Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

2nd to 19th... EXPLANATION :D

M

Magic_Umbreon

Researching Tower Scientist, Retired
Nationals 2008 report

Alex Bra[DEL]m[/DEL]ham's report


I went for my original and self built Redshift deck. The exact list I played:

Pokémon: 19
4 Moltres
3 Rotom
1 Solrock
2 Lunatone
2 Unown Q
1 Latios δ
1 Latias
2 Holons Castform
1 Mew δ star
1 Jirachi ex
1 Shuckle

Trainers: 23
4 Holon Mentor
4 Roseannes Research
3 TV Reporter
2 Stevens Advice
1 Castaway
2 Cessation Crystal
3 PlusPower
3 Super Scoop Up
1 Time-Space Distortion

Energy: 18
10 Fire Energy
4 Call Energy
2 Lightning
1 Water Energy
1 Psychic Energy

You can find the article here.

5 single game swiss rounds.


Round 1 versus Scott (kaworu): Plox

Scott is an excellent player and used a great build of Plox. My starting hand was weak but manageable. I misplayed my resources and didn't hit supporters after a Moltres rush. Jirachi ex was effective in slowing down setup but I couldn't sustain the game after that.

Loss = 0-1


Round 2 versus Stuart: Empoleon DP

It was easy to rush the build with Moltres and Rotom made it faster. Redshift worked, I got the KOs needed and sustained resources.

Win = 1-1


Round 3 versus: Magkiss

Redshift was faster and more efficent than Magkiss and I had sufficent resources to set everything up and sustain KOs. He got Togekiss and Claydols out very fast but couldn't take KOs early on. I think he was waiting for an opportunity to strike, perhaps with the LvX but it didn't pay off because I drew a few prize cards before he took any and won at time. Redshift has a particular advantage against anything with lots of energies on one thing or where a lot of resources have been spent on one thing. It was a simple matchup, but an impressive deck build he had.

Win = 2-1


Round 4 versus: Darkrai Wing Duck

I lost this partially to bad topdecks and partially to misplays. I hit none of the three pluspowers to be able to KO Honchcrow with Moltres, despite using Steven's, TV Reporter and mentor to make my deck more saturated. Probably went through about a third to half of deck. Looking back, it would have been wiser to make use of Rotom's energy reflect versus Honchcrow to KO it in 2 attacks, rather than relying on Moltres. Resorting to Mew* mimicing Sneasel's flip 2, 10x the heads attack after reducing Honchcrow to 10, I hit two tails urgh and conceded. Great deck, but not as good as Jem's Honchcrow build.

Loss = 2-2


Round 5 versus Dan: Sceptile

Jirachi ex locked the setup and the Latis locked the Sceptile. Moltres could KO everything in one attack, and it did. Dan was remarkable considering it was his first tournament.

Win = 3-2


I missed the Top 16 cut at 19th place.


Props

  • Organised well, nice location BUT no lunch break. I don't think I'm alone in desiring that.
  • Everyone awesome! From all who helped my deck on MSN to all the Masters who showed most excellent spirit of the game. Props to you all!
  • I showed Redshift was a good deck. It performed better than a lot of the archetypes, and I'm happy with a 3-2 score for my first year in Masters. I went with an original rogue deck I made and did better than anyone else who took that path.
  • My friends Jem, Tom and Luke did fantastic, 4th, 3rd and 2nd respectively. Such great play from them and great friends. :thumb:
  • Mesprit LvX used [DEL]God[/DEL] Dave Schwimmer blast.


Slops

  • Honestly, we all want to win and it wasn't my year! First time not making Nationals top-cut the day seemed to have a most premature end. But "Someone has to lose, why shouldn't it be me?" and it's really made me aware of all the players sho play for fun and end up having a more satisfying time.
  • No judges knew very much about using japanese cards. At least three times in the day, I was told "can't use that without a reference card" only to be corrected by adjacent players not involved. Which is such a trivial thing, but so annoying all day. It's stickied here on the gym and in the basic rules.
  • My friends Justin and Andy both failed to make top cut. I didn't expect all three of us to miss out.
  • Was sleepy a lot of the day and it affected my play. Had stessful exams all from Mon-Fri that week.
  • Michael (Jangafress) and Ryan (Ultima) I know on MSN were both there and yet I never met them.
  • The Redshift sceptists.


Until next year....!
 
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Magic_Umbreon said:
  • No judges knew very much about using japanese cards. At least three times in the day, I was told "can't use that without a reference card" only to be corrected by adjacent players not involved. Which is such a trivial thing, but so annoying all day. It's stickied here on the gym and in the basic rules.
Click to expand...
I do want to point out, some judges knew, including me the correct way of playing foreign language cards. However, I was never asked.

Also, unlucky on dropping. Nationals was very unexpected. Sami coming 2nd!!!
Nick F winning for the 3rd time, as they was just hoping to keep there rating invite and not expect to get one from nationals. Andy dropping from 2nd from the year before, and me unlikely to judge again.
 
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Well played Alex. Great performance, especially with the rogue deck. I'm very tempted to try it out, I have to say.
Really wish I could have had a chat with you, but I'm sure we'll get another chance soon. After all, next year I'll be nearer to you than I am now. :D
 
Alex, pleasure meeting up again after all this time. I was delighted to see a refreshing and new deck put up what was a very solid preformance. Keep education as your priority but I'm certain you have the potential to be in the mix for nationals title next year. Hope the deck gets played as much as it deserves to. And thanks for the tip on Mew* d, by the looks of things Jirachi ex helped you out too :)

Oh and excellent report. You played some really tough opponants, so the redshift skeptics (I was probably one of them!) should finally shut up :p
 
Thanks For The Props And Well Done. You And Redshift Did Incredible This Year And I Will Be Quite. Ure oing in my props.

Thanks Mate
 
yes.. ageing up can do that for your finishes. 2nd place in the seniors -> 19th in Masters.

PROPS for going with your own deck, and stones for doing so in an anticipated Blue metagame.

regarding the Japanese cards. If you were to ask me I would answer that you need a legal external reference. I know what section 14 says about the use of foreign cards and also immediately following paragraph on advantage.


Steve: Nicholas winning wasn't part of the plan but to say it was 'unexpected'??? He is always in with a chance at the top in the UK seniors. We don't expect to win true, but that is not the same as a win being unexpected. Christopher placing third however was unexpected. Nicholas's rating invite was safe as long as he didn't pick up more than two losses. Nicholas was not playing for a rating invite-he was playing to win.

Sami was never going to get first place whilst Yacine was still in contention.
 
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WOW! We r getting more original w/ this lame format everyday! Congrats on 3-2 and having the guts 2 play something fresh @ a big tourney!
 
Sorry Ian for my miss wording, I was meaning to put "winning for the 3rd time" however I never changed it. Sorry if i made you think that I do take that back. To be honest, Nick has a greatest chance than most people winning it and winning it twice before really helps.

NoPoke said:
Sami was never going to get first place whilst Yacine was still in contention.
Click to expand...

The only person Sami can't beat. :D

Anyway I've gone of topic again!
 
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Good Job. I really like the deck, but it's too teched out. Mainly with basics, so like.. bad starts are going to be easy. Anyways, good luck in the near future. :)
 
I totally respect a player who not only doesn't play one of the Archetypes but a build of his own. Great stuff.
 
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