I’m Kooper Koushiro, though for all legal purposes you can call me Nicholas Hamner.
I’ve been playing since Fossil came out, and I pretty strictly play—not collect. I’d certainly love to do Card of the Day, if there was ever an opening…eheheheh
But on to the tournament. We had to leave about 6:00 AM to make it there by 10:00 AM, but wound up getting there on time, despite taking a long time finding the building.
I decided to play my “CroBomb” deck, which I’d like to think has become an archetype…I saw at least one other similar deck being run.
CroBomb
Pokémon: 22
Basic: 11
4×Zubat (HL#83)
4×Koffing (TR#61)
2×Pidgey (RG#73)
1×Doduo (RG#62)
Evolution: 11
1×Dark Golbat (TR#34)
3×Weezing (DX#51)
1×Pidgeotto (RG#45)
1×Dodrio (RG#21)
3×Dark Crobat (TR#3)
2×Pidgeot (RG#10)
Energy: 11
10×Grass
1×Double Rainbow (MA#88)
Trainers: 27
4× Celio’s Network (RG#88)
3× Copycat (EX#138)
2× Energy Recycle System (DR#84)
3× Low Pressure System (DR#86)
2× Mr. Briney’s Compassion (DR#87)
4× Pokémon Retriever (TR#84)
2× Professor Cozmo’s Discovery (DX#90)
4× Rare Candy (SS#88)
1× Rocket’s Admin. (TR#86)
2× Wally’s Training (SS#89)
The strategy revolves around Dark Crobat and Weezing. The “goal” attack is the maneuver I call the “CroBomb”. There are several ways to do it, but the main idea is to poison the opponent, then use Weezing’s Liability to reduce them to 10 HP. The poison kicks in and it’s a one hit wonder! The quickest delivery comes from an active Dark Crobat doing Black Beam, then retreating for Weezing. Other possibilities are to sacrifice a Koffing, (Poisoning with Knockout Gas) or have Weezing follow up Smogscreen with Liability. This works on most Pokémon, unless they are immune to Poison and/or damage counter placement. (An “effect of an attack other than damage.”) Dodrio is there for Retreat Aid, which conserves the deck’s limited energy supply. Pidgeot is that all-important Quick Searching wonder. Despite the advent of Battle Frontier, I played the Bird with confidence of 3 Low Pressure System. 11 Energy is about 10 less than I normally play, but when your Pokémon need 2 energy at most, it’s reasonable.
So with that, let’s get to the action!
We got to pick a small figurine for participating, so I picked Zangoose. Unfortunately, it had a tail that refused to stay on. Oh well. I got signed up, and after about 45 minutes the First Round began. 10 & under would play 5 rounds, 11-14 would play 6, and 15 & Up would play 7 rounds. I’m used to 5 rounds, so I was looking at 2 rounds more than I’m used to.
Match 1: Mandy Kennedy
Deck: A Swampert deck with Magneton and Delcatty for support/backup.
Began with a Pidgeot and Pidgeotto in my hand while leading off with Koffing to her Bubble Mudkip. I planned on doing Celio for Pidgey, but I drew it on turn 2 so no need. She had a rather slow start, giving me ample time to get Pidgeot evolved. Even though I had Weezing in my hand, I opted to not evolve my Active Koffing. I got out Dark Crobat in a few turns, by which time she had Wally’d to the Bubble/Slash Marshtomp. It KO’d Koffing, but weakened by Poison, it went down to Dark Crobat. I prepared a Weezing for a CroBomb if needed. Indeed I did need one a turn later. Water Call Swampert became active and hit for 50. I didn’t wake up from Sleep, but was able to pull off a CroBomb by Briney’ing Dark Crobat for a Zubat, Rare Candy’ing to Dark Crobat, Black Beaming and retreating for Weezing with Low Pressure System in play. (Or something like that.) With Swampert gone, she put up another Pokémon (Marshtomp?) to KO Weezing. I sent out Dark Crobat and began Skill Diving Magneton. At some point she switched gyms on me—putting out Team Aqua’s Hideout, strangely. Fortunately, I had Dodrio out so even a CC retreat was reduced to nothing! A Dark Drain and Skill Dive later, the benched Magneton was gone. For some time, she was scrambling to get something out, and I took 2 prizes. Another Water Call Swampert came out, but this time I woke up and luckily had a Koffing on the bench. I was able to CroBomb it for the game. Pretty good for the first tournament match with this deck!
WIN: 1-0
Deck: Dark Hypno, Lanturn (HL) and Magcargo
Magcargo’s Smooth Over was definitely the Power of choice at this event! About 5/7 of the decks I had faced were packing the lava slug. I opened with Koffing and Zubat. I was relieved to see only a TR Drowzee. Unfortunately, he went first and used Swoop! Teleporter to change it to a Dunsparce. He attached energy and did Strike and Run to grab Slugma, Drowzee, and Chinchou, promoting Chinchou. I Wally’d on my first turn to Dark Golbat and did Night Ambush to the Slugma, hoping to kill it before Magcargo came out. No such luck—over the next 2-3 turns, he evolved all 3 of those he SAR’d for. I was now up against powerful Psychics and Lightnings…my two weaknesses! My Dark Crobat I had out on turn 4 or 5 got killed by Lanturn’s Lightning Strike, but he had to discard since he had a Double Rainbow on Lanturn. I went into Koffing-sacrifice mode, from which I never recovered. I had the ability to revive Dark Crobat, with a Dark Crobat in the hand, a Candy, and a Retriever. I could decide to either wait and do it all in one turn—sacrificing the ability to attack that turn—or to bring Zubat out now, attach energy and Candy next turn. I went with the latter option, and paid dearly when he Reversal’d Zubat up and killed it with Dark Hypno. I finally was able to claim a prize off Dark Hypno after it KO’d a Koffing (getting Confused and Poisoned), then I followed up with a Weezing for a “KO Gas” CroBomb. That was it though, as he grabbed his last prize handily. Ouch…
LOSE: 1-1
Deck: Surprising Metal deck with Magcargo/Jirachi for drawing and Metagross (all 3 versions) & HL Registeel ex for offense.
This was the defining moment for CroBomb—up against a wall of Grass Resistance, but I knew even Metagross ex would go down to a CroBomb! Carlos is one of my acquaintances, and based on his usual record I expected him to have won his first two. Guess he got a bad draw or something…anyway, we discussed Magcargo vs. Pidgeot as I led off with a Pidgey to his Jirachi. Jirachi stayed asleep for a while, and just as Carlos finished saying Magcargo was faster, I evolved to Pidgeotto 2nd turn and Wally’d to Pidgeot! He had several Beldum (Metal Call) and chained 3 together! (That is, Metal Call’d for a Beldum, then used that one to get another, and that one to get another…) I pulled up Weezing and withdrew Pidgeot. Smogscreen did no damage but did Poison Jirachi. I eventually withdrew Weezing for Pidgeot just after I topdecked my tech card, Double Rainbow. (Which I was going to Quick Search for!) Pidgeot did 30 to Jirachi, knocking it out after Poison. In the meantime, I prepared a Dark Crobat. Carlos didn’t back down in any way, despite forgetting to Smooth Over one turn. I too made a misplay by not doing Black Beam one turn…his DX Metagross did Link Blast for a whopping 70 on Dark Crobat, but I Black Beamed and Briney’d for Weezing to do a CroBomb with Low Pressure out. Carlos got the KO on Weezing by putting out Island Cave! The battle raged, and the same thing happened a few turns later with Island Cave!
At last, I had one prize left after he attacked my Active Dark Golbat for 40 with Metagross ex’s Metal Reversal. I evolved it to Dark Crobat, Black Beamed, and pulled off a CroBomb to win with –1 Prizes! Carlos, great match!
WIN: 2-1
Lunch Break time. It was already about 2:00 PM, so we would reconvene at 3:00 PM. Because I’m quite picky and didn’t need any kind of digestive cramps distracting me from gameplay, I decided to not eat. During the break, a rather eccentric man came up to me & we talked about his last game. Unfortunately, we were unable to trade…but, we did have a match for fun. I used my Eeveelution deck, which contained SS Espeon/Vaporeon/Jolteon backed up by the Rattata family and Mr. Mime ex [Odds]. He was playing a Ninjask/Manectric ex deck, which was very annoying. A quick KO on Rattata prevented me from using Raticate & Dark Raticate, though I had grabbed a Mr. Mime ex with Rattata. Ninjask stymied the Mime, and got beaten despite some decent draws with Jolteon and Double Rainbow.
At last, it was time for Round 4.
Deck: Ludicolo/Magcargo with Salamence ex.
Led off with Pidgey, Celio’s Network, and Wally’s Training. The plan was to Wally Pidgey, but it failed because Pidgeotto was prized! (Eventually I will get it through my head to play 2 Stage 1’s, but for now I’m staying with 2-1-2.) Pidgeot never came out, as I sat on my haunches with an Active Pidgey and a benched Pidgey and Koffing. He continually did Smooth Over/Swing Dance to draw the right cards. After I did an emergency Rocket’s Admin. , I gained a little momentum with a Weezing. I Smogscreened his Active Ludicolo, turning off Swing Dance. On my next turn, I decided to ensure Ludicolo’s demise by doing a “Smogscreen” CroBomb for a mere 10 additional damage! This was because he had a Shelgon built up with about 4 or 5 Energy cards! Weezing went down, and sure enough, Salamence ex came out and destroyed the Doduo I had drawn as a prize! He slaughtered one of Pidgey. I now had one Pidgey left. I said the heck with this and Briney’d the last Pidgey! He laughed and revealed 3 Boost Energies in his hand! This would have been a crushing defeat to most, but I’m comfortable with losing, strangely…
LOSE: 2-2
Deck: Magcargo with Gorebyss…that’s all I saw.
He was from Chicago. I’m also not sure about that name, but that’s what it was on the sheet, anyway! I began absolutely terrible—all 3 Dark Crobats in the opening hand, and only a Koffing up vs. his Slugma. I was able to play a Prof. Cozmo’s Discovery, which yielded nothing of importance. Slugma evolved into Magcargo, and within 2 turns he did 50 to defeat me. Some things struck me as odd, though: his above-average use of profanity, and that he had certain profane words written on his deck box…well, it made me a bit ticked I had lost so horribly. Can’t really squeeze any good points out of this match!
LOSE: 2-3
Something noteworthy happened between matches. I observed
another of my acquaintances, David Gildcrest, battling the man I had chatted and
battled with during the break. David was running a Wailord (ex) and Articuno ex
deck he said he had picked out randomly that morning!!! I can’t help but say the
match would have been different had I not been there. For one thing, the guy
with Ninjask & Manectric WAS NOT applying Weakness on Wailord ex! I noted
this, disadvantaging David. Twice the guy forgot to apply Fast Protection. I
reminded him both times, the first against David’s Wailmer. I also had to remind
him Heal Energy doesn’t cure ex’s. After Articuno ex came out and David declared
Cold Crush vs. Ninjask, I again reminded them of Fast Protection!!! I couldn’t
help but apologize to David for messing him over, but I had to make sure rules
were followed. I’ve never heard of a spectator impacting the game that much,
anyway.
Deck: A barrage of ex’s! Articuno, Rocket’s Articuno, Mewtwo, Suicune…
Holy Cow! He began with not one but two Rocket’s Articuno ex! I sacrificed an early Koffing to put the status problem on him, but Articuno ex’s Legendary Ascent brought the Ice Bird up to hurt me badly. He made a good play by doing Scott to grab a Space Center, which turned off Koffing’s Knockout Gas. (I’m sure he included it to get around Wobbuffet.) I finally pulled up a Weezing, which did Liability on Articuno ex, but no KO or Low Pressure. I sent up a Dark Crobat with one energy, hoping to Black Beam Articuno ex and maybe Skill Dive the injured Rocket’s Articuno ex. No such luck. He benched ANOTHER Articuno ex, which became Active, took the 10 HP Articuno ex’s energy, and Cold Crushed Dark Crobat, discarding energy…he also did Lanette’s Net Search, which he had grabbed with Scott, to get Mewtwo ex, a THIRD Rocket’s Articuno ex, and a Suicune ex. OUCH. A full bench of ex’s. I told him it would be nice if I had Rayquazaó and ample energy, since Holy Star would net me 12 Prizes at this point!!! I lost terribly 6-0. Too bad…
LOSE: 2-4
Deck: Shedinja & Shiftry (both DX)
Certainly an interesting match. Started off decent, believe it or not. Led with Koffing and a Celio, Dark Golbat, and Dark Crobat. I got Zubat on turn 1. (she went first and used Nincada to do 10) As soon as Dark Crobat came out, I pulled out Rocket’s Admin. and hoped for energy. I got some, but she retreated her Active Deoxys Shedinja for a Deoxys Nuzleaf, who smacked Dark Crobat for 70! I pulled off a CroBomb with Low Pressure in play, killing Nuzleaf, but the Shedinja from earlier came out. She put an Ancient Technical Machine [Rock] on it, killing Weezing and apparently Dark Crobat…but a split second after she picked up her cards, I noticed, with Low Pressure in play and Dark Crobat with 70 damage, Dark Golbat underneath survived by 10 HP. I had wisely NOT picked up, leaving my benched Dark Golbat with 7 damage counters in play. She didn’t seem too concerned over who won, so she was willing to give me the win, but I didn’t want it to be like that. We tried to recreate the scene, which didn’t work. A judge was called over. He said since she had picked up but I hadn’t, I got the win. He checked with the head judges who apparently confirmed his ruling. I had a Koffing and Zubat in my hand, but stupidly hadn’t laid them down. I hated to win in this way, but there was no way either of us was going to make the Top 8 cut, so we weren’t too stressed.
WIN: 3-4
So out of 60 (ballpark figure) people in 15 and up, I had a
3-4 record. Well, almost even. Had we played an 8th round, I bet I
would have won to make it 4-4 since I almost always finish with an even record!
While the finals were being played, a number of side events were offered,
including an Unlimited Tournament and drafts (Rochester, Pass, and Team) for EX:
Emerald. Since I had missed the Emerald prerelease, I decided to go against my
original plan of doing Unlimited and did the pass draft. The Rochester Draft was
cancelled since only 1 person signed up!
I decided to not even try to make a decent deck. I was going to go crazy and grab the good Trainers like Battle Frontier, Scott, and Rare Candy over all else, even an ex. I never had to face that choice, luckily. I drafted many good cards including Scott, Battle Frontier, Darkness, Metal, Multi, and Double Rainbow energies, and several “Matrix” energies. (I know it’s a gimmick, but I like them.) Here’s the deck I assembled. I felt I had no chance of winning a single game!
Pokémon: 20
Basic: 15
1×Zangoose
1×Rayquaza (#9)
1×Nosepass
2×Shroomish
1×Illumise
1×Voltorb
1×Minun
1×Pikachu
1×Gulpin
2×Ralts
1×Numel (Collect)
1×Luvdisc
1×Snorunt
Evolution: 5
1×Electrode
2×Breloom
1×Kirlia
1×Glalie
Energy: 18
1×Double Rainbow
1×Multi
3×Water
2×Psychic
2×Fire
7×Grass
2×Lightning
Trainers: 2
1×Lum Berry
1×Mr. Stone’s Project
I felt this deck was so stupid I didn’t bother to sleeve
it.
Well, in the often hectic draft, matchups tend to go on a
whim. I was to play the little girl who had drafted across the table from me.
She was obviously tired and had had her cards in a messy pile during drafting.
She also angrily flung cards across to me and said, “You pass me nothing but
garbage” continuously. I had drafted adjacent to Nick Marsden, who passed me
some great cards like Darkness, Double Rainbow, and Rayquaza. The girl took a
long time to come to the battle site, but we finally got
started.
Match 1: Lass (Let’s call her that, to use a Game Boy term)
Deck: I
observed her drafting Regirock ex, yep.
After a mulligan, she pulled out several Pokémon including Regirock ex! I
began with an Active Voltorb with Electrode in my hand, and Illumise on the
bench. I evolved into Electrode on turn 2 and I could have gotten a KO with
Speed Ball for 50, but I played smart and retreated Electrode for fear of
Regirock ex, whose 40 damage attack was little to worry about unless I had
weakness. I had Illumise do Collect while I attached a Multi to my newly benched
Minun, triggering Electro-guard to negate weakness. She had a Chimecho up and
did Collect. We both collected for a few turns. She eventually brought up
Regirock ex and did 40 to Illumise. By this time I had enough energy, so I
attached another energy to do 20 to Regirock ex. She responded by KO’ing
Illumise, which brought up Minun. My Quick Attack was tails, but I did two to
make Regirock ex have 6 damage counters. I lost Minun, but Electrode came up
with 3 energies and did Speed Ball for an exact KO. She was pretty tired,
resting her head on the table. In contrast, I was peppy and alert. Having
equalized the prize count and dealt a severe blow to her offense, I smashed her
morale to the point she effectively conceded the game. However, I wished to play
it out. She sent out Milotic to do 20, but obviously she wasn’t playing to her
full extent, since Electrode wiped out the Tender Pokémon in a single hit—100
from Speed Ball. Now to my last prize, she sent out Grovyle. I did a
Thundershock, which paralyzed, then a Speed Ball for a Just-Enough-Attack
win!
WIN: 1-0
Ecstatic over the first win with my (in my opinion) awful
deck, I met my next opponent, a Middle Aged man who knew what he was doing. This
wouldn’t be an easy match. Side note—at this point, the little girl’s father
brought her a Cappuccino, which woke her up in a hurry!
Match 2: Gentleman (More Game Boy Terms!)
Deck: Contained Gardevoir, Grumpig, Raichu ex, and
Loudred!
Looking back I don’t know HOW IN THE WORLD this one came out the way it
did. I began with a Shroomish, Grass Energy, Illumise and a Breloom! He had
several Basics and led with Pichu. I did 10 with Shroomish, then evolved to
Breloom, added an energy, and did Power Blow for 30 to KO Pichu. Yahoo!
Somewhere in here he pulled up someone, who was getting Body Slammed by Breloom
but no Paralyze. He eventually sent up Chimecho, whose Warp Sounds did
40+Confusion. I withdrew Breloom to send up Illumise Its Collect helped me build
up a Glalie on my bench. He and I alternated Collects, but he took the offensive
first and did 20 to Illumise. I did 20 back with another energy attached, and he
did 20 more. I retreated for Breloom, added a 4th energy and did
Power Blow for 50, KO’ing Chimecho to grab the 2nd prize. Breloom got
me another prize, I believe, I think off a Pichu. He eventually pulled out a
Grumpig to KO Breloom. I sent out Glalie, attached a Lum Berry, and did 60 with
Super Slash. (+20 to Evolutions) He made a misplay by attaching Double Rainbow a
Benched Loudred instead of Grumpig. (He needed to do Teleport Blast) I didn’t
let him correct his mistake, and he was forced to retreat his injured Grumpig
for that Loudred. He gave Grumpig an Oran Berry, but his Loudred’s first attack
had no effect, despite a heads flip, due to his Double Rainbow and my Lum Berry.
I Super Slashed it for 60, while benching a Ralts and adding a Lightning, since
I had Kirlia in my hand, keeping it and a Multi as an Ace up my sleeve. I needed
it as he retreated Loudred for Kirlia, who did Psypunch for 30. I responded with
Hailstone to damage all his Pokémon, putting Loudred 10 away from the last KO.
He shocked me by evolving to Gardevoir, who did Heal Dance on Loudred to make
sure it survived another bout of Hailstone. Gardevoir got its 3rd
energy and Psypunched me for 30, leaving me near KO I eyed my Ralts. I could
only Super Slash and put on my best Poker face It worked to perfection as he
Heal Danced his Gardevoir (bringing it from 30 HP to 50 HP) and put the
4th energy to Mind Shock Glalie for the KO. I sent up Ralts, evolved
and attached a Multi to do Psypunch for 60—game!!! Wow, a great
match!
WIN: 2-0
Match 3: Youngster (Finish out the Game Boy terms)
Deck: Saw Doduo, that’s all.
He started out with his 40 HP Doduo. Unbelievably, for the third time in
a row I got a Basic/Stage 1 pairing in my opening hand, this time Ralts &
Kirlia. I went first and attached a Multi to do 10 & Sleep. He didn’t wake
up, so I evolved, attached energy, and did Psypunch. I didn’t even notice I had
KO’d him until after my turn, though! Won handily!
WIN: 3-0
I couldn’t believe I had gone 3-0 with that deck. I obviously
had gotten insanely lucky, which I attribute to playing with no sleeves. From
now on, unless I have an ex or other holofoil I value in the deck, I won’t use
sleeves at prereleases/drafts! The Organizer decided to stop it at 3 rounds,
which won me 4 packs. They contained awesome cards rarity wise, including some
matrix energies, Parallel Foil Sceptile, Holo Manectric and Gardevoir, and
Medicham ex! But the most important card I got all day was my 5th
Rare Candy!
All in all, it was a great day. Only one Battle Frontier got
played against CroBomb, which was immediately knocked away with a Low Pressure
System in Match 7. My search for a Crobat ex continues, but unfortunately I’m
going to miss Gym Challenge due an FBLA Nationals Trip. Given the choice, I
would attend the Gym Challenge, but there’s a little thing called college that,
unbelievably enough, must come higher in importance than
Pokémon!
And now for that official report closer, the Props &
Slops!
Props to:
-My Mom for driving me 4 hours to Memphis.
-Vince (Meganium45) for organizing another fabulous tournament.
-Carlos for being such a good sport upon losing to me.
-The Gentleman from Draft for giving me a great match.
-Nitia for e-mailing me my My Pokémon Password the night before the tournament!
-All the judges for doing a spectacular job.
-Myself for having such great knowledge of rulings and reading Compendium often!
-Anthony Bridgeforth for having the guts to play an ex-heavy deck when Machamp and Desert Ruins were a common sight.
-The guy with the Ninjask/Manectric ex deck for giving me
another memorable quote. (“Swords Dance is in play!”)
Slops to:
-The guy from Match 5 for using such profanity at a family-oriented event.
-Nichole Armand’s kid for being an arrogant little rascal every time I saw him. (In a for fun match: “You forgot to put out prizes! You LOSE!!! You LOSE!!!”)
-Myself for not getting an even or better record in the main event.
-Myself again for picking a bad figurine.
-My buddy Randy Beavers (aka Darmani Takaishi) for being
chosen for Boy’s State and not getting to come.
That does it for this one. Let’s hope the 05-06 Tournament Season fares well as CroBomb is likely going to lose Briney, Low Pressure, and Energy Recycle System!
-Nicholas Hamner (Again that’s Kooper Koushiro to most)