SolarPichu
Member
Greetings! West Regional 2012 was a blast, and I thought I would give a tournament report about my experience. The only other “real life” experience I’ve had during the 2011-2012 season was Fall Regionals in So. Cal, where I made Top 64 using Audino/Slugma <See Report for Details>. That was a great deck, and although there are new cards that really strengthen that deck (Level Ball, Victini, etc.), it just cannot compete with the new format. I generally favor roguish donk decks, as I’m not too big of a fan of longer games, but it’s too tough in this format to rely on a donk with 170-180HP Pokemon running rampant. So I went with my next best alternative, which I had been playing since January on PTCGO: Durant.
I’m sure I don’t need to go into great detail, as the strategy for Durant isn’t terribly complicated. My build was fairly standard with a Rescue Energy tech. Just 4 Durant and Rotom. So on to the report!
Round 1 – Jared (Cinccino/Amoonguss/Vileplume)
Cinccino + Vileplume is an awesome deck. I’m familiar with the idea, although my experience came from playing the Hypno version. I go first, leading with Durant, against his Smoochum Active, and Minccino benched. I will admit I was a little apprehensive about Smoochum, because I can’t afford to pay to retreat every turn, but fortunately, he played offensively. I setup, and begin Devouring. On his first turn, he grabs his Pokemon with Collector and Communication, including a Vileplume. Vileplume is tough for Durant, but an N on my second turn threw it back in the deck. He attacked with Cinccino, but with Crushing Hammer and Catcher, I was able to slow him down. I Devoured both Amoonguss, and eventually both Vileplume, which greatly tilted the match in my favor.
1-0
Round 2 – Henry (Zekrom/Eelektrik)
Henry played very wisely, only having one Eelektrik and one Zekrom in play the entire game. I kept using Pokemon Catcher, but he continuously got Eelektrik out of the Active position. One turn he forgot to Dynamotor, which left Eel vulnerable to another Devour. At that point, it appeared that he had an energy drought, and would be unable to recover.
2-0
Round 3 – Mason (Celebi/Mewtwo/Tornadus)
This was a really strange match due to both of us not really able to do setup much until after turn five, and then I got all my Durants out, and played defensively using Crushing Hammer and Pokemon Catcher.
3-0
Round 4 – Joseph (Yanmega/Magnezone)
I had not seen this deck in a while! I was a little worried when Oddish hit the board, but I ended up discarding all 4 Rare Candy and Gloom in the match. He took some quick prizes using Yanmega, but I used Pokemon Catcher to bring up an unpowered Magnezone, and then he was trapped.
4-0
Round 5 – George (Zekrom/Eelektrik)
George played a little more offensively than my previous Zekrom/Eelektrik match, and had a full bench of Pokemon, including Zapdos. Every time I would use Pokemon Catcher on Eelektrik, he had the ability to Switch or Junk Arm it back to sweep with Zekrom. Great guy!
4-1
Round 6 – Dallan (Celebi/Mewtwo/Tornadus)
Another great guy! Unfortunately, my Rotom and one Durant were prized. I wanted to KO Celebi with Vice Grip, but I couldn't get a Catcher. I couldn’t play my usual tricks with Skyarrow in play, and he swept my Durants.
4-2
Round 7 – Oscar (Terrakion)
Oscar started with Tyrogue and did 40 to Durant. I mill, but then out comes Tornadus and then Terrakion to sweep.
4-3
At this point, I was a little worried, but if my calculations were correct, since my opponents had been performing strongly (lowest was ¾ and none dropped), as long as I won my next match, I could probably scrape into the Top 32 (There were 185 players total).
Round 8 – Daiki (Verizion/Kyogre/Vanilluxe)
I didn’t really get to see too much of how the deck performed, but it began with Verizion using Double Draw, and everytime he would Leaf Wallop I would Pokemon Catcher Kyogre and Devour a few turns. I stripped him of Energy with Crushing Hammer, and he got 1 Prize before decked.
5-3
After all the players finish, I check the standings and find that I’m 30th! This is exciting, since the last time I made a top cut at a major event, I was playing Shiftry (LM)/Pidgeot/Claydol and was taken out by banjiras. Also, the three players that beat me made it to the Top 32 too! Anyway, I turn in my deck and prepare for the next day.
Top 32 – Ricardo (Verizion[EP]/Celebi/Mewtwo)
ROUND 1 – I go second and start with Rotom, and my Durants get beat up by Sacred Sword. Unlike the other Verizion that wants to remain up front, this one pretty much renders my Catchers useless, since Skyarrow was in play. Pretty much used Switch and Retreat every turn, while I tried to stop him with Crushing Hammer, but it was to no avail.
ROUND 2 – Another start with Rotom, but going first and Crushing Hammer allowed me enough time to discard the deck and keep Verizion in check.
ROUND 3 – This time he started with Mewtwo and I got setup pretty quickly. He went with the agro Mewtwo plan. Crushing Hammer was failing though, and he picked off the Durants one by one. Great game and player!
Overall, I had an amazing time. Staffing was great and professional. I found it interesting that a majority of my opponents were from So. Cal, even a couple from Orange County, where I’m from. Although my work prevents me from going to Pokemon League and Prereleases, I’m planning on attending a Battle Road, probably Montclair. Thanks for reading! =]
Props
My 9 Opponents – Exemplary models of the Spirit of the Game, and all very courteous and friendly. I came alone, and I didn’t know anyone at the event, so it was nice when we would converse between rounds, and see how everyone was doing.
The Staff – Clearly these people know how to run an event, and everything ran smoothly.
Durant – This deck rocks, although I’ll probably go for something a little more aggressive next tournament.
Making Top 32 by doing 0 damage the entire tournament.
Ricardo making Top 4.
Slops
The Drive. Crazy weather Friday.
I’m sure I don’t need to go into great detail, as the strategy for Durant isn’t terribly complicated. My build was fairly standard with a Rescue Energy tech. Just 4 Durant and Rotom. So on to the report!
Round 1 – Jared (Cinccino/Amoonguss/Vileplume)
Cinccino + Vileplume is an awesome deck. I’m familiar with the idea, although my experience came from playing the Hypno version. I go first, leading with Durant, against his Smoochum Active, and Minccino benched. I will admit I was a little apprehensive about Smoochum, because I can’t afford to pay to retreat every turn, but fortunately, he played offensively. I setup, and begin Devouring. On his first turn, he grabs his Pokemon with Collector and Communication, including a Vileplume. Vileplume is tough for Durant, but an N on my second turn threw it back in the deck. He attacked with Cinccino, but with Crushing Hammer and Catcher, I was able to slow him down. I Devoured both Amoonguss, and eventually both Vileplume, which greatly tilted the match in my favor.
1-0
Round 2 – Henry (Zekrom/Eelektrik)
Henry played very wisely, only having one Eelektrik and one Zekrom in play the entire game. I kept using Pokemon Catcher, but he continuously got Eelektrik out of the Active position. One turn he forgot to Dynamotor, which left Eel vulnerable to another Devour. At that point, it appeared that he had an energy drought, and would be unable to recover.
2-0
Round 3 – Mason (Celebi/Mewtwo/Tornadus)
This was a really strange match due to both of us not really able to do setup much until after turn five, and then I got all my Durants out, and played defensively using Crushing Hammer and Pokemon Catcher.
3-0
Round 4 – Joseph (Yanmega/Magnezone)
I had not seen this deck in a while! I was a little worried when Oddish hit the board, but I ended up discarding all 4 Rare Candy and Gloom in the match. He took some quick prizes using Yanmega, but I used Pokemon Catcher to bring up an unpowered Magnezone, and then he was trapped.
4-0
Round 5 – George (Zekrom/Eelektrik)
George played a little more offensively than my previous Zekrom/Eelektrik match, and had a full bench of Pokemon, including Zapdos. Every time I would use Pokemon Catcher on Eelektrik, he had the ability to Switch or Junk Arm it back to sweep with Zekrom. Great guy!
4-1
Round 6 – Dallan (Celebi/Mewtwo/Tornadus)
Another great guy! Unfortunately, my Rotom and one Durant were prized. I wanted to KO Celebi with Vice Grip, but I couldn't get a Catcher. I couldn’t play my usual tricks with Skyarrow in play, and he swept my Durants.
4-2
Round 7 – Oscar (Terrakion)
Oscar started with Tyrogue and did 40 to Durant. I mill, but then out comes Tornadus and then Terrakion to sweep.
4-3
At this point, I was a little worried, but if my calculations were correct, since my opponents had been performing strongly (lowest was ¾ and none dropped), as long as I won my next match, I could probably scrape into the Top 32 (There were 185 players total).
Round 8 – Daiki (Verizion/Kyogre/Vanilluxe)
I didn’t really get to see too much of how the deck performed, but it began with Verizion using Double Draw, and everytime he would Leaf Wallop I would Pokemon Catcher Kyogre and Devour a few turns. I stripped him of Energy with Crushing Hammer, and he got 1 Prize before decked.
5-3
After all the players finish, I check the standings and find that I’m 30th! This is exciting, since the last time I made a top cut at a major event, I was playing Shiftry (LM)/Pidgeot/Claydol and was taken out by banjiras. Also, the three players that beat me made it to the Top 32 too! Anyway, I turn in my deck and prepare for the next day.
Top 32 – Ricardo (Verizion[EP]/Celebi/Mewtwo)
ROUND 1 – I go second and start with Rotom, and my Durants get beat up by Sacred Sword. Unlike the other Verizion that wants to remain up front, this one pretty much renders my Catchers useless, since Skyarrow was in play. Pretty much used Switch and Retreat every turn, while I tried to stop him with Crushing Hammer, but it was to no avail.
ROUND 2 – Another start with Rotom, but going first and Crushing Hammer allowed me enough time to discard the deck and keep Verizion in check.
ROUND 3 – This time he started with Mewtwo and I got setup pretty quickly. He went with the agro Mewtwo plan. Crushing Hammer was failing though, and he picked off the Durants one by one. Great game and player!
Overall, I had an amazing time. Staffing was great and professional. I found it interesting that a majority of my opponents were from So. Cal, even a couple from Orange County, where I’m from. Although my work prevents me from going to Pokemon League and Prereleases, I’m planning on attending a Battle Road, probably Montclair. Thanks for reading! =]
Props
My 9 Opponents – Exemplary models of the Spirit of the Game, and all very courteous and friendly. I came alone, and I didn’t know anyone at the event, so it was nice when we would converse between rounds, and see how everyone was doing.
The Staff – Clearly these people know how to run an event, and everything ran smoothly.
Durant – This deck rocks, although I’ll probably go for something a little more aggressive next tournament.
Making Top 32 by doing 0 damage the entire tournament.
Ricardo making Top 4.
Slops
The Drive. Crazy weather Friday.
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