sdrawkcab
Forum Moderator
Hello everyone! Due to an overwhelming amount of basketball and bowling tournaments this season, the western Canadian regional was my first opportunity to play this year! (hope you didn't miss me too much )
Of coarse, since I wasn't playing, I wasn't interested in practicing, and since I wasn't praciting I wasn't looking at cards either. I kept on eye on what decks where winning, but that was about it. So realizing that regionals were three days away, I log onto aim for the first time since christmas break, and spamed my friends for help. Thankfully Mikey, Kettler, and Kevin came to the rescue, giving me advice on matchups and importent tech cards in BMC Plox and Banette. I semi-try to find opponents to play, no one seemed interested, and I procrastinate building a list / actual testing until friday night.
Actually I waited until 5:15 Saturday morning. So I wake up on three hours of sleep find my way to the computer, build a banette and test against my premade Absol Blissey Weavile as that was my second option. (My brother had dibs on plox and we have few cards to begain with
)
Needless to say Banette won and since I felt more confident about the matchup against plox I start scrabling for cards.
2 hours later:
THE LIST
Pokemon:
4 Shuppet
4 Banette
2 Claydol
2 Baltoy
2 Sableye
2 Lunatone
1 Solrock
Energy:
4 Multi
10 Psychic
Trainers:
4 TVR
4 Celio Network
4 Holon Mentor
4 Pluspower
2 Galatic Wager
1 Copycat (couldn't find a third wager)
3 Crystal Beach
1 Lake Boundry
1 Moonlight Stadium (couldn't find another lake boundry)
1 Scott
2 Warp Point
2 Night Maintance
I realise now, there should have been a couple more changes (aside from the cards I couldn't find; but thats what no practicing gets you)
We get to the tournament and I meet up with, Willy, Gordon, Andrew, Alex, Bidier, Geoff, and pretty much everyone that I havn't seen since last season. Score a Claydol and Banette from Geoff and Willy (thanks guys) and put my deck togeather in frount of everyone. Evenutally I find out that the decks being played by the top players are 3 BMC 2 plox/GG/whatever version it was and a hurricane(Frealigatr), only 2/6 were good match ups for me >.<
Now what you've been waiting for; the games! This for me was practice for Nationals, I really wasn't to concered about how I placed aslong as went 50% or better.
29 players in masters = round swiss with top 8
5-0 or 4-1 to gareentee a spot, with 2/10 3-2 making the cut. Basically if you go 3-0 you're in.
Round 1: Michael from Edmonton (Ampheros with random (C) pokemon)
Didn't reconize him, after talking for a few minutes I find out he just started playing last night! =) I get a decent assention start, altho couldn't really set up a bench until 3rd or 4th turn. Thankfull he also had a slow start. Once I realized that his entire deck was weak to fighting, I loaded up claydol played lake boundary and just plowed through his deck.
1-0 (Mike Finished the big 0-5!)
Round 2: Stacy from....Vancouver? playing Porygon Z-illumse/volbeat
A fairly new player (as far as I know) but I had no clue what this deck did.
I start off with what I thought would be the worst starter (Solrock) and was rather worried until he flipped over a lone Smeagle. I top deck a 2nd plus power with a multi in my hand. I would have had a t1 win, but...I won the coin toss. I still hit him for a t1 40, and get set up on my next turn. As the game goes on, I realize how insane the Porygon 2 download / Illumse-Vol putting supporters back on your deck is. He just burnt through his deck. Altho I had a great start I wouldn't have been able to keep up, fortunately he Rolled 3/18 heads (on three difference dice). Not only that, but after he wiffed his first three rolls on tri-attack I proceeded to OHKO pory Z with Claydol, 2 plus power and Lake Boundary. He couldn't recovery from the overwelming amount of tails. (his next game against Gordon he fliped something like 2/9 heads >.<)
2-0 (Stacy finished 1-4 or 2-3)
Round 3 vs Cynthia from with Banette (no claydol)
Cynthis is a pokemom who knows the game, just not the deck. She tells me she borrowed the deck just this morning and never played it before, I laughed and replied me too! Even tho Banette is fairly straight forward; I felt I had the advantage as a more experienced player. Luckily for me, I didn't need it. t1 assention against her Lunatone start. She couldn't get set up and I won on turn three after taking out the Lunetone and OHKO her banette when she couldn't return the ko. (I hate winning like this because I've lost like that so many times last season, I felt her pain)
3-0!!!!
So at this point I'm feeling great. Granted I was very lucky and I'm pretty much garenteed t8. Until I realize all my opponents at this point have lost EVERY GAME they possibly could (0-3, 1-2 and 2-1) I knew I still had to win another game.
The 4 3-0 players are Willy with BMC Andrew with GG and Dexter Plox. Happy I had a good chance at a good match up. butt....
Round 4 vs Willy from Edmonton with Mag Blaze Claydol.
This is where I realized I completly overlooked playing cessation crystal (apperently building decks at 5 in the morning isn't a good idea). Its even more annoying because I spent 20 min trying to fill up my final to spots and couldn't think of anything (I even scrolled through the apprentice legal trainers list and was stumped) *sighs* Willy is a great player, playing a great deck with a great build; I knew this wouldn't be easy. Starting with a Saybleye didn't help even more so when I’m facing his t2 combuskin and magmortar. After getting slightly set up I make a bit of a comeback, but nothing close enough to make it interesting.
3-1
Okay that was an unlucky match up no biggy. I’m still doing better then I thought I would so I’m happy. Again, my opponents ALL loose their matches (aside from willy beating me) So there’s no way my tiebreaker is good enough. I need to win. And naturally I find out that I’m paired against the only remaining Magmortar out of the other 7 or so 3-1’s.
Final round vs Alex D. with BMC
Yup, another bad match up with another great player and another great list. (Alex finished 4th in Seniors in Hawaii!) Well no point in crying over spilt milk. I knew I could win if I got a fast enough start, and fortunately I get t1 Banette with a t3 or 4 Claydol. Alex is sitting there with little he can do until he final get set up (after giving up 3 prizes) He sends out the first magmortar for a ko, I retaliate with an banette but couldn’t score the kill. He takes out another one. And I take out the Mag with my third banette. Putting me at a 4-2 prize lead with 5 min remaining in the game. I could easily stall out (legitimately) for the win; but personally have no respect for players who do that. There was no way I was that desperate for the win. I send out a sayble and disable for a couple turns which gets ko’d. Prizes are now 2-2 with a 2 min or so left in the game. Alex takes his turn and needs the ko for the win. I assumed he could kill something with lv x (if he had it in his deck) and by the speed of his play on that turn I was freaking out. I thought he had the kill and was stalling to ensure I don’t return the ko. Time’s called but by the look on his face I realize he didn’t have the kill. Enthusiastic I throw down warp point and double plus power, to take out his 100hp blaze with banette ftw. =D
**Mind blows after I almost allow a comeback that intense**
4-1 I’m ranked 5th. Going into playoffs.
The top 8 are:
Dexter with Plox
Willy with Mag
Andrew with G&G
Malcolm with Hurricane
Sdrawkcab with Banette
Bidier with Flygon
Corieen with ???
Eric with Houndoom Darkrai
Yay…another reason to hate myself for not playing cessation crystal. I have no clue how the match up works so I ask around. Gordon and Willy both agree….auto loss >.<
Well here we go;
Game 1:
Another Saybleye start! My hand has a single energy, tvr, celio and scott with a couple other useless stuff. I scott for the mentor and get set up t3. He gets a couple delcatty t3 or 4, disable forced him to take a second parchuize (w.e.) and fill the bench. Unfortunately that was it. Both my Wagers were prized and my copycat once used help little to none. I consided the game after 30 min. (I know I let this game go on way to long).
0-1
Game 2:
Perfect start. T1 Banette t2 claydol. I was able to warp point a critical delcatty early t3, and a second warp point to take out a benched totadile. He was able to get out the pokemon, just not at when he needed them. So if he wanted to, he could have easily stalled out and force the win based on game 1. He opted do consided with 15 min left and I respect him for that!
1-1
Game 3:
We both have good starting hands, neither of us had energy. He opts for the first turn, and wiffs the top deck. I wiff my top deck aswell so I mentor for a bench ( having claydol in my hand) We both get set up but I have the first prize advantage. I don’t manage to get off any damaging wagers, since he already had his delcatty and magneton set up. We exchange prizes and I find myself with a single prize lead 3-2 and 1 min left in the game. I could EXTREMLY easily (legitimately) stall out for the win, but because he had the respect to conceded early in the second game I wouldn’t win that way. I have a warp point in my had, with two energy and two celio. Nothing on his bench had more then 80hp; I could grab a shuppet bench it attach an energy; next turn warp point celio attach for the ko. I had it! I go ahead celio for shuppet. OPPS 4th shuppet is in my 3 remaining prizes >.< So now I can draw 7 cards in the next two turns with claydol and lunatone, I’ll need to hit crystal beach to prevent the go ahead ko; night maintenance to get another suppet, into the deck, and I’ll need to get the shuppet without having already used a supporter. After drawing all that I can I pass my turn with 45 seconds left (Yeah, I did all the thinking in 15 seconds because I DIDN’T want to win on stalling. Call my stupid, moronic, pathetic, cowardly w.e. I can say I played fairly and played with respect, what can you say about yourself?) He takes his turn, ko’s active banette to tie the game once timed was called. My turn, I still need to hit the Beach and the shuppet. (this is of coarse assuming he didn’t have a counter to the beach) I excavate, discard a mentor. Claydol and top deck the shuppet. I’ve got a TVR 20 or so cards in my deck with 2-3 crystal beach left. I use my second excavate discard a second mentor TVR AND?!??!?!
Wiff the top deck. He proceedes to KO me on his next turn for the win. I flip my prizes reveal not only the shuppet, but a Beach, and outta curiosity check the next card….it was the other beach >.<
1-2
I just hope Malcolm realizes what the scenario was and passes on the SOTG.
Willy lost an upset match to Corieen; Andrew beat Bidier and Dexter beat Eric. Had I won, my next two matches would be Plox and G&G in the finals. Dexter ended up winning the finals because Andrew had to leave after top 4. So really I only had to beat dexter in t4 to win oh well….
I started of the day extremely lucky and karma balances things out. I’m happy that this year it didn’t wait until nationals to get even with me.
Props:
Starting 3-0 in my first tournament of the year
Building the deck at 5 in the morning
Mikey and Kettler and Kevin for their last minute-ish training
Team M for a starting point that I based my list off of.
Geoff for head judging that BDS would be proud of! (and lending me cards!)
Willy for lending me cards.
Malcolm being an awesome sport and not try to stall me out.
John for getting a great venue and boosting attendance! (it got rather boring playing against Willy / Gordon / Spencer by the second round of a tournament for the last two years.)
DAVE SCHWIMMER for picking OUR regionals to attend (hopfully scouting for nationals) And signing my regs hat! =D
POKEBUS TO NATIONALS!
And everything else I’ve forgotten!
Slops:
For getting 3 back to back bad match ups
My opponents ALL losing every game after playing me >.< (including top cut)
Karma being a bag.
For prize cards.
3 hours of sleep
coke being to expensive and addictive
subway for being on the other side of the street
Nationals being more then a week away!
Thanks all, see you in Vancouver and Orlando!
Of coarse, since I wasn't playing, I wasn't interested in practicing, and since I wasn't praciting I wasn't looking at cards either. I kept on eye on what decks where winning, but that was about it. So realizing that regionals were three days away, I log onto aim for the first time since christmas break, and spamed my friends for help. Thankfully Mikey, Kettler, and Kevin came to the rescue, giving me advice on matchups and importent tech cards in BMC Plox and Banette. I semi-try to find opponents to play, no one seemed interested, and I procrastinate building a list / actual testing until friday night.
Actually I waited until 5:15 Saturday morning. So I wake up on three hours of sleep find my way to the computer, build a banette and test against my premade Absol Blissey Weavile as that was my second option. (My brother had dibs on plox and we have few cards to begain with
) Needless to say Banette won and since I felt more confident about the matchup against plox I start scrabling for cards.
2 hours later:
THE LIST
Pokemon:
4 Shuppet
4 Banette
2 Claydol
2 Baltoy
2 Sableye
2 Lunatone
1 Solrock
Energy:
4 Multi
10 Psychic
Trainers:
4 TVR
4 Celio Network
4 Holon Mentor
4 Pluspower
2 Galatic Wager
1 Copycat (couldn't find a third wager)
3 Crystal Beach
1 Lake Boundry
1 Moonlight Stadium (couldn't find another lake boundry)
1 Scott
2 Warp Point
2 Night Maintance
I realise now, there should have been a couple more changes (aside from the cards I couldn't find; but thats what no practicing gets you
) We get to the tournament and I meet up with, Willy, Gordon, Andrew, Alex, Bidier, Geoff, and pretty much everyone that I havn't seen since last season. Score a Claydol and Banette from Geoff and Willy (thanks guys) and put my deck togeather in frount of everyone. Evenutally I find out that the decks being played by the top players are 3 BMC 2 plox/GG/whatever version it was and a hurricane(Frealigatr), only 2/6 were good match ups for me >.<
Now what you've been waiting for; the games! This for me was practice for Nationals, I really wasn't to concered about how I placed aslong as went 50% or better.
29 players in masters = round swiss with top 8
5-0 or 4-1 to gareentee a spot, with 2/10 3-2 making the cut. Basically if you go 3-0 you're in.
Round 1: Michael from Edmonton (Ampheros with random (C) pokemon)
Didn't reconize him, after talking for a few minutes I find out he just started playing last night! =) I get a decent assention start, altho couldn't really set up a bench until 3rd or 4th turn. Thankfull he also had a slow start. Once I realized that his entire deck was weak to fighting, I loaded up claydol played lake boundary and just plowed through his deck.
1-0 (Mike Finished the big 0-5!)
Round 2: Stacy from....Vancouver? playing Porygon Z-illumse/volbeat
A fairly new player (as far as I know) but I had no clue what this deck did.
I start off with what I thought would be the worst starter (Solrock) and was rather worried until he flipped over a lone Smeagle. I top deck a 2nd plus power with a multi in my hand. I would have had a t1 win, but...I won the coin toss. I still hit him for a t1 40, and get set up on my next turn. As the game goes on, I realize how insane the Porygon 2 download / Illumse-Vol putting supporters back on your deck is. He just burnt through his deck. Altho I had a great start I wouldn't have been able to keep up, fortunately he Rolled 3/18 heads (on three difference dice). Not only that, but after he wiffed his first three rolls on tri-attack I proceeded to OHKO pory Z with Claydol, 2 plus power and Lake Boundary. He couldn't recovery from the overwelming amount of tails. (his next game against Gordon he fliped something like 2/9 heads >.<)
2-0 (Stacy finished 1-4 or 2-3)
Round 3 vs Cynthia from with Banette (no claydol)
Cynthis is a pokemom who knows the game, just not the deck. She tells me she borrowed the deck just this morning and never played it before, I laughed and replied me too! Even tho Banette is fairly straight forward; I felt I had the advantage as a more experienced player. Luckily for me, I didn't need it. t1 assention against her Lunatone start. She couldn't get set up and I won on turn three after taking out the Lunetone and OHKO her banette when she couldn't return the ko. (I hate winning like this because I've lost like that so many times last season, I felt her pain)
3-0!!!!
So at this point I'm feeling great. Granted I was very lucky and I'm pretty much garenteed t8. Until I realize all my opponents at this point have lost EVERY GAME they possibly could (0-3, 1-2 and 2-1) I knew I still had to win another game.
The 4 3-0 players are Willy with BMC Andrew with GG and Dexter Plox. Happy I had a good chance at a good match up. butt....
Round 4 vs Willy from Edmonton with Mag Blaze Claydol.
This is where I realized I completly overlooked playing cessation crystal (apperently building decks at 5 in the morning isn't a good idea). Its even more annoying because I spent 20 min trying to fill up my final to spots and couldn't think of anything (I even scrolled through the apprentice legal trainers list and was stumped) *sighs* Willy is a great player, playing a great deck with a great build; I knew this wouldn't be easy. Starting with a Saybleye didn't help even more so when I’m facing his t2 combuskin and magmortar. After getting slightly set up I make a bit of a comeback, but nothing close enough to make it interesting.
3-1
Okay that was an unlucky match up no biggy. I’m still doing better then I thought I would so I’m happy. Again, my opponents ALL loose their matches (aside from willy beating me) So there’s no way my tiebreaker is good enough. I need to win. And naturally I find out that I’m paired against the only remaining Magmortar out of the other 7 or so 3-1’s.
Final round vs Alex D. with BMC
Yup, another bad match up with another great player and another great list. (Alex finished 4th in Seniors in Hawaii!) Well no point in crying over spilt milk. I knew I could win if I got a fast enough start, and fortunately I get t1 Banette with a t3 or 4 Claydol. Alex is sitting there with little he can do until he final get set up (after giving up 3 prizes) He sends out the first magmortar for a ko, I retaliate with an banette but couldn’t score the kill. He takes out another one. And I take out the Mag with my third banette. Putting me at a 4-2 prize lead with 5 min remaining in the game. I could easily stall out (legitimately) for the win; but personally have no respect for players who do that. There was no way I was that desperate for the win. I send out a sayble and disable for a couple turns which gets ko’d. Prizes are now 2-2 with a 2 min or so left in the game. Alex takes his turn and needs the ko for the win. I assumed he could kill something with lv x (if he had it in his deck) and by the speed of his play on that turn I was freaking out. I thought he had the kill and was stalling to ensure I don’t return the ko. Time’s called but by the look on his face I realize he didn’t have the kill. Enthusiastic I throw down warp point and double plus power, to take out his 100hp blaze with banette ftw. =D
**Mind blows after I almost allow a comeback that intense**
4-1 I’m ranked 5th. Going into playoffs.
The top 8 are:
Dexter with Plox
Willy with Mag
Andrew with G&G
Malcolm with Hurricane
Sdrawkcab with Banette
Bidier with Flygon
Corieen with ???
Eric with Houndoom Darkrai
Yay…another reason to hate myself for not playing cessation crystal. I have no clue how the match up works so I ask around. Gordon and Willy both agree….auto loss >.<
Well here we go;
Game 1:
Another Saybleye start! My hand has a single energy, tvr, celio and scott with a couple other useless stuff. I scott for the mentor and get set up t3. He gets a couple delcatty t3 or 4, disable forced him to take a second parchuize (w.e.) and fill the bench. Unfortunately that was it. Both my Wagers were prized and my copycat once used help little to none. I consided the game after 30 min. (I know I let this game go on way to long).
0-1
Game 2:
Perfect start. T1 Banette t2 claydol. I was able to warp point a critical delcatty early t3, and a second warp point to take out a benched totadile. He was able to get out the pokemon, just not at when he needed them. So if he wanted to, he could have easily stalled out and force the win based on game 1. He opted do consided with 15 min left and I respect him for that!
1-1
Game 3:
We both have good starting hands, neither of us had energy. He opts for the first turn, and wiffs the top deck. I wiff my top deck aswell so I mentor for a bench ( having claydol in my hand) We both get set up but I have the first prize advantage. I don’t manage to get off any damaging wagers, since he already had his delcatty and magneton set up. We exchange prizes and I find myself with a single prize lead 3-2 and 1 min left in the game. I could EXTREMLY easily (legitimately) stall out for the win, but because he had the respect to conceded early in the second game I wouldn’t win that way. I have a warp point in my had, with two energy and two celio. Nothing on his bench had more then 80hp; I could grab a shuppet bench it attach an energy; next turn warp point celio attach for the ko. I had it! I go ahead celio for shuppet. OPPS 4th shuppet is in my 3 remaining prizes >.< So now I can draw 7 cards in the next two turns with claydol and lunatone, I’ll need to hit crystal beach to prevent the go ahead ko; night maintenance to get another suppet, into the deck, and I’ll need to get the shuppet without having already used a supporter. After drawing all that I can I pass my turn with 45 seconds left (Yeah, I did all the thinking in 15 seconds because I DIDN’T want to win on stalling. Call my stupid, moronic, pathetic, cowardly w.e. I can say I played fairly and played with respect, what can you say about yourself?) He takes his turn, ko’s active banette to tie the game once timed was called. My turn, I still need to hit the Beach and the shuppet. (this is of coarse assuming he didn’t have a counter to the beach) I excavate, discard a mentor. Claydol and top deck the shuppet. I’ve got a TVR 20 or so cards in my deck with 2-3 crystal beach left. I use my second excavate discard a second mentor TVR AND?!??!?!
Wiff the top deck. He proceedes to KO me on his next turn for the win. I flip my prizes reveal not only the shuppet, but a Beach, and outta curiosity check the next card….it was the other beach >.<
1-2
I just hope Malcolm realizes what the scenario was and passes on the SOTG.
Willy lost an upset match to Corieen; Andrew beat Bidier and Dexter beat Eric. Had I won, my next two matches would be Plox and G&G in the finals. Dexter ended up winning the finals because Andrew had to leave after top 4. So really I only had to beat dexter in t4 to win oh well….
I started of the day extremely lucky and karma balances things out. I’m happy that this year it didn’t wait until nationals to get even with me.
Props:
Starting 3-0 in my first tournament of the year
Building the deck at 5 in the morning
Mikey and Kettler and Kevin for their last minute-ish training
Team M for a starting point that I based my list off of.
Geoff for head judging that BDS would be proud of! (and lending me cards!)
Willy for lending me cards.
Malcolm being an awesome sport and not try to stall me out.
John for getting a great venue and boosting attendance! (it got rather boring playing against Willy / Gordon / Spencer by the second round of a tournament for the last two years.)
DAVE SCHWIMMER for picking OUR regionals to attend (hopfully scouting for nationals) And signing my regs hat! =D
POKEBUS TO NATIONALS!
And everything else I’ve forgotten!
Slops:
For getting 3 back to back bad match ups
My opponents ALL losing every game after playing me >.< (including top cut)
Karma being a bag.
For prize cards.
3 hours of sleep
coke being to expensive and addictive
subway for being on the other side of the street
Nationals being more then a week away!
Thanks all, see you in Vancouver and Orlando!
