Hey guys! Today I am going to tell you about my Battle Roads experience! I wasn’t going to go, because I have a pile of assignments to do. But I went anyway. Haha. I didn’t really prepare too well. I got up and showered, put some Nightwish on the stereo, had some breakfast and then I made a change or two to the Kingdra deck I had lying on my bedroom floor. Before I knew it my lift was here, and I was on my way to Nundah!
I called my deck Rip-Stream. Here is the list I used:
4x Horsea
2x Seadra
4x Kingdra
3x Baltoy
3x Claydol
1x Ralts
1x Gardevoir
2x Unown Q
11x Water Energy
4x Call Energy
4x Bebe’s Search
4x Roseanne’s Research
2x Buck’s Training
2x Team Galactic’s Wager
4x Rare Candy
4x Pluspower
3x Warp Point
2x Night Maintenance
You are probably asking, why Unown Q? Well. After playing a few games without Unown Q, I found myself getting really stuck if my opponent played Palkia Lvl .X (Which is semi-popular in my area), then continually sending out my Gardevoir or a Claydol really slowed me down. Unown Q makes both of their retreat costs 1 – which is a lot more manageable.
Other than that, I think this is a pretty standard Kingdra list. A lot of comments I got today were “You only play 11 water energy? That’s suicide! How can you Aqua Stream every turn?” Well… If you are playing to Aqua Stream every turn, you are playing Kingdra wrong!
Anyways. I’ll cut to the chase. Not much happened before the tournament started. But when the announcement about time was made, I was enraged. In Australia, we have always done best of three games in the swiss rounds. So my immediate response was “Okay… Yeah. Fine. But how long do we have exactly?” We usually have 40-45 minute rounds to complete the best of three, but today, it was only 30. Oh well… All I can do is play, right?
Round 1 VS Carlos [Dragonite/Rayquaza/Smeargle]
Carlos was using a pretty neat deck. I liked the idea. I thought it was a very nice deck concept, and it certainly needed a lot of work, as he admitted.
I started with a lone Baltoy and the only real eye grabbing card in my hand was Bebe’s Search. But with me going first, it wasn’t looking too great. Luckily, I drew into a Call Energy, and started to fill my bench. About 2 or 3 turns later I had my complete setup, and I proceeded to take prizes fairly quickly. Carlos managed to get a Dragonite out – but got tails on all the critical flips for it’s attack. He also managed to get off Rayquaza’s attack twice. But as time was called, I drew my last prize with a big Aqua Stream.
Result: Win!
I wasn’t surprised it took the full 30 minutes to have just one game. I also wasn’t surprised to hear about a few people losing to time, though. Throughout the day, it was surely going to be a common thing to hear about people winning the first game, taking about 20-25 of the 30 minutes, and then playing the second slowly – winning by default. This unfortunate reality made me angry.
I didn’t really have time to gather much of my thoughts, the second round started almost immediately after time was called.
Round 2 VS Sean B. [Kabutops/Aerodactyl/Claydol]
His deck looked pretty nice. I suggested dropping Aerodactyl for Ampharos, which he did, after the tournament.
I got a pretty good start, compared to his mediocre one. He managed to get a T2 Aerodactyl, and got another one out on T3, which really inhibited my Cosmic Power and Telepassing abilities. Sean had the odd Kabutops or two, but by the time he got them powered and sent out, they were within OHKO range of my Kingdras. He only managed to take one prize the entire game.
That game took about 20 minutes. We went into a second game, but we didn’t get too far into it before time was called. I honestly felt robbed at that moment. It was shaping up to be an amazing game. But instead we had to pack up and leave the room. Someone asked me “Why are you upset, you won!” all I could say is “Time sucks”.
Result: Win!
I talked with people about their games so far for about 5 minutes. I was disappointed about some of the things I was hearing. Anyway, I went to the bathroom, and when I came out, the pairings were halfway through being read out.
Round 3 VS Belinda M. [Magmortar/Togekiss/Claydol]
Honestly? As soon as I saw a Magmortar when she mulligan’d, I thought it was going to be an easy game. She must have had like, 5 mulligans before she got a basic.
Anyhow, she didn’t get much out. She managed to get a Claydol and a few Magmortars out, but they didn’t last too long. She didn’t see an entire Togekiss in game one, and she couldn’t get energies onto her Magmortars fast enough. It was over in about ten minutes.
The second game was pretty similar to the first. I was a bit disappointed. She got really unlucky.
Result: Win!
So then we had a 20 minute lunch break. Not much happened. I wasn’t hungry so I talked with some friends while they ate. And before we knew it… The next and final round! Everyone got to play, it wasn’t a top cut.
Round 4 [Finals] VS Alan J. [AMU with Mewtwo Lvl. X]
I went into this game feeling pretty positive. Everyone was saying that I was doomed because AMU auto wins against Kingdra. But, well… I honestly didn’t know…
The first game was a bloodbath. It was about 20 minutes long. He didn’t see a Claydol the entire game. (I think they were prized), he attacked with his Mewtwo Lvl. X’s almost the entire game. By the time I took all six of my prizes, he only took one or two.
So then we started the second game. I got a lone Baltoy and a hand full of water energy… He goes first, he attaches to his Azelf and attacks for 20. I draw a Bucks, play it, get nothing, attach and pass. He plays a bucks and attacks with Azelf = DONK. : (
I was a bit upset. I mean. Nobody likes being donked…
So then the all important third game. I knew I was going to lose. I mean… There was only a few minutes left. And all he had to do was take a single prize. Which was easy with such high hitting Pokemon. I couldn’t do it as easily. He went first, got some energy in his discard with Lunatone, attached to Mewtwo and got the discarded energy back onto himself. I went, got a T1 Kingdra, and with a Bucks and some PlusPower, almost knocked out his Mewtwo. He drew and did a few things. And then time was called. Then he Lvl’d up, attached, played a Bucks and KO’d me for the game. (He won because he had taken a prize, whereas I hadn’t. I still had some basics on my bench.)
I was a bit upset. I mean. I could have easily come back that game if the time limit wasn’t so short. But oh well. It happens. I enjoyed myself. And Alan was playing amazingly all day. He truly deserved it.
Anyway, prizes were handed out. Turns out I came second in my division (Masters) and second overall. Not too bad. I pulled a Mewtwo Lvl. X out of my two packs. The winners of the three age divisions felt pretty robbed – there were no victory medal cards. I talked with people for another hour or two about the state of the game here in Australia, and why it all out sucks, and then I headed home.
Props:
- So many new faces! It was great to see so many new people.
- Parents getting involved! It was great to see them learning how to play, and enjoy, the game that their kids love!
- Alan (Master division), Jonathan (Senior division) and Matt (Junior division) – the 2008 Fall Battle Road CHAMPIONS!
- Mike (Junior division), Shaun (Senior division) and myself (Master division) – the 2008 Fall Battle Road runner ups!
- And last but not least, my friend, Maddy, for texting me throughout the day. She is really supportive and encouraging. THANK YOU MADDY! Haha.
Slops:
- Jason getting a game loss for an action that is perfectly legal.
- Time limit! HORRIBLE!
- There were a few bad sports. Crying over losing, accusing a person who beat you of cheating, and there was the odd person or two just being an all around stooge.
- NO VICTORY MEDALS CARDS. >:/
- Judging. It wasn’t too great.
So what’s next on the agenda? Well… The Brisbane City Championships are coming up on December 6. And I’ll be doing everything I can to keep my crown for a third consecutive year. Watch out guys. ;D
I called my deck Rip-Stream. Here is the list I used:
4x Horsea
2x Seadra
4x Kingdra
3x Baltoy
3x Claydol
1x Ralts
1x Gardevoir
2x Unown Q
11x Water Energy
4x Call Energy
4x Bebe’s Search
4x Roseanne’s Research
2x Buck’s Training
2x Team Galactic’s Wager
4x Rare Candy
4x Pluspower
3x Warp Point
2x Night Maintenance
You are probably asking, why Unown Q? Well. After playing a few games without Unown Q, I found myself getting really stuck if my opponent played Palkia Lvl .X (Which is semi-popular in my area), then continually sending out my Gardevoir or a Claydol really slowed me down. Unown Q makes both of their retreat costs 1 – which is a lot more manageable.
Other than that, I think this is a pretty standard Kingdra list. A lot of comments I got today were “You only play 11 water energy? That’s suicide! How can you Aqua Stream every turn?” Well… If you are playing to Aqua Stream every turn, you are playing Kingdra wrong!
Anyways. I’ll cut to the chase. Not much happened before the tournament started. But when the announcement about time was made, I was enraged. In Australia, we have always done best of three games in the swiss rounds. So my immediate response was “Okay… Yeah. Fine. But how long do we have exactly?” We usually have 40-45 minute rounds to complete the best of three, but today, it was only 30. Oh well… All I can do is play, right?
Round 1 VS Carlos [Dragonite/Rayquaza/Smeargle]
Carlos was using a pretty neat deck. I liked the idea. I thought it was a very nice deck concept, and it certainly needed a lot of work, as he admitted.
I started with a lone Baltoy and the only real eye grabbing card in my hand was Bebe’s Search. But with me going first, it wasn’t looking too great. Luckily, I drew into a Call Energy, and started to fill my bench. About 2 or 3 turns later I had my complete setup, and I proceeded to take prizes fairly quickly. Carlos managed to get a Dragonite out – but got tails on all the critical flips for it’s attack. He also managed to get off Rayquaza’s attack twice. But as time was called, I drew my last prize with a big Aqua Stream.
Result: Win!
I wasn’t surprised it took the full 30 minutes to have just one game. I also wasn’t surprised to hear about a few people losing to time, though. Throughout the day, it was surely going to be a common thing to hear about people winning the first game, taking about 20-25 of the 30 minutes, and then playing the second slowly – winning by default. This unfortunate reality made me angry.
I didn’t really have time to gather much of my thoughts, the second round started almost immediately after time was called.
Round 2 VS Sean B. [Kabutops/Aerodactyl/Claydol]
His deck looked pretty nice. I suggested dropping Aerodactyl for Ampharos, which he did, after the tournament.
I got a pretty good start, compared to his mediocre one. He managed to get a T2 Aerodactyl, and got another one out on T3, which really inhibited my Cosmic Power and Telepassing abilities. Sean had the odd Kabutops or two, but by the time he got them powered and sent out, they were within OHKO range of my Kingdras. He only managed to take one prize the entire game.
That game took about 20 minutes. We went into a second game, but we didn’t get too far into it before time was called. I honestly felt robbed at that moment. It was shaping up to be an amazing game. But instead we had to pack up and leave the room. Someone asked me “Why are you upset, you won!” all I could say is “Time sucks”.
Result: Win!
I talked with people about their games so far for about 5 minutes. I was disappointed about some of the things I was hearing. Anyway, I went to the bathroom, and when I came out, the pairings were halfway through being read out.
Round 3 VS Belinda M. [Magmortar/Togekiss/Claydol]
Honestly? As soon as I saw a Magmortar when she mulligan’d, I thought it was going to be an easy game. She must have had like, 5 mulligans before she got a basic.
Anyhow, she didn’t get much out. She managed to get a Claydol and a few Magmortars out, but they didn’t last too long. She didn’t see an entire Togekiss in game one, and she couldn’t get energies onto her Magmortars fast enough. It was over in about ten minutes.
The second game was pretty similar to the first. I was a bit disappointed. She got really unlucky.
Result: Win!
So then we had a 20 minute lunch break. Not much happened. I wasn’t hungry so I talked with some friends while they ate. And before we knew it… The next and final round! Everyone got to play, it wasn’t a top cut.
Round 4 [Finals] VS Alan J. [AMU with Mewtwo Lvl. X]
I went into this game feeling pretty positive. Everyone was saying that I was doomed because AMU auto wins against Kingdra. But, well… I honestly didn’t know…
The first game was a bloodbath. It was about 20 minutes long. He didn’t see a Claydol the entire game. (I think they were prized), he attacked with his Mewtwo Lvl. X’s almost the entire game. By the time I took all six of my prizes, he only took one or two.
So then we started the second game. I got a lone Baltoy and a hand full of water energy… He goes first, he attaches to his Azelf and attacks for 20. I draw a Bucks, play it, get nothing, attach and pass. He plays a bucks and attacks with Azelf = DONK. : (
I was a bit upset. I mean. Nobody likes being donked…
So then the all important third game. I knew I was going to lose. I mean… There was only a few minutes left. And all he had to do was take a single prize. Which was easy with such high hitting Pokemon. I couldn’t do it as easily. He went first, got some energy in his discard with Lunatone, attached to Mewtwo and got the discarded energy back onto himself. I went, got a T1 Kingdra, and with a Bucks and some PlusPower, almost knocked out his Mewtwo. He drew and did a few things. And then time was called. Then he Lvl’d up, attached, played a Bucks and KO’d me for the game. (He won because he had taken a prize, whereas I hadn’t. I still had some basics on my bench.)
I was a bit upset. I mean. I could have easily come back that game if the time limit wasn’t so short. But oh well. It happens. I enjoyed myself. And Alan was playing amazingly all day. He truly deserved it.
Anyway, prizes were handed out. Turns out I came second in my division (Masters) and second overall. Not too bad. I pulled a Mewtwo Lvl. X out of my two packs. The winners of the three age divisions felt pretty robbed – there were no victory medal cards. I talked with people for another hour or two about the state of the game here in Australia, and why it all out sucks, and then I headed home.
Props:
- So many new faces! It was great to see so many new people.
- Parents getting involved! It was great to see them learning how to play, and enjoy, the game that their kids love!
- Alan (Master division), Jonathan (Senior division) and Matt (Junior division) – the 2008 Fall Battle Road CHAMPIONS!
- Mike (Junior division), Shaun (Senior division) and myself (Master division) – the 2008 Fall Battle Road runner ups!
- And last but not least, my friend, Maddy, for texting me throughout the day. She is really supportive and encouraging. THANK YOU MADDY! Haha.
Slops:
- Jason getting a game loss for an action that is perfectly legal.
- Time limit! HORRIBLE!
- There were a few bad sports. Crying over losing, accusing a person who beat you of cheating, and there was the odd person or two just being an all around stooge.
- NO VICTORY MEDALS CARDS. >:/
- Judging. It wasn’t too great.
So what’s next on the agenda? Well… The Brisbane City Championships are coming up on December 6. And I’ll be doing everything I can to keep my crown for a third consecutive year. Watch out guys. ;D
