Reports

Published on April 10th, 2015 | by Dorian06

16

Four Spore and Seven Years Ago: A Winter Regionals Report

Hey Nugget Bridge! My name is Carson St. Denis, I am 13 years old, and I am one of the newer senior players in the VGC community. This season, I had something to prove after my loss early in the Worlds LCQ last year.

So far, I have been having a great competitive season. I had a great run at Fall Regionals using an almost complete replica of Alex Ogloza’s 2014 Nationals team. However, I generally like to have something unique or strange on almost all my teams. My 2015 Winter Regionals team definitely falls under this category.

The Team

I started off using an anti-meta team that included Latias using Tailwind, but had minimal success. While testing out Choice Band Talonflame, I came across the strategy of using a Breloom/Talonflame Kangaskahn core. Talonflame sets up Tailwind before knocking itself out with Brave Birds and then Breloom comes in to Spore while Kangaskahn sweeps.

I also wanted a strong special attacker and decided that Sylveon was perfect with Tailwind support. I then filled in the remaining slots with Pokemon that covered the weaknesses of my core four.

The final team looked like this:

Breloom @ Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Spore
– Mach Punch
– Protect
– Bullet Seed

Ah Breloom, my MVP for the Florida Regionals. It is faster than just about everything under Tailwind and was marvelous against Trick Room too where it could neutralize most threats with Spore. It also fits in perfectly with my playstyle. There isn’t much to say about the moveset or spread, it’s a standard Breloom, which happens to be my favorite kind of Breloom.

Kingdra @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
– Muddy Water
– Ice Beam
– Draco Meteor
– Icy Wind

I noticed that my team struggles against Salamence due to its speed, but not anymore with Kingdra around! Kingdra was originally added as a check to rain teams, but it turned into a Salamence counter as well, which was a nice bonus.

It looks fairly innocent in team preview, but fast Ice Beam OHKOs Salamence while Icy Wind gets around redirection. Draco Meteor punishes predicted switch ins and Muddy Water helped against Perish Trap teams, doing enough damage for Brave Bird to KO Mega Gengar. Overall, Kingdra was very situational, but it did its job on the team.

Sylveon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 104 HP/ 52 Def / 244 SpA / 4 SpD / 104 Spe
Modest Nature
– Hyper Voice
– Hyper Beam
– Psyshock
– Hidden Power [Fire]

Just a standard Sylveon moveset with a not-so-standard spread. I wanted to survive Choice Band Brave Bird from Talonflame, which was still popular in Seniors, so I chose this spread. This survived Choice Band Brave Bird from Jolly Talonflame 100% of the time while still packing enough speed to outspeed most 120 base speed Pokemon under Tailwind. The rest went into special attack to make it hit like a truck.

Sylveon is way better under Tailwind, and it is definitely much better in Seniors than in Masters. I chose Hidden Power Fire instead of Ground as my fourth move to deal with pesky steel and grass types (who are often also poison type). I felt that, with three complete counters to Heatran, I could go with something that also let me deal with Scizor and Ferrothorn.

Bisharp @ Choice Band
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
– Sucker Punch
– Iron Head
– Knock Off
– Low Kick

A not-so-standard Bisharp. Landorus-T is OHKO’d by a +1 Choice Band Sucker Punch and I wanted to catch people trying to sneak Landorus in the back. Low Kick was there as a way to get rid of Kangaskahn when their trainers overpredict with their Fake Out. This occurred more than you think, but it does reveal the Choice Band early.

I had to run Choice Band because I did not want to give up Life Orb or Focus Sash on my core four Pokemon. In my opinion, the core wouldn’t work as well without those items. Still, Bisharp ended up being a very solid Pokemon with a surprisingly solid item.

Talonflame @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
– Brave Bird
– Flare Blitz
– Will-O-Wisp
– Tailwind

Talonflame just clicked as the Tailwind setter of my team. Talonflame’s minimal bulk was actually perfect for the team. The Life Orb recoil damage was also perfect for removing Talonflame quickly so I could get Breloom or Sylveon in for free and lockdown with Spore or sweep with Hyper Voice. Bulky Tailwind setters, like Suicune and Togekiss, would just be liabilities once they set up Tailwind.

Kangaskhan @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
– Low Kick
– Double-Edge
– Protect
– Sucker Punch

I chose to use a very fast Kangaskhan so that it could perform in and out of Tailwind. I felt like I didn’t have the time to set up with Power Up Punch or the need for Fake Out, so I went with Protect, which I much preferred anyways. I honestly feel Fake Out on Kangaskhan is overrated because of Quick Guard.

Leading Kangaskhan is nice, but I’d much rather have it in the back to avoid Intimidate users.  I already had a great Trick Room match-up with Bisharp and Sylveon being able to KO the Trick Room setter with Knock Off and Hyper Beam respectively. I kept Sucker Punch on Kangaskhan because it still benefitted from priority.

Overall

Overall, I was very comfortable with the team going into both Winter Regionals as it really fit with my playstyle. I still struggled against Thundurus, but I felt I’d rather be weak to Thundurus than Intimidate users and kept Bisharp on the team. I also felt that Thundurus would not be popular in Seniors anyways. Luckily, I was correct in my assumption.

Oregon Regionals

I was very happy to attend a regionals in my home state. I was even more happy to have my own bed to sleep on instead of staying at a hotel. Unfortunately I stayed up all night watching a few Poketubers and went to bed at 2am. Somehow, I woke up at 6am, which was not a great way to kick off tournament day.

There were 6 rounds with a top 8. I hung out with Masterfisk until round 1 started. I started off 0-1 due to some terrible plays against a great player in Henry M. However, I won my next 5 games and made the top cut as 4th seed. I almost took a nap at the venue but, before I knew it, top cut was starting so I had to ditch the nap and continue on with little sleep.

Top 8 vs. Jackson

I knew this would be a difficult match because the 4th and 5th seeded players are usually evenly matched and this was no exception. The series went back and fourth. Great games to him, they were very fun.

Game 1

He leads Kangaskhan and Klefki and I lead Breloom and Talonflame. I Mach Punch and Brave Bird into his Kangaskhan, but he uses Fake Out on Talonflame, taking it down to 50% and I do 60% to his Kangaskhan. He sets up Safeguard with his Klefki.

Next turn I knock out his Kangaskhan with Mach Punch and he fails to Swagger himself. I Flare Blitz Klefki for the double KO he brings in Ludicolo and Blaziken. I switch Talonflame out for Kangaskhan, which takes Ludicolo’s Fake out, as Blaziken brings Breloom down to its Focus Sash. I determined that his Blaziken does not carry Life Orb and Jackson forfeits on the following turn.

Game 2

He leads the same way as in Game 1 and so do I, but this time he knocks out Breloom with Return while Mach Punch takes his Kangaskhan down to 20% with a crit. He sets up Safeguard again and I get a low damage roll with Flare Blitz, leaving Klefki with a sliver of health.

I bring in Kangaskhan and get a double knock out using Double-Edge on Klefki and Brave Bird on his Kangaskhan. Recoil takes Talonflame down to about 30%. Klefki manages to get Torment off on my Kangaskhan, making things a lot tougher.

I switch Talonflame out, fearing a Fake Out from Ludicolo, as he doubles into the slot with the Fake Out and a High Jump Kick to KO the incoming Bisharp while my Kangaskhan Protects. I realize that I have 2 plays: double into the Blaziken with Brave Bird and Sucker Punch and lose if he Protects, or hope the Blaziken isn’t carrying Focus Sash and Double-Edge the Ludicolo. I decide to go with the latter option and he Protects with Blaziken, allowing me to KO the Ludicolo with Double-Edge and double up into the Blaziken the following turn for the win!

After a great series I find out I am playing the undefeated 7-0 player next. Theo was a Worlds competitor and I was a little scared. However, because I was tired from the lack of sleep, I didn’t have enough energy to freak out like I normally do. I am very grateful for that, because I would have been streamrolled if I wasn’t able to stay calm.

Top 4 vs. Theo Y

Top 4 is always where I play my best and I definitely needed to against Theo Y. Facing off against a Worlds competitor from last year, I knew it would be a tough ride.

Game 1

He leads Salamence and Landorus-T while I lead Kingdra and Breloom. He U-Turns my Kingdra, doing about 60% while switching to Heatran.  Ice beam KOs his Salamence and Spore puts Heatran to sleep. He brings back Landorus-T and tries to Rock Slide, but misses both Pokemon! I get good information from Game 1, learning that his Landorus is scarfed. He forfeits shortly after I KO the Landorus with another Ice Beam.

Game 2

We both lead the same way again and I get the Ice Beam KO on his Salamence due to him overpredicting. I Spore everything and Kangaskhan comes in to clean up after he KOs Kingdra with Superpower. GG.

So, I move into the finals where I’m paired up against Henry M. We talk a little and find out that we were both low on batteries. We plug into an outlet near the exit and play our finals match there. Being near a train station made me feel at home. Thanks to this, I play much better in this set and don’t feel tired at all!

Finals vs. Henry M.

Game 1

I lead Breloom and Kingdra vs. his Salamence and Heatran. I don’t think he noticed that my Kingdra carried Choice Scarf in our swiss match, so I was able to OHKO his Salamence on turn 1. I also got the Spore off on his Heatran and he forfeited quickly to not reveal any more information about his team.

Game 2

He leads Clefable and Terrakion while I lead Breloom and Kingdra again. Helping Hand boosted Close Combat KOs my Kingdra while Breloom Spores Clefable and Kingdra gets off an Icy Wind. Without Kingdra, however, things go downhill fast and Mega Salamence sweeps my team.

Game 3

I lead Kingdra and Breloom for a third time while he starts with Clefable and Zapdos. He Protects with Clefable and I Ice Beam his Zapdos, taking it down to 55% and revealing the Weakness Policy! Spore goes into Clefable’s Protect and Zapdos’ Thunderbolt takes Kingdra down to 10%.

On the following turn, I get a bunch of Bullet Seed crits to KO Clefable while Kingdra goes down. He sends in Salamence while I send in Kangaskhan. I predict the Salamence to Protect and KO Zapdos with Double-Edge. He sends in Terrakion and I protect Kangaskhan and Mach Punch with Breloom to take his Terrakion down to 40%. Breloom goes down to a combination of Rock Slide and Double-Edge.

I knew that Henry wanted to attack this turn and Roost on the following based on our earlier swiss match, so I Sucker Punch his Salamence with both of my Pokemon. Kangaskhan’s Sucker pPnch does about 25% and Bisharp comes through with enough to KO Salamence after the recoil damage it took from the previous turn. However, Kangaskhan goes down and I am forced to try for a crit with Bisharp, but I don’t get it. GG to Henry.

I get 100 CP and some great booster boxes, but I can’t stop thinking about my misplays, such as not bringing in Sylveon. I beg my mom to take me to the Florida regionals and she says she will try! We get the last standby flight of the night to Orlando and I feel reborn. Maybe I can finally win a regionals!

Florida Regionals

I knew, going into this event, it would be tough. With Sir Chicken, Zephyl, and Raikoo going as well, I knew this would be a stressful tournament. I had momentum from doing well at a big event, but I still didn’t expect to do well.

The day before the event, I just sat in my room trying to soak in the experience. I would not go to another event for two months, so I had to do well. I took a nap and had a very good night sleep, but I was still anxious before the tournament.

On the day of the tournament, I was eating as much as possible, trying to calm down. I saw some great players I did not expect to see, such as Darrin, (Ninten678), and Ethan (Kirito), and Albert (NBalberlolz). I knew I had to play my best to do well. Still, I knew this tournament would be fun even though I was nervous.

There were 92 people in the tournament, which would be 7 rounds with a top cut of 8. I started swiss 3-0 before losing due to some horrible hax against a good player. I won my next two matches and then had a horrible round 7 match where I only got three attacks off all game. 8/9 full paralysis made me forfeit quickly.

Thankfully, I was the top 5-2 player going into cut and would be playing the guy I lost to in round 4. I also found out Zephyl and Sir chicken didn’t make cut, so I felt lucky and thrilled to just make it in.

Top 8 vs. Rhys T.

I was the 7th and he was the 2nd seed. I had lost to him in swiss but I told myself that I have a clean slate in top cut. Also, I noticed that his team doesn’t work as well in best-of-threes, as I had more time to find out his tricks and adapt.

Game 1

I lead Kangaskhan and Breloom while he leads Kangaskhan and Sylveon. I Protect Kangaskhan, blocking the Fake Out and put Sylveon to sleep with Spore. He tells me right then that he didn’t bring Thundurus! I am able to Knock Out his Kangaskahn and keep Breloom at full health while he brings in Suicune. I bring in Bisharp and Breloom is able to outspeed and Spore everything, allowing me to take game 1 in easy fashion.

Game 2

I go with the same leads as in Game 1 while he brings Kangaskhan and Thundurus. Unfortunately for him, I get a crit with Mach Punch, taking his Kangaskhan down to the red. I KO Thundurus quickly with Double-Edge while he knocks out my Kangaskhan with Low Kick. I send in Talonflame to pick off his Kangaskhan while he sends in Suicune, which has no options against my Breloom’s Spore. Sylveon and Breloom clean up.

Top 4 vs. Ian M.

My memory is very fuzzy about this set, but it was still a great set against one of the best seniors in the world!

Game 1

He leads Ludicolo and Kangaskahn against my Breloom and Kangaskhan. On the first turn, fearing a Landorus switch in, I double up my fighting type attacks into his Kangaskhan, but he uses Fake Out with both of his Pokemon. I get a little bit angry and make an aggressive prediction.

Somehow, I thought he had Fake Out and Protect on his Kangaskhan, so I Double-Edge Ludicolo and Spore the Kangaskhan. He switches Kangaskhan out to Aegislash and I KO the Ludicolo. He is never able to regain momentum without Landorus-T and he forfeits quickly.

Game 2

He goes rain mode while I bring Bisharp and Kangaskhan. I tried to Knock Off Ludicolo, but he outspeeds me to KO Bisharp with a Helping Hand boosted attack. I send in Breloom and Double-Edge his Ludicolo while using Spore on his Politoed. However, he switches in Landorus-T and I am unable to KO his Ludicolo, leaving it with 20% as his Scald burns my Kangaskhan.

I Protect with Breloom and can’t KO Ludicolo with Sucker Punch. He switches out Landorus and, knowing that he has all the momentum and another Intimidate, I forfeit.

Game 3

I lead Talonflame and Breloom while he goes with rain again. I Spore Politoed and Brave Bird Ludicolo as he chooses to Fake Out Talonflame. With Politoed asleep, I double into Ludicolo with Brave Bird and Mach Punch in case he Intimidates, but he doesn’t switch out.

My memory of the rest of this match is fuzzy, but I remember that he did not bring Landorus and I ended up putting everything on his team to sleep.

Finals vs. Abel G.

I knew that I would be facing a very good player in the finals. To make it even tougher, Abel just beat Albert O., who was the first seed, so his confidence would be soaring.

Game 1

I lead Kingdra and Breloom while he leads Terrakion and Gengar. I use Muddy Water while Terrakion Protects and Gengar uses Sludge Bomb on Breloom, who also Protects. Gengar goes down from another Muddy Water and Mach Punch goes into Zapdos, who switches in for Terrakion.

He sends in Salamence and doubles into Breloom to take it down while I switch Kingdra into Talonflame. I bring in Kangaskhan and Protect with it while Tailwind goes up. Zapdos KOs Talonflame with Thunderbolt and Double-Edge goes into the Protect. I send in Kingdra again and OHKO his Salamence with Ice Beam while Double-Edge takes Zapdos down to 25%. He Thunderbolts my Kingdra, bringing it down to 40%.

Terrakion comes back in and Protects, while I Ice Beam Zapdos for a KO and Low Kick into the Protect. On the following turn he attempts to double Protect in order to stall out Tailwind! I misplay here by using Ice Beam and Sucker Punch. He KOs my Kangaskhan on the following turn with Close Combat and Ice Beam is not enough to take down Terrakion before Kingdra goes down. Great game.

Game 2

I lead Talonflame and Sylveon while he leads Zapdos and Terrakion. I immediately set up Tailwind while using Hyper Voice as he Thunderbolts my Sylveon and Rock Slide KOs Talonflame while bringing Sylveon down to 30%. I KO his Terrakion with Hyper Voice on the following turn and Zapdos ends up at 60% after recovering with its Sitrus Berry. I send in  Kangaskhan to clean up while he sends in Bisharp. I KO both and he forfeits after revealing that he didn’t bring Salamence.

Game 3

I lead Talonflame and Sylveon again while he brings Salamence and Zapdos. We both set up Tailwind and I get an early KO on Salamence. We go back and fourth until I predict a Terrakion switch in and leave him with a lone Gengar against my Sylveon and non-mega Kangaskhan. With the Scrappy ability, I am able to Double-Edge to bring him to his sash and then Hyper Voice for the KO and the win!

Conclusion

Overall I had a great run with the team! This may be my favorite team I have ever used due to the offensive pressure it puts out and I’m happy that I got the opportunity to play against some great players.

With all this success, it’s amazing to me to look back and see how much I have grown from someone who plays to win into someone who plays for fun and the competition. This community amazing. I’d like to thank the whole community for being so awesome!

About the Author

Dorian06

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