Magma Overlord
by Randy
Beavers
Eclectica Scrapbooks & Games
Saturday, October 9, 2004
About 20+
participants
Modified Mini-Tourney $5 entry fee
Well, my friend
and I (both from
Name: Magma Overlord
Basic
Pokémon:
4 TM Groudon
4 TM Zangoose
Stage 1 Pokémon:
3 TM
Claydol (Psychic)
Trainers:
4 Life Herb
1 Magnetic Storm
4
Maxie
1 Mr. Briney’s Compassion
3 Pokémon Reversal
2 Professor Oak’s
Research
2 Steven’s Advice
2 Switch
2 TM Ball
4 TM Conspirator
2
TM Schemer
2 VS Seeker
Energy:
4 Darkness
9 Fighting
4
Magma
3 Psychic
Basic Deck Strategy:
My strategy is to power up
Groudon or Zangoose, the two main attackers, as quickly as possible for a quick
game. Zangoose helps bring Magma Pokémon to life from my deck to the bench,
which helps power up his Team Play attack. Claydol is their for support in case
they fall and to switch energies around, if necessary. Life Herb is there to
heal mainly Groudon. Magnetic Storm is to help Groudon and Claydol against those
resistant to their attacks. My only Briney can save a prize from being taken,
and it does not cost me much except a small backup in my plans. Briney also
helps with Claydol’s hand bonus attack. Pokémon Reversal is a coin flip for a
Gust of Win!!! It is worth it (you will see, momentarily). Oak’s Research may
help me make bad draws into good ones. Steven’s Advice can help punish the
opponents for dumping all of their Pokémon on the bench (although this card
rules against Magma decks). Switch saves energy and helps Groudon tremendously.
TM Ball can help get Claydol if I have Maxie or help Zangoose fill up the Bench.
Conspirator serves two purposes (whichever one I need at the time is the one I
use): to get energy if I need it now, or fill up the Bench so Groudon can start
his massacre. Schemer can sometimes be used with Claydol, followed up by Maxie
the next turn. This places valuable cards in the hand and does not waste
Claydol’s partial sacrifice.
VS Seeker can help me do three Brineys with only
one card of it in my deck, or, if I need any of the supply of Supporters that
are in this deck. Darkness Energy is basically a plus 10 or 20 (if I get
Weakness). Magma is the “Boost” for the deck to run wild and destroy everything.
4 Magma Energy may very well mean, in the best case scenario, 4 easy prizes. 3
Psychic are included for Claydol, and the remaining space is for basic energy
purposes (Fighting).
*Tournament Begins*
Round 1: Kevin White
This kid has won one tournament and ranked pretty high in all of the ones I
have attended. His deck included the sick combo of Butterfree and Bellossom. A
healing fest could be going on while all you can do is sit around and try and
build someone up to attack, and you only get to see the damage go from 50 to 10
over the course of one turn. I managed to KO three of his soon to be monsters
before they evolved. He began to gain the edge when time was called. Due to his
lack of preparation before the match (shuffling his deck for about 5 minutes
after time began) and my slow self playing out my hand, I won on the prize count
of 3-4. I only won due to Briney, switching out Zangoose (since Groudon would
die a horrid death), and flipping heads on one or two Life Herb. Stalling won me
this one. I hate to win like that, but it was the only way and a win is a
win!!!
1-0
Round 2: Nicholas Hamner
Clay, the evil judge, once again
paired up my friend and me to a showdown. His deck
included Glalie,
Wobbuffet, and Mr. Mime EX (odds). Throughout the match, I had the
upper hand
until Briney popped up and saved 2-3 prizes. At this point, I was
up
approximately 4-6 on prize count. Mr. Mime EX shows up and starts chaos. A
mistake on my part with Magma and switching around energy almost cost me the
game. However, I regrouped and manage to destroy the nasty creature. After this,
a long of time of Glalie rearing its ugly head and retreating led to my
agitation. I finally got going and got my last two prizes. He had 4-5 left of
his own. It was a good match, where the underdog continuously playing it smart
almost caught me way off guard. I hated to beat him, because since Grass was
running rampant, I thought he stood a better chance than me. I told him I hoped
he won two more, because I thought Magma’s luck had run out...
2-0
Round
3: Carlos
This guy and I have only faced each other once. This was my first
tourney at the time, back in Dragon Prerelease. We faced each other in the first
round, where I won on a coin flip from Treecko. Anyway, today was a new day, and
it was war. He was playing a dreaded Blaziken, Magneton, and Energy Draw
Delcatty deck. This match became a classic. I began with momentum, took a prize,
and then Firestarter Blaziken shows himself. I manage to kill one. With another
powered up, I am shocked at what comes next - Moltres EX!!! Confusion leads to a
major decision left... what??? Groudon managed to survive by 10 HP. I could kill
the EX and take two, because he will die surely next turn. I risk the whole game
on a coin flip. I roll heads and eliminate Moltres EX from the equation. Prize
count is now 2-4 in my favor. I manage to kill something else, and then Blaziken
EX shows up. He decides to kill my Claydol instead of Groudon, believing that
Groudon couldn’t attack now since all of my Pokemon are just about gone. I Maxie
Claydol back out so I can attack, but then I play Pokemon Reversal. I roll
heads, pull out Skitty, and with one Darkness and one Fighting on Groudon, I
Linear Attack to kill Skitty!!! I win!!! Coin flips really saved me here, but
this match was the new “Japanese” (more on that later) Archetype vs. the old
Archetype. This match was the best Modified
match I have ever had, and I hope
Carlos and I will have a rivalry from here on out!!!
3-0
Final Round:
David* ranked best league Trainer
David had the nasty deck of Nidoking and
Nidoqueen with awesome Trainers and Double Rainbow. Magma managed to KO two
early on and then another one, but he was on his way to winning. Due to five
minutes of hunting where he was, then shuffling, and my use of playing my hand
out, we went to a sudden death tiebreaker. The judge called for two prizes
instead of one, since this match would decide the tournament champion. He got
the first prize after evolving Nidorina to Nidoqueen and destroying Zangoose. It
was later Briney’d, which is what I did as well as Life Herb to hold up. I
managed to kill a Nidoqueen or Nidoking I believe. I then decide to do Life
Herb, which failed. However, I had a Pokemon Reversal. Head was rolled. I pulled
out a new Nidoran Female from the Bench and killed it to win the match. I had
won the tournament!
Winner at 4-0
Prizes Earned:
1 Gardevoir EX
1
Promo Winner Flygon
1 Promo Minun
1 Promo Swellow
Pokémon Monopoly (I
have always wanted it!!!)
---
I learned that people hate coin flips. Also,
people are in denial about how the Japanese swept Worlds (with Magma Decks). I
learned Magma is still awesome in Modified Format. Finally, I don’t need TM
Camerupt to teach people the one lesson I have worked on - DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE
MAGMA!!!
Randy Beavers
TheBeav2006@aol.com