Where I live, in south Liverpool, nobody is up at seven in the morning. So, when I set off for Event City, it was through a world of quiet strangeness. It was a theme which continued all morning, if I’m honest. There was nobody in my carriage on the train, and as I walked from Trafford Park station to the venue, it was strange to note the complete lack of pokemon fans lining the street.
The air was cool, still and, for the most part, pleasant. I also had to walk past the Kellogg’s factory, which is a surreal experience. The whole area is surrounded by an invisible shield of the most intense breakfasty aroma you will ever smell. I was glad of my cream cheese pitta with lettuce that morning. I had reasoned that a balanced breakfast would serve me well, though as it turns out, I had rather overestimated the tournament organisers by thinking that my breakfast would be relevant.
When I entered Event City, I was greeted by a queue, which I obligingly joined. If you have a large number of friends at your command, you may wish to replicate an experiment in which you form a queue in a public place, and see how many people join you despite not knowing what the queue is for. There will be plenty, I assure you.
In the queue, I met a boy called Josh, who was a third-time competitor, and had brought his mum and friend for support. It was his first time competing in the Masters division this year, however. He gave me a 5-max-IV Yveltal (he had offered me a shiny Kyurem, but I was thinking of my Pokedex) and later in the day, when he found out my favourite pokemon was Luxray (and not, as many assume, Sandslash), gave me a shiny Luxray.
So, the day was off to a decent start, I wasn’t going to be 100% a sad-sap loner and, by the looks of it, there was face painting. Which, as I was going home on the train, I did not have. My battle box was checked and my participation registered.
Then began the long wait for round 1.
Apparently, this is a running theme with the VGC. Every year, and in every nation, apparently unforeseen technical difficulties delay the start by stupendous amounts of time. Fifteen minutes after an announcement stating it would be ten minutes until the first round roster went up, I went to find something to eat, as my innards had begun to devour themselves. I went to the only food kiosk in the entire venue. The man in front of me in the queue took the last sandwich.
This left me with a choice of chilli, chilli or chilli. I had the chilli.
As I was eating my polystyrene tray of yellow triangles with red-brown slop, the first round roster was posted. It was two thirty. Several hundred people converged on one corner of the room.
I wandered across the room muttering my table number and the name of my opponent like a lunatic. I got to the table, set out my notepad, and waited.
[TL;DR: won 4/8, didn’t lose 4-0 at any point, see you next time.]
My Team
Before I begin, I should introduce my team. They’re not likely to appear in future in the same arrangement, so why not.
Dreadnut the Chesnaught. Yes, I know, I’m a filthy casual. Held item: Rocky Helmet. Moveset: Spiky Shield, Hammer Arm, Seed Bomb, Stone Edge. HP & Attack focused.
Clytemnestra the Nidoqueen. Despite my fears, she absolutely did me proud. I was, apparently, not the only person running Nidoqueen, although the other one was far more defensive. Held item: Poison Barb. Ability: Poison Point. Moveset: Fling, Poison Jab, Blizzard, Earthquake. HP & Attack focused.
Greninja the Greninja. I know, not exactly uncommon, but I got sent a perfect, Timid Froakie via Wonder Trade and so what did you expect me to do? Held Item: Wise Glasses. Ability: Protean. Moveset: Extrasensory, Scald, Ice Beam, Grass Knot. Speed and Special Attack focused.
Tom Kitten the Gengar. Named after a dead pet, which some people think is morbid, but I think is sweet. It’s a ghost pokemon. It’s already a dead thing. Held Item: Geangarite. Moveset: Hex, Sludge Bomb, Dazzling Gleam, Thunderbolt. Speed and Special Attack focused.
Jeanne D’Arc the Aegislash. I do like my ghosties. Held Item: I’ll get back to you on that one. Moveset: King’s Shield, Iron Head, Sacred Sword, Shadow Claw. HP and Attack focused.
Wyvern the Noivern. Someone asked my why I ran Noivern over Salamence. Speed is the answer. Ability: Infiltrator. Held item: Choice Scarf (speeeed). Moveset: Flamethrower, Dragon Pulse, Air Slash, Psychic. Speed and Special Attack focused.
Round 1 – Mikey
My opponent was a first-timer too, who plays his pokemon in Liverpool. Excellent! I found out that there is a place I can play regularly there, and signed up to the Facebook group.
Raichu – Klefki – Gyarados (M) – Noivern – Mamoswine – Meowstic
To my detriment, I hadn’t realised just how fast Mega-Gyarados is. I used Hex rather than Thunderbolt (don’t ask me why), and promptly lost 2-0. It was, admittedly, the best battle I had ever had with a live human being, and my opponent was equally enthusiastic. If we don’t battle again, it’ll be a shame.
Round 2 – Rachel
From the Midlands, she had been to previous championships but never played before. She was more supporting other people than competing for herself.
Greninja – Salamence – Kangashkhan – Malamar – Sylveon – Aegislash
After initially being near-destroyed by Malamar’s Superpower, I made a heroic comeback to win 2-0.
I also received a handshake from the guy next to me for playing Chesnaught.
Round 3 – James
From Coventry, this was also his first time. This was becoming a running theme, but in the bottom half of the playing field, I suppose I oughtn’t have been surprised.
Scolipede – Greninja – Dragonite – Malamar – Jolteon – Amoonguss
I think this one is best told in the notes I made at the time:
“IDIOT NO PSYCHIC ON GRENINJA EVER”
I also came across a rage powder Amoonguss, which baffled me as whatever it was trying to do it didn’t really succeed. Despite a spirited comeback, I made at least three catastrophic blunders and deserved my 1-0 loss.
Round 4 – Simon
While waiting for my opponent, I saw a guy rub his DS on his head. I have no idea what to make of that.
Aegislash – Azumarill – Knagashkhan (M) – Garchomp – Pyroar – Gardevoir
In this match I became highly aware of the fact that I have been pressing B for fifteen years despite knowing full well that it doesn’t make a difference.
Yes, that means I took catastrophic amounts of damage. Easily my worst loss of the day, I did however manage to take Gardevoir with me, meaning that I didn’t have the 4-0 loss I feared. My counters to Mega-Kangaskhan , as it turns out, don’t really work. Lost 3-0.
Round 5 – Paul
Hailing from York, this was his second time at the tournament.
Tyranitar (M) – Scizor – Wash Rotom – Jolteon – Mienshao – Druddigon
My Greninja knocked out Mienshao immediately, and Clytemnestra poisoned Wash Rotom with Fling, because have you any idea how resillient that little bastard is? Turns out I acted a moment too soon, because it used Trick to switch held items with me and gave me a Flame Orb (apparently a standard technique with Wash Rotom).
Volt Switch (Jolteon and Wash Rotom) gave me some problems for a while, and Greninja and Clytemnestra succumbed. However, Wyvern and Tom Kitten cleaned up admirably. Won 2-0.
Round 6 -Sean
From Worksop, this was his first time at the competition.
Talonflame – Aegislash – Wash Rotom – Mawile (M) – Mamoswine – Venusaur
I was bricking it, because does nobody realise that I have absolutely no counter to Mamoswine? Wash Rotom and Mawile came out instead, which I also hate.
Rotom’s Trick, however, gave Greninja a Choice Scarf. Which, considering I had also opened with Aegislash, the last pokemon anyone would consider putting a Choice item on, was admittedly a blunder on the part of my opponent. He’ll know for next time.
I proceeded to Scald everything. Quickly.
I’m not going to drag this out any more. I won 4-0.
Round 7 – Melissa
Not only was this herfirst time at the tournament, her baby had kept her awake all night and she was starting to feel ill. I wouldn’t say it was a hollow victory, but if anyone expected her to win, they’d have been unfair.
Sylveon – Aurorus – Charizard – Zapdos – Amoonguss – Gyarados
I opened with Gengar and Aegislash, she with Aurorus and Sylveon, though immediately switched Aurorus out for Charizard. Aegislash being the most common pokemon I saw all day, she had almost certainly come up against Sacred Sword before, and wasn’t willing to again.
Unfortunately, Gengar dealt with the rest of the team almost single-handedly. Charizard and Gyarados both went down to Thunderbolt, and Sylveon to Sludge Bomb. Although Aurorus hung on with a focus sash, it was left the only pokemon standing, and Gengar finished it off. Another 4-0.
Round 8 – Rafik
From London, this was also his first time.
Kangashkhan (M) – Scizor – Chandelure – Wash Rotom – Salamence – Amoonguss
The opening combination of Chandelure and Amoonguss was fatal for me. Resillient Chandelure got a stranglehold on life while Amoonguss used Spore. Rage Powder prevented any harm coming to Chandelure while it proceeded to thin my ranks. I got the little bastard in the end, but it was too little, too late. Lost 3-0.
Summary
Well, by the length of this, I’m judging that absolutley nobody will read all of it- just the batles they were in/sat next to. That’s cool, that’s all I included them for. I am absolutely glad I went, and look forward to rematching every last one of you.
Kanto to Unova (and beyond) 