Hey everyone! I just got back from my first League Cup and wanted to share my experience with you all while it was still fresh in my mind. I took Metagross GX and finished with a 2-2-2 record, coming in 20th place out of 36 participants. While that may not seem great, I'm happy with my performance overall seeing as how it was my first LC, and as I'll go into detail below, I was only a play or two away from having a better record. It was a great learning experience and I can apply it to my next LC.
I ultimately decided to take Metagross GX because it was a deck that I felt good about while testing different decks last week. It also has a great match-up against Gardevoir, which I anticipated to have a big presence. I was concerned about the Volcanion match-up, but it was what it was.
First Round - Golisopod/Garbodor (0-0-0)
Game 1 took a long time, but I was in control the whole game and won. He tried shutting down abilities with Garbotoxin, but between Field Blower and using Guzma to KO his only Garbodor on the field, he just couldn't stop me. Game 2 was disappointing. I started with a lone Beldum, had no draw support, and my opponent KOs it Turn 2 with Golisopod. We go to a Game 3 and I have a much better start. I ended up getting close to winning and the judge calls time so we have +3 starting with me. I get down to 2 Prize cards and I have the Guzma in my hand for the win, but I run out of turns and we draw.
Second Round - Gardevoir (0-0-1)
I have a fast start and the type advantage allows me to KO his only Gardevoir on the field. He proceeds to scoop and we go to a Game 2, which I'm able to win pretty easily. Nothing more to say here.
Third Round - Weavile/Tapu Koko/Turtonator GX (1-0-1)
This was an intense round. My opponent was playing a very unique damage spread deck that utilized Turtonator, which made things a bit tricky since it hits my Metagross for weakness. My opponent takes Game 1 pretty easily. His Turtonator is a pain to deal with and he brings in Weavile to finish the game. I end up turning things around Game 2 by using Guzma to disrupt any momentum he tried to gain and take Game 2. Game 3 was back and forth and I gain the advantage, but then time is called and we end up drawing. While I'm glad I didn't lose, I knew I would've won if time didn't run out so that was a bit frustrating.
Forth Round - Volcanion (1-0-2)
This was my roughest Round of the entire tournament. My opponent hit every card he needed both games and beat me 2-0. I was never even slightly in the game. I knew Volcanion was a terrible match-up going into the tournament so it wasn't a surprise, but it still was disappointing to not even make it competitive. At this point, I knew I had to win my last two Rounds if I hoped to make Top 8.
Fifth Round - Gardevoir/Sylveon (1-1-2)
I liked this match-up for obvious reasons, but the Sylveon did worry me because of Plea GX, which completely disrupts me. Luckily, he never gets Sylveon out Game 1 and I'm able to take the win pretty easily with Metagross. Game 2 was a lot tougher because I struggled to set up while my opponent had a stacked Gardevoir and a Sylveon on the field. Luckily, I get a Metagross out and I'm able to take over from there.
Sixth Round - Turtonator (2-1-2)
I was feeling good about my chances at making Top 8 at this point based off of everyone else's records... and then I find out I have to play against Turtonator the last round. My opponent demolishes me Game 1 and I scoop to save time. I have a very strong start Game 2 while my opponent struggled to draw energy and I take Game 2. Game 3 was back and forth and I make the worst misplay. My opponent only has a lone baby Volcanion with 2 energy attached to it on the field and instead of putting my Metagross with an energy in the active, I put my Alolan Vulpix up instead. I had no energy in my hand so I figured I wouldn't be able to get Metagross powered up to use Giga Hammer. Well... I end up drawing into an Energy and now I put myself in a bad spot because I can't retreat my Vulpix without attaching an Energy to it for turn, meaing I can't get three Energy on Metagross. It ends up coming back to bite me next turn as my opponent is able to get a Turtonator on the bench and he proceeds to win with it. That misplay was incredibly frustrating.
I end the day 2-2-2 and drop to 20th place. Like I said, with it being my first League Cup, I felt like I played very well minus a few plays. My biggest takeaways from the day were to scoop when necessary and try to play with your next turn in mind. Thanks for reading! Here's my deck list:
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon - 17
* 4 Beldum GRI 83
* 3 Metang GRI 84
* 4 Metagross-GX GRI 139
* 1 Necrozma-GX BUS 134
* 3 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 137
* 2 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21
##Trainer Cards - 31
* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 4 Choice Band GRI 121
* 4 Professor Sycamore BKP 107
* 3 Guzma BUS 115
* 4 Ultra Ball SUM 135
* 1 Brigette BKT 161
* 4 N FAC 105
* 3 Field Blower GRI 125
* 4 Rare Candy SUM 129
* 3 Max Potion GRI 128
##Energy - 12
* 8 Metal Energy EVO 98
* 4 Psychic Energy EVO 95
Total Cards - 60
****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******
I ultimately decided to take Metagross GX because it was a deck that I felt good about while testing different decks last week. It also has a great match-up against Gardevoir, which I anticipated to have a big presence. I was concerned about the Volcanion match-up, but it was what it was.
First Round - Golisopod/Garbodor (0-0-0)
Game 1 took a long time, but I was in control the whole game and won. He tried shutting down abilities with Garbotoxin, but between Field Blower and using Guzma to KO his only Garbodor on the field, he just couldn't stop me. Game 2 was disappointing. I started with a lone Beldum, had no draw support, and my opponent KOs it Turn 2 with Golisopod. We go to a Game 3 and I have a much better start. I ended up getting close to winning and the judge calls time so we have +3 starting with me. I get down to 2 Prize cards and I have the Guzma in my hand for the win, but I run out of turns and we draw.
Second Round - Gardevoir (0-0-1)
I have a fast start and the type advantage allows me to KO his only Gardevoir on the field. He proceeds to scoop and we go to a Game 2, which I'm able to win pretty easily. Nothing more to say here.
Third Round - Weavile/Tapu Koko/Turtonator GX (1-0-1)
This was an intense round. My opponent was playing a very unique damage spread deck that utilized Turtonator, which made things a bit tricky since it hits my Metagross for weakness. My opponent takes Game 1 pretty easily. His Turtonator is a pain to deal with and he brings in Weavile to finish the game. I end up turning things around Game 2 by using Guzma to disrupt any momentum he tried to gain and take Game 2. Game 3 was back and forth and I gain the advantage, but then time is called and we end up drawing. While I'm glad I didn't lose, I knew I would've won if time didn't run out so that was a bit frustrating.
Forth Round - Volcanion (1-0-2)
This was my roughest Round of the entire tournament. My opponent hit every card he needed both games and beat me 2-0. I was never even slightly in the game. I knew Volcanion was a terrible match-up going into the tournament so it wasn't a surprise, but it still was disappointing to not even make it competitive. At this point, I knew I had to win my last two Rounds if I hoped to make Top 8.
Fifth Round - Gardevoir/Sylveon (1-1-2)
I liked this match-up for obvious reasons, but the Sylveon did worry me because of Plea GX, which completely disrupts me. Luckily, he never gets Sylveon out Game 1 and I'm able to take the win pretty easily with Metagross. Game 2 was a lot tougher because I struggled to set up while my opponent had a stacked Gardevoir and a Sylveon on the field. Luckily, I get a Metagross out and I'm able to take over from there.
Sixth Round - Turtonator (2-1-2)
I was feeling good about my chances at making Top 8 at this point based off of everyone else's records... and then I find out I have to play against Turtonator the last round. My opponent demolishes me Game 1 and I scoop to save time. I have a very strong start Game 2 while my opponent struggled to draw energy and I take Game 2. Game 3 was back and forth and I make the worst misplay. My opponent only has a lone baby Volcanion with 2 energy attached to it on the field and instead of putting my Metagross with an energy in the active, I put my Alolan Vulpix up instead. I had no energy in my hand so I figured I wouldn't be able to get Metagross powered up to use Giga Hammer. Well... I end up drawing into an Energy and now I put myself in a bad spot because I can't retreat my Vulpix without attaching an Energy to it for turn, meaing I can't get three Energy on Metagross. It ends up coming back to bite me next turn as my opponent is able to get a Turtonator on the bench and he proceeds to win with it. That misplay was incredibly frustrating.
I end the day 2-2-2 and drop to 20th place. Like I said, with it being my first League Cup, I felt like I played very well minus a few plays. My biggest takeaways from the day were to scoop when necessary and try to play with your next turn in mind. Thanks for reading! Here's my deck list:
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon - 17
* 4 Beldum GRI 83
* 3 Metang GRI 84
* 4 Metagross-GX GRI 139
* 1 Necrozma-GX BUS 134
* 3 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 137
* 2 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21
##Trainer Cards - 31
* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 4 Choice Band GRI 121
* 4 Professor Sycamore BKP 107
* 3 Guzma BUS 115
* 4 Ultra Ball SUM 135
* 1 Brigette BKT 161
* 4 N FAC 105
* 3 Field Blower GRI 125
* 4 Rare Candy SUM 129
* 3 Max Potion GRI 128
##Energy - 12
* 8 Metal Energy EVO 98
* 4 Psychic Energy EVO 95
Total Cards - 60
****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******
