rokman
<a href="http://pokegym.net/gallery/browseimages.p
By: Michael “rokman” Weldon
Be glad I’m even writing this article and not writing something for my site; http://www.rokmanfilms.com which has been neglected for almost a week! Since that’s all I’ve been doing for this year (just moved from tumblr to blogger) beside working, I haven’t had time this season to really get down to testing (which is like 100+ appr games a week usually). Regardless, the entire season pretty much, I’ve been tweaking the same LuxChomp list. And I’m super confident with it and every tech imaginable… Here’s what I played in Houston…
21
3 Garchomp C
1 Garchomp C lv.x
2 Luxray GL
1 Luxray GL lv.x
1 Dialga G
1 Dialga G lv.x
2 Uxie
1 Uxie lv.x
1 Ambipom G
1 Bronzong G
1 Crobat G
1 Dragonite FB
1 Lucario GL
1 Toxicroak G promo
1 Azelf
1 Chatot
1 Unown Q
28
4 Cyrus’s Conspiracy
4 Pokemon Collector
2 Bebe’s Search
1 Aaron’s Collection
1 Seeker
1 Twins
3 Poke Turn
3 Energy Gain
3 Power Spray
2 SP-radar
2 Premier Ball
1 Junk Arm
1 VS Seeker
11
4 Double Colorless energy
2 warp energy
3 Lightning energy
1 Psychic energy
1 Metal energy (basic)
Before the tournament
I made arrangements so that I don’t have to rely on people who abandon other people in Houston at 4 am and rode down with Team Hooters (almost everyone who goes to my Wednesday league, it’s just us; Justin S., JJ D., David W., and Casey B!) Nikil D. Also goes to our league! Represent! The night before the tournament I was thinking about taking out Mewtwo lv.x because it only net me a single win at States, and lost me another, John K. recommended Dialga lv.x, one of my top choices for a tech (Mewtwo, Dialga, or Honchkrow) After many shenanigans (even a rap session on the way down) we reach our hotel and stay up almost all night talking and debating about life, the universe, and everything. Eventually, we had to stop talking about things that actually matter so we can get some sleep for a pokemon event. Ha.
Once we were actually at the tournament, I was really surprised by the players who showed up! Christian O. (New York), Ryan V. and Chris B. (Florida) all came out of state to our Regionals! Awesome! In attendance were also the regulars who are just as good, John K. and Martin M. I have never had the opportunity to play Ryan V. of Florida so literally right before the tournament started, I told Team Hooters I wanted to play Ryan really badly. Pairings go up…
Round 1 – Ryan V. (Lostgar)
- When the match started, he opened with Gastly. At first I thought he was running Vilegar so I opened towards a Dialga. Very early he thinks about his pokemon for Communication and starts to show a Lost Gengar and I totally sink in my chair, it isn’t Vilegar!
- So, he spooky whirlpools my hand and hurls. The 6 cards I drew were a beautiful hand with no pokemon.
- I return by committing to a Garchomp for Dragon rush and retreat, play gain/DCE, setup and then get Cyrus for a SP-radar, use the radar, Chomp X is prized! I felt like an idiot because I was so sure he was in the deck! Now that I think about it, I saw it in my very first opening hand, which I had to mulligan away.
- I have to make a huge decision after that epic fail, I’m up by one prize (I drew the Chomp X!) from some trash and have to choose, he can either portrait for a twins and see I have the chomp or let him setup huge, or let him spooky whirlpool me. Obviously I had to spray the smeargle, which he responded with a spooky whirlpool sending the Chomp away!
- After the full 30 minutes, He’s got 5 of my pokemon in the lost zone and time is called on his turn (which is turn 0). He has to get a rare candy to play down the last Lost gengar he has to win, he sets up twice to draw 8, whiffs…. Because he has to use turn 1 in the +3 to declare himself the winner. So, after he realizes he can’t do it, he scoops! And he checks his next two cards, BOTH rare candies! Ugh, great game, barely snuck it. I think I could have gone up and Deafened to stop him from dropping the Lost World though, can’t remember my field.
- Turns out, Dialga X won me this game anyway. The whole time, I had a Bronzong G hovering at 40,60, and 80 hp, which is a KO from Cursed Droplets and Gengar’s body sends it to the lost zone. If he could have done that, he would have won for sure.
1-0
Round 2 – Josh S. (Gengar/Kingdra)
- I open with Dialga, AGAIN! And I am not sure what he is playing because he starts with Gastly and I think it’s a vilegar just like I did last round! Once I have the Dialga X on the bench I watch him get out two Kingdra’s and I feel a lot better, it’s just Gengar/Kingdra.
- It’s entirely one sided since I end up Azelf Locking Up one of his pokemon and spraying his Spray splash three turns in a row so he can’t draw a prize to get out of a trash hand he got from Judge. He continues to draw trash until I sweep the board .
- Come to find out he plays mewtwo lv.x but never got it out since I had Dialga X benched the whole game! Already, Dialga has won me two! Ha!
2-0
Round 3 –Nikkolas (Gyarados)
- Really terrible start, just a Luxray and a DCE, nothing else of note. I attack for a cheap prize on Magikarp (he has another benched) hoping to draw anything useful.
- He Mentors (Regice, Karp, Uxie), regimoves 2 karps, Plays some trainers including Junk Arm, sets up huge, plays BTS and Gyarados, donked.
2-1
Round 4 – Chris B. (Lostgar)
- So, turns out I’m playing the other awesome Floridian running Lostgar. I start off so terribly, open Dragonite FB with no supporters. I go first and draw a COLLECTOR, yes!
- On his first turn, he spooky whirlpools and gets a Gengar, uses hurl, nabs Garchomp Lv.X! How can I win this now?!
- He sneaks another pokemon in the lost zone while I draw a few prizes. We go back and forth for a bit until he plays spooky whirlpool again, this time getting THREE POKEMON, he can only remove two though. So, I burn everything and setup for 6 new cards, all great stuff, 0 pokemon!
- Time is running short and I know I have to protect my hand, he already has lost world out. So, I play it safe at the end. Time is called on his turn, and he is in the same spot Ryan V was. He has to pull something off but also whiffs on it after some big draws. He ends up scooping as well.
3-1
Round 5 – Christian O. (Magnarock)
- Awesome! I have now played all the major players that were really out-of-state. I played Christian in a pickup game before, but never in a tournament. I wanted to win so I can say I defended Texas even if I don’t top cut!
- I start off SO TERRIBLY. I literally draw pass for the first good to 4-6 turns. I have a hand full of trainers, shut down by a Spiritomb! All that is playable is a Twins, so I’m patiently waiting for his KO.
- Once he Kos me with a Magnazone (finally, no more lock), I twins for a Toxicroak G promo and a Cyrus! And Finally get the ball rolling! After the KO, he TOPDECKS Sunnyshore gym, ugh, sorry man!
- When the game begins to wind down, I have 3 prizes remaining to his 4, he is becoming energy drought with nothing in the discard and everything that was on the field in the lost zone, it’s mostly over and I take board control.
4-1
Round 6 – Oliver F. (Vile-Lostgar/Palkia G)
- I get a garbage start… He has drawn 2 prizes and lost world 4 pokemon before I even have an energy to attack (which I had to twins to get!)
- He wins with Lost World because I haven’t had a spray for his Palkia G all game!
- It was very valuable to play Oliver in swiss because I end up having an epic top cut match against him later.
4-2
Round 7 – Miguel E. (LuxChomp)
- I get a similar start as last round and draw complete trash. I don’t have anything to do, no supporters, no energy, nothing.
- After this loss, I’m really discouraged. I know a couple 5-3’s will slide in, but I’m not sure all my losses will maintain a good record. We’ll just have to see…
4-3
Round 8 – Steve M. (Magnarock/Vileplume)
- Since I am 4-3, I have to win here and hope for good resistance to make it in. I’ve actually played Steve, a really nice and great player, at Texas States a couple weeks prior and pretty much know his list.
- I start the game with Dialga G, use Azelf and see three DCEs prized, so I’ll be able to get them after each KO and have plenty of resource.
- I end up using warp energy and leaving the Dialga on the bench when I see him Pokemon Communication an Oddish away, I didn’t know he ran Vileplume in his list! Thank god I ran Dialga and got him on the bench!
- He gets a decent roll going but he expert belts a Magnazone without a Sunnyshore Gym out, and Toxicroak Kos him. That’s when I pretty much won the game.
5-3
Top 32
1) Jordan B (Vilegar)
32) Henry B. (Luxchomp)
16) Amalio O. (Luxchomp)
17 Jose E. (Magnerock)
8) Paul W. III (Luxchomp)
25) Rudy (Dialgachomp/Luxray)
9) Michael S. (Jumpluff)
24) Kaitlyn W. (Gyarados)
4) Chris P. (Regigigas)
29) Len D (Luxchomp)
13) Caleb C. (Luxchomp)
20) Andrew G. (Uxie)
5) Alex F. (Vilegar)
28) Casey B. (Gyarados)
12) Alec N. (Luxchomp)
21) Dana L. (Honchkrow/Garchomp)
2) Austin B. (Luxchomp)
31) Josh H (Gyarados)
15) Brent S. (Blazechomp)
18) Matt L. (Vilegar)
7) Travis M. (Luxchomp)
26) Randall H. (Gengar/Gliscor)
10) Aaron H. (Chen Lock)
23) Joe G. (Tangrowth)
3) Adam G. (Magnerock)
30) Michael W/Rokman (Luxchomp)
14) David W. (Sablelock)
19) James D. (Vilegar)
6) Oliver F. (Vile-lostgar)
27) Miguel E. (Luxchomp)
11) Dale L. (BLG)
22) Nikkei F. (Machamp/Donphan)
Take a look at all the Team Hooters players who made the cut! I’d like to just say, the Wednesday league in Haltom City probably has the highest top cut % of any league in the world. We only have like 5-8 players at this league each week, and 4 of us top cut! We're called Team Hooters because that's were we eat after league!
I'm also very proud of the Watauga League (right next door to Haltom League) players for doing so well! You guys did awesome!
Top 32 vs. Adam G. (Magnarock)
Game 1
- I've known Adam a long time and enjoyed playing him. He has placed third at every Regionals the past like 3 years. So, he was wanting to break the curse! We actually had a great time playing, it wasn't too serious because we would both be happy with either playing winning.
- I get an incredible start and gain board control almost instantly. I think after a couple crucial sprays and on every Judge I would draw a Cyrus or a bebe for an uxie, he had lost all hope in that game.
5-3 (1-0)
Game 2
- This time he starts with a Regirock and is repeating to me, "How did you get so good at this game?" and we're both laughing. Unfortunately since he had a bad start against my average one, I gain board control and ride it out the entire match. He did get a very early Sunnyshore out to protect from toxicroak, but I didn't even need it.
- His first two judges didn't do anything to me, because I drew out of it, but his last one was crippling, but it was far too late for him to mount a comeback.
6-3 (2-0)
The match next to me, which was David W. vs JJ D., they were goofing off too, just having a good time since they are both Team Hooters players.
Top 16
1) Jordan B (Vilegar)
16) Amalio O. (Luxchomp)
8) Paul W. III (Luxchomp)
24) Kaitlynn W.(Gyarados)
29) Len D (Luxchomp)
20) Andrew G. (Uxie)
5) Alex F. (Vilegar)
12) Alec N. (Luxchomp)
31) Josh H (Gyarados)
15) Brent S. (Blazechomp)
26) Randall H. (Gengar/Gliscor)
10) Aaron H. (Chen Lock)
30) Michael W/Rokman (Luxchomp)
14) David W. (Sablelock)
6) Oliver F. (Vile-lostgar)
22) Nikkei F. (Machamp/Donphan)
Of course Team Hooters is way too good for Pokemon and we are forced to knock each other out... I'm still really proud of our crew for doing so well!
What's really funny is, there was a long break between Top 32 and Top 16 and the fatigue began to really set in. So, in my top 16 match against David, neither of us were actually upbeat or goofing around because we were both pretty tired. We didn't say anything besides the cards and occasionally say something sarcastic.
Top 16 vs. David W. (Sablelock)
Game 1
- I actually made the list for David W. months ago, and since we all play and hang out together, I've seen the progress of his list and know it card for card, as he does mine.
- The match is pretty short, only lasting around 10 minutes. He opens with a Cyrus Initiative, hitting both! Unfortunately my opening hand was very solid and he couldn't cripple me. After I draw into everything in a few turns, he has to go for a huge Chip-off from Purugly to try and slow me down, but he doesn't get it.
6-3 (1-0)
Game 2
- My opening hand is really bad. I have only 1 cyrus Conspiracy to try and dodge his initiative and get a board going, but he chooses to Impersonate collector over the initiative, he said his hand had nothing in it. I don't really know how bad his hand is, but I have a feeling it was infinitely better than mine.
- Since he didn't kill my Cyrus, I'm able to get a decent setup going and get board control, again he is forced to go purugly, but it's too late in the match and my hand is far too good.
- Still, I'm really proud of David W. because this is his first pokemon season and he is top cutting the biggest Regionals in the nation and made it to top 16! Way to go, bro!
7-3 (2-0)
After top 16, day one is over. I was handed a piece of paper with instructions on how to get to the venue for top 8 matches, I didn't really think about putting the address in or anything to see how far it is, everyone was pretty tired. 4/5 of the car on the way back to the hotel all top cut and it was only me going into day 2. I was actually going to stay up and party with Ryan V. and Martin M. but Martin never texted me back, it was pretty late when I got out of my top cut matches and I hear he was already partying it up. So, the guys in our crew stayed up partying/playing Call of Duty while I passed out, ready for tomorrow.
My top 8 match was against Oliver F. and since I saw most of his list, I knew what I was getting into. It's hard to prepare for because I can go Dialga lv.x, use sprays to protect it from Level Down, while I try to keep my bench small so Palkia doesn't get me. Or, I can go straight for the cheap kills without using trainers, fill my bench up, and use the sprays for Palkia. So, really, he is countering whatever I do, it just comes down to opening hands really.
So, I wake up (on my own) at 8 AM, take a shower and head down for some breakfast. Turns out, the place was 45 minutes AWAY and if I had woken up any later, I could have been late! After I get the other guys up and they eat breakfast, we head on over to the best comic book store I've ever seen for top 8...
Top 8
16) Amalio O. from DFW, TX (Luxchomp)
24) Kaitlyn W. from LA (Gyarados)
29) Len D from DFW, TX (Luxchomp)
5) Alex F. from Killeen, TX (Vilegar)
31) Josh H from DFW, TX (Gyarados)
10) Aaron H. from LA (Chen Lock)
30) Michael W/Rokman from DFW, TX (Luxchomp)
6) Oliver F. from DFW, TX (Vile-lostgar)
So, the top cut is a pretty standard cut. 4 SP, 2 Vilegar, and 2 Gyarados... I feel like my list has the potential to win against any of the other decks in the cut and I feel very confident, but I know it won't be easy...
Top 8 vs. Oliver F. (Vile-Lostgar)
Game 1
- This game is so terrible I have no idea what was going on. Within like 15 minutes, he's got Garchomp lv.x, Luxray lv.x Unown Q, and Bronzong G in the lost world. I'm just flabbergasted and scoop. I didn't take any notes because I forgot to and can't remember how this atrocity took place.
- But... I find out he isn't running Gengar lv.x!!!
6-3 (0-1)
Game 2
- Before the match I'm pretty discouraged, but once I see my hand and realize the potential to donk him and have 1 match left with like 45 minutes remaining, I feel a lot better.
- His hand is terrible and I get the donk!
6-3 (1-1)
Game 3
- So, this is it. I have a really bad hand to his great start. Since he has Spiritomb active, I can't get the trainers out of my hand for a fat setup. So, on my second turn, I have to setup for 1... COLLECTOR! Yes! With this collector I'm able to get a decent board and get a Dialga out.
- He isn't able to hurl anything and gambles one turn to see my hand. He didn't hit anything and wasted his turn. That misplay is super crucial because I'm about to make an unbelievable misplay...
- Once I get my Dialga lv.x on the field, I can finally play my trainers. This turn lasts a good 6 minutes as I burn everything away (He hasn't poltergiested yet and if he did it would be a good 300 damage lol). I use 2 poke turns and a junk arm-poketurn on a garchomp on my bench and keep playing it back down. I do some other stuff, throwing out trainers with Sp Radar for no pokemon (because he can lost remove it) and then I look at my field and hand. I've got a garchomp in my hand that I scooped up like fifty times and can Dragon rush this turn with another garchomp on my bench, alright. SO, I bebe's for a chomp lv.x and promote the garchomp on my bench, attach gain, and DCE and level up. NOPE! The garchomp on my bench was the one I was poketurning the whole time! I thought I had 2 down, but I only had one! What an IDIOT!
- So, he goes. And I know he will just hurl the chomp lv.x in my hand. But... he retreats? I guess he had nothing in his hand and if he let me KO his lost gengar, he'd have been in a really bad spot. So he let's me keep the chomp lv.x? Okay... He decides to keep using lock up on my crobat. But, if he KO's it, I can twins huge (and he knows it, he saw it with a Hurl at the beginning of the game). We're tied on prizes at this point.
- I've got 3 sprays in my hand ready for level downs and palkia. I feel really good. But, I'm in a tough spot, I have nothing to attack with for a cheap KO on his active. I guess I can setup for one and see what I get. BASIC METAL! I can second strike with Dialga, yes!
- Time is called on his turn. I've got 2 prizes remaining to his 3. I have nothing in my lost zone. He shadow rooms a random pokemon to tie it up.
- I go, have nothing in my hand for poltergiests or lost worlding and I decide to hit his Fainting spell gengar for a solid amount, he is 30 or 40 from being KO'd if I remember correctly.
- He goes, retreats the gengar and uses psychic restore.
- On turn 3, before I even draw, I call it like I see it and say it'll come down to a flip. Only after the match did I realize, even if he hits the heads on fainting spell, all he has left is Lost gengar with no energy. While I've got a Dialga X and Luxray safe on the bench. So, I end up Dragon rushing his benched fainting spell and he hits tails. That's it. Great game Oliver, really proud of you, man! Also, glad you're out of the Hospital
8-3 (2-1)
A lot of people didn't think I could pull that one out after that terrible misplay. But, looks like lucky topdecks prevailed.
Top 4
16) Amalio O. from DFW, TX (Luxchomp w/Dialga)
5) Alex F. from Killeen, TX (Vilegar)
31) Josh H from DFW, TX (Gyarados)
30) Michael W/Rokman from DFW, TX (Luxchomp w/Dialga)
I'd like to say I think it's pretty cool Josh and I both made top 4 even though we were 30th and 31st seed!
Top 4 vs. Josh H. (Gyarados)
Game 1
- This game is really, really one sided. He plays down a karp with a belt (he knows my Lux is prized) and sets up huge, He really gets the ball going and has to judge, hoping to send my collector away (Luxray lv.x is prized and I need to azelf to get it) and hope I can't bright look the karp up.
- He judges and I draw pretty good. I remember the hand, it was DCE, Gain, Cyrus, and like Seeker. I TOPDECK an Uxie play the DCE on Luxray, gain on random thing (didn't have Garchomp out obviously), and setup for 5. He says, "wow, if you draw the collector" right before I actually draw the collector. After I get the azelf, timewalk a Luxray out, and bright look his belted karp, it was pretty much over.
I've got sick board control and am dominating the match. He goes for a Pokemon Reversal, and he really needed to hit it to try for a comeback, but missed.
- After a solid 20 minutes, I win by taking 6 prizes to his 1.
8-3 (1-0)
Game 2
- We both have silly openers, his Regice to my Bronzong. Of course, his is much worse. About turn three, we both say out loud what we think I'm going to do. It seemed like the right idea to dragon rush his magikarp (w/ rescue) and just kill it, leaving his Regice stuck active. But then I think for a second, he doesn't have trainers in his discard to use junk arm (to discard karps) and if he doesn't have regice, he can't regimove karps in there either! So, I just trash bolt his Regice.
- The match continues like last round because he can't get karps in there to hit me with damage. He ends up drawing his first prize after I've drawn like 5.
- (He ended up going 0 for 3 Super Scoop Ups and 0 for 1 Pokemon Reversal in our best of 3. Flip cards are bad, children!)
9-3 (2-0)
Finals
5) Alex F. from Killeen, TX (Vilegar)
30) Michael W/Rokman from DFW, TX (Luxchomp w/Dialga)
Well, this is it Rokman. You've come all this way and have a chance to win the biggest Regionals in the nation. You've got the deck to do it. You know the matchup. You can win this.
And I really did want to. I'd be in the league with John K. and Martin M., previous winners of this Regionals. But Alex wanted it just as me and neither of us cared THAT much about the prizes, we just want the title of FIRST. He doesn't care about the trip that much because he wants to skip Nationals (he went like 12-1 on the day) and protect his rating for a world invite.
Finals vs. Alex F. (Vilegar)
Game 1
- We've been talking all day about our matches, I knew he ran a Froslass, a tech 1-1 Shedinja, 1 Lost world Gengar, and max Looker's. He basically runs lockgar, not really focusing on prizes with poltergiest or lost world. I knew I'd have a hard time beating him because he is easily the best Vilegar player, performing very well at both states this year, OK and TX.
- He gets a really great start. Like a turn 2 Vileplume and Gengar...
- I really don't remember the matches turn for turn, but I know he pretty much dominated my hands with Looker's and would snag my Dialga lv.x with Lost Gengar. He would level down it, Looker's me, I would freaking DRAW it, and then he would just go for a random hurl and get it. He claims I gave it away with my face, but I was pretty focused and didn't react to the draws.
- After he got my Dialga away, I was just joking around and making goofy remarks for like 10 turns. A couple of times I had the judges and spectators laughing. That was nice at least, hahaha. Eventually I scoop to save time.
9-3 (0-1)
Game 2
- I have a chance for a donk, but he gets another ridiculously perfect start.
- And I really had a chance to win this, I open with a solid chatter lock on his spiritomb (he put a warp on a gengar randomly) and began setting up my board, getting sprays ready, without drawing too many trainers, and working on getting Dialga lv.x powered up.
- Eventually he gets enough damage on the spiritomb to kill it's self by Darkness Gracing.
- After all those turns of just using Darkness Grace, he never played a psychic energy or a supporter. He claims he was bluffing a bad hand, but I don't think he was.
- He promotes his Gengar. Looker's my hand away. Levels up. Levels DOWN Dialga X. Plays a psychic on Gengar.... And then just completely dominates me for the rest of this game. After I've used all my Cyrus conspiracy he Looker's me again. I draw trash and realize time is ticking down, there's no way I can come back in this game, I joke for a few turns before I unfortunately and slightly frustratingly scoop.
9-4 (0-2)
I'm really happy for Alex F. (which is Butlerforhire online, give him some props for owning me in top/winning the tournament) and I wish him the best of luck at Nationals if he goes and Worlds if he makes it.
Props on the tournament
- Team Hooters for almost everybody in it topcutting
- DFW players for doing so good
- Everybody, including Judges and Staff
- The comic book store
- Meeting Ryan V. and Chris B. from FL
- Kettler's singing in the deck check line
- Austin C. getting donked by a Swallow up from a Wailord.
- Fulop advises Chatot > Smeargle and 3 poketurn/1 seeker (great advice)
Slops on the tournament
- Not partying with Martin M. and Ryan V.
- Team Hooters having to play each other in top.
- Don't think I'll ever be at a finals table in a Regionals again. I required too much luck to get there.
- Seriously Dialga? Why are you so emo wanting to be in the lost zone in a finals match?
Fun Photos from the tournament
- What I drew on the doodle wall at the tournament.
- Casey B. asleep about to be pummeled by Justin S.
- Team Hooters being adults and playing with Pokemon figurines
- Me and my prizes
Be glad I’m even writing this article and not writing something for my site; http://www.rokmanfilms.com which has been neglected for almost a week! Since that’s all I’ve been doing for this year (just moved from tumblr to blogger) beside working, I haven’t had time this season to really get down to testing (which is like 100+ appr games a week usually). Regardless, the entire season pretty much, I’ve been tweaking the same LuxChomp list. And I’m super confident with it and every tech imaginable… Here’s what I played in Houston…
21
3 Garchomp C
1 Garchomp C lv.x
2 Luxray GL
1 Luxray GL lv.x
1 Dialga G
1 Dialga G lv.x
2 Uxie
1 Uxie lv.x
1 Ambipom G
1 Bronzong G
1 Crobat G
1 Dragonite FB
1 Lucario GL
1 Toxicroak G promo
1 Azelf
1 Chatot
1 Unown Q
28
4 Cyrus’s Conspiracy
4 Pokemon Collector
2 Bebe’s Search
1 Aaron’s Collection
1 Seeker
1 Twins
3 Poke Turn
3 Energy Gain
3 Power Spray
2 SP-radar
2 Premier Ball
1 Junk Arm
1 VS Seeker
11
4 Double Colorless energy
2 warp energy
3 Lightning energy
1 Psychic energy
1 Metal energy (basic)
Before the tournament
I made arrangements so that I don’t have to rely on people who abandon other people in Houston at 4 am and rode down with Team Hooters (almost everyone who goes to my Wednesday league, it’s just us; Justin S., JJ D., David W., and Casey B!) Nikil D. Also goes to our league! Represent! The night before the tournament I was thinking about taking out Mewtwo lv.x because it only net me a single win at States, and lost me another, John K. recommended Dialga lv.x, one of my top choices for a tech (Mewtwo, Dialga, or Honchkrow) After many shenanigans (even a rap session on the way down) we reach our hotel and stay up almost all night talking and debating about life, the universe, and everything. Eventually, we had to stop talking about things that actually matter so we can get some sleep for a pokemon event. Ha.
Once we were actually at the tournament, I was really surprised by the players who showed up! Christian O. (New York), Ryan V. and Chris B. (Florida) all came out of state to our Regionals! Awesome! In attendance were also the regulars who are just as good, John K. and Martin M. I have never had the opportunity to play Ryan V. of Florida so literally right before the tournament started, I told Team Hooters I wanted to play Ryan really badly. Pairings go up…
Round 1 – Ryan V. (Lostgar)
- When the match started, he opened with Gastly. At first I thought he was running Vilegar so I opened towards a Dialga. Very early he thinks about his pokemon for Communication and starts to show a Lost Gengar and I totally sink in my chair, it isn’t Vilegar!
- So, he spooky whirlpools my hand and hurls. The 6 cards I drew were a beautiful hand with no pokemon.
- I return by committing to a Garchomp for Dragon rush and retreat, play gain/DCE, setup and then get Cyrus for a SP-radar, use the radar, Chomp X is prized! I felt like an idiot because I was so sure he was in the deck! Now that I think about it, I saw it in my very first opening hand, which I had to mulligan away.
- I have to make a huge decision after that epic fail, I’m up by one prize (I drew the Chomp X!) from some trash and have to choose, he can either portrait for a twins and see I have the chomp or let him setup huge, or let him spooky whirlpool me. Obviously I had to spray the smeargle, which he responded with a spooky whirlpool sending the Chomp away!
- After the full 30 minutes, He’s got 5 of my pokemon in the lost zone and time is called on his turn (which is turn 0). He has to get a rare candy to play down the last Lost gengar he has to win, he sets up twice to draw 8, whiffs…. Because he has to use turn 1 in the +3 to declare himself the winner. So, after he realizes he can’t do it, he scoops! And he checks his next two cards, BOTH rare candies! Ugh, great game, barely snuck it. I think I could have gone up and Deafened to stop him from dropping the Lost World though, can’t remember my field.
- Turns out, Dialga X won me this game anyway. The whole time, I had a Bronzong G hovering at 40,60, and 80 hp, which is a KO from Cursed Droplets and Gengar’s body sends it to the lost zone. If he could have done that, he would have won for sure.
1-0
Round 2 – Josh S. (Gengar/Kingdra)
- I open with Dialga, AGAIN! And I am not sure what he is playing because he starts with Gastly and I think it’s a vilegar just like I did last round! Once I have the Dialga X on the bench I watch him get out two Kingdra’s and I feel a lot better, it’s just Gengar/Kingdra.
- It’s entirely one sided since I end up Azelf Locking Up one of his pokemon and spraying his Spray splash three turns in a row so he can’t draw a prize to get out of a trash hand he got from Judge. He continues to draw trash until I sweep the board .
- Come to find out he plays mewtwo lv.x but never got it out since I had Dialga X benched the whole game! Already, Dialga has won me two! Ha!
2-0
Round 3 –Nikkolas (Gyarados)
- Really terrible start, just a Luxray and a DCE, nothing else of note. I attack for a cheap prize on Magikarp (he has another benched) hoping to draw anything useful.
- He Mentors (Regice, Karp, Uxie), regimoves 2 karps, Plays some trainers including Junk Arm, sets up huge, plays BTS and Gyarados, donked.
2-1
Round 4 – Chris B. (Lostgar)
- So, turns out I’m playing the other awesome Floridian running Lostgar. I start off so terribly, open Dragonite FB with no supporters. I go first and draw a COLLECTOR, yes!
- On his first turn, he spooky whirlpools and gets a Gengar, uses hurl, nabs Garchomp Lv.X! How can I win this now?!
- He sneaks another pokemon in the lost zone while I draw a few prizes. We go back and forth for a bit until he plays spooky whirlpool again, this time getting THREE POKEMON, he can only remove two though. So, I burn everything and setup for 6 new cards, all great stuff, 0 pokemon!
- Time is running short and I know I have to protect my hand, he already has lost world out. So, I play it safe at the end. Time is called on his turn, and he is in the same spot Ryan V was. He has to pull something off but also whiffs on it after some big draws. He ends up scooping as well.
3-1
Round 5 – Christian O. (Magnarock)
- Awesome! I have now played all the major players that were really out-of-state. I played Christian in a pickup game before, but never in a tournament. I wanted to win so I can say I defended Texas even if I don’t top cut!
- I start off SO TERRIBLY. I literally draw pass for the first good to 4-6 turns. I have a hand full of trainers, shut down by a Spiritomb! All that is playable is a Twins, so I’m patiently waiting for his KO.
- Once he Kos me with a Magnazone (finally, no more lock), I twins for a Toxicroak G promo and a Cyrus! And Finally get the ball rolling! After the KO, he TOPDECKS Sunnyshore gym, ugh, sorry man!
- When the game begins to wind down, I have 3 prizes remaining to his 4, he is becoming energy drought with nothing in the discard and everything that was on the field in the lost zone, it’s mostly over and I take board control.
4-1
Round 6 – Oliver F. (Vile-Lostgar/Palkia G)
- I get a garbage start… He has drawn 2 prizes and lost world 4 pokemon before I even have an energy to attack (which I had to twins to get!)
- He wins with Lost World because I haven’t had a spray for his Palkia G all game!
- It was very valuable to play Oliver in swiss because I end up having an epic top cut match against him later.
4-2
Round 7 – Miguel E. (LuxChomp)
- I get a similar start as last round and draw complete trash. I don’t have anything to do, no supporters, no energy, nothing.
- After this loss, I’m really discouraged. I know a couple 5-3’s will slide in, but I’m not sure all my losses will maintain a good record. We’ll just have to see…
4-3
Round 8 – Steve M. (Magnarock/Vileplume)
- Since I am 4-3, I have to win here and hope for good resistance to make it in. I’ve actually played Steve, a really nice and great player, at Texas States a couple weeks prior and pretty much know his list.
- I start the game with Dialga G, use Azelf and see three DCEs prized, so I’ll be able to get them after each KO and have plenty of resource.
- I end up using warp energy and leaving the Dialga on the bench when I see him Pokemon Communication an Oddish away, I didn’t know he ran Vileplume in his list! Thank god I ran Dialga and got him on the bench!
- He gets a decent roll going but he expert belts a Magnazone without a Sunnyshore Gym out, and Toxicroak Kos him. That’s when I pretty much won the game.
5-3
Top 32
1) Jordan B (Vilegar)
32) Henry B. (Luxchomp)
16) Amalio O. (Luxchomp)
17 Jose E. (Magnerock)
8) Paul W. III (Luxchomp)
25) Rudy (Dialgachomp/Luxray)
9) Michael S. (Jumpluff)
24) Kaitlyn W. (Gyarados)
4) Chris P. (Regigigas)
29) Len D (Luxchomp)
13) Caleb C. (Luxchomp)
20) Andrew G. (Uxie)
5) Alex F. (Vilegar)
28) Casey B. (Gyarados)
12) Alec N. (Luxchomp)
21) Dana L. (Honchkrow/Garchomp)
2) Austin B. (Luxchomp)
31) Josh H (Gyarados)
15) Brent S. (Blazechomp)
18) Matt L. (Vilegar)
7) Travis M. (Luxchomp)
26) Randall H. (Gengar/Gliscor)
10) Aaron H. (Chen Lock)
23) Joe G. (Tangrowth)
3) Adam G. (Magnerock)
30) Michael W/Rokman (Luxchomp)
14) David W. (Sablelock)
19) James D. (Vilegar)
6) Oliver F. (Vile-lostgar)
27) Miguel E. (Luxchomp)
11) Dale L. (BLG)
22) Nikkei F. (Machamp/Donphan)
Take a look at all the Team Hooters players who made the cut! I’d like to just say, the Wednesday league in Haltom City probably has the highest top cut % of any league in the world. We only have like 5-8 players at this league each week, and 4 of us top cut! We're called Team Hooters because that's were we eat after league!
I'm also very proud of the Watauga League (right next door to Haltom League) players for doing so well! You guys did awesome!
Top 32 vs. Adam G. (Magnarock)
Game 1
- I've known Adam a long time and enjoyed playing him. He has placed third at every Regionals the past like 3 years. So, he was wanting to break the curse! We actually had a great time playing, it wasn't too serious because we would both be happy with either playing winning.
- I get an incredible start and gain board control almost instantly. I think after a couple crucial sprays and on every Judge I would draw a Cyrus or a bebe for an uxie, he had lost all hope in that game.
5-3 (1-0)
Game 2
- This time he starts with a Regirock and is repeating to me, "How did you get so good at this game?" and we're both laughing. Unfortunately since he had a bad start against my average one, I gain board control and ride it out the entire match. He did get a very early Sunnyshore out to protect from toxicroak, but I didn't even need it.
- His first two judges didn't do anything to me, because I drew out of it, but his last one was crippling, but it was far too late for him to mount a comeback.
6-3 (2-0)
The match next to me, which was David W. vs JJ D., they were goofing off too, just having a good time since they are both Team Hooters players.
Top 16
1) Jordan B (Vilegar)
16) Amalio O. (Luxchomp)
8) Paul W. III (Luxchomp)
24) Kaitlynn W.(Gyarados)
29) Len D (Luxchomp)
20) Andrew G. (Uxie)
5) Alex F. (Vilegar)
12) Alec N. (Luxchomp)
31) Josh H (Gyarados)
15) Brent S. (Blazechomp)
26) Randall H. (Gengar/Gliscor)
10) Aaron H. (Chen Lock)
30) Michael W/Rokman (Luxchomp)
14) David W. (Sablelock)
6) Oliver F. (Vile-lostgar)
22) Nikkei F. (Machamp/Donphan)
Of course Team Hooters is way too good for Pokemon and we are forced to knock each other out... I'm still really proud of our crew for doing so well!
What's really funny is, there was a long break between Top 32 and Top 16 and the fatigue began to really set in. So, in my top 16 match against David, neither of us were actually upbeat or goofing around because we were both pretty tired. We didn't say anything besides the cards and occasionally say something sarcastic.
Top 16 vs. David W. (Sablelock)
Game 1
- I actually made the list for David W. months ago, and since we all play and hang out together, I've seen the progress of his list and know it card for card, as he does mine.
- The match is pretty short, only lasting around 10 minutes. He opens with a Cyrus Initiative, hitting both! Unfortunately my opening hand was very solid and he couldn't cripple me. After I draw into everything in a few turns, he has to go for a huge Chip-off from Purugly to try and slow me down, but he doesn't get it.
6-3 (1-0)
Game 2
- My opening hand is really bad. I have only 1 cyrus Conspiracy to try and dodge his initiative and get a board going, but he chooses to Impersonate collector over the initiative, he said his hand had nothing in it. I don't really know how bad his hand is, but I have a feeling it was infinitely better than mine.
- Since he didn't kill my Cyrus, I'm able to get a decent setup going and get board control, again he is forced to go purugly, but it's too late in the match and my hand is far too good.
- Still, I'm really proud of David W. because this is his first pokemon season and he is top cutting the biggest Regionals in the nation and made it to top 16! Way to go, bro!
7-3 (2-0)
After top 16, day one is over. I was handed a piece of paper with instructions on how to get to the venue for top 8 matches, I didn't really think about putting the address in or anything to see how far it is, everyone was pretty tired. 4/5 of the car on the way back to the hotel all top cut and it was only me going into day 2. I was actually going to stay up and party with Ryan V. and Martin M. but Martin never texted me back, it was pretty late when I got out of my top cut matches and I hear he was already partying it up. So, the guys in our crew stayed up partying/playing Call of Duty while I passed out, ready for tomorrow.
My top 8 match was against Oliver F. and since I saw most of his list, I knew what I was getting into. It's hard to prepare for because I can go Dialga lv.x, use sprays to protect it from Level Down, while I try to keep my bench small so Palkia doesn't get me. Or, I can go straight for the cheap kills without using trainers, fill my bench up, and use the sprays for Palkia. So, really, he is countering whatever I do, it just comes down to opening hands really.
So, I wake up (on my own) at 8 AM, take a shower and head down for some breakfast. Turns out, the place was 45 minutes AWAY and if I had woken up any later, I could have been late! After I get the other guys up and they eat breakfast, we head on over to the best comic book store I've ever seen for top 8...
Top 8
16) Amalio O. from DFW, TX (Luxchomp)
24) Kaitlyn W. from LA (Gyarados)
29) Len D from DFW, TX (Luxchomp)
5) Alex F. from Killeen, TX (Vilegar)
31) Josh H from DFW, TX (Gyarados)
10) Aaron H. from LA (Chen Lock)
30) Michael W/Rokman from DFW, TX (Luxchomp)
6) Oliver F. from DFW, TX (Vile-lostgar)
So, the top cut is a pretty standard cut. 4 SP, 2 Vilegar, and 2 Gyarados... I feel like my list has the potential to win against any of the other decks in the cut and I feel very confident, but I know it won't be easy...
Top 8 vs. Oliver F. (Vile-Lostgar)
Game 1
- This game is so terrible I have no idea what was going on. Within like 15 minutes, he's got Garchomp lv.x, Luxray lv.x Unown Q, and Bronzong G in the lost world. I'm just flabbergasted and scoop. I didn't take any notes because I forgot to and can't remember how this atrocity took place.
- But... I find out he isn't running Gengar lv.x!!!
6-3 (0-1)
Game 2
- Before the match I'm pretty discouraged, but once I see my hand and realize the potential to donk him and have 1 match left with like 45 minutes remaining, I feel a lot better.
- His hand is terrible and I get the donk!
6-3 (1-1)
Game 3
- So, this is it. I have a really bad hand to his great start. Since he has Spiritomb active, I can't get the trainers out of my hand for a fat setup. So, on my second turn, I have to setup for 1... COLLECTOR! Yes! With this collector I'm able to get a decent board and get a Dialga out.
- He isn't able to hurl anything and gambles one turn to see my hand. He didn't hit anything and wasted his turn. That misplay is super crucial because I'm about to make an unbelievable misplay...
- Once I get my Dialga lv.x on the field, I can finally play my trainers. This turn lasts a good 6 minutes as I burn everything away (He hasn't poltergiested yet and if he did it would be a good 300 damage lol). I use 2 poke turns and a junk arm-poketurn on a garchomp on my bench and keep playing it back down. I do some other stuff, throwing out trainers with Sp Radar for no pokemon (because he can lost remove it) and then I look at my field and hand. I've got a garchomp in my hand that I scooped up like fifty times and can Dragon rush this turn with another garchomp on my bench, alright. SO, I bebe's for a chomp lv.x and promote the garchomp on my bench, attach gain, and DCE and level up. NOPE! The garchomp on my bench was the one I was poketurning the whole time! I thought I had 2 down, but I only had one! What an IDIOT!
- So, he goes. And I know he will just hurl the chomp lv.x in my hand. But... he retreats? I guess he had nothing in his hand and if he let me KO his lost gengar, he'd have been in a really bad spot. So he let's me keep the chomp lv.x? Okay... He decides to keep using lock up on my crobat. But, if he KO's it, I can twins huge (and he knows it, he saw it with a Hurl at the beginning of the game). We're tied on prizes at this point.
- I've got 3 sprays in my hand ready for level downs and palkia. I feel really good. But, I'm in a tough spot, I have nothing to attack with for a cheap KO on his active. I guess I can setup for one and see what I get. BASIC METAL! I can second strike with Dialga, yes!
- Time is called on his turn. I've got 2 prizes remaining to his 3. I have nothing in my lost zone. He shadow rooms a random pokemon to tie it up.
- I go, have nothing in my hand for poltergiests or lost worlding and I decide to hit his Fainting spell gengar for a solid amount, he is 30 or 40 from being KO'd if I remember correctly.
- He goes, retreats the gengar and uses psychic restore.
- On turn 3, before I even draw, I call it like I see it and say it'll come down to a flip. Only after the match did I realize, even if he hits the heads on fainting spell, all he has left is Lost gengar with no energy. While I've got a Dialga X and Luxray safe on the bench. So, I end up Dragon rushing his benched fainting spell and he hits tails. That's it. Great game Oliver, really proud of you, man! Also, glad you're out of the Hospital
8-3 (2-1)
A lot of people didn't think I could pull that one out after that terrible misplay. But, looks like lucky topdecks prevailed.
Top 4
16) Amalio O. from DFW, TX (Luxchomp w/Dialga)
5) Alex F. from Killeen, TX (Vilegar)
31) Josh H from DFW, TX (Gyarados)
30) Michael W/Rokman from DFW, TX (Luxchomp w/Dialga)
I'd like to say I think it's pretty cool Josh and I both made top 4 even though we were 30th and 31st seed!
Top 4 vs. Josh H. (Gyarados)
Game 1
- This game is really, really one sided. He plays down a karp with a belt (he knows my Lux is prized) and sets up huge, He really gets the ball going and has to judge, hoping to send my collector away (Luxray lv.x is prized and I need to azelf to get it) and hope I can't bright look the karp up.
- He judges and I draw pretty good. I remember the hand, it was DCE, Gain, Cyrus, and like Seeker. I TOPDECK an Uxie play the DCE on Luxray, gain on random thing (didn't have Garchomp out obviously), and setup for 5. He says, "wow, if you draw the collector" right before I actually draw the collector. After I get the azelf, timewalk a Luxray out, and bright look his belted karp, it was pretty much over.
I've got sick board control and am dominating the match. He goes for a Pokemon Reversal, and he really needed to hit it to try for a comeback, but missed.
- After a solid 20 minutes, I win by taking 6 prizes to his 1.
8-3 (1-0)
Game 2
- We both have silly openers, his Regice to my Bronzong. Of course, his is much worse. About turn three, we both say out loud what we think I'm going to do. It seemed like the right idea to dragon rush his magikarp (w/ rescue) and just kill it, leaving his Regice stuck active. But then I think for a second, he doesn't have trainers in his discard to use junk arm (to discard karps) and if he doesn't have regice, he can't regimove karps in there either! So, I just trash bolt his Regice.
- The match continues like last round because he can't get karps in there to hit me with damage. He ends up drawing his first prize after I've drawn like 5.
- (He ended up going 0 for 3 Super Scoop Ups and 0 for 1 Pokemon Reversal in our best of 3. Flip cards are bad, children!)
9-3 (2-0)
Finals
5) Alex F. from Killeen, TX (Vilegar)
30) Michael W/Rokman from DFW, TX (Luxchomp w/Dialga)
Well, this is it Rokman. You've come all this way and have a chance to win the biggest Regionals in the nation. You've got the deck to do it. You know the matchup. You can win this.
And I really did want to. I'd be in the league with John K. and Martin M., previous winners of this Regionals. But Alex wanted it just as me and neither of us cared THAT much about the prizes, we just want the title of FIRST. He doesn't care about the trip that much because he wants to skip Nationals (he went like 12-1 on the day) and protect his rating for a world invite.
Finals vs. Alex F. (Vilegar)
Game 1
- We've been talking all day about our matches, I knew he ran a Froslass, a tech 1-1 Shedinja, 1 Lost world Gengar, and max Looker's. He basically runs lockgar, not really focusing on prizes with poltergiest or lost world. I knew I'd have a hard time beating him because he is easily the best Vilegar player, performing very well at both states this year, OK and TX.
- He gets a really great start. Like a turn 2 Vileplume and Gengar...
- I really don't remember the matches turn for turn, but I know he pretty much dominated my hands with Looker's and would snag my Dialga lv.x with Lost Gengar. He would level down it, Looker's me, I would freaking DRAW it, and then he would just go for a random hurl and get it. He claims I gave it away with my face, but I was pretty focused and didn't react to the draws.
- After he got my Dialga away, I was just joking around and making goofy remarks for like 10 turns. A couple of times I had the judges and spectators laughing. That was nice at least, hahaha. Eventually I scoop to save time.
9-3 (0-1)
Game 2
- I have a chance for a donk, but he gets another ridiculously perfect start.
- And I really had a chance to win this, I open with a solid chatter lock on his spiritomb (he put a warp on a gengar randomly) and began setting up my board, getting sprays ready, without drawing too many trainers, and working on getting Dialga lv.x powered up.
- Eventually he gets enough damage on the spiritomb to kill it's self by Darkness Gracing.
- After all those turns of just using Darkness Grace, he never played a psychic energy or a supporter. He claims he was bluffing a bad hand, but I don't think he was.
- He promotes his Gengar. Looker's my hand away. Levels up. Levels DOWN Dialga X. Plays a psychic on Gengar.... And then just completely dominates me for the rest of this game. After I've used all my Cyrus conspiracy he Looker's me again. I draw trash and realize time is ticking down, there's no way I can come back in this game, I joke for a few turns before I unfortunately and slightly frustratingly scoop.
9-4 (0-2)
I'm really happy for Alex F. (which is Butlerforhire online, give him some props for owning me in top/winning the tournament) and I wish him the best of luck at Nationals if he goes and Worlds if he makes it.
Props on the tournament
- Team Hooters for almost everybody in it topcutting
- DFW players for doing so good
- Everybody, including Judges and Staff
- The comic book store
- Meeting Ryan V. and Chris B. from FL
- Kettler's singing in the deck check line
- Austin C. getting donked by a Swallow up from a Wailord.
- Fulop advises Chatot > Smeargle and 3 poketurn/1 seeker (great advice)
Slops on the tournament
- Not partying with Martin M. and Ryan V.
- Team Hooters having to play each other in top.
- Don't think I'll ever be at a finals table in a Regionals again. I required too much luck to get there.
- Seriously Dialga? Why are you so emo wanting to be in the lost zone in a finals match?
Fun Photos from the tournament
- What I drew on the doodle wall at the tournament.
- Casey B. asleep about to be pummeled by Justin S.
- Team Hooters being adults and playing with Pokemon figurines
- Me and my prizes
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