The Trashalanche Pokemon Podcast

The Kaya Lichtleitner Episode! Limitless, Belgian tournaments, Shadow Rider, Jolteon VMax, Jumpluff, Weezing, Spread Decks, Single Strike, Elemental Badge, and Draft The World Preview!

September 14, 2021 Brent Halliburton Season 1 Episode 58
The Trashalanche Pokemon Podcast
The Kaya Lichtleitner Episode! Limitless, Belgian tournaments, Shadow Rider, Jolteon VMax, Jumpluff, Weezing, Spread Decks, Single Strike, Elemental Badge, and Draft The World Preview!
Transcript
Brent:

Welcome to the Trashalanche. It's me, Brett Halliburton here as always with privacy and Mike Fouchet attendance is 133% this week. We have our first ever guest Kyle Lightner, the 2019 seniors world champion. She's probably one of the best players in Pokemon. We have her on the pod representing for Europe. We're covering a lot of bases with our first ever guests. It's going to be absolutely amazing. We're sponsored by channel. People should go to channel fireball. They have all kinds of crazy stuff going on. Lots of articles, including a new one by Alex Szymanski on the wheezing Inteleon deck. That seems like it's making the rounds. So I thought that was an interesting article to read. I enjoyed reading it. We would enjoy reading it to channel fireballs, sponsors the pot, and we appreciate them. So it's always nice to say nice things about them. In terms of five star review updates, it's been a couple of weeks. I know because people hear me say it on the pod every week, someone should leave a review. When you leave a review, we will read it on the pot. This is how your written words get turned into audio files in the cloud. You could leave a review and then we would read it on the spot And, discuss, and that would be like a thing. I did want to take a moment to acknowledge that one year ago, the first tournament ran on limitless, So I, I, when I saw Robin post that I, thought it was interesting because it made me realize that It's like, there was like six months where there were not really a lot of online tournaments. And I think people, I guess, were wandering around trying to figure out how to do like PTCGO tournaments and, not play Pokemon a, lot. And that's changed a lot.

Mike:

Yeah.

Brit:

Yeah, it really has. I think to do I just, for one, I think, the most salient point being that just like I I don't know where I would be. I don't know if the podcast would exist, you know, just all of that. So, So quietly in service of limitless, just every, everything about the site has changed the game, I think. And, you know, just going back, it was, you know, Started, it was just like, ah, there is a limitless, there is a limitless qualifiers And there was four of them and they were just like every couple of weeks or every couple of months. and that was just kind of it. And then all of a sudden there's just tournaments every night now. And again, it sort of remains to be seen how, how that will stay in place as we maybe we'll be getting events in a year or two, something like that, at least for, um, official events in America. the rest of the world seems to be shaping up, um, faster and better. Somewhat expectedly, I think. But yeah, just So, sort of an unsung heroes of the last two years to be sure. Um,

Brent:

I don't even think it's unsung. I mean, I think everybody recognizes without the Schultz brothers and limitless is the contribution to the clause.

Brit:

Maybe, I mean, I think, I mean, I did see plenty of recognition for him at the same time too. I just like I don't want to just drive the point home a little bit more, just like, I just, wow. Just like what a website, like how how like wonderful and, and, And sort of capable it is that, I don't know. I just like weird, always so lacking at times from, you know, the way the official Pokemon CPCI supports the game. It's just such a wonder that this was, you, know, just a, you know, a love letter to the game or a love letter to, you know, trying to keep the community alive. They didn't have to do any of this. You know, obviously they have Patrion and things like that, but you don't have to subscribe. You don't have to be a subscriber to participate in, to use it every day. And I just sort of imagined two. You know, once we do have like physical events being sort of the main story of the game, I, I assume limitless will still sort of be in the same place, both in terms of the data and the functionality they offer while also still doing, um, like online tournaments and stuff as well.

Mike:

Just add one small thing. I can't believe that the platform is just so much better. Then something like battle, fight or challenge, like it's actually way better than these things that you have to pay for. And that's just so cool that it came from the Pokemon community.

Brent:

All right. Kay. You ready? All right. So let's, let's start with like the question that I think everybody has to start every conversation with, which is the whole, like, tell us how you started playing, Pokemon, all that stuff.

Kaya:

Um, I started when I was seven years old, so like seven years ago now, and in the beginning, I didn't even want to start playing, but I went to a tournament because my two older brothers have been playing the game for a long time and they both went to a tournament and the IHS. Uh, went along with them and the worst, no junior in age division. So whoever would've played, would've gotten the free pricing and all. So my brother kind of just gave me a dag and said, yeah, you'll just participate in this tournament. And I didn't know how to play the game or anything, but, um, we knew one judge from Germany who always comes with a tournament and this shop and he kind of helped me from a tournament. And after that I decided I wanted to start playing. So yeah, my brother has taught me a lot about it in the first years where I played and then it just kind of kept going.

Brent:

So, so do you know what that initial deck was like? What was the

Kaya:

It was pirate.

Mike:

It's a great starter deck.

Kaya:

Yes. It was amazing.

Brent:

So, so that age where you really good about making sure that people couldn't attack you with basics, or how many did you, do you like look back and think, oh man, there were so many times when I just slipped up and let people attack me.

Kaya:

I know, like after I've played my first tournament and decided I want to start I'll keep going. My brother actually taught me a lot, like how to play the ups, every single match up which match up would be the worst. And where do I need to pay attention to like some rules and basics. So I think I mentioned better credit world, but of course it could have happened fed that sometimes slipped my mind, but my brother, I really paid attention that I learned at credit. Well,

Brent:

That's good. I mean, I know, I feel like, like my kids like we had friends of ours that played a lot of like toad bats and, you know, he was like famous as a junior for being. I'm not going to pay attention to whether or not people play items like I'm going to quit. You know, there's a lot of pay. I was like,

Kaya:

oh,

Brent:

he's seven or eight years old. He was like, ah, I'm not even paying attention to that. I'm just going to quaking punch for 30. It'd be like, it's fine. true. True spirit of junior play in in our, my experience. So, so when did you first qualify for worlds?

Kaya:

Um, my first words were crucified for day two was Anaheim and I played day one in San Francisco,

Brent:

Gotcha. Gotcha. So what, what, what deck did you play in a, in in San Francisco?

Kaya:

and San Francisco. I played seismic total and in Anaheim I played Garbodor.

Brent:

That's the deck make approves of

Mike:

Yeah, I like that

Kaya:

Yeah,

Brent:

is that is the correct choice.

Kaya:

me too.

Brent:

So, so how did your day to Atlanta.

Kaya:

Um, well, it was my first idea. I was really nervous as well. I went. Uh, I believe four to one in the end and made up 32. I lost to some, I don't remember. I just remember I played against meta gross one round and I'm happy that I didn't lose, but Tibo round And I don't even know how it was possible. So I don't remember a load.

Brent:

right?

Kaya:

I, they would have been easy last, but

Brent:

So, so then, uh, so I I assume you went to Nashville as well.

Kaya:

yep.

Brent:

How did.

Kaya:

Uh, Nashville. I decided to play Zoroark, uh, it was kind of Zoroark control, but I played counter energies and uh, some well basic counter Pokemon to kind of hit weakness for some meta-tags and it. went well. I think I was four. One one and then played my in the last round, but I played against, I cross at bedtime and I played against my first ever let loose my shadow and just read like free puzzle of time and lost the game.

Brent:

that is, I think it's amazing how I think people look back on that era And realize how much shadow is like, woefully underplayed, because You could just ruin people day. And

Kaya:

Yup.

Brent:

um, that's my go-to strategy.

Mike:

Marnie and prey.

Brent:

Exactly Marty and prey that strategy in the game, people. So, so then you go to DC, What'd you play in DC

Kaya:

Uh, and Washington, I played versus Rishi. Sorry.

Brent:

and, and it I'm sure you've told this story many times, but, but give us, like, give us like the 62nd walk down memory lane.

Kaya:

Uh, like before the tournament started, the weeks before I tested peak around the entire time. like, and I didn't think it would be playing something different bud. On day one, when my brother and me saw, oh, various, a lot of guardian, that's a very bad matchup. you can be playing peak or EMBAs tournament. We've kind of when searching for deck bed, win against Scottie. And we somehow got the idea of,uh, ability where she's out at that time, because we just thought it had a lot of great matchups and there weren't any decks, but really countered it at all and it wasn't played much. so, it was, I think, a good choice for the event,

Mike:

So did you talk to toward and the other European players, or did you guys kind of come up with the indifference?

Kaya:

um, at that time. I think my Bravo kind of got the lists. Uh, I believe he got it from some of the limitless people, because for example, we know some of them from tournaments here in Germany, for example, Robin or Philip, we just know them for a lot of use. So I think you talked to them and kind of got a list from them, but torts list, uh, uh, which you made to far with plates go up nets as well So there was still a bit different. They probably tested a bit more and decided to add a scoop of nets. so we just stuck with the old list.

Brent:

Yeah. So, so who do, who do you normally like test with and like figure out decks and what's, what kind of process do you kind of go through for that?

Kaya:

um, I used to not play PTCGO as well. I used to just test with my brothers four tournaments the entire time. Um, so it was kind of. They mainly did the deck building pad. I wouldn't say that I'm good at, uh, dag bailing at all. So they mainly did that. Todd and I tested the decks and they also went to tournaments with the, uh, the most, um, most of the time. So we've kind of, uh, tested together and just seeing what days would be good to play and NBN. We've worked out credit world most of the time.

Mike:

So your do both of your brothers still play? Hi.

Kaya:

um, I've a brother. is studying medicine now and he has a lot to do so he kind of stopped playing by my other brother. Well, he doesn't like online tournaments at all. So we stopped, uh, during the pandemic as well. But I think when, uh, real tournaments will come back, he will also start playing more. So, yeah.

Mike:

Cool.

Brent:

So, so it seems like, so the impression that I get as an outsider is you kind of went through the same thing. Like there, there was a long stretch where you weren't playing a lot of online tournaments. And then I feel like recently you've started playing more online.

Kaya:

Yeah, Like I played the limits as qualifiers in the beginning, but like, I think only two of them as well. And after that, I, I didn't like the format at all and I don't know, I didn't want to keep playing like that. So I stopped for like six months or something. And then this year in may, I believe I started playing more.

Brent:

Was, was there something that happened that made you a star playing more or were you just like, I feel like playing more.

Kaya:

I kind of missed it a bit as well, of course. And with a new set of fault, maybe it would be better to start now, but like wait for a few weeks when everyone has already tested with a new set. So I wanted to start when a new set comes in as well.

Brent:

Fair enough. Fair enough. So your Twitter accounts fairly new to.

Kaya:

Yeah. I've had Truffaut sometime, but I never really used it. I just used it to, I don't know, look at results from players, but,

Brent:

felt Like I should ask because I like, obviously I, I have two kids and D did you have to like negotiate with your parents to get a social media account? Or was that was any of that complexity? A problem.

Kaya:

uh, well I'm not really on any other social media at all. So I think it's fine for my parents. They didn't have anything against it. And. Yeah, my brothers were fine with it as well by all are also have Twitter. My mother has Trudeau as well, so I don't think it was a problem.

Brent:

Nice, nice. my oldest who's really like the Pokemon player. He doesn't have any social accounts at all right now, but my youngest, I kept telling him you have to get on Twitter because he's like, he's like, Semi-pro Fortnite player. And I was like, I think all those people, like they're just posting on Twitter all the time. You gotta have the Twitter account though, like be building those relationships.

Kaya:

Yeah. I think it's just nice to like see some people comment or like, um, get other opinions on a deck list or something. And like, You don't usually get a lot of contact from other players. You didn't see them at tournaments at all. So like getting some other opinions in is nice as well.

Brent:

Right. Right. Guys, should we talk about tournaments this past week?

Mike:

Yeah, there's been a lot of really cool decks coming out this past week. Even though we haven't collectively played all that much. Like I've definitely been paying attention. Cause there's lots of cool stuff.

Brent:

You know, I actually, I think we should probably start by saying I, I feel like we got called out on the, on the pod for last. For failing to understand how what was the how, jumping-off works,

Mike:

That card does not make jump left. Good. Let's not get ourselves like

Brit:

Hi,

Mike:

yeah.

Brit:

I missed two. So I guess to talk on jump live, I missed the, the clear synergy between the, the jump line and the like stretcher catcher card. Like that, that went over my head last time. And so I talked to Colin a little bit about it. He of course mentioned the Sqirl, which lets it spread. And then I'm just like, add it doesn't have enough HP, what do you mean? It just dies. And it was like, well you can get it back instantly. And I was like, okay, there's a little better than,

Mike:

But still thanks to energy attachments. You're going to attach to energy to a 90 HB Steve's

Brit:

who are 90

Brent:

just,

Brit:

What year is

Mike:

played in the same

Brent:

play a lot of Reihan lotta.

Mike:

Okay. That's fair.

Brent:

I mean, that's the power of one price is you can get value out of your right hands instead of this, like three prize, you run it and leave. You're like I might get to play at once if I'm really lucky meadow. Yeah, so I feel like the other, this whole wheezing Inteleon thing, I was like, oh, it's like spread deck week and I kind of didn't get the memo, our spread next. Good.

Brit:

No, I am a little disappointed or at least I thought I was on to something Or at least, you know, I sort of wheezing. I was one of the first techs I talked about on the podcast, trying to make it work with the Eternatus way back when I was just thinking to myself earlier in the week, like wheezing, it's gotta be good right now. It's like kind of the only relevant thing that shuts down until. And so, yeah, obviously it's not, it's not that it's not, um, you know, it's not rocket science putting something with Inteleon these days, but I was a little disappointed. I don't create, um, I'm not much of a deck builder anymore. Whereas I used to be, I used to describe myself. I thought I was a better deck builder than I, was a player back when I was, um, semi relevant or what have you. So I was, I was frustrated to see an idea that I had just like oh, it's a good deck. I knew I was right. Sometimes I have okay. Ideas. But, um, yeah, it's a cool one for sure. I think, uh, I, know Dustin's ever been sort of like me was playing at the beginning of quarantine and then hasn't kept up with it until now. And he, he did well in the late night with it last night. Um, so that's always cool to see. Um, but I spread good. No,

Mike:

Hi, what do you think is Good.

Kaya:

Uh, it's not a deck I would play, I would play in a bigger tournament, but I do think it's fun to play. I mean, I've tested it a bit after, on some hands with it in the re in real life tournament as well. Somebody has, uh, had built it as a deck. So I've played a few rounds with it, but I don't know, like sometimes you just drone off and you have the wheezing, like it's nothing else.

Mike:

For who.

Brent:

Yeah, it's, uh, I mean, knowing that you have to just evolve to Inteleon as fast as you can, and you can't kind of use the like, managing your drugs with resile like all that stuff. It's a little strange, it's different than how I think people have come to know and love.

Brit:

I think it would maybe be much better if I'm I'm blanking on what the stadium was called, But I played at, even in the Eternatus list, if it were still legal, I think it would be good. Um, but there, there used to be the stadium or poison would stay on you when you retreated, um, with everything. just kind of being air balloon for the most part. I, I think that would be irrelevant inclusion in these lists, but yeah, for the most part, I think you just, you just bounce into stable. I, I guess, and hope That's good enough. Reihan and disabled line, take three prizes.

Mike:

So I think though, like the larger question of spread is that I think spread is kind of good. Like we saw like jokey on VMX is like a top deck now. Uh, zero aura is seen more and more play. So I think not like spread it in the sense that you're spreading, you know, damage to all of the phone is Pokemon, but targeting down like two or three Pokemon, that type of spread, I think is very good right now.

Brit:

Yeah. Yeah. I think for me, I just, that wouldn't have met the definition, but I agree like jolty on is, are clearly good. And I think clearly just each in each and every one of these cards, as well as, you know, sort of the boogeyman of the format, at least in theory, is Urshifu, all of them are just, there's this huge gap where there's lots of good attacks that hit the bench and just nothing, um, to get in that way. So I think that's a clear power of these cards. And similarly to we're just in kind of. Outside of the the, one-shot the opener kind of place. It's a kind of a two shot Mehta game for the most part. And so then naturally the attacks that ensure the two shots happen more consistently. Um, I really haven't seen any of the jolt on decks in action, but it's, it's doing well enough that it's, it's clearly, um, you know, meta game relevant and all that. That's just sort of the, kind of the, past handful of tournaments has almost been like, um, it's just like, oh, this it's this easy be turned away in, well, now this eveyone and we're, we're all through it now, you know, last week kind of the big story was Leafeon turns out it's good. Um, but now, now we've got jolty on and, uh, a Sylveon deck class night into the mix. Um, and even to Kyle Taya played in the Sunday open the the single strike deck that, uh, Stefan one. With as well earlier in the week, um, which isn't required, isn't really an umbrella on deck, but you could maybe quantify it as such, even still.

Brent:

Kay. You played an in-person tournament. What was that like?

Kaya:

it was amazing. It was, it was so different from like online tournaments and being used to like, sit in front of your computer and play the tournament. It was so nice to meet like some friends. Again, we haven't seen for almost two years now and like meeting the people you play against. It's amazing. And I also liked bed. We played this a free there. I'm not a big fan of the best of one form. It's Alon. I just. It's better for like getting the tournament done quicker and this a free would just take way too long if you start, um, not have the morning of the day, but it was, I prefer in real life tournaments, much more than online tournaments. And I just hope that they'll start again.

Brent:

And what ended up winning the tournament.

Kaya:

Um, the single strike deck one, that's also another reason why I played in the Sunday open the day after.

Brent:

So, so you played, you played Shadow Rider, right?

Kaya:

Yep. I applied Shadow Rider and I, me and my brother, we both, we both need to beat, uh, sorry.

Brent:

And what'd you end up losing to,

Kaya:

Um, I lost to a Shadow Rider intubate, so it was a close, never match. Then the third game. I didn't draw very well. And they had already like eight energies on play with a creamy when I didn't even set up one Shadow Rider.

Brent:

so how big an Alcremie land did you play?

Kaya:

I played two too, but I did it big mistake by not playing any ordinary ruts. I regretted it so much after the tournament. For example, I had so many Alcremie surprised during the tournament and the Shadow Rider on the row, which would have won me a lot of games. So directly after the tournament, I just cut an energy and put in one ordinary road,

Brent:

So how many energies were you playing?

Kaya:

was playing 14. Non-playing 13 performed ordinary rod, which is, definitely better in my opinion.

Brent:

This is, this is the information that people in the pod one. Uh, and, and was it weird playing an in-person tournament like after, after, uh, like hiding in your home for, you know, a year and a half? Was this the first

Kaya:

I was,

Brent:

you played?

Kaya:

um, I've been like too few local. it wasn't trying to remember. We just met up to play against a bid after what's legal again, and like a tournament. It was just a lot different and it was, it wasn't weird, but it was just new again, kind of,

Brent:

So in, in, in Germany, are, does everyone have to wear masks at the tournament? Does everyone have to be VAX? Like what's the policy.

Kaya:

um, when we went there to bell, Jim, you either had to be tested or vaccinated. And I kept my mask a mask on the entire time that I believe you could take it off while you were playing and sitting down. But, um, I think it was like that. Yeah.

Brent:

So, uh, Mike, did you Do the Sunday open also, or did you do a different tournament?

Mike:

No. So I don't know from, uh, one of the tournament's back in the spring, It was run by, uh, like, Azule and Kevin Clemente's group, a car rats,

Brent:

All right. This was the invitational you were telling us about last week,

Mike:

Yeah. So there's the invitation. All there is 16 people that played, it was a double elimination, uh, and Pablo and I both just to Stefan's deck that one the night before the single strike back and played that I changed like two cards, but I just played that. So a single strike Urshifu and Umbrian um, and I went, oh, two, I lost both my rounds. Pablo Pablo, uh, did really well though. He made it to like winners finals and, then lost in winter spinals and then I think he ended up getting third overall in the tournament. Um, so he did good.

Brent:

kinda you then played, uh, the, uh, the seamless system on, or did you

Kaya:

Oh, yeah, I didn't cut a card Noma. it was the first time I played for deck. I haven't played it before in the tournament, not even around online, so I didn't really have the time to test it. I just kind of, when we're full, seamless,

Brent:

Uh, and, and how do you do.

Kaya:

Um, I went six two in the phase one and made phase two. And then in phase two, I went to free. It didn't go very well. I mean, the rounds I've lost were against rabbit strike melanoma, wait, the matchup isn't the best. So it was kind of difficult because they, they didn't draw bad. So like Pedro weather enough to actually, uh, get everything out. um, the trend moneyed and another loss was just against the backdrop against Leafeon the matchup. Isn't good, in my opinion. So it was not surprising and well Avalara, which is some his plays as well. I haven't played the deck before. Of course. So, and yeah, I mean, I did like playing the deck have made a lot of fun, but in some like often manufact sample, I draw away to bat most of the time. So I don't know if that. Like that, that much, it was just fun to play, but I just drew dead hands way too often, in my opinion.

Brent:

How about you, Mike? When did you lose to.

Mike:

Uh, I lost two sweet Coon Luda colo, which felt like a really close match up. Uh, and then I lost to Inteleon Inteleon, which felt like it should be favored, but I kind of have the same experience as Ukiah it's and it's not even that necessary. Tell me if you agree with this, it's not that you always dead draw in the beginning of the game, but there's. It could happen like in the middle of the game quite often as well, where like, you're like, you're going, you're going, you're going. And then you're like, oh, I don't have any drops quarters in my hand. I guess I lose.

Kaya:

Yeah. At one point I just needed an energy to attack and I had not. I had everything set up. I just didn't have any way to draw because of ed mode. And, uh, my stadium card got bummed and I got married and I didn't really have anything to draw out of because the support account is quite low as well. Um, it's probably fine for deck, but just sometimes even in myth game, your hands are kind of that.

Mike:

Yeah. I mean, it's a deck with three stage one lines, so, and none of them draw your card. So it's just inherently in its nature. It's a little bit clunky, I think, very powerful, but like, yeah, just a little clunky.

Brent:

so Mike, I'm interested in hearing what, what cards you changed in the list? Like, Hey, I mean, my reaction to the list. How could you possibly not draw dead? Like you're running, running eight girl supporters, and then you have like the four quick balls to give you access to Crobat and then one Crobat because you can't be filling your bench with Crobat, but like, like that's like 13 hours to draw. Turn one. I mean, kind of to your point, like, I mean, there's just not a lot of draw compared to, I feel like most decks today, they have like 20 outs to draw

Mike:

Yeah.

Brent:

and you know, you're gonna, you're gonna start out growing dead more frequently, and you're gonna like Marnie yourself into garbage more frequently.

Mike:

yeah, so I didn't change anything to, add more draw. Probably. I probably should have I, so Stefan played a four to Urshifu line, so I dropped one of the basic Urshifu. Uh, for a fourth Umbrian V and then I dropped one bosses order for a third Umbrian BMX. So I'd beefed up the Umbria online to a four, three, because I was playing the Shadow Rider metric a little bit, and it felt slightly unfavored with a three, two line And it felt slightly favored with the 43.

Kaya:

I mean, that sounds good. I also fed lag before she could be my expert kind of V's were kind of too much it sometime ask just to Scott of them with a research or didn't bench for him because I couldn't anymore. And I liked the idea of a more ambient in the deck, but I don't know if it's necessary, but I don't think I've played a single Shadow Rider matchup. It was Sunday, Omar, at least not a lot. So I don't know how how useful it would be.

Mike:

Yeah, yeah. It, I don't know. I also don't know if the changes were very good. I think probably better. To try and fit more draw somehow. maybe you could play, like, I really think a what's it called? Zinnia is that, is that the name of the card? Yeah, I think that, card is pretty underplayed right now and I feel like it might be a pretty decent fit for, for that deck because you kind of want to Finn, you have a lot of extra cards cause you have a lot of extra Pokemon and so you kind of want to thin bad cards out more often. So I feel like maybe like two Xenia might be A good fit in there.

Brit:

What about not super pretty. Um, for the deck itself, but I think it would be relevant, um, against it. I was thinking I really, it wasn't me. It was just again, talking to Colin, um, about cards as always. And he mentioned Avery, do you guys have any thoughts? Kaia? Do you have any thoughts on like Avery and its relevance in the meta-game right now? just everything is such a full bench. It just strikes, you know, when it came out, I think everyone's gut reaction was just like, aha, we will play this and we solve our Eternatus matchup. And of course it never ended up really being good there, but. I just, I, I wonder if, if it's worth playing, I would maybe need to, you know, if it wins you the mirror or anything like that, so it'd be, it would certainly seems like it would give you an advantage against being an Inteleon deck against other Inteleon decks and then naturally you have the search power for it. Um, it's just a kind of a strange thought, but while we're on the topic of Zinnia, I thought it might be a, uh, opportunity to, to bounce it around. I'm like, kind of for it, I definitely may be in like Shadow Rider. Would it be the most logical place to play? Just because you can draw more behind it. Um, you know, not really needing it for the draw as much, but yeah. Kind of curious what everyone's thoughts are on Avery right now. I've got to try it. I'm really curious for sure.

Kaya:

Well, I just think it's difficult to fit in decks where you mostly don't have time to play as a part of which only draws you free cards in your own turn, even though it may discard. Pokemon. If you have a bench it's still difficult, you still need to set up even though your opponent, baby in a disadvantage, a disadvantage because of that. And sometimes you just need to play. The boss need to play the research to set up more And for example, against decks, which are not Inteleon bay, probably have at least one Crobat on the bench. And so of ages, uh, may discard it in that way and probably one other card. Uh, one other Pokemon is okay for them at some pine. Of course it could be as a one-off maybe, but I dunno if it's worth to play it.

Brent:

Yeah, I assume a second. Crobat just completely unacceptable because you just don't have the bench space.

Brit:

Right. Yeah, Most lists everything. Everything is so Inteleon focused. It's hard to know, but I don't, I don't, I'm trying to think of any in archetype. I can look and consistently seeing two Crobat sin right now. And I mean, Eternatus, I guess, but other than that, nothing really comes to mind, but I mean, I'm sure you're right. Um, It's just, one of these ideas, like especially to just maybe to, to knock, knock my own logic for a second. When I, you know, I think all the scenarios that I describe it being relevant or. Predicated on situated behind these games where you're set up. And of course that's the hardest part. A lot of the time is getting to that point where you, where you are set up and have the space, the affordability to play these more techie cards. I'm going to try it still, but, um, I'm, I'm sure it will be, uh, uh, a dud

Mike:

I did, I did play one ladder game where my, I was playing some Inteleon deck. I forget which one. And my opponent did Avery and I was very, very upset. So like, I'm sure there's spec, like, especially if we have any closed deck lists tournaments, I feel like a one-up could be really good in a open back list. It's a little bit harder.

Brit:

maybe in like a, like a sander deck. It'll, It'll, be sort of, part of it. Got to keep those Inteleon understand. I guess he has the junk on and stuff.

Brent:

Yeah. I mean, he would put that in only, so he could then yell back like a Pokemon. He doesn't like, and put it onto your bench and boss it up. Right. I mean, he'd be like, I have to create bench space for me to trap something active,

Mike:

Yeah, there you go. I like that.

Brent:

incredibly complicated mechanics to achieve like simple goals. So what, what other, what other crazy decks did we feel like we saw? Uh, um, I feel like, kind of like, Kaia, I felt like I haven't seen Michael K Tron play a whole lot of tournaments. Anybody played in the late night series and I got third with the jolty and BMX deck. You guys were talking.

Kaya:

Oh, nice. Probably one of the best eggs read now. I mean, it loses it. And So she flew off course, but a lot of decks right now that are pretty good. Just take one, elegance. Any deck, for example, Shadow Rider has a really bad dark mix match up. Well, as she feel loses against Shadow Rider, the menship might not be that bad, but it depends on where we are. She could play and the Shadow Rider player. So the met job should still be favorites for Shadow and well, Joel Gian just loses against the Urshifu, but I don't think as if it was played but not treadmill. So it's probably a good call against all the Inteleon decks.

Brent:

Yeah. You know, I, I felt like, uh, last week I was giving you a grief Mike for not playing a rabbit strike. Urshifu more, but I feel like one of the things I. Really came to grips with this week was how, uh, uh, Sylveon seems like it's like super favored against rabbits, right? Urshifu and it's just, there's so many more Sylveon players than I think I expected. seems like Sylveon is a fun deck to play. Therefore, people play it.

Mike:

Yeah, that's true. I'm pretty interested in stuff. So I, I haven't played a lot of these decks because I don't have the cards, but I'm slowly acquiring cards. So I got Sylveon this morning actually. Um, cause I saw that at one, at one the event last night And it's kind of a different way to play Sylveon and so that was really cool. Cause like, you can just play a lot of different types. Right? And so the list that was doing well beforehand ran Moltres And energy switches, but the one last night played blaze, Akins, our aura. Um, so. Yeah, I think Sylveon probably, there's probably the optimal list for Sylveon. I'm probably even hasn't been found yet. and it's often, yeah, I agree. it is popular already.

Brent:

Yeah, it seems like it's one of those decks that, that caters to the Brit Frank persec. Like I, I have this burning urge to be innovative and try weird things. So like now I have to pick eight random Pokemon and smash them into this deck. You know, the person who bigs picks the best eight random Pokemon is like, you know, gonna win.

Mike:

The other deck, did we mention the Victorian V max deck? Have you guys, you guys see that

Brit:

I did. It's just, it's just, it's like the same list as guilty on, but just for say pouring on

Mike:

Yeah, pretty much. cool though. So. I think, I think probably the most underrated card in this set, might've been the big Puri on jolty on tool. What's it called? Elemental badge.

Kaya:

Yeah.

Mike:

I feel like that is just kind of been a huge catalyst for these decks. Like without that card, the Victorian and Joel Deon deck would not exist. Right.

Brit:

I haven't played them. My sense is that the guilty on deck would maybe still be okay. Like, I'm not sure you're. I mean, there there's, there's similar cost-wise so I don't, I one would be more than the other, but in my head I was like, yeah, jolty out can maybe be okay without the badge, but

Kaya:

I know, but I do think that the batch helps a lot. For example, if you maybe try to play Sharewell in the deck or something like that, or where you discard energies, it just helps to set up a group, uh, faster and gives you a lot more opportunities.

Brent:

Are people playing Cheryl and Joel, Tina, have I not been paying

Kaya:

think I've saw, uh, seen as somewhere, but I'm too sure. I wanted to try bed when I get children's eventually. I dunno. So I don't know.

Mike:

yeah, I think it does play one, though. It.

Brit:

It. does. Yeah. I've seen it more in more lists this last week. I mean, on the note of the badges, I have seen a real, I've seen discussion on it to sort of an uptick and tool scrappers sort of importance in the format right now really hasn't been around really relevant, like for awhile. I'm trying to remember the last time it really was. I don't think it was all that relevant in the battle styles format, but it was still fairly big deformant or two before that. But now it seems like it's kind of back And like a, like, probably want to play one in, in all, in most of your decks. I mean, especially too, if it's, if it's at this point where it's like a powerful tool, scrapper turn is like enough tempo to like, when you a game it's probably worth playing, especially again too, because half the decks, you know, I'm not, I'd be curious actually to learn what percentage of these decks are Inteleon now, but the most, the

Brent:

All right. So I want to transition us to talking about draft the world, but it gives me, I think I have a question based on that, that I think is relevant for Mike and Kaia. Uh, I feel like I see more people playing the tool jammer tool than I see playing tool scrappers. Uh, given that you guys both played a tournament where you played that tool or tool, do you have like an opinion on tool jammer versus tool scrapper?

Kaya:

Uh, I haven't played a deck with tool scrapper lately, And I've just covered, uh, like, well, this one, uh, we're single strike, but I think the German was better than a two of scrap in the deck, because for example, the card is pretty good against all the tape, uh, capes of toughness in or Zacian decks. and it helped a lot in these match-ups. You could almost need a second one, I'd say because I missed it at some point. Um, but I think Georgia is just better in that deck because it stays long on the Pokemon as well. And it's not just this one opportunity and you're needed for a long time, basically a cave of toughness. You need it to be gone, to win against securitization as I was enter, for example, And I believe to Gemma would just be a lot better than to a scrubber in seamless drag, but a two scrubber, I don't know, I haven't played a deck with it, so I don't know if it's, well, it's a F it's important in the decks, but I don't know why it's fight of a tool jammer all the time. I just

Brent:

Like, like, it's funny. Like if I think if I thought you were going to up into too, I feel like scrapper seems like it'd be really good then. Cause you probably get four tools over the course of the game and you're like, this is pretty good. Whereas we just going to wear on one, maybe the tool jammer. Like you get more juice out of it over the course of the game. Mike did, did, did you give value or not value out of tool jammer in your two losses?

Mike:

Uh, I did actually. Yeah, and I mean, I just think that, especially in the single strike deck, you, sometimes you just, you have to Juniper because it's your only draw card and just preemptively being able to play something like that is really quite good. That's pretty much it.

Brent:

right, guys, let's talk about, uh, let's talk about draft the world. Shall we. All right. So, so here's, here's kind of what we know. We got this, um, uh, there's going to be this big event next week our current theory is it's a double elimination tournament. Each round. They can play a different year of the world's format, probably starting at 2015 and making their way to our modern era. um, so the important thing is in 2015, you have to pick a deck. And I think our working theory is there's eight people participating in the tournament,

Mike:

Yeah.

Brent:

Yeah. Yeah, That's I know they're released. So we're what we're gonna do is we're gonna look at the top eight masters decks from each of those years And just see if we could pick the winners. I mean, everybody knows. All these players, they're all like very good players, assuming they draw. Well, we'd like to assume that like there's certain decks that are the right answer and certain decks that are the wrong answer. Um, so, so let's talk about it guys. Eh, in the, uh, 2015 format, this is Boston worlds. What's the best deck.

Mike:

I would say ground is the best deck.

Brit:

Mike and I sort of disagreed last week. I do think, I think toad bats is the best deck. And then I also think toad bat speeds, crowd on pretty easily. Um, this is sort of, this is a sort of a frustrating world. I think I like grabbed our ground was sort of really hyped and I think it was the biggest deck day one, but it didn't have much of a showing at all day two. Um, but grout on beat blast. Joyce, if I remember correctly, like very easily. Um, and that was, that was part of, I think, why blast, I'm trying to remember, um, It's part of that sounds wrong in my head, but it at least thinking about it I've lost voice or ground and played all the silent labs and stuff. like it just sounds like it would have been hard and getting around focus sash. There's probably something I'm not thinking of. Um, but yeah, this was just

Mike:

proud would definitely be plastics.

Brit:

Yeah. I

Brent:

I grabbed, grabbed and played Wobbe

Brit:

right

Brent:

we're just going to put this wobble and wreck you, and then you just lose. And like there's nothing you can do, right. They start wild and you just sit there and lose and lose and lose and lose and lose all game.

Brit:

Yeah. This is just kind of another night. The first of two night, March worlds, I think, um,

Brent:

Right. Well, you were very involved, I assume in the second place deck, like this is all team sheep.

Kaya:

Um,

Brit:

Yeah, and we played grout on day one, Curtis. He didn't make it through, but we had a really good grout on lists that we like, we worked on with like Gitman and Yamato, like a motto is in our hotel room, play, playing games with us and stuff too. We have like, uh, I guess what did they say cracked? That's something the kids say these days we had a crack grout on list. Um, but yeah, then the sheep list is really just sort of, I think we just gave up. I can't remember, but I remember it was just to like, I'm just playing toad bats, like kind of kind of decision, um, for me. So I don't really remember. I played bronze on the bronze on deck for this world. Um, I don't remember why I think most of it, as you said earlier, was this sort of deep seated desire to be different at the cost of my own success. Um, wasn't good deck. It was a good deck. And I know, I know I have some, some good match-ups against some of these things, but I don't, I would not play it. I wouldn't, I mean, I made top 32 with the, I'm trying to remember what beat me. I tied to Chris Szymanski playing, um, Sean Boise stack that made top eight. Um, oh, I lost it. I lost the Farydak that made top eight as well. I just had two dead, dead dead games. He'd beat me in like 10 minutes. Um, and I think that matchup should have been fine too. Um,

Brent:

Yeah. Well, I mean, it was, it was that it was more of a fairy box deck. Like when you say, oh, ferry be bronze on it. Wasn't like you were getting killed by ferry.

Brit:

right. Yeah. I mean, it was just around the T's more

Brent:

getting tons of energy on board. and then I assume hitting you for weakness with whatever the heck he was doing.

Brit:

Yeah. I really don't remember. I, just remember, I do remember that series was just, it was, it was like this moment. So my, my, my match with Christopher was like, we tied, but I would have, I have 0% chance to lose. If I had 10 more minutes, like I had him dead to rights and in game theory and just needed a little more time. And I was just like, kind of in the winning end scenario, in that round, in the round after that. and I was just like, yes, fairies, we got this. Or, you know, yes, aromatase. And I just did nothing. And then I think I lost two, uh, towed bats or something after that. I remember, but I remember being very excited about the pairing and it not going my way.

Brent:

So you, you, you played against a lot of these decks that were in the top eight. So what, uh, uh, so I like I like Mike's advocacy for ground on, which is not a choice.

Mike:

Yeah,

Brit:

Maybe.

Brent:

Uh, and I recognize. So it sounds like you're not, I was assuming that you were going to say we were all in a tote bats, towed beds for life, but how do we really feel about these guys?

Brit:

I think got on her toe for sure. I just,

Brent:

It's not a choice. it didn't make the top eight masters. Why did you guys keep picking ground on.

Brit:

I understand. Yeah. Toad toad baths are boss. the Trevenant deck. Isn't any good at night marches night March. Um, the fairy box is bad. Um, that's what I got.

Mike:

Okay. Are you familiar with this year at all?

Kaya:

Uh, and this year I remember playing the German nationals with Ned match because I just left a deck when you could play it. I would play it at night. Almost every tournament I did. I don't think it would be the. I mean, it's much, like you said, I would probably be on science. We told us, well,

Brit:

Uh, I remember, I remember thinking that Simon would have like, not as poor of a matchup against towed bats as he did. Like, I don't know if anyone remembers that game on stream, but it's, it's a blowout me speaks rather quickly, rather easily if I recall correctly, but like, I don't think it's that bad. I mean, or at least on fan versus toad was always, could be interesting. And it just ended up being whether or not you were heavy Hulu chair and not heavy held Lucho was just kind of awkward to deal with as a toad player. Um, and I see that here. And then of course, um, I'm just trying to remember. I was like, what, what would Don fan have lost too? That was relevant in this format? Cause it. It would be Blastoise certainly had it clearly was meant to beat night March. I think. Um,

Brent:

Uh, I always thought that the toad bats matchup was really bad for Don because 30 pinged down and then you gust him up and you put a muscle band on and you want you out as Don Fenton. And he's

Brit:

right. Yeah. I forget that you just, you just kind of sniped with Crobat the whole game and that was it. My logic was just that. it was still kind of awkward to kill Don fans. You just, you don't really have as many gust effects as you'd need a lot of the time. So you just end up doing like 30 over and over and over again with Crobat. Um, if I recall correctly and I know some of this, I think maybe speaks more towards like the, tote Garbodor deck and stuff, but I, a lot of super scoop ups really really matter. Um, and so maybe that was part of can be part of that's just how you lose is that it's a really good matchup, but if like all of the suit scoop ups, don't go your way. You can, the Don fin player can win. Um, but you're, but it's probably, it's probably worse than I'm giving it credit for.

Brent:

So do we, do we have consensus that, that the two night March decks and the fairy box and the Trevenant deck are the four worst, and those are gonna be the.

Kaya:

I still do believe that knife punch was broken back at that point.

Brit:

Yeah. I mean, I think nine, nine March is always a safe deck. Um, and I mean, even to, as part of like, I know the story of this Trevenant deck is that it's, you know, clearly was a deck meant to counter night, March. And it didn't like, I believe, I believe he, I believe he loses Sean, Sean lost a night, March and top eight, and even going into the next year, we're a Trevenant. Um, wasn't playing, you know, this hidden around the strategy, but it was still doing its own thing. Like the night March was still the deck in that format. And it's still just, all it took was having the Lysandre at the right time. I just, I remember I had a friend who, who won states with night, March, and he just was like very adamant that the, the Trevenant matchup was like 45, 55 or 50 50 or something like that. And I I never, I never really believed him, but he was a very smart and good player. Um, I just remember that he was just so adamant about it being fine. Just, no, I just Lysandre. All you have to do is Lysandre once.

Brent:

I mean, the crazy thing was night March. I felt like, uh, I can't remember what the Delta is and I guess I could just look at the list. And So the question, but I felt like night March the next year at worlds was even better.

Mike:

Oh, yeah, way better the next year. Yeah.

Brent:

Yeah. Like I, I was I was not on the night March train at that point. Um, Uh, but, but like by the, by the following year I was like nine in March. We should, you know, night, March is always the play

Mike:

My March is what I played at this worlds. Um, so I really liked nine March, but I think of these eight decks, I would, I would pick class twice again.

Brent:

Gotcha. So, so interesting. Do we feel like, uh, I am sure. Like, just because we've said these are the best four and these are the. worst for, it might not work out that way. After the draft where people get matched up. If a Blastoise has to run into these towed bad stacks, again, we'll blast voice when

Brit:

It's a toss up, um, that toad bats with in going into the next year would adjust a little bit and by playing silent labs, I remember I won a cities or two and I'd be there at least one of them. I remember I'd be blast voice in the. I was just playing to silo, to Burbank and to silent lab. Um, and I think that was really kind of the only like course correction you did for the matchup. Um, it was, it's not that bad of a matchup. I know we, I think we've even talked about this on the podcast relatively recently, but Jacob just drew, like I was mad, frankly, you know, I was, I was on, I was on Jacob, Jacob's a friend and all the people in that, in that group are friends, but I of course was on the other side. And I just was like, of course, like,

Brent:

drew absolute fire,

Brit:

and like, and miss, miss has mispriced his second Mewtwo in the second game that, could have, that would have won him that game and things like that. It was just like, can't win them all.

Brent:

Yeah. That, that, that was, uh, I re I feel like people look back and say that was a terrible, uh, finals to watch, but I enjoyed watching the finals cause It was like, drama. all. right, guys, let's talk about, let's talk about 2016. We're in San Francisco now. Shintaro ITTO wins it with mega DNO, which is an amazing medical against a like name Archie Greninja you met her. Uh, what, what's the best deck here, guys?

Kaya:

I think I'd go with Adina bed one. I mean, it's, it was just the had medical of this event. If it depends on the tournament you play the season. Of course. But I do think for this event, uh, Adina west, just for call,

Mike:

What did you play Kaia minus again?

Kaya:

um, well, I didn't play out do you know? I didn't even

Mike:

I know. I

Kaya:

did

Brent:

I don't think anybody even knew what I did before the Germans started

Kaya:

Yeah. I mean not, but I played a seismic Tata think.

Mike:

Uh, like the water seismic dead.

Kaya:

Yeah. I remember growing up against a lot of Acadians.

Brent:

That's the Hey, that's the, match-ups that people want.

Brit:

Yeah, that was great. that, was, I played water box at this world's too. And just have lo and behold, the Japanese showed up with fire that year.

Kaya:

yeah, it was, I didn't know what blockading did. It also

Brit:

I didn't, I don't think I did either because it was the

Kaya:

yeah, it was near.

Brit:

stage being legal as well. I know this'll probably be Mikey's answer as well. I would, no question take Ross's deck in this top eight.

Mike:

Yeah. That tag was so fun. it's like, not a good deck. Like it's objectively a pretty bad with what, like 22 Pokemon. But. It doesn't lose really. It doesn't lose the night March ever. Pretty much. It had such a favorable night March. up the Greninja matchup was fine. I think Ross did lose to Cody and tough four. Um, but it was pretty close match up. And then, uh, the metal up really bad. So I don't know about that, but it should be okay. and to make Adino.

Brit:

Yeah. I think that would be fine. Yeah, maybe not. I think it would be fast enough. like, I remember just against festival Windex in general. I like, always was just like they can't ramp that fast. They can't ramp that fast. And then they do, you know, even with like mega metric having two 10, I was just like, they can't possibly reach that. And so it's like right when like, uh, uh, Jim roll graft and row research first sort of coming up with these decks. Um, and I just, I remember always being very shocked that they would have the knockouts when they did. Um, but yeah, this was just, again, the better, the better, of the two night, much worlds, I guess, at least in terms of how good night March itself was. Um, and yeah, I was just, uh, an auto when I played, I remember I played something similar just at cities this year. Just like I just have to be at night, March every round. It's really easy. I've got a Bolivian wing for 30 and then, and then I just have to sky return, some gel ticks and you just can't lose.

Brent:

Yeah, we, we played, uh, um, this like fighting a Vileplume list that had come out of Japan. That was terrible. And we got exactly what we deserve. We got our head handed to us around. It was horrible.

Brit:

The deck was bad.

Brent:

It was so bad. but I mean, so our strategy was like, yeah, you gotta be diverse. You gotta be at nine mark. You gotta be nine March. He went like three, four. It was like B3 night marches and lost everything else. That's how we do it

Mike:

Yeah.

Brent:

right. So, so a mega Arduino investment could develop. I agree that I like the person drafts best because they're going to be really excited about being a draft investment of Alto. After that, do people scoop up a DNO?

Brit:

Well, I mean say that, same Huff stack is, is interesting. We actually, this was kind of a cool world for me because I happened to do well, but also just like almost over two weeks ahead of time. I like, I flew out to Berkeley and had an Airbnb with like mace and a lot of, a lot of your other players, a couple players from Germany, as well as the Netherlands and then Curtis lion as well. And we just like tested, tested, tested, and we had, we had something incredibly similar to what Sam played and just didn't, didn't think it'd be night March consistently. Um, and I mean, I'll be Frank. I think our list was better than his too. It's it's a lot faster than his, um, and we just still couldn't, it was still just kind of the exact same thing I was describing. Trevenant versus nightmarish. It's still just like one boss, those just enough. So often the boss to take out the Vileplume or something like that would usually just be enough. Um, and of course, hex, mania cards like that were involved as well. Um, but I don't I don't think it's a bad deck. I don't think, I don't think. it'd be it's Greninja um, and that it would be relevant here to some extent, um, the metal box. I just, I don't think it is just really good against anything. Um, like it's

Mike:

don't know how that made you happy with, cause it there's no way it'd be tonight March. That's like the only thing is that, like, it can't be nightmarish, so I don't really understand how it made it there.

Brit:

Yeah, I'm not sure, like, I just, this was sort of a deck I remember having, like, it was one of the big, talked about decks going into nationals that year and kind of just didn't perform itself in nationals. Um, I mean, I lost it in my last Gustavo in the winter, um, this year too. And I like, I beat them the first game. Uh, I opened an open Glacey on, in the third game, which does what lost me yet, but I, it was a good matchup for water box. I thought it was a pretty easy matchup for me. Um,

Brent:

I remember at us nationals, Dylan, Brian had been dragging out a drag around like a metal, uh, mega Ray deck that, that, And then he opted out for clean clang at the last minute, but It was very similar list.

Brit:

yeah.

Brent:

then, And then, I think the in juniors, uh, at us nationals, almost identical list of this was the deck that, got second place.

Brit:

Yeah, I'm blanking. And obviously you can stop it with a much, much better player than I am. So, I mean, there's clearly something about it. That is, that is not clicking currently. Um, but other, yeah, other than just age of slash and pray, what do you got against night? March

Brent:

right, You're like that, that, that, that seems like the plan. So we'll keep, we'll take the Greninja decks before the nine March decks or do people just love man, March so much?

Brit:

night, March has just consistent in a way that Greninja never will be, and we all have. Yeah, this was kind of the breakout tournament for Greninja earliest with like talent, flame and things like that, And so we, we had years after the event to sort of establish the, the cliche that is Greninja hands or however you want to talk about It So I think. As time went on and as Greninja has played in expanded as well, as standard, I think it's just a sort of proven, um, actually, I've, I've, I've talked about this at length before, as I've people, I think falsely attribute sacred ninjas inconsistent, and I don't think it's inconsistent. It just needs too much. It needs, it needs everything. And so like, w w you know, there's just more tiny moving parts that, I mean, I guess that's inconsistent in its own way, but anyways, um, night marches just safer, for sure. And I think, I guess, I guess none of these techs have like, the grin or the guaranteeing of promo or anything like that, Um, but I just, I I'd never really want to play your ninja. It's just so clunky outside of their just really solid openings.

Brent:

Does does anybody here think, do you take her ninja overnight March or is it nine March every time.

Kaya:

and I did add no slipped tournaments.

Brent:

All right. Let's talk about 2017. We are, we are grinding through these, uh, Diego wins this one with Gardevoir GX and there's a lot of Trashalanche in the, uh, topic.

Mike:

Yeah. Uh, it sounds like Ty and I are definitely both picking Guardi. You agree?

Kaya:

Yep. I lost Gardevoir

Mike:

Yeah, me too. Okay. Here's here's the big question. Okay. Do you play Diego's list or do you play Pablo's list?

Kaya:

oh, I need to look at those lists,

Brent:

what's the, what's the difference, Mike?

Kaya:

yeah.

Mike:

okay, so the highlights, so me and Pablo played the same 60, so I'm biased. So I would play Pablo's list. Um, my Pablo played, um, three Kirlia. And three rare candy and uh, oh, no. Diego also played three, three. That was unique though. I think most people played for candy and to Kirlia. Um, what else is the different we played?

Brent:

Diego played more Emirates.

Mike:

oh, yeah. Diego played the 11 Baltics and we did not play that.

Kaya:

Oh, I think I liked a low in voltaics now a lot of texts. I think I played it in God.

Mike:

Yeah. And I remember the thing that I really did not like about Diego's list though. He didn't play a teammates, but we played a teammates.

Kaya:

I mean, teammates was a broken card for the entire time. It was,

Mike:

Yeah, I agree.

Brent:

Everybody

Kaya:

in like every deck.

Mike:

Yeah. So I agree. I like the Olympics. We should've played that, but I liked the teammates as well.

Kaya:

That sounds good.

Brent:

All right. And then, uh, Neota Suzuki played, uh, Galicia pod Garbodor and then,

Mike:

Zander with Espeon garb.

Brit:

Yeah. it was just a lot of Espeon garbs I think after that,

Mike:

Yeah. Jimmy with Espeon garb. Um, and Sam played Drampa garb.

Brent:

well, and then, and then Riggi, the other Japanese player played like straight garb.

Mike:

Oh yeah. It was like, Garbodor toolbox or whatever your,

Brent:

And same shit with Drampa garb.

Mike:

Yeah.

Brent:

All right. So, so taking the guard of war lists out, what's the next pick guys?

Kaya:

Uh,

Brit:

Sorry, go ahead.

Kaya:

um, I don't know.

Brit:

Yeah.

Brent:

Uh, so I guess the question is how do people feel about Drampa guard versus Espeon garb versus Melissa?

Brit:

uh, I don't like the Melissa pod garb. I don't think that that was ever all that good. Um, especially it ended up being really popular, kind of just moving into the next format. Um, and I just, I was always so underwhelmed by it, in that format too. um, I would, I my deck was Gardevoir here. Like everyone else, I was never comfortable being a guard player against Gardevoir like this best case scenario is you're flipping on confusion and like worst case scenario. I think it's a bad matchup. Um, but yeah, I mean, I think I would pick Sam's deck, um, of these, um, I mean, it's such a, such an immaculate list. Um, for one it's just nothing befores, um, for, for, for us on most things.

Kaya:

Okay.

Brit:

Yeah. I always felt, I mean, I don't know too well how, like I understand, I think Espeon, I think is probably favored in the matchup, but I just, I never, liked, I was just, always so much more comfortable, Um, doing, doing Drampa things and and all that. I just, never gravitated towards Espeon, like uh, like Zander. I remember I just talked so much with Sander, um, sort of around this time. Cause he was I think one of the, just like poster Childs for the deck and I never, I always struggle. I really struggled against Zoroark and that was kind of the big thing is I, I was fine in Drampa guard the Zoroark. Um, but I could never do well, I felt like it was a 40, 60 or just remember Xander always disagreeing with me, but I could never get that match up down. Um, and so that. I think didn't make top eight here, so I don't know if that's really relevant, but I think I would stick, stick with, uh, Drampa Garp here. And just like, in theory, it just, I just feel like, I guess there's sort of this interaction, like Espeon versus Drampa, um, the Espeon does win, but like when you, when you have the Garbodor online, um, you know, naturally you're in a good spot. If you're Garbodor or is knocking it out there, Espeon. Um,

Kaya:

Okay.

Brit:

And it's hard to get there sometimes. No, I don't really didn't remember this this Japanese list at all, either. um, strange that it wouldn't play at least one. Um, Drampa still, But it doesn't look too bad either.

Kaya:

I think I was also fan of deck. I played it at the UIC, uh, after worlds, uh, with Garbodor together. And I really liked to play because it had a good God on that job. And, uh, well, a lot of juniors with play God of war in the tournament. So I kind of wanted to play something that had, uh, at least a good metric against it. But in the end I liked Garbodor Drampa most, well, I felt like the support was good and, but I don't know. I just felt like Drampa got, would have felt better. I don't know how to explain it. That's like, just felt

Mike:

to do, like, you need less to do powerful things. Like.

Brit:

Right. Go listen to potty. You've got a sort of, a little, so much more reliant on things like Guzma and just to make, you know, get the max mileage out of your first impression. Whereas with Drampa, it's just kind of like, oh, what do I got? I've got options, no matter sort of what cards are in my hand, I can just attach and attack and probably be okay. And that's just kind of the, again, this, this metric of how many moving parts there are and Drampa does needs kind of energies.

Brent:

All right. Should we talk about 2018? 2018 is a, is a great. Zoroark garb, Robin Schulz wins it. I feel like the conventional wisdom is that a Pedro Torres had the best deck with required, even though he did not come out the winner. How do we feel about this one guys?

Kaya:

I mean, it was, I was thinking of about playing Robin. Dag in the beginning as well. And I don't know why I didn't end up playing it. I, thought I needed a good basketball match up in juniors because it would be the most popular deck. I think it was in the finals as well, or one in the end of the juniors. And I don't know, I decided to play an upper deck, with well, a different cell rock deck, uh, and the juniors. So Arcapita would have been a great pig, but I dunno, above the mass DARS. Well, it did win in the end, but I think, uh, like Plaza was pretty good at this, uh, this tournament as well.

Brent:

Yeah. Obviously Kyle has experienced that at touches me deep in my soul that, so my youngest son got a top four that year in juniors playing Zuora garb. And Mike essentially was the guy who like did that list with him and made the magic happen.

Kaya:

Yeah.

Brent:

Zuora, garb, fantastical, and juniors that year, it was the best call. Let's call it ever greatest call. Uh, it's like the greatest call we've ever made.

Brit:

I think this is definitely the worlds I know the least about, but I, I did, um, I was there, um, and narrowly qualified and like sort of those planning replay the open and just like slept in instead. I had never, I frankly never really understood why the requires the deck was any good. Like it just, I get it in theory. Um, and I just, it seems like a lot of work. I feel like so much of its success was kind of just Mar shadow this kind of marsh out or doing Marsha.

Kaya:

Yeah.

Brit:

Like, I just feel like, like in theory, you do, you do all the quizzes, you do the lots of discarding, and then you do like, I don't know, like one 60 or something. Like if you're running really, really hot enough, of course it gets more and more of it. It just didn't seem competitive with like Zoroark and things like that. I was always very confused, but I mean, I just admitting that I'm wrong here. Cause I know everyone sort of talks like Pedro should have won the tournament. And I know this was, um, that deck, that Frank person and helped make. And it was very adamant about as well. And again, better players than me, but just speaking from my own ignorance as I was always so confused, very

Brent:

You know, I went back and looked at, um, uh, the notes from this world, uh, worlds where we're Walker played in. Like, I think Liam, Liam played buzz garb. I not, I think not quite the same 60 as Mike played, but everybody was, there was definitely a group that was like the buzz garb crew and Liam somehow ended up in it. And Mike was definitely one of the chief instigators there. And, uh, I, he, he played a, requires a deck and it was, it was I think exactly like you imagined Brit, like the notes I had was like, turn one guy stormy wins. Two requires as a super rod proceeds to lose. Like, there's a definitely a little bit of a high role when it comes to stormy wins where you're like, if we run really hot, we win everything.

Mike:

Yeah,

Brent:

Don't run hot. If things go totally off the rails, does it make you were really on the grind? I think for this tournament, because I think that only because you, you both coached my youngest son to a top four and we're like leading the buzz guard crew, which

Mike:

we worked a lot. Uh, we worked a lot on the bus guard back. We worked a lot on this other single Prizer deck that year. And then, um, then, the buzz guard back kinda got found and started spreading a little bit and we're like, eh, this is just better than our deck. So we just modified that. So, yeah, it's not in this top eight, but I probably would still play that again. Um, Uh, bees I'd probably either take Zuora garb or just Buzzroc. I think Buzzroc was actually quite a good play for this event, even though it was like the best I call it here. I feel like it kind of didn't get a lot of love going into worlds. And I think it was, actually pretty good.

Brent:

All right. I just have one question for you. Uh, about this year, Mike, before we go on to, uh, our last year, will Jeff Colin's deck be picked last or like, like, does that have a place in the Metta

Mike:

I just think it's, I think it's like, both. I think it's the worst

Brent:

you know, economy,

Mike:

and, and, and all of the other drama associated with it.

Kaya:

I also think that melanoma just wasn't that great of a pig because there was a lot of Ciroq and the matchup was pretty bad. So dependent on a lot. If you like, get all the basketballs or if you just play against Zoroark and lose.

Brent:

Right. Well, it helps when you stack really better, better they stack. All right, guys, let's talk about 2019. So Let's assume it's the finals, right? There's like, so you got to pick two decks and you've got to somehow win. What's the answer. I'll say it Isaiah's deck. I'm all about PG control.

Kaya:

Me too, probably.

Brent:

All right. That's the one we want to hear guys.

Mike:

you would know better than I, do. Doesn't uh, the ability rashes are beat that.

Kaya:

Um, for Russia. Sorry, I haven't tested this, a bad MetroBus at all, actually. Um, I think it would honestly be fine for the Pajata player with Articuno. I mean, they just like trap you in the loop. And I remember after, uh, where else this year, you, when you still played, where she's heard you played with substrata, could you, actually win against Magento? And I did. I take step striker to win against Magento, but it was priced in my case. So I do think the matchup was it. Wasn't great, but I think it wasn't out of lost at all, but I, I don't know. I haven't

Mike:

that's the only thankful.

Kaya:

format.

Mike:

I guess that's the only thing here that has potential to be the Pidgeotto maybe cause they're any of the peak rounds where they judge Pikarom. No, I don't think so Right. No, none of the beaker on doesn't play judge, like that, would have a chance to, I

Kaya:

Oh, no. But I do think out of those eight decks Pikarom well, of course people one would be one of those eight decks, but did you think it's the worst one of those eight? I just think Blacephalon is, uh, as a two price attacker was so good against all the tech teams. Um, YouTube and music gigs was so good as well. Ratios art was good. Well, they all had pretty good pilgrimage, uh, matchups, in my opinion, it depends on how the pick around players draw and you draw. But I do think in that opinion, though, she saw a Metro was favored against Pikarom and the mutual matchup could have been as well. So I don't think I would've picked Pico room.

Brent:

So w uh, um, so setting aside, uh, uh, Pzegeo to control, what's the, what's the best deck? Is it brushes? Are, does it mean you to.

Mike:

I would probably pick the ability rescue.

Kaya:

Probably me too. Yeah. It's either this all Blacephalon actually, because the Cephalon just had a good match up against all those tech teams that would be played out of his new farmers. So it had a great match up against those about a pro, uh, would probably still stick with Freshy Sergeant Vande.

Brent:

Yeah, I

Kaya:

Um, of course not biased.

Brent:

let, let me, let me give you my theory. My theory is if it comes down to like, so this is the finals and they got to pick two next, the first person picks Pidgey control. The other person picks this deck just so they can gust piggies and kill them.

Kaya:

Yeah.

Brent:

Like, I feel like that would sound like a viable strategy for how you win that match up.

Kaya:

I think the Blacephalon, I don't remember the matchup, but how was the, uh, potato Blacephalon Metro black. They

Mike:

So I just looked up the bracket cause I was curious, Shintaro did beat Isaiah Shintaro did beat Isaiah in the top eight, but I'm not convinced the match-ups like. super great for Blacephalon, but he did beat it. So.

Kaya:

Yeah. I think if you just set up a bench, anything else? Bed gust.

Brent:

Uh, that might be, yeah, maybe you

Kaya:

can just like accelerate all your energies. Yeah. It might be applied. Uh, it's probably fine if it's played correctly, which Chinchero probably did play with. Correct.

Brent:

Right, right. I like, I like that thinking. So if you just set up to like one or two, is it one, or do you set up to, I guess, shut up

Mike:

they can actually kill one right. With the ringer.

Kaya:

yeah, I would say too. Yeah.

Brent:

yeah.

Kaya:

Yeah. I would say set up to, I haven't played the MetroBus well, we could be wrong, but the thing that's the way you could go or should go

Brent:

Uh, you know, I have to imagine Pokemon will be a little disappointed if they feel like the end of the, uh, draft, the world tournament is watching PGO control, pick zero control pigs. Like that's

Kaya:

maybe.

Brent:

I love it, but I feel like

Mike:

that, but that, that was not, it's not in the pool.

Brent:

Let's let's wrap it up. John, the John Paul's our outro music. There's the outro and the pot is over.