ScrapBrain

Still got that Brood War APM.

Morgott, Malenia, Messmer, and Consort were all very satisfying wins. Almost all of the run was using Cold Star Fists with Cragblade or Cold Great Katana with Storm Blade. Turns out layering a shitload of buffs makes you deal a lot of damage...

This is the face of doom. After months of work, I finally finished my RL1 All Remembrance Bosses run of Elden Ring. All 25 Remembrances pictures and in Bayle's defeated arena (Bayle's Heart is on a different page) for proof. A long journey but a very satisfying one.

I was frustrated at Jeffries's speech, but not that it's over and I have to listen to Mike Johnson talk, I feel like I'm going to puke. We're about to watch the country fall.

14-20m people kicked off health care
300b cut from food assistance
1/4 of retirement homes to close

I'm so ashamed.

The only exercising I do is of my first amendment rights.

hitting my bench makes it tough to get effective revenge KOs.

5-3 drop. Was fun, but disappointing. Until next time!

Round 8 vs Giratina/Tapu Lele/Greninja

Tough matchup, awkward draws, and unfortunately had to play away from my computer, so I couldn't reference the opposing decklist easily.

Game 1 was stuck on Giratina only against a full board.

Game 2 was full board vs full board but Lele and Greninja 1/2

Round 7 vs Giratina/Darkrai

All 3 games were very standard, other than a nearly game-losing misclick on my end in game 2, but I still won that game, so it's all good. No notes. Very straightforward.

5-2

into Meowscarada and I was stuck on solo Darkrai.

35% winrate for my deck in this matchup, so it's really hard. I got lucky game 1 but it didn't last.

4-2, considering dropping.

Round 6 vs Meowscarada/Decidueye

Game 1, I Marsed them and got them stuck on a single Sprigatito early and was able to set up. They never had a chance.

Game 2 was more standard. This is the worst non-Oricoro matchup for my deck, so it isn't surprising.

Game 3 saw them have a turn 2 Rare Candy 1/2

Round 5 vs Darkrai/Giratina/Komala

Same matchup as last round, but this was a clean 2-0. I think in a tournament setting, it is correct to cut the Komala and just hope to dodge the Oricoro decks. It's a big liability in every other matchup and Komala explicitly won me game 2.

4-1

and timed out my turn. I thought I threw the match, but they weren't able to capitalize and I was able to take the game the following turn. Bad on my part.

Game 3, I was in control the whole time and wasn't in a tough position.

3-1, tough round, but a good win.

Round 4 vs Darkrai/Giratina/Komala

18/20 the same list. Komala gives game against Oricoro, but makes the deck weaker overall in other matchups. Game 1 looked like a lock of a win but they ran very well and made good decisions to take it.

Game 2, I had a line to win the game that I missed 2/?

that I was able to hit their Arceus before they could hit my Darkrai. Nothing special about that game.

2-1

Round 3 vs Arceus/Carnivine/Crobat

Game 1, I led with a sacrificial Darkrai and powered up the one on my bench. That meant that by the time their Carnivine got the kill on my lead, I was ready to sweep the rest of their board.

Game 2, very straightforward game. Turn 2 advantage meant 1/2

Round 2 vs Charizard/Turtonator

Game 1, I got stuck on single Darkrai, they had a turn 1 Kiawe. They just were to ramped to do anything.

Game 2, they Red Carded away my Giant Cape and it was my only out to Steam Artillery.

This was a good matchup for us, but it didn't work out. Tough loss.

1-1

Chip damage was enough for an easy win for the opponent.

Game 3 was more like game 1. They got stuck on Froakie, interesting energy placement, and I did maneuvering to spread damage efficiently.

1-0 to start off is a good feeling.

Round 1 vs Tapu Lele/Giratina/Greninja

Game 1 had some clever maneuvering on my part to spread damage. They got stuck on Froakie for a while and did some interesting choices for energy placement early. Good win.

Game 2, they got an immediate Greninja online and I was stuck on single Darkrai 1/?

Today is another Pokemon TCG Pocket tournament. $10,000 prize pool! Stay tuned for updates!

Stoners: Happy 4/20

Me, an intellectual: Happy 1/5

let a Manaphy get extra Water energy on a Pokemon that doesn't matter or a heal with a Shaymin and kill it with Darkrai's ability or attack the following turn in order to get that third energy on my Giratina which won me the game. Deck is fun, strong, and skill expressive. Try it out! 11/11

with attacking energy on it and a Giratina that has 2 Psychic energy. That Giratina is completely useless outside of soaking damage unless I pass a turn. Sometimes you have to skip out on an attack now in order to set up for the rest of the game. It happened multiple times where I 10/?

so their Cape did nothing and I got a free card that might have been relevant elsewhere in the game. It's something that shows me when a player is good vs not. Lastly, look for opportunities to use Giratina's ability instead of attacking. There are times where I'll have an active Darkrai 9/?

prevents you from being able to Giant Cape that Poke, since each can only have 1 tool. Conversely, you don't need to drop a cape down unless that 20 life makes the difference between living an attack or not. I have had so many opponents drop tools down where my attack overkills by 40 damage 8/?

If your opponent won't be able to attack, there is no need (unless you're really unreasonably worried about a Mars or Red Card) to play a Rocky Helm. Not only does it not achieve anything, but it removes the ability of playing the Helm on something later that might be more relevant or 7/?

Sometimes I'll use (Sabrina more often) one as a way to force either X-Speed, Leaf, or energy removal in order to gain a turn of tempo, which can propel me into getting the first attack off, which usually means the win. You want to hold on to your tools until they'll actually do something. 6/?

cleanly. Early on, it can help mitigate raw card advantage if they don't play to the board, disrupt evolution lines, and mess up Leaf/Dawn plays. Late game, it can rip the game winning Sabrina or Cyrus. Sabrina and Cyrus on our side can be used again as tempo or finishers. 5/?

on a turn you could be attacking, had you led with Darkrai. It isn't always the case, but a good rubric. Double Mars allows you to play one as more tempo/disruption before your opponent has gotten any points. It is Red Card at home. But once you've had one of your Pokes die, it can win a game 4/?

If you have the first turn, you can lead either Poke. Your energy attach on Darkrai and your Giratina ability will line up on the same turns where you don't have to skip attacking. If you have second turn, you generally want to lead Darkrai. In order to attack with Giratina, you'd have to pass 3/?

The deck is very strong and has a lot of opportunities to do exactly that; play to your outs. Sometimes you have to use Giratina to soak damage in order to allow your other Giratina or a Darkrai to get set up and then swap out with Leaf, especially if you're down to 1 point to lose. 2/?