Brent: 0:05

All right. It's the podcast, the only podcast about the Pokemon trading card game. It is another incredible week where attendance is 133%. Yvonne, Liam Cam, me. Cam is coming live to us from the DFW airport. He is about to get on his flight to Sao Paulo. Are you ready to win this tournament? Cam,

C: 0:27

Well, I'm going to try with, uh, what is currently in the BDIF, but, uh, you know. Let's see. Let's see how it turns

Abaan: 0:34

We'll see, it's not maybe the BDIF, it's definitely like, a great deck in the room. Like, a great, great choice. I'm not gonna say, like, it's not good, but, like, playing the same Draugr. You can look it up on Cameron Chenoy Limitless. He's playing the same Draugr list. I think it's a great deck, but I think, uh, Garde is a BDF. I'll stand on that.

Brent: 0:57

cam, why are you not playing guard of war?

C: 1:00

because I just do not have enough reps to play it comfortably. Um, I was talking a little bit about it with Rowan. I said, maybe I can get away with it and get to Day 2, but if I want to win this event, I don't trust myself to play it well the going gets tough against great players and tougher matchups.

Liam: 1:22

the lights are bright!

C: 1:25

Yeah, it's a

Abaan: 1:25

I, I think, I

C: 1:26

I'm not ready.

Abaan: 1:28

think this is very respectable from Chenoy, by the way, like, I, I think guard war's the best I can format, but like if you, if you're like as comfortable as at Drago, as Shano is like, there is literally zero reason to switch to Guardi war because like Guardi war, like a first week on Guard of War player is like way worse than playing Drago as your like third month of playing Drago. Like there, like all, like Pokemon is like so intricate that like, there's just no, like there's no substituting experience, right. You should just play the deck that you're just, like, super lit at, and, like, make shit happen.

Brent: 2:05

Our argue is compelling logics. Um, Cam, any, any changes to the official, uh, Regidrago list of Cam Chinoy? I

C: 2:14

No, absolutely not.

Abaan: 2:17

Absolutely not. I

Brent: 2:37

like this thinking.

Liam: 2:38

such a genius, bro. So good. So

Brent: 2:42

Liam, if, if you were getting on the plane, would you be on Tord 60, would you be on Gardi, would you be on Drago, or would you be on Pidgeot?

Liam: 2:52

Um Probably the Pidget Box, but

Abaan: 2:59

don't know, Liam. I think push came to shove, and you had to come this event is tomorrow for you. I think you'd find a way to be on Torturopagus.

Liam: 3:06

Yeah, may, maybe, maybe that like, I mean, it, it's, it's hard to say because I haven't been preparing for this event, right? Like if I had, if I had been like, uh, more actively preparing with towards Rappa, then um,

Abaan: 3:21

You'd be a

Liam: 3:21

maybe I play that,

Abaan: 3:22

it,

Liam: 3:23

I definitely, probably would put more time into that this format than I have then. So I mean, I think that that's really good. Yeah, I'm jamming a Pidgey EX deck to every event for the rest of the season, so, ah, alright, at least until that card rotates. I don't know when it does, but until it does, I'm just going to play that card to every single event. Um, it'd be Tord, Torapagos, maybe it'd be Box Builds, maybe, yeah, one of those two.

Brent: 3:54

But not Gardevoir. Not

Liam: 3:56

Nah,

Brent: 3:56

Is that because Gardevoir is not as good? Is Gardevoir not as good as the bond says? Or have you just been burned by Gardevoir so many times?

Liam: 4:03

No, I'm a, I'm a guardi bum, bro, but it's definitely, like, I have, like, complete, like, confidence and trust in Henry to, uh, to, like, probably, like, win the event. Like, actually, yeah, I, I think he's on lock for top 8. The only question is whether or not he wins. It's, uh,

Abaan: 4:21

with that. Like, I think Louisville was, like, kind of, like, a fluke, honestly, like, me and Henry played, like, I think, like, one of the best XUs in the room, and, like, the fact that neither of us even, like, cashed, I think that was, like, that was kind of a product of this, like, 12 rounds, and just, like, the high variance within 12 rounds, right? Like, I don't know. think.

Liam: 4:40

mean, Henry, Henry got the, the same thing I did, right? Like, the, the X3, right?

Abaan: 4:45

Yeah.

Liam: 4:46

um, Louisville Baltimore, right? And so, you know, like, one went away from, like, taking down the whole thing, right?

Abaan: 4:55

No, well, apparently not at Louisville, but the concept stands.

Liam: 4:59

Oh, shit, yeah, yeah.

Abaan: 5:04

So, like, I guess, do you want to talk about the bigger LAIC meta, like, overarching, like, what what are some trends? Like, I think, um, I think Bold is, like, where it's at, but, like, I don't know why. I feel like people have been talking about Lugia, like, it's, like, on a huge downswing, and, like, I feel this too, but I, like, I don't get I can't get to the root of it, like, what is the What's the problem with Lugia? Like, why are we not playing that anymore?

Liam: 5:24

It blows! That's, um I agree.

C: 5:44

with Lugia, like, it does well when it's, like, disrespected and people aren't really thinking about it. Um, so I think Lugia is still kind of right where it's be. It's probably like the fourth deck behind, what, Drago, Boltz, maybe Terropagos? Yeah,

Abaan: 6:06

think Terropicals will be more played than Lugia at this event. Or, like, at least, like, I don't know about the general masses. Like, I have a very hard time reading that, but I think Day 2 percentage is, like, not even close.

C: 6:17

I agree. Lugia will be fourth. this Terropagos deck is like, really insane. Um, it just I don't know, it doesn't have the power, it sets up way more consistently than Regidrago in my experience. I just don't know some, another reason I'm not playing it, or I would hesitate to play it, is I just don't feel like I know the kind of obscure matchups as well as I do Drago.

Abaan: 6:48

Though,

C: 6:48

uh,

Abaan: 6:49

I feel like, I was

C: 6:52

does that

Abaan: 6:52

gonna say with Terropicals, like, can kind of figure it out, like, like, with Briar and Dusknoir, and, like, All the in the Bouffalant package and Penny and stuff, it's like, people have to have a great matchup into you. Like, they have to have an answer for, like, specific stuff you're gonna do. Like, you don't have to, like Like, obviously, it's gonna be frustrating if you sit down and they're like, Oh, I'm extremely ready to play this matchup. I have this, like, random fighting attacker that, like, one shots and, like, all these random things, but, like, in general, like, I think decks like Toropagos, like, I don't know, like, it's, like, it definitely has a high, like, random deck power level.

Liam: 7:24

Yeah, it's

Abaan: 7:25

get it done.

Liam: 7:25

deck, right? Like, it's making, like, enormous threats basically no matter, no matter what Pokemon you put into play, right? Like, really good strategy to take six prizes.

Abaan: 7:38

Yeah, I guess the other question I have is, like, is there, like reason, like, this bolt deck, it's, it's still gonna be number one in the room, but like, what is their logic at this point? Like, the Tarapacos matchup is terrible, the Guardian matchup, terrible. Like, I mean, we've asked this, like, every tournament, but

Liam: 7:51

Yeah, it's

Abaan: 7:52

is there some

Liam: 7:53

absolutely insane. Literally, like, tournament after tournament, it's absolutely baked, and yet it still shows up as the number one deck in the room.

C: 8:00

It's, the other thing is, like, I think the more we've been testing this Surging Sparks meta, I'm just looking at it like, Is there, like, any reason to play this deck other than, it's like, oh, I supposedly have the best The best, uh, Drago matchup, but like, everything else looks absolutely chopped at this point. Like, Lost Fox Pikachu just owns you, and, like, know, Zardivore owns you, all these other, uh, Tropicus owns you, and you're just like, dude, what are you playing this for other than, like, a 10 percent Drago meta?

Abaan: 8:36

I think, I think there's something to be said for like, some people, when they play Pokemon, they like, They like that feeling of like, they were right there, and then their opponent just like, squeaked it out against them or something, like, I don't know why, but like, when they play like, something like Draugr Tropicus, and it doesn't work, and they just like, get owned, because they like, don't know what's going on a little bit, and like, just like, fall apart, they don't like that, but like, they play Bolt, they take their two, then you take your two, they take their two, like, nothing is going like, Out of, like, the track or whatever, and then you just, like, do your trick to beat Bolt, and they're like, Ah, I was right there. One more attack, you know, and then they, like, go to the next. Like, I, I, I

Liam: 9:09

Yeah, um, they care more about the lose, the lose margin than the lose probability, right? Like,

Abaan: 9:14

exactly.

Liam: 9:15

the margin every time.

Abaan: 9:16

Like, every single time, Tropicus is, like, doing some crazy, like, crazy work, like, oh, VAC, like, this, that, and they're like, Ah, man, he got there. Let's try again. And, like, even if it happens, like, eight times in a row, they're like, Ah, I was right there. Yeah.

Liam: 9:36

Yeah, I mean, I love these

Brent: 9:37

That's the, that's the, it doesn't really count as a loss if you're like one card away theory, right?

Abaan: 9:41

been a

Brent: 9:42

I just needed one more turn, game after game.

Abaan: 9:46

night's sleep. and a good night's sleep. and we hope that you are going well. see you in the next video. Have a nice day. Good night.

C: 9:56

low, but secretly everyone forgot and it's actually really, really good. Um. You know, I've seen people say that, um, online, I think Dre put a massive pass out on it, Liam Hyatt has been like, oh, I think this is like, a great play for Sacramento and possibly LAIC. I don't know, I mean, is this, Zard still fake, or?

Liam: 10:20

I think, I think the deck is like fine, like it's like inherently too strong to be like Truly terrible in a meta, right? Like, I think you do take a lot of, like, 50 50 or better matchups, but the issue is there's, like, a few matchups where you just get completely owned. You're super duper chocked.

C: 10:39

I think that, uh, Liam Hyatt sent me a graph, I think it was, you know, they show you these, uh, the win rates, uh, at, like, recent tournaments, um, I forget which Twitter account does it, um, it, like, collates all the,

Liam: 10:54

yeah, the Pokéhot.

C: 10:55

yes, yes, that one, uh, I think it's, uh, like, Charizard has, like, 50 50 better matchups against, like, everything except for two decks, and that's Regidrago and Blockwax, and Regidrago is, like, They're both, like, sub 30 percent win rates, or like 35 and below. Those

Liam: 11:14

Yeah, yeah, exactly. It

Abaan: 11:22

Henry me a lot and like a lot of top players are like hitting his line asking like, how do I play this guard? I'm. If I'm playing Zard, I'm feeling very sick to my stomach playing as a

Liam: 11:32

is on!

Abaan: 11:32

player on Gardevoir, like, they got the 2 min, like, they know what's up, like,

Liam: 11:37

literally just

Abaan: 11:37

blow

Liam: 11:37

spectating. Like, it feels like playing Lugia into, uh, into Guardia. Like, you're just like, the tomb is down, you're getting Iono'd, and you like, need this like, raw, like, Briar Dustner, straight off the top. Like,

Abaan: 11:48

yeah, or it's like, off Fez, I need to hit, like, Vax, CC,

Liam: 11:51

yeah.

Abaan: 11:52

and a Candy Dusknoir. Good luck, me!

Liam: 11:57

Exactly, bro. It's, oh my god.

Abaan: 11:59

can't be a part of this in any way.

Liam: 12:00

Yeah, it just has to be straight off the top, bro. I'm like, so chocked.

Abaan: 12:06

Not to mention, like, they can, like, kind of bank on you not having Turo in some spots, so, like, they can often just, like, I'm not even gonna proc Fez this turn, like, you went to like 2, I'm not even gonna go into your Briar Range or anything, I'm just gonna hit your Fez for 180, no, I'm like, I'm not even in VAC range, like, find your 1 Turo if I own it to 2. No Fez

Liam: 12:22

and I mean,

Abaan: 12:23

And you lose the

Liam: 12:23

in those spots too, like, it's often hard to have, like, another Zard up, right? Like, you have to, like, find, like, Turtle Candy, or something like that, like.

Abaan: 12:31

Yeah, it's pretty miserable. I, I'd say, like the other problem, uh, my other problem, art is like, it's tricks. It's literally trying to take opcos, whole bag, bro. Like, it has briar and dust. No. And like v those are, it's like big tricks, right? Why would I not just play opcos like at this point? Like, at least I have a Nidraga.

C: 12:50

I was gonna ask that, uh, is how is the Charizard versus Terrapin response? I haven't tested it at all, because I haven't really tested Charizard, but

Liam: 13:00

You get chalked by a good Turapagos player, it's like.

Abaan: 13:03

cards are insane!

Liam: 13:06

They like, they, they, exactly. They basically just like, they take your bag and they do it better, bro. Like, they're like better with the Dusners. Um, they're better with the healing. And, like they're, they're faster to everything too. And there's like, oh. And they,

Abaan: 13:19

way better engine. Like, way,

Liam: 13:20

and you also have these, um, these like liabilities on the bench, bro, right? Like, you, you have like this, the Rotom, the Lumi, the Fezdown, and there's no like equivalent on the other end. Like, their board is literally just like one Prizers, Bouffalants, Pidgeot, and the Toropagos. And like, you have like no way forward. And they're just like waiting to do a trick on you, bro. And they got like the first attack off. It's I think it's uh

Abaan: 13:42

Dude,

Liam: 13:42

Like, you can get there sometimes.

Abaan: 13:44

who cares? You're hitting their Troglos for 180, bro. Yippee! Like, it's not even that good.

Liam: 13:48

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, you

C: 13:51

I mean, it's just like, mean, the issue of setting up is just like, oh, I hit a Nestball, Buddy Pop, and with this Dropper goes back, and you're like, oh, the whole world is my oyster, I can do whatever I want, and Charles is like, oh, well, I gotta hit two Candies, I gotta, you know, hopefully hit this Dust Bowl as well, uh, you know, and this Rotom? This Rotom better be sick.

Abaan: 14:16

I have a

Liam: 14:16

I think the

Abaan: 14:18

Sorry,

Liam: 14:18

not to say that MF is completely terrible. Like, you can get there with the Zard. Like, Tropicos doesn't have a good answer into the Zardiax, right? Like, it's like two hitted maybe, but Yeah, like the ZardyX is a better attacker than Tarapagos, right, so you can get there sometimes, but it's not like, uh, it's not an auto win by any means, it's like, I think it's probably like close to like 50 50, maybe like slightly unfavored.

Abaan: 14:43

I was just wondering, when you play Teropagos, and you start Teropagos against, like, something like Bolt, does it even matter, like, if the Bolt just gets two prizes to start the game, or do you still, like, do you still pull off, like, all the tricks by the end?

Liam: 14:55

Um, no, yeah, you're chocked if they get two. have, like, if they get two and they have like charms and stuff like that, like, to like deny certain tricks, like, you don't, I don't, I don't think there's a map where you can, you can actually like win, like, if they hit,

Abaan: 15:10

like, a fan run or something, if you're playing as Bolt, and,

Liam: 15:13

mm hmm,

Abaan: 15:13

go from there.

Liam: 15:15

yeah. all for being here today, and I look forward to seeing you all in the future.

Abaan: 15:34

next thing you know, like, it's, it's, like, kinda over. But,

Liam: 15:37

Yeah, no, I mean, it's like, kind of similar to like, Goldengo in that way, right? Like, in that, if you like, ever fall behind in the prize trade, like, you are, you are completely chocked, right?

Abaan: 15:47

yeah.

Liam: 15:48

I think, I think we're good.

Abaan: 16:10

I wouldn't feel terrible Dango, but, like, it's not best in slot, like, and, like, why would we, why would you settle for that, right? Like, like, there's, like, like, I would rather beat Terrapagos and stuff, or, like, other decks at 50 50 Drago, or have a better, like, Gameplay, better like, matchup spread, like, better, like, everything.

C: 16:32

The one thing I'll say is, that's kind of a sad

Liam: 16:35

Uh, I was just going to say something, but I

C: 16:53

And the funny part is, like, I don't know if any of these changes, like, lists really change heading into Surging Sparks either, like, any of those three. They're just good.

Liam: 17:03

kind of realized, like, I think for a lot of people, the format is, like, still evolving in the sense that, like, they only found out that, like, Henry's deck is, like, know, like, the best deck in format, like, last week, bro. You know? Like There's like, there's like new stuff for them, bro, and they're like, like LAIC is like the breakout tournament for this deck. You know what I mean? It's like, so yeah, I mean,

Abaan: 17:29

be willing to put money down if there's like, two Henry Chao exact sexies in top 8, like,

Liam: 17:34

Yeah, I, I literally, I think it's gonna be like 30 percent a day too, bro. I'm not even gonna hold you. No holding. Eh, maybe like 20%.

C: 17:41

I'm pretty

Liam: 17:42

It's

C: 17:42

that, uh, Surging

Liam: 17:43

overall.

C: 17:43

tournament, uh, like, some regional event on Surging Sparks meta, right? The

Abaan: 17:49

Yeah, Penny Billinger.

C: 17:50

60s? Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Liam: 17:55

and I'll see you next time.

Abaan: 18:07

I can ride on now, okay, I got that one. Like, and, I think the

Liam: 18:12

Hello, everyone. My name is Mike Fouchet. And I'm here to talk to you today about the Cheren's Care, Cheren's Care, Hearthstone, and Arceus. Let's get started.

Abaan: 18:33

let's say it's like a 99 percent out of 100, right, like, you making a change is more likely to bring you towards 98 than 100, like, sure. So like, too, like, it just doesn't make sense to try to change stuff.

Liam: 18:45

exactly, right? Like, you'll have the deck, and you'll have like five, like, candidate changes, right? Like, swapping like five or six cards, and like, maybe one of them, like, makes the deck better, but every other one, like, definitely makes the deck worse, right? And like, you don't know which one it is, so there's like, no point in like, taking that risk, you know what I mean?

Abaan: 19:03

exactly.

C: 19:04

we have the, uh, the highest ELO player on live who has played enough games that his change is a good change.

Liam: 19:15

God.

Abaan: 19:18

Even then, Liam's like, not confident.

C: 19:20

you at, Since the lottery set, where are you at right now? What's the current ELO look like? What

Liam: 19:28

now, you don't gain any more ELO, so I'm still at just Arceus, so thanks for joining us. Bye.

Abaan: 19:33

Wait, what?

C: 19:35

do you mean?

Liam: 19:35

Yeah,

C: 19:36

Oh, you

Brent: 19:36

think other people are not at Arceus, so they don't realize. So did they change something? Do you not get to go to 5, 000 anymore?

Liam: 19:42

yeah, yeah, as soon as you hit Arceus, you stop gaining or losing EO. you,

Brent: 19:47

So what's the cap? Yeah,

Liam: 19:50

it's just,

C: 19:51

1520 or whatever it is?

Liam: 19:53

nah, it's 550.

C: 19:55

Oh.

Liam: 19:56

You hit it pretty fast.

Brent: 19:58

it's really low. It's really low, right?

Liam: 20:00

Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Brent: 20:15

It's incredible. It's incredible.

Abaan: 20:19

You can

Brent: 20:19

It's the craziest thing.

Abaan: 20:21

how TCT Live changed, saved my son's life.

Brent: 20:27

So, uh, uh, Liam, I know you went to a cup this past weekend. Is that worth talking about at all? Or is there nothing to say?

Liam: 20:37

I don't know, yeah, I mean, I guess it's somewhat interesting, it's um, related to like the text conversation that, I don't know if we brought this up last week, but I had a conversation about text with Andrew Hedrick about, um, like the value of a tag if it's It bumps like a 10 percent matchup by like 20%, it theoretically 2 percent of games, and you probably affect more games by just playing another consistency card. So in that sense, like most techs are like, um, or like techs are like very overrated, um, from where like the general consensus is right now. Um, and with that in mind, I decided to play a Drago deck, and I played with no stadiums and no switch. And instead I just played more consistency cards. I played, um, I played the Noctowl line with 4th Vessel, 3rd, 4th Iona in those slots from like the standard list. and the deck was like super lit. It was super lit. But then I hit a Lugia and I got washed, bro. I didn't have the Temple. And Temple definitely would have won me some games against Lugia.

Abaan: 21:48

power cards, like, you Noctowl, like, every game, and you're like, Noctowling in your deck, you're like, great, I can grab, like, another Iona, like, an E Switch, like, you don't have power cards, like, you don't have insane cards to grab off these things, like, Pokemon, there's so much searchability, that like, there's no reason. To, like, have a deck that has, like, you have to have, like, you play these Consistencies cards to do something powerful,

Liam: 22:08

You have to be, yes, yes, like, you have to find the right balance, and it's also very important to find, um, or like, to be playing good consistency cards, right? Like, specifically for, like, the Pidget box list that's very standard right now, you play, like, 4 Ultra, 4 Ness, 4 Arvin, uh, 2 but, like, the value of adding, like, a third Rotom, or a third Pidgey, or, like, you know, another, like, egg incubator, or, like, some other, like, terrible basic surge, It's like, it's just not there, right? So like, these slots go to like, our slots, right? Like, there's no value to be gained by adding a card like Third Roto, right? Oh. I

Abaan: 22:47

the word? It's like, um, as, like, the gains are, like, I don't know how to, I forget the word. You know what I mean, like, the gains drop off. You can't just keep adding and

Liam: 22:56

mean, same offense,

Abaan: 22:56

the same

Liam: 22:57

right?

Abaan: 22:57

Yeah, diminishing returns, yes, thank you.

Liam: 22:59

Mm hmm. Um, like, yeah, in that sense, the, you can't just like, you know, text or stinky and like, you know, assume you're getting more than this like 2 percent return forever. Right? By continuously adding, um, consistency cards.

Abaan: 23:14

I

Liam: 23:14

However,

Abaan: 23:15

to Andrago sounds like a, sounds like a diminishing returns problem to me, a little bit.

Liam: 23:19

I don't know. I think, I think Drago is like somewhat of an exception because you have like so little search. In the sense that like, you know, you're constantly just like drawing six cards and then hoping like the hand has Iono in it. Like, and also in that sense because Iono is like a power card, right? Like it's um, like the best cards to add are like cards that serve both consistency and power purposes. Right, and Iona was one of those. Uh,

Abaan: 23:45

Ultra Ball and Pidgeot is kind of a power card, right? Like, The way you, like, just do everything with it.

Liam: 23:51

mm hmm. Yeah, like the Lumi, the Lumi enables it in the late game, which is really like the only reason I'm still playing the Lumi. I really want to cut that guy like every day, but, you know, the card is like so good throughout the entire game, it's, you can't

Abaan: 24:10

I think, um, uh, something else that's, like, interesting about the LAIC format is, like, what happened to Palknor? Like, I guess it did just win the SPE, like, a week ago, but before that win on the SPE, like, I thought the Palknor stocks were, like, way down, and, like, I don't think winning Buenos Aires SPE is, like, all of a sudden, like, making the deck, like, extremely popular

Liam: 24:30

Yeah, it's a, the deck sucks, man.

Abaan: 24:31

it?

Liam: 24:32

The deck sucks. Like, It's, um If your opponent's Pokemon have less than like 90 HP, it's pretty good, but like, anything else, and your deck is actually terrible. Like, uh, I guess like the best thing I can do this turn is like just like punch you for 200, and like, you don't have like Briar, or any like power cards, like, you're literally, like your Dustners only serve to accelerate the game, right? Like they don't, they don't improve your board at all, or like, or are used tactically, right? They just accelerate the price trade, and all you can do is hit for 200? Like, that's terrible. I have some.

Abaan: 25:08

Yeah, like, it's, it, there's a difference with, like, with Toropith and stuff, you're, like, carefully, like, making sure they can't play around Briar, like, you're shoving them into Briar if they, like, refuse to play into it and stuff like that, like, this deck is just, like, I just want to bear faster, like, I, I want this game, like, I have, I

Liam: 25:23

Yeah,

Abaan: 25:23

the

Liam: 25:23

exactly, right?

Abaan: 25:24

to end this game fast.

Liam: 25:26

Like, yeah, like the, um, like when you're like 2 2 2ing with, um, what is it, Turapagos, you can like pop a Dusner and then Briar and then like go for a 4 price turn. But the Dusner only goes for like, it's just 2 for 2, right? Like, that's all it does. Or like 1 for 1, 2 for 2, you never get any, um, disruption on the price trade, it just accelerates it. So

Abaan: 25:54

the Tord list can really only dust throw, like, once, like twice if you, like, have the Briar as well. But like, that deck, like, uh, the really cool thing about Palkia is that, like, it With Greninja and, like, Double Dusk Snoring at a turn, it's very hard to build a board that's, like, resilient to, like, Water Shuriken or, like, the Barrage or whatever, plus Double Dusk Snore.

Liam: 26:15

Yes.

Abaan: 26:16

you look at almost any board in the game, and it's like, I can see a way this could get, like, cracked by, like, a Ninja Double Dusk or some shit.

Liam: 26:23

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, Ninja Double Dusk is like, that's, that's pretty good. But even then, you're still like, you give up two prizes and you take four, right? Even into like the two prize boards or one prize boards, right? Like, you're just like, aggressively accelerating the game. And it gives you a chance to like, board wipe them and do like, you know, crazy tricks on their family. But like If the board wipe doesn't work, you're still chocked. Right? Like, um, unless you like manage to uh, to take the lead.

Abaan: 26:51

this one trick, you know, and it really you really hope it sticks. Like, you really are hoping it sticks, and if it doesn't stick, you hope Bear can, like, kill it. you over the finish line anyways, right? And like, if, if those two things don't happen, uh, it's uh, GG next.

Liam: 27:04

Yes. Yeah, so I mean like the deck is, it's pretty bad. But I don't think it's a bad call, uh, because I think it, I think it smushes uh, the fast guardie, and That's going to be like the entirety of day two. So, in that sense, I think it's like, probably a better call than it was, uh, past few weekends.

Abaan: 27:28

Yeah, and like, I'm not very familiar, but I assume like all those like, random like, Palkia versus Drago, I think it's probably like 50 50. I don't know, it's probably Drago favorite. It's

Liam: 27:35

That's so a Drago favorite. I don't think, I don't think like

Brent: 27:39

for joining us

Liam: 27:39

a really good Drago player is like losing a set to Palkia. Like, anything short of the like, just, just insane shenanigans on turn two from the Palkia player, and they have to go first, the Drago's winning. Like, basically every time.

Abaan: 27:51

Okay, Cheren. I guess that's like another example, but like Teropakos, for example, I assume that match is probably 50 50. Teropakos, Palkia? Because

Liam: 27:58

Uh, yeah.

Abaan: 28:01

just trying to give it like, I'm trying to understand like why people are playing it. Like, I assume these matches have to be like alright, or do you think it's just like terrible and like it's like, that's like, the problem?

Liam: 28:11

Yeah, I mean, yeah, like, these matchups are fine, right? Like, you have like a gimmick, right, like the turn two, just like Take their entire family, and like, deck can have its family taken, but like, Like, I don't know, it's um, At the same time, decks are like, somewhat resilient to having their family taken, and if you lose every time, you don't get their entire family, like, even if like, one cousin manages to get away, you lose? Jesus, bro. It's pretty hard to play that deck.

Abaan: 28:46

I, I agree with this. I guess, like, what else is there in the format, like, that people are yapping about? Oh,

Brent: 28:53

you know what we should rap about? Dude, we should yap about Sacramento.

Abaan: 28:57

Oh,

Brent: 28:58

We're 28 minutes in, and you guys are actually going to a tournament next weekend. Not this coming weekend, next weekend. In a new format.

Liam: 29:04

to be pretty, pretty succinct. It's going to

Brent: 29:06

Yeah.

Liam: 29:07

party fest. Henry's going to come out on top. Big dog. Definitely.

Abaan: 29:12

sure, sure, let's talk about Sacramento. So, some format changing stuff. Okay, so, like, in Pidgeot,

Brent: 29:18

So Gardeo will be the best deck?

Abaan: 29:20

yeah, Scarty will still be the best tech. I, like, the best techs don't

Liam: 29:22

Yeah, I, yeah, it's good, it's going to be.

Abaan: 29:26

But,

Liam: 29:27

you can be sure that everybody who played Guardi at SAC, or at LAIC, and is going to SAC will be playing Guardi. Everybody at LAIC, they're going to be playing the exact same 60 to, uh, to SAC. Maybe one card change with a new surging spark card or something like that, bro. That's the chalk part about doing LAIC and SAC, so it's rough for these people.

Abaan: 29:46

yeah, I, I think the coolest thing that we've tried from the new set is this Black Hero. Like, the, that you can, like, paralyze a Draugr, hit it for

Liam: 29:53

Yeah, I think it makes that matchup super good, so.

Abaan: 29:57

You've always wanted that, right? You always wish you could kill a Draugr so they can't just, like, sit there with their one Draugr and, like, pretend, like, this is, like, fine.

Liam: 30:04

Yeah, it's like, it's so much more pressure, right? Like, as opposed to like the Sobloc, where like, you're basically just trying to race for the switch, and like, you know,

Brent: 30:12

for joining us today.

Liam: 30:30

trying to, like, just beat me to the switch, right?

Abaan: 30:32

And then, like, you're you're

Brent: 30:33

for joining us today.

Liam: 30:52

Yeah, exactly, right? Like, you have this, like, dual threat that's, like, just incredible, right? Of, like, Blood Moon Sweeping and Sawblocking that, like, Drago really struggles to address.

Abaan: 31:01

And not to mention, like, uh, I think we don't talk about this factor enough, but, like, I think the first time you play the matchup, and you're just like, oh, like, I guess this didn't work, and then, that's it, like, maybe, maybe you get a second game in, and like, I still don't know if you figure it out, right, and like, maybe, like, after you lose, like, 2 0, like, gears are turning, you're like, uh, maybe here's what I could try, like, I bench a second Drago at this point, and attach to it, like, right now, like, you know, like, like, you, like, figure out the timing, right, but, but it's too late, you don't get it back, right?

Liam: 31:28

So yeah, it's a hard deck to play against.

Abaan: 31:32

And, like, Genesect is lit. Genesect is so lit. And, like, all these matches, like, if you're, if they're, people, like, lead on this Prime Feature so hard, and, like, it's totally valid, because, like, if you're not playing as a Genesect, like, why would I play, like,

Liam: 31:43

Oh yeah, like the deck building concept is to like, you cut one gust, you cut one switch, you play the prime, and you get like a slot back, right? Like it's, it loses a lot of value when you don't get the slot back and you end up playing the switch anyway.

Abaan: 31:57

Yeah, Prime Feature's meant to be everything at once, right? And, like, the fact that it's, um, it's not

Liam: 32:02

Yeah, exactly. Like if there was no prime, like Drago might even be playing like third boss or something like that, but now like they only have two, right? Like their gusting is pretty limited as well.

Abaan: 32:13

And it's like, telegraphed, right? Like, they can't, like, research into boss, like,

Liam: 32:17

Yes.

Abaan: 32:18

so,

Liam: 32:19

Yeah, no, exactly. Right. Like you can get, you can get to like real spots where you like rip Iono and they need Gus and they only have two, right?

Abaan: 32:26

Or they need Gust energy E Switch, and it's like, even if they draw the Gust, like, the

Liam: 32:31

Yeah.

Abaan: 32:31

they were able to get there before was they're gonna research and then attach E Switch Prime, but like, now, like Ugh, not a great spot. You don't like it. Uh, I think other than that for Searching Sparks, I, oh, I think Miridon is like, it's getting an upgrade and I keep seeing Azula videos about it, and like, I think this Magneton card is very lit. And like, Latios too, like, I like the ideas in Miridon. The problem I have with it is like, this deck, like, decks don't exist in a vacuum, right? And like, not sure That it's like, matchups like, got that much better. Like, a one sauce that I was thinking about that like, I feel like Noah's talking about, is that because you're playing area zero now, you should probably play a vacuum in your Marauder or like, some way to bump the area zero. Because like, if Draugr tries to do some kind of cure em threat, which is like, very likely, because you're going to be benching everything, right? And like, the most intuitive thing is just cure em that. can um, you can basically use your, your vacuum as like, a triple tarot, or like, you get to discard like, all the guys that got cure em. They just can't cure em anymore. like, they can't get one, and

Brent: 33:31

all for joining us today, and we hope to see you again soon. You

Abaan: 33:53

yeah, so I think actually like, there's a lot of merit to people who are like, down to play Mirado in this format. I don't know about his Beat Stick matchup, like, I'm not sure if you Beat Bull. don't think you do, right? Like, you do have Raikou now? You have Raikou now to one shot them, which is like, kind of nice. And you're like, I already want to play Vax, so that helps a little bit. Like, there's some saving grace, but yeah, it's not, it's not ideal.

Brent: 34:17

So, so does any of that convince you that you should play anything besides Gardevoir, or is it like, we'll just Gardevoir for life, I don't know. for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon.

Abaan: 34:41

I'm, like, already, I'm all in, but, like, we play that matchup relentlessly, and, like, I think we played it almost for, like, two straight days. Like, we played, like, maybe, like, 15, 15 games or something like that? Like, maybe a little less than that? And, like, it was not looking good. So, I don't know. We need a fix for that. I don't want to, like, take an L to Tropic Ghost.

Brent: 35:02

I'm really excited. Liam, how about you? What are the odds of playing that versus Tropicus? So,

Liam: 35:12

don't know, I mean, I'm gonna, I'm gonna figure something out, bro. We still got like a week and a half. I'm gonna, I'm gonna figure something out. It's gonna be lit. It's gonna be lit.

Brent: 35:26

and, so Walker is flying out to, uh, California to meet you, to, uh, Played his first Pokemon since Baltimore. Did he go to Baltimore? Yeah, he did. He went to Baltimore.

Abaan: 35:39

out there.

Brent: 35:40

That's right. That's right. Well, what, what deck would you guys tell him to pick up and learn starting today?

Abaan: 35:46

He

Brent: 35:46

Garde? Yeah.

Abaan: 35:49

If, if he thinks that he can manage Learning Guardian in a week, I'd be down. But, like, it sounds like he doesn't really want to play Pokemon in this, like, week and a half, right? Like,

Liam: 35:55

No, no, but that's like his thing, right, he like, he wants to play like the um, the hardest deck possible, without practicing, that's what he wants to do.

Abaan: 36:12

It's definitely, like,

Brent: 36:13

He's, he has infinite confidence that he will outplay everyone in the room.

Abaan: 36:17

the

Brent: 36:17

So

Abaan: 36:18

Gardevoir in this format is that, like, you get a lot of the power, like, the first 80, 70, 80 percent of the power level, like, immediately, like, without knowing anything. You're like, uh, Drifloon Charm, blow you up, Drifloon Charm, blow you up. It's like,

Liam: 36:30

The last song we are going to play is called N. E. R. T. Who are the

Brent: 36:51

that is 100 percent his strategy.

Liam: 36:54

R. T.? very much.

Abaan: 36:59

like so broken against Gardevoir, but then you like start playing, and you're like, wow, Gardevoir actually has a lot of tricks to not play into vacuum, like, you can um, Drifloon for 180, Fez, like, or sorry, Drifloon 180, Monkey, a Fez. Like, that's like, one of the main lines against so many different decks, and like, nothing, there's nothing you can do about it, they just uh, they have to take that one on the chin.

Liam: 37:20

Also, they pressure your engine so hard, too, right, like, it's hard to make this vacuum play happen, like, usually it's not just VAC, right, like, the VAC has to be paired with other cards to have, like, a perfect turn, so, like, yeah, they, like, pressure your engine, pressure your hand, and then you have to find, like, a combination of cards, right, even, like, the best case scenarios. I'll

Brent: 37:43

know, guys, I realized, uh, uh, we've provided people with like 37 minutes of incredibly good content. But, uh, we should probably have a digression to discuss the incredibly bad content that people want to hear about.

Liam: 37:58

see

Brent: 38:01

I'm just gonna ask you. You're 5 and 2. Will you take the ID?

Abaan: 38:07

What? Of course not, bro. they're literally asking like, you know how you want to event this event? Like, sign this little paper here, and uh, it won't happen anymore. Like, what the hell? I'm not doing that. And like, but I hope, I really, really hope that I sit down at

Brent: 38:21

Oh, but come on, man! We could top 32 and get some money!

Abaan: 38:26

Dude, I hope that, like, my opponent says something like that. Like, if I'm sitting down at 5 2 and they ask me to ID, like, my god, like, I'm feeling so good. Like, anything, like, anything, like, obviously I'm gonna be a little annoyed that I'm 5 2 in the first place, like, I lost two rounds. But they say that, and like, I'm like, right back in it. I'm like, let's go. At least this one is a W. I can't imagine

Liam: 38:47

Clearly they don't even want to win, bro. They don't even want to win.

Abaan: 38:49

exactly.

Liam: 38:51

how can I lose at this point?

Brent: 38:57

Uh, uh, will there be like, will there be like 300 people in day 2?

Abaan: 39:03

I don't think so, because getting to X2 1 is like, it's like more, it's

Liam: 39:07

5 2 1 unbelievable. Like, that's, I guess, yeah,

Brent: 39:14

It's, it's a lower bar than 6 to 1.

Abaan: 39:18

Sure, sure,

Liam: 39:18

the, um

Abaan: 39:19

to be 6 2 1, you know what I mean? Like, or not, they didn't want to, but they were like, down to be 6 2 1. Like, 5 2 1 is like, terrible, like, you don't get to like, play for the tournament anymore, that like, Like, when people are, like, they're still gonna Gentleman's, I think, like, at X2, or maybe not at X2, but like, I don't know, I should hope that people, like, are such, like, cold hearted winners, you know, that they're, like, still Gentleman's ing and, like, trying to get wins on the board, like, when they're not just down to take their first tie.

Liam: 39:46

Yeah, like I said, I don't know, I like, because like I feel like the concept of like the 6 2 1 is like exactly what you want the concept of Day 2 to

Brent: 39:54

To 11, 9 3. 5, 4, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5 one, two, one, two three,!.

Liam: 40:18

where, like, the worst case scenario is, like,

Brent: 40:20

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Please leave a comment below, and I'll see you in the next video. Bye.

Liam: 40:38

which is, like, you know, if you win, you get top cut, if you lose, you get, like, you know, a thousand bucks or whatever, right? And, like, I feel like that's, like, a way better concept for Day 2. As opposed to like, basically just like continuation to day one and then

Abaan: 40:54

think the biggest thing

Liam: 40:55

win per cut for nothing.

Abaan: 40:56

We can't have all 2, 000 people play 15 rounds. So what I thought the point of day two was like, let's take the guys after round nine and take the people who can still make cut and cut everyone else, you know? And like, thought that was the whole point. Like, why are there people in day two who can't make cut anymore? Like, don't even

Liam: 41:14

Yeah, I don't know. I don't really buy that argument. I feel like, like when people talk about like how smooth the tournament needs to run and stuff, like I feel like, I feel like the tournament can still run pretty smooth, even with like a lot more people. Like you could, I mean, the tournament has to be running like much smoother in day two, even with just like half of the people, as compared to day one, right? Like you could take everybody who's like, For four, and send them to day two, and the tournament would be running smoother, right? There's like, there's half as many people. Um, and like,

Abaan: 41:42

That

Liam: 41:42

it seems like,

Abaan: 41:42

though, you know what I mean, I think you're missing something, like, that would really suck because, like, limiting factor in any given round is the slowest round. Like, is the slowest match still playing, right? And like,

Liam: 41:52

yeah.

Abaan: 41:53

really don't want day two to get extended to be like too long. Like, right now it's like a very, there's like a very small number of rounds happening, so like, the turnaround is like within like, like an hour, you know? Like, you're out of there by like, 12, 1. I think like, if you add like, everyone who's 4 4 and up, like, there would be one, so randomly like, every round there'd be one like, match that's taking forever, and like, the

Liam: 42:15

I'm just saying, I feel like this like, this cutoff is like, rather arbitrary. Like, I feel like, It's, um, and like if you want to say like top cut, like people still in contention is the cutoff, like sure I could kind of buy that, but I feel like, I feel like we should go to like some other metric as opposed to, um, like, yeah, like efficiency thing, unless we're like really finding like real efficiency problems because the metric directed us to like, yeah, maybe something like 4 4 and we found there were real like time issues with like that number of rounds,

Abaan: 42:47

I

Liam: 42:47

yeah,

Abaan: 42:48

problem is it's like,

Liam: 42:49

early number of fighters.

Abaan: 42:50

the post has like, no logical consistency. Like, logic goes like, you know, Event A happens, like, my, like, I thought about it, and now I think event B, right? Like, they literally in the post say, like, we, like, understand the concerns of a lot of people that they don't, like, that you can go undefeated in Day 2 and not make cut. And now, we've, uh, we're, I don't know, we're just, like, adding random

Liam: 43:11

We're expanding that feature.

Abaan: 43:13

Yeah, like,

Brent: 43:15

Yeah, yeah, so, so now we're going to let you know absolutely that there is going to be

Liam: 43:20

to

Brent: 43:21

people in day two with no chance of making top eight and you guys are just fighting for cash.

Abaan: 43:26

and the

Liam: 43:26

a great evening. I'll see you next time. Bye bye.

Abaan: 43:33

it's coming from someone else, right, and like, I don't know, it feels terrible, some 5 2 1 warrior like goes 4 0, and like, you had a good tournament, you know, you, you're like, you were in there the whole way, you were battling it out, you lose your last round, like, just like we were talking about earlier, like, you lose your last round, and someone who would never even, like, planning on making a cut, they never even dreamed of a cut, they, they just beat like, four other 5 2 1 enjoyers, I was like, And then like, now they like, they got your grand, bro. They got your band. I don't know, that seems crazy to me.

Liam: 44:01

Yeah, I mean, that's, that's absolutely crazy, right? No, like, exactly, like, I feel like, and I feel like it also sucks to be the person coming in at 5 2 1, right? Like, I feel like I'd rather just be like, you know, you had to have a really strong Day 1, and if you have a really strong Day 1, you're like, almost a lock for cash, uh, and maybe you have a chance to win the tournament, as opposed to like, No matter how you do, you're gonna play out like every single round just for like a chance to like sniff like one band, bro. You know, you know what I mean? Like I'd so much rather than just be like top 32 at the end of day one. Those are the people paying for cash.

Abaan: 44:36

I've had that feeling like multiple times, like, like, I go into day two, like, with a good record, lose like, I lose like one or two, like, real quick. And I'm like, damn, I'm just, I'm just playing for a chance to like, like, and that's the worst feeling ever. And like,

Liam: 44:49

Yeah.

Abaan: 44:49

to sleep on that feeling,

Liam: 44:51

Yeah.

Brent: 44:53

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I pledge allegiance to the flag For the rights, privileges, and interests of the people of this country, and for the security and security of the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Abaan: 45:15

I don't know, you just like see, it just feels so random and you're like just give me one more round to like play it out and like let's decide right like I think it'll always feel good less rounds when you're doing good right like you're like let's go I don't have to win more rounds like I won my 10 out of 12 rounds and now I'm in there but like I think on average like you're not gonna like have like such an insane start and

Liam: 45:37

I don't know, I understand this argument, but like, I feel like, I feel like you want the right number of rounds. It's one where like, or at least for me, I feel like after, at the end of the event, if I didn't make top cut, or, or get a chance to win, I'd be like, there was like one round that like, was like very in my control, and I'm like, um, you know, I kind of just threw, right? And I feel like, I feel like two losses is generally like the bar for that. X2 making cut, I feel like if I pick up that third loss, usually it's like, um, very easy for me to identify, like, the mistake that I made, or like, feel like I made a mistake, whereas like, and like, two rounds is like, kind of the cap for like, these like, forced losses, where like, you know, you just open, there's nothing glowing, and then you lose on the next turn, like, um, yeah,

Abaan: 46:22

two like has to make cut no matter what, but I do think what? Like when we're talking about not caching, like I think that you should make two mistakes. You make cut, you make three mistakes. You cash y you get four rounds. You can't get four rounds done. Like, all right bro. Like, well good. Try like, try again next time. Like I think like

Liam: 46:39

I,

Abaan: 46:39

three,

Liam: 46:40

I completely agree.

Abaan: 46:40

is like brutal

Liam: 46:41

Yeah, exactly, exactly, I think, Um, I think that, like, tiering of, like, you know, you, um, you do a little bit worse than top cut, you should get top 32, right? But, like, that's currently not the case. Instead, like, the goal, like, the way you reach top 32 is do a little bit better than, like, Um, like, uh, a little bit better than, what is it, x, x 1, 2 1? Like,

Abaan: 47:08

X two one. You have to do X two one. Right.

Liam: 47:10

yeah, yeah, but like, my point is like, you do a little bit better than winning all but the last round, and uh, is like, really convoluted, but, yeah, exactly, like, the way you get into top 32 is like, not by losing your winnin in, by winning out after being out of the tournament for like five rounds, just like.

Abaan: 47:31

Yeah, once you're not in Cut, you're like, functionally not in the main event anymore, right? Like, you're playing for some standing stuff, like grey, like, points, like, I'm not saying, like, just drop once you miss Cut, but, like, it's, it's different. Like, the people who are, like, in the tournament fighting for Cut, like, the games are just different. Like, even if you're playing for, like, money, and, like, you're trying to, like, get a cash finish, I swear, the quality of game after you're out of the Cut competition is just lower.

Liam: 47:55

Yes, bro, like, I, I swear to God, I like, this is, this is why I usually drop once I, if I go like, X3 in day one, right, I, because like, there's no, I like no

Brent: 48:08

all for joining us today, and we hope to see you all again soon.

Liam: 48:27

like, because like, um, and like even if they show up, you're against just like a complete, a complete joke deck. And like, you know, there's, and even on your own end, you're like, dude, I'm like, not even playing for anything anymore. I like, you don't get that feeling of competing that you do when you're like, actually in contention for that.

Abaan: 48:43

locked in factor just completely drops off the face of the earth. Like, I would say even in day two, like once you can't cut anymore, and like you're kind of playing for cash, like,

Liam: 48:52

Yeah, no, dude, exactly, bro. Like, it's, you all of a sudden there's like, take backs on the table, and like, you know, just, just do whatever, bro. Like, I'm just, I'm here because I have to be, you know? Like,

Abaan: 49:03

I'm here so don't get fined.

Liam: 49:05

yeah, like, you're not, uh, you're not super, super locked in when you're, you're not in contention for winning.

Abaan: 49:13

Yeah, and like, that's why I think it's ridiculous that, like, the guy who picks up these, like, three, like, random, like, Ah, whatever, bro, just do whatever, take it back, ah, this tournament sucked. Like, that guy, just like, he was locked in, like, he's treating that like it was, like, the main event, he wins, like, three of those, he gets your ban, bro, like, you lost, you were, like, playing, like, Like, battles, every single round, and then like, that guy was like, just on the side, like, doing like, basically doing like, busy work, you know? And uh, he it real. I

Liam: 49:41

Yes, completely agree, it's ridiculous stuff, ridiculous. Yes.

Abaan: 50:00

it sucks, like, they used to play nine rounds on day one, now they're playing eight, and like, they make their first day two, and like, Back in the day, like, first day two, that feels like a whole nother event. Like, six rounds, like, six rounds of, like, some pretty, like, high, like, especially if it's your first day two or whatever, like, to you, it's, like, high octane stuff. Like, even if you're not in Cup Convention, like, like, to you personally, like, this is an important thing to you, right? And, like, you're treating it really, really seriously. And,

Liam: 50:22

I've had a number of people with me with all their names, but frankly, you know, when I first got into the industry, and I've had the opportunity to work alongside other people for years or years, it was quite a difficult time, but I think that all the bigger people are doing a good job of doing the right thing, and that's why I do what

Brent: 50:40

Hey, I just wanna say thanks so much for having me. I don't know if you remember, uh, when I was in the National Geographic and I was looking at, um, what all these people mean to me. And I just wanted to say thanks so much for having me. I've been here for a long time. I don't know if I've ever been here myself. I've been here with a bunch of people. I've been here with a bunch of people. It's been an honor to be here with you.

Liam: 51:10

it's not like, Everybody gets to play Day 2 now. People are like, yay, this is like amazing for people who get to play Day 2, right, like, if you, if you have to go, you know, what, 2 6 to make Day 2, it's no longer like, yo, I made my first Day 2, right?

Abaan: 51:26

It's like I just played a two day Pokemon tournament.

Liam: 51:28

Yeah, right? Like,

Abaan: 51:31

like, I feel like we are like a little isolated from this conversation in general because like I see it vaguely on Twitter But like obviously I don't really follow that many people who talk about that and like know what I know really like about that so it's like very hard to like understand the perspective but like people always talk about limitless checking and stuff like that and like Who cares about getting this limitless page if you went like 5, 6, 1 or whatever, like, I

Liam: 51:56

yeah, bro, it's, oh my god, man, people are so obsessed with, like, the rankings and stuff, bro, and like, as soon as this, like, Poki rank thing came out, bro, it's in, like, five seconds, bro, people are just, like, looking at everything on that joint, bro, and it's like, Jesus Christ, bro, like, Just, I think, it's um, like, people care about the numbers so much at the end, you know what I mean?

Abaan: 52:17

But they're like having mid offs, you know, like, it's really funny, like, they're like, comparing like, oh, bro, you got like 80th, I got like, I have a 67th on my record,

Liam: 52:26

No, yeah, obviously, obviously I care about, like, the performance, right? But yeah, exactly, like, I feel like, I feel like the point of your performance shouldn't be, like, shouldn't be, like, the number, it should be, like, the feeling that you get, right? Like, did you, like, dominate the event, right? Like, did you have a Roscoff in, like, 2012 Worlds or something type event? Or, like,

Abaan: 52:41

2011.

Liam: 52:42

were you a mom? Oh, 2011, bro, my bad. Um,

Brent: 52:45

So let, let me, let me, uh, uh, inject, uh,

Abaan: 52:49

hope

Brent: 52:51

a nuance or something. Liam, what was your record at Baltimore?

Liam: 52:54

I was, I was X3,

Abaan: 52:56

soon.

Brent: 52:57

So,

Liam: 52:58

10, yeah, 10 3.

Brent: 53:01

yeah, you were, you were 10 3 and, um, you were tied for 21st. And you ended up getting, like, 35th,

Liam: 53:12

Yeah.

Brent: 53:14

and I know, like, one of the things that I used to say a lot in, like, juniors and seniors, where, like, they played so many fewer rounds, and, and then, like, cut right to top 8, um, I was always like, if they would just play one more round, It would give you a lot of like, like, it would stop a lot of the bubbles, and like, they fixed the bubble with the asynchronous cut for top 8, but like, the bubble for top 32 in cash is gonna be like a thing now, especially if like, 200 people are playing a day 2, and like, they're all just on the grind. Would you like to play one more round for the opportunity to win a, a band? Would that have brought your competitive juices to the forefront? If you, if I told you, you know, 1, 000 money match is next round.

Liam: 53:58

because I'd already lost at that point, like, yeah, exactly, like, there's no, there's no competitive juice at that point. I'm just like, trying to see if I got my band. I'm like, happy to just like, run this band on the bubble. I think the best solution for this issue, though, is the Jeremy Gibson solution, which is Like, if there's 14 people fighting for, what, 10 slots of top 32, like, each person just gets a cut of the, um, like, what is it, 10, 000, right? Like, you just split it up evenly across all these people, right?

Brent: 54:27

just pro Rat of the Bubble.

Abaan: 54:29

I

Brent: 54:29

I like that.

Abaan: 54:30

is, like, let's say the bubble is huge, right, and like one guy squeaks in. we really gonna split, like, the, the one grand among, like, 20 people or whatever, or like 15 people? And the other problem,

Liam: 54:41

I think, I don't know, like,

Brent: 54:42

But I, no, I think, I think that's, you just hit the nail on the head, right? If there's 1, 000 for the guy who's in 32nd, and like 31 has X points, and 32 has X plus 1 points, and there's 20 guys that all have X plus 1 points, yeah, make up 50, 000. You get 50 for getting 32nd. Congratulations, buddy.

Abaan: 55:01

point, I think, like,

Brent: 55:02

I kind of dig it.

Abaan: 55:03

amount that you, like, feel good. I don't know, maybe I'm like, this is a very, like, terrible

Brent: 55:07

Yeah. But I think, but Liam's point is you shouldn't feel good about what you did. You just barely got 32nd.

Liam: 55:13

Right, like, a 5 percent chance to get 1, 000 versus a 100 percent chance to get, what, like, uh, 20 or

Abaan: 55:20

getting your EV, right? Like,

Brent: 55:21

50.

Abaan: 55:22

resistance,

Liam: 55:23

50?

Abaan: 55:23

isn't a truly random metric. Like, I, I feel like in this conversation, it always is

Liam: 55:27

Yes, yes, yes, yes, but

Abaan: 55:30

like, Resistance doesn't isn't just like some random thing that, like, falls from the sky, like, some guy did play, like, a bunch of 08'ers, who, like, every single time they, like, played a round and, like, won, that guy proceeded to go 08. And there's some guy who played, like, the Gauntlet, bro, like, they, like, they, like, ugh, I, like, nearly lost to Rowan, and then I beat, like, Bradner, and then I, like, lost to Idrov, and then, like, oh, okay, well, I guess I'll I'll take my 50 bucks now. Good

Liam: 55:55

Yeah.

Abaan: 55:55

who, like, beat, like, three guys who went 08. Good

Liam: 55:58

I mean, yeah, I think it is, like, definitely important to acknowledge that resistance is, It is like a real metric, but I think it's a metric that like people are understandably like not super happy about because like, A, it's like very subject to variance, right, like, it's like the aggregate of um, you know, like, if,

Abaan: 56:16

out of

Liam: 56:16

Rowan has bad tournaments,

Abaan: 56:17

right?

Liam: 56:18

like Rowan has bad tournaments, and then, you know, that's,

Abaan: 56:21

you beat someone and they just like, completely like, just like, go on tilt and throw the whole tournament after, like, that's not your fault. I'm just saying that like, this situation, the guy who squeaks in to 32, of the other 19 guys, He played against, like, a bunch of demons, bro. He, like, he

Liam: 56:38

yeah,

Abaan: 56:38

Like, give him his ban. Like, what are we talking about, 50 bucks, bro? Like, he earned that.

Liam: 56:44

sure, I mean, I don't know, I think, uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Abaan: 56:54

So yeah, this guy was 8 0, and he crashed out. He went to,

Brent: 56:57

I mean, on the one hand, you're obviously, you guys are right, resistance is a real thing, but also, like, you can only play the people that they get put in front of you, you know? Like, like, I don't think anybody looks at, at Liam's 10 3 and, you know, the guy who got a, got 20 seconds 10 3 and is like, oh my god, that was just an objectively better 10 3. I mean, I don't know, maybe it was, but like, I don't think anybody, I mean, you guys are already saying, nobody looks at limitless pages, I don't think anybody's drilling down to be like, mmm. I don't know about that one.

Liam: 57:28

New

Brent: 57:29

10 3.

Abaan: 57:52

like, but the

Liam: 57:53

comments, questions, questions? Ok,

Abaan: 57:56

they, like, they went through some trials, bro, like, they deserve their, like, number one tiebreaker. Like, they did something crazy this tournament, you know, and, like, they didn't get there, like, they made some, like, they're obviously now in a tiebreaker with you, but, like, like, there should be something said for, like, dude, like, imagine you played against a guy who went

Liam: 58:12

Sure, yeah, I understand this idea, um, but yeah, I think it's just very subject to variance. It's also like, it's something you, it's something you like, see or control, right? Like, I feel like this

Brent: 58:27

all for joining us today, and I look forward to seeing you all in the future. Bye bye.

Liam: 58:55

yeah, yeah, no, I mean like, obviously resistance tracks a real thing, and it like, tracks the, it's intended to like, track the strength of your opponents, right? But, I don't know, it's um,

Abaan: 59:05

like, I just think of the

Liam: 59:06

yeah, I mean

Abaan: 59:07

too much that it's like, random. Like, they're like, you have a 5 percent chance of being like, one guy who made top 32. It's like, not really, like, you don't have a 5 percent chance. Like, it's like, it's not random. Like, you have like, I don't know, whatever the match is spread, like, whatever the

Liam: 59:23

Sure.

Abaan: 59:24

combined, right, and like, if you're playing against such a tough level of competition, clearly you're playing against opponents who have

Liam: 59:28

Yeah, that's

Brent: 59:37

the guy that goes, the guy that goes 5 2 1 and then, and then goes 4 0 day 2 to get to 9 2 1 or whatever, like. You're gonna, you're gonna look at him and say, it's not quite the same as the guy who went 8 0 and then like, loses a couple of rounds. Right.

Abaan: 59:54

into 9 2 1, just like, terrible

Brent: 59:56

Yeah.

Abaan: 59:56

thing. They played against like, like, at 8 0, they played against some guy who broke the format, so like, that's a loss. Nice.

Brent: 1:00:02

Yeah.

Abaan: 1:00:03

against like, that guy's buddy who broke the format as well, who's like, was X1 for some reason. Nice. And

Brent: 1:00:08

Right.

Liam: 1:00:08

the next one, for some reason, that's like the most real thing ever, bro, right? So I guess there's some really bad variants, bro. Damn, bro. Oh my god. Yeah, I, I, I mean, I think,

Abaan: 1:00:20

Like, you're 7 1, 8 0, you're playing against hitters, bro. Like, don't know. It's kind of, uh, you deserve your resistance spell.

Liam: 1:00:27

I, I, I think the real thing is this like holds up at like the highest. The highest level, right? Like this example of like there's one guy who squeaked into 32 and like this guy has like 70 percent resistance but yeah exactly like at the at the lower levels like 55 versus 56 like know it's it's really just like did your random win like they're like rad 12 and

Brent: 1:00:45

So,

Liam: 1:00:45

right

Brent: 1:00:46

wait, let me, let me throw out a compromise that I think you guys will say that sounds totally fine. What if I said. Yeah, money sucks to bubble, but everybody gets the same points.

Abaan: 1:00:58

Yeah, I mean, who cares? TPCI points

Brent: 1:01:00

Take care.

Abaan: 1:01:00

made up thing.

Liam: 1:01:01

yeah ain't

Abaan: 1:01:02

it to

Liam: 1:01:02

nobody care about points bro

Brent: 1:01:03

But, like, I mean, like, you could say that, Eban, but, like, if Liam ends up whiffing his invite by 15 points because he bubbled top 32, is that, like, an injustice that occurred? I don't know. Probably?

Liam: 1:01:15

it bro

Abaan: 1:01:15

wouldn't s

Liam: 1:01:16

you should get your invite off this like top four IC or win a regional bro like I think we should just go completely that's not me if it doesn't happen

Brent: 1:01:23

Alright, guys, we gotta wrap it up. I got stuff I gotta do. We will be back next week with, uh, a little story about Latin America and all that good stuff. Uh, the John Pauls are our outro. It's too much.

1:01:37

Riverside, it's only midnight. Look ahead, we gotta get me to life. When you talk to me, I listen. Stare straight ahead, trying to pretend. I got something to say. And I'm telling you to watch my mind, it's just an empty melody. I'm a beast and I awaken you to me. For there are three tips until three. That's how I talk, naked and hanging from a tree. Pound it on the chest and plop it on the knees. But will you wear your hats? I got two arms, wanna pick'em up, I got two arms, wanna pick'em up. I've got two legs, I'll teach them how to jump. I've got two legs, I'll teach them how to jump and I'm in the sun for a sleepless night. I'm in the sun for a sleepless night. It is what it is, it does what it does. It is what it's got, we just call it