“R.S.V.P.” —The Easiest Way to Get a Worlds Invite!

By: Jay Lesage · Posted Posted onAug 14, 2018 at 7:24 PM · 0 Comments

Good morning, good evening, and goodnight everybody! With Worlds right around the corner, it’s a bittersweet moment for a lot of players — the conclusion of a season, followed by the rebirth of another. It’s a different feeling that varies from person to person, but overall no matter what, everybody grows as a player. I’m personally excited for this World Championships as it’ll be my first day one ever! It’s exciting to have to fight my way through the grassroots in order to obtain my admission to the hot ticket: day two. If you crack day three, that’s how you know you’re in the real money, though!

With the new set of Celestial Storm releasing, there’s too many cards to pick from that emerge from it. As players, we have to make educated decisions as to what to play, but what if I told you that you didn’t have to? What if I told you that your decision was already made for you for basically every tournament? This article essentially has two major sections.

  • The Easiest Way to Get Your Invite
  • The Easiest Way Into Day Two of Worlds

These are both “click-baitey” titles, but I promise that they’re both researched statements. The reason why they work? They’re developed on the same premise: playing the odds. If we play the odds to be in our favour, then we’ll have no problems! As a player, this may mean that we take some L’s here and there, but our win percentage will far outweigh the cons in our plan.

The Easiest Way to Get Your Invite

You might be reading this as a player who is looking in from a glass window — you just whiffed your invite going into Worlds, or you didn’t put in enough effort because you burned out too early in the season. You tried, tried, and tried some more, but in the end it wasn’t enough in order to secure 400 CP. So what do you do next? I think the easiest way to address the following is by talking about the adverse side of things, the hardest way to get your invite. Here are some factors that make it difficult to get your invite:

  • Don’t practice
  • Don’t do your research
  • Give up

This sounds too obvious right? Let’s talk about the flip-side.

Step 1: Exclusively Play the Best Deck Available

[cardimg name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

So you’re at a point in the season where you’re about to go into a Regionals, and you have no clue what to play. 99% of the time, you can just play the best deck! This is the biggest trick ever to getting your invite, and it works every single time. When you enter a Regionals with 700 – 1000 players in your division, you have to be able to handle all sorts of scenarios, and in most cases, the best deck currently can handle those. Let’s take for example, [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] (BuzzRoc). BuzzRoc was so successful because it was able to take down every single deck in the format with its brute strength, and even go 50-50 in most cases against its most popular counter, [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]! This is an example of a BDIF being in the upper-crust of all decks in the history of Pokemon — the only thing that can take it down is its own consistency. Here’s an example of a story from a Regional Championships that occurred this season.

I was working a lot in the middle of the season, and was very busy with a co-op for my semester — I needed a deck that was going to net me CP, but I also wanted to win the tournament. Going against my own morals, I knew these were two very adverse goals, and with my lack of judgement, I almost played [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card]! This is something that I’d advise against going into any tournament if you’re trying to get your invite, because Greninja is very high-risk/high-reward when it comes to CP. One day before the Toronto Regional Championships, I was on my way to work when I came downstairs to see a very sleepy Jimmy Pendarvis on my couch. He had stayed over the previous night with Igor because my brother Zach had just come back from a tournament the previous day. Upon Jimmy waking up, I asked him what he’d play if he was in my case: somebody who just needed CP in order to stay in the run for a Worlds invite. In his sleepy somber without hesitation, he said: “BuzzRoc”. At the time, this was the indisputable BDIF, so when I asked him why, he looked taken aback. He replied with the statement that is the backbone for this article:

“Why would you not play the BDIF at all tournaments? If you don’t, you put yourself behind the curve, and at an automatic disadvantage.”

Now, by no means am I saying that if you play any deck that isn’t the socially valued “BDIF”, that you’ll instantly lose — but you’ll statistically be more likely to earn a lesser placing than those playing the BDIF (whether that is marginally or not). Those who play the BDIF in tournament sometimes have an off day where they all bomb, and those are notorious for people celebrating (i.e. no BuzzRoc in the Top 8 of NAIC), however that celebration is warranted because it is so unlikely!

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Step 2: Know Your Skill Level In Coordination With The Deck

There’s a mental chart, if you will, that you can think of in your head when I’m talking about this next section. When you play Pokemon, most players know their own general skill level in the grand scheme of things; it’s valid to shoot for the stars and go for pro, but it’s worth more to know where you’re at in comparison to others. Basically what I’m saying is, you need to ask yourself a few questions before you pick up a deck..

What is my Skill Level Currently at?

As stated above, you have to know what your skill level is at. This’ll generally address many of the questions which we’ll go over below, and more importantly it’ll tell you where you need to be (in terms of skill). By knowing your skill, it will tell you whether you should play a deck that’s very simple for your highest chances of winning (ex. BuzzRoc), or a complex deck that requires high level of play in order to yield a solid performance ([card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card]). For example, Tord Reklev, the three time International Champion, playtested the heck out of his Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] deck for NAIC in order to wrap up a well-deserved second place finish. If a lower caliber player were to have played the same complex deck, it surely would’ve given them a lesser result.

Does this Deck Have a Low Skill Floor?

By low skill floor, I’m referencing the ability for somebody to pickup a deck and perform well with it. Decks with low skill floors are generally consistent, hard-hitting decks, or naturally have a way of deflecting our opponent’s plan. Examples of these types of decks include Night March, Quad [card name=”Hoopa” set=”Shining Legends” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], or BuzzRoc. Most of these decks with low skill floors will just end up winning because they’re just so powerful on their own, that even if you end up making a mistake you can still win (because you’ll already be so far ahead, or have the resources within the deck to recover).

Does it Have a High Skill Ceiling?

Ah, yes, the high skill ceiling. This is when a deck is very difficult to pilot to its highest degree, and these decks are usually unstoppable when played perfectly. If a deck has a high skill floor, and a high skill ceiling, these are among the most difficult of decks to play! Veterans of the game usually tend to favour these decks, because their expertise and experience with the cards throughout the years give them a natural advantage with a high skill ceiling deck. It’s almost advantageous for them to play these types of decks, because the odds of an amateur player playing it to the same degree that a veteran of Pokemon would are slim! Decks of this nature are typically lock decks, or decks with several options — think [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card].

How Much Will I Improve if I Practice With This Deck?

This is the most important of the questions you need to ask yourself, as it usually comes with a sublet of miniature questions. Do you have time to test? Do you have access to a testing partner? Or a group of people? Do you prefer to play secretly or at public Leagues? The bottom line we’re trying to get to here is to decide how much practice we’ll need with a deck. The lower the skill ceiling, the less practice you’ll need. Correspondingly, the higher the skill ceiling is, the more time you’re going to want to put into a deck.

This is just a little peak into the easiest way to choose your deck for any tournament that you’re playing in! Always try to play a popular deck that’s within the Tier 1 bubble, and try to practice as much as you can with it. If you don’t have time to practice, play a low skill floor deck! Follow these tips throughout the entirety of the season and it will net you way more CP than you expect, and will almost guarantee you get an invite (assuming you play average and attend the necessary amount of events).

The Easiest Way Into Day Two of Worlds

The easiest way into day two isn’t exactly what I’d call a secret, but it’s pretty gosh darn close! I’ve based my statement on a history of success, merely on numbers alone. The deck that I’m advising people to play has the highest odds of winning in this given format because it can handle the new wave of decks brought on by Celestial Storm, primarily the new wave of [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Stakataka-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] decks. If you can take on those decks, as well as anything that existed pre-Celestial Storm, then you’re in the money. Here’s my sample BuzzRoc list that I’ve been testing in order to win the necessary amount of games (and advance you into the elusive day two of Worlds).

BuzzRoc

[decklist name=”BuzzRoc” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″][pokemon amt=”14″]4x [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”22″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Diancie Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”Steam Siege” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”143″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”161″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Brooklet Hill” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]9x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”9″][/card]4x [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Beast Energy Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

The only change that I’ve made in this list is cutting a single [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] in order to add in a copy of [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card]. The purpose behind this is in order to prevent Rayquaza from teeing off, and slapping [card name=”Wishful Baton” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] on all of their Pokemon. If you have a copy of Field Blower live in the deck past turn one, you can at least keep some component of their Tools in check, and have a chance at winning the game. The same goes for any other weird deck that opts to play Garbodor, or perhaps other interesting Tools (ex. [card name=”Stakataka-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] decks playing [card name=”Assault Vest” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Metal Frying Pan” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]).

The reason mainly why I’m commenting on the new wave of decks is because those are the added addition — I mean, against all [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM84″ c=”name”][/card] variants, we host a positive matchup to them whether it’s slightly, or just flat out favourable. [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] we can hold our own against, but it’s important to not underestimate this deck — it takes high-skill plays from the BuzzRoc player in order to combat against this. You’ll primarily use Lycanroc in this matchup, and aim to take down either all of their [card name=”Inkay” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card] and Malamar if possible. If not, try to target down their [card name=”Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM101″ c=”name”][/card], because it’ll be the most pesky of their attackers to KO (due to their -20 Fighting Resistance).

Matchups

Stakataka-GX

With Naganadel – Slightly Favourable

[cardimg name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The way this matchup boils down is basically you using [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] in order to negate their natural advantage of having Weakness against your Psychic-weak attackers. [card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] has a high amount of HP, but if you do it correctly, you can take down the first Naganadel with Dangerous Rogue. The second one, you’re going to want to use Claw Slash on, and then finish them off with a Sledgehammer form your [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]. From there, you can usually [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] onto a [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] and figure out how to take the final two Prizes.

With Straight Dusk Mane Necrozma – Even

This matchup is a little bit more difficult than its predecessor, because they can snipe all of your GX’s with [card name=”Dusk Mane Necrozma” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM107″ c=”name”][/card] while setting up multiple Stakataka. My best bet in this matchup is to not bench a GX at all costs if possible, which will negate a lot of their early game damage. From there, we’re going to start picking away with a Buzzwole using Sledgehammer (and as many damage buffers as possible). If the Stakataka player is smart, they’ll use their [card name=”Dhelmise” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM53″ c=”name”][/card] combined with Gigaton Stomp in order to hit for 130 damage and KO all of the opponent’s Buzzwole in one hit. Utilize your Buzzwole-GX to the fullest: if the opponent benches too many Stakataka, fruitfully use Knuckle Impact as many times as possible, because most Stakataka decks that don’t include [card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] also don’t include a copy of a Psychic-type attacker.

Rayquaza-GX – Even

Going into this matchup, it’s sheerly based off of speed and their starting Pokemon. If they start with a Pokemon that is a non-GX, like [card name=”Latias Prism Star” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card], we’re in trouble because our early game damage is going to suck against them. If they start with a GX, we’re cooking, because we an 2HKO most GXs by using Buzzwole’s Sledgehammer attack. We luckily pack a copy of Field Blower in our deck so we can pop off their Wishful Baton at the right time — be sure to preserve this for the right moment, otherwise they’ll preserve all of their Energy. If played correctly, they’ll lose their Wishful Baton right before a big KO, and then you’ll effectively make them lose three Energy (which is the equivalent of 90 damage in their eyes).

The [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] version is effectively worse against us, because they are less consistent than the streamlined Rayquaza version; for that purpose, we are slightly more favourable against the Garbodor version. The best play the Garbodor version can make against us is playing [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] in the late game while placing us under Garbotoxin lock, rendering our [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] useless. Thin your deck out properly throughout the match, and you should be fine.

Zoroark-GX / Magcargo – Favourable

This matchup is favourable, but don’t let that fool you — it’s only favourable when played correctly, because they can infinitely strand a Pokemon up Active and strip Energy off of it. For example, if they strand your [card name=”Diancie Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] in the Active spot, remove the [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] from it, and keep on using [card name=”Team Flare Grunt” set=”Generations” no=”73″ c=”name”][/card], you may be stuck there a few turns! From there, they may proceed to use [card name=”Team Rocket’s Handiwork” set=”Fates Collide” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] in order to try and mill all of your switching outs (whether that’s additional Float Stones, Energy, or Guzma). Don’t bench things that can’t attack! For example, I wouldn’t bench [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] unless you’re sure that you have enough outs to close out a game. Keep in mind, you only need to draw six Prizes, which means you need to KO three Zoroark-GX (or a Tapu Lele-GX). If possible, take out their Magcargo, because it fuels them with the ammo they need in order to get rid of your Energy and win the game. A player who is careful with their resources should win this game quite frequently — just remember to attach a Basic Energy to your [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card], and then attach Strong (otherwise expect an [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] to come down and punish you for poor play).

Conclusion

I’m in love with this deck’s positioning in the current format, it really just has to duck Malamar, Rayquaza, and the mirror. Even in a worst case scenario if you hit those matchups, you can handle them with the correct practice! I’m booking my flight today to go to the World Championships, and I can’t wait to see you all there. If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Facebook or reach out to me at Worlds. Until next time, folks, get lucky and run hot!

~Jacob Lesage

#PlayPokemon

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