Well, it’s the question on many people’s mind. “Should I play at Nationals?”. Here I will go over both sides of the situation and tell what I think is the right choice (you don’t have to agree with me, it’s just my decision).
With our possible Mid-Season Rotation people are having mixed feelings about Nationals. Some like the predictability of a Majestic Dawn-On Format while others like the variety and unpredictability of a HeartGold & SoulSilver-On Format.
I like a HeartGold & SoulSilver-On Nationals and Worlds preceding the 2011-2012 season, which will have this format guaranteed, because winning will become less of an accomplishment.
A HeartGold & SoulSilver-On format promotes a healthy environment for trying new decks and adding more skill into a game that has been raved by donk decks for years. With that said Majestic Dawn-On also promotes new deck ideas, but for a different reason: countering SableDonk.
People have started to put this off as a priority after the announcement of a possible Mid-Season rotation, but I think that people should still put a little time into it and it can always help you at Battle Roads if you are going to any.
SableDonk
I won’t go into a lot of detail for this section, because I know that so many of you know all about this deck. For those of you that don’t know about SableDonk, it is a deck to be used in the Majestic Dawn-On format with Black and White rules that is meant to donk and win on the first turn against multiple basic starts. Here is a sample list of SableDonk:
| Pokemon – 16
4 Sableye SF |
Trainers -42
4 Dual Ball |
Energy -2 |
Here is a J-Wittz video explaining how SableDonk works and some of the math in winning: http://www.sixprizes.com/videos/playthrough-sableye-black-white-rules/
You can see why a lot of people don’t like this deck or a format that is overrun with it. I personally hate the deck (even though it is a probable choice for me in during Battle Roads) and would not like a Nationals that is all on “luck” of the donk.
Playing at Nationals
In a Majestic Dawn-On Format
If you are someone who is on the verge of a Worlds invite and Nationals has been announced as a Majestic Dawn-On format, I would highly recommend not playing at Nationals unless you have a perfect and consistent SableDonk counter.
Why risk losing a Worlds invite because some kid donked you at Nationals? It’s your decision obviously, but this is just my own opinion. This also doesn’t apply to people who have a good amount of points and are on the verge of an invite but cannot go to Worlds and need to win the trip.
If you aren’t worried about your worlds invite you should still be debating going to Nationals. With our current economy money is tight, I know. If only we had more money…
I know many people who don’t want to go to Nationals if we don’t have a mid-season rotation because it just isn’t economical to spend hundreds of dollars to have “luck” waste all of your efforts.
It’s still a fun time at Nationals, win or lose, but if you’re losing multiple matches when there is nothing you can do about it in your current situation (you can always play 4 Sableye and 4 Spiritomb, etc.) it doesn’t feel fair.
In a HeartGold & SoulSilver-On Format
For those of you that are worried about an invite this is a good format to play. With so many choices and the encouragement to think outside the box to build something good in under 2 months, it’s a good challenge that will prove useful for those of us who are good at deck building.
It also put more of a skill factor into a game that I think has been lacking of this for several years. People will have to think fast in situations where many decks will be unpredictable and so will techs. Again, it is entirely your decision, you don’t have to listen to or agree with my personal ideas.
Anyone who isn’t worried about a worlds invite should still go to Nationals. This is one of the best years to play and will be a good way to work on next year’s format. Everyone will have a good chance in this format unless someone makes an amazing donk list and leaks it. And on top of all this you can get prizes, and everyone loves prizes! I think Nationals will be well worth your money in a HeartGold & SoulSilver-On format for everyone.
My Opinion
Personally if we have a Majestic Dawn-On format for Nationals I will most likely not be playing at Nationals. This is my decision, because right now I am at an 1836.79 in Seniors and possibly a few more from Battle Roads.
This is a risky position, because a few donks will lose me my invite and I will only be going to Worlds if I receive an invite. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to risk losing a Worlds invite because some kid donk me…
If we have a have a HeartGold & SoulSilver-On format I will most likely be playing at Nationals because it’ll be a format where donks are almost irrelevant except for one or two deck exceptions.
A paid trip to Worlds would also be nice along with a box(s) of such a good set. I don’t expect to lose any points from Nationals in this format. Finally with 2 byes from a 2nd at Regionals my chances at making Top Cut are greatly increased.
Whether you choose to play or not to play I hope you have fun and play to win.
Thank you for your time, and I hope you liked it!
Henry Prior
