bench a few things and attach and end. He isn't able to candy into vileplume, second sights me and lost zones a pokemon. I have the chance of sniping his oddish but am not able to copy his hand size and I'm forced to end my turn, he gets out a vileplume and from there I struggle to copy his hand to attack and draw Pokemon from prizes and draw pokemon with Juniper and lose this game. GG Stephan!
6-2
Round 9 vs Orion C. Megazone
We flip and I win the coin toss and get to go first, My hand is good with a collector and a turn 2 Yanmega/Judge and he draws poor off of the judge and sets up slow and I get too far ahead before he sets up and I win this game. GG Orion!
7-2 after standings are posted I am ranked 11th in my pod at the top of the 7-2's. I find out that I am playing Mike Copper in top 128 and make my way to the table.
Top 128 vs Copper Reshiboar/Ninetails
Game 1: We flip and I lose the coin toss and go second. This game was very long and epic and I wish that I could remember every single turn but I can't lol. All I remember is that it went to 1-1 prizes and I was able to take the last prize before he could so I win game 1.
1-0
Game 2: He goes first I start Yanma I Mulligan twice, he starts Tyrogue and double plus powers for the t1 DONK.
1-1
Game 3: I go first and start setting up attaching energy and using collector. He also has a good hand and starts setting up. I start attacking with Yanmega, he is going through his deck fast via double nine tails and using sages. He gets a 2 prize lead on me 4 to 2. I check his Discard pile to find most all of his resources gone. So for a few turns he isn't able to attack me and I catch up on prize cards. He draws his whole deck to find that his last fisherman was prized and I am able to take this game! GG Copper Congratulations on making top 128 at US Nats!
Top 64 vs Robert S. Yanmega/Kingdra/Jirachi
Game 1: We flip and he wins the coin toss and gets to go first, I can't believe I don't remember this match but I believe this game went down to 1-1 prize and it was super super close and I end up losing.
0-1
Game 2: I chose to go first and I get a t1 pachi donk on his lone Yanma, straight to game three!
1-1
Game 3: I'll have to talk to Robert for some details on this last match, I don't remember as much as I should! I believe it was extremely close all the way to the final turn and I take this game moving on to top 32. GG Robert it was a pleasure meeting you and congratulation on making top 64!
Top 32 vs Martin M. Yanmega/Magnezone/Kingdra/Weavile/Jirachi
Game 1: We flip and I win the coin toss and go first. My hand is good with a t1 collector and a t2 Yanmega with a judge. He drew crap off of the judge i took 3 quick prizes he scoops.
1-0
Game 2: He chose to go first and looks to start setting up, I have one of the worst hands EVER BUT I have 1 thing going for me I juniper into another bad hand but I get a Yanmega to go with my lone Yanma start. So I'm forced to end and hope he can't donk. He seems to have a really bad hand as well and didn't evolve any Pokemon and eeks. So I circulator his baby and sonic boom a Yanma to take a prize, he again drew dead off of eek and I think he eeks again and I circulator for another cheap prize, and I get a collector from my prize so I can finally start setting up more Pokemon next turn. Again he isn't able to do much I think he evolved to a Magneton and looks to start setting up, then he passes. I collector and start getting set up myself and take another prize. So now we are both getting set up but I was able to take prizes with Yanmega in the meantime and now with a 3 prize lead and we are both set up I'm too far ahead and take this game. GG Martin it was great meeting you at nationals! Congratulation on top 32 and that's one amazing record you have all time at nationals!
Day 3 Top 16 vs Evan M. Magnezone/Yanmega/Kingdra/Zekrom
Game 1: We flip and I win the coin toss, So this game I have the advantage of going first but I get my evolution out later then Evan and I lose the lead by 2 prizes, But I keep playing hoping to find a way to get back in the lead. With a few key circulator moves I slowly catch up in prizes, until the final couple of turns where we are both 1-1 prize cards, His deck is down to 2 cards and he has 1 energy in play and if he doesn't have an energy left in his deck I would win this game, He Alph's to look at his prize and no Energy there so now he knows there is an energy in the deck, burns 1 more card uses M-Draw to draw his whole deck attaches his last energy to lost burn FTW.
0-1
Game 2: I chose to go first to his lone Cleffa start, I have 1 energy in hand so if I top deck an energy I might donk with pachi, I don't get an Energy so I attach my energy to Magnamite and magnetic switch to bring Yanma active. On his turn he doesn't have any basics in hand, so he plays a reversal gets heads brings up my Magnamite which does not have energy, and uses Copycat for 5 cards, doesn't get any basics and proceeds to Eek, rolls to see if he stays asleep and he gets heads and wakes up so I t2 him with Yanmega.
1-1
Game 3: He chose to go first, and starts setting up some basics, I have a really good hand and if he isn't able to evolve on his next turn I will t2 Yanmega/Judge him. Which on his next turn he doesn't seem to have a good hand and starts to Eek. So my Yanmega/Judge seems to slow him and I begin to take cheap prizes. He continually draws dead and I take this game. GG Evan it was awesome playing you, Congratulations on your top 16.
Top 8 vs Dylan L. Kingdra/Yanmega/Jirachi/Blissey
Game 1: We flip and I lose the coin toss and he gets to go first. He sets up some basics and passes, I have cleffa active and Magnemite on my bench no supporter but I have a rare candy and Magnezone in hand. I attach to Magnemite and pass. He flips heads on reversal and kills my Magnemite. I top deck a communication so I use it showing Yanmega to get another Magnemite attach energy and pass. He flips for another reversal gets heads and kills my second magnemite. I go top deck another way to get another Magnemite attach energy to it and pass. He flips another heads on reversal kills my Magnemite and I scoop.
0-1
Game 2: He starts with a lone basic, and I have two energy in hand and a way to search out pachi, its not prized so I donk him for the game.
1-1
Game 3: He goes first and proceeds to set up, It seems his set up is a bit slower then mine and we trade prizes a bit with yanmega while I set up two Magnezones. After a few turns I bring up Magnezone to take a few prizes putting me in a 2 prize card lead. But I have a baby on my bench so I know I'm really only 1 prize card in the lead. And then he benches a Chansey so now I know if I can't get a magnezone out to take my final prize that blissey prime can win him the game. Early in the game I discarded two Magnamites with juniper and didn't see flower shop lady all game, he had already KO'd two Magnezones so I know I wasn't seeing any more Magnezones this game. So I have the biggest decision to make, on my second to last turn I have to decide between using copycat or judge, knowing if he gets blissey prime he wins the game. I decide to use copycat for 6 cards to give me a better chance of being able to attack next turn no matter what. The reason I chose copycat was because at the time I was thinking if I judge he can possibly make his hand to small/large for me to copy if I don't draw a judge/copycat and he would win with Kingdra Primes attack. Well I draw a judge off of the copycat and sonic boom his active Yanmega with the win in my hand next turn. He takes his turn and thinks for a while, goes to attach psychic to his active but decides not to, and he thinks for a bit more and spray splashes my Cleffa to take a prize putting it at 1-2 with me in the lead. But i have 9 damage counters on my active Yanmega. He spray splashes my benched Yanmega. Evolves into blissey prime healing his pokemon and at that moment I knew it was over. He linear attacks my benched Yanmega putting it up to 5 damage counters. On my turn the only thing I can do is judge and sonic boom. On his turn he double spray splashes my active Yanmega KO'ing it, and then uses Kingdra Prime to KO my newly active Yanmega. GG and super well played Dylan! It was great playing you in top 8, our final game was a great way to end this tournament for me.
After the game Dylan lets me know that he top decked the Blissey prime to guarantee the win! He did have a copycat to try and get it if he didn't top deck. He told me playing a judge instead of copycat was probably a better play and I agreed.
Props:
Byes
5-1 day 1
7-2 day 2
making it to day 3 and getting to top 8
Yanmega!
Seeing a lot of familiar faces and meeting a lot of new people
6 players in Mountain West making it to top 128 + Adam Garcia
Andrew Murray making it to top 32
Not getting donked until top cut
Andrew/Nick/Forrest all getting a way with a few cuts/bruises in the car accident on the way home thank god!
Pokemon TCG !!!
Slops:
Brandon Jones whiffing a juniper for 7 looking for Yanmega to possibly have won his 128 match.
All three Colorado players losing in top 128
Adam Garcia losing in top 128
Reversal
Tyrogue
Cleffa
The advantage of going first
Andrew spilling sauce and losing control for a split second and wrecking his car.
I'm sure I forgot a lot of props and slops but this is all I can think of. Thanks for reading I know it was LONG LOL. I hope to see you all at Worlds!!
So for the 3 and 1/2 weeks before nats I had been play testing with Magneboar hard, I thought it was really good, I felt it was a little inconsistent but when it set up I loved it, I played a yanmega tech in mine to help with the energy problem it would have from time to time. But the day before we left i tried making it straight Yanmega/Magnezone. It was my first Megazone list which was kind of bad, but I had already in about 7 games liked it WAY more then Magneboar. So once I got to the hotel I made a lot of changes to my Megazone and tested a lot, I felt like it was the best deck and that it was really consistent which was the main thing I liked more about it then Magneboar. So I decided that I will be playing it for US Nats.
Day 1
I get 2 bye's from winning Mountain West Regional. Which gives me plenty of time to take some pictures of my friends playing and hang out until after lunch and round 2.
Round 3 vs Sebastian M. Mew/Pluff/Muk/Vileplume with a Jirachi tech.
We flip the coin and I lose it, so I go second. He gets a decent turn 1 fills up his bench, but only benches ONE oddish though and see offs a Jumpluff. My hand is decent and I attach to a magnemite and bench a couple Yanma's and pass. He isn't able to rare candy or evolve his oddish so he's forced to attack with a mew. I am able to snipe the oddish with mega, so now I don't have to worry about vileplume and w/o vileplume OHK's are easy on mews and I win this game. GG Sebastian!
3-0
Round 4 vs Joseph P. Kingdra/Cinccino
We flip and I win the coin flip and get to go first. I get a great start to his great start as well. But I'm able to turn 2 Judge him after eek, and start sniping Minccino's. My judges seem to have hurt him a lot because he wasn't able to get out Cinccino's the whole game and i sniped 2 Minccino's 4 times for 2 KO's, so I go on to win this game. GG Joseph!
4-0
Round 5 vs Mike F. Megazone with a 2-1-2 Kingdra line.
We flip and I lose the coin flip and go second. He gets a turn 1 collector and attaches energy. I also have a good hand and use collector and attach energy and eek. He gets a turn 2 Kingdra/Magnezone and Yanmega and I believe he judges me and starts using reversals and taking prizes, I get a few ok things off of judge but I'm too far behind and go on to lose this game. GG Mike!
4-1
Round 6 vs Javier S. Cinccino/Yanmega/Reshiram/Nine Tails
We flip and I win the coin toss and go first. I'm glad I'm going first this game because I have a t2 Yanmega/Judge in my hand so I bench a Cleffa in case I draw dead off of judge and after his turn I take a prize via circulator then Judge and sonic boom. He didn't draw well off of the Judge and I get too far a head and win this game. GG Javier!
5-1 after the first day.
Day 2 Round 7 vs Shawn Barger Kingdra/Donphan/Magnezone
We flip and I lose the coin toss and go second. His hand is bad and he doesn't do much and passes. I also have a bad hand but at least I have a collector to find that my 1 Cleffa is prized. The one thing I have going in my hand is a Magneton, I pass and he top decks a communication to find out that his 1 Cleffa is prized also! He is forced to bench something and pass. I top deck a Magnezone which is great for my next turn cause this turn I evolve into Magneton. After I get Magnezone going I start setting up and takes prizes and win this game. GG Shawn!
6-1
Round 8 vs Stephan Q. Vileplume/Gengar Prime/Slow King/Mime JR.
We flip and I lose the coin toss and go second. His start looks really good, attaches energy to Gastly and lost zones the top card of my deck, a lightning energy. I draw and have a good hand, bench a few things and attach and end. He isn't able to candy into vileplume, second sights me and lost zones a pokemon. I have the chance of sniping his oddish but am not able to copy his hand size and I'm forced to end my turn, he gets out a vileplume and from there I struggle to copy his hand to attack and draw Pokemon from prizes and draw pokemon with Juniper and lose this game. GG Stephan!
6-2
Round 9 vs Orion C. Megazone
We flip and I win the coin toss and get to go first, My hand is good with a collector and a turn 2 Yanmega/Judge and he draws poor off of the judge and sets up slow and I get too far ahead before he sets up and I win this game. GG Orion!
7-2 after standings are posted I am ranked 11th in my pod at the top of the 7-2's. I find out that I am playing Mike Copper in top 128 and make my way to the table.
Top 128 vs Copper Reshiboar/Ninetails
Game 1: We flip and I lose the coin toss and go second. This game was very long and epic and I wish that I could remember every single turn but I can't lol. All I remember is that it went to 1-1 prizes and I was able to take the last prize before he could so I win game 1.
1-0
Game 2: He goes first I start Yanma I Mulligan twice, he starts Tyrogue and double plus powers for the t1 DONK.
1-1
Game 3: I go first and start setting up attaching energy and using collector. He also has a good hand and starts setting up. I start attacking with Yanmega, he is going through his deck fast via double nine tails and using sages. He gets a 2 prize lead on me 4 to 2. I check his Discard pile to find most all of his resources gone. So for a few turns he isn't able to attack me and I catch up on prize cards. He draws his whole deck to find that his last fisherman was prized and I am able to take this game! GG Copper Congratulations on making top 128 at US Nats!
Top 64 vs Robert S. Yanmega/Kingdra/Jirachi
Game 1: We flip and he wins the coin toss and gets to go first, I can't believe I don't remember this match but I believe this game went down to 1-1 prize and it was super super close and I end up losing.
0-1
Game 2: I chose to go first and I get a t1 pachi donk on his lone Yanma, straight to game three!
1-1
Game 3: I'll have to talk to Robert for some details on this last match, I don't remember as much as I should! I believe it was extremely close all the way to the final turn and I take this game moving on to top 32. GG Robert it was a pleasure meeting you and congratulation on making top 64!
Top 32 vs Martin M. Yanmega/Magnezone/Kingdra/Weavile/Jirachi
Game 1: We flip and I win the coin toss and go first. My hand is good with a t1 collector and a t2 Yanmega with a judge. He drew crap off of the judge i took 3 quick prizes he scoops.
1-0
Game 2: He chose to go first and looks to start setting up, I have one of the worst hands EVER BUT I have 1 thing going for me I juniper into another bad hand but I get a Yanmega to go with my lone Yanma start. So I'm forced to end and hope he can't donk. He seems to have a really bad hand as well and didn't evolve any Pokemon and eeks. So I circulator his baby and sonic boom a Yanma to take a prize, he again drew dead off of eek and I think he eeks again and I circulator for another cheap prize, and I get a collector from my prize so I can finally start setting up more Pokemon next turn. Again he isn't able to do much I think he evolved to a Magneton and looks to start setting up, then he passes. I collector and start getting set up myself and take another prize. So now we are both getting set up but I was able to take prizes with Yanmega in the meantime and now with a 3 prize lead and we are both set up I'm too far ahead and take this game. GG Martin it was great meeting you at nationals! Congratulation on top 32 and that's one amazing record you have all time at nationals!
Day 3 Top 16 vs Evan M. Magnezone/Yanmega/Kingdra/Zekrom
Game 1: We flip and I win the coin toss, So this game I have the advantage of going first but I get my evolution out later then Evan and I lose the lead by 2 prizes, But I keep playing hoping to find a way to get back in the lead. With a few key circulator moves I slowly catch up in prizes, until the final couple of turns where we are both 1-1 prize cards, His deck is down to 2 cards and he has 1 energy in play and if he doesn't have an energy left in his deck I would win this game, He Alph's to look at his prize and no Energy there so now he knows there is an energy in the deck, burns 1 more card uses M-Draw to draw his whole deck attaches his last energy to lost burn FTW.
0-1
Game 2: I chose to go first to his lone Cleffa start, I have 1 energy in hand so if I top deck an energy I might donk with pachi, I don't get an Energy so I attach my energy to Magnamite and magnetic switch to bring Yanma active. On his turn he doesn't have any basics in hand, so he plays a reversal gets heads brings up my Magnamite which does not have energy, and uses Copycat for 5 cards, doesn't get any basics and proceeds to Eek, rolls to see if he stays asleep and he gets heads and wakes up so I t2 him with Yanmega.
1-1
Game 3: He chose to go first, and starts setting up some basics, I have a really good hand and if he isn't able to evolve on his next turn I will t2 Yanmega/Judge him. Which on his next turn he doesn't seem to have a good hand and starts to Eek. So my Yanmega/Judge seems to slow him and I begin to take cheap prizes. He continually draws dead and I take this game. GG Evan it was awesome playing you, Congratulations on your top 16.
Top 8 vs Dylan L. Kingdra/Yanmega/Jirachi/Blissey
Game 1: We flip and I lose the coin toss and he gets to go first. He sets up some basics and passes, I have cleffa active and Magnemite on my bench no supporter but I have a rare candy and Magnezone in hand. I attach to Magnemite and pass. He flips heads on reversal and kills my Magnemite. I top deck a communication so I use it showing Yanmega to get another Magnemite attach energy and pass. He flips for another reversal gets heads and kills my second magnemite. I go top deck another way to get another Magnemite attach energy to it and pass. He flips another heads on reversal kills my Magnemite and I scoop.
0-1
Game 2: He starts with a lone basic, and I have two energy in hand and a way to search out pachi, its not prized so I donk him for the game.
1-1
Game 3: He goes first and proceeds to set up, It seems his set up is a bit slower then mine and we trade prizes a bit with yanmega while I set up two Magnezones. After a few turns I bring up Magnezone to take a few prizes putting me in a 2 prize card lead. But I have a baby on my bench so I know I'm really only 1 prize card in the lead. And then he benches a Chansey so now I know if I can't get a magnezone out to take my final prize that blissey prime can win him the game. Early in the game I discarded two Magnamites with juniper and didn't see flower shop lady all game, he had already KO'd two Magnezones so I know I wasn't seeing any more Magnezones this game. So I have the biggest decision to make, on my second to last turn I have to decide between using copycat or judge, knowing if he gets blissey prime he wins the game. I decide to use copycat for 6 cards to give me a better chance of being able to attack next turn no matter what. The reason I chose copycat was because at the time I was thinking if I judge he can possibly make his hand to small/large for me to copy if I don't draw a judge/copycat and he would win with Kingdra Primes attack. Well I draw a judge off of the copycat and sonic boom his active Yanmega with the win in my hand next turn. He takes his turn and thinks for a while, goes to attach psychic to his active but decides not to, and he thinks for a bit more and spray splashes my Cleffa to take a prize putting it at 1-2 with me in the lead. But i have 9 damage counters on my active Yanmega. He spray splashes my benched Yanmega. Evolves into blissey prime healing his pokemon and at that moment I knew it was over. He linear attacks my benched Yanmega putting it up to 5 damage counters. On my turn the only thing I can do is judge and sonic boom. On his turn he double spray splashes my active Yanmega KO'ing it, and then uses Kingdra Prime to KO my newly active Yanmega. GG and super well played Dylan! It was great playing you in top 8, our final game was a great way to end this tournament for me.
After the game Dylan lets me know that he top decked the Blissey prime to guarantee the win! He did have a copycat to try and get it if he didn't top deck. He told me playing a judge instead of copycat was probably a better play and I agreed.
Props:
Byes
5-1 day 1
7-2 day 2
making it to day 3 and getting to top 8
Yanmega!
Seeing a lot of familiar faces and meeting a lot of new people
6 players in Mountain West making it to top 128 + Adam Garcia
Andrew Murray making it to top 32
Not getting donked until top cut
Andrew/Nick/Forrest all getting a way with a few cuts/bruises in the car accident on the way home thank god!
Pokemon TCG !!!
Slops:
Brandon Jones whiffing a juniper for 7 looking for Yanmega to possibly have won his 128 match.
All three Colorado players losing in top 128
Adam Garcia losing in top 128
Reversal
Tyrogue
Cleffa
The advantage of going first
Andrew spilling sauce and losing control for a split second and wrecking his car.
I'm sure I forgot a lot of props and slops but this is all I can think of. Thanks for reading I know it was LONG LOL. I hope to see you all at Worlds!!
