Well, let me start off by saying I might actually take SOME time on this report (maybe), but I'm really glad I finally did well at a major event. I feel like I've had a really tough past 2 years in this game and this is finally a reassurance that I am one of the better players in Pokemon. So, without further ado..
Cap (Hot Mustid) got here on Tuesday and we started to playtest. He decided on Empoleon/Bronzong as I continued to test Gardy and Sausage. Gardy by far beat Empoleon more often, with me going a 4-1 vs him (only loss because I misplayed!). Chris was unsure what to play, he was playing around with Empoleon and Torterra here, while Pete was set on Gardy from the get go.
We left for the airport early on Thursday morning and arrived in Columbus around midday, met up with people and started playing around. Went up to the Krupas room at some point and playtested. I went on like a 12-0 streak with Gardy vs Empoleon and basically set my heart on playing it.
Friday we wake up and I sign up for the Modified tournament. I play Empoleon/Bronzong with 4 Potion and Latis just HOPING to play the mirror (and stuff with Dugtrio!), but get paired with an Ampharos deck round 1 and lose, then with a BanBliss round 2, where Potions WRECKED him, then dropped because it was getting boring and was really slow. Eventually I get around to playing Sausage a little, but it couldn't convince me to switch from Gardy. At the end of the night, Ross snapped my 15-1 streak vs Empoleon by specifically teching for me (4 Cessation and 2 Holon WP) and beat me 3-0, barely, 2 games I would've won on time. Oh well, Gardy's the BDIF and I go with it for Saturday.
My list was basically a standard Gardy with 2 Cessation Crystal, 1-1 Dusknoir. THREE KIRLIA (SOOOO GOOOOD)
Round 1 vs ??? w/ Glaceon/Eevees/Meganium d
Well, my opening hand of the day was the worst I've ever had with the deck. I literally draw/passed for the first 4-5 turns while he powered up Glaceons and Meganiums. For some reason, though, he continued to Snow Cloak or whatever and keep doing 30 instead of KOing my basics. If he did that, he would've won. I don't know if he thought that I had like Candy/Gallade/Scramble waiting in hand or what, but eventually I drew into a Tauros and next turn an Energy, so I was able to Call for Family for 2 turns. Eventually I get a Claydol and begin the comeback. He starts to retreat and lose all of the energy drops he gained on me. Sonic Blade Meg as it Delta Reductos and eventually I tie prizes. Time's called when it's 1-1. I promote Dusknoir with 3 Energy on it and hit an Espeon for 90. He Warps thinking he has a shot, but I send up my Gallade with a Cess on it and the win is mine.
What a way to start this damn tournament.
Round 2 vs ??? w/ Glaceon/Leafeon
I don't remember much about this game, except I got another slow start. Better than last game, though, I eventually get rolling. Gallade with Cess is just such a beast vs anything Eeevee, and that's what happened this game.
Round 3 vs ??? w/ Dragonite ex d/Sceptile
Well, this guy kind of walked right into Dusknoir, laying a full bench and taking his time setting up a Drag ex d. I get Dusknoir out and Dark Palm the Drag back when it has 3 Energy and just proceed to Psychic Lock and Gallade/Cess for the win. I think I 6-0ed him...
Round 4 vs Paul Johnston w/ Mirror
Ugh, Paul and I are good friends considering on XF together. We test together and with the same people, and our lists were 1? card different. He gets a slightly better set, and we start going back and forth. I don't remember much, but I win a Wager late in the game and time's called with him winning 2-1. I can't nab the KO, but I had his Gardevoir locked in the active spot as I Tauros my own Phoebe's Stadium away with Tauros. I win a Wager and he only has 1 DRE left in his deck. If there was more time, I might've had a shot (though he RIPPED the DRE on the 3 cards anyway, donkey!), but Paul gave me the win.
Round 5 vs Colin Moll w/ Torterra/Sceptile
Man, another good friend. I basically knew Colin's list because he gave it to me pre-Nats, so that was lame too. He knew I played Cess so he knew it would be hard. He got a slow start and I got to Psychic Lockiing pretty quickly, with Gallade coming up with Cess when they Torterra came out. I Sonic Bladed and he nabbed some KOs with Torterra Xs power, but it was KOed the next turn. I just got too far ahead on Energy drops and such and I won eventually.
So, 5-0 start. Pretty good. ;/
Round 6 vs Nancy Lynch w/ Mirror/Mismagius (ugh!)
Basically, this game came down to her not playing Claydol and her having the 3rd bench spot as another attacker, as we both played Dusknoir. I think that was my demise in this game.
Round 7 vs Breton Brander w/ Gallade/Absol/Cess
God I just got ***** so hard this game. Absol discarded my WHOLE hand while Cessations just killed me. I just couldn't do anything, I really loved that deck.
Round 8 vs Ryan ??? (almost remember the name I think) w/ Mirror/Nidoqueen
Ugh, I don't remember up till the end, but I had the game won, I just was so nervous. I Sonic Bladed his Gardy or Queen, I don't remember, to avoid Scramble one turn, then the next turn he sounds Gallade and Sonic Blades me, so I promote Gardy X, Teleport back to Gallade. I forget all I have is DRE on the Gallade and attach to the bench Gardy. I Psychic Cut and flip the rest of my prizes for the KO, and we both don't notice. Next turn he notices and we call over a judge. I'm able to go back and flip all the prizes back over and Sonic Blade, but he gets a prize penalty. Time ends on my next turn, but he's up by 2 prizes by then as he killed my Gallade. If time didn't end, I would've had the win too.
Ugh, so I just dropped from 5-0 to 5-3. -_- However, my resistance is ridiculous, the highest out of EVERYONE (the undefeated, all the X-1s and X-2s), so I know if I win I make it in.
Round 9 vs ??? w/ Mirror
I got a pretty horrid start, but make the best of it. Eventually getting set up, he fills his bench and I know I have it won. At one point I see I have Duskull/Candy/Dusknoir in hand and all I need is a DRE to get Psychic Lock going too. So, I do that and hit the DRE off the 5 card Cosmic Power. Send back his Gardy with 2 Energy and Wager him to 3 and Psychic Lock his Chatot, so I'm Dark Palming something next turn as well. He just scoops though that next turn.
Yay! I make T64 in 28th, (one of?) the highest 6-3s to make it. Thank you PUI SOOO much for the T64 haha.
T64 vs Michael Collins w/ Mirror
Game 1: He gets a T2 Gallade, I scoop within 10 minutes
Game 2: I get out a pretty quick Psychic Lock, like Turn 4 or something, to his fairly bad start. I never break the lock with Gallade/Cess and take 6 prizes.
Game 3: I get Psychic Locking pretty quick again, I stay 2 prizes ahead at all times as I know time's winding down, but he hits a key Candy/Gallade/Scramble out of nowhere which surprises me to take me down to 1 prize ahead. I think I would've won anyway, but time was called on my next turn.
I get to sleep at about 1 that night and back at the area at 8:30...
T32 vs Kyle Sucevich (Pooka) (how bad did I butcher it THAT time?!) w/ Leafeon/Magmortar
Ugh! Lafonte players clash, Kyle and I were literally just talking about the matchup before they put up pairings. Oh well =\
Game 1: He got a pretty bad start, and I just overpower him with Psychic Lock and Gallade/Cess and he lays more than 3 bench once, so Dusknoir shuffles back the Magmar he lays, and he scoops the turn after that, like 15 mins in or so.
Game 2: This seemed a lot closer, he got some stuff out, so did I. I Kirlia hit his Espeon for 30 on the bench at one point which was pretty big I think for the KO later. Magmortar was huge on the bench, but it didn't come out till way too late. Leaf Guard was annoying, but Sonic Blade got it while Espeon was out. Cessation on Gallade really hurt him throughout this game, especially shutting off the Espeon. Eventually when the Mag comes out, I had 1 prize left and I just Warp Point the Leafeon that I hit earlier back out and kill it FTW. GGs Kyle.
Good stuff, Mikey, keep it up.
T16 vs Jason Klacynski (Ness) w/ Mirror
Another Lafonte vs Lafonte..-_-
Game 1: He starts Castform and that's just so poor, especially in the mirror with Dusknoir. I get Psychic Locking pretty early and he's really under the lock. He scoops like 20 mins in, I felt like he should've scooped earlier, but maybe he had a reason for not? Dunno.
Game 2: We both had like equal sets it seemed, and it went back and forth, time was called when it was like 3-3 or something like that, and I took the win.
These games were a lot better than I describe, it's just so hard to remember everything exactly, especially with all the mirror lol
Sick, an invite.
T8 vs Alex Frezza w/ Mirror
Northeast vs Northeast, haha, we were pretty well represented in the Top 8
Game 1: I scoop like 10 mins in to his great start vs my horrid one
Game 2: I had a shot this game, but it wasn't looking that great. At one point he Telepasses my Wager and we both shuffle and go on. I take my turn and next turn he asks to see my supporters and we realize there were no Wager there...so after talking to the judges, Alex gets a game loss =/ I hate to win that way, but I guess what happens happens...
Game 3: Good game, we both start locking each other, but the Cess gets him when it's important. I don't remember much, but I win by drawing all 6 prizes in a really close game.
Wow, after all this I made T4 at Nats. I hate winning like that in T8, but oh well.
T4 vs Drew Holton w/ Mirror
Another Lafonte vs Lafonte
Drew's the mirror MASTER, beating like 2349 mirrors on his way here, so I'm worried.
Game 1: What a dumb game. He gets T1 Gardy after I go first, but I hit heads on Confuse Ray not letting him Telepass my Roseanne. We both start to get set up eventually, but I get better and he scoops like 10 mins in.
Game 2: Another dumb game, I scoop pretty quickly.
Game 3: We have like 30-35 mins for this one. We go back and forth back and forth, his Jirachi ex is so good in mirror though. Eventually it gets down to 2-2 and time is called on my turn. I can't KO his active, but if I hit the Gardy X I win. I Wager to 6...wiff. I Psychic Lock his active. He Warps my Claydol out and Psychic Locks again. I draw...Gardy X...wow. One card short. I can't retreat or Warp out, so he has the game. ;(
Ahh well, the run ends. It was a pretty legit Nats in general and I was so happy.
XF plus all went out to Mongolian BBQ after and then went down to the big hallway and played Pokemon/XF CCG for awhile. Chilled with Jimmy and stuff, went to bed pretty early though as I was sick all weekend, still am.
So, the weekend was incredibly fun and I guess I'll summarize it in Props:
Props:
X-Files:
-Jeremy: Great to see you again man, we'll break the format for Worlds
-Spencer: We MET! FINALLY! I <3333 you and we'll meet again I SWEAR!
-Ross: Bad beats, at LEAST you beat me the night before! I'll play XF CCG some day I swear to GOD!
-Paul: Couldn't have done it without you bud, we'll figure something for Worlds
-Tyler: Hopefully you'll get the ratings invite, you deserve it
-Matt: Great job on T32, it was good to see you there
-Michael: lol, great job again with Empoleon, you might even get the invite!
-Henry: You won Nats!!! Great job bro, the Gardy list is sooo good
-Gordon: You better win Canadian Nats!
-Dan, pseudo-XF member, great job with Empoleon haha, good to meet you bro
Cap, great job with Empoleon, we'll have a successful season next year
My brothers: they got bad beats, Chris decided on Beedril btw, and both ended up 4-4 with horrible luck, but whatever. Grinder<3
Jimmy, Omar, Bolt: You guys are sick. You damn sausage eating FRIENDS! I love you all, I know we'll be working on something for Worlds.
Colin for being so SEXY and winning with Torterra and thanks for the check man, that was really cool. <33
Pablo b/c he's Pablo.
AGUSTIN and Diego for coming up with the list and testing with me and convincing me to play it and tweaking it with me. It's soooo good. Worlds here we COMEE.
Garret for being chill. Chad and Plaid and Drew and everyone that I don't mention for being chill. Good to hang out with you all at points throughout the weekend.
Lafonte players in general.
Northeast in general, we did really well this year at Nats, I'm proud of how everyone did. Steve Arena, thanks so much for the support, you know it's very much appreciated. GJ to Thomas as well.
God, I feel like I should be writing more, but I'm exhausted and this is long. If I feel like I need to add more, I will. Tell me if I forgot your important self!
Thanks in advance all.
Mikey Fouchet
"Magnechu"
Cap (Hot Mustid) got here on Tuesday and we started to playtest. He decided on Empoleon/Bronzong as I continued to test Gardy and Sausage. Gardy by far beat Empoleon more often, with me going a 4-1 vs him (only loss because I misplayed!). Chris was unsure what to play, he was playing around with Empoleon and Torterra here, while Pete was set on Gardy from the get go.
We left for the airport early on Thursday morning and arrived in Columbus around midday, met up with people and started playing around. Went up to the Krupas room at some point and playtested. I went on like a 12-0 streak with Gardy vs Empoleon and basically set my heart on playing it.
Friday we wake up and I sign up for the Modified tournament. I play Empoleon/Bronzong with 4 Potion and Latis just HOPING to play the mirror (and stuff with Dugtrio!), but get paired with an Ampharos deck round 1 and lose, then with a BanBliss round 2, where Potions WRECKED him, then dropped because it was getting boring and was really slow. Eventually I get around to playing Sausage a little, but it couldn't convince me to switch from Gardy. At the end of the night, Ross snapped my 15-1 streak vs Empoleon by specifically teching for me (4 Cessation and 2 Holon WP) and beat me 3-0, barely, 2 games I would've won on time. Oh well, Gardy's the BDIF and I go with it for Saturday.
My list was basically a standard Gardy with 2 Cessation Crystal, 1-1 Dusknoir. THREE KIRLIA (SOOOO GOOOOD)
Round 1 vs ??? w/ Glaceon/Eevees/Meganium d
Well, my opening hand of the day was the worst I've ever had with the deck. I literally draw/passed for the first 4-5 turns while he powered up Glaceons and Meganiums. For some reason, though, he continued to Snow Cloak or whatever and keep doing 30 instead of KOing my basics. If he did that, he would've won. I don't know if he thought that I had like Candy/Gallade/Scramble waiting in hand or what, but eventually I drew into a Tauros and next turn an Energy, so I was able to Call for Family for 2 turns. Eventually I get a Claydol and begin the comeback. He starts to retreat and lose all of the energy drops he gained on me. Sonic Blade Meg as it Delta Reductos and eventually I tie prizes. Time's called when it's 1-1. I promote Dusknoir with 3 Energy on it and hit an Espeon for 90. He Warps thinking he has a shot, but I send up my Gallade with a Cess on it and the win is mine.
What a way to start this damn tournament.
Round 2 vs ??? w/ Glaceon/Leafeon
I don't remember much about this game, except I got another slow start. Better than last game, though, I eventually get rolling. Gallade with Cess is just such a beast vs anything Eeevee, and that's what happened this game.
Round 3 vs ??? w/ Dragonite ex d/Sceptile
Well, this guy kind of walked right into Dusknoir, laying a full bench and taking his time setting up a Drag ex d. I get Dusknoir out and Dark Palm the Drag back when it has 3 Energy and just proceed to Psychic Lock and Gallade/Cess for the win. I think I 6-0ed him...
Round 4 vs Paul Johnston w/ Mirror
Ugh, Paul and I are good friends considering on XF together. We test together and with the same people, and our lists were 1? card different. He gets a slightly better set, and we start going back and forth. I don't remember much, but I win a Wager late in the game and time's called with him winning 2-1. I can't nab the KO, but I had his Gardevoir locked in the active spot as I Tauros my own Phoebe's Stadium away with Tauros. I win a Wager and he only has 1 DRE left in his deck. If there was more time, I might've had a shot (though he RIPPED the DRE on the 3 cards anyway, donkey!), but Paul gave me the win.
Round 5 vs Colin Moll w/ Torterra/Sceptile
Man, another good friend. I basically knew Colin's list because he gave it to me pre-Nats, so that was lame too. He knew I played Cess so he knew it would be hard. He got a slow start and I got to Psychic Lockiing pretty quickly, with Gallade coming up with Cess when they Torterra came out. I Sonic Bladed and he nabbed some KOs with Torterra Xs power, but it was KOed the next turn. I just got too far ahead on Energy drops and such and I won eventually.
So, 5-0 start. Pretty good. ;/
Round 6 vs Nancy Lynch w/ Mirror/Mismagius (ugh!)
Basically, this game came down to her not playing Claydol and her having the 3rd bench spot as another attacker, as we both played Dusknoir. I think that was my demise in this game.
Round 7 vs Breton Brander w/ Gallade/Absol/Cess
God I just got ***** so hard this game. Absol discarded my WHOLE hand while Cessations just killed me. I just couldn't do anything, I really loved that deck.
Round 8 vs Ryan ??? (almost remember the name I think
) w/ Mirror/NidoqueenUgh, I don't remember up till the end, but I had the game won, I just was so nervous. I Sonic Bladed his Gardy or Queen, I don't remember, to avoid Scramble one turn, then the next turn he sounds Gallade and Sonic Blades me, so I promote Gardy X, Teleport back to Gallade. I forget all I have is DRE on the Gallade and attach to the bench Gardy. I Psychic Cut and flip the rest of my prizes for the KO, and we both don't notice. Next turn he notices and we call over a judge. I'm able to go back and flip all the prizes back over and Sonic Blade, but he gets a prize penalty. Time ends on my next turn, but he's up by 2 prizes by then as he killed my Gallade. If time didn't end, I would've had the win too.
Ugh, so I just dropped from 5-0 to 5-3. -_- However, my resistance is ridiculous, the highest out of EVERYONE (the undefeated, all the X-1s and X-2s), so I know if I win I make it in.
Round 9 vs ??? w/ Mirror
I got a pretty horrid start, but make the best of it. Eventually getting set up, he fills his bench and I know I have it won. At one point I see I have Duskull/Candy/Dusknoir in hand and all I need is a DRE to get Psychic Lock going too. So, I do that and hit the DRE off the 5 card Cosmic Power. Send back his Gardy with 2 Energy and Wager him to 3 and Psychic Lock his Chatot, so I'm Dark Palming something next turn as well. He just scoops though that next turn.
Yay! I make T64 in 28th, (one of?) the highest 6-3s to make it. Thank you PUI SOOO much for the T64 haha.
T64 vs Michael Collins w/ Mirror
Game 1: He gets a T2 Gallade, I scoop within 10 minutes
Game 2: I get out a pretty quick Psychic Lock, like Turn 4 or something, to his fairly bad start. I never break the lock with Gallade/Cess and take 6 prizes.
Game 3: I get Psychic Locking pretty quick again, I stay 2 prizes ahead at all times as I know time's winding down, but he hits a key Candy/Gallade/Scramble out of nowhere which surprises me to take me down to 1 prize ahead. I think I would've won anyway, but time was called on my next turn.
I get to sleep at about 1 that night and back at the area at 8:30...
T32 vs Kyle Sucevich (Pooka) (how bad did I butcher it THAT time?!) w/ Leafeon/Magmortar
Ugh! Lafonte players clash, Kyle and I were literally just talking about the matchup before they put up pairings. Oh well =\
Game 1: He got a pretty bad start, and I just overpower him with Psychic Lock and Gallade/Cess and he lays more than 3 bench once, so Dusknoir shuffles back the Magmar he lays, and he scoops the turn after that, like 15 mins in or so.
Game 2: This seemed a lot closer, he got some stuff out, so did I. I Kirlia hit his Espeon for 30 on the bench at one point which was pretty big I think for the KO later. Magmortar was huge on the bench, but it didn't come out till way too late. Leaf Guard was annoying, but Sonic Blade got it while Espeon was out. Cessation on Gallade really hurt him throughout this game, especially shutting off the Espeon. Eventually when the Mag comes out, I had 1 prize left and I just Warp Point the Leafeon that I hit earlier back out and kill it FTW. GGs Kyle.
Good stuff, Mikey, keep it up.
T16 vs Jason Klacynski (Ness) w/ Mirror
Another Lafonte vs Lafonte..-_-
Game 1: He starts Castform and that's just so poor, especially in the mirror with Dusknoir. I get Psychic Locking pretty early and he's really under the lock. He scoops like 20 mins in, I felt like he should've scooped earlier, but maybe he had a reason for not? Dunno.
Game 2: We both had like equal sets it seemed, and it went back and forth, time was called when it was like 3-3 or something like that, and I took the win.
These games were a lot better than I describe, it's just so hard to remember everything exactly, especially with all the mirror lol
Sick, an invite.
T8 vs Alex Frezza w/ Mirror
Northeast vs Northeast, haha, we were pretty well represented in the Top 8
Game 1: I scoop like 10 mins in to his great start vs my horrid one
Game 2: I had a shot this game, but it wasn't looking that great. At one point he Telepasses my Wager and we both shuffle and go on. I take my turn and next turn he asks to see my supporters and we realize there were no Wager there...so after talking to the judges, Alex gets a game loss =/ I hate to win that way, but I guess what happens happens...
Game 3: Good game, we both start locking each other, but the Cess gets him when it's important. I don't remember much, but I win by drawing all 6 prizes in a really close game.
Wow, after all this I made T4 at Nats. I hate winning like that in T8, but oh well.
T4 vs Drew Holton w/ Mirror
Another Lafonte vs Lafonte
Drew's the mirror MASTER, beating like 2349 mirrors on his way here, so I'm worried.
Game 1: What a dumb game. He gets T1 Gardy after I go first, but I hit heads on Confuse Ray not letting him Telepass my Roseanne. We both start to get set up eventually, but I get better and he scoops like 10 mins in.
Game 2: Another dumb game, I scoop pretty quickly.
Game 3: We have like 30-35 mins for this one. We go back and forth back and forth, his Jirachi ex is so good in mirror though. Eventually it gets down to 2-2 and time is called on my turn. I can't KO his active, but if I hit the Gardy X I win. I Wager to 6...wiff. I Psychic Lock his active. He Warps my Claydol out and Psychic Locks again. I draw...Gardy X...wow. One card short. I can't retreat or Warp out, so he has the game. ;(
Ahh well, the run ends. It was a pretty legit Nats in general and I was so happy.
XF plus all went out to Mongolian BBQ after and then went down to the big hallway and played Pokemon/XF CCG for awhile. Chilled with Jimmy and stuff, went to bed pretty early though as I was sick all weekend, still am.
So, the weekend was incredibly fun and I guess I'll summarize it in Props:
Props:
X-Files:
-Jeremy: Great to see you again man, we'll break the format for Worlds
-Spencer: We MET! FINALLY! I <3333 you and we'll meet again I SWEAR!
-Ross: Bad beats, at LEAST you beat me the night before! I'll play XF CCG some day I swear to GOD!
-Paul: Couldn't have done it without you bud, we'll figure something for Worlds
-Tyler: Hopefully you'll get the ratings invite, you deserve it
-Matt: Great job on T32, it was good to see you there
-Michael: lol, great job again with Empoleon, you might even get the invite!
-Henry: You won Nats!!! Great job bro, the Gardy list is sooo good
-Gordon: You better win Canadian Nats!
-Dan, pseudo-XF member, great job with Empoleon haha, good to meet you bro
Cap, great job with Empoleon, we'll have a successful season next year
My brothers: they got bad beats, Chris decided on Beedril btw, and both ended up 4-4 with horrible luck, but whatever. Grinder<3
Jimmy, Omar, Bolt: You guys are sick. You damn sausage eating FRIENDS! I love you all, I know we'll be working on something for Worlds.
Colin for being so SEXY and winning with Torterra and thanks for the check man, that was really cool. <33
Pablo b/c he's Pablo.
AGUSTIN and Diego for coming up with the list and testing with me and convincing me to play it and tweaking it with me. It's soooo good. Worlds here we COMEE.
Garret for being chill. Chad and Plaid and Drew and everyone that I don't mention for being chill. Good to hang out with you all at points throughout the weekend.
Lafonte players in general.
Northeast in general, we did really well this year at Nats, I'm proud of how everyone did. Steve Arena, thanks so much for the support, you know it's very much appreciated. GJ to Thomas as well.
God, I feel like I should be writing more, but I'm exhausted and this is long. If I feel like I need to add more, I will. Tell me if I forgot your important self!
Thanks in advance all.
Mikey Fouchet
"Magnechu"
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