The Sponge v1.4 (Electric/Psychic)
by Scott Gerhardt
Rama Llama Comics
Plano, Texas
Sunday, January 9th, 2000
Roughly 40 total participants

   Well, it's been about 2 months since I had posted anything about my Sponge deck.  I wanted to write a little more and tell about it's tournament experiences.  Provided DCI decided to put back up the Pokemon Ratings and Rankings, I was pretty high in the world - like #5 at the last update.  I really wanted to play a deck that could keep me up there and still keep the game fun for me.  That is why I still play Sponge.  If you ask me, this is the strongest deck in the tournament environment right now.  Thus far, up to this tournament, I had won 8 consecutive tournament and had not dropped a tournament match since November 14th - the day the deck was introduced.  Since my 1988 rating, I was riding at 21-0 DCI streak.  I must admit, I think that is a bit lucky.  The players here in the Dallas area are all so good - I just feel very fortunate to have remained undefeated for so long.  Anyway, enough ego and rambling - here is the deck:

The Sponge v1.4

4 Electabuzz
3 Promo Mewtwo
1 Mew
2 Ditto
3 Bill
4 Professor Oak
1 Gambler
4 Energy Removal
2 Super Energy Removal
3 Computer Search
3 Item Finder
3 Scoop Up
3 Gust of Wind
3 PlusPower
3 Energy Retrieval
1 Mr. Fuji
7 Psychic Energy
7 Electric Energy
3 Double Colorless Energy

This deck got slimmed down..a LOT.  In playtesting, I figured out I could drop a few Pokemon and some energy to add trainers and make it more efficient.  The resulting deck is a monster and performed well.  On to the report.  I must admit, though, that I am writing this the Thursday after the tournament, so a lot of the details are fuzzy.  I'm kinda writing it to give an example of a good deck.  In reality, I should have written this right after I came home from the tournament, and I should be using more detail than I am, just to let you know.

Round 1 vs Israel (Psy/Elec)
What I would consider my worst possible 1st round match-up.  Israel can just straight beat me.  Unfortunately, he's pretty slow in tournament play, and I was able tp use that against him.  Knowing this game would more than likely be won on time, I played a bit defensively.  I allowed a Pokemon to get sacrificed early to set up for position.  I was able to knock out 2 more before time was called.  With prizes 5-4, I won.  He was upset, so we finished the match for fun.  With me having 2 prizes left, I knocked out his last basic, winning anyway.
1-0

Round 2 vs Leslie with mono-water
I've played Leslie before and this is a bad match-up for him.  It is Cloyster/Shellder, Psyduck, and other non-Blastoise Pokemon.  My deck does well here with 4 Buzzes.  I quickly get a buzz, power it up, and attack.  His water army just was not strong enough, as a single Buzz finished off the only 3 Pokemon he had
2-0

Round 3 vs Haymaker
Haymaker has a bad time with my deck, especially if not built right.  He was missing stuff like Bill and just was not very potent.  My Mewtwo was able to give him a LOT of problems with Gusts and quickly finish him off, losing only 1 prize.  Good guy - I helped him with his deck some afterwards.
3-0

Semi-finals vs J.Rock with Haymaker
The last time we played was months ago with him getting the better of me.  Not this time.  I got a pretty slow start to his fast one.  I had to Oak 3 times in the first 2 turns, but got a lot of bad cards.  Luckily, he Oaked a few himself and ran all his Bills early.  At one point, I was in real trouble with only a Mew on the board and a Psychic energy in my hand after a Lass.  Luckily, I draw Gambler and recover.  It was late in the game - I had stabilized, but was running low on cards, as was he.  We were in a dead heat, with him about to deck first.  I was in trouble of being benched out, though, so I Bill.  Luckily, I am able to Fuji a couple turns later for 2 cards, and he decked out.  Wow - good match & I got my revenge.
4-0

Finals vs Israel
Israel defeated Gordon Kane in the semi-finals, also by decking, to fight back here.  We agree to go 2 of 3.  Game 1 I jump on him with a massive advantage, get 3 of the first 4 prizes, and am able to draw them all.  Game 2 he lasses me early, hurting me, and causing him to be able to bench me out.  While shuffling for game 3, the judge asks who won.  We state we're going to game 3.  He says that it's only 1 game, and whoever won game 1, won the match.  We protest to no avail.  Oh well - I guess I won.
5-0

Well, this extends my DCI unbeaten streak to 26 games.  Not bad if I do say so myself.  I'll keep looking to improve on this deck, but it is a monster, IMHO.

Props and Slops
Props to Israel for taking his beatings round 1, then fighting back to the finals.
Random Props to Ebay.  You know, I just really starting using Ebay, and it rules.
No slops...I don't care to give any.

Thanks for Reading!!

Scott Gerhardt
scott@pojo.com