Winners of June TCG Cup Crowned! Deck Lists and Interview!
PokeBeach’s June TCG Cup is over and the winners have been crowned!
The tournament was played in the Standard format — XY through Fates Collide.
Interview with the Champion
Coming in first place is Grant Manley from North Carolina! He will walk away with 18 booster packs from TCGplayer.com. Here’s our interview with him:
How well are you performing in Play! Pokemon tournaments this season?
I have not done very well this season but my high point was getting Top 4 at NC States to clinch my Worlds invite.
Why did you decide to participate in this tournament?
I love that these are free tournaments. They are great opportunities to test and win free prizes. I try to enter as many of them as I can.
What deck did you play for the May TCG Cup?
I played [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. It wasn’t a well-known deck at the time so I was hoping to catch people by surprise with its deceptively favorable matchups spread. It’s a really strong deck that was working quite well so I wanted to try it out here. The tournament was also used as Nationals testing even though I didn’t end up playing Dark.
What kind of decks did you play against?
I played against [card name=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card], Night March, [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card].
What was your favorite card in your list?
My favorite card was probably [card name=”Malamar-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card]. I didn’t use it much during the tournament but it can create some hilarious situations. It’s a good tech against [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Regice” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card].
What was your most exciting game or match?
My most exciting match was against [card name=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]. This is a bad matchup for me, but I somehow pulled out a close game one. I offered my opponent an Intentional Draw when I went up a game, but he politely declined because he knew it was a good matchup for him. I got destroyed in game two. I narrowly won game three by killing two [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] and something else along the way. Normally I have a hard time killing Manectric and Ho-Oh because they heal themselves, but I got lucky when my opponent had to bench two Shaymin.
Would you make any changes to your deck or list?
I think the deck was ideal for this tournament so I wouldn’t change anything.
What kind of decks give your deck trouble? Which are good matchups?
[card name=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] is a bad matchup, and so is Night March if they run a lot of anti-[card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] cards. I think Water Box could be a bad matchup but it’s pretty close. Good matchups are [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], and Night March if they don’t run anti-Giratina cards like [card name=”Jirachi” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY67″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card].
How do Steam Siege and the rotation affect your deck? Is it still viable?
I think this deck will have to be turned into straight Dark. Pokemon Ranger is released which ruins [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. I don’t think Giratina is good anymore. [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] could stay but I think [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is a lot less popular now so you don’t really need him. A focused and speedy straight Dark deck is probably the way to go now.
Congratulations, Grant!
It seems like Grant is calling out his competition. Are you gonna let him talk about PokeBeach’s tournaments that way? Join the next tournament and defend your honor as well as your website’s!
Putting that aside, here is the deck list Grant used to win the tournament:
[decklist name=”Grant’s Dark/Tina/Garb” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″][pokemon amt=”14″]3x [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Malamar-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC16″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]8x [card name=”Darkness Energy” set=”XY” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Other Top Finishers
Coming in 2nd, 3rd and 4th places were Elliot Sayles (elbow), Derek Babine (D-Babs) and Logan Davis (Danglesmcjangles). All three won a bunch of booster packs from the newest sets, including Logan who earned double the normal amount of packs thanks to his premium membership. Their deck lists can be seen here:
Elliot Sayles
[decklist name=”Elliot’s Night March” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”44″][pokemon amt=”18″]4x [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”44″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Joltik” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”26″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Lampent” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”42″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Xerosic” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”110″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Target Whistle” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”6″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Generations” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Metal Energy” set=”XY” no=”139″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Derek Babine
[decklist name=”Derek’s Manectric/Ho-Oh” amt=”60″ caption=”undefined” cname=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″][pokemon amt=”12″]2x [card name=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”23″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”23″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Smeargle” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Xerosic” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Manectric Spirit Link” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Switch” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”13″]5x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Black and White” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”5″][/card]3x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”XY” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”Black and White” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”Black and White” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Logan Davis
[decklist name=”Logan’s Greninja” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″][pokemon amt=”17″]3x [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Greninja” set=”XY” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Jirachi” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Xerosic” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”110″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sacred Ash” set=”Flashfire” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Town Map” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]8x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”Diamond and Pearl” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
The top finishers also earned Prize Wall points on TCGplayer.com, which allows them to exchange their points for even more products like booster packs and promo boxes.
Everyone in the Top 32 of PokeBeach’s monthly tournaments will also receive Prize Wall points via e-mail. Be sure to check your inboxes!
Creative Deck Winners
As part of every tournament, PokeBeach’s article writers voted for the five premium members whom they felt used the most creative deck lists.
jbcheshire, Yog, dmiller58, gracebond and Wil Yates each walked away with several booster packs or a specially-selected Pokemon promo product from TCGplayer.com. The decks we saw these players use include [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Bronzong” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Genesect-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Raikou” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”M Scizor-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Bronzong” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Reshiram” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card].
For every tournament, the five premium members who come up with the most creative decks will win booster packs and promo products.
Want to Become a Premium Member?
August’s tournament will be posted on August 1st, and July’s tournament is currently underway. Each tournament awards up to four booster boxes of product to top finishers plus promo products and additional booster packs to premium members.
If you’re interested in becoming a premium member, be sure to check out this link. All premium members get reserved slots in the tournaments, double the amount of booster pack wins, double the amount of Prize Wall points, a chance to win even more product for using creative decks, and of course all the other benefits that go along with having a premium membership, including weekly articles from the game’s top players and deck help from said players. A premium membership is extremely diverse!
Thanks, TCGplayer!
All of these prizes are brought to you by TCGplayer.com. Their online store offers the cheapest Pokemon cards on the Internet from thousands of different sellers — you will find no better deals! So be sure to check them out any time you want to purchase or sell Pokemon cards!
In the future, you can always use our navigation menu to access their store.
(Note: The Pokémon Company International is not a sponsor or endorser of PokeBeach’s tournaments, contests, or prizes, nor does the company or its affiliates have any formal association with PokeBeach. Our activities are by fans, for fans, and are not sanctioned or approved by TPCi.)