I decided to go with Gallade/Swampert, as it got me 3rd at OH States and I felt comfortable playing it.
Shipshewana IN aka Amish Country
150ish total, 84 Masters
7 rounds with a t16 cut
Round 1 vs Gatr
Get Mudkip with no other basics or supporters all game, he gets a typical Gatr start and KOs my Mudkip turn 4.
0-1
Round 2 vs Wailord
Get a much better start, and Sonic Blade works wonders on Wailords. He doesn't get any Holon WPs until it's too late.
1-1
Lunch break, go to Subway (the only fast food in town)
Round 3 vs Lucario/Exploud
He Wild Kicks twice to knock out my Ralts, fortunately I'm able to respond with a Scrambled Gardevoir and just go from there.
2-1
Round 4 vs Gillespie w/Banette
He's a Pluspower away from a t1 kill, but fortunately he doesn't draw into it and I am able to set up via Furret. I win a crucial Wager and I Psychic Lock him from there, with him drawing into nothing.
3-1
Round 5 vs Banette
He Ascends t1, and I start my normal setup. For some reason, he retreats, evolves into another Banette, and Ghost Heads for 1. He doesn't seem to get much else, and I put myself into a position where I can just Bring Down all his Shuppets.
4-1
Round 6 vs Dustin Zimmerman w/Mirror
I lose the opening flip, and am glad because I have a lone Ralts and like 4 supporters. However, he gets the t2 Furret, and starts setting up. I Roseanne, and realize I have 2 Ralts, a Gallade, and a Baltoy prized. Yikes. I get a Furret set up a couple turns later, but he wins a couple successive Wagers. Because of this, he is able to get ahead on prizes. I Scramble a Swampert and am able to knock out a Pokemon or two of his, but he plays more Pluspowers than I expect and is able to flip all 3 of his remaining prizes with the PP to one shot my Swampert with Gallade. I regroup a bit, and am able to topdeck a Rare Candy to get a Psychic lock or two in. He Warp Points to knock out a Stantler for his last prize. GG Dustin.
4-2
Round 7 vs Sandslash/Rampardos
I get pretty much a god start, and am able to set up an early Gallade to run through all of his Pokemon. He ends up KOing the Gallade, but I can pull together enough energy + a Strength Charm to one shot his Sandslash for my last prize with Swampert.
5-2
I have doubts of making top cut despite going 5-2, which is confirmed when the standings are put up where I am 18th. I liked my chances in top cut, but in the end I didn't have good enough tiebreakers. The Round 1 loss killed me, as none of my first four opponents ended with winning records. The top cut was filled was Gallade, and it seems that not even Magmortar can challenge it consistently now.
Props
Schumacher for winning
Eric Richard for his innovative Houndoom lock deck
Ohio owning top cut
Nice venue
Slops
The 3 1/2 hour trip
Going so far off the highway we were in Amish Country
Resistance (Drew Holton also missed at 5-2)
Shipshewana IN aka Amish Country
150ish total, 84 Masters
7 rounds with a t16 cut
Round 1 vs Gatr
Get Mudkip with no other basics or supporters all game, he gets a typical Gatr start and KOs my Mudkip turn 4.
0-1
Round 2 vs Wailord
Get a much better start, and Sonic Blade works wonders on Wailords. He doesn't get any Holon WPs until it's too late.
1-1
Lunch break, go to Subway (the only fast food in town)
Round 3 vs Lucario/Exploud
He Wild Kicks twice to knock out my Ralts, fortunately I'm able to respond with a Scrambled Gardevoir and just go from there.
2-1
Round 4 vs Gillespie w/Banette
He's a Pluspower away from a t1 kill, but fortunately he doesn't draw into it and I am able to set up via Furret. I win a crucial Wager and I Psychic Lock him from there, with him drawing into nothing.
3-1
Round 5 vs Banette
He Ascends t1, and I start my normal setup. For some reason, he retreats, evolves into another Banette, and Ghost Heads for 1. He doesn't seem to get much else, and I put myself into a position where I can just Bring Down all his Shuppets.
4-1
Round 6 vs Dustin Zimmerman w/Mirror
I lose the opening flip, and am glad because I have a lone Ralts and like 4 supporters. However, he gets the t2 Furret, and starts setting up. I Roseanne, and realize I have 2 Ralts, a Gallade, and a Baltoy prized. Yikes. I get a Furret set up a couple turns later, but he wins a couple successive Wagers. Because of this, he is able to get ahead on prizes. I Scramble a Swampert and am able to knock out a Pokemon or two of his, but he plays more Pluspowers than I expect and is able to flip all 3 of his remaining prizes with the PP to one shot my Swampert with Gallade. I regroup a bit, and am able to topdeck a Rare Candy to get a Psychic lock or two in. He Warp Points to knock out a Stantler for his last prize. GG Dustin.
4-2
Round 7 vs Sandslash/Rampardos
I get pretty much a god start, and am able to set up an early Gallade to run through all of his Pokemon. He ends up KOing the Gallade, but I can pull together enough energy + a Strength Charm to one shot his Sandslash for my last prize with Swampert.
5-2
I have doubts of making top cut despite going 5-2, which is confirmed when the standings are put up where I am 18th. I liked my chances in top cut, but in the end I didn't have good enough tiebreakers. The Round 1 loss killed me, as none of my first four opponents ended with winning records. The top cut was filled was Gallade, and it seems that not even Magmortar can challenge it consistently now.
Props
Schumacher for winning
Eric Richard for his innovative Houndoom lock deck
Ohio owning top cut
Nice venue
Slops
The 3 1/2 hour trip
Going so far off the highway we were in Amish Country
Resistance (Drew Holton also missed at 5-2)
better luck next time chief.
