I was excited about this Battle Roads. I am in the Senior division, and our two best Seniors had just moved up to Masters. I had never done better than fifth place, so I was eager to go for the Victory Medal this time. When I got to the library where the tournament was being held, I turned in my deck list. There were only five seniors in my division so I was confident that I could win.
Before the tournament started, people started trickling in from different places. J-Wittz brought his crew and another Master brought his family. People were even coming from Indianapolis. I started to play a pickup game with a Master. He was playing Jack-Spread. His deck had Infernape 4, Raichu GL, Forretress G, Bronzong G, Dialga G, and Crobat G. Right now, you may be thinking that sounds really bad, but he made top cut. I was playing Machamp, so I thought I could easily beat him, and told him so.
We started playing and I got my Machamp out turn one. He out speeded me somehow though so we were 3 and 3 for prizes when the Judge posted pairings and we had to scoop. I had lost my confidence. Then I saw the pairings. The judge had combined the seniors and masters into one division. Now I was scared. However, the computer was still trying to pair us seniors together, and round 1 I was paired with K.
Round 1: K with Ursaring
I start with Unown R active. K starts with an Undaunted Eevee active and a Teddiursa on the bench. He “wins” the coin flip. He attaches to his Teddiursa and passes. I use Pokémon Collector to get Machop, Unown Q, and Uxie. I use Unown Q’s “Quick” and attached him to my Unown R. Then I retreat my Unown R and bring up the Machop. I attach a fighting energy to him. I have the Rare Candy in my hand, but not the Machamp. I use Uxie’s “Set Up” and draw into Luxury Ball. I search out Machamp and used “Take Out” for the knockout.
He brings up his only remaining Pokémon, Teddiursa, evolves to Ursaring, and attaches another energy card. He still didn’t have enough energy to attack, so he passes. I drew the perfect top deck: Expert Belt. I attached to my ‘Champ and used Take Out, for 60 damage, which against Ursaring, is times two, which is a knockout. My first win is definitely cheap.
1-0
Round 2: B with PalkiaChomp
I start with a Machop again with a Pokémon Collector in my hand. I am very excited to be playing against SP and I am sure I can win. He goes first, but uses his Mesprit’s “Psychic Bind” for the next two turns. I still manage to pull out the win because his Drifblim was prized and because I don’t get enough Pokémon out for Palkia’s “Lost Cyclone” Poke-Power to have any effect on me. Another cheap win.
2-0
Round 3: W with Raichu-Magnezone
I start with Unown R with Warp Point, Fighting Energy, Rare Candy, and Machamp in my hand. I top deck Machop, put it down, attach to it, Candy it into Machamp, and play Warp Point to donk his lone Magnemite. CHEAP!!!
3-0
Round 4: Andrew (Master) with DialgaChomp
This ends up to be the best game I play all day. He starts with Dialga G and like 3 things on the bench. I get the donk start and go second. He has to pass and I take out his Dialga. If he had gotten a “Deafen” on me I may not have won, but I don’t see a Dialga for the rest of the game. He puts up a good fight with a Drifblim from Undaunted, but I win with six “Take outs”. Cheap win number four.
4-0
Round 5: Levi (Master) with BLG
I had seen Levi at two previous Nationals so it was fun to play him again. I started with a Machop and he started with an Ambipom G and a Blaziken FB on the bench. He “won” the coin flip and passed. I Rare Candied into Machamp, attached, and used “Take Out”. He was helpless. Cheap win number five.
5-0
Seniors didn’t get a Top Cut because there were only five of us. Afterwards, I overheard some masters saying “Wow. This was a tough Battle Roads. I wasn’t expecting the kids with the Hula Pikachus here.”
Pros:
I won!
I proved that Machamp can do well in this format.
The master I played before the tournament got second.
My little brother got second in his division.
J-Wittz came. (Yeah, beat that. J-Wittz goes to my league.)
Cons:
I played a cheap deck.
Everyone I played was either SP or had 2x weakness to lightning.
There was no top cut.
What a fun Battle Roads!
