Battle Roads Report – 1st Place with Flygon / Machamp

Please picture the following: Flygon LV.X, Machamp, Nidoqueen, Mesprit. Thanks!

Well to start things off this is my first premiere event since Spring Battle Roads, so needless to say I was quite excited. I had been play testing quite a few decks, but really felt like Fly/Champ was the best play. So I went with my gut and that is what I ended up playing.

So my friends, brother, and I get up and start heading to Rolla, Mo for the first tournament for all of us this season. Along the way we encountered some torrential rains, and even some hail. So we were all anxious to arrive and play in the tourney.

We get there and find out that we only have 15 Masters and miss top 4 by only one person in Masters.  (Little did I know how the day would go).

So here is my floor report for my first tournament of the season:

Round 1 vs. Marcus Mayhew (Honchkrow G/Luxray GL)

This game could not have started any worse for me. This was definitely the best game of the day, and I enjoyed this game very much. He starts out by killing off some of my basics early and I am still trying to get set up. I try to Cosmic Power two turns in a row and he Power Sprays with my having a Flygon LV.X active milling cards from his deck with only one Energy on it. I feel pretty bad, but he decides in mid game instead of killing one of my benched Machops that he would use Honcho’s Command, (He searched up two Power Sprays, and by now I really felt like the game is over). So I try to Cosmic Power, Power Spray number three, then I search up Uxie and try to Set up, Power Spray number four.

What ended up being a life saver for me, was that he used his Poke Turns early as well. So Next turn I Cosmic Power for six and start to get set up. In the end he is down to just one prize left to my three and I feel like it is a lost cause, and that my first tournament is going to end because of a stupid start, against a deck that thrives on bad starts. Then I realize that his deck seems very thin and I ask how many cards are left in his deck. There are 4 cards and he has a Skuntank G on the bench with no energy. So I attach Memory Berry and Inviting Trap his Skuntank. He then mills because of Flygon LV.X, and is sitting, thinking about what to do. With no Poketurns left he attaches, passes, and mills. I then draw and pass for the game! GG! (Marcus could have gone the other way just as easily!)

(1-0)

Round 2 vs. Paul Sponsler (Luxray GL/Manectric)

This match-up is a very favorable one for my deck as well, but do to a poor start it is a rough game. Luckily his deck needs a lot of Sunny Shore Stadiums to really have a shot against Flygon due to it resisting both of his attackers. So Sand Wall was a very key attack for this game.

In the end it comes down to 2-1 prizes,(and it seems like Paul and I always have close games), but it comes down to a Hurricane Punch on his active Luxray GL LV.X which has an Unown G attached. So I Cosmic Power for three and the last card is Machamp LV.X. I level up and use Hurricane Punch, (keep in mind all I need is 1 heads for the knock out), Luckily I role at least the one heads and proceed to Strong Willed for game next turn. GG!

(2-0)

Round 3 vs. James Proctor (Abomasnow/Gallade 4/Giratinia)

Obviously Spread was the emphasis of this deck, and again I have a bad start with Baltoy, but luckily also have a Call Energy. So I use the Call Energy and get a Trapinch and a Machop. I am trying to get set up but have not had the chance to get anything going and he gets three prizes early thanks to Snow Play on turn four. At this point I really feel that this game is over, but I play it out just to see what happens. I then play a Night Maintenance and get back my two Machops and Nidoran. I Cosmic Power and start setting up again. Nearing the end of the game, I have started to really turn things around and the prize count was 3-2. I then take a prize with Nidoqueen and it is tied at 2-2. He does end up knocking out my Nidoqueen so I bring up Machamp.

I notice that he has Gallade 4 on the field and can only assume he has a Premiere Ball in his hand ( I know that he is probably going to Blade Storm and then Chop Up for game next turn on my Claydol). So out of Desperation, I Bebe’s Search and bring out my Mesprit tech and Psychic Bind. I then use Strong Willed to take out his active Bronzong G. So it is 1-1 Prizes yet again, (apparently this was a trend on the day, at least up to this point) and I know if he has any way of putting 1 damage counter on Claydol I lose ,and don’t have a shot at top two! He brings up Abomasnow and then proceeds to Snow Play. Claydol has 70 damage on it, and I have three energy attached to my active Machamp, so I use Roseanne’s Research for the last Fighting Energy in my deck and Rage for 160 and the game! GG! (Nail Biter #3)

(3-0)

Round 4 vs. Cory Sponsler (Kingdra/techs)

I actually have a good start and turn one Flygon attach and pass to him. He gets going and turn two Kingdra and I am worried about speed here against his deck at this point. I get set up and turn two Claydol to help with stocking up Flygon. He has already knocked out an Uxie, Machop, and to make matters worse he devolves my Flygon to go up 3-6 in prizes early! I then bring my Nidoran active and attach an Upper Energy to it in hopes that I can cosmic into the candy I need for the Nidoqueen in my hand. So I Cosmic Power for three, one whiff, two whiff, thre….Rare Candy!!! So I use Rare Candy and evolve into Nidoqueen and proceed to Ruthless Tail for knock out, after knock out for the win. GG and sorry about the ridiculous luck!

(4-0)

So After swiss I am 4-0 and proceed to play in top 2 against….Cory again, (this time it went a little faster!)

Top 2 vs. Cory Sponsler (Kingdra/Techs)

Game 1

I turn one Donk with Machamp.

Game 2

He turn 2 donks with Kingdra, (dang Baltoy start and drawing into nothing!).

Game 3

I turn one Machamp and run through his bad start! GG
I win my first Battle roads, and go undefeated to start the season! I feel like this could be a great year!

My list consists of the following:

Thanks for reading, and I hope that you enjoyed it :)

-Keelan