Pokemon Home

Pokedex

Price Guide Set List

Message Board

Pokemon GO Tips

Pokemon News

Featured Articles

Trading Card Game
- Price Guide
- Price Guide
- Card of the Day
- Professional Grading
- Killer Deck Reports
- Deck Garage
- William Hung
- Jason Klaczynski
- Jeremy's Deck Garage
- Johnny Blaze's Banter
- TCG Strategies
- Rulings Help
- Apprentice & Patch
- Apprentice League
- Spoilers & Translations
- Official Rules
- Featured Event Reports
- Top of the World
- An X-Act Science
- Error Cards
- Printable Checklist
- Places to Play

Nintendo Tips
- Red/Blue
- Yellow
- Gold & Silver
- Crystal
- Ruby & Sapphire
- Fire Red & Leaf Green
- Emerald
- SNAP
- Pinball
- TCG cart
- Stadium
- PuPuzzle League
- Pinball: Ruby/Sapphire
- Pokemon Coliseum
- Pokemon Box
- Pokemon Channel

GameBoy Help
- ClownMasters Fixes
- Groudon's Den
- Pokemon of the Week

E-Card Reader FAQ's
- Expedition
- Aquapolis
- Skyridge
- Construction Action Function
- EON Ticket Manual

Deck Garage
- Pokemaster's Pit Stop
- Kyle's Garage
- Ghostly Gengar

Cartoon/Anime
- Episode Listing
- Character Bios
- Movies & Videos
- What's a Pokemon?
- Video List
- DVD List

Featured Articles

Pojo's Toy Box

Books & Videos

Downloads

Advertise With Us
- Sponsors
- Links

Chat

About Us
Contact Us

~~~SOUTHERN PLAINS REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP~~~

-By Patriarch

-5/21/2005, format Modified RS-on

-Arlington Convention Center, Arlington, TX

-Deck used: Dragonite

~~~THURSDAY AND BEFORE~~~

My variant of Dragonite was initially created by the excellent player, Jermy101, over half a year ago. This style of Dragonite list strips away not only Pidgeot, but Dunsparce as well, and uses only Dual Ball/Lanette’s Network to pull basics. JasonthePwnda then revived it for the Wisconsin State Championship, and did fantastic, taking the win unopposed. So ever since then, I have been testing it. I was heading into this tournament with only one deck on my mind: "Speed" Dragonite, so I’ll call it. I won't be giving a list, but you should be able to get the strategy well enough, and come up with your own.

~~~FRIDAY~~~

I arrive at the house of my friend, Ryan soles, and we immediately convert his kitchen into the ultimate Pokemon TCG testing ground you have ever seen! Both of us our unsure on our decks, since he had a stage 1's list nearly identical to one used in Wisconsin the previous weekend (Lanturn/Gorebyss/Dark Hypno), but was also contemplating a Ludicolo/Magcargo. I, however, was torn between playing Dragonite and Lanturn...

After talking decks, we go upstairs and just do random things, including me trying to play his drum set…nice try Kettler! Later on, we get some good buffalo wings, in two flavors, to boot. This food would be the foundation of our grueling 5-6 hours of play testing, where most of the games turned out in my favor, until we fixed his Lanturn list into being a superior machine! Although a list won't be circulated, I will tell you that it was converted into a Lanturn/Rhydon/Grumpig. So, before we go to bed at a sickening 3AM, we play two games using the new list. Our Lanturn list whoops my Dragonite, and in an extremely close game of Lanturn mirror, I somehow beat him with a weaker setup (No Magcargo).

~~~SATURDAY~~~

We get in the car and go! While he stands firmly behind the Lanturn list we built together, I stick to the deck I've worked on for two months straight. Perhaps I made the wrong choice, but it didn't stop me from getting to second! o_O.

The two of us finally get to the Arlington Convention center, and when we arrive, we’re immediately greeted by so many familiar faces: Our Oklahoman friends (Kevin/Devin Jackson, Jordan Dupuis, Brad Allred, the Robersons, etc), Carlos/Flareon from TN and his brother, Adam, the Valdes family, Master Professor Birch, TAYLOR COLLINSWORTH!!!111fordfocus!11, as well as the Silvestro family, whom I befriended at worlds and online. The FIRST thing Stephen Silvestro, the son, says to me is that I should "NOT PLAY MUK!!!" But no worries, because I had no such intention!

Really, the only eventful thing that I did was play against Stephen Silvestro in an interesting match of Dark Dragonite VS Ludicargo, which I win using Dark Electrode swarming. Afterwards, the tournament began, and the time to play was...NOW!!!

Round 1: VS Gilbert Valdes III (Swampert)

Oh great, my friend from league! He goes first, and gets a great Dunsparce start, Strike and Running for a couple Mudkips and a Slugma. Fortunately, I start with a rocket's Sneasel ex, and am able to drag off his Slug. Things don't get prettier when I have at least two-three of the evolutions cranked out by turn three. Eventually it looks like things will soon get nasty when he is about to send up a Swampert ex, but after he ko's my Dark Electrode, I one-hit knockout “Swex” with a bouncing Rocket's Scyther ex, and that's pretty much good game (1-0)

Round 2: VS Paul Kingsley (Blaziken)

He has a relatively slow start and I am out like THAT *snaps*! I am once again able to pull most of my prizes from Dark Electrode swarming, until he KO's it with Electrode ex. Naturally, I am able to KO that as well with a Sneasel, and once again the game falls into place, even with the (late) Pidgeot he gets. His sudden flash flips were terrible, resulting in a tails usually. Oh well, good game. (2-0)

Round 3: VS Heather Lynch (Gardevoir)

She goes first, with lone Ralts VS lone Voltorb. Putting it into simple terms, I draw into nothing that can stop the T3 Gardevoir KO. Oh well, good game anyways =) (2-1)

LUNCH BREAK!!! I talk to a variety of friends, including Chad Harris (Scizor), Chris Silver (TRUK), Martin Moreno, and John Wetz. Of course, they get weird reactions when I tell them about losing to Gardevoir, but then they're like "...oh!" when I tell them how, hehe.

SOOOO Ryan and I get overpriced cheeseburgers…just as bad as movie prices! I play a couple fun games VS Kevin Jackson, in which I'm owned pretty easily (don't draw into anything, plus I get stadium-locked -_-). So we start up round 4, and here we go!

Round 4: VS Andrew J (Ludicargo/Walrein)

He gets a good start, with Dunsparce, and is going first. I don't get too great of one, but it immediately takes a turn for the better, since he played too conservatively against my aggressive deck. I soon land a good draw on a Copycat, then take full control of the game. He tries to use the combo of walrein's crush draw with Magcargo’s Smooth Over, but it gets him nowhere when I can OHKO everything. Good game (3-1)

Round 5: VS Roy Roberson Sr (Vileplume)

He gets a weak start versus my so-so one. Eventually mine gets better and I try my best to shut him down for good. However, when he gets a Vileplume ex setup with battle frontier, I'm as good as screwed. It was a long game, and I tried my best, but it ends with that. Good game Roy, looks like you got payback for our game in Texas State Championship =P (3-2)

Round 6: VS Diana Chambers (Blaziken)

I setup quickly...one of my best of the day. She gets a decent one, but just can't take the damage coming out so quickly. She decides to forfeit the game since there is nothing she can do, although it would have been nice to at least play it out. Alas, GG Diana (4-2).

So now, I'm on the edge of my seat as to whether or not I make the top cuts...since many of us have, at one point of another, lived or died by the breakers. When I see the list, and the line cut, I'm like "YES!" when I make it in BARELY as 15th seed. Although it's a shame that my friend Clay Carney didn't make it, other buddies, like Brad Allred, Jordan Dupuis and Nancy Lynch, as well as anyone else I forgot, _edged_ into the cut with a 4-2 record.

These were the top sixteen-ranked players and decks:

Eric Craig (Metagross) VS Brad Allred (Gardevoir)
Heather Lynch (Gardevoir) VS John Kettler (Dragonite)
Ryan Soles (Lanturn) VS Roy Roberson Sr. (Vileplume)
Carlos M. (Metagross) VS Ty Walraven (Zapdos)
Chris Schell (Blaziken) VS Trent Chambers (Dragonite)
Devin Jackson (Gardevoir) VS Nancy Lynch (Gardevoir)
Robert Eguia (Gardevoir) VS Frank Garino (Metagross)
Jordan Dupuis (Dragonite/SITH) VS Stephen Silvestro (Ludicargo/Lanturn)

Top Sixteen MATCH: VS Heather Lynch (Gardevoir)

Game 1: It's an interesting match, but I'm able to lead through all of it. We had a minor dispute with her evolving a Ralts into a Delcatty RS Holo o_O, and I'm pretty certain that she did energy draw, but I don't _quite_ remember if she did, so I was cool that they just let her put it back into her hand. However, that's that. (5-2)

Game 2: I get virtually nothing and lose. 100% unplayable hand, but it's a long game, drawing irrelevant basics. (5-3)

Game 3: This time she gets a bad hand, and I crank out stuff like mad. Although I technically win on prizes (1-6 left in my favor), I would have been able to draw the next prize by doing a maximum of 140. Good games though, wish they could have been better (6-3 in games, 5-2 in matches)

Moving right along, the good thing was that I had time to relax, like in the lunch break, and get to call my parents, telling them that I made the cut! I then talk to Martin, who said "You're gonna bubble, Kettler, or you suck!" XD. After all is said and done, here are the remaining top eight:

Eric Craig (Metagross) VS John Kettler (Dragonite)
Ryan Soles (Lanturn) VS Carlos M (Metagross)
Chris Schell (Blaziken) VS Devin Jackson (Gardevoir)
Jordan Dupuis (Dragonite/SITH) VS Robert Eguia (Gardevoir)

Top Eight: VS Eric Craig (Metagross)

First off, I have to say that Eric Craig was the most congenial player I met all day. With the whole Whicker/Silvestro conflict going on, I had the pleasure to also meet his mom, Heidi, and their friend, Gym leader Phil, also congenial folk =P. So we talk a lil, and the match begins:

Game 1: I think that I go first, and he gets a very godly start, starting with Dunsparce, getting turn two Pidgeot, and being able to cycle through cards with DX Jirachi (although he can't use it once because he doesn't flip on the Jirachi sleep). I get a decent one, but it blossoms into a lot more soon enough. I issue the first KO with a Trode to his Kirachi, in which he responds with a DX Metagross. So we go back and forth, Metagross swarm VS Electrode swarm. I eventually get an opportunity to pull more prizes with a Rocket's Sneasel ex, doing enough to OHKO a Metagross. I pull further ahead, and he matches my prize pulling. It's 3-1 in prizes later on, and he gets a HL Metagross bulked up with metal. Despite this, I have the damage capability to let my 2nd sneasel attack, and then let the last one knock out anything on his field. Well, my luck screws me a tad, and the very last prize is that very Rocket's Sneasel ex for the win. I try to damage him however I can, but I eventually go down, 5 prizes to 6. Truly amazing game (6-4)

Game 2: That first game took 38 minutes, so we had to work hard to get this done. He gets a decent start, but lacks energy for a LONG amount of time. I get setup and take command once again. I retreat to KO a Pokemon with Dragonite by discarding a Darkness off of another. Even without Pidgeot, he still does his fancy work, bulking up a Metagross HL. However, even without Darkness Energy, I am able to bust through it with no problem and win with 1 1/2 minutes left on the clock. (7-4)

Game 3: Whoever wins in sudden death wins the whole enchilada, coca-cola, and 50 buffalo wings...uh-oh! However, his deck doesn't work under sudden death quite too well. My deck, however, works great under it, and I enjoy my opening hand, consisting of darkness, R energy, and Rocket's Sneasel ex (yes!!!). So when it's my first turn, I attach dark, Drag Off the lone Pidgey. I could win the game right there on T2, but he Rocket’s Admins, gets a Registeel ex, and sends it. I drag off again. He doesn't get much, so he reveals his hand to be utter crap again, and our epic three games ends with this. Good ones, Eric. (8-4 games, 6-2 matches)

After that, I finally prepare for the most climactic match of the whole day; versus my testing partner, buffalo wing buddy, and ride, Ryan Soles. But first……

Top Four:::

Chris Schell (Blaziken) VS Jordan Dupuis (Dragonite/SITH)
John Kettler (Dragonite) VS Ryan Soles (Lanturn)

Top Four match: VS Ryan Soles (Lanturn)

Game 1: This was embarrassing. Although I am 2nd, I am able to do T1 40 to him with dark electrode, and later Copycat. However, I Rocket Ball for Trode, do NOT show him the rare candy out of a lax-game habit, and evolve straight to it. THEN I copycat...but guess what? No RC, so the Trode goes back to the deck. The rest of the match goes to him, and knowing the importance of time, I eventually scoop it. I expect MUCH better of myself. (8-5)

Game 2: This works much better for me, since I get my head out of the gutter and play the match to absolute perfection. He doesn't get a great start, so I fully abuse it with Electrode swarming, dragging off, etc. I fully command the game, and he loses this one. Four minutes (9-5)

Game 3: Again, I play fully-satisfied. We both start decently, but my speed and swarming get out. I lead for a good deal, but he gets back up in prizes, and we then begin to go neck-and-neck at three each. However, one turn I forget to discard my supporter, and I'm threatened with a prize penalty. However, after some discussion, and since 8.1.1 of the penalty guideline states that it as a minor offense, it's reversed to a caution. So we play on, and I gain more ground, making it 1-3. He then scores a clean-shot KO, and we're down to 1-2 left. There's barely any time left, and I knew that thinning my deck to pull a R energy to win was key, so I did just that. Well, my attempt works, but not before the clock runs out, so I just do something random, and win. If I had more time, though, then all I had to do was a retreat, warp point, then KO anything of his with rocket's Snex via R energy. Very intense games, Ryan (10-5 in games, 7-2)

So after yet ANOTHER close call, I make it to the top two, metaphorically climbing up a fire escape...using my teeth. Regardless, here's how things stack up after the climactic match:

Finals: John Kettler (Dragonite) VS Chris Schell (Blaziken)
3rd place playoff: Ryan Soles (Lanturn) VS Jordan Dupuis (Dragonite/SITH)

Now, the interesting situation is trickling down. Chris Schell already won a trip at the Eastern Regional, so either Ryan or Jordan would get the trip. Wow! Chris and I were guaranteed trips and invites, though, so all we were playing for was the $500. I was still on a high, ready to play the best that I can:

Finals: VS Chris Schell (Blaziken)

Game 1: Here is my EXACT hand-Dark Metal, Rocket Energy, Dark Dragonair, Dark Dragonite, Rocket Ball, Voltorb, and Warp Point. 100% unplayable hand...absolutely terrible, lol. So I do whatever I can, but he sets up quickly and wins (10-6)

Game 2: Not 100% unplayable, but bad enough so that I'm never in a really good situation. He starts with Lone ray so I'm like "YES!" However, the bad hand screws around with me, and somehow he pulls T2 Pidgeot, T2 Blaziken, switch, Firestarter, attach multi out of NOWHERE and begins the slaughter fest. After that, I play my best with what's presented to me, but I ultimately lose, with a prize count of 6-3. Good games, Chris, and congrats ^_^ (10-7 game count, 7-3 match count)

Looking back, I really did climb this ladder with my teeth! Yet somehow I made it to 2nd place with one of the faster decks in the format.

Although I lost quickly, Jordan VS Ryan was interesting to watch. Jordan wins the first one, and due to a game-play mistake (as well as due to all his stacked-up cautions and warnings), he receives a prize penalty that ultimately costs him the game. Game three is just Ryan setting up, taking huge command of the game. He technically wins on time, but like my game with Heather, he can take the prize without a problem. Good job, Soles!

At this point Ryan and I are STUNNED. Somehow, we BOTH walk out of this, BOTH with trips! When I ask him "How the heck does this happen???" he simply said, "John, it  has to be them 50 wings we ate." ROFL. So all of our hard work truly paid off.

Professor Chris and Jordan also get some good cash. Jordan gets a nice $500 scholarship, and Chris gets yet ANOTHER $1500 to add to his hefty battle chest! Truly amazing job to you both.

So we take a few pictures, call some people, namely my Mom and Dad who are blown away by the fact that I got $1000 scholarship and a free trip for two XD). The two victorious Texans head back home, trophies and manila envelopes in-hand. Ryan still has to contact POP to receive his trip/invite information, because he didn't get it in his envelope. =P

My 2nd place earning felt like nothing at first, since I was tired and probably didn't even realize that I played in a Pokemon tournament, but now that I look back on it, I'm proud =)

So without further ado::::::

PROPZZZ!!!
-Ryan Soles. You fought this one with and against me, and were a class act the whole way through. But somehow, two Texan gunslingers both won trips. Excellent showing, and I feel good knowing that at least two Texans will represent the 15+.
-Alicia Soles, for being Ryan's really cool mom! She was my ride to the convention center, and back home. Also, she cooked us a good breakfast with REALLY amazing hot sauce. OMGWTFBBQ!!!
-All of the people that I met, including Ty, Keith, Carlos's brother (forgot your name >_<), Frank Garino, John Silvestro, Eric and Heidi Craig, GL Phil, Weldon, Paul, and many others (If I met you, tell me and I'll put you on the list ^_^).
-My opponents for all being great folks. Namely, it was nice to meet you Paul (Shoulda gone to Utah, 'cause it's closer! Glad to see a cool pokeparent!), and Eric (class act, and a friendly guy).
-Danny Fish and Jose Eguia for being good judges. Both did excellent.
-The rest of the judges in the other divisions. That went off flawlessly!
-Seeing Taylurrrrrr again. When they said you were one of the game's "finest players," I was thinking "COME BACK TO US, TAYLURRRR!!!" =(
-All my typical Texan buds for hanging out with me, namely Clay Carney and Robert Eguia.
-All my Oklahoman buds, namely the roys, the jacksons, Brad Allred, and the Game HQ girls.
-Nathan for winning, Jose for winning, Chris for winning, and the rest of the other top cutters in each age group.
-Me, for winning the trip, and sticking to the deck that I've loved for two months straight.
-May the Pokemon Trainer, for being a VERY sexy woman

SLOPZZZ!!!
-Me, for screwing up game 1 against Ryan
-A minor conflict involving confusion as to pairings for top 16, which wasn't an error at all, but TMS randomly pairing people with perfect resistance
-Bad hands in finals
-Me again, for not making the deck absolutely PERFECT. I will be working more and more on this list until it is up to snuff.
-Me again, for being n00bed enough to finish writing a report at THREE AM ON A SCHOOL NIGHT BEFORE EXAMS =/=/=/

(Pojo Note: LOL ... and it is not unappreciated either Patriarch!  ;-)

BIZZZZARRE COINCIDENCES, OR TURNAROUNDS, RELATING TO SOUTHERN STADIUM LAST YEAR!!!
-I win and lose exactly how i did last year: games 1, 2, 4, and 6 were wins, and the other two were losses
-Jordan and Ryan meet in a play-for-3rd match yet again. This time the outcome is different...in a different age group.
-I upset a higher seed. Only this time, I upset 1st, 3rd, and 4th seed.
-The only major turn-around is that rather than not doing well, like Chris and Carlos did last year, they earned 1st place, and T8. The force is with you o_O

I hope that you all enjoyed reading the highs and lows of my report, and thanks! Hopefully see as many of you @ worlds as possible =)