Panama City Trainer Showdown
Place: Panama Subs in Panama City, FL
Date: June 10, 2000 at 1:00 PM
Tournament Turnout: 20 Participants


This is Sonitir the Wandering Mage bringing a tourney report for your viewing
pleasure.  This week ran a lot smoother then last week.  No significant
problems although there were two participants that managed to squeak in just
in the nick of time.  A smaller turnout this week, but a much stronger field.
 Last week with 26 participants the field seems just too thin with several
weak players taking a chance to learn providing a few easier rounds for
several.  This week, most of the battles were earned and well fought. 
Running with my same theme as last week I decided to make just a few changes
to the deck I ran this week.  The major problem that arose last week was
dealing with Fossil Muk.  So, I took some time the Friday prior to the
tournament to see if I could find a solution for it.  With two possible
strategies of either running AeroMew as a side theme in the deck or dropping
in a couple of the Movie Promo Mewtwos, I opted for the less card intensive
route of running the Mewtwos.  This not only gave me an for Fossil Muk when
he arrives on the scene, but also gave me a viable early game threat rather
than just dealing with the damage.  Another change in the deck was the
switching out of 3 energies (2 Grass, 1 Psychic) for 3 Rainbow Energies.  The
initial 10 points of damage from play from the hand was insignificant if it
helped in gaining the turns necessary to get the combo out.  So without
further adieu here is the deck I call Denial.


Denial

Pokemon: 23
3 Abra (Team Rocket)
2 Kadabra (Base Set)
2 Alakazam (Base Set)
2 Movie Promo Mewtwo (Promo)
3 Oddish (Jungle)
3 Dark Gloom (Team Rocket)
2 Dark Vileplume (Team Rocket)
3 Snorlax (Jungle)
3 Tentacool (Fossil)

Trainers: 18
2 Bill (Base Set)
2 Computer Search (Base Set)
3 Gust of Wind (Base Set)
2 Poke Ball (Jungle)
2 Pokemon Breeder (Base Set)
3 Pokemon Trader (Base Set)
2 Professor Oak (Base Set)
2 The Boss's Way (Team Rocket)

Energy: 19
3 Double Colorless Energy (Base Set)
3 Full Heal Energy (Team Rocket)
3 Grass Energy (Base Set)
7 Psychic Energy (Base Set)
3 Rainbow Energy (Team Rocket)

The energy seems a little low, and the Pokemon count a little high.  However,
this deck concentrates on using the powers of the Pokemon while they are in
play rather then trying to power everything.  An early note of the future,
but during my final matches the mix of Pokemon, trainers, and energy proved
to be very painful resulting in most unwanted consequences.  For those of
you, who haven't read my prior report this deck's basic concept is to get
Dark Vileplume, Alakazam, and Tentacool(s) on to the bench with an active
Snorlax.  This allows for the denial of trainers as well as damage utilizing
Alakazam's Damage Swap to move damage from the active pokemon to the
Tentacools to be Cowardiced away each turn.  This basically nullifies the
effects of damage on the active pokemon if it deals 40 or less damage. 
Thanks to Dark Vileplume in play the Tentacools can't be gusted to the active
position as easily for quick disposal.  Then basically pound away with
Snorlax and utilize Dark Gloom's Pollen Stench to keep your opponent under
status effects and on their toes.  Well that's a good summary of the deck,
now on to the report.

Round 1 - Charles Johnson w/ Denial vs. Shannon Harris w/ Haymaker Variant

Starting Situation:
Charles: Tentacool (active) & Snorlax in play w/ 5 card hand
Shannon: Scyther (active) & Eevee in play w/ 9 card hand

Unlike last week things started off rocky for me this week, and this time it
would be so the entire day.  Opening coin flip lands in my favor and I go to
work with a poor hand holding not only Dark Gloom but Dark Vileplume as well
with no Oddish in sight.  Lack of energy was also a problem with only a
single Rainbow Energy in hand and few trainers.  Shannon of course sees the
opportunity and takes it placing a DCE (Double Colorless Energy, for those of
you who don't know) on Scyther first turn.  Noticing trouble in the air, I
retreat the Tentacool promoting the Snorlax and gusting out the Eevee to
avoid problems.  Shannon drops a Kangaskhan and drops a second DCE on it.  My
turn I end up using Pokemon Trader to get an Oddish an attempt to gather
resources to get my combo going.  However, fate would have it that it would
take several turns for me to get much of anything going.  However, thanks to
Dark Gloom I manage to keep some of the damage from getting through.  Another
help was the fact that she opted to use Eevee for finishing off Snorlax
rather then retreating for Scyther again (this proved to be vital).  After
Shannon had drawn 2 prizes for an early 4-6 lead I get the one thing I had
been waiting for, Professor Oak.  Discarding a 9 card hand I'm able to get
most of my combo into play and power a second Snorlax.  Next turn staring
down a full bench and realizing time was short I take a chance and go for a
Computer Search hoping Dark Vileplume is in the deck to complete the combo
since Alakazam was already in play.  Thankfully the card is there and the
combo hits the table.  Thanks to denial of trainers and damage, and a 75%
chance for status effects I manage to get the win as time runs out due to
prizes.  Prize count was 4-1 in my favor.

Result: WIN due to prize advantage (4-1)
Standing: 1-0

Round 2 - Charles Johnson w/ Denial vs. Josh Miles w/ VenuCenter

Starting Situation:
Charles: Oddish (active) & Abra in play w/ 5 card hand
Josh: Lickitung (active), Bulbasaur, & Dratini w/ 4 card hand

After having to make a comeback victory against Shannon, I was revealed to
the fact that today was going to be a long day.  Josh had just come off a
victory over his dad and really didn't like the fact that he had to play me
next.  Coin flip favors me once again.  And the beginning of the game is
nothing more than back and forth tinks of damage with some causing paralysis.
 I get a Snorlax out and then start work on the combo by getting Dark Gloom
going early and causing confusion amongst Josh's pokemon.  This proves
valuable with both Dragonite and Venusaur hit the table and beginning to deal
heavy damage to my Snorlax.  Luckily by the time the Snorlax was being beaten
heavily, Alakazam had hit the sence and Tentacools were standing by to run
away in Cowardice with damage.  Soon he's forced to bring out his big gun
Venusaur after almost losing Dragonite.  Unfortunately for him, I manage to
confuse it after it deals it's initial 60 damage from Solarbeam and 2 turns
later Dark Vileplume made his presence felt.  From there it was merely a
matter of turns before Josh's forces began to cave in.  Though he did get the
early surge the tide changed and was too much to handle.  Prize count was 6-2
due to the fact he ran out of Pokemon.

Result: WIN to due to no pokemon in play
Standing 2-0

Round 3 - Charles Johnson w/ Denial vs. Logan Morgan w/ AeroMew

Starting Situation:
Charles - Abra (active) & Snorlax in play w/ 5 card hand
Logan - Jynx (active), Mew, & Scyther in play w/ 4 card hand

Logan and I had battled last week and thanks to my combo getting out early,
he was unable to get an Aerodactyl out and thus it was Snorlax beating down
Psychic pokemon.  This week would be almost the exact opposite, but once
again Snorlax would make himself felt.  Within the first 3 turns of the game,
Logan has his AeroMew combo out and I'm sitting with a Snorlax, Tentacool,
Oddish, and Abra in play and eventually am holding plenty of evolutions. 
Though Logan did get his combo early, he was unable to get too much offense
going thanks to Snorlax's resistance to Psychic.  After getting a hold of one
Gust of Wind and trying to use Oddish to keep Aerodactyl at bay and failing a
new tactic was necessary.  So, when the second Gust of Wind finally came,
Snorlax was nominated for the job and successfully took out the Aerodactyl. 
With 3 turns, my combo hits the table even though I'm already ahead on prizes
5-3 thanks to Snorlax eating a few small Psychic pokemon.  The combo just
helps to seal the deal and I win within 7-8 turns.  Prize count was 5-0 in my
favor.

Result: WIN due to drawing all prizes
Standing: 3-0

Round 4 - Charles Johnson w/ Denial vs. Rob Cunningham w/ Haymaker variant

Starting Situation:
Charles: Mewtwo (active) w/ 6 card hand
Rob: Scyther (active) w/ 6 card hand

Well, after 3 rounds there are 3 of us undefeated.  Strangely enough it
seemed as if it were déjà vu.  I played the same opponent in Round 3 this
weeks as last, and the same 3 people were undefeated after Round 3 (myself,
Rob Cunningham, and Juddy Harris).  Last week I faced Juddy and went the time
limit, this week I faced Rob and after a crtical point in the match…… well
I'll let you find out.  Interesting start for these two decks with each of us
having one Pokemon a piece, but I was holding both Snorlax and Tentacool. 
Start of the game includes and exchange of bye turns and then an onslaught. 
I come out firing with Psyburn, and he's Slashing away.  Scyther gets away to
bring out Electabuzz who then dispatches of Mewtwo.  Due to this crtical
decision of whether to save the ailing Electabuzz or get rid of the menacing
Mewtwo, the game began to go downhill.  I manage to get my combo to hit the
table having Snorlax active with a single energy, with Tentacool, Alakazam,
and Dark Vileplume on the bench.  The only problem, no cards in hand and a
Hitmonchan staring me in the face.  My next 3 turns offer Professor Oak,
Bill, and Pokemon Trader none of which do me any good since Dark Vileplume's
on the table.  When I do manage to hit a DCE, it's helpful, but when the next
draw leaves me dry, Snorlax is destined to die, and myself with him.  I
sacrifice the Vileplume and try to stave off as long as I can, but with
trainers active again and a fist full of cards Rob is able to plow me over
and prepare my grave for the rest of the day.  He wins handily with a prize
advantage of 0-6.

Result: LOSS due to drawing all prizes
Standing: 3-1

Round 5 - Charles Johnson w/ Denial vs. Brent Miles w/ Fire/Lightning Deck

Starting Situation:
Charles: Oddish (active) w/ 6 card hand
Brent: Charmander (active), Electabuzz and Eevee in play w/ 4 card hand

Well at this point, I have a 3-1 record and needs this match to assure myself
a place in the Top 8.  Brent after losing his first 2 games and winning the
next 2 needed this game to have a chance.  And with the starting situation it
looked like he would do exactly that.  Coin flip is in my favor and I manage
to paralyze Charmander for one turn, and on my third turn get something to
take the Oddish's place before it died, replacing it with Snorlax.  I drop a
Dark Gloom to try to slow down the speed of his lightning and fire.  But with
little energy flow and timely energy removal on his part, he keeps me from
doing any significant damage.  This causes me to rely on status effects and
hope it holds off long enough.  And though through the sacrificing of 2
Snorlax, and having status effects kick in once and a while, I can do nothing
more than Pokemon at an unbelieveable amount.  He busts out with Clefable and
after receiving nothing but Pokemon and useless trainers for 4 straight turns
I realize that my fate is sealed and accept the defeat that is soon to come. 
Brent wins handily with a 0-6 prize count.

Result: LOSS due to all prizes drawn
Standing: 3-2

With only 3 people getting a higher point total than myself and only 6 others
equaling myself in points I had good odds of getting in.  My opponent's win
percentage was quite good I felt since the lowest had gone 2-3 and the best
had gone 4-0-1.  So, after having all the matches conclude for the 5th round
of play.  I awaited the results from the computer and got the following Top 8:

1. Rob Cunningham (Haymaker)
2. Juddy Harris (Haymaker)
3. Derek Underwood (Haymaker)
4. Lindsey Hein (Haymaker)
5. Charles Johnson (Denial)
6. Logan Morgan (AeroMew)
7. Sara Gousman (Haymaker)
8. Rod Hall (Machoke Haymaker)

Well, my opponent's win percentage proved to be the second best and that
gained me a slot in the Top 8 once again.  This time I'm seeded 5th after
having 5 pretty tough matches that I could have easily lost all of.  Just
when I thought things might turn around feeling my bad hands were gone and I
would finally get a good hand or even a decent hand to work with, I get my
quickest match of the day.

Quarterfinals: Charles Johnson w/ Denial vs. Lindsey Hein w/ Haymaker

Starting Situation:
Charles: Oddish (active) w/ 6 card hand
Lindsey: Scyther (active) & Farfetch'd in play w/ 5 card hand

With the type of hand I had, I was looking for a minor miracle and fast.  If
I didn't get one, this was going to be a quick game.  And earlier when I said
that Rob had laid out my grave, Brent prepared the body, and Lindsey put me
to rest.  I got the first turn and gusted out the Farfetch'd feeling I had a
better chance against it then the Scyther.  I get paralysis the first time on
Stun Spore.  I had attached a Rainbow energy (my only playable energy for
Oddish) and already put 10 damage on it.  Lindsey takes and plays a Full Heal
Energy and goes for Leek Slap and of course, heads pops up.  So, pretty much
either my next card saved me or I could assume I was dead.  Don't get the
miracle card so I go for the miracle attack and go for Stun Spore.  Flip is
up and….. it's no good.  Lindsey takes her turn and Professor Oaks.  It turns
out that one of the last cards happens to be the one DCE she needed and I
lose in the Top 8 in 2 turns.  Prize count 5-6 her favor but didn't matter.

Result: LOSS due to no pokemon in play
Standing: 3-3

Well, I have to say that it is good to have made it to the Top 8 in both DCI
Tournaments so far but it really sucks that in the two times I've made it
now, I haven't even gotten to play 10 turns yet.  For some reason my worst
draws decide to wait until I make it to when it matters most.  Oh well, back
to the drawing board to tweak the deck a little I guess.  I have a feeling
that the numbers just don't jive right for the deck for some reason.  Once
again the Top 4 decks all turn out to be pretty much Haymaker in style,
though technically Logan's deck is an AeroMew merely using Haymaker pokemon
for support.  He did make it to the Top 4, and for the second week in a row
Juddy Harris wins the tournament.  He's definitely in his groove right now
having gone 13-1-1 in the past two weeks.

Well, hopefully I can find the right trainer and energy balance for this
deck, that seemed to be the two major problems for this deck.  The Pokemon as
well probably need a look over so that's my objective this week.  So until
next time, I hope all of your Pokemon battles go well and hey who knows, you
could have the next archetype.

Any comments, questions, or suggestions??  Send them to me at
YoungMagi@aol.com

Until next time,
This is Sonitir the Wandering Mage signing off……
:: Disappears into the woods ::