Wow its a long time since I've posted on here- need to work out how to put in smileys etc....
So once again I rock up at Nats and get a great result. This COULD NOT have been done without certain people, see props for that section.
I drove up to kettering friday and stayed in travelodge with Karl B Maureen and Luke B, and friends John and Kieran (LEGENDS). We tested tested tested and Karl, Luke and I decided that Kingdra Machamp was definitely the play. Its matchups went as follows-
Luxchomp/anything SP- 70-30 (depending on use of Unown g)
Jumpluff 65-35 (slightly less favourable but OHKO's on pluffs via early bench spread/judge ruined them)
Gyarados- 80-20 (JUDGE!)
Cursegar- 55-45 (difficult, but stadium play to get rid of moonlight leaves mime somewhat stranded)
PLOX- WELL- we'll talk about this later!
So we get there and do the usual rigmaroll. karl and I tell everyone we are playing a deck named "mankini"- manaphy, mankey and giratina. We convince Nick it is the play and he looks vry confused :lol: About half 11 we get paired- here we go! As always my aim was cut- anything else is just a bonus.
Game 1- Andrew with Donphan
Oh my days this game was close. I remember opening and just thinking- what the HECK should I do?! I had all these options, but somehow managed to chose the wrong one every time! Anyway, he goes a couple of prizes up and I'm worried. Somehow though, I have the turn of dreams. I manage a belted kingdra prime and take out his belted donphan. I then took an easy couple of prizes, then he sends up manectric. I choose to leave it on 80 (idiot) knowing i can kingdra prime power next turn, but of course that means he can get another attack off. Woops. Luckily, I recover and I ko 2 manectric and warp point to machamp a basic ftw.
1-0
Game 2- Irwin with Luxchomp
Seeing Irwin again was fantastic- I immediately said to him "at least if I lose now, I lose to a player with pedigree" and I totally meant that! Irwin didnt know what all of his deck did and so machamp came as a bit of a surprise. I run through sp's ftw. However- Irwin pulled out an amazing winning streak meaning that loss was his only loss of the day!!! Resistance!!!!
2-0
Game 3- Nitish with FS Gengar
I play Nitish every year at Nats- its a pain. I basically got around his fainting spells with Uxies and Prime power, and unown g'd the claydol. He kod uxies and not a lot else.. sorry mate!
3-0
Game 4- Alex with Kingdra prime
OMG DONK DONK DONK! I open with unown g- he candies to kingdra prime and kos. Horrendous! Nice guy tho- great meeting you!
3-1
Game 5- Tom Hall with mirror
I go into this game with a heavy heart- I'm totally disillusioned with a game where you get to attach an energy and then lose. This game was a lot better though- even if it was with my friend Tom. When I met Tom, he was just starting out in the game and he's developed into a top contender, so I knew this would be difficult. I go second so I know I have a great advantage. Basically, I get set up a little bit quicker and spread with Kingdra onto his claydol. I made a small gameplay error which was corrected by the judge perfectly (IMO) and I take my remaining prizes.
4-1
Game 6- Calvin with Luxchomp
I donked him- and felt horrid for doing it. Lovely guy, but thankfully we meet again for a better game in top 16... All hell kicks off around us....
5-1
Game 7- yacine with Jumpluff
Yacine sat down and said "finally, I can play a game where I can relax" and I totally agree. I get on with Yacine very well (a true gentleman) and we had both basically made the cut. As it turns out, the game was very tense, and winning it actually helped me out a lot. I set up a kingdra prime with a belt and with the power I could OHKO his pluffs. He put this on 120 damage i think and then I moved it to the bench. As time was called I had one prize to his two via crafty ko's with kingdra, stil with the prime on the bench. Time is called on Yacines turn and he has one turn to find 30 damage on my benched prime on the bench. He couldnt do it, and scooped!
6-1
So I went into the top 16 in second, which is crazy. Just crazy.
Top 16- Calvin with Luxchomp
Game 1- I get a very quick set up and judge him at t3 whilst OHKO'ing the only pokemon he had going. He scooped quickly...
Game 2- This is where we get the good game that I owed to Calvin. I looked at my watch and saw there was 40 minutes remaining- enough time for a long game so I knew I had to play to my best! I opened with rubbish and before I knew it, there was a dialga g lvl x, fully powered with 2 special metal but CRUCIALLY no unown g. I pull off one of those turns which this deck can easily do and get an energied champ set up for the KO. Was it over? NO! Blaziken g completely ruins me for turns with luring flame and full bench- no space for unown q and running out of energy fast! We're both totally immersed in the game, and im thinking of everything to get out of the situation without leaving him with a horrid lock the turn after. I somehow get out of it and take a prize and as I do so, time is called. I hated that happening to Calvin, and he was a total gent in his defeat. We sat for a couple more turns (holding up top 8 lol) and played it out with me coming out on top slightly we thought, depending on flips!
7-1
Top 8- Charlie with Palkia lock
Id met charlie a couple of time but never in cut- he'd done very well, particularly considering the level of partying he'd done the night before!
Game 1- Again, quick set up ruins his start. An early machamp set up, enough said really.
Game 2- I noticed now that Charlie is starting to misplay slightly and my early judges ruin his cyrus/honcho's commands. With the two combined I think this will be relatively straightforward, but NO! Every time I think I have it, more comes out of the deck, including a palkia lvl x (which I had to READ lol). By this point though I am buzzing and playing to the best of my ability. I play around his unown g and my two machamps are enough to see me over the line with even touching the palkia.
8-1
Top 4- Ian e with PLOX
Ian E is the guy that got me into pokemon, and a very close friend outside the game too. Going into this game, I know either way I will be happy with the outcome! PLOX is the only matchup I have not tested thoroughly and I don't fancy my chances going into the game...
Game 1- Right, we are two turns in and on my turn and Ian notices he doesn't have prizes out. A disastrous start to the most important game of the day! Ian F comes over to assist Stefanie with the decision and two words are being thrown around- "Game Loss". In no way was I going to let my friend go down a game in top 4 for a silly, tired mistake like that. Anybody else I would have demanded the loss- game state destroyed. But this game I wanted to see through. I took my prize penalty, and continued getting a prize lead of roughly 2-5. But then disaster strikes! ERL hits the field and leaves me with nothing but a horsea. Woops. His judge (I only had 3 cards) was actually PERFECTLY timed, as there was still a chance of me winning with those 3. I scoop, feeling beaten fair and square by a great play in his deck!
Game 2- Ha ha! Donk....
Game 3- This is it, final game for a spot in the final. My starting hand is terrible and he has a great start. I have a machamp line in my hand which i have to play or I know im not going to do ANYTHING. My bench is horsea, claydol, uxie and I have the champ active, desperately searching for kingdra. His is like claydol claydol gardy gallade jirachi and gardy active. STUPID! He brings down the horsea in a great play and 2 turns later im left with incredibly little despite him breaking the lock. I SOMEHOW manage to come back with a quick kingdra and KO his benched gardy x with the 20. If it had been i would have won as time is called on ians turn and I would have had a 2 prize lead. Sad times!
8-2
But not really! Massive happy times cos I've had my shot at the title (twice!) and its time for Ians! I give him the pep talk in the toilet, but its to no avail. I watch the game and Sami (who'd beaten Karl in top 4) controls play from minute one, right until the end of two games. Mental stamina, thy name is Sami.
Props
-Ian E for finally getting a Nats trophy! Seriously, this guy deserves it totally- a dedicated player, nicest guy you will meet at an event, and always helping me out/making me laugh. He's always ringing me up and telling me about new cards, and big decks and basicaly keeping me in the game! HAWAII! YES YES YES!
-Karl B for helping me test, building my deck and top 4ing with me with identical list! Could not have done it without this dude- a great player!
-Maureen for just being Maureen!
-Kish for judging another Nats and looking more and more like the part every year.
-Stefanie for judging her first nats and acting like a pro!
-Ian and Jane F + many others for running a great nats.
-Team Mankini!
-Sami for winning
-Third place!
-Seeing so many people that I havent seen in ages and it was great to chat with you again- you know who you are!
Slops
-England/Rob Green :tongue:
So once again I rock up at Nats and get a great result. This COULD NOT have been done without certain people, see props for that section.
I drove up to kettering friday and stayed in travelodge with Karl B Maureen and Luke B, and friends John and Kieran (LEGENDS). We tested tested tested and Karl, Luke and I decided that Kingdra Machamp was definitely the play. Its matchups went as follows-
Luxchomp/anything SP- 70-30 (depending on use of Unown g)
Jumpluff 65-35 (slightly less favourable but OHKO's on pluffs via early bench spread/judge ruined them)
Gyarados- 80-20 (JUDGE!)
Cursegar- 55-45 (difficult, but stadium play to get rid of moonlight leaves mime somewhat stranded)
PLOX- WELL- we'll talk about this later!
So we get there and do the usual rigmaroll. karl and I tell everyone we are playing a deck named "mankini"- manaphy, mankey and giratina. We convince Nick it is the play and he looks vry confused :lol: About half 11 we get paired- here we go! As always my aim was cut- anything else is just a bonus.
Game 1- Andrew with Donphan
Oh my days this game was close. I remember opening and just thinking- what the HECK should I do?! I had all these options, but somehow managed to chose the wrong one every time! Anyway, he goes a couple of prizes up and I'm worried. Somehow though, I have the turn of dreams. I manage a belted kingdra prime and take out his belted donphan. I then took an easy couple of prizes, then he sends up manectric. I choose to leave it on 80 (idiot) knowing i can kingdra prime power next turn, but of course that means he can get another attack off. Woops. Luckily, I recover and I ko 2 manectric and warp point to machamp a basic ftw.
1-0
Game 2- Irwin with Luxchomp
Seeing Irwin again was fantastic- I immediately said to him "at least if I lose now, I lose to a player with pedigree" and I totally meant that! Irwin didnt know what all of his deck did and so machamp came as a bit of a surprise. I run through sp's ftw. However- Irwin pulled out an amazing winning streak meaning that loss was his only loss of the day!!! Resistance!!!!
2-0
Game 3- Nitish with FS Gengar
I play Nitish every year at Nats- its a pain. I basically got around his fainting spells with Uxies and Prime power, and unown g'd the claydol. He kod uxies and not a lot else.. sorry mate!
3-0
Game 4- Alex with Kingdra prime
OMG DONK DONK DONK! I open with unown g- he candies to kingdra prime and kos. Horrendous! Nice guy tho- great meeting you!
3-1
Game 5- Tom Hall with mirror
I go into this game with a heavy heart- I'm totally disillusioned with a game where you get to attach an energy and then lose. This game was a lot better though- even if it was with my friend Tom. When I met Tom, he was just starting out in the game and he's developed into a top contender, so I knew this would be difficult. I go second so I know I have a great advantage. Basically, I get set up a little bit quicker and spread with Kingdra onto his claydol. I made a small gameplay error which was corrected by the judge perfectly (IMO) and I take my remaining prizes.
4-1
Game 6- Calvin with Luxchomp
I donked him- and felt horrid for doing it. Lovely guy, but thankfully we meet again for a better game in top 16... All hell kicks off around us....
5-1
Game 7- yacine with Jumpluff
Yacine sat down and said "finally, I can play a game where I can relax" and I totally agree. I get on with Yacine very well (a true gentleman) and we had both basically made the cut. As it turns out, the game was very tense, and winning it actually helped me out a lot. I set up a kingdra prime with a belt and with the power I could OHKO his pluffs. He put this on 120 damage i think and then I moved it to the bench. As time was called I had one prize to his two via crafty ko's with kingdra, stil with the prime on the bench. Time is called on Yacines turn and he has one turn to find 30 damage on my benched prime on the bench. He couldnt do it, and scooped!
6-1
So I went into the top 16 in second, which is crazy. Just crazy.
Top 16- Calvin with Luxchomp
Game 1- I get a very quick set up and judge him at t3 whilst OHKO'ing the only pokemon he had going. He scooped quickly...
Game 2- This is where we get the good game that I owed to Calvin. I looked at my watch and saw there was 40 minutes remaining- enough time for a long game so I knew I had to play to my best! I opened with rubbish and before I knew it, there was a dialga g lvl x, fully powered with 2 special metal but CRUCIALLY no unown g. I pull off one of those turns which this deck can easily do and get an energied champ set up for the KO. Was it over? NO! Blaziken g completely ruins me for turns with luring flame and full bench- no space for unown q and running out of energy fast! We're both totally immersed in the game, and im thinking of everything to get out of the situation without leaving him with a horrid lock the turn after. I somehow get out of it and take a prize and as I do so, time is called. I hated that happening to Calvin, and he was a total gent in his defeat. We sat for a couple more turns (holding up top 8 lol) and played it out with me coming out on top slightly we thought, depending on flips!
7-1
Top 8- Charlie with Palkia lock
Id met charlie a couple of time but never in cut- he'd done very well, particularly considering the level of partying he'd done the night before!
Game 1- Again, quick set up ruins his start. An early machamp set up, enough said really.
Game 2- I noticed now that Charlie is starting to misplay slightly and my early judges ruin his cyrus/honcho's commands. With the two combined I think this will be relatively straightforward, but NO! Every time I think I have it, more comes out of the deck, including a palkia lvl x (which I had to READ lol). By this point though I am buzzing and playing to the best of my ability. I play around his unown g and my two machamps are enough to see me over the line with even touching the palkia.
8-1
Top 4- Ian e with PLOX
Ian E is the guy that got me into pokemon, and a very close friend outside the game too. Going into this game, I know either way I will be happy with the outcome! PLOX is the only matchup I have not tested thoroughly and I don't fancy my chances going into the game...
Game 1- Right, we are two turns in and on my turn and Ian notices he doesn't have prizes out. A disastrous start to the most important game of the day! Ian F comes over to assist Stefanie with the decision and two words are being thrown around- "Game Loss". In no way was I going to let my friend go down a game in top 4 for a silly, tired mistake like that. Anybody else I would have demanded the loss- game state destroyed. But this game I wanted to see through. I took my prize penalty, and continued getting a prize lead of roughly 2-5. But then disaster strikes! ERL hits the field and leaves me with nothing but a horsea. Woops. His judge (I only had 3 cards) was actually PERFECTLY timed, as there was still a chance of me winning with those 3. I scoop, feeling beaten fair and square by a great play in his deck!
Game 2- Ha ha! Donk....
Game 3- This is it, final game for a spot in the final. My starting hand is terrible and he has a great start. I have a machamp line in my hand which i have to play or I know im not going to do ANYTHING. My bench is horsea, claydol, uxie and I have the champ active, desperately searching for kingdra. His is like claydol claydol gardy gallade jirachi and gardy active. STUPID! He brings down the horsea in a great play and 2 turns later im left with incredibly little despite him breaking the lock. I SOMEHOW manage to come back with a quick kingdra and KO his benched gardy x with the 20. If it had been i would have won as time is called on ians turn and I would have had a 2 prize lead. Sad times!
8-2
But not really! Massive happy times cos I've had my shot at the title (twice!) and its time for Ians! I give him the pep talk in the toilet, but its to no avail. I watch the game and Sami (who'd beaten Karl in top 4) controls play from minute one, right until the end of two games. Mental stamina, thy name is Sami.
Props
-Ian E for finally getting a Nats trophy! Seriously, this guy deserves it totally- a dedicated player, nicest guy you will meet at an event, and always helping me out/making me laugh. He's always ringing me up and telling me about new cards, and big decks and basicaly keeping me in the game! HAWAII! YES YES YES!
-Karl B for helping me test, building my deck and top 4ing with me with identical list! Could not have done it without this dude- a great player!
-Maureen for just being Maureen!
-Kish for judging another Nats and looking more and more like the part every year.
-Stefanie for judging her first nats and acting like a pro!
-Ian and Jane F + many others for running a great nats.
-Team Mankini!
-Sami for winning
-Third place!
-Seeing so many people that I havent seen in ages and it was great to chat with you again- you know who you are!
Slops
-England/Rob Green :tongue:
, congrats on 3rd place, and a really interesting deck concept.
