Official TPCI Pokemon Tournament 2009 | Congrats to all who participated!!

[FiveKRunner]

They wouldn't just have qualifiers in 47 prefectures across Japan and then hold the finals in San Diego without having at least one qualifier stateside too.

And if I remember correctly, the Pokemon Emerald showdown took place in April of 2005, about a month before the game was released to the general public. They could do something similar with Platinum.

With Emerald, they had an online competition leading up to the actual battling part. The finalists were sent the game and had to beat the Elite Four and trade their team to or create their team on Emerald.

I think that we'll have a similar timeline for 2009 as we had for 2008. The announcement in April, the drawing for participants in May, the competitions in July, and the finals in August. Remember, D/P came out in Sept 2006 and were here by June 2007. Almost of the translation and such are already done, I'd imagine that we could have Platinum by May, which would make it the game used for this tournament.

 

[POKEMONBATTLEBRAIN]

That is very possible, though I think Platinum will be released earlier than May; possibly near the beginning of April.

That would still have the drawing in May, and then competitions late June/early July, with the finals in August. We know for sure that the finals will be in August because in Orlando, they said "Next August, 14-17 in San Diego".

 

[viperGTS]

I hope those prequalifiers come soon...

 

[ultimatedra]

I hope those prequalifiers come soon...

Well PUI is kinda busy working on their TCG Championship series.
PUI has TCG City championships going on from 11/28/2008 until 1/11/2009.
Shortly after that Platinum should be coming out.
Then there is TCG State Championships around Feb/March.

So i am guessing we will see an anouncement for VGS around April.

 

[Shinryu]

How can they possibly be busy with City Championships? They've only been running them for the past how many years since PUI took over, and they all almost follow an identical format each year...hell, by now it should be a matter of just shipping out prizes to the places holding them and ensuring the results get uploaded correctly I'd think...

But yeah, we're likely not going to hear much about our Showdown qualifiers till next year. Stupid Platinum exclusivity.

 

[ultimatedra]

How can they possibly be busy with City Championships? They've only been running them for the past how many years since PUI took over, and they all almost follow an identical format each year...hell, by now it should be a matter of just shipping out prizes to the places holding them and ensuring the results get uploaded correctly I'd think...

But yeah, we're likely not going to hear much about our Showdown qualifiers till next year. Stupid Platinum exclusivity.

There is alot more to it. The TO's have to shell out $250-ish for each city championship prize kit,so PUI has to recieve the $$$,make sure the W-2 forms are filled out correctly,ajust the budget,check inventory,ship the product,ensure timely reporting,and pay out the TO. Plus i am sure there is more that goes on in the main office.

 

[Shinryu]

There is alot more to it. The TO's have to shell out $250-ish for each city championship prize kit,so PUI has to recieve the $$$,make sure the W-2 forms are filled out correctly,ajust the budget,check inventory,ship the product,ensure timely reporting,and pay out the TO. Plus i am sure there is more that goes on in the main office.

But still, my point was that this is a process basically unchanged that's been going on for quite a few years. So really, it should be just habit by now.

 

[ultimatedra]

Ok,
I just got the Pokemon TCG World Championship 2008 Decks and this was on the Booklett.

 

[POKEMONBATTLEBRAIN]

what does the second picture say? I can't make out the "how do i get invited" part.

 

[ultimatedra]

HOW DO I GET INVITED?

• Compete in your national championships and win
• earn an invite as a top player with your primer rating
• qualify at the last chance qualifyer

for more details, visit our website at:
www.go-pokemon.com

i do believe that is for the TCG world championships

 

[Shinryu]

Yeah, it's not referring how to qualify for the video game showdown. Shame...

I have to ask though...why did you buy the 2008 Worlds deck? Talk about a waste of money...can't even use the cards in them.

 

[ultimatedra]

Yeah, it's not referring how to qualify for the video game showdown. Shame...

I have to ask though...why did you buy the 2008 Worlds deck? Talk about a waste of money...can't even use the cards in them.

I didn't pay for these. PUI sent these to me for being on staff at worlds '08. they did this for all the staff at each worlds.

 

[Shinryu]

Eh, as long as you're getting them for free I guess...

 

[viperGTS]

Im suprised no one is posting in this....
Anyways, what would be the best nature for a doubles Azelf? I have an idea about using one, not the common exploding one people use...

 

[Voltron]

Im suprised no one is posting in this....
Anyways, what would be the best nature for a doubles Azelf? I have an idea about using one, not the common exploding one people use...

We kind of have to know the set but im sure you don't want to give it away. I'll assume pure special but then you
wouldn't be asking so that means... support so I'm guessing imprison (I was gonna use an imprison Azelf but decided against it).

What I would do is run a bunch of calcs for stuff life Metagross bullet punch, Zapdos thuderbolt/heat wave, and other common moves for snorlax, heatran, lati@s, rain dancers, you know the stuff you'd expect to see. Also do your attacks against them. Kind of a lot of work.

I would guess Bold would end up the winner to better take priority attacks but I think special attacks are more common.

 

[viperGTS]

We kind of have to know the set but im sure you don't want to give it away. I'll assume pure special but then you
wouldn't be asking so that means... support so I'm guessing imprison (I was gonna use an imprison Azelf but decided against it).

What I would do is run a bunch of calcs for stuff life Metagross bullet punch, Zapdos thuderbolt/heat wave, and other common moves for snorlax, heatran, lati@s, rain dancers, you know the stuff you'd expect to see. Also do your attacks against them. Kind of a lot of work.

I would guess Bold would end up the winner to better take priority attacks but I think special attacks are more common.

Well actually, it was going to have explosion, but i wasnt going to use it the same as most Azelf users do... the set would've been something like this:
Azelf@Choice Scarf
-Taunt
-Explosion
-TBolt
-Trick
The last 3rd move is a filler.
Anyways, taunt is the main move of this set, to prevent trick room and rain dance teams from setting up, as well as countering lv 1 smeargle users. Trick is for countering those that use the move follow me,probably... Basically the purpose of this is to prevent teams to set up a sweep. I dont have platinum though so i cant get trick... and this azelf would need to be under lv 51

 

[Voltron]

Well actually, it was going to have explosion, but i wasnt going to use it the same as most Azelf users do... the set would've been something like this:
Azelf@Focus Sash
-Taunt
-Explosion
-TBolt
-Flamethrower
The last 2 moves are fillers- i cant think of what to do with them...
Anyways, taunt is the main move of this set, to prevent trick room and rain dance teams from setting up, as well as countering lv 1 smeargle users, although if the smeargle used follow me, i would be stuck...Basically the purpose of this is to prevent teams to set up a sweep.

That's what I was trying to do with my Azelf, stop Smeargle Bronzong combination. It was:
Azelf@Focus Sash
-Imprision
-Trick Room
-Protect
-Psychic/Shadow Ball

You'll also be stuck if Smeargle Fake Outs Azelf, but a partner with Fake Out would prevent that. I would go Rash or Mild. Def/SpD isn't important as you won't be putting any EV's into it and you have Focus Sash. Even if Smeargle uses follow me it will then get taunted and left with 1 hp and if taunt prevents endeavor (I'm not sure if it does) Smeargle will be useless. Although just attacking would KO it. Oh I just remembered a partner with a move that hits multiple times that is faster than Azelf could KO smeargles that use follow me before Azelf moves so it would be able to Taunt Bronzong. You'll want that partner to learn Fake Out to so Smeargle has to use Follow Me to prevent Bronzong getting Fake Outed. Weavile comes to mind but Double Hit is only 90% accuracy so it could miss. Inferenape has the 100% accurate Double Kick and with nature/evs can be faster than Azelf. Partnering with Infernape would give you starters with essentially the same strategy as mine.

 

[viperGTS]

That's what I was trying to do with my Azelf, stop Smeargle Bronzong combination. It was:
Azelf@Focus Sash
-Imprision
-Trick Room
-Protect
-Psychic/Shadow Ball

You'll also be stuck if Smeargle Fake Outs Azelf, but a partner with Fake Out would prevent that. I would go Rash or Mild. Def/SpD isn't important as you won't be putting any EV's into it and you have Focus Sash. Even if Smeargle uses follow me it will then get taunted and left with 1 hp and if taunt prevents endeavor (I'm not sure if it does) Smeargle will be useless. Although just attacking would KO it. Oh I just remembered a partner with a move that hits multiple times that is faster than Azelf could KO smeargles that use follow me before Azelf moves so it would be able to Taunt Bronzong. You'll want that partner to learn Fake Out to so Smeargle has to use Follow Me to prevent Bronzong getting Fake Outed. Weavile comes to mind but Double Hit is only 90% accuracy so it could miss. Inferenape has the 100% accurate Double Kick and with nature/evs can be faster than Azelf. Partnering with Infernape would give you starters with essentially the same strategy as mine.

Thanks. Is trick room used to counter the bronzongs trick room if it used it? I dont think taunt prevents endeavor as it is an attacking move. Also, wouldnt Naive be a better nature for azelf for the extra speed? Also, im still wondering about how to counter follow me using smeargle.

 

[Drab Emordnilap]

Trick Room is to Imprison Trick Room.

 

[Chirnobyl]

wasn't there that problem where Focus Sash prevents all hits of a multi-hitting move from KOing you? so even if you were to hit it 5 times with something like Spike Cannon, it would still survive...?

 

[TDS]

The easiest way to stop bronzong smeargle is by fakeouting smeargle and have typhlosion eruption. I actually beat 2 smeargle/ bronzong combos at the showdown. I lost at top 16 at NY showdown becuase my eruption missed both pokemon even though it has 100% accuracy...

 

[viperGTS]

wasn't there that problem where Focus Sash prevents all hits of a multi-hitting move from KOing you? so even if you were to hit it 5 times with something like Spike Cannon, it would still survive...?

No, because focus sash only works while your at full health. Thats why you hear all the time that the weather conditions ruin a focus sash. Also, Tri-Darksouls, thanks for that idea. it sounds like it works pretty good. time to start team building....

 

[False [old]]

Would a Heatwave from the right pokemon get the same effect as Typhlosion's Eruption (That is, being able to OHKO Bronzong)? I'm just trying to think of other options.

 

[viperGTS]

Would a Heatwave from the right pokemon get the same effect as Typhlosion's Eruption (That is, being able to OHKO Bronzong)? I'm just trying to think of other options.

Maybe a lv 50 heatran from platinum, with heat wave. I would rather go with eruption to be safe. which pokemon are you talking about to use heat wave though?
Also, would it be better to use a +speed nature on azelf for a +Sp Atk nature?
Anyways, here is my possible team...no EVs or nature. this is the 1st half of the team.
Typhlosion@Choice Scarf
-EQ
-Eruption
-Focus Punch
-???
Paired with....
Weavile@?
-Fake Out
-Brick Break
-Night slash
-????
Typhlosion uses eruption, while weavile uses fake out, killing ANY lv 1 smeargle. If bronzong were to set up a trick room, i would be stuck though.

 

[obi]

No, because focus sash only works while your at full health. Thats why you hear all the time that the weather conditions ruin a focus sash. Also, Tri-Darksouls, thanks for that idea. it sounds like it works pretty good. time to start team building....

We have item descriptions on the site for a reason.

http://www.smogon.com/dp/items/focus_sash

"Focus Sash will allow the holder to survive all hits of a multi-hit move like Fury Attack, provided the holder is at 100% health on the first hit."



Why wouldn't Smeargle be using Protect first turn? Seems like that's what a level 1 Smeargle ought to be doing in most situations.