I attended the Cities at Time Warp the day before this one and walked away with a 3-2 record in top 16. I was playing Virizion/Mewtwo/Stuff and I made a foolish misplay (which cost me Top 8) against a Blastoise deck. We won't get into the details lol.
Since the only reason I didn't get into top cut was because of my misplay I was sure that I was piloting the right deck so I decided to still go to The Arena with it.
Here's my list: SynxS1N's Virizion/Mewtwo Deck
Round 1 vs Accelgor/Garbodor
Since I was running Virizion I couldn't help but be happy when my opponent flipped over a Shelmet. I was sure the match was mine... until he played down a Trubbish and then a Flareon and then a Mewtwo. It was as if this deck was tailor made to wreck mine. I can't remember exactly how I played this match but my 2 Tool Scrappers came in handy and Red Signal helped me dispatch his Garbodor. From then on I got crucial KOs on the attackers I was most afraid of. Then, for my last 2 prizes, I Red Signal his Jirachi play a Laser with a Virbank out and hit with Mewtwo for 60, game.
1-0
Round 2 vs Gothitelle/Accelgor (Angel)
Angel is one of the players I respect, I know he's strong and I was sure it was going to be a tough game. But as soon as he flipped a Gothita I got a little less tense. Another match I knew I had in the bag (although I was still cautious because of my first round lol). It played out normally at first. It wasn't until he played down a Mewtwo that I knew it actually WAS going to be a tough game.
He used Mew EX to X-ball my Virizion for 80. I knew I had to OHKO his Mew because if I didn't he could just Deck and Cover. I pulled up a Mewtwo with DCE to grab the KO. Then he came up with a Mewtwo and attached a 2nd DCE on it for the return KO. I brought up Virizion (w/80 dmg). His turn comes again and he moves 30 dmg from Virizion to a Genesect EX and attacked my Virizion for the 120 dmg X-ball KO. I brought up my own Mewtwo to ko his and (here's my big mistake) I Skyla for a Juniper. This was a mistake because with his benched Mew EX and Dusknoir all he needed was a DCE to KO my Mewtwo for game, so it would have served me better to get a Max Potion with the Skyla, clear the field of movable dmg, and possibly guarantee me the win.
My saving grace was that I had gotten rid of 3 of his DCEs already and with a small hand I doubted Angel would get his fourth... I was wrong. He got it right off the top of his deck and won. Props to Angel for a good game.
1-1
Round 3 vs Darkrai... I think ???
This is the only round that I can't recall at all. I remember my opponent and that he had a Battle City Gym mat but I am blanking on what he played or how the match played out. I am 70% sure it was straight Darkrai but again I can't remember any details. Ultimately I won the game.
2-1
Round 4 vs Plasma
This match was quick and one sided. She really didn't get to set up. I think she got one or two frost spears off. Most of the game I attacked with Genesect EX. I KO'd 2 Kyurems and with the help of Red Signal and 4 Megalo snipes I got rid 2 Deoxys for the game.
3-1
Round 5 vs Darkrai/Garbodor
This was a deck I had a lot of experience against so I was ready to play it out. He had an Absol which played a role in KOing a Virizion but the game was mostly in my favor from then on. He kept digging and eventually his deck got real low. He didn't run Super Rod and had no way of defeating me before the deck out. So, one turn before I would have gotten the last KO, he plays Juniper and shakes my hand.
4-1
Round 6 vs RayBoar
I had seen him play so I knew he had RayBoar but that didn't really matter. I knew that this was the last round and intentionally drawing would get both me and my opponent into the Top 8 so that's what I did.
4-1-1
TOP 8 vs RayBoar
Game 1
As soon as I found out this was my first match I readied myself for defeat but I should have learned by now that first impressions mean nothing. The game starts and things go smoothly for both of us. Eventually the game state breaks down to him needing 1 prize and me needing 2. I have an active Mewtwo with 4 energy and I pulled up his Emboar with 100 dmg, put him to sleep with Laser and played down Virbank. My plan of action was to pass, hope he stays asleep and gets KO'd coming into my turn. Then at that point I had the Plasma energy in hand to pull up his other Emboar with 60 dmg on it, play another Laser and X-ball for game. He rolls the dice... tails! The game is within my grasp and then he plays Tropical Beach. This one card messed up the whole flow of math in my plan. His Emboar gets KO'd going into his turn instead of mine and he brings up Rayquaza to finish me.
0-1
Game 2
All my confidence was gone but I stayed calm and played the best I could. The game state eventually broke down to us both needing two prizes and time being called on his turn. I had an active Genesect LTR (my beautiful random tech) with 5 energy on it against his active Rayquza EX. I was turn 1. I played down a Bouffalant with a DCE (wishing I had the 6th Grass for Genesect). I retreat Genesect and pass. My reason in doing this was that he had a fresh Ray on the bench and I knew he'd bring it up if I attacked with Genesect, making the attack pointless. I knew I had a better chance of OHKOing a Ray with Genesect so I put up Bouff as a sacrifice. This played out exactly as I had planned and he KO'd my Bouffalant. Thing's get a bit fuzzy here for me but I think I get a Juniper to pull off the 5th grass on Gen and Laser for game to tie it up.
1-1
Sudden Death
Since we were tied at the end of the round we had to play sudden death. 1 prize each. I go first attach a grass to Virizion and N us both to 1. Bench the Bouffalant I got and pass. He Skylas for Energy Search for a lightning. Attaches to his Ray and Celestial Roars for 1 fire. I top deck a DCE and Emerald Slash to attach 2 Grass to Bouffalant. His turn comes, he plays Colress for 3 and Celestial Roars into nothing. My turn comes and I top deck Scramble Switch. I play it and attack with Bouffalant for the game.
All the games were so intense. I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. One deep breath and it was on to the next round.
TOP 4 vs Darkrai/Genesect
Game 1
There isn't much to say about this one. I got a fast set up and he really didn't get much. An uneventful game.
Game 2
This game was a little more chalenging. He got a turn 2 Night Spear on my active Virizion with one grass (thank goodness for Mr. Mime lol). At this point I realized he didn't play a supporter and decided to play on that to make a comeback. My turn comes and I Scramble Switch into a fresh Virizion and Emerald Slash to get 2 energy on Genesect LTR. He plays down a Genesect EX and attaches a plasma to grab up the already damaged Virizion for the KO. I Emerald Slash another 2 grass onto Genesect. He Night Spears. Still no supporter or energy attachments from him. I retreat to Genesect LTR and attack for the KO. He brings up a clean Darkrai attaches a dark to Sableye and passes. I play Silver Bangle (my other random beautiful tech) on Genesect and play a Juniper hoping for the 5th energy to OHKO the Darkrai. I didn't get... but I did get an Energy Switch! Genesect swings for 180 dmg to get the OHKO on Darkrai. My opponent draws his card and concedes.
2-0
FINALS vs Virizion/Mewtwo (Hector)
Game 1
I knew these games would devolve into Mewtwo wars so I tried to be as careful as I could. After we trade KOs I'm down to my last prize and he needs 4. I have active Mewtwo with 3 Energy and a benched one with 2. I have one card in my hand. He brings up his Mewtwo with DCE to KO. I bring up my own Mewtwo and attach the Plasma Energy from hand for game.
1-0
Game 2
I set up a Bouffalant and he gets rid of it before it has a chance to attack with his Mewtwo. Then the Mewtwo wars begin... sort of. I come in with my own Mewtwo to KO his and he runs energy dry. No more attachments. I swing on 2 of his Virizions that he switches in and out to survive but eventually I Red Signal his benched Mewtwo to OHKO it with my own and win the city championship.
I want to give special thanks to my team, Team Catalyst, for supporting me. Peter for driving me out there and Noel for making sure I never lost hope. Thank you guys, this ones for you.
Since the only reason I didn't get into top cut was because of my misplay I was sure that I was piloting the right deck so I decided to still go to The Arena with it.
Here's my list: SynxS1N's Virizion/Mewtwo Deck
Round 1 vs Accelgor/Garbodor
Since I was running Virizion I couldn't help but be happy when my opponent flipped over a Shelmet. I was sure the match was mine... until he played down a Trubbish and then a Flareon and then a Mewtwo. It was as if this deck was tailor made to wreck mine. I can't remember exactly how I played this match but my 2 Tool Scrappers came in handy and Red Signal helped me dispatch his Garbodor. From then on I got crucial KOs on the attackers I was most afraid of. Then, for my last 2 prizes, I Red Signal his Jirachi play a Laser with a Virbank out and hit with Mewtwo for 60, game.
1-0
Round 2 vs Gothitelle/Accelgor (Angel)
Angel is one of the players I respect, I know he's strong and I was sure it was going to be a tough game. But as soon as he flipped a Gothita I got a little less tense. Another match I knew I had in the bag (although I was still cautious because of my first round lol). It played out normally at first. It wasn't until he played down a Mewtwo that I knew it actually WAS going to be a tough game.
He used Mew EX to X-ball my Virizion for 80. I knew I had to OHKO his Mew because if I didn't he could just Deck and Cover. I pulled up a Mewtwo with DCE to grab the KO. Then he came up with a Mewtwo and attached a 2nd DCE on it for the return KO. I brought up Virizion (w/80 dmg). His turn comes again and he moves 30 dmg from Virizion to a Genesect EX and attacked my Virizion for the 120 dmg X-ball KO. I brought up my own Mewtwo to ko his and (here's my big mistake) I Skyla for a Juniper. This was a mistake because with his benched Mew EX and Dusknoir all he needed was a DCE to KO my Mewtwo for game, so it would have served me better to get a Max Potion with the Skyla, clear the field of movable dmg, and possibly guarantee me the win.
My saving grace was that I had gotten rid of 3 of his DCEs already and with a small hand I doubted Angel would get his fourth... I was wrong. He got it right off the top of his deck and won. Props to Angel for a good game.
1-1
Round 3 vs Darkrai... I think ???
This is the only round that I can't recall at all. I remember my opponent and that he had a Battle City Gym mat but I am blanking on what he played or how the match played out. I am 70% sure it was straight Darkrai but again I can't remember any details. Ultimately I won the game.
2-1
Round 4 vs Plasma
This match was quick and one sided. She really didn't get to set up. I think she got one or two frost spears off. Most of the game I attacked with Genesect EX. I KO'd 2 Kyurems and with the help of Red Signal and 4 Megalo snipes I got rid 2 Deoxys for the game.
3-1
Round 5 vs Darkrai/Garbodor
This was a deck I had a lot of experience against so I was ready to play it out. He had an Absol which played a role in KOing a Virizion but the game was mostly in my favor from then on. He kept digging and eventually his deck got real low. He didn't run Super Rod and had no way of defeating me before the deck out. So, one turn before I would have gotten the last KO, he plays Juniper and shakes my hand.
4-1
Round 6 vs RayBoar
I had seen him play so I knew he had RayBoar but that didn't really matter. I knew that this was the last round and intentionally drawing would get both me and my opponent into the Top 8 so that's what I did.
4-1-1
TOP 8 vs RayBoar
Game 1
As soon as I found out this was my first match I readied myself for defeat but I should have learned by now that first impressions mean nothing. The game starts and things go smoothly for both of us. Eventually the game state breaks down to him needing 1 prize and me needing 2. I have an active Mewtwo with 4 energy and I pulled up his Emboar with 100 dmg, put him to sleep with Laser and played down Virbank. My plan of action was to pass, hope he stays asleep and gets KO'd coming into my turn. Then at that point I had the Plasma energy in hand to pull up his other Emboar with 60 dmg on it, play another Laser and X-ball for game. He rolls the dice... tails! The game is within my grasp and then he plays Tropical Beach. This one card messed up the whole flow of math in my plan. His Emboar gets KO'd going into his turn instead of mine and he brings up Rayquaza to finish me.
0-1
Game 2
All my confidence was gone but I stayed calm and played the best I could. The game state eventually broke down to us both needing two prizes and time being called on his turn. I had an active Genesect LTR (my beautiful random tech) with 5 energy on it against his active Rayquza EX. I was turn 1. I played down a Bouffalant with a DCE (wishing I had the 6th Grass for Genesect). I retreat Genesect and pass. My reason in doing this was that he had a fresh Ray on the bench and I knew he'd bring it up if I attacked with Genesect, making the attack pointless. I knew I had a better chance of OHKOing a Ray with Genesect so I put up Bouff as a sacrifice. This played out exactly as I had planned and he KO'd my Bouffalant. Thing's get a bit fuzzy here for me but I think I get a Juniper to pull off the 5th grass on Gen and Laser for game to tie it up.
1-1
Sudden Death
Since we were tied at the end of the round we had to play sudden death. 1 prize each. I go first attach a grass to Virizion and N us both to 1. Bench the Bouffalant I got and pass. He Skylas for Energy Search for a lightning. Attaches to his Ray and Celestial Roars for 1 fire. I top deck a DCE and Emerald Slash to attach 2 Grass to Bouffalant. His turn comes, he plays Colress for 3 and Celestial Roars into nothing. My turn comes and I top deck Scramble Switch. I play it and attack with Bouffalant for the game.
All the games were so intense. I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. One deep breath and it was on to the next round.
TOP 4 vs Darkrai/Genesect
Game 1
There isn't much to say about this one. I got a fast set up and he really didn't get much. An uneventful game.
Game 2
This game was a little more chalenging. He got a turn 2 Night Spear on my active Virizion with one grass (thank goodness for Mr. Mime lol). At this point I realized he didn't play a supporter and decided to play on that to make a comeback. My turn comes and I Scramble Switch into a fresh Virizion and Emerald Slash to get 2 energy on Genesect LTR. He plays down a Genesect EX and attaches a plasma to grab up the already damaged Virizion for the KO. I Emerald Slash another 2 grass onto Genesect. He Night Spears. Still no supporter or energy attachments from him. I retreat to Genesect LTR and attack for the KO. He brings up a clean Darkrai attaches a dark to Sableye and passes. I play Silver Bangle (my other random beautiful tech) on Genesect and play a Juniper hoping for the 5th energy to OHKO the Darkrai. I didn't get... but I did get an Energy Switch! Genesect swings for 180 dmg to get the OHKO on Darkrai. My opponent draws his card and concedes.
2-0
FINALS vs Virizion/Mewtwo (Hector)
Game 1
I knew these games would devolve into Mewtwo wars so I tried to be as careful as I could. After we trade KOs I'm down to my last prize and he needs 4. I have active Mewtwo with 3 Energy and a benched one with 2. I have one card in my hand. He brings up his Mewtwo with DCE to KO. I bring up my own Mewtwo and attach the Plasma Energy from hand for game.
1-0
Game 2
I set up a Bouffalant and he gets rid of it before it has a chance to attack with his Mewtwo. Then the Mewtwo wars begin... sort of. I come in with my own Mewtwo to KO his and he runs energy dry. No more attachments. I swing on 2 of his Virizions that he switches in and out to survive but eventually I Red Signal his benched Mewtwo to OHKO it with my own and win the city championship.
I want to give special thanks to my team, Team Catalyst, for supporting me. Peter for driving me out there and Noel for making sure I never lost hope. Thank you guys, this ones for you.
