So this weekend was very interesting for me. I was very glad I got to attend my first Regionals this year, and I was hoping for a good result. I really had a blast, and met some awesome people.
I got Top 4 in Oklahoma States, and like 20th in Texas States (Top 16 Cut), and I did both with Luxchomp, and it was the first time I've played Luxchomp all year. But to tell the truth, after just two tournaments, I was tired of the deck. Combine that with the fact that apparently I couldn't play the mirror very well, and that I always got bad starts against the mirror, I didn't think Luxchomp was the play for me. I didn't really like Gengar, so I went with Gyarados. I had a decent list from back around Battle Roads, so I dug it up and started testing. I went with a wacky build, but I liked it, and I'll post the list at the end of the article.
I drive up with my Dad and Matthew (a Junior player from our league), and meet Robert, Jessica, and her friend up at the hotel. We got in so late that I didn't get to do any playtesting, which I wasn't happy about, but oh well. Wake up early to get to the venue, check in, and chill with Andy and Jordan till the tournament started.
181? Masters, 8 rounds, Top 32 Cut
Btw, I'm terrible with names, so I probably won't put any down except the ones I am sure of.
Round 1 vs. Lost Gar
First off, there was so much Lost Gar at this tournament. It was crazy. He starts with Spiritomb and Gastly, and I'm thinking "Oh no, VileGar first game". So I start setting up, cause I get a decent hand. He Collectors for a Mr. Mime and a Spiritomb (Psychic one), and I realize its Lost Gar, and breathe a sigh of relief. The game goes on, and about turn 10 I have no more pokemon in my deck, hand, or prizes thanks to Regice and Junk Arm. After that, It was pretty much over. Interesting note; every time he would seeker a pokemon up, he would Spooky Whirlpool me, which I didn't understand, since there was like a 12% chance of me drawing that pokemon back.
1-0
Round 2 vs. Charzard
I saw this guy play at Oklahoma, and I remembered he played Charzard. I was actually worried about this match, because I can't one shot it even after weakness. He gets a not so great start, same goes for me. Middle game consisted of him one shotting my Gyarados's with belted Zards, and me two shotting Zards after continious Rescues, and he is ahead on the prize race. But he can't keep up the Zards, and I start Mespirit locking him, and in the end he just couldn't pull it out.
2-0
Round 3 vs. Gyarados (Speed Version I think?)
She starts with a Unown R and a Regice. I start with a really good hand, but missed the Seeker donk because I thought Crobat G was in my prizes, and It wasn't. But it didn't really matter, she got a terrible start, and after Mespirit locking her a turn, she couldn't draw into anything. Felt bad cause I really enjoy the mirror, and I don't like winning cheap games.
3-0
Round 4 vs. Charzard
I know, right? Four rounds, and I play two Charzards,and no Luxchomps. Really amazing. He gets a terra-bad start, and I get a good one, with a Dos up turn 3. He had no answer, and just couldn't pull anything off.
4-0
Round 5 vs. Spitter with Jumpluff
It always seems like Spitter top cuts every big tournament, and this one wasn't an exception. His Jumpluff deck is sick, so fast and really good recovery. We both get good starts, but he beats me to the first prize, which pretty much decides the match. We battle back and forth, each getting OHKOs because I was dumb and played a big bench. It comes down to something important on the last turn, something I can't remember. :redface::lol: But it was something he got. Oh well, it was a good game, and I have a lot of respect for Spitter.
4-1
Round 6 vs. Stephen Shotwell (?) with Gengar-Kingdra
I start with a Combee and a Regice, he starts with a Horsea, which surprises me, cause I had seen how much Luxchomp was being played, and it didn't make sense that Kingdra was 4-1. Anyways, I went first and passed, he layed down a Gastly. Oh. Now I knew how he did it. He goes through a ton of cards looking for a Seeker donk, but falls a Rainbow short. I have to expend a lot of resources as well to get caught up, leaving a bench full of 70hp pokemon with powers on them. :nonono: He takes the early lead, as I can't afford to knock out the Gengars and him hit the Feinting Spell. I slowly start making a comeback, because he runs out of energy, but alas, it doesn't last. he finally hits a couple, which makes the game unwinnable for me.
4-2
Round 7 vs. Johnny Kettler with Luxchomp
Finally, I play a Luxchomp, and its Johhny Kettler's luxchomp. I can't remeber much of this game, except it was a very good game. From what I can remember, I get a pretty good start, and he gets an okay one. I go on to take the early lead, but he hadn't used a lot of resources yet. He starts pulling back in it when he knocks out a Gyarados and I can't get It back. I was forced to waste a lot of Warp Energy-Seeker moves to get Expert Belt off of Gyarados, that way he was forced to knock more than two of them out. I misplay sometime, and Looker's me, instead of him, and If I remember right, It really cost me the game.
4-3
So at this point I'm thinking, "man, what went wrong?" Even if I win the next round, I didn't think I was going to make it.
Round 8 vs. Zangoose-Houndoom-Mismagius
So I start with Unown q, and go first, so I'm figuring thats game, but then I see the Zangoose and realize, he can't knock me out. My next turn I explode, getting out pretty much everything I need, and had a Dos turn 3. He just couldn't keep up with that kind of firepower, but he did use Mismagius to block me from using Tail Revenge, but I just warped out of it.
5-3
So I'm still not optimistic about making it, they post the standings, and I see Stephen act like he didn't make it, which makes me think there is no way I made it since I lost to him. But I finish 31st. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Just barely squeezing into the top cut.
Jordan hadn't played Pokemon since last years Regionals, and finished 8-0 with VileGar. :lol: I was thankful I didn't have to play him.
TOP CUT
Top 32 vs. Austin Baggs with Luxchomp
Austin is an amazing player, and I did not like playing him first Top Cut Round.
First Game: I get an amazing start, and I'm able to bluff out a Spray with Regice, and just discard the Magikarps with Junk Arm. I get ahead early, and he struggles keeping up. Lost Remover was a big factor, and set him back a turn on energy attachments, which hurt. It was a close game, but I drew into pretty much everything I needed.
1-0
Game Two: He starts really bad, and I get a decent hand. I set up pretty well, but the only problem was that he kept getting cheap knockouts, which kept us even during the first part of the game. Since he did get a bad start, towards the middle and end of the game, he still had a lot of resources to use, and the game just slipped away from me.
1-1
Game Three: We both get decent starts, and it becomes a very good game. The whole way was back and forth, and I wish I remembered more of it. It came down to us being tied in prizes 2-2, then me knocking out his Garchomp C Lv X with a belted Gyarados that had 10 damage on it, making it 1-2. He promotes Luxray X with a Lightning Energy on it, Lucario Gl on the bench, and a Crobat in hand. The only way he could win is if he topdecked a Cyrus, as he needed an energy and a poke turn for the win. He drew a DCE.
2-1
6-3
Top 16 vs Brent ??? with Blazechomp/Chenlock (Whichever its called)
Game One: I'm not gonna lie, I did have high hopes for this matchup. I run 8-9 potential outs to him Alluring Flame a Regice, and he can't one shot a Gyarados. Thats pretty much what happened, he kept the game close, but I kept drawing into good stuff. It didn't help that a couple of times he Judged, I drew pretty much the same hand I had.
1-0
Game Two: I start with a Regice and a Karp prize, and misplay by getting the Regice with Azelf instead of Karp. It really hurts early, as I can't knock anything out, and he takes the early lead. Eventually I Seeker up the Azelf and get the Karp finally, and start rolling with Gyarados. It goes down to the wire, but Lost Remover is a beast. Two excellent games, he was a great player.
2-0
7-3
Top 8 vs. Nieklazb (sorry for butchering that name) with Blazechomp/Chenlock.
Game One: We both start pretty good, and its a really close game. I get up a Gyarados, he revenge KOs it with Toxicroak, so I don't get the Rescue Energy. I don't have a BTS down either, so I'm in a bad spot. I make the dumbest play ever, and Rescue the Karp, send it up active, and Looker's, hoping for a BTS and a Dos. It doesn't happen, and the game goes downhill fast.
0-1
Game Two: I get set up very well, and I can't remember if he does or not. :lol: :nonono: I pretty much role through this game because of how good of hand I drew, and If I remember right, he did not get much of what he needed.
1-1
Game Three: I start Combee and Regice, with not a great hand and I'm really nervous that I'm about to lose. But somehow I set up well, getting out a Gyarados pretty early, which he couldn't come back on.
2-1
8-3
Top 4 vs. Rokman with Luxchomp (Teched out version)
There is only one word to describe this match; Domination. He wiped the floor with me. Bad Starts + Stupid Plays = Losing. Not to take away from Weldon, he played great throughout the tournament. But the second game, where I started with Regice, and ended up with a 0 card hand, that was brutal.
0-2
8-4
So a pretty good tournament, I hit a lot of luck early not playing Luxchomp, and it bit me in the end with bad starts. Thats okay though, 4th is pretty good. Great tournament, everything was so smooth.
A big thanks goes out to all the judges, without you there is no Pokemon.
Another shout out to all the people I played over the weekend, everyone single one of them was a class act.
Props:
Getting 4th
Pulling 3 Smeargle and 4 Oaks out of my packs
Meeting some awesome people, especially all of the folks from Louisiana.
Jordan for going X-0
My dad for driving me to the tournament.
My testing crew back in Sherman.
Slops:
My terrible memory
Long car trips
Kyle (you know why :lol
Jordan for losing in Top cut after going X-0
Andy for having to drop
List:
Forewarning, this list is tailored to my play-style, and may seem bad to you, but it really does work. The reason I'm giving it out is that we're about to get new rules, which means this variant of G-Dos won't be effective anymore
G-Dos
Pokemon = 19
3 Gyarados
4 Magikarp
2 Sableye
2 Smeargle
1 Azelf
1 Combee
1 Crobat G
1 Mespirit
1 Regice
1 Unown Q
2 Uxie
Trainers = 35
2 Bebe's
1 Judge
3 Looker's
4 Collector
4 Seeker
1 Twins
4 BTS
4 Junk Arm
2 Expert Belt
2 Pokemon Rescue
2 Switch
1 Lost Remover (So good against Sp)
1 Luxury Ball
1 Poke Turn
1 Pokemon Coummunication
1 Pokemon Reversal
1 SSU
Energy = 6
3 Rescue Energy
3 Warp Energy
Sorry for any errors on this report, I'm still super tired. Thanks! And if you did play me, could you let me know your name?
I got Top 4 in Oklahoma States, and like 20th in Texas States (Top 16 Cut), and I did both with Luxchomp, and it was the first time I've played Luxchomp all year. But to tell the truth, after just two tournaments, I was tired of the deck. Combine that with the fact that apparently I couldn't play the mirror very well, and that I always got bad starts against the mirror, I didn't think Luxchomp was the play for me. I didn't really like Gengar, so I went with Gyarados. I had a decent list from back around Battle Roads, so I dug it up and started testing. I went with a wacky build, but I liked it, and I'll post the list at the end of the article.
I drive up with my Dad and Matthew (a Junior player from our league), and meet Robert, Jessica, and her friend up at the hotel. We got in so late that I didn't get to do any playtesting, which I wasn't happy about, but oh well. Wake up early to get to the venue, check in, and chill with Andy and Jordan till the tournament started.
181? Masters, 8 rounds, Top 32 Cut
Btw, I'm terrible with names, so I probably won't put any down except the ones I am sure of.
Round 1 vs. Lost Gar
First off, there was so much Lost Gar at this tournament. It was crazy. He starts with Spiritomb and Gastly, and I'm thinking "Oh no, VileGar first game". So I start setting up, cause I get a decent hand. He Collectors for a Mr. Mime and a Spiritomb (Psychic one), and I realize its Lost Gar, and breathe a sigh of relief. The game goes on, and about turn 10 I have no more pokemon in my deck, hand, or prizes thanks to Regice and Junk Arm. After that, It was pretty much over. Interesting note; every time he would seeker a pokemon up, he would Spooky Whirlpool me, which I didn't understand, since there was like a 12% chance of me drawing that pokemon back.
1-0
Round 2 vs. Charzard
I saw this guy play at Oklahoma, and I remembered he played Charzard. I was actually worried about this match, because I can't one shot it even after weakness. He gets a not so great start, same goes for me. Middle game consisted of him one shotting my Gyarados's with belted Zards, and me two shotting Zards after continious Rescues, and he is ahead on the prize race. But he can't keep up the Zards, and I start Mespirit locking him, and in the end he just couldn't pull it out.
2-0
Round 3 vs. Gyarados (Speed Version I think?)
She starts with a Unown R and a Regice. I start with a really good hand, but missed the Seeker donk because I thought Crobat G was in my prizes, and It wasn't. But it didn't really matter, she got a terrible start, and after Mespirit locking her a turn, she couldn't draw into anything. Felt bad cause I really enjoy the mirror, and I don't like winning cheap games.
3-0
Round 4 vs. Charzard
I know, right? Four rounds, and I play two Charzards,and no Luxchomps. Really amazing. He gets a terra-bad start, and I get a good one, with a Dos up turn 3. He had no answer, and just couldn't pull anything off.
4-0
Round 5 vs. Spitter with Jumpluff
It always seems like Spitter top cuts every big tournament, and this one wasn't an exception. His Jumpluff deck is sick, so fast and really good recovery. We both get good starts, but he beats me to the first prize, which pretty much decides the match. We battle back and forth, each getting OHKOs because I was dumb and played a big bench. It comes down to something important on the last turn, something I can't remember. :redface::lol: But it was something he got. Oh well, it was a good game, and I have a lot of respect for Spitter.
4-1
Round 6 vs. Stephen Shotwell (?) with Gengar-Kingdra
I start with a Combee and a Regice, he starts with a Horsea, which surprises me, cause I had seen how much Luxchomp was being played, and it didn't make sense that Kingdra was 4-1. Anyways, I went first and passed, he layed down a Gastly. Oh. Now I knew how he did it. He goes through a ton of cards looking for a Seeker donk, but falls a Rainbow short. I have to expend a lot of resources as well to get caught up, leaving a bench full of 70hp pokemon with powers on them. :nonono: He takes the early lead, as I can't afford to knock out the Gengars and him hit the Feinting Spell. I slowly start making a comeback, because he runs out of energy, but alas, it doesn't last. he finally hits a couple, which makes the game unwinnable for me.
4-2
Round 7 vs. Johnny Kettler with Luxchomp
Finally, I play a Luxchomp, and its Johhny Kettler's luxchomp. I can't remeber much of this game, except it was a very good game. From what I can remember, I get a pretty good start, and he gets an okay one. I go on to take the early lead, but he hadn't used a lot of resources yet. He starts pulling back in it when he knocks out a Gyarados and I can't get It back. I was forced to waste a lot of Warp Energy-Seeker moves to get Expert Belt off of Gyarados, that way he was forced to knock more than two of them out. I misplay sometime, and Looker's me, instead of him, and If I remember right, It really cost me the game.
4-3
So at this point I'm thinking, "man, what went wrong?" Even if I win the next round, I didn't think I was going to make it.
Round 8 vs. Zangoose-Houndoom-Mismagius
So I start with Unown q, and go first, so I'm figuring thats game, but then I see the Zangoose and realize, he can't knock me out. My next turn I explode, getting out pretty much everything I need, and had a Dos turn 3. He just couldn't keep up with that kind of firepower, but he did use Mismagius to block me from using Tail Revenge, but I just warped out of it.
5-3
So I'm still not optimistic about making it, they post the standings, and I see Stephen act like he didn't make it, which makes me think there is no way I made it since I lost to him. But I finish 31st. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Just barely squeezing into the top cut.
Jordan hadn't played Pokemon since last years Regionals, and finished 8-0 with VileGar. :lol: I was thankful I didn't have to play him.
TOP CUT
Top 32 vs. Austin Baggs with Luxchomp
Austin is an amazing player, and I did not like playing him first Top Cut Round.
First Game: I get an amazing start, and I'm able to bluff out a Spray with Regice, and just discard the Magikarps with Junk Arm. I get ahead early, and he struggles keeping up. Lost Remover was a big factor, and set him back a turn on energy attachments, which hurt. It was a close game, but I drew into pretty much everything I needed.
1-0
Game Two: He starts really bad, and I get a decent hand. I set up pretty well, but the only problem was that he kept getting cheap knockouts, which kept us even during the first part of the game. Since he did get a bad start, towards the middle and end of the game, he still had a lot of resources to use, and the game just slipped away from me.
1-1
Game Three: We both get decent starts, and it becomes a very good game. The whole way was back and forth, and I wish I remembered more of it. It came down to us being tied in prizes 2-2, then me knocking out his Garchomp C Lv X with a belted Gyarados that had 10 damage on it, making it 1-2. He promotes Luxray X with a Lightning Energy on it, Lucario Gl on the bench, and a Crobat in hand. The only way he could win is if he topdecked a Cyrus, as he needed an energy and a poke turn for the win. He drew a DCE.
2-1
6-3
Top 16 vs Brent ??? with Blazechomp/Chenlock (Whichever its called)
Game One: I'm not gonna lie, I did have high hopes for this matchup. I run 8-9 potential outs to him Alluring Flame a Regice, and he can't one shot a Gyarados. Thats pretty much what happened, he kept the game close, but I kept drawing into good stuff. It didn't help that a couple of times he Judged, I drew pretty much the same hand I had.
1-0
Game Two: I start with a Regice and a Karp prize, and misplay by getting the Regice with Azelf instead of Karp. It really hurts early, as I can't knock anything out, and he takes the early lead. Eventually I Seeker up the Azelf and get the Karp finally, and start rolling with Gyarados. It goes down to the wire, but Lost Remover is a beast. Two excellent games, he was a great player.
2-0
7-3
Top 8 vs. Nieklazb (sorry for butchering that name) with Blazechomp/Chenlock.
Game One: We both start pretty good, and its a really close game. I get up a Gyarados, he revenge KOs it with Toxicroak, so I don't get the Rescue Energy. I don't have a BTS down either, so I'm in a bad spot. I make the dumbest play ever, and Rescue the Karp, send it up active, and Looker's, hoping for a BTS and a Dos. It doesn't happen, and the game goes downhill fast.
0-1
Game Two: I get set up very well, and I can't remember if he does or not. :lol: :nonono: I pretty much role through this game because of how good of hand I drew, and If I remember right, he did not get much of what he needed.
1-1
Game Three: I start Combee and Regice, with not a great hand and I'm really nervous that I'm about to lose. But somehow I set up well, getting out a Gyarados pretty early, which he couldn't come back on.
2-1
8-3
Top 4 vs. Rokman with Luxchomp (Teched out version)
There is only one word to describe this match; Domination. He wiped the floor with me. Bad Starts + Stupid Plays = Losing. Not to take away from Weldon, he played great throughout the tournament. But the second game, where I started with Regice, and ended up with a 0 card hand, that was brutal.
0-2
8-4
So a pretty good tournament, I hit a lot of luck early not playing Luxchomp, and it bit me in the end with bad starts. Thats okay though, 4th is pretty good. Great tournament, everything was so smooth.
A big thanks goes out to all the judges, without you there is no Pokemon.
Another shout out to all the people I played over the weekend, everyone single one of them was a class act.
Props:
Getting 4th
Pulling 3 Smeargle and 4 Oaks out of my packs
Meeting some awesome people, especially all of the folks from Louisiana.
Jordan for going X-0
My dad for driving me to the tournament.
My testing crew back in Sherman.
Slops:
My terrible memory
Long car trips
Kyle (you know why :lol
Jordan for losing in Top cut after going X-0
Andy for having to drop
List:
Forewarning, this list is tailored to my play-style, and may seem bad to you, but it really does work. The reason I'm giving it out is that we're about to get new rules, which means this variant of G-Dos won't be effective anymore
G-Dos
Pokemon = 19
3 Gyarados
4 Magikarp
2 Sableye
2 Smeargle
1 Azelf
1 Combee
1 Crobat G
1 Mespirit
1 Regice
1 Unown Q
2 Uxie
Trainers = 35
2 Bebe's
1 Judge
3 Looker's
4 Collector
4 Seeker
1 Twins
4 BTS
4 Junk Arm
2 Expert Belt
2 Pokemon Rescue
2 Switch
1 Lost Remover (So good against Sp)
1 Luxury Ball
1 Poke Turn
1 Pokemon Coummunication
1 Pokemon Reversal
1 SSU
Energy = 6
3 Rescue Energy
3 Warp Energy
Sorry for any errors on this report, I'm still super tired. Thanks! And if you did play me, could you let me know your name?
