Need Advice On Local League Tournaments

Ty_Sylicus

Ty_Sylicus

Green Mouse >'.'<
Member
Okay, so I'm trying to decide what deck I should build to win the League Tournament at my local card shop. Our League has a tourney every 5-6 weeks and I've failed to win any in a long time and have even failed to place in the last few.

The tournament rules have a funny point system and very strict time limits, which is my main frustration. :angry Every deck I've took to tourney has won me nearly every game, and yet I cannot accumulate enough points quickly enough to secure victory!

Each tourney is SIX 13-minute rounds. You and your opponent must play as many games as you can within that time limit. A win (by any means) will net you 6 points, while the losing player gets 1 point per prize card they took during that game. So ideally, you want to win multiple games in quick secession during each round.

The format for these tournies is interesting as anyone can use any cards. Since no one builds decks that abusively take advantage of older cards, I would call in "Open Play" rather than Unlimited. I've been forcing myself to play only decks that are in the current BW-on format. I don't think this is why I'm losing though.

Easier said that done I suppose. Here's an example of a deck that doesn't place in the top 3--my Darkrai deck from last tourney:

Darkrai x Sableye
Pokémon
3 Darkrai EX
4 Sableye
1 Tornadus EX
8

SPTR
4 Juniper
4 N
2 Cheren
2 Bianca
2 Random Receiver

TRNR
4 Dark Patch
4 Ultra Ball
4 Catcher
2 Energy Switch
1 Switch
1 Enhanced Hammer
2 Crushing Hammer
4 Plus Power
2 Dark Claw
1 Comp. Search ACE SPEC
39

NRG
12 Dark
1 DCE
13
I also tried this deck which did well but was too slow:

FluffyChomp
Pokémon
4 Garchomp
4 Gabite
4 Gible
3 Altaria
4 Swablu
3 Emolga
22

TRNR
4 Juniper
3 N
3 Cheren
2 Random Receiver

4 Level Ball
2 Super Rod
2 Switch
2 Catcher
3 Rescue Scarf
25

NRG
8 Fighting
4 Water
1 Blend WLFM
13

So, with that said, here's my new Keldeo x Blastoise deck:

Keldeo x Blastoise x Mewtwo
Pokémon
3-1-3 Blastoise
2 Keldeo EX
2 Mewtwo EX
1 Kyogre EX
12

TRNR
4 Juniper
4 Bianca
3 Skyla
2 Random Receiver

4 Ultra Ball
2 Level Ball
4 Rare Candy
4 Catcher
3 Energy Retrieval
1 Switch
1 Comp Search ACE SPEC
31

NRG
12 Water
4 DCE
16

I need a deck that focuses on speed, consistency, and some power. Mewtwo is here because one of the strongest decks around is a Mewtwo x Gardevoir (laugh if ya want) which took the last two tournies. A Reshiboar x Zekrom mix deck took 2nd last time.

I've taken the N card out because having two players shuffle is slowing down the gameplay, especially when I play 3-4 a game, and my opponents sometimes do as well.

This tourney format is odd and its very frustrating that I can't seem to get enough points in to win.

Please give advice on what deck you would build to take to this tourney (BW-on). I'm looking for the fastest, most aggressive decks ever.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

First of all don't play fluffychomp, its dead. I think you should also complain to your judges about the time limit. You could try building speed darkrai its hard to build with bw on but once you hit the spot it is deadly.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

What killed FluffyChomp? It's still an amazing deck by any regards.

I posted my speed Darkrai list above. Perhaps you have some advice? I found that my list rarely set up T2 Night Spears. Even when it did, the time it took me to play, search, shuffle my deck, etc, was just too slow.

I need a deck that is stupid fast and easy to play. I'm trying to trim that amount of time I search and shuffle my deck.

I've tried speaking to the League Elders about the time limit but they are quite set in their ways. I'm more concerned about changing the stupid rotation around the room based on who wins. And getting stuck at the Head Table is the worst!
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

I've been forcing myself to play only decks that are in the current BW-on format. I don't think this is why I'm losing though.
Click to expand...
I do. Compared to the HGSS-on format, BW-on looks really slow in comparison. In BW-on, you lack PONT, Dual Ball, and Junk Arm, all of which made the format relatively speedy - especially Junk Arm.
Playing in BW-on is nice, yes, and good for actual tourney practice, but unless this local tournament changes up the rules a bit it's not going to help you.

You could just build Porydonk and go "lol whatever gg", but if you want to keep things fresh for yourself, I'd look into HGSS-on decks - or at least decks built with HGSS-on cards.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

I've thought about going back and using some HGSS cards as many of my deks where HGSS-on before.

I don't mind using older cards but I refuse to play cheap decks like Porydonk, or any fully Unlimited decks as that's not fair. Winning is one thing, playing unfairly in another. Especially when the majority of players at my League are kids and teens.

Gosh it took me many months to break my hard feelings after losing PONT and Junk Arm the first time. @_@
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

Ty_Sylicus said:
What killed FluffyChomp? It's still an amazing deck by any regards.

I posted my speed Darkrai list above. Perhaps you have some advice? I found that my list rarely set up T2 Night Spears. Even when it did, the time it took me to play, search, shuffle my deck, etc, was just too slow.

I need a deck that is stupid fast and easy to play. I'm trying to trim that amount of time I search and shuffle my deck.

I've tried speaking to the League Elders about the time limit but they are quite set in their ways. I'm more concerned about changing the stupid rotation around the room based on who wins. And getting stuck at the Head Table is the worst!
Click to expand...
Garchomp/Altaria was never good...
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

o_O ...Really? haha. Perhaps this is because it's difficult to understand how simplistic the Meta in my area is.

Up here, FluffyChomp is Tier1. Along with Mewtwo/Gardevoir... heh, just about any popular deck I built is enough to win most games.

We're off topic though. I'm still lost. :(
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

for keldeo

-1 kyogre ex

+1 keldeo ex
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

If that's really your local meta, might I suggest a speed deck? Maybe with Rayquaza non EX (kills fluffychomp) and Mewtwo (kills mewtwo gardevoir). Both are relatively cheap, as Rayquaza is a dragon vault promo and Mewtwo is a promo as well.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

@ hammer time! - I'll be getting a 3rd Keldeo in Spring Tin.

@ pokemonjoe - Speed decks, yes! That's basically what I'm asking advice for. I read that Tornadus EX is a speed but too expensive. I do have three Mewtwo, so one more wouldn't cost much. Instead of a single from online, I'll just buy a tin.

So here's decklists for Mewtwo:
Mewtwo x Gardevoir HGSS-on
Pokémon
4 Mewtwo
3-1-3 Gardevoir
11

SPT
4 Juniper
4 PONT
3 Skyla
11

TNR
4 Ultra Ball
4 Candy
3 Switch
4 Plus Power
3 Catcher
2 Energy Retreival
2 Junk Arm

1 Comp Search ACE SPEC
23

NRG
4 DCE
11 Psychic
15

Speed Mewtwo (Unlimited, but not abusive)
[edit 1]
(this is only my second deck using cards older than HGSS, so...)

Pokémon
4 Mewtwo EX
2 Cleffa ???
6

SPT
4 Juniper
2 Skyla
2 Seeker
2 Scott
10

TNR
4 Erika
2 Dual Ball
1 Luxury Ball
3 Switch
4 Plus Power
3 Catcher
3 Junk Arm
2 Energy Removal (Base)

2 Expert Belt
(is this a worth playing?)

4 Comp Search (Base)
(is this still allowed in Unlimited?)

2 Giant Stump (Stadium)
30

NRG
4 DCE
10 Psychic
14

Card total: 60

So what do you think?
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

I would recommend 4 Junk Arm instead of 3, some Uxies, some Crobat Gs, some poke turns, some Smeargles, and probably 2 more energy removal.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

*FOC* Yes, all that sounds fun (and I am familiar with nearly every card you mentioned) but, it's very important that I do not take full advantage of using old Unlimited cards. I can stick a few in and it'll go unnoticed but, if I start using all that great (abusive) stuff, kids will be likely to complain. I want to win but, do so somewhat fairly, so as not to hurt any kid's feelings. Understand? It's a fine line. Well, that and I sometimes have to argue about rulings on old cards with the League Elders (which is why I can't play Item Finder anymore). :/
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

Fair enough, but I would still recommend Smeargle over Cleffa as it greatly increases consistency, but you can still attack.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

So you think my Speed Mewtwo is fast enough? And the deklist looks solid enough?

You're referring to the HGSS Smeargle? I used to love that card but, after many months of testing it in nearly every dek I had at the time, I found that most players in my Meta simply fail to play an adequate number of Supporters. So my Smeargles were whiffing and I felt stupid about it.

I do enjoy Smeargle a bunch when we play Worlds decks against each other. :)
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

Ty_Sylicus said:
So you think my Speed Mewtwo is fast enough? And the deklist looks solid enough?

You're referring to the HGSS Smeargle? I used to love that card but, after many months of testing it in nearly every dek I had at the time, I found that most players in my Meta simply fail to play an adequate number of Supporters. So my Smeargles were whiffing and I felt stupid about it.

I do enjoy Smeargle a bunch when we play Worlds decks against each other. :)
Click to expand...
To make it faster, I would exchange the cleffas for cards that can draw without attacking, or drop them altogether because you really want to be attacking T1. Honestly, I don't know exactly how many rotated cards you are willing to play, so I can't really help you there. The decklist could definitely be improved with more powerful rotated cards, but it looks ok for a minimal amount of those cards. It definitely looks solid to me though.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

Thanks for the advice. The main reason I'm pushing for some other Pokémon besides just quad Mewtwo is b/c each time I have to reshuffle my opening hand, I lose precious time from those 13 mins!
To increase the odds of getting a Pokémon on my first hand, I added the Cleffa. I remember last year when they used to serve us all well.

As far as older cards, please list any you can think of. I'll research and consider. :)

I appreciate your advice, especially as you're the only one.
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

An interesting thought for speed is RayQUADza. It is basically 4 rayquaza EX, some ultra ball/skyla, and alot of energy. Allows for a hard hitting dragon burst every other turn. Very fast deck. If time limits are the problem... then this is one of the best ways to go
 
RE: Need advice on local League tournements

My advice is play the deck you are most comfortable with and then you will learn to play it fast. My Eels deck has grown on me and I have grown on it, and I play so fast it's sometimes hard for people to keep up.
 
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