JPN-Gallade’s 1st Place Rockford, IL, Spring Battle Roads Report

Hey everyone! It’s me, JPN Gallade, or Karol Nowak, my real name. Does any remember my last Battle Road report here on 6 Prizes where I said that if I managed to do well in another Battle Road, I would write another report pertaining to it? Well, I have managed to win yet another Spring Battle Road this season. This time, it was in Rockford, Illinois, and as you probably guessed, I’m happy to write about my experience at that Battle Road.

Initially, after the first weekend of Battle Roads, there was no Battle Roads in Illinois on the second week of Battle Roads because of Memorial Day weekend, so that gave me the time to prepare for my next Battle Road in Rockford. My deck choices for the next Battle Road were either Machamp, Sablelock, or Luxchomp. I played around with Sablelock, but I soon discovered that the deck was a bit harder to play then I thought. Then I played around with Machamp. It was a nice deck, but eventually, I decided to run Luxchomp because I felt comfortable playing it.

pokemon-paradijs.comAs for the Luxchomp, I’m not in the mood to post the decklist, so I’ll just briefly talk about it. The Luxchomp deck was the same one that won me seniors in the Shorewood, IL Spring Battle Road. The deck is just like an average Luxchomp deck. It runs the usual Trainer line, as well as the usual energy line. It uses the usual attackers (Luxray GL LV.X and Garchomp C LV.X) as well as the usual support like Uxies for draw power, Azelf to grab Pokémon out of the Prize cards, Crobat Gs to add up more damage, Lucario GL to make weakness times two, Bronzong G to move energies, and Toxicroak G (Promo) and Ambipom G for the mirror.

Eventually, June 5, 2010, would come. That was the day of the Rockford, Illinois, Spring Battle Road. Both Dad and I turn in our decklists as soon as we arrived, and I decide to look around for a little bit to see what was being played by everyone else. I was surprised to see that there weren’t a lot of SP decks being played in juniors, seniors, and masters that day. Seniors and juniors didn’t have a noticeable metagame, but in masters, the metagame was mostly Kingdra, Jumpluff, and anything related to Gengar. Oh well, at least I was one of the few people in the entire tournament playing an SP deck.

Eventually, the pairings go up. We find out that juniors and seniors have 4 rounds and a top 2 cut. Masters, however, have 5 rounds and a top 4 cut. Oh well, at least we seniors have a top cut this time. Well then, now I shall talk about my matches.

Round 1: Bye

Hooray! Round 1 win!

1/0

Round 2: ?????? (Random Deck)

^Well, sorry to say, but I forgot the name of my opponent who I faced in round 2.

This match was pretty quick. Basically, he starts with a lone Charizard G. As for me, I don’t exactly remember what I started with sadly. Throughout most of the match, he has no bench, and he is mostly attaching energies to his Charizard. I, however, eventually manage to get a Luxray GL out, and then I begin to use my Luxray GL to attack the Charizard. He then uses Potion to heal himself.

Afterward, I manage to bring out Luxray GL LV.X and once again attack his Charizard G. This time, he plays Moomoo Milk, gets only one head, and removes 3 damage counters from his Charizard, but this healing didn’t matter much because at this point, his Charizard is heavily damaged. Next turn, I manage to knock it with my Luxray GL LV.X and win the game. Good game sir!

2/0

Round 3: Nick L. (Kingdra/Lanturn)

pokemon-paradijs.comI start with a Lucario GL, while we starts with a Horsea UL. I start the game, but I really can’t do much, so I pass. He goes and plays a Uxie and draws some cards, but unfortunately, he doesn’t get the best cards. This is not the best thing for him because his start isn’t as good as mine, and the fact the Uxie doesn’t give him much means that I still have a chance. His turn eventually ends, so I go, but this time, I end up drawing a Pokémon Collector.

I use the Pokémon Collector to grab a Luxray GL, a Garchomp C, and a Uxie. I play the Luxray GL and the Garchomp C onto my bench. Then, I manage to Poké Turn my Lucario GL and bring out my Luxray GL. I put a Double Colorless Energy onto my Luxray GL, play both the Lucario GL and Uxie onto the bench, and then I use “Bite” to Knock Out the Horsea. He then pulls out his Uxie, but he can’t do much, so he passes.

I go and play my Roseanne’s Research to grab a Lightning Energy and a Psychic Energy. I attach the Lightning Energy to my Luxray GL. Then, I use “Trash Bolt” on his Uxie to Knock it Out for the win. Good game Nick!

3/0

Round 4: Nick G. (Palkia Lock)

Unlike my previous matches, this match was considerably longer.

I end up starting with my Chatot. My start is definitely not the best, so I use “Mimic” to get a better hand. Sadly, the hand isn’t the best still. As for him, he has a better start. He goes and literally begins to set up. At the same time, he is literally beginning to play his Mesprits, which becomes a problem because they begin to slow me down. At the same time, he is also beginning to set up his Palkia G.

Eventually, I “Mimic” again and this time, I end up with a better hand. Of course, he continues to play his Mesprits, as well as setting up his Palkia G. As for me, I really can’t do much now that he has the power lock going. Eventually, he has a Palkia G that is ready to attack, and he ends up Knocking Out a Pokémon of mine. He then also begins to set up his Garchomp C too.

As for me, I manage to KO a Mesprit, and this ends up being the only KO I make in the entire match. He eventually brings out Garchomp C LV.X and Knocks Out some Pokémon, mainly benched Luxray GLs that I try to set up but then get Knocked Out.

Eventually, I notice that I could make another KO with the help of Garchomp C, but I have to make sure it survives. I play the Garchomp C onto my bench and then I attach a Double Colorless Energy onto it. Then, I use Bronzong’s “Galactic Switch” to move a Psychic Energy onto my Garchomp, and then I attach an Expert Belt onto it.

Now it has a chance to survive an attack from either his Palkia G or Garchomp C because my Garchomp now has 100 HP thanks to its Expert Belt, but pretty soon, he goes all out on my Garchomp. He uses a Poké Turn to try to use “Flash Bite” on my Garchomp, but I Power Spray it. He uses another Poké Turn so that he can “Flash Bite” my Garchomp C again, but now I don’t have a single Power Spray in my hand, so I have to let him do it.

I begin to hope he doesn’t have another Poké Turn, but sadly, he does. He uses a Cyrus to grab yet another Poké Turn, uses it on his Crobat G and “Flash Bites” my Garchomp C again, and then Knocks it Out, thus stopping me from pulling another Knock Out. He continues to Knock Out more of Pokémon and eventually wins it. Oh well, good game Nick!

3/1

Looks like the rounds are over, and now it is time to see who made top 2 cut. I stay around for a little bit, and eventually, the standings go up, and I managed to make top 2 cut. Unfortunately, I have to face Nick G. in the finals. Yep, looks like I have to go through Palkia Lock once again.

Top 2 (Finals): Nick G. (Palkia Lock)

pokemon-paradijs.comGame 1:
He starts the game with an Uxie, while I start the game with a Luxray GL. He can’t do much, so he passes. I go, and I manage to get a really nice set up, literally playing several basics as well as getting good draw from Uxie. He goes once again and tries to use Mesprit’s “Psychic Bind”, but I Power Spray the Mesprit, stopping the Power Lock.

I continue to get a good set up and eventually Knock Out a Pokémon of his. Eventually, he pulls out a Mesprit and an Azelf. I decide to Power Spray the Azelf rather than the Mesprit because with Azelf, he would try to get something like a Palkia G or a Garchomp C, and I’m pretty ahead of him right now, so I choose to let me power lock for a turn.

Eventually, I pull off some more knock outs, and pretty soon, I have only 3 Prizes left, while he only has about 6 Prizes left. He realizes he can’t do much now so he scoops and I win Game 1.

Game 2:
Here, he is focusing a lot on his Garchomp this match. He is also pulling off a lot of knock outs quite early. I have a Luxray GL in my hand, but playing it will be risky here now that his Garchomp is literally on a roll. I play the Luxray GL, but as expected, it gets Knocked Out. Luckily, I bring back my Luxray GL, and I even manage to draw another Luxray. I play both Luxray GLs down, as well as an Ambipom G.

Now this puts him in a tough decision on who will get Knocked Out. Eventually, he Knocks Out one of my Luxray GLs, allowing me to pull out the other, level up, and then Knock Out one of his Pokémon. From this point, I begin to catch up, and eventually, I am 1 Prize card away from winning, while he is only 2 Prizes away from winning. At this point, most of his attackers are gone, so the only things he really has out at this point is literally Uxies, Mesprits, or Crobats.

He eventually has a Uxie active, and I now notice I can win this game. I Poké Turn my Crobat and use “Flash Bite” on the Uxie. Then, I retreat my active Garchomp C LV.X and pull out my Ambipom G, attach a Double Colorless Energy to it, and then I do 60 to the Uxie and I win Game 2. Great games Nick!

2-0

Thus, I came in 1st place in the Rockford, IL, Spring Battle Road. My ending record was been 5-1. I got my second Victory Medal as well as some packs. I stayed for a little bit to watch the top cut matches in masters, and then I leave. Yep, it was a great day that’s for sure.

Props:
2nd time I win a premier event
Pulling out a holo Judge, Alph Lithograph (Silver), and a Super Scoop Up in one pack
The tournament being well organized
Jeremiah W. for winning juniors, and Sarah M. for coming second in juniors
Adam K. for winning masters, and Andrew G. for coming second in masters

Slops:
None

Indeed, this was a great day. Once again everyone, if I manage to do yet another good job in a Battle Road, I’ll write yet another Battle Road report pertaining to it, so stay tuned!