I had really only found out that I could attend Nationals about a week and half before it actually took place. Because of that, I had to frantically decide on a deck to play. Glen (BrandonJMatt) and I came up with a Monarchy list one night. Obviously, we had both thought that it was a dead deck, but we decided it was worth a shot. We tweaked and perfected the list, and we soon found out that it has great match ups against LBS, Mew-lock, Mewtric, Lunarock, Metanite, and Dragtrode. Because of such, we decided that it would be a great play.
Fast forward to Saturday…
I was about fourth or fifth to be registered (mainly because I was one of the few that knew that the really, really long line that stretched to the door was completely pointless) so I did some last minute scouting. I really liked what I saw, especially since I figured out that my deck had a good match up against the Raichu/Eggs deck.
Round 1 vs. Darrell M. [Metanite]
I got a pretty fast start this round in comparison to his mediocre one. I was able to set up two Kings on the bench and two powered Queens before he got much of anything. I was simply tearing through everything that he sent at me. He only took one prize by powering up a Metagross on the bench. However, even that one was KO’d immediately.
1-0
Round 2 vs. Chad H. (Scizor) [Raichu/Marowak]
He gets the normal start of a second turn Energy Bone. However, thanks to a pretty good Fast Evolution and a good Steven’s Advice, I’m able to get a Pidgeot and a Nidoqueen out pretty quickly. I use the Nidoqueen to OHKO the Marowak, and then I’m right back in the game. A couple turns later, I get out a Nidoking with a fighting and a heal that tears right through his Raichu swarm. He is able to even out the game a little in the end with a well-placed Rock and a Scramble Energy swarm, but in the end it simply isn’t enough.
2-0
Round 3 vs. Liz Reed [Ludicargo]
This is one of our deck’s worst matchup. I was worried as soon as she flipped her opening Lotad. However, after only two turns into the game, we both go into a complete stall. It was basically a “draw…pass…” situation- both of us looking for an energy. Since I had used Fast Evolution for every single evolution in my deck by the time I had drawn the energy, I was able to take almost complete board control. However, due to the bad matchup, she was able to fight back quite well, but it wasn’t enough to take the game in the end.
3-0
Round 4 vs. Alex B. (BigChuck01) [Dragtrode]
I mulliganed at the beginning of the game and Chuck wasn’t too happy when he saw that I was playing Queen. Not to mention, this matchup is even better when you use Nidoking. We both got pretty decent set ups to begin the game. His probably being slightly faster with a turn 2 Dark Trode and Sneasel combined with a Mentor. The tide almost completely swings in my favor though when he uses a Sneasel with three darks to OHKO a Nidoqueen. At that point, I drop a Dark Hypno with a Magnetic Storm to KO the Sneasel back. Because of this loss of three darks, I was able to regain a lot of board control that I had lost with his slightly faster start. Late in the game, he was up 4-1. He had just used Slashing Strike to KO a Queen, and I had a Nidoking with a DRE and a Heal Energy on the field. I finally got a break and top deck’d the energy I needed. I then used Bound Crush on a damaged Sneasel to KO it. All he could do was Bounce with his Scyther. I then retreated for a Queen and Admin’d him. If he got an R Energy he could win the game. He didn’t. Next turn, I attached a DRE to retreat the Queen and a Bound Crush’d another Sneasel for the win.
4-0
Round 5 vs. Jim Roll [Queen D]
My opening hand: Pidgey, DRE, DRE, DRE, Heal, Fighting, Nidorina. I’m not exactly sure how I did it, but I somehow stretched this to be a decent game. I lost in the end though
4-1
Round 6 vs. Brad P. [Arcanine/Houndoom]
I went second and used Mentor after he used Wishing Star and passed. On his very next turn, he Swoop’d his benched Jirachi for a Houndour and evolved. He then played Battle Frontier. At this point, I was almost sure that I was going to lose because the only reason my hand was even slightly good was because I could drop a Pidgeot next turn. Fortunately, Arcanine can only deal 100 damage. I fought back to where I could easily trade one Nidoqueen to each of his Arcanines, and he simply did not have any other method in which to attack. Because of this, I won a close game.
5-1
Round 7 vs. Stephen D. [Dragtrode]
Not only did he get a very slow start, but his Scyther was also prized. Because of this, he couldn’t stay in the game very long once I got a full Nidoqueen swarm up and running.
6-1
Round 8 vs. Eric E. (Brlee2003) {Raichu/Eggs]
Normally, this is a good matchup for me. Unfortunately, my start doesn’t really say so. I’m stuck with only basics for four to five turns with little energy or draw. Around turn six, I was finally able to do something. I fought back extremely well, but those opening turns of letting him set up really hurt me in such a close game.
6-2
Round 9 vs. Colin M. (CMoll1717) [Rocklock]
I got one of the best hands possible with this deck. Going second, I had a Transceiver, Pidgey, Candy, Candy, Pidgeot, Desert Ruins, and a DRE. I also drew a Copycat. I played the Candy to Pidgeot. I then Transceiver’d for the Mentor and discarded Ruins getting two females and a male. I then Quick Searched for a Nidorina, Candy’d to the Rina and attached a DRE. I then retreated and used Fast Evolution. Because of this fast start, I was able to get my Nidos up without using and Candies. He couldn’t do too much to me after that.
7-2- seeded 9th.
Top 32 vs. David A. [Shedinja]
He got disqualified… long story.
At this point, I’m really hoping that Ness beats Stephen. I have a MUCH better matchup against Dragtrode than Flariados, but Stephen pulls it out.
Top 16 vs. Stephen S. (Squirtle) [Flariados]
Now, I know there has been quite a bit of tension between the two of us in the past, but the two of us are square now. The three of us (if you include his dad) are now able to talk on friendly terms.
Game 1:
VERY close game. Probably the closest I had all tournament. I’m tired so I’m going to cut it short. I may have had a shot in the end but my Nidoqueen was my last prize.
Game 2:
I got horrible luck. I Copycat’d twice, Admin’d once. He used three Admins. I get nothing each time, and he FINALLY gets a hand.
I ended up being first in line for the trickle down, so I ended up getting a trip.
Props:
Monarchy.dec. YES, IT IS GOOD!!! If I had beaten Stephen or if Ness would have won his top 32 game, I would have had good matchups until the end.
John and Stephen Silvestro- it feels good to finally talk on friendly terms with you guys.
A well-run tournament.
Getting a trip!!!
Slops:
NINE rounds.
David’s disqualification AND possible suspension. It shouldn’t have happened.
All of my close friends, for not making top cut.
Fast forward to Saturday…
I was about fourth or fifth to be registered (mainly because I was one of the few that knew that the really, really long line that stretched to the door was completely pointless) so I did some last minute scouting. I really liked what I saw, especially since I figured out that my deck had a good match up against the Raichu/Eggs deck.
Round 1 vs. Darrell M. [Metanite]
I got a pretty fast start this round in comparison to his mediocre one. I was able to set up two Kings on the bench and two powered Queens before he got much of anything. I was simply tearing through everything that he sent at me. He only took one prize by powering up a Metagross on the bench. However, even that one was KO’d immediately.
1-0
Round 2 vs. Chad H. (Scizor) [Raichu/Marowak]
He gets the normal start of a second turn Energy Bone. However, thanks to a pretty good Fast Evolution and a good Steven’s Advice, I’m able to get a Pidgeot and a Nidoqueen out pretty quickly. I use the Nidoqueen to OHKO the Marowak, and then I’m right back in the game. A couple turns later, I get out a Nidoking with a fighting and a heal that tears right through his Raichu swarm. He is able to even out the game a little in the end with a well-placed Rock and a Scramble Energy swarm, but in the end it simply isn’t enough.
2-0
Round 3 vs. Liz Reed [Ludicargo]
This is one of our deck’s worst matchup. I was worried as soon as she flipped her opening Lotad. However, after only two turns into the game, we both go into a complete stall. It was basically a “draw…pass…” situation- both of us looking for an energy. Since I had used Fast Evolution for every single evolution in my deck by the time I had drawn the energy, I was able to take almost complete board control. However, due to the bad matchup, she was able to fight back quite well, but it wasn’t enough to take the game in the end.
3-0
Round 4 vs. Alex B. (BigChuck01) [Dragtrode]
I mulliganed at the beginning of the game and Chuck wasn’t too happy when he saw that I was playing Queen. Not to mention, this matchup is even better when you use Nidoking. We both got pretty decent set ups to begin the game. His probably being slightly faster with a turn 2 Dark Trode and Sneasel combined with a Mentor. The tide almost completely swings in my favor though when he uses a Sneasel with three darks to OHKO a Nidoqueen. At that point, I drop a Dark Hypno with a Magnetic Storm to KO the Sneasel back. Because of this loss of three darks, I was able to regain a lot of board control that I had lost with his slightly faster start. Late in the game, he was up 4-1. He had just used Slashing Strike to KO a Queen, and I had a Nidoking with a DRE and a Heal Energy on the field. I finally got a break and top deck’d the energy I needed. I then used Bound Crush on a damaged Sneasel to KO it. All he could do was Bounce with his Scyther. I then retreated for a Queen and Admin’d him. If he got an R Energy he could win the game. He didn’t. Next turn, I attached a DRE to retreat the Queen and a Bound Crush’d another Sneasel for the win.
4-0
Round 5 vs. Jim Roll [Queen D]
My opening hand: Pidgey, DRE, DRE, DRE, Heal, Fighting, Nidorina. I’m not exactly sure how I did it, but I somehow stretched this to be a decent game. I lost in the end though
4-1
Round 6 vs. Brad P. [Arcanine/Houndoom]
I went second and used Mentor after he used Wishing Star and passed. On his very next turn, he Swoop’d his benched Jirachi for a Houndour and evolved. He then played Battle Frontier. At this point, I was almost sure that I was going to lose because the only reason my hand was even slightly good was because I could drop a Pidgeot next turn. Fortunately, Arcanine can only deal 100 damage. I fought back to where I could easily trade one Nidoqueen to each of his Arcanines, and he simply did not have any other method in which to attack. Because of this, I won a close game.
5-1
Round 7 vs. Stephen D. [Dragtrode]
Not only did he get a very slow start, but his Scyther was also prized. Because of this, he couldn’t stay in the game very long once I got a full Nidoqueen swarm up and running.
6-1
Round 8 vs. Eric E. (Brlee2003) {Raichu/Eggs]
Normally, this is a good matchup for me. Unfortunately, my start doesn’t really say so. I’m stuck with only basics for four to five turns with little energy or draw. Around turn six, I was finally able to do something. I fought back extremely well, but those opening turns of letting him set up really hurt me in such a close game.
6-2
Round 9 vs. Colin M. (CMoll1717) [Rocklock]
I got one of the best hands possible with this deck. Going second, I had a Transceiver, Pidgey, Candy, Candy, Pidgeot, Desert Ruins, and a DRE. I also drew a Copycat. I played the Candy to Pidgeot. I then Transceiver’d for the Mentor and discarded Ruins getting two females and a male. I then Quick Searched for a Nidorina, Candy’d to the Rina and attached a DRE. I then retreated and used Fast Evolution. Because of this fast start, I was able to get my Nidos up without using and Candies. He couldn’t do too much to me after that.
7-2- seeded 9th.
Top 32 vs. David A. [Shedinja]
He got disqualified… long story.
At this point, I’m really hoping that Ness beats Stephen. I have a MUCH better matchup against Dragtrode than Flariados, but Stephen pulls it out.
Top 16 vs. Stephen S. (Squirtle) [Flariados]
Now, I know there has been quite a bit of tension between the two of us in the past, but the two of us are square now. The three of us (if you include his dad) are now able to talk on friendly terms.
Game 1:
VERY close game. Probably the closest I had all tournament. I’m tired so I’m going to cut it short. I may have had a shot in the end but my Nidoqueen was my last prize.
Game 2:
I got horrible luck. I Copycat’d twice, Admin’d once. He used three Admins. I get nothing each time, and he FINALLY gets a hand.
I ended up being first in line for the trickle down, so I ended up getting a trip.
Props:
Monarchy.dec. YES, IT IS GOOD!!! If I had beaten Stephen or if Ness would have won his top 32 game, I would have had good matchups until the end.
John and Stephen Silvestro- it feels good to finally talk on friendly terms with you guys.
A well-run tournament.
Getting a trip!!!
Slops:
NINE rounds.
David’s disqualification AND possible suspension. It shouldn’t have happened.
All of my close friends, for not making top cut.
