Sharing all the teams I used during NDPL VII, along with some I tested but ultimately didn't use, and a write-up of the thought process in prep and in-game.
Week 1 vs Axzel (W)
:ceruledge::cresselia::kyurem::ninetales-alola::salamence::great-tusk:
Heading into week 1, I was assuming Axzel would use something passed by sealoo and I tried to build according to what he'd pass. Mixed DD kyurem with healing wish support is a nightmare for any non-Scizor balance, and I wasn't expecting to see a Scizor this week. Salamence on HO has a niche for being faster than his common scarfers in Shifu/Lele, and if you're lacking Zapdos or Slowbro (which is an easy double to make into Kyurem), it's not hard to find opportunities to sub up on Mola/Pex/etc and snowball from there. Ultimately any Veil is going to be fishy but the balance matchup seemed a bit telegraphed here and with hwish support I felt I had lines into any Stall/fatter team if I got prep wrong. I was fortunate with the miss at the end although I think both sides could have played this endgame differently.
Week 2 vs NoName6293 (W)
:pecharunt::zamazenta::landorus-therian::kyurem::kingambit::diancie-mega:
I hadn't played NoName before but I knew he had a dominant showing in NDWC, so he had at least some familiarity with the tier, along with his obviously strong play in SCL, OLT and across various other tours. We had a few different approaches prepped for this week depending on if we thought he'd be passed something from Ryuji, another sealoo load or something closer to NDWC, but given my teamtour history with Ryuji and his familiarity I assumed he'd pass an Hsam anti-offense type build. Pursuit Kingambit + ID Zama has a pretty lethal ceiling if you get turns right with suit/the right coverage on Zama, and I liked Z-Parting Shot on pech here into someone that doesn't play a ton of National Dex. All the techs hit in this game and I felt this was one of my best showings this year all things considered.
Week 3 vs Mollymiltoast (L)
:iron-treads::zamazenta::raging-bolt::gyarados-mega::iron-moth::tornadus-therian:
I tend to deliberately seek out whoever the strongest hitter is on the other team anyway whenever possible, but I especially wanted this matchup since Molly is a great friend + former ndpl teammate, has been a top 3 ND SV player all year, and honestly these are the games that motivate me the most at this stage. Both of us were undefeated at 2-0 with quality wins so it was nice to face him when I felt in-form. I wanted to run Mega Gyara to try and muscle through his usual Mola/Pivot spam balance stuff (which is very solid) and pair it with balance breakers that could help Gyara or Zama win, so AK Blue put this team together for me. A lot was made of the end-game decision not to ID twice and I may edit this later to post all the math we did in our teamcord, but I'm fairly sure this game isn't winnable with the amount of HP I had on Zama plus his remaining tools, and any crit on Corv over several attempts to hit it added up to better math imo. Regardless, if you told me before NDPL that my only loss would be a high-level close finish vs Molly I'd have taken that.
Week 5 vs Slopcat (W)
:iron-crown::zamazenta::raging-bolt::diancie-mega::landorus-therian::kingambit:
Electraine wanted the runback against Isza, so I took slopcat this week. We never faced each other in any tournament and slopcat had put up a string of strong wins already this tour (believe he was 3-1 at the time of this game only due to a misclick), so I was approaching this knowing he's a much stronger and completely different player this year. I ruled out an HO mirror since I assumed there's no shot he wanted to be involved in that and although he could have stalled, I was leaning towards a more generally anti-HO balance similar to what was prepped for Xurk to use against me last year. Loaded into the matchup I was expecting and once I learned it wasn't opposing ID Zama I felt I played this one very well from start to finish.
Week 7 vs mrfraud (W)
:ninetales::venusaur::cresselia::great-tusk::diancie-mega::kyurem:
Seems like we both wanted the matchup against each other this week. For me, mrfraud has realistically been the player of the year if you look at the whole package; back-to-back deep seasonal runs is no joke, strong team tour records and obviously passes the eye test with his strong in-game play. This week was one of the few where it was pretty clear in my mind what I wanted to load (Sun) and it was a matter of finding the right 6. I had intended to either go with Blaziken or a Diancie/Kyurem angle with the usual Venusaur + sun support guys since I felt either approach was strong into the omar/sealoo offenses and balances he tends to like. We both missed moves, he missed a few more than I did in important moments but that's mons unfortunately, much respect to him all the same.
Unused Teams:
:kyurem::zamazenta::iron-treads::tornadus-therian::iron-moth::hatterene:
:corviknight::hydrapple::zapdos::latios-mega::heatran::ting-lu:
:tornadus-therian::weezing-galar::zamazenta::hoopa-unbound::ting-lu::gholdengo:
:corviknight::weezing-galar::ting-lu::zamazenta::moltres::hydrapple:
:volcarona::cresselia::kingambit::zamazenta::enamorus::great-tusk:
:great-tusk::tyranitar-mega::moltres::slowking-galar::iron-valiant::gholdengo:
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NDPL VII - TEAM SHOUTOUTS
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Before I say anything about my team, I do want to acknowledge and say thank you for the opportunity to manage in this tour at all. There were other deserving manager pairings and I think I was given a bit of a flyer based on my team tour history and longevity in the tier. I can say that I gave it my best effort, and if not for the surreal series of unfortunate events that transpired all on the same day yesterday (being up 3-0, losing 7 straight games and being literally one Scale Shot/one Bullet Seed away from playoffs is honestly inexplicable), it would have been a great result to take over the last place franchise last year and take the team to playoffs. Just wasn't to be this year, but I'd re-draft every player on my team if we ran it all back tomorrow. So with that in mind, some unfiltered individual thoughts & shoutouts to the team...
To the Helpers...
Interlinked - You won't properly get the credit you deserve for everything you did for our team, but hopefully this can do it some small justice. Having someone to help pass and build teams, especially for almost every tier was a godsend and something we desperately needed. Your input and presence every week was incredibly valuable and I doubt we rallied back to have any playoff odds at all if not for you helping us at every line. The fact that you chose to help us when you deserved to have been a player yourself says a ton about your character, so thanks a ton for everything you contributed, it did not go unnoticed in the slightest.
kidd0s - Thank you for always having scouts ready, the Vault open, and tapping in whenever you could. Sorry we couldn't have grabbed you as a player but your time is much sooner than people think, hoping to see you do big things next year, I feel a breakout performance coming...
WinstonByTheSea - I know you're super busy at the moment with life but thanks for everything you did for our team. Wish you could have been a player in this tour as well and honestly had I known you were still in the draft we'd have taken you. You do a ton for the community and did so again for our team, thanks for all your efforts.
Hyjinks Dunes - You both stepped in and helped out our mono slot a ton, and the help came when we needed it most. Always awesome to have people who know the tier and the playerbase come support, thank you so much for everything you added to our mono successes
Glimmer - I do not know the first thing about doubles, but I know that you were a huge reason why our doubles slot went super positive this tour. Thank you so much for being invested and helping with building, tests, feedback etc. and telling us whether we're winning or losing in game discussion LOL.
The Team...
jscurf - You're one of the best draft players on this site and if anyone doesn't already know that, that's on them. I was eager to grab you in the auction since I'd been a helper in other team tours where you were playing, and I knew you'd be a great person to have around. Just a really unfortunate way for this tour to play out and there was only so much we could have realistically done, but it's on us as managers to have done better. Wishing nothing but success for you in all future tours and if I can help you in any way I'm happy to do it.
Remnonc - A bit similar to the above, but we wanted to make sure that every slot had two starter-quality players to help with prep, subs, etc., and we knew we had that in Ubers between you and Entro. I wish our season had gone differently and we had better opportunities to get you playing but thank you for staying tapped in with the team until the end, best wishes to you as well.
entrocefalo - The Ubers God. You were a consistently strong slot for us every week and always active in prep. Sorry I couldn't have personally helped you more as ubers is out of my range, but always happy to team and build with you (in any tier!)
Oculars - The Sheist Lord. I'm only disappointed we couldn't get you in more games, but you came up huge for us the week we really needed a win (Week 7) and we had full faith in you to get it done. You're also always an encouraging presence in team tours and I knew that from how many times we've been teammates or helpers on the same squad before. Next time all the SS OU prep is in your hands...
tokyo prison - Honestly man thanks for staying with us until the end and getting us crucial wins when it was needed. Nobody ever doubted your strong in-game, and I'm sure you had every reason to be frustrated with the early/mid season but thank you for staying tapped in at the end when we needed you. Much respect to you and I hope you enjoyed playing with us, it was a pleasure to have you.
CrossHeart - My US East and now NDPL teammate. Sorry about the unfortunate ending but that shouldn't in any way diminish how crucial your wins were the prior weeks, and also generally helping us hold down the mono slot. Into any matchup that was remotely playable we all had your back, so regardless of the outcome we were all happy to have you playing for our lives at the end.
Bka Onon - I know you took this season hard at times, but we all know you're a solid player and I hope you do as well. I believe you've been on the other side of these with some recent undefeated team tour runs and dominant showings, sometimes that's just the way it goes in a very volatile tier like mono. Thanks for always supporting our team every week, you were one of the most tapped-in guys on the squad at all times and that goes a long way.
3MoreMinutes - My UU goat (and ex-Mafia brother). I can confidently say your record this tour has zero bearing on how talented you are, and it's clear with both your prep and in-game that you know this tier and playerbase like it's second nature. I've never seen someone play so well, get as much unfortunate RNG at critical moments, but yet remain so supportive of others at all times, including when you were supporting Fragments. Always a pleasure to team with you whenever we cross paths.
Fragments - UU was always going to be a tricky slot for us to figure out since we had too many chefs for such a small kitchen. Jokes aside you were a huge part of our team having any chance whatsoever to make a run at playoffs and your wins toward the end helped us get over the hump of constantly tying which saved our season. Thanks for staying tapped in with us after the first few weeks and best of luck on all your mons/other endeavors going forward and thanks for your work.
sir jelloton - My other US East teammate-turned-NDPL teammate, and Doubles God. It took Baton Pass to finally take you down given how hard you bossed this doubles pool. You went super positive and deservingly so since you know this tier inside and out. Set an alarm before your games and you'll be completely unstoppable... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
iPetBigfoot - You were another huge part of our doubles success throughout the entire tour and obviously we had to throw you in at times with little to work with, but you made the best of it and that's all we can ask for. On any other team you'd be starting and I hope people recognize that since your in-game is solid. Thanks for your work for all seven weeks.
LB - I knew we grabbed an absolute hitter at the auction but I did not expect you to chainsaw through the entire RU pool the way you did. If anyone deserves MVP on our team it's you and honestly we are still collectively scratching our heads at how you pulled some of these wins out in the worst possible matchups. We never knew when you scheduled but we always knew you'd win, thanks for the energy and the confidence every week you played for us boss.
db - Also a former Mafia brother and you did not disappoint this tour in the slightest. Our RU was the best in the tour and you deserve a TON of credit for everything you contributed - the teams, the prep when we needed it most, the positive team vibes. We knew having you and LB reunited would be broken and it did not disappoint.
Lsa - Thanks for being an awesome presence the whole tour and especially your help with the SS slot which we really needed. Sorry you couldn't win but I was happy to step aside so you could get one, you're honestly a fantastic player and if you stick around with ND I see you having a monster year next year (on the record here first). Best of luck in your next tours and hope you had fun!
crying - To me, you are the greatest National Dex player of all time, which is just one accolade out of so many more. You sincerely inspire me every time you play with how you somehow always manage to find solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems (I feel like I am watching an escape artist play mons), and your building style fits Draft almost too perfectly. Thanks so much for showing up for us every week and giving your best in prep with what you had to work with, it was always sincerely appreciated and I hope we see you again in National Dex in any capacity.
Xurkiyee &
TBE - My co-men. I cannot say enough about how easy and enjoyable it was to manage with you guys, and s/o to TBE for pulling me out of the NDLT funk and getting me to manage. It honestly felt like we'd managed together dozens of times before from Day 1 which is how you know you're with the right people. We assembled a god-tier team in the auction and I thought we figured out the lineup woes when we needed to lock in. Not going to put a happy face on losing since candidly this sucks, but we came way closer than anyone was going to give us credit for in PRs. I'd run it back with you guys any day and can't thank you guys enough for everything you put in every week to make this happen.
AK B1UE - I can sincerely say you are one of the best people I've had the chance to team with in all ways. It's very unusual for me to use passed teams as I almost always build for myself, but I got the sense we have a similar mindset about the game and only felt that way even more as the weeks went on. I love that you're confident as a mf'er regardless of whoever you play and it shows in how you play and carry yourself. You got two enormous Ws and I can't think of anyone more underrated than you currently are in ND, I hope you come back next year and boss the pool even harder than you did here.
ElectraineHeart - There's nothing I can say in such few words that captures what I'd like to convey, but I hope you look back on not only this tour but the last year with nothing but pride for what you've achieved. You gave your heart and soul for everyone on this team and it was felt every single day as the life of the team. On a personal note, seeing you develop into the player, leader and human being you are today means the most, since I always knew this was possible for you and I know how many battles you've fought to get here. We are unfortunately living in a simulation and this tour was not ours to win, but as always, we move on to the next...
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I'll have more to say another time, but for now, good luck to everyone remaining in the tour and thank you for everything
. Such is life. Pretty proud of the 17-1(Envy won in semis that game was a glitch) record in uu ru and while the ou records were pretty middling I think my prep was fine enough, sorry to my team for not being able to do more. This loss is entirely my fault, you all deserved a chip after frying everybody in the tour. Would do shoutouts but I'd sound like a broken record repeating you were a great teammate good vibes good play ETC ETC so will leave it off with this. Honestly nothing I would change about the roster. Vibes in the cord were great from the start and I really enjoyed getting to know and work with you all. Just super sad knowing we were like 3 turns going differently away from winning out we were the best team top to bottom in this tour by a wide margin but I wont ramble on anymore. Unsure whether I will manage next cl (I say this after every tour I probably will like always in the end assuming... heh) but if not to all prospective managers everyone on ts team should be drafted. Great players and teammates top to bottom. Also thanks to those who joined to help prep throughout the tour your support was much appreciated. 
