Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

TheDarkTwins 18th Place Worlds 08 Report with Rogue AmphyZong

TheDarkTwins

Active Member
I managed to squeak into worlds by grabbing the 24th of 25 US invite spots after having a complete meltdown at US Nationals by starting 5-0 and finishing 1-4 and losing in T64 after winning game 1 of top cut. I played 6 GG's, 3 Empoleon, and 1 Rogue. So, I was talking to my friend and he was asking me what I was thinking about playing as a counter to GG and Empoleon. I said that I was very interested in Ampharos/Bronzong. He liked the idea and started testing it out. We each decide to go in different directions, however I was still having issues with my version. I decided to then go with his version. To test it out I went to a local tournament. I played 1 game before the tournament vs Empoleon and won. I played then in the tournament proceeding to go 3-0 with it playing against 2 GG and an Empoleon. I decide that it was going to be my deck for Worlds.

So anyways, I get to FL and decide to do some more playtesting on Thursday. I played a total of 15 games going 13-2 with it losing to a GG and an Empoleon. With the testing done, I go to sleep for the night.

On Friday my friend uses almost the same deck (1 card difference) and gets T1'd by a Togekiss. He then goes 6-2 and barely misses also earning an invite.

Here is my list -

Pokemon - (21)

4 Bronzor MD
4 Bronzong MD
3 Mareep SW
2 Flaaffy SW
3 Ampharos SW
2 Baltoy GE
2 Claydol GE
1 Absol Ex PK

Trainers - (24)

4 Bebe's Search
3 Rare Candy
3 Roseanne's Research
3 Steven's Advice
3 Warp Point
2 CopyCat
2 Windstorm
2 Lake Boundary
1 Celio's Network
1 Night Maintenance

Energy - (15)

4 Call
4 Lightning
4 Double Rainbow
3 Scramble

So anyways, on to the tournament report.

Round 1 - Sami S. (UK) - (EmpoZong w/ Dusknoir)

I don't really remember much about this matchup other than I got a really good start to his Mediocre. I know I got T2 Ampharos and that hurt him. He did end up koing two of his pokemon on his turn. I believe I took my last 3 prizes on the last turn of the game with Absol Ex, Bronzong's Body, and Attacking.

Win (1-0)

Round 2 - Gino L. (US) - (GG w/ Muk & Cresselia Lv. X)

I get an eh start but I am still manage to get up a Ampharos T2. This hurts him through out the game. He does telekensis my Claydol twice early game which hurts me. However, I end up needing to draw a Bronzong + Scramble from my deck. I copycat for 10 and I get the scramble (which meant I would be ko'd next turn). I can't keep it close after that and he proceed to win a very close game.

Loss (1-1)

Round 3 - Kyle S. (US) - (GG)

We both mulligan twice. I then get a basic (Baltoy) while he mulligans again. I draw a Mareep and play it. I am going to Copycat the first chance I get because my hand is horrible. He starts after his 3 mulligans with Chatot. He goes first and proceeds to mimic my 6 card hand. I top deck the RC and get a T1 Ampharos. I then copycat into candy and another Ampharos. He goes and has to Mimic again. I top deck a Mareep this time and get a T1 and T2 Ampharos up. His draw just craps out on him and I pretty much run right thru him after my amazing start.

Win (2-1)

Round 4 - Paul J. (US) - (GG)

This was my best match all day. I get a HORRIBLE start to his T2 or T3 Gallade. I have a horrible start but I manage to flip a heads with Mareep to paralyze his active. He warp's out of it. I don't remember what exactly happened my next turn, but he ends up getting Gallade out as I stated. I the proceed to got 2/2 on my next two flips for Paralyzation on his active Gallade. This gives me enough time to get setup up enough to try to put up a fight. He ends up taking 4 of the first 5 prizes. I am losing 5 prizes left to 2. He however Mimic to get better cards in his hand. I proceed to have Bronzong's Body KO his Claydol in between turns then I use Absol Ex to move counters from his Gardy Lv. X to Gallade which ko's that and then I coating his active to take another prize giving my 3 prizes on pretty much one turn. He can't recover from this and I end up taking 2 of the next 3 prizes giving me the win in a VERY good game.

Win (3-1)

Round 5 - Tom R. (FI) - (Jirachi Ex/Gallade/Electrode)

So, now I am paired up against the former World Champ. He gets a good start as do I. I get up a Bronzong and ko his active Jirachi, however his deck is really good (he played beach). I am spreading with jamming. He has 2 prizes to my 3. I am in serious trouble. He uses his Gallade to ko my active Bronzong who used Coating last turn by doing 80 by flipping one. Only problem is he said Psychic Cut for 80 without announcing how many prizes he is flipping over before he flipped. I call over the judge and he ends up having to flip the prize down and only do 60 which prevents the KO on my active Bronzong. I proceed to Warp Point and then play Absol Ex moving 2 damage from his active Voltorb to his Jirachi Ex on the bench with 6 already on it. I ko his active tying the game. He can't prevent my next turn from doing Pain Amplifier so I win.

Win (4-1)

Round 6 - Anna S. (??) - EmpoZong

She has a very good Empoleon list. I don't remember much other than I use my Ampharos to take out her Empoleons with Bronzong's help. I end up using Absol Ex to move damge to her Claydol and then proceed to Pain Amp to ko both her Claydol on her bench to win. I now know I am in top cut. However I want to get a good seed.

Win - (5-1)

Round 7 - Frankie D. (US)

I see I am playing my friend in R7 but we are both in, so we have a fun game. He gets a crap start to my very good start. I proceed to 6-1 him and win the game.

Win - (6-1)

I end up getting the 3rd seed just above Yamato. I am playing against John S. in T32. John went 4-3 and had the highest resistance. He is playing Empoleon/Bronzong with 4 Cess. I then head up stairs and go to sleep.

T32 - John S. (Speed EmpoZong)

Game 1 - I end up getting a great start however he is smart and takes out my Claydol that I got T2 really quickly as he gets a T2 Empoleon up. I end up having issues drawing anything good and lose pretty quickly.

Game 2 - I go first and end up getting a T2 Claydol for the 2nd straight game. He gets a T3 Empoleon which doesn't help me. I am keeping the game even until he gets his Lv. X out and hits me twice with Empoleon Lv. X on two straight turns by Warp Pointing and hitting my Ampharos with 3 damage counters for 80 putting me up to 110. I then proceed to Warp Point and play down Absol Ex to ko his Empoleon Lv. X. I end up needing a warp point for two straight turns to win the game. If I can get it I can win however if I can I can't win. I don't draw in the first time and the second time I only have 4 cards left in my deck. I fail a Bebe's Search. I then play all the cards I can so I can Claydol for 1. I whiff and proceed to lose next turn. My 3rd Warp Point was my next card. I also had times mid game when I steven's (like twice) for 6 and drew nothing I needed and when I copycat'd for 10 and 12 and drew a hand that was worse then my 3-4 card hand that I began with.

Loss (6-2)

I really wanted the Scholarship Money and the DS Lite they gave out, but going 6-2 with a rogue deck is pretty impressive. I congratulate John and wish him the best of luck. He later tells me that those were his two best starts and that I would of gave Jason a run for his money as my deck has a favorable matchup vs. GG. I am pretty bummed out but I get a box of LA, two Top Thirty-Two cards, a Top Thirty-Two Hat, and the 10th anniversary Ash and Pikachu statue. I cheer on my two friends in top cut who manage to get T8 and 4th.

I did end up getting 18th which was one spot higher than Yamato this year, which is impressive.

Thanks for Reading,

Drew

Props -

Dustin, Eddie, James, Kettler, Mikey F., Tommy, and Matt G. for helping me with the deck and playtesting with me
Getting T32
The Staff and POP/PUI for running a GREAT EVENT.
My friends
Anything else I might be forgetting.
My friends getting T8 and 4th.
Jason K. winning Worlds for a 2nd year.

Slops -

Losing in T32.
No DS Lite this year.
Missing a Playmat. :frown:
No Sleep.
Anything else may have forgot.
 
Last edited:
Way to take it too them drew. Next year i won't have any last minite problems so ill deffently be at worlds next year
 
Congratulations Drew, not only on an excellent performance but originality. I wish you would come to TimeWarp more often; there are many of us who could learn a lot from you.

Great job!

John
 
GJ drew for making cut with rogue

Thanks!!

you made this deck work! grats! i was working on this mid-may but it didnt work to well.
gj!

Thanks, I really didn't want to play Empoleon or GG and I was hoping to find a deck that would counter both. I found one that did and tested it until it started to work.

Way to take it too them drew. Next year i won't have any last minite problems so ill deffently be at worlds next year

Cool, I hope I see you in San Diego next year. Thanks!!

Congratulations Drew, not only on an excellent performance but originality. I wish you would come to TimeWarp more often; there are many of us who could learn a lot from you.

Great job!

John

Thanks!! I can try, I have school starting soon. I will try to go if I can make it, but I am not sure if I am able to make it very often. I can't go on Saturday's though.

Nice job on Top 32 with rogue

Thanks Man!!

Congratulations on making Top 32 in Worlds, with the not so typical deck.

Thanks, I appreciate it!!

Congrats man, you deserved it!

Thanks, I couldn't of done it without your willingness to help me test. So thank you as well. :thumb:

Thanks All!!

Drew
 
Proud to say you destroyed me with that deck. The boys couldn't have cheered harder for you. Saturday when we saw you finish swiss in 3rd we couldn't wait till Sunday. We were checking standings while we were at the prerelease in Ambler and were duly bummed when we saw the first round results. Can't wait to see what you'll beat me with from LA. Always a pleasure to lose to you (but I think I'm learning). See you at Little Shop.
 
It's great you got into top 32 in worlds with this deck. I used it for the grinder and grinded in with it, but a few misplays during worlds caused me not to make top 32. Good job though on your success with the deck.
 
Round 5 - Tom R. (FI) - (Jirachi Ex/Gallade/Electrode)
...
Only problem is he said Psychic Cut for 80 without announcing how many prizes he is flipping over before he flipped. I call over the judge and he ends up having to flip the prize down and only do 60 which prevents the KO on my active Bronzong.
...


So this is the ultimate move of a true champ.
 
Last edited:
Congrats Man, Your list is amazing.

Thanks Jay, I appreciate it.

Well done Drew! Way to do North Jersey proud! Good job going outside the norm!

Thanks Man!!

You should've won. Really.

But that was a lame call on someone as cool as Roos. :[

I should of done better but Silvestro had 2 insane starts and draws against me. I couldn't keep up. He said it was his two best starts of the tournament. Thanks thought. About Tom, let's not go there, I will talk to you about that on the phone when we get a chance. I was just following the ruling that was issued.

Good Job Drew! It was a definate pleasure to read over your report.

mike

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Proud to say you destroyed me with that deck. The boys couldn't have cheered harder for you. Saturday when we saw you finish swiss in 3rd we couldn't wait till Sunday. We were checking standings while we were at the prerelease in Ambler and were duly bummed when we saw the first round results. Can't wait to see what you'll beat me with from LA. Always a pleasure to lose to you (but I think I'm learning). See you at Little Shop.

Heh, thanks, I appreciate it. I was bummed as well. I am sure I will come up with something interesting. I do agree, you are getting MUCH better. You did also make a cut, since you T16 Regionals.

GJ,I saw alot of these during the Grinder,alot of Europeon people played this and had decent records.

Thanks, and I did hear that.

It's great you got into top 32 in worlds with this deck. I used it for the grinder and grinded in with it, but a few misplays during worlds caused me not to make top 32. Good job though on your success with the deck.

Thanks, I am sorry to hear that you didn't do well at Worlds, but nice job grinding in. :thumb:

Round 5 - Tom R. (FI) - (Jirachi Ex/Gallade/Electrode)
...
Only problem is he said Psychic Cut for 80 without announcing how many prizes he is flipping over before he flipped. I call over the judge and he ends up having to flip the prize down and only do 60 which prevents the KO on my active Bronzong.
...


So this is the ultimate move of a true champ.

They announced before the tournament and during the announcements that you needed to say it one of two ways. Psychic Cut Flipping X for X0 Damage or Flipping X for Psychic Cut for X0 Damage. If you didn't do either you flip 0 and do the base damage. This is what happened and I called my opponent on it. This is the world championships. You should be paying attention to what exactly happen. I am not going to go into in futher because Tom decided to be really rude after it even though I was just doing what the ruling that was announced during the weekend was. You can think it was a bad, wrong, rude, mean move on my part, but I was following the ruling that was handed out. Tom has no one to blame but himself for not announcing how many prizes he was flipping. Do I wish he had done it correctly, absolutely, but he didn't and I called him on it.

Thanks All!!

Drew
 
good job on getting top 32
i played the same deck but i only went 3-4
nice to see that someone actually did good with it
 
Back
Top