Almost Hay
By Johnny Kettler
Texas Game Company
Allen, Texas
Thursday, 2-14-02
15 or 16 Gamers

Despite I used to regularly write card strategies, I decided to write on a Pokemon League tournament instead. That day I was sick, so it took me awhile to decide whether or not I should go. In the end, I went and had a great time. It was tough competition, and I took it on with this deck:

Almost Hay

Pokemon (12):

2 Scyther (Jungle)
2 Onix (Neo Genesis)
1 Scizor (Promo)
1 Steelix
1 Rocket's Scyther
1 Electabuzz (Base)
1 Rocket's Zapdos
1 Raikou (Holographic, Neo revelation)
1 Hitmonchan (Base)
1 Igglybuff (Neo Discovery)

Trainers (21):

3 Pluspower
3 Gold Berry
2 Master Balls
2 Energy Removal
1 Computer Search
1 Rocket's Secret Experiment
2 Item Finders
2 Professor Oak
2 Professor Elm
1 Scoop Up
1 Super Scoop Up
1 Ecogym

Energy (27):

8 Lightning
6 Fighting
6 Leaf
3 Double Colorless
2 Metal
2 Rainbow

The tournament style was single elimination with a decent amount of participants, and a chance of victory was slim.

Round 1:
Vs. Michael P

In the beginning, he got a hand with a base abra as his only pokemon, while my hand included a rocket's zapdos and a pluspower. He stalled for 2 or 3 turns via psyshock, but when he got tails, I played the pluspower and won the game. Despite the unlucky hand, his deck was a good one and was not taken lightly.

Round 2:
Vs. Kevin B

My second opponent used what seemed to be a hay/sneak deck. I pulled Rocket's Zapdos again and he got a neo slowpoke. I was about to fry it when he oaked for slowking and his rocket's Zapdos. I elmed during then next turn, and within minutes, I fried the king and now had 2 lightning energy on the bird. He then played a metal energy on his zap, then used plasma for 10. On my turn, All I did was just ping Kevin's Zap for 10. Then, he attacked my zapdos, and now his pokemon was fully charged with only 10 damage on it. On my final turn, I topdecked a metal energy and turned my bird into an unstoppable nuclear bomb of death and destruction. I then used electroburn, and ended an extremely tough game.

INTERMISSION
It was now the semi-finals, and there were only 4 of us left: Nick B, Karen F, Jordan L, and myself. Before the tournament began, Jordan had already declared his victory, so almost everyone wanted to keep him from winning. Only time would tell...

Round 3:
Vs. Nick Bradshaw

Nick was one who didn't like Jordan intruding on the local league (Jordan defeated all of his opponents with little effort, and has never been to the local league), so he was happy that either of us could beat him. His deck was rain-dance, so it would be a close call. He stalled with a squirtle, but then I got the buzz into play. From there on, I killed off lapras by lapras, and turtle by turtle. The game ended in my favor, and I had to wait for the result of the second semi-final game...


INTERMISSION 2
I took some time to watch the other game. Despite Karen put up a decent fight with mareep, the overwhelming power of blue prevailed, and Jordan won.

Round 4:
Vs. Jordan L.

The game started with buzz, igglybuff, and Raikou Vs. Totodile and rocket Squirtle. Blood shed between the buzz and dile, buzz managing to fry it. I think he got another Squirtle into play by turn 2, and he knew he needed the Blastoise soon. As a last resort, he computer searched for Blastoise, then turned the squirtle into a master of pain (thanks to breeder). He then played all energy cards on Blastoise for a hefty 60 damage. I didn't have a back-up plan, and my hand was dry of energy. So I used thundershock, and I managed to paralyze the fatty. His hand was somewhat dry of energy too, so he could not play energy on the benched squirtle. On my next turn, I used thunderpunch and got heads. He could not energize the squirtle, so I won the game, as well as the tournament.

Conclusion:

To the victor go the spoils, and mine were quite great. 9 rainbow energy, 4 promo jigllypuffs, and 2 pokemon towers. The next tournament isn't that far away, so I'll be sure to report on these enjoyable tournaments.

~Johnny Kettler