So. Nationals. Canada. 2012. You know, Canadian Nationals 2012? Yeaaahh. Anyways, this'll be my 2012 Canadian Nationals report for the junior division, and I'm really hoping some of you people reading this didn't stop reading as soon as you read the word "junior", since I have seen some people say things along the lines of "oh they're not in masters, they're automatically bad". Anyways, I'll be doing just TCG in this report, since VGC wasn't that exciting. So, let's get started!
Round 1 vs... A subway sandwich
I ate a subway (And threw up part of it
). Byes ftw!
1-0
Round 2 vs Darkrai Terrakion
Well, I haven't even told whoever's reading this (yes, you) what I'm running! I was running Darkrai Tornadus, just to clear that up. Anyways, this match started off with me getting to go first! Yay! I almost never go first, and going first is good.
I again don't remember many details, but I think we both started pretty slowly, with me catchering up a Terrakion repeatedly to stall while I set myself up. Eventually, we started to get set up, and we started hitting each other (in the card game). Unfortunately, I didn't get a Darkrai until the game was about over.
For the record, I actually started lone Darkrai, but scooped it up with a Super Scoop Up, fearing the Terrakion. Kind of stupid of me, but yeah. If I had gotten a Catcher a couple turns before I lost (well, of course the last prize I took on the last turn was a Catcher...), I could've won. However, it was a pretty good game otherwise, and I can accept the loss, I guess..
1-1
Round 3 vs Darkrai Terrakion
Ahh, great. I get to face the one other BC junior round 3. Not fun. If either one of us loses, we'll have to win out to have a chance to make top cut. Although, top 8 is pretty good, for Canadian and/or junior standards. Anyways, back to the game before I start rambling about random stuff again...
I can't remember much about this game; it was pretty much, in my opinion, a standard game. Basically, it was all about Night Spears, Retaliates, Catchers, and Super Scoop Ups. In the end, I won because I was doing well for Scoop Up flips. And drawing well of N, PONT, etc.
2-1
Round 4 vs Empoleon Terrakion
When he flipped over a Piplup, I was actually pretty surprised. I didn't expect to see this deck at Nationals, but, hey, I don't really care what I battle as long as I don't battle my worst matchup every game. So, he starts with I believe a Terrakion and a Piplup, or something normal like that, and I also start something pretty normal.
Anyways, he realizes that I'm running Darkrai, and starts to prioritize getting out Terrakions and Exp. Shares, as well as Fighting energies. I knew that the Terrakions were going to kill me sooner or later if I didn't KO them quickly, so I started focusing on them with Night Spear+Catcher combos to knock them out. He then starts to get Empoleons set up instead, which get up even more Empoleons through the use of it's ability, Diving Draw. The only problem here was that, even though it does have built-in drawpower, Empoleon is still a Stage 2 and relies on me filling up my bench as well. The fact that he was only hitting 80ish per turn, - Eviolite so 60, and I was hitting 90-100 + maybe 30 snipe, got me the win here.
3-1
Round 5 vs something with Mewtwo and Terrakion (I later learned it was Darkrai Terrakion)
At first, I had no idea what he was running, since he started lone Mewtwo and that usually never tells you anything. However, he also showed me a Terrakion before the match, and... That didn't really help me either. Anyways, I go first (yay!), and start with a Smeargle I believe and a Mewtwo in hand that I wasn't sure if I was going to bench. I ended up benching my Mewtwo, along with a DCE, and then played an N. From that N, I N'd him into nothing (again! He started horribly) and N'd myself into a Skyarrow or a Switch or something. I then proceeded to X Ball him for 80. He draws, and... Passes. I then proceed to topdeck a DCE to X Ball for game.
4-1
Now, I just need to win my last game to guarantee top.. I CAN DO IT!
Round 6 vs CMTT (I think. I would assume so)
This was it. The final (not if I top) battle. The deciding game to see if I'm gonna top, or win VGC tomorrow, lol. So, yeah. I'll get on with the game. I won't go into much detail, since the game was both horribly in my favor, and since I don't remember much. Basically all there is to say about this game is that he started and drew worse than should be possible, and I drew and started well.
5-1
YESSSSSSSSSSS TOP HERE I COME!!!
So I look at the standings, and I see that I'm 3rd! So yeah, top 8. I also see my opponent for the next day, who's name is "Jett Mann". What an awesome name.
Anyways, on to day 2!
Day 2
So, they kept our decks overnight and checked the lists/sleeves, etc etc. Luckily, mine was fine this time, as I had to resleeve the day before, because of a couple bubbles and tiny unnoticable dents. So, I'll get to the matches.
Top 8 vs Scizor + Big basics (Game 1)
No offense, but how exactly did this top? I guess I should also be congratulating him for topping with Scizor, though. So, on to the game!
If I can remember this correctly, I started okay, and I think he started okay as well. I don't really remember much about this day in particular, because at the time of writing this part of the report, its the next Saturday, and top was last Sunday. Anyways, before the game, I had no idea whatsoever what he was running, but I assumed fighting for some reason. First turn, I believe he starts Zekrom, and Collectors for a Cobalion, Terrakion, and a Scyther. As soon as I saw the Scyther, I regretted attaching that DCE to one of my Pokemon. Oh well, I'd have to play around it with Shaymin and attaching basic energies only. Then I think he attaches, then passes. I go, and portrait. I get to not use a Black Belt! Yay!... I apologize, I don't remember anything past this point except how I didn't hit a Scoop Up all game, and that I won with a Mewtwo, a Shaymin, and lots of energies.
1-0
Game 2
Again, I apologize. I don't remember much about this game either, but I think it was like game 1. He also collector'd for I think 3 Cobalion?
Same thing happened in the end game as well, with the Mewtwo Shaymin shenanigans.
2-0
Ahh. Worlds invite. Feels soooo good. Sure, its not a flight, but I'll find a way to get there. Oh, and by the way, to anyone at worlds, I'll be wearing an Oshawott hat. So look for a Junior with an Oshawott hat, and you *may* see me, since I'm sure I won't be the only one wearing an Oshawott hat. So, now on to top 4...
Top 4 vs Darkrai Terrakion (round 5 opponent)
This was bound to be interesting. My top 4 opponent was the person who dead drew really badly in round 5. Top 4 was also the deciding match to whether I would get a paid trip to worlds. So, here we go!
I don't remember if I went first or not this game, but I remember only a little bit anyways. I believe he starts with a Darkrai, and then I finally know what he's running. Darkrai Terrakion. I am so, so, tired of Terrakion. I've faced it every single game at Nationals, and I'm pretty sure I was the only Darkrai Tornadus in the whole tournament, which kinda made me sad. Agghhh, once again, I am getting distracted and talking about random stuff... I think, this game, I went aggro Tornadus EX in the beginning since I was just drawing horribly, although he kinda was too considering he manually attached to his Darkrai. As previously mentioned, I don't remember much about this game, except for the fact that I lost.
0-1
Uh oh, that's not good. This now means I have to win the next 2 games, or else... Or else I don't make top 2. Whatever, I'm happy either way; top 4 was my goal, and considering this is my first nationals, not bad.
Top 4 game 2
I won. Can't remember what happened except for that I won. I'm being really lazy writing this report, 'cause its 2 weeks after nationals at the time of writing this particular part of the report, lol.
Top 4 game 3
A quick glance at my watch told me that time was going to be called in a couple of minutes, so I really had to focus on quick attacks, and quick prizes, although that isn't the easiest thing to do when my "cheap prizes" consisted of 1 (?) Smeargle and a bunch of Terrakion. Finally, I get decent luck at the beginning of the game, and I get a T1 Blow Through, on what however I can't remember. Anyways, the game goes on as a normal game should, but then time is called. Time was called on my turn, so I was turn 0. But, we're going to skip to turns. 2 and 3, since I can't remember the other turns!
The situation wasn't looking great for me; I believe I had 2 Dark Claw boosted Night Spears thrown at my 2 EX's, neither of which could do anything spectacular and game-winning. He had (not too sure here) a fresh Darkrai on the bench with no energies, and another one that may have been damaged, but not enough to be ko'd, in active, fully charged. As I had nothing that wouldn't be ko'd by Night Spear on my field, I simply Catchered up his energyless Darkrai, hoping to stall, hoping he had no energy. However, and I should've known this, since I had Portraited earlier that turn, that he had 2-3 energies in hand, as well a a Shaymin, to ko my Darkrai for game. GG, and congrats on 2nd, person whose name I can't remember!
So, that's it. I ended up getting a Worlds invite, a box, and like 10 champ points, to put me up to about 40. Out of my box, I pulled my 5th Kyogre EX (full art this time, 3rd full art), and for regular EX's, a Raikou, and another Darkrai. I don't think I mentioned this yet, as well- I had ordered a Darkrai and a Tornadus EX from TrollandToad over a week before Nationals, and guess what! They came almost a week AFTER Nationals. Luckily, FearZeCrawdaunt had extras, otherwise I would've had to run Zeels or Zekeels or Eels or whatever you'd like to call it, and I wouldn't have liked that. Anyways, altogether, a great 1st Nationals for me, and to anybody else who's gonna be at Worlds, maybe I'll see you there! Oh yeah, props and slops or whatever, gotta do those before I end this wonderful report...
PROPS
Coming 3rd, of course!
Having another player from my city come 3rd in seniors!
Having 3 other people from BC in seniors top 8!
The vendors having cool things!
majesticdelusions and ~Absol+Gallade~ both doing pretty well in VGC!
SLOPS
Vendors being a little overpriced
Failing SSU flips
Every deck I played against ran Terrakion
Well, that's it for my report. Since I'm pretty sure I'm not missing anything else, I'll end it off here. (If I'm missing something here, just tell me and I'll add it in...)
Round 1 vs... A subway sandwich
I ate a subway (And threw up part of it
). Byes ftw!1-0
Round 2 vs Darkrai Terrakion
Well, I haven't even told whoever's reading this (yes, you) what I'm running! I was running Darkrai Tornadus, just to clear that up. Anyways, this match started off with me getting to go first! Yay! I almost never go first, and going first is good.
I again don't remember many details, but I think we both started pretty slowly, with me catchering up a Terrakion repeatedly to stall while I set myself up. Eventually, we started to get set up, and we started hitting each other (in the card game). Unfortunately, I didn't get a Darkrai until the game was about over.
For the record, I actually started lone Darkrai, but scooped it up with a Super Scoop Up, fearing the Terrakion. Kind of stupid of me, but yeah. If I had gotten a Catcher a couple turns before I lost (well, of course the last prize I took on the last turn was a Catcher...), I could've won. However, it was a pretty good game otherwise, and I can accept the loss, I guess..
1-1
Round 3 vs Darkrai Terrakion
Ahh, great. I get to face the one other BC junior round 3. Not fun. If either one of us loses, we'll have to win out to have a chance to make top cut. Although, top 8 is pretty good, for Canadian and/or junior standards
. Anyways, back to the game before I start rambling about random stuff again...I can't remember much about this game; it was pretty much, in my opinion, a standard game. Basically, it was all about Night Spears, Retaliates, Catchers, and Super Scoop Ups. In the end, I won because I was doing well for Scoop Up flips. And drawing well of N, PONT, etc.
2-1
Round 4 vs Empoleon Terrakion
When he flipped over a Piplup, I was actually pretty surprised. I didn't expect to see this deck at Nationals, but, hey, I don't really care what I battle as long as I don't battle my worst matchup every game. So, he starts with I believe a Terrakion and a Piplup, or something normal like that, and I also start something pretty normal.
Anyways, he realizes that I'm running Darkrai, and starts to prioritize getting out Terrakions and Exp. Shares, as well as Fighting energies. I knew that the Terrakions were going to kill me sooner or later if I didn't KO them quickly, so I started focusing on them with Night Spear+Catcher combos to knock them out. He then starts to get Empoleons set up instead, which get up even more Empoleons through the use of it's ability, Diving Draw. The only problem here was that, even though it does have built-in drawpower, Empoleon is still a Stage 2 and relies on me filling up my bench as well. The fact that he was only hitting 80ish per turn, - Eviolite so 60, and I was hitting 90-100 + maybe 30 snipe, got me the win here.
3-1
Round 5 vs something with Mewtwo and Terrakion (I later learned it was Darkrai Terrakion)
At first, I had no idea what he was running, since he started lone Mewtwo and that usually never tells you anything. However, he also showed me a Terrakion before the match, and... That didn't really help me either. Anyways, I go first (yay!), and start with a Smeargle I believe and a Mewtwo in hand that I wasn't sure if I was going to bench. I ended up benching my Mewtwo, along with a DCE, and then played an N. From that N, I N'd him into nothing (again! He started horribly) and N'd myself into a Skyarrow or a Switch or something. I then proceeded to X Ball him for 80. He draws, and... Passes. I then proceed to topdeck a DCE to X Ball for game.
4-1
Now, I just need to win my last game to guarantee top.. I CAN DO IT!
Round 6 vs CMTT (I think. I would assume so)
This was it. The final (not if I top) battle. The deciding game to see if I'm gonna top, or win VGC tomorrow, lol. So, yeah. I'll get on with the game. I won't go into much detail, since the game was both horribly in my favor, and since I don't remember much. Basically all there is to say about this game is that he started and drew worse than should be possible, and I drew and started well.
5-1
YESSSSSSSSSSS TOP HERE I COME!!!
So I look at the standings, and I see that I'm 3rd! So yeah, top 8. I also see my opponent for the next day, who's name is "Jett Mann". What an awesome name.
Anyways, on to day 2!
Day 2
So, they kept our decks overnight and checked the lists/sleeves, etc etc. Luckily, mine was fine this time, as I had to resleeve the day before, because of a couple bubbles and tiny unnoticable dents. So, I'll get to the matches.
Top 8 vs Scizor + Big basics (Game 1)
No offense, but how exactly did this top? I guess I should also be congratulating him for topping with Scizor, though. So, on to the game!
If I can remember this correctly, I started okay, and I think he started okay as well. I don't really remember much about this day in particular, because at the time of writing this part of the report, its the next Saturday, and top was last Sunday. Anyways, before the game, I had no idea whatsoever what he was running, but I assumed fighting for some reason. First turn, I believe he starts Zekrom, and Collectors for a Cobalion, Terrakion, and a Scyther. As soon as I saw the Scyther, I regretted attaching that DCE to one of my Pokemon. Oh well, I'd have to play around it with Shaymin and attaching basic energies only. Then I think he attaches, then passes. I go, and portrait. I get to not use a Black Belt! Yay!... I apologize, I don't remember anything past this point except how I didn't hit a Scoop Up all game, and that I won with a Mewtwo, a Shaymin, and lots of energies.
1-0
Game 2
Again, I apologize. I don't remember much about this game either, but I think it was like game 1. He also collector'd for I think 3 Cobalion?
Same thing happened in the end game as well, with the Mewtwo Shaymin shenanigans.
2-0
Ahh. Worlds invite. Feels soooo good. Sure, its not a flight, but I'll find a way to get there. Oh, and by the way, to anyone at worlds, I'll be wearing an Oshawott hat. So look for a Junior with an Oshawott hat, and you *may* see me, since I'm sure I won't be the only one wearing an Oshawott hat. So, now on to top 4...
Top 4 vs Darkrai Terrakion (round 5 opponent)
This was bound to be interesting. My top 4 opponent was the person who dead drew really badly in round 5. Top 4 was also the deciding match to whether I would get a paid trip to worlds. So, here we go!
I don't remember if I went first or not this game, but I remember only a little bit anyways. I believe he starts with a Darkrai, and then I finally know what he's running. Darkrai Terrakion. I am so, so, tired of Terrakion. I've faced it every single game at Nationals, and I'm pretty sure I was the only Darkrai Tornadus in the whole tournament, which kinda made me sad. Agghhh, once again, I am getting distracted and talking about random stuff... I think, this game, I went aggro Tornadus EX in the beginning since I was just drawing horribly, although he kinda was too considering he manually attached to his Darkrai. As previously mentioned, I don't remember much about this game, except for the fact that I lost.
0-1
Uh oh, that's not good. This now means I have to win the next 2 games, or else... Or else I don't make top 2. Whatever, I'm happy either way; top 4 was my goal, and considering this is my first nationals, not bad.
Top 4 game 2
I won. Can't remember what happened except for that I won. I'm being really lazy writing this report, 'cause its 2 weeks after nationals at the time of writing this particular part of the report, lol.
Top 4 game 3
A quick glance at my watch told me that time was going to be called in a couple of minutes, so I really had to focus on quick attacks, and quick prizes, although that isn't the easiest thing to do when my "cheap prizes" consisted of 1 (?) Smeargle and a bunch of Terrakion. Finally, I get decent luck at the beginning of the game, and I get a T1 Blow Through, on what however I can't remember. Anyways, the game goes on as a normal game should, but then time is called. Time was called on my turn, so I was turn 0. But, we're going to skip to turns. 2 and 3, since I can't remember the other turns!
The situation wasn't looking great for me; I believe I had 2 Dark Claw boosted Night Spears thrown at my 2 EX's, neither of which could do anything spectacular and game-winning. He had (not too sure here) a fresh Darkrai on the bench with no energies, and another one that may have been damaged, but not enough to be ko'd, in active, fully charged. As I had nothing that wouldn't be ko'd by Night Spear on my field, I simply Catchered up his energyless Darkrai, hoping to stall, hoping he had no energy. However, and I should've known this, since I had Portraited earlier that turn, that he had 2-3 energies in hand, as well a a Shaymin, to ko my Darkrai for game. GG, and congrats on 2nd, person whose name I can't remember!
So, that's it. I ended up getting a Worlds invite, a box, and like 10 champ points, to put me up to about 40. Out of my box, I pulled my 5th Kyogre EX (full art this time, 3rd full art), and for regular EX's, a Raikou, and another Darkrai. I don't think I mentioned this yet, as well- I had ordered a Darkrai and a Tornadus EX from TrollandToad over a week before Nationals, and guess what! They came almost a week AFTER Nationals. Luckily, FearZeCrawdaunt had extras, otherwise I would've had to run Zeels or Zekeels or Eels or whatever you'd like to call it, and I wouldn't have liked that. Anyways, altogether, a great 1st Nationals for me, and to anybody else who's gonna be at Worlds, maybe I'll see you there! Oh yeah, props and slops or whatever, gotta do those before I end this wonderful report...
PROPS
Coming 3rd, of course!
Having another player from my city come 3rd in seniors!
Having 3 other people from BC in seniors top 8!
The vendors having cool things!
majesticdelusions and ~Absol+Gallade~ both doing pretty well in VGC!
SLOPS
Vendors being a little overpriced
Failing SSU flips
Every deck I played against ran Terrakion
Well, that's it for my report. Since I'm pretty sure I'm not missing anything else, I'll end it off here. (If I'm missing something here, just tell me and I'll add it in...)
