Who takes the ID at 5-2? LAIC prep, Sacramento prep, ShenoyDrago, ChaoGardy, LiamPidgey - What is BDIF?

Episode Transcript

Brent (00:05):
All right.
It's the podcast, the onlypodcast about the Pokemon
trading card game.
It is another incredible weekwhere attendance is 133%.
Yvonne, Liam Cam, me.
Cam is coming live to us fromthe DFW airport.
He is about to get on his flightto Sao Paulo.
Are you ready to win thistournament?

(00:25):
Cam,

C (00:27):
Well, I'm going to try with, uh, what is currently in the
BDIF, but, uh, you know.
Let's see.
Let's see how it turns

Abaan (00:34):
We'll see, it's not maybe the BDIF, it's definitely like,
a great deck in the room.
Like, a great, great choice.
I'm not gonna say, like, it'snot good, but, like, playing the
same Draugr.
You can look it up on CameronChenoy Limitless.
He's playing the same Draugrlist.
I think it's a great deck, but Ithink, uh, Garde is a BDF.
I'll stand on that.

Brent (00:57):
cam, why are you not playing guard of war?

C (01:00):
because I just do not have enough reps to play it
comfortably.
Um, I was talking a little bitabout it with Rowan.
I said, maybe I can get awaywith it and get to Day 2, but if
I want to win this event, Idon't trust myself to play it
well the going gets toughagainst great players and

(01:22):
tougher matchups.

Liam (01:22):
the lights are bright!

C (01:25):
Yeah, it's a

Abaan (01:25):
I, I think, I

C (01:26):
I'm not ready.

Abaan (01:28):
think this is very respectable from Chenoy, by the
way, like, I, I think guardwar's the best I can format, but
like if you, if you're like ascomfortable as at Drago, as
Shano is like, there isliterally zero reason to switch
to Guardi war because likeGuardi war, like a first week on
Guard of War player is like wayworse than playing Drago as your
like third month of playingDrago.
Like there, like all, likePokemon is like so intricate

(01:50):
that like, there's just no, likethere's no substituting
experience, right.
You should just play the deckthat you're just, like, super
lit at, and, like, make shithappen.

Brent (02:05):
Our argue is compelling logics.
Um, Cam, any, any changes to theofficial, uh, Regidrago list of
Cam Chinoy?
I

C (02:14):
No, absolutely not.

Abaan (02:17):
Absolutely not.
I

Brent (02:37):
like this thinking.

Liam (02:38):
such a genius, bro.
So good.
So

Brent (02:42):
Liam, if, if you were getting on the plane, would you
be on Tord 60, would you be onGardi, would you be on Drago, or
would you be on Pidgeot?

Liam (02:52):
Um Probably the Pidget Box, but

Abaan (02:59):
don't know, Liam.
I think push came to shove, andyou had to come this event is
tomorrow for you.
I think you'd find a way to beon Torturopagus.

Liam (03:06):
Yeah, may, maybe, maybe that like, I mean, it, it's,
it's hard to say because Ihaven't been preparing for this
event, right?
Like if I had, if I had beenlike, uh, more actively
preparing with towards Rappa,then um,

Abaan (03:21):
You'd be a

Liam (03:21):
maybe I play that,

Abaan (03:22):
it,

Liam (03:23):
I definitely, probably would put more time into that
this format than I have then.
So I mean, I think that that'sreally good.
Yeah, I'm jamming a Pidgey EXdeck to every event for the rest
of the season, so, ah, alright,at least until that card
rotates.
I don't know when it does, butuntil it does, I'm just going to
play that card to every singleevent.

(03:44):
Um, it'd be Tord, Torapagos,maybe it'd be Box Builds, maybe,
yeah, one of those two.

Brent (03:54):
But not Gardevoir.
Not

Liam (03:56):
Nah,

Brent (03:56):
Is that because Gardevoir is not as good?
Is Gardevoir not as good as thebond says?
Or have you just been burned byGardevoir so many times?

Liam (04:03):
No, I'm a, I'm a guardi bum, bro, but it's definitely,
like, I have, like, complete,like, confidence and trust in
Henry to, uh, to, like,probably, like, win the event.
Like, actually, yeah, I, I thinkhe's on lock for top 8.
The only question is whether ornot he wins.
It's, uh,

Abaan (04:21):
with that.
Like, I think Louisville was,like, kind of, like, a fluke,
honestly, like, me and Henryplayed, like, I think, like, one
of the best XUs in the room,and, like, the fact that neither
of us even, like, cashed, Ithink that was, like, that was
kind of a product of this, like,12 rounds, and just, like, the
high variance within 12 rounds,right?
Like, I don't know.
think.

Liam (04:40):
mean, Henry, Henry got the, the same thing I did,
right?
Like, the, the X3, right?

Abaan (04:45):
Yeah.

Liam (04:46):
um, Louisville Baltimore, right?
And so, you know, like, one wentaway from, like, taking down the
whole thing, right?

Abaan (04:55):
No, well, apparently not at Louisville, but the concept
stands.

Liam (04:59):
Oh, shit, yeah, yeah.

Abaan (05:04):
So, like, I guess, do you want to talk about the bigger
LAIC meta, like, overarching,like, what what are some trends?
Like, I think, um, I think Boldis, like, where it's at, but,
like, I don't know why.
I feel like people have beentalking about Lugia, like, it's,
like, on a huge downswing, and,like, I feel this too, but I,
like, I don't get I can't get tothe root of it, like, what is
the What's the problem withLugia?
Like, why are we not playingthat anymore?

Liam (05:24):
It blows! That's, um I agree.

C (05:44):
with Lugia, like, it does well when it's, like,
disrespected and people aren'treally thinking about it.
Um, so I think Lugia is stillkind of right where it's be.
It's probably like the fourthdeck behind, what, Drago, Boltz,
maybe Terropagos?

(06:04):
Yeah,

Abaan (06:06):
think Terropicals will be more played than Lugia at this
event.
Or, like, at least, like, Idon't know about the general
masses.
Like, I have a very hard timereading that, but I think Day 2
percentage is, like, not evenclose.

C (06:17):
I agree.
Lugia will be fourth.
this Terropagos deck is like,really insane.
Um, it just I don't know, itdoesn't have the power, it sets
up way more consistently thanRegidrago in my experience.
I just don't know some, anotherreason I'm not playing it, or I

(06:40):
would hesitate to play it, is Ijust don't feel like I know the
kind of obscure matchups as wellas I do Drago.

Abaan (06:48):
Though,

C (06:48):
uh,

Abaan (06:49):
I feel like, I was

C (06:52):
does that

Abaan (06:52):
gonna say with Terropicals, like, can kind of
figure it out, like, like, withBriar and Dusknoir, and, like,
All the in the Bouffalantpackage and Penny and stuff,
it's like, people have to have agreat matchup into you.
Like, they have to have ananswer for, like, specific stuff
you're gonna do.
Like, you don't have to, likeLike, obviously, it's gonna be
frustrating if you sit down andthey're like, Oh, I'm extremely
ready to play this matchup.
I have this, like, randomfighting attacker that, like,

(07:13):
one shots and, like, all theserandom things, but, like, in
general, like, I think deckslike Toropagos, like, I don't
know, like, it's, like, itdefinitely has a high, like,
random deck power level.

Liam (07:24):
Yeah, it's

Abaan (07:25):
get it done.

Liam (07:25):
deck, right?
Like, it's making, like,enormous threats basically no
matter, no matter what Pokemonyou put into play, right?
Like, really good strategy totake six prizes.

Abaan (07:38):
Yeah, I guess the other question I have is, like, is
there, like reason, like, thisbolt deck, it's, it's still
gonna be number one in the room,but like, what is their logic at
this point?
Like, the Tarapacos matchup isterrible, the Guardian matchup,
terrible.
Like, I mean, we've asked this,like, every tournament, but

Liam (07:51):
Yeah, it's

Abaan (07:52):
is there some

Liam (07:53):
absolutely insane.
Literally, like, tournamentafter tournament, it's
absolutely baked, and yet itstill shows up as the number one
deck in the room.

C (08:00):
It's, the other thing is, like, I think the more we've
been testing this Surging Sparksmeta, I'm just looking at it
like, Is there, like, any reasonto play this deck other than,
it's like, oh, I supposedly havethe best The best, uh, Drago
matchup, but like, everythingelse looks absolutely chopped at
this point.
Like, Lost Fox Pikachu just ownsyou, and, like, know, Zardivore

(08:27):
owns you, all these other, uh,Tropicus owns you, and you're
just like, dude, what are youplaying this for other than,
like, a 10 percent Drago meta?

Abaan (08:36):
I think, I think there's something to be said for like,
some people, when they playPokemon, they like, They like
that feeling of like, they wereright there, and then their
opponent just like, squeaked itout against them or something,
like, I don't know why, butlike, when they play like,
something like Draugr Tropicus,and it doesn't work, and they
just like, get owned, becausethey like, don't know what's
going on a little bit, and like,just like, fall apart, they
don't like that, but like, theyplay Bolt, they take their two,

(08:57):
then you take your two, theytake their two, like, nothing is
going like, Out of, like, thetrack or whatever, and then you
just, like, do your trick tobeat Bolt, and they're like, Ah,
I was right there.
One more attack, you know, andthen they, like, go to the next.
Like, I, I, I

Liam (09:09):
Yeah, um, they care more about the lose, the lose margin
than the lose probability,right?
Like,

Abaan (09:14):
exactly.

Liam (09:15):
the margin every time.

Abaan (09:16):
Like, every single time, Tropicus is, like, doing some
crazy, like, crazy work, like,oh, VAC, like, this, that, and
they're like, Ah, man, he gotthere.
Let's try again.
And, like, even if it happens,like, eight times in a row,
they're like, Ah, I was rightthere.
Yeah.

Liam (09:36):
Yeah, I mean, I love these

Brent (09:37):
That's the, that's the, it doesn't really count as a
loss if you're like one cardaway theory, right?

Abaan (09:41):
been a

Brent (09:42):
I just needed one more turn, game after game.

Abaan (09:46):
night's sleep.
and a good night's sleep.
and we hope that you are goingwell.
see you in the next video.
Have a nice day.
Good night.

C (09:56):
low, but secretly everyone forgot and it's actually really,
really good.
Um.
You know, I've seen people saythat, um, online, I think Dre
put a massive pass out on it,Liam Hyatt has been like, oh, I
think this is like, a great playfor Sacramento and possibly
LAIC.
I don't know, I mean, is this,Zard still fake, or?

Liam (10:20):
I think, I think the deck is like fine, like it's like
inherently too strong to be likeTruly terrible in a meta, right?
Like, I think you do take a lotof, like, 50 50 or better
matchups, but the issue isthere's, like, a few matchups
where you just get completelyowned.
You're super duper chocked.

C (10:39):
I think that, uh, Liam Hyatt sent me a graph, I think it was,
you know, they show you these,uh, the win rates, uh, at, like,
recent tournaments, um, I forgetwhich Twitter account does it,
um, it, like, collates all the,

Liam (10:54):
yeah, the Pokéhot.

C (10:55):
yes, yes, that one, uh, I think it's, uh, like, Charizard
has, like, 50 50 better matchupsagainst, like, everything except
for two decks, and that'sRegidrago and Blockwax, and
Regidrago is, like, They'reboth, like, sub 30 percent win
rates, or like 35 and below.
Those

Liam (11:14):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
It

Abaan (11:22):
Henry me a lot and like a lot of top players are like
hitting his line asking like,how do I play this guard?
I'm.
If I'm playing Zard, I'm feelingvery sick to my stomach playing
as a

Liam (11:32):
is on!

Abaan (11:32):
player on Gardevoir, like, they got the 2 min, like,
they know what's up, like,

Liam (11:37):
literally just

Abaan (11:37):
blow

Liam (11:37):
spectating.
Like, it feels like playingLugia into, uh, into Guardia.
Like, you're just like, the tombis down, you're getting Iono'd,
and you like, need this like,raw, like, Briar Dustner,
straight off the top.
Like,

Abaan (11:48):
yeah, or it's like, off Fez, I need to hit, like, Vax,
CC,

Liam (11:51):
yeah.

Abaan (11:52):
and a Candy Dusknoir.
Good luck, me!

Liam (11:57):
Exactly, bro.
It's, oh my god.

Abaan (11:59):
can't be a part of this in any way.

Liam (12:00):
Yeah, it just has to be straight off the top, bro.
I'm like, so chocked.

Abaan (12:06):
Not to mention, like, they can, like, kind of bank on
you not having Turo in somespots, so, like, they can often
just, like, I'm not even gonnaproc Fez this turn, like, you
went to like 2, I'm not evengonna go into your Briar Range
or anything, I'm just gonna hityour Fez for 180, no, I'm like,
I'm not even in VAC range, like,find your 1 Turo if I own it to
2.
No Fez

Liam (12:22):
and I mean,

Abaan (12:23):
And you lose the

Liam (12:23):
in those spots too, like, it's often hard to have, like,
another Zard up, right?
Like, you have to, like, find,like, Turtle Candy, or something
like that, like.

Abaan (12:31):
Yeah, it's pretty miserable.
I, I'd say, like the otherproblem, uh, my other problem,
art is like, it's tricks.
It's literally trying to takeopcos, whole bag, bro.
Like, it has briar and dust.
No.
And like v those are, it's likebig tricks, right?
Why would I not just play opcoslike at this point?
Like, at least I have a Nidraga.

C (12:50):
I was gonna ask that, uh, is how is the Charizard versus
Terrapin response?
I haven't tested it at all,because I haven't really tested
Charizard, but

Liam (13:00):
You get chalked by a good Turapagos player, it's like.

Abaan (13:03):
cards are insane!

Liam (13:06):
They like, they, they, exactly.
They basically just like, theytake your bag and they do it
better, bro.
Like, they're like better withthe Dusners.
Um, they're better with thehealing.
And, like they're, they'refaster to everything too.
And there's like, oh.
And they,

Abaan (13:19):
way better engine.
Like, way,

Liam (13:20):
and you also have these, um, these like liabilities on
the bench, bro, right?
Like, you, you have like this,the Rotom, the Lumi, the
Fezdown, and there's no likeequivalent on the other end.
Like, their board is literallyjust like one Prizers,
Bouffalants, Pidgeot, and theToropagos.
And like, you have like no wayforward.
And they're just like waiting todo a trick on you, bro.
And they got like the firstattack off.

(13:40):
It's I think it's uh

Abaan (13:42):
Dude,

Liam (13:42):
Like, you can get there sometimes.

Abaan (13:44):
who cares?
You're hitting their Troglos for180, bro.
Yippee! Like, it's not even thatgood.

Liam (13:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, you

C (13:51):
I mean, it's just like, mean, the issue of setting up is just
like, oh, I hit a Nestball,Buddy Pop, and with this Dropper
goes back, and you're like, oh,the whole world is my oyster, I
can do whatever I want, andCharles is like, oh, well, I
gotta hit two Candies, I gotta,you know, hopefully hit this
Dust Bowl as well, uh, you know,and this Rotom?

(14:12):
This Rotom better be sick.

Abaan (14:16):
I have a

Liam (14:16):
I think the

Abaan (14:18):
Sorry,

Liam (14:18):
not to say that MF is completely terrible.
Like, you can get there with theZard.
Like, Tropicos doesn't have agood answer into the Zardiax,
right?
Like, it's like two hittedmaybe, but Yeah, like the ZardyX
is a better attacker thanTarapagos, right, so you can get
there sometimes, but it's notlike, uh, it's not an auto win
by any means, it's like, I thinkit's probably like close to like

(14:38):
50 50, maybe like slightlyunfavored.

Abaan (14:43):
I was just wondering, when you play Teropagos, and you
start Teropagos against, like,something like Bolt, does it
even matter, like, if the Boltjust gets two prizes to start
the game, or do you still, like,do you still pull off, like, all
the tricks by the end?

Liam (14:55):
Um, no, yeah, you're chocked if they get two.
have, like, if they get two andthey have like charms and stuff
like that, like, to like denycertain tricks, like, you don't,
I don't, I don't think there's amap where you can, you can
actually like win, like, if theyhit,

Abaan (15:10):
like, a fan run or something, if you're playing as
Bolt, and,

Liam (15:13):
mm hmm,

Abaan (15:13):
go from there.

Liam (15:15):
yeah.
all for being here today, and Ilook forward to seeing you all
in the future.

Abaan (15:34):
next thing you know, like, it's, it's, like, kinda
over.
But,

Liam (15:37):
Yeah, no, I mean, it's like, kind of similar to like,
Goldengo in that way, right?
Like, in that, if you like, everfall behind in the prize trade,
like, you are, you arecompletely chocked, right?

Abaan (15:47):
yeah.

Liam (15:48):
I think, I think we're good.

Abaan (16:10):
I wouldn't feel terrible Dango, but, like, it's not best
in slot, like, and, like, whywould we, why would you settle
for that, right?
Like, like, there's, like, like,I would rather beat Terrapagos
and stuff, or, like, other decksat 50 50 Drago, or have a
better, like, Gameplay, betterlike, matchup spread, like,
better, like, everything.

C (16:32):
The one thing I'll say is, that's kind of a sad

Liam (16:35):
Uh, I was just going to say something, but I

C (16:53):
And the funny part is, like, I don't know if any of these
changes, like, lists reallychange heading into Surging
Sparks either, like, any ofthose three.
They're just good.

Liam (17:03):
kind of realized, like, I think for a lot of people, the
format is, like, still evolvingin the sense that, like, they
only found out that, like,Henry's deck is, like, know,
like, the best deck in format,like, last week, bro.
You know?
Like There's like, there's likenew stuff for them, bro, and
they're like, like LAIC is likethe breakout tournament for this
deck.
You know what I mean?

(17:24):
It's like, so yeah, I mean,

Abaan (17:29):
be willing to put money down if there's like, two Henry
Chao exact sexies in top 8,like,

Liam (17:34):
Yeah, I, I literally, I think it's gonna be like 30
percent a day too, bro.
I'm not even gonna hold you.
No holding.
Eh, maybe like 20%.

C (17:41):
I'm pretty

Liam (17:42):
It's

C (17:42):
that, uh, Surging

Liam (17:43):
overall.

C (17:43):
tournament, uh, like, some regional event on Surging Sparks
meta, right?
The

Abaan (17:49):
Yeah, Penny Billinger.

C (17:50):
60s?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.

Liam (17:55):
and I'll see you next time.

Abaan (18:07):
I can ride on now, okay, I got that one.
Like, and, I think the

Liam (18:12):
Hello, everyone.
My name is Mike Fouchet.
And I'm here to talk to youtoday about the Cheren's Care,
Cheren's Care, Hearthstone, andArceus.
Let's get started.

Abaan (18:33):
let's say it's like a 99 percent out of 100, right, like,
you making a change is morelikely to bring you towards 98
than 100, like, sure.
So like, too, like, it justdoesn't make sense to try to
change stuff.

Liam (18:45):
exactly, right?
Like, you'll have the deck, andyou'll have like five, like,
candidate changes, right?
Like, swapping like five or sixcards, and like, maybe one of
them, like, makes the deckbetter, but every other one,
like, definitely makes the deckworse, right?
And like, you don't know whichone it is, so there's like, no
point in like, taking that risk,you know what I mean?

Abaan (19:03):
exactly.

C (19:04):
we have the, uh, the highest ELO player on live who has
played enough games that hischange is a good change.

Liam (19:15):
God.

Abaan (19:18):
Even then, Liam's like, not confident.

C (19:20):
you at, Since the lottery set, where are you at right now?
What's the current ELO looklike?
What

Liam (19:28):
now, you don't gain any more ELO, so I'm still at just
Arceus, so thanks for joiningus.
Bye.

Abaan (19:33):
Wait, what?

C (19:35):
do you mean?

Liam (19:35):
Yeah,

C (19:36):
Oh, you

Brent (19:36):
think other people are not at Arceus, so they don't
realize.
So did they change something?
Do you not get to go to 5, 000anymore?

Liam (19:42):
yeah, yeah, as soon as you hit Arceus, you stop gaining or
losing EO.
you,

Brent (19:47):
So what's the cap?
Yeah,

Liam (19:50):
it's just,

C (19:51):
1520 or whatever it is?

Liam (19:53):
nah, it's 550.

C (19:55):
Oh.

Liam (19:56):
You hit it pretty fast.

Brent (19:58):
it's really low.
It's really low, right?

Liam (20:00):
Mm hmm.
Mm hmm.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.

Brent (20:15):
It's incredible.
It's incredible.

Abaan (20:19):
You can

Brent (20:19):
It's the craziest thing.

Abaan (20:21):
how TCT Live changed, saved my son's life.

Brent (20:27):
So, uh, uh, Liam, I know you went to a cup this past
weekend.
Is that worth talking about atall?
Or is there nothing to say?

Liam (20:37):
I don't know, yeah, I mean, I guess it's somewhat
interesting, it's um, related tolike the text conversation that,
I don't know if we brought thisup last week, but I had a
conversation about text withAndrew Hedrick about, um, like
the value of a tag if it's Itbumps like a 10 percent matchup
by like 20%, it theoretically 2percent of games, and you

(21:01):
probably affect more games byjust playing another consistency
card.
So in that sense, like mosttechs are like, um, or like
techs are like very overrated,um, from where like the general
consensus is right now.
Um, and with that in mind, Idecided to play a Drago deck,
and I played with no stadiumsand no switch.
And instead I just played moreconsistency cards.
I played, um, I played theNoctowl line with 4th Vessel,

(21:24):
3rd, 4th Iona in those slotsfrom like the standard list.
and the deck was like super lit.
It was super lit.
But then I hit a Lugia and I gotwashed, bro.
I didn't have the Temple.
And Temple definitely would havewon me some games against Lugia.

Abaan (21:48):
power cards, like, you Noctowl, like, every game, and
you're like, Noctowling in yourdeck, you're like, great, I can
grab, like, another Iona, like,an E Switch, like, you don't
have power cards, like, youdon't have insane cards to grab
off these things, like, Pokemon,there's so much searchability,
that like, there's no reason.
To, like, have a deck that has,like, you have to have, like,
you play these Consistenciescards to do something powerful,

Liam (22:08):
You have to be, yes, yes, like, you have to find the right
balance, and it's also veryimportant to find, um, or like,
to be playing good consistencycards, right?
Like, specifically for, like,the Pidget box list that's very
standard right now, you play,like, 4 Ultra, 4 Ness, 4 Arvin,
uh, 2 but, like, the value ofadding, like, a third Rotom, or

(22:28):
a third Pidgey, or, like, youknow, another, like, egg
incubator, or, like, some other,like, terrible basic surge, It's
like, it's just not there,right?
So like, these slots go to like,our slots, right?
Like, there's no value to begained by adding a card like
Third Roto, right?
Oh.
I

Abaan (22:47):
the word?
It's like, um, as, like, thegains are, like, I don't know
how to, I forget the word.
You know what I mean, like, thegains drop off.
You can't just keep adding and

Liam (22:56):
mean, same offense,

Abaan (22:56):
the same

Liam (22:57):
right?

Abaan (22:57):
Yeah, diminishing returns, yes, thank you.

Liam (22:59):
Mm hmm.
Um, like, yeah, in that sense,the, you can't just like, you
know, text or stinky and like,you know, assume you're getting
more than this like 2 percentreturn forever.
Right?
By continuously adding, um,consistency cards.

Abaan (23:14):
I

Liam (23:14):
However,

Abaan (23:15):
to Andrago sounds like a, sounds like a diminishing
returns problem to me, a littlebit.

Liam (23:19):
I don't know.
I think, I think Drago is likesomewhat of an exception because
you have like so little search.
In the sense that like, youknow, you're constantly just
like drawing six cards and thenhoping like the hand has Iono in
it.
Like, and also in that sensebecause Iono is like a power
card, right?
Like it's um, like the bestcards to add are like cards that

(23:40):
serve both consistency and powerpurposes.
Right, and Iona was one ofthose.
Uh,

Abaan (23:45):
Ultra Ball and Pidgeot is kind of a power card, right?
Like, The way you, like, just doeverything with it.

Liam (23:51):
mm hmm.
Yeah, like the Lumi, the Lumienables it in the late game,
which is really like the onlyreason I'm still playing the
Lumi.
I really want to cut that guylike every day, but, you know,
the card is like so goodthroughout the entire game,
it's, you can't

Abaan (24:10):
I think, um, uh, something else that's, like,
interesting about the LAICformat is, like, what happened
to Palknor?
Like, I guess it did just winthe SPE, like, a week ago, but
before that win on the SPE,like, I thought the Palknor
stocks were, like, way down,and, like, I don't think winning
Buenos Aires SPE is, like, allof a sudden, like, making the
deck, like, extremely popular

Liam (24:30):
Yeah, it's a, the deck sucks, man.

Abaan (24:31):
it?

Liam (24:32):
The deck sucks.
Like, It's, um If youropponent's Pokemon have less
than like 90 HP, it's prettygood, but like, anything else,
and your deck is actuallyterrible.
Like, uh, I guess like the bestthing I can do this turn is like
just like punch you for 200, andlike, you don't have like Briar,
or any like power cards, like,you're literally, like your

(24:53):
Dustners only serve toaccelerate the game, right?
Like they don't, they don'timprove your board at all, or
like, or are used tactically,right?
They just accelerate the pricetrade, and all you can do is hit
for 200?
Like, that's terrible.
I have some.

Abaan (25:08):
Yeah, like, it's, it, there's a difference with, like,
with Toropith and stuff, you're,like, carefully, like, making
sure they can't play aroundBriar, like, you're shoving them
into Briar if they, like, refuseto play into it and stuff like
that, like, this deck is just,like, I just want to bear
faster, like, I, I want thisgame, like, I have, I

Liam (25:23):
Yeah,

Abaan (25:23):
the

Liam (25:23):
exactly, right?

Abaan (25:24):
to end this game fast.

Liam (25:26):
Like, yeah, like the, um, like when you're like 2 2 2ing
with, um, what is it, Turapagos,you can like pop a Dusner and
then Briar and then like go fora 4 price turn.
But the Dusner only goes forlike, it's just 2 for 2, right?
Like, that's all it does.
Or like 1 for 1, 2 for 2, younever get any, um, disruption on

(25:47):
the price trade, it justaccelerates it.
So

Abaan (25:54):
the Tord list can really only dust throw, like, once,
like twice if you, like, havethe Briar as well.
But like, that deck, like, uh,the really cool thing about
Palkia is that, like, it WithGreninja and, like, Double Dusk
Snoring at a turn, it's veryhard to build a board that's,
like, resilient to, like, WaterShuriken or, like, the Barrage
or whatever, plus Double DuskSnore.

Liam (26:15):
Yes.

Abaan (26:16):
you look at almost any board in the game, and it's
like, I can see a way this couldget, like, cracked by, like, a
Ninja Double Dusk or some shit.

Liam (26:23):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, Ninja Double Dusk is like,that's, that's pretty good.
But even then, you're stilllike, you give up two prizes and
you take four, right?
Even into like the two prizeboards or one prize boards,
right?
Like, you're just like,aggressively accelerating the
game.
And it gives you a chance tolike, board wipe them and do
like, you know, crazy tricks ontheir family.
But like If the board wipedoesn't work, you're still

(26:45):
chocked.
Right?
Like, um, unless you like manageto uh, to take the lead.

Abaan (26:51):
this one trick, you know, and it really you really hope it
sticks.
Like, you really are hoping itsticks, and if it doesn't stick,
you hope Bear can, like, killit.
you over the finish lineanyways, right?
And like, if, if those twothings don't happen, uh, it's
uh, GG next.

Liam (27:04):
Yes.
Yeah, so I mean like the deckis, it's pretty bad.
But I don't think it's a badcall, uh, because I think it, I
think it smushes uh, the fastguardie, and That's going to be
like the entirety of day two.
So, in that sense, I think it'slike, probably a better call
than it was, uh, past fewweekends.

Abaan (27:28):
Yeah, and like, I'm not very familiar, but I assume like
all those like, random like,Palkia versus Drago, I think
it's probably like 50 50.
I don't know, it's probablyDrago favorite.
It's

Liam (27:35):
That's so a Drago favorite.
I don't think, I don't thinklike

Brent (27:39):
for joining us

Liam (27:39):
a really good Drago player is like losing a set to Palkia.
Like, anything short of thelike, just, just insane
shenanigans on turn two from thePalkia player, and they have to
go first, the Drago's winning.
Like, basically every time.

Abaan (27:51):
Okay, Cheren.
I guess that's like anotherexample, but like Teropakos, for
example, I assume that match isprobably 50 50.
Teropakos, Palkia?
Because

Liam (27:58):
Uh, yeah.

Abaan (28:01):
just trying to give it like, I'm trying to understand
like why people are playing it.
Like, I assume these matcheshave to be like alright, or do
you think it's just liketerrible and like it's like,
that's like, the problem?

Liam (28:11):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, like, these matchups are fine, right?
Like, you have like a gimmick,right, like the turn two, just
like Take their entire family,and like, deck can have its
family taken, but like, Like, Idon't know, it's um, At the same

(28:32):
time, decks are like, somewhatresilient to having their family
taken, and if you lose everytime, you don't get their entire
family, like, even if like, onecousin manages to get away, you
lose?
Jesus, bro.
It's pretty hard to play thatdeck.

Abaan (28:46):
I, I agree with this.
I guess, like, what else isthere in the format, like, that
people are yapping about?
Oh,

Brent (28:53):
you know what we should rap about?
Dude, we should yap aboutSacramento.

Abaan (28:57):
Oh,

Brent (28:58):
We're 28 minutes in, and you guys are actually going to a
tournament next weekend.
Not this coming weekend, nextweekend.
In a new format.

Liam (29:04):
to be pretty, pretty succinct.
It's going to

Brent (29:06):
Yeah.

Liam (29:07):
party fest.
Henry's going to come out ontop.
Big dog.
Definitely.

Abaan (29:12):
sure, sure, let's talk about Sacramento.
So, some format changing stuff.
Okay, so, like, in Pidgeot,

Brent (29:18):
So Gardeo will be the best deck?

Abaan (29:20):
yeah, Scarty will still be the best tech.
I, like, the best techs don't

Liam (29:22):
Yeah, I, yeah, it's good, it's going to be.

Abaan (29:26):
But,

Liam (29:27):
you can be sure that everybody who played Guardi at
SAC, or at LAIC, and is going toSAC will be playing Guardi.
Everybody at LAIC, they're goingto be playing the exact same 60
to, uh, to SAC.
Maybe one card change with a newsurging spark card or something
like that, bro.
That's the chalk part aboutdoing LAIC and SAC, so it's
rough for these people.

Abaan (29:46):
yeah, I, I think the coolest thing that we've tried
from the new set is this BlackHero.
Like, the, that you can, like,paralyze a Draugr, hit it for

Liam (29:53):
Yeah, I think it makes that matchup super good, so.

Abaan (29:57):
You've always wanted that, right?
You always wish you could kill aDraugr so they can't just, like,
sit there with their one Draugrand, like, pretend, like, this
is, like, fine.

Liam (30:04):
Yeah, it's like, it's so much more pressure, right?
Like, as opposed to like theSobloc, where like, you're
basically just trying to racefor the switch, and like, you
know,

Brent (30:12):
for joining us today.

Liam (30:30):
trying to, like, just beat me to the switch, right?

Abaan (30:32):
And then, like, you're you're

Brent (30:33):
for joining us today.

Liam (30:52):
Yeah, exactly, right?
Like, you have this, like, dualthreat that's, like, just
incredible, right?
Of, like, Blood Moon Sweepingand Sawblocking that, like,
Drago really struggles toaddress.

Abaan (31:01):
And not to mention, like, uh, I think we don't talk about
this factor enough, but, like, Ithink the first time you play
the matchup, and you're justlike, oh, like, I guess this
didn't work, and then, that'sit, like, maybe, maybe you get a
second game in, and like, Istill don't know if you figure
it out, right, and like, maybe,like, after you lose, like, 2 0,
like, gears are turning, you'relike, uh, maybe here's what I
could try, like, I bench asecond Drago at this point, and
attach to it, like, right now,like, you know, like, like, you,

(31:24):
like, figure out the timing,right, but, but it's too late,
you don't get it back, right?

Liam (31:28):
So yeah, it's a hard deck to play against.

Abaan (31:32):
And, like, Genesect is lit.
Genesect is so lit.
And, like, all these matches,like, if you're, if they're,
people, like, lead on this PrimeFeature so hard, and, like, it's
totally valid, because, like, ifyou're not playing as a
Genesect, like, why would Iplay, like,

Liam (31:43):
Oh yeah, like the deck building concept is to like, you
cut one gust, you cut oneswitch, you play the prime, and
you get like a slot back, right?
Like it's, it loses a lot ofvalue when you don't get the
slot back and you end up playingthe switch anyway.

Abaan (31:57):
Yeah, Prime Feature's meant to be everything at once,
right?
And, like, the fact that it's,um, it's not

Liam (32:02):
Yeah, exactly.
Like if there was no prime, likeDrago might even be playing like
third boss or something likethat, but now like they only
have two, right?
Like their gusting is prettylimited as well.

Abaan (32:13):
And it's like, telegraphed, right?
Like, they can't, like, researchinto boss, like,

Liam (32:17):
Yes.

Abaan (32:18):
so,

Liam (32:19):
Yeah, no, exactly.
Right.
Like you can get, you can get tolike real spots where you like
rip Iono and they need Gus andthey only have two, right?

Abaan (32:26):
Or they need Gust energy E Switch, and it's like, even if
they draw the Gust, like, the

Liam (32:31):
Yeah.

Abaan (32:31):
they were able to get there before was they're gonna
research and then attach ESwitch Prime, but like, now,
like Ugh, not a great spot.
You don't like it.
Uh, I think other than that forSearching Sparks, I, oh, I think
Miridon is like, it's getting anupgrade and I keep seeing Azula
videos about it, and like, Ithink this Magneton card is very
lit.

(32:51):
And like, Latios too, like, Ilike the ideas in Miridon.
The problem I have with it islike, this deck, like, decks
don't exist in a vacuum, right?
And like, not sure That it'slike, matchups like, got that
much better.
Like, a one sauce that I wasthinking about that like, I feel
like Noah's talking about, isthat because you're playing area
zero now, you should probablyplay a vacuum in your Marauder

(33:12):
or like, some way to bump thearea zero.
Because like, if Draugr tries todo some kind of cure em threat,
which is like, very likely,because you're going to be
benching everything, right?
And like, the most intuitivething is just cure em that.
can um, you can basically useyour, your vacuum as like, a
triple tarot, or like, you getto discard like, all the guys
that got cure em.
They just can't cure em anymore.
like, they can't get one, and

Brent (33:31):
all for joining us today, and we hope to see you again
soon.
You

Abaan (33:53):
yeah, so I think actually like, there's a lot of merit to
people who are like, down toplay Mirado in this format.
I don't know about his BeatStick matchup, like, I'm not
sure if you Beat Bull.
don't think you do, right?
Like, you do have Raikou now?
You have Raikou now to one shotthem, which is like, kind of
nice.
And you're like, I already wantto play Vax, so that helps a
little bit.
Like, there's some saving grace,but yeah, it's not, it's not
ideal.

Brent (34:17):
So, so does any of that convince you that you should
play anything besides Gardevoir,or is it like, we'll just
Gardevoir for life, I don'tknow.
for joining us, and we hope tosee you again soon.

Abaan (34:41):
I'm, like, already, I'm all in, but, like, we play that
matchup relentlessly, and, like,I think we played it almost for,
like, two straight days.
Like, we played, like, maybe,like, 15, 15 games or something
like that?
Like, maybe a little less thanthat?
And, like, it was not lookinggood.
So, I don't know.
We need a fix for that.
I don't want to, like, take an Lto Tropic Ghost.

Brent (35:02):
I'm really excited.
Liam, how about you?
What are the odds of playingthat versus Tropicus?
So,

Liam (35:12):
don't know, I mean, I'm gonna, I'm gonna figure
something out, bro.
We still got like a week and ahalf.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna figuresomething out.
It's gonna be lit.
It's gonna be lit.

Brent (35:26):
and, so Walker is flying out to, uh, California to meet
you, to, uh, Played his firstPokemon since Baltimore.
Did he go to Baltimore?
Yeah, he did.
He went to Baltimore.

Abaan (35:39):
out there.

Brent (35:40):
That's right.
That's right.
Well, what, what deck would youguys tell him to pick up and
learn starting today?

Abaan (35:46):
He

Brent (35:46):
Garde?
Yeah.

Abaan (35:49):
If, if he thinks that he can manage Learning Guardian in
a week, I'd be down.
But, like, it sounds like hedoesn't really want to play
Pokemon in this, like, week anda half, right?
Like,

Liam (35:55):
No, no, but that's like his thing, right, he like, he
wants to play like the um, thehardest deck possible, without
practicing, that's what he wantsto do.

Abaan (36:12):
It's definitely, like,

Brent (36:13):
He's, he has infinite confidence that he will outplay
everyone in the room.

Abaan (36:17):
the

Brent (36:17):
So

Abaan (36:18):
Gardevoir in this format is that, like, you get a lot of
the power, like, the first 80,70, 80 percent of the power
level, like, immediately, like,without knowing anything.
You're like, uh, Drifloon Charm,blow you up, Drifloon Charm,
blow you up.
It's like,

Liam (36:30):
The last song we are going to play is called N.
E.
R.
T.
Who are the

Brent (36:51):
that is 100 percent his strategy.

Liam (36:54):
R.
T.?
very much.

Abaan (36:59):
like so broken against Gardevoir, but then you like
start playing, and you're like,wow, Gardevoir actually has a
lot of tricks to not play intovacuum, like, you can um,
Drifloon for 180, Fez, like, orsorry, Drifloon 180, Monkey, a
Fez.
Like, that's like, one of themain lines against so many
different decks, and like,nothing, there's nothing you can
do about it, they just uh, theyhave to take that one on the
chin.

Liam (37:20):
Also, they pressure your engine so hard, too, right,
like, it's hard to make thisvacuum play happen, like,
usually it's not just VAC,right, like, the VAC has to be
paired with other cards to have,like, a perfect turn, so, like,
yeah, they, like, pressure yourengine, pressure your hand, and
then you have to find, like, acombination of cards, right,
even, like, the best casescenarios.

(37:40):
I'll

Brent (37:43):
know, guys, I realized, uh, uh, we've provided people
with like 37 minutes ofincredibly good content.
But, uh, we should probably havea digression to discuss the
incredibly bad content thatpeople want to hear about.

Liam (37:58):
see

Brent (38:01):
I'm just gonna ask you.
You're 5 and 2.
Will you take the ID?

Abaan (38:07):
What?
Of course not, bro.
they're literally asking like,you know how you want to event
this event?
Like, sign this little paperhere, and uh, it won't happen
anymore.
Like, what the hell?
I'm not doing that.
And like, but I hope, I really,really hope that I sit down at

Brent (38:21):
Oh, but come on, man! We could top 32 and get some money!

Abaan (38:26):
Dude, I hope that, like, my opponent says something like
that.
Like, if I'm sitting down at 5 2and they ask me to ID, like, my
god, like, I'm feeling so good.
Like, anything, like, anything,like, obviously I'm gonna be a
little annoyed that I'm 5 2 inthe first place, like, I lost
two rounds.
But they say that, and like, I'mlike, right back in it.
I'm like, let's go.
At least this one is a W.
I can't imagine

Liam (38:47):
Clearly they don't even want to win, bro.
They don't even want to win.

Abaan (38:49):
exactly.

Liam (38:51):
how can I lose at this point?

Brent (38:57):
Uh, uh, will there be like, will there be like 300
people in day 2?

Abaan (39:03):
I don't think so, because getting to X2 1 is like, it's
like more, it's

Liam (39:07):
5 2 1 unbelievable.
Like, that's, I guess, yeah,

Brent (39:14):
It's, it's a lower bar than 6 to 1.

Abaan (39:18):
Sure, sure,

Liam (39:18):
the, um

Abaan (39:19):
to be 6 2 1, you know what I mean?
Like, or not, they didn't wantto, but they were like, down to
be 6 2 1.
Like, 5 2 1 is like, terrible,like, you don't get to like,
play for the tournament anymore,that like, Like, when people
are, like, they're still gonnaGentleman's, I think, like, at
X2, or maybe not at X2, butlike, I don't know, I should
hope that people, like, aresuch, like, cold hearted
winners, you know, that they're,like, still Gentleman's ing and,

(39:41):
like, trying to get wins on theboard, like, when they're not
just down to take their firsttie.

Liam (39:46):
Yeah, like I said, I don't know, I like, because like I
feel like the concept of likethe 6 2 1 is like exactly what
you want the concept of Day 2 to

Brent (39:54):
To 11, 9 3.
5, 4, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5 one, two,one, two three,!.

Liam (40:18):
where, like, the worst case scenario is, like,

Brent (40:20):
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe.
Please leave a comment below,and I'll see you in the next
video.
Bye.

Liam (40:38):
which is, like, you know, if you win, you get top cut, if
you lose, you get, like, youknow, a thousand bucks or
whatever, right?
And, like, I feel like that's,like, a way better concept for
Day 2.
As opposed to like, basicallyjust like continuation to day
one and then

Abaan (40:54):
think the biggest thing

Liam (40:55):
win per cut for nothing.

Abaan (40:56):
We can't have all 2, 000 people play 15 rounds.
So what I thought the point ofday two was like, let's take the
guys after round nine and takethe people who can still make
cut and cut everyone else, youknow?
And like, thought that was thewhole point.
Like, why are there people inday two who can't make cut
anymore?
Like, don't even

Liam (41:14):
Yeah, I don't know.
I don't really buy thatargument.
I feel like, like when peopletalk about like how smooth the
tournament needs to run andstuff, like I feel like, I feel
like the tournament can stillrun pretty smooth, even with
like a lot more people.
Like you could, I mean, thetournament has to be running
like much smoother in day two,even with just like half of the
people, as compared to day one,right?
Like you could take everybodywho's like, For four, and send

(41:36):
them to day two, and thetournament would be running
smoother, right?
There's like, there's half asmany people.
Um, and like,

Abaan (41:42):
That

Liam (41:42):
it seems like,

Abaan (41:42):
though, you know what I mean, I think you're missing
something, like, that wouldreally suck because, like,
limiting factor in any givenround is the slowest round.
Like, is the slowest match stillplaying, right?
And like,

Liam (41:52):
yeah.

Abaan (41:53):
really don't want day two to get extended to be like too
long.
Like, right now it's like avery, there's like a very small
number of rounds happening, solike, the turnaround is like
within like, like an hour, youknow?
Like, you're out of there bylike, 12, 1.
I think like, if you add like,everyone who's 4 4 and up, like,
there would be one, so randomlylike, every round there'd be one
like, match that's takingforever, and like, the

Liam (42:15):
I'm just saying, I feel like this like, this cutoff is
like, rather arbitrary.
Like, I feel like, It's, um, andlike if you want to say like top
cut, like people still incontention is the cutoff, like
sure I could kind of buy that,but I feel like, I feel like we
should go to like some othermetric as opposed to, um, like,
yeah, like efficiency thing,unless we're like really finding

(42:37):
like real efficiency problemsbecause the metric directed us
to like, yeah, maybe somethinglike 4 4 and we found there were
real like time issues with likethat number of rounds,

Abaan (42:47):
I

Liam (42:47):
yeah,

Abaan (42:48):
problem is it's like,

Liam (42:49):
early number of fighters.

Abaan (42:50):
the post has like, no logical consistency.
Like, logic goes like, you know,Event A happens, like, my, like,
I thought about it, and now Ithink event B, right?
Like, they literally in the postsay, like, we, like, understand
the concerns of a lot of peoplethat they don't, like, that you
can go undefeated in Day 2 andnot make cut.
And now, we've, uh, we're, Idon't know, we're just, like,

(43:11):
adding random

Liam (43:11):
We're expanding that feature.

Abaan (43:13):
Yeah, like,

Brent (43:15):
Yeah, yeah, so, so now we're going to let you know
absolutely that there is goingto be

Liam (43:20):
to

Brent (43:21):
people in day two with no chance of making top eight and
you guys are just fighting forcash.

Abaan (43:26):
and the

Liam (43:26):
a great evening.
I'll see you next time.
Bye bye.

Abaan (43:33):
it's coming from someone else, right, and like, I don't
know, it feels terrible, some 52 1 warrior like goes 4 0, and
like, you had a good tournament,you know, you, you're like, you
were in there the whole way, youwere battling it out, you lose
your last round, like, just likewe were talking about earlier,
like, you lose your last round,and someone who would never
even, like, planning on making acut, they never even dreamed of
a cut, they, they just beatlike, four other 5 2 1 enjoyers,

(43:54):
I was like, And then like, nowthey like, they got your grand,
bro.
They got your band.
I don't know, that seems crazyto me.

Liam (44:01):
Yeah, I mean, that's, that's absolutely crazy, right?
No, like, exactly, like, I feellike, and I feel like it also
sucks to be the person coming inat 5 2 1, right?
Like, I feel like I'd ratherjust be like, you know, you had
to have a really strong Day 1,and if you have a really strong
Day 1, you're like, almost alock for cash, uh, and maybe you
have a chance to win thetournament, as opposed to like,
No matter how you do, you'regonna play out like every single

(44:22):
round just for like a chance tolike sniff like one band, bro.
You know, you know what I mean?
Like I'd so much rather thanjust be like top 32 at the end
of day one.
Those are the people paying forcash.

Abaan (44:36):
I've had that feeling like multiple times, like, like,
I go into day two, like, with agood record, lose like, I lose
like one or two, like, realquick.
And I'm like, damn, I'm just,I'm just playing for a chance to
like, like, and that's the worstfeeling ever.
And like,

Liam (44:49):
Yeah.

Abaan (44:49):
to sleep on that feeling,

Liam (44:51):
Yeah.

Brent (44:53):
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, I pledge allegiance tothe flag For the rights,
privileges, and interests of thepeople of this country, and for
the security and security of theRepublic for which it stands,
one Nation under God,indivisible, with liberty and

(45:14):
justice for all.

Abaan (45:15):
I don't know, you just like see, it just feels so
random and you're like just giveme one more round to like play
it out and like let's decideright like I think it'll always
feel good less rounds whenyou're doing good right like
you're like let's go I don'thave to win more rounds like I
won my 10 out of 12 rounds andnow I'm in there but like I
think on average like you're notgonna like have like such an

(45:36):
insane start and

Liam (45:37):
I don't know, I understand this argument, but like, I feel
like, I feel like you want theright number of rounds.
It's one where like, or at leastfor me, I feel like after, at
the end of the event, if Ididn't make top cut, or, or get
a chance to win, I'd be like,there was like one round that
like, was like very in mycontrol, and I'm like, um, you
know, I kind of just threw,right?

(45:57):
And I feel like, I feel like twolosses is generally like the bar
for that.
X2 making cut, I feel like if Ipick up that third loss, usually
it's like, um, very easy for meto identify, like, the mistake
that I made, or like, feel likeI made a mistake, whereas like,
and like, two rounds is like,kind of the cap for like, these
like, forced losses, where like,you know, you just open, there's
nothing glowing, and then youlose on the next turn, like, um,

(46:21):
yeah,

Abaan (46:22):
two like has to make cut no matter what, but I do think
what?
Like when we're talking aboutnot caching, like I think that
you should make two mistakes.
You make cut, you make threemistakes.
You cash y you get four rounds.
You can't get four rounds done.
Like, all right bro.
Like, well good.
Try like, try again next time.
Like I think like

Liam (46:39):
I,

Abaan (46:39):
three,

Liam (46:40):
I completely agree.

Abaan (46:40):
is like brutal

Liam (46:41):
Yeah, exactly, exactly, I think, Um, I think that, like,
tiering of, like, you know, you,um, you do a little bit worse
than top cut, you should get top32, right?
But, like, that's currently notthe case.
Instead, like, the goal, like,the way you reach top 32 is do a
little bit better than, like,Um, like, uh, a little bit

(47:03):
better than, what is it, x, x 1,2 1?
Like,

Abaan (47:08):
X two one.
You have to do X two one.
Right.

Liam (47:10):
yeah, yeah, but like, my point is like, you do a little
bit better than winning all butthe last round, and uh, is like,
really convoluted, but, yeah,exactly, like, the way you get
into top 32 is like, not bylosing your winnin in, by
winning out after being out ofthe tournament for like five
rounds, just like.

Abaan (47:31):
Yeah, once you're not in Cut, you're like, functionally
not in the main event anymore,right?
Like, you're playing for somestanding stuff, like grey, like,
points, like, I'm not saying,like, just drop once you miss
Cut, but, like, it's, it'sdifferent.
Like, the people who are, like,in the tournament fighting for
Cut, like, the games are justdifferent.
Like, even if you're playingfor, like, money, and, like,
you're trying to, like, get acash finish, I swear, the

(47:52):
quality of game after you're outof the Cut competition is just
lower.

Liam (47:55):
Yes, bro, like, I, I swear to God, I like, this is, this is
why I usually drop once I, if Igo like, X3 in day one, right,
I, because like, there's no, Ilike no

Brent (48:08):
all for joining us today, and we hope to see you all again
soon.

Liam (48:27):
like, because like, um, and like even if they show up,
you're against just like acomplete, a complete joke deck.
And like, you know, there's, andeven on your own end, you're
like, dude, I'm like, not evenplaying for anything anymore.
I like, you don't get thatfeeling of competing that you do
when you're like, actually incontention for that.

Abaan (48:43):
locked in factor just completely drops off the face of
the earth.
Like, I would say even in daytwo, like once you can't cut
anymore, and like you're kind ofplaying for cash, like,

Liam (48:52):
Yeah, no, dude, exactly, bro.
Like, it's, you all of a suddenthere's like, take backs on the
table, and like, you know, just,just do whatever, bro.
Like, I'm just, I'm here becauseI have to be, you know?
Like,

Abaan (49:03):
I'm here so don't get fined.

Liam (49:05):
yeah, like, you're not, uh, you're not super, super
locked in when you're, you'renot in contention for winning.

Abaan (49:13):
Yeah, and like, that's why I think it's ridiculous
that, like, the guy who picks upthese, like, three, like,
random, like, Ah, whatever, bro,just do whatever, take it back,
ah, this tournament sucked.
Like, that guy, just like, hewas locked in, like, he's
treating that like it was, like,the main event, he wins, like,
three of those, he gets yourban, bro, like, you lost, you
were, like, playing, like, Like,battles, every single round, and
then like, that guy was like,just on the side, like, doing

(49:35):
like, basically doing like, busywork, you know?
And uh, he it real.
I

Liam (49:41):
Yes, completely agree, it's ridiculous stuff,
ridiculous.
Yes.

Abaan (50:00):
it sucks, like, they used to play nine rounds on day one,
now they're playing eight, andlike, they make their first day
two, and like, Back in the day,like, first day two, that feels
like a whole nother event.
Like, six rounds, like, sixrounds of, like, some pretty,
like, high, like, especially ifit's your first day two or
whatever, like, to you, it's,like, high octane stuff.
Like, even if you're not in CupConvention, like, like, to you
personally, like, this is animportant thing to you, right?
And, like, you're treating itreally, really seriously.

(50:21):
And,

Liam (50:22):
I've had a number of people with me with all their
names, but frankly, you know,when I first got into the
industry, and I've had theopportunity to work alongside
other people for years or years,it was quite a difficult time,
but I think that all the biggerpeople are doing a good job of
doing the right thing, andthat's why I do what

Brent (50:40):
Hey, I just wanna say thanks so much for having me.
I don't know if you remember,uh, when I was in the National
Geographic and I was looking at,um, what all these people mean
to me.
And I just wanted to say thanksso much for having me.
I've been here for a long time.
I don't know if I've ever beenhere myself.

(51:02):
I've been here with a bunch ofpeople.
I've been here with a bunch ofpeople.
It's been an honor to be herewith you.

Liam (51:10):
it's not like, Everybody gets to play Day 2 now.
People are like, yay, this islike amazing for people who get
to play Day 2, right, like, ifyou, if you have to go, you
know, what, 2 6 to make Day 2,it's no longer like, yo, I made
my first Day 2, right?

Abaan (51:26):
It's like I just played a two day Pokemon tournament.

Liam (51:28):
Yeah, right?
Like,

Abaan (51:31):
like, I feel like we are like a little isolated from this
conversation in general becauselike I see it vaguely on Twitter
But like obviously I don'treally follow that many people
who talk about that and likeknow what I know really like
about that so it's like veryhard to like understand the
perspective but like peoplealways talk about limitless
checking and stuff like that andlike Who cares about getting

(51:51):
this limitless page if you wentlike 5, 6, 1 or whatever, like,
I

Liam (51:56):
yeah, bro, it's, oh my god, man, people are so obsessed
with, like, the rankings andstuff, bro, and like, as soon as
this, like, Poki rank thing cameout, bro, it's in, like, five
seconds, bro, people are just,like, looking at everything on
that joint, bro, and it's like,Jesus Christ, bro, like, Just, I
think, it's um, like, peoplecare about the numbers so much
at the end, you know what Imean?

Abaan (52:17):
But they're like having mid offs, you know, like, it's
really funny, like, they'relike, comparing like, oh, bro,
you got like 80th, I got like, Ihave a 67th on my record,

Liam (52:26):
No, yeah, obviously, obviously I care about, like,
the performance, right?
But yeah, exactly, like, I feellike, I feel like the point of
your performance shouldn't be,like, shouldn't be, like, the
number, it should be, like, thefeeling that you get, right?
Like, did you, like, dominatethe event, right?
Like, did you have a Roscoff in,like, 2012 Worlds or something
type event?
Or, like,

Abaan (52:41):
2011.

Liam (52:42):
were you a mom?
Oh, 2011, bro, my bad.
Um,

Brent (52:45):
So let, let me, let me, uh, uh, inject, uh,

Abaan (52:49):
hope

Brent (52:51):
a nuance or something.
Liam, what was your record atBaltimore?

Liam (52:54):
I was, I was X3,

Abaan (52:56):
soon.

Brent (52:57):
So,

Liam (52:58):
10, yeah, 10 3.

Brent (53:01):
yeah, you were, you were 10 3 and, um, you were tied for
21st.
And you ended up getting, like,35th,

Liam (53:12):
Yeah.

Brent (53:14):
and I know, like, one of the things that I used to say a
lot in, like, juniors andseniors, where, like, they
played so many fewer rounds,and, and then, like, cut right
to top 8, um, I was always like,if they would just play one more
round, It would give you a lotof like, like, it would stop a
lot of the bubbles, and like,they fixed the bubble with the
asynchronous cut for top 8, butlike, the bubble for top 32 in

(53:39):
cash is gonna be like a thingnow, especially if like, 200
people are playing a day 2, andlike, they're all just on the
grind.
Would you like to play one moreround for the opportunity to win
a, a band?
Would that have brought yourcompetitive juices to the
forefront?
If you, if I told you, you know,1, 000 money match is next
round.

Liam (53:58):
because I'd already lost at that point, like, yeah,
exactly, like, there's no,there's no competitive juice at
that point.
I'm just like, trying to see ifI got my band.
I'm like, happy to just like,run this band on the bubble.
I think the best solution forthis issue, though, is the
Jeremy Gibson solution, which isLike, if there's 14 people
fighting for, what, 10 slots oftop 32, like, each person just

(54:19):
gets a cut of the, um, like,what is it, 10, 000, right?
Like, you just split it upevenly across all these people,
right?

Brent (54:27):
just pro Rat of the Bubble.

Abaan (54:29):
I

Brent (54:29):
I like that.

Abaan (54:30):
is, like, let's say the bubble is huge, right, and like
one guy squeaks in.
we really gonna split, like,the, the one grand among, like,
20 people or whatever, or like15 people?
And the other problem,

Liam (54:41):
I think, I don't know, like,

Brent (54:42):
But I, no, I think, I think that's, you just hit the
nail on the head, right?
If there's 1, 000 for the guywho's in 32nd, and like 31 has X
points, and 32 has X plus 1points, and there's 20 guys that
all have X plus 1 points, yeah,make up 50, 000.
You get 50 for getting 32nd.
Congratulations, buddy.

Abaan (55:01):
point, I think, like,

Brent (55:02):
I kind of dig it.

Abaan (55:03):
amount that you, like, feel good.
I don't know, maybe I'm like,this is a very, like, terrible

Brent (55:07):
Yeah.
But I think, but Liam's point isyou shouldn't feel good about
what you did.
You just barely got 32nd.

Liam (55:13):
Right, like, a 5 percent chance to get 1, 000 versus a
100 percent chance to get, what,like, uh, 20 or

Abaan (55:20):
getting your EV, right?
Like,

Brent (55:21):
50.

Abaan (55:22):
resistance,

Liam (55:23):
50?

Abaan (55:23):
isn't a truly random metric.
Like, I, I feel like in thisconversation, it always is

Liam (55:27):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, but

Abaan (55:30):
like, Resistance doesn't isn't just like some random
thing that, like, falls from thesky, like, some guy did play,
like, a bunch of 08'ers, who,like, every single time they,
like, played a round and, like,won, that guy proceeded to go
08.
And there's some guy who played,like, the Gauntlet, bro, like,
they, like, they, like, ugh, I,like, nearly lost to Rowan, and
then I beat, like, Bradner, andthen I, like, lost to Idrov, and
then, like, oh, okay, well, Iguess I'll I'll take my 50 bucks

(55:54):
now.
Good

Liam (55:55):
Yeah.

Abaan (55:55):
who, like, beat, like, three guys who went 08.
Good

Liam (55:58):
I mean, yeah, I think it is, like, definitely important
to acknowledge that resistanceis, It is like a real metric,
but I think it's a metric thatlike people are understandably
like not super happy aboutbecause like, A, it's like very
subject to variance, right,like, it's like the aggregate of
um, you know, like, if,

Abaan (56:16):
out of

Liam (56:16):
Rowan has bad tournaments,

Abaan (56:17):
right?

Liam (56:18):
like Rowan has bad tournaments, and then, you know,
that's,

Abaan (56:21):
you beat someone and they just like, completely like, just
like, go on tilt and throw thewhole tournament after, like,
that's not your fault.
I'm just saying that like, thissituation, the guy who squeaks
in to 32, of the other 19 guys,He played against, like, a bunch
of demons, bro.
He, like, he

Liam (56:38):
yeah,

Abaan (56:38):
Like, give him his ban.
Like, what are we talking about,50 bucks, bro?
Like, he earned that.

Liam (56:44):
sure, I mean, I don't know, I think, uh, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah.

Abaan (56:54):
So yeah, this guy was 8 0, and he crashed out.
He went to,

Brent (56:57):
I mean, on the one hand, you're obviously, you guys are
right, resistance is a realthing, but also, like, you can
only play the people that theyget put in front of you, you
know?
Like, like, I don't thinkanybody looks at, at Liam's 10 3
and, you know, the guy who gota, got 20 seconds 10 3 and is

(57:18):
like, oh my god, that was justan objectively better 10 3.
I mean, I don't know, maybe itwas, but like, I don't think
anybody, I mean, you guys arealready saying, nobody looks at
limitless pages, I don't thinkanybody's drilling down to be
like, mmm.
I don't know about that one.

Liam (57:28):
New

Brent (57:29):
10 3.

Abaan (57:52):
like, but the

Liam (57:53):
comments, questions, questions?
Ok,

Abaan (57:56):
they, like, they went through some trials, bro, like,
they deserve their, like, numberone tiebreaker.
Like, they did something crazythis tournament, you know, and,
like, they didn't get there,like, they made some, like,
they're obviously now in atiebreaker with you, but, like,
like, there should be somethingsaid for, like, dude, like,
imagine you played against a guywho went

Liam (58:12):
Sure, yeah, I understand this idea, um, but yeah, I think
it's just very subject tovariance.
It's also like, it's somethingyou, it's something you like,
see or control, right?
Like, I feel like this

Brent (58:27):
all for joining us today, and I look forward to seeing you
all in the future.

(58:51):
Bye bye.

Liam (58:55):
yeah, yeah, no, I mean like, obviously resistance
tracks a real thing, and itlike, tracks the, it's intended
to like, track the strength ofyour opponents, right?
But, I don't know, it's um,

Abaan (59:05):
like, I just think of the

Liam (59:06):
yeah, I mean

Abaan (59:07):
too much that it's like, random.
Like, they're like, you have a 5percent chance of being like,
one guy who made top 32.
It's like, not really, like, youdon't have a 5 percent chance.
Like, it's like, it's notrandom.
Like, you have like, I don'tknow, whatever the match is
spread, like, whatever the

Liam (59:23):
Sure.

Abaan (59:24):
combined, right, and like, if you're playing against
such a tough level ofcompetition, clearly you're
playing against opponents whohave

Liam (59:28):
Yeah, that's

Brent (59:37):
the guy that goes, the guy that goes 5 2 1 and then,
and then goes 4 0 day 2 to getto 9 2 1 or whatever, like.
You're gonna, you're gonna lookat him and say, it's not quite
the same as the guy who went 8 0and then like, loses a couple of
rounds.
Right.

Abaan (59:54):
into 9 2 1, just like, terrible

Brent (59:56):
Yeah.

Abaan (59:56):
thing.
They played against like, like,at 8 0, they played against some
guy who broke the format, solike, that's a loss.
Nice.

Brent (01:00:02):
Yeah.

Abaan (01:00:03):
against like, that guy's buddy who broke the format as
well, who's like, was X1 forsome reason.
Nice.
And

Brent (01:00:08):
Right.

Liam (01:00:08):
the next one, for some reason, that's like the most
real thing ever, bro, right?
So I guess there's some reallybad variants, bro.
Damn, bro.
Oh my god.
Yeah, I, I, I mean, I think,

Abaan (01:00:20):
Like, you're 7 1, 8 0, you're playing against hitters,
bro.
Like, don't know.
It's kind of, uh, you deserveyour resistance spell.

Liam (01:00:27):
I, I, I think the real thing is this like holds up at
like the highest.
The highest level, right?
Like this example of likethere's one guy who squeaked
into 32 and like this guy haslike 70 percent resistance but
yeah exactly like at the at thelower levels like 55 versus 56
like know it's it's really justlike did your random win like
they're like rad 12 and

Brent (01:00:45):
So,

Liam (01:00:45):
right

Brent (01:00:46):
wait, let me, let me throw out a compromise that I
think you guys will say thatsounds totally fine.
What if I said.
Yeah, money sucks to bubble, buteverybody gets the same points.

Abaan (01:00:58):
Yeah, I mean, who cares?
TPCI points

Brent (01:01:00):
Take care.

Abaan (01:01:00):
made up thing.

Liam (01:01:01):
yeah ain't

Abaan (01:01:02):
it to

Liam (01:01:02):
nobody care about points bro

Brent (01:01:03):
But, like, I mean, like, you could say that, Eban, but,
like, if Liam ends up whiffinghis invite by 15 points because
he bubbled top 32, is that,like, an injustice that
occurred?
I don't know.
Probably?

Liam (01:01:15):
it bro

Abaan (01:01:15):
wouldn't s

Liam (01:01:16):
you should get your invite off this like top four IC or win
a regional bro like I think weshould just go completely that's
not me if it doesn't happen

Brent (01:01:23):
Alright, guys, we gotta wrap it up.
I got stuff I gotta do.
We will be back next week with,uh, a little story about Latin
America and all that good stuff.
Uh, the John Pauls are ouroutro.
It's too much.
Riverside, it's only midnight.
Look ahead, we gotta get me tolife.

(01:01:43):
When you talk to me, I listen.
Stare straight ahead, trying topretend.
I got something to say.
And I'm telling you to watch mymind, it's just an empty melody.
I'm a beast and I awaken you tome.
For there are three tips untilthree.

(01:02:04):
That's how I talk, naked andhanging from a tree.
Pound it on the chest and plopit on the knees.
But will you wear your hats?

(01:02:31):
I got two arms, wanna pick'emup, I got two arms, wanna
pick'em up.
I've got two legs, I'll teachthem how to jump.
I've got two legs, I'll teachthem how to jump and I'm in the
sun for a sleepless night.
I'm in the sun for a sleeplessnight.

(01:02:53):
It is what it is, it does whatit does.
It is what it's got, we justcall it