From: William Hung [whung@uclink.berkeley.edu] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 11:00 AM
Subject: Los Angeles Fire Red/Leaf Green Prerelease Report

Pokemon TCG FR/LG Prerelease
Best Western Mesa Newport Inn
Costa Mesa, CA
August 29. 2004
About 50+ participants total

I woke up from World Championships and ready to play at my best. Let's get to work. Oh yes, if you need to find out what a card does, please refer to card scans or spoilers for Fire Red/Leaf Green. 
Thanks.

Fire (4)
2x Growlithe
1x Charmander (Singe)
1x Charmeleon

Grass (14)
2x Caterpie
1x Metapod
2x Bellsprout
1x Nidroan (Male)
1x Nidoran (Female)
2x Nidorina
1x Bulbasaur (Gouge)
3x Bulbasaur (Sleep Poison)
1x Tangela

Water (11)
2x Squirtle
1x Wartortle
2x Shellder
1x Magikarp
2x Poliwag
1x Poliwhirl
1x Seel
1x Dewgong

Psychic (3)
1x Exeggcute
1x Slowpoke
1x Haunter

Lightning (3)
1x Pikachu
1x Magnemite
1x Voltorb

Fighting (4)
3x Diglett
1x Cubone

Colorless (8)
1x Lickitung
1x Jigglypuff
1x Wigglytuff
1x Meowth
1x Chansey
2x Doduo
1x Dodrio

Trainers (6)
1x Prof. Oak's Research
2x Exp. All
1x Switch
1x Super Scoop Up
1x Pokemn Reversal

Energy (1)
1x Multi Energy

Colorless has the best pool of cards. Water and Grass is very workable too. Fire could be a good third color splash. So I did it like this:

Water (5)
2x Squirtle
1x Wartortle
1x Seel
1x Dewgong

Psychic (1)
1x Slowpoke

Colorless (4)
1x Lickitung
1x Chansey
1x Doduo
1x Dodrio

Grass (4)
1x Nidoran (Female)
1x Nidorina
1x Bulbasaur (Gouge)
1x Tangela

Fire (4)
1x Charmander (Singe)
1x Charmeleon
2x Growlithe

Trainers (6)
1x Prof. Oak's Research
2x Exp. All
1x Super Scoop Up
1x Switch
1x Pokemon Reversal

Energies (16):
6x Water
5x Fire
4x Grass
1x Multi

Total = 40

Analysis: Overall, this pool of cards is somewhat weak, compared to Mr. Mime ex's, Zapdos ex, Gyarados ex, Snorlax, etc. But it can win. I use "synergy" between Chansey, Wartortle, Dodrio, and other Pokemon to make it hard for the opponent to KO my Pokemon. Also, Lickitung is a game-winning card in the late-game. I was deciding between splashing Fire and punching in my 3x Bulbasaurs with Sleep Poison, but I don't like coin flips. In addition, I would have a greater variety of types to battle with. Also, auto status is great! Chansey, Tangela, Charmander, Dewgong, and Slowpoke can wear down the best and toughest Pokemon.

Nevertheless, this deck needs time to setup. If they get a quick start with Zapdos ex, Snorlax, Raichu, cards alike, and I don't get Status on them, I'll lose.

Okay, on to Round 1!

Round 1: vs. Victreebel + Cloyster
I started with a Charmander with Singe, and a Chansey, and he started with a lone Bellsprout. I went first and Singed it. He took 20 damage for the first Burn Check. He Vine Whip my Charmander for 10 damage. He passed the next Burn Check and I put an Energy on Chansey, and decided to pass because I want to keep my Chansey on my bench safe. He passed the next Burn Check, and that turned out to be a bad decision because he topdecked a Paras. He simply retreats and sends up Paras, invest an Energy and did Call for Family for 2 Shellders. If I were to keep it Asleep, I would have KOed it. Oh well.

I went for Burn first on his Paras with his Charmander. So he sends up a Shellder and did Wave Splash on my Charmander. My Charmander has 30 damage now. I retreat my Charmander and I charged up Chansey for Egg Surprise and tried for OHKO, but didn't work. He uses Shellder to buy time with Minimize. Over the next several turns, I only got 30 damage on one of his Shellders. However, I did get a KO on somebody, and I forgot exactly who (3-4). He got to Weepinbell, and I got out Charmeleon. There was a problem for me drawing Energies though. I only got a Fire and a Multi on my Charmeleon. He eventually got out his Victreebel and my Chansey lasted two turns with a "healing" Egg Surprise (3-3). and then I send up my Charmeleon with 30 damage. I drew my next card, it's not an Energy but it's Nidorina. I evolved my Nidoran (F) on the Bench and did Flare to Victreebel (80 damage now). Of course, my Charmeleon was KOed with Acid (3-2). I send up Nidorina, and got another much needed Energy. I Scratch for 20, and Victreebel is at 100 damage. He Acid, so with the damage between turns, I'm at 70 damage for my Nidorina. I got more Energies, so I start to charge up my Growlithe. I Scratch for KO (2-2), and he sends up his other non-damaged Shellder.

Now he played one of the two draw cards, Bill's Maintenance or Prof. Oak's Research. I didn't remember which one, but he pulled a Charmander that did damage. Also, he had like 2 Energies on it, so it was easy to retreat his Shellder and send up his Charmander for the KO on my Nidorina (2-1). I send up my charged Growlithe and Flame Tailed his Charmander for 40. He did Celio's Network for Cloyster, and I thought I'm done. But his Cloyster was in his last prize! So I use my Growlithe to Flame Tail his Pokemon. He sends up his Shellder to buy more time. But I eventually KOed one of his Pokemon (not Shellders, but something else) (1-1), and he send up his non-damaged Shellder to buy more time. I lay down my Lickitung and try to Lick him. My plan is to Paralyze his non-damage Shellder so it can't retreat to his other Shellder with 30 damage on it, and then I can Tongue Whip it for the game next turn. It was Tails, but he didn't see that coming and simply Minimized with his non-damaged Shellder, and passed! I Tongue Whip his other Shellder for the game!

Win 1-0 3pts.

I knew I got away with one there. Otherwise, I would have to continue my assault with Growlithe for at least another two or three turns, and who knows what would've happened.

Round 2: vs. John with 2x Cloysters
I started with Nidoran (F), and he started with a lone Growlithe. He went first, and didn't get much. I used my Nidoran (F) to get a Squirtle. He topdecked a Shellder, and decide to invest an Energy on his Shellder on his Bench instead (hmm). I saw this and want to get more setup time, so I put an Energy on Squirtle and Look for another Friend - my next friend is Doduo. He knows what's happening and puts an Energy on his Growlithe. I topdecked a Chansey, and put the 2nd Energy on Nidoran (F), and start Scratching away. Oops, he didn't get an Energy, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong - you remember this match better than I do), and got another Basic critter. I didn't remember all the details here, but I remember I did a total of 40 damage to his Growlithe, and he retreated it to send Shellder up to buy time. I charged up Chansey and commit myself to another long battle. He got the Cloyster up really soon after that, did a Prof. Oak's Research, and got another Shellder on his Bench. He first decides to take the 75% Paralysis for the next several turns, hoping to do 40 to Chansey without me being able to Egg Surprise and get a clean KO. I got Dodrio, and Wartortle out, and his plan didn't work after he did 20 damage to my Chansey as he got his 2 Tails. I wear his first Cloyster down with the Wartortle, Chansey, and eventually Lickitung. 
I used my high HP Pokemon, including Wartortle itself. Eventually, I sacrifice my Nidroan (F) (3-3). I pick up an easy prize on his 40 damage Growlithe with my Lickitung.
(2-3). He finally got a good streak of flips on my Chansey. He paralyzed me 3 turns in a row with his Cloyster, and got a clean KO with Shell Attack. (2-2) But for some reason he kept out the Cloyster with 60 damage, and it was an easy KO for my Wartortle (1-2). I don't understand that - because he has 2 Cloyster already. I simply did a Pokemon Reversal on Growlithe after that for the game.

Win 2-0 6pts.

Jerry was joking about how I may have cheated. Ha, Matthew and his friend (I forgot his name) joked back and said John simply cheated himself. I don't understand that either, but I'll take the win anyway.

Lunch Break

Round 3: vs. Leo - Magneton and other stuff I'm not sure what he had. I got a Nidoran (F) to start and a Doduo on my Bench. I fetched a Squirtle. I topdecked a Nidorina and was so happy to do Fast Evolutions, but my Wartortle and Dodrio was in my prizes  But I got Dewgong and Charmeleon. Nevertheless, I kept Scratching his Meowth until I get a KO. (3-4) I soon got a much needed Charmander, along with Bulbasaur, and a Chansey. My Chansey got really easy KOs - although Voltorb did his fair share of damage. (1-3) I held the Charmeleon as long as I can until I can get the finishing blow on his late-game Magneton. 
He knew that I had it because even though I Prof.Oak's Research it back earlier in the game, I was investing a second Energy on my Bench Charmander. There was little he could have done. He Thundershock and got Tails. Even if he got Heads, I had the Switch on my hand.

Win 3-0 9pts.

Round 4: vs. Ian - Mr. Mime ex2 (even one), Dugtrio, and Ivysaur This was a tough battle from the get-go. He started with Weedle and Mr.Mime ex2. I forgot exactly what I started with. I had a Squirtle on the Bench. He went first and got Bulbasaur and Paras. By the time we can both attack, I kept one too many cards on my hand - and that was Growlithe. I should have played him - I decided to hide it, but it may my hand size 3 cards instead of 2 - huge difference. So he KOed my Squirtle (4-3), and I got a Lickitung, and bought as much time as I can. 
I bought my time with a Chansey. He was incredibly smart - he sends up a Diglett with one Energy and did Dig Under to my Charmander. I put it to Sleep, and the next turn he simply evolves it into Dugtrio for an easy KO (4-2). I was lucky though, because my Lickitung got 4 Heads in a row to Paralyze, while I charge up the Bulbasaur with Gouge. I brought it up and KOed his Dugtrio (3-2). 
He sends up Porygon and did 10 damage with Auto Confuse. I start to fight a Confusion Battle with my Slowpoke on my Bench. But my Slowpoke was KOed after I hit Tails on a Confusion flip (2-2). I had to keep spending energies to do damage with Squirtle, switch with Bulbasaur, and retreat, and repeat. I got 40 damage on Porygon, and he retreats for Mr. Mime ex2. This time I only had 2 cards, so it did 20 damage to my Squirtle. I retreat and sends up my Lickitung again for another prize on his 40 damage Porygon (2-1). His Mr. Mime ex2 did 30 damage this time to my Lickitung (of course, I picked up a prize, making my hand size 3 cards). I finally got a Dodrio out. It was long, but I believe I finally KOed his Mr. Mime ex2 after many turns, with the help of a Super Scoop Up on (1-1). But he soon got out his Ivysaur and did Poison to my Lickitung. I tried to Lick but finally got Tails this time and lost.

Loss 3-1 9pts.

Round 5: vs. Snorlax/Gyarados ex
I just had bad luck in this match. I Confused his Snorlax so many times with Tangela and Slowpoke, but he never got a TAILS on a Confusion flip. I finally got 80 damage on his Snorlax, but he just retreats brings out his fully pumped Gyarados ex. I got my Dewgong out, but he did Pokedex Handy 909, puts the Pokemon Reversal on Top. The very next turn, he used Pokemon Reversal and KO a poor Basic from my Bench for his last prize.

Loss 3-2 9pts.

Round 6: Matthew Yuen - Zapdos ex/Wigglytuff He only had a lone Jigglypuff, and then a Wigglytuff. His goal was to get a turn 3 Zapdos ex to destroy my deck. So I knew by the number of times he mulliganed (a lot), he had all Lightning Energies but like 6 to 8 slots. So I got an easy win, but he also pulled it off with a Dual Ball.

Win 4-2 12pts.

Props:
To all the southern CA staff for making the event fun for everybody.
To all my opponents - it's exciting for me to be able to compete against the better limited decks off their much stronger card pool

Slops:
To myself, for taking forever to put together this report

Thanks for reading my report. Please feel free to post any comments or suggestions.

Sincerely,
William Hung
whung@calmail.berkeley.edu