The Oceania International Championships (OCIC) 2020 shook up the Pokémon TCG format as the first event to introduce the new Sword & Shield set. Colin Tang, one of the best players in Southeast Asia finished 24th at the event. The Southern Islands speaks to him about how best to prepare for an “unknown” format with no clear metagame and how he performed at the event with Mewtwo & Mew-GX.
OCIC 2020 marked the beginning of the new Sword & Shield block in the Pokémon TCG. Tell us about your preparation for the big OCIC event at Melbourne.
It’s similar to when I attended the World Championships 2019, where it was a fresh rotation (Ultra Prism – Cosmic Eclipse). With that in mind, I realised that early preparation is key for OCIC 2020. We started by referencing Japanese lists as a base because they had a head start with the new Ultra Prism – Sword & Shield format. The expected top decks were Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V, Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar, Blacephalon (UNB 32) and the revival of Pikachu & Zekrom-GX.
Here are the key points I was looking into when choosing the right deck:
- Deck consistency
- Ability to slot in techs
- Deck weaknesses
- Deck tier rank
- Prediction of the field at OCIC 2020
I discussed with many other players about what to expect and matchups. For example, I spoke with Clifton Goh at length on the best plays for specific decks (such as the Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V vs Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar match).
I became quite comfortable with a few decks – a rarity for me as I’ve been known in the past to specialise in only one deck archetype and stick with it until the introduction of a new format. I initially expected to play a variation of Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V with plenty of Malaysian spice to boot 😊 but ended up bringing Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar to Melbourne.
Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar is not a deck that you are normally associated with (you have had previous successes with Pikachu & Zekrom-GX and Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX). Why did you to decide to go with Mewtwo & Mew-GX?
Anyone that knows me well would not have expected me to play Mewtwo & Mew-GX or a Malamar-based deck. In the run-in to OCIC 2020, I was based in Hong Kong – this gave me the opportunity to get plenty of playtest games with the Hong Kong Pokémon TCG community, which I am truly grateful for.
There was plenty of hype over Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar; the deck had an answer to most expected archetypes at OCIC 2020. The deck can:
- Buy a turn to set up / draw cards from a Pokémon attack (i.e. Gengar & Mimikyu-GX’s Horror House GX)
- Control opponent’s hand size (Marnie with Trevenant & Dusnoir-GX)
- Heal (Mewtwo & Mew-GX’s Miraculous Duo GX)
- Have a huge damage potential (Ultra Necrozma-GX)
- Have an answer to a stall matchup (Psychic-type Naganadel-GX’s Stinger GX with Blacephalon CEC 104)
- Have a mixture of 1 Prize and 3 Prize Pokemon (Giratina LOT 97 / Blacephalon CEC 104)
- Take Prizes off opponent’s Benched Pokemon (Dragon-type Naganadel-GX’s Venom Shot GX)
- Set up continuous attackers consistently (Malamar with attackers)
The main thing I look for in my preferred deck is the ability to manoeuvre a deck in any situation so that I have answers to most decks. Ideally, I wanted a deck that is flexible and takes at least a 50%-win rate against any matchup – leaving the rest to the ability of a player to capitalise on any situation. I realised I needed to step out of my comfort zone to play such a deck and began preparations to perfect Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar.
There are some interesting additions to the deck that differed from Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar lists from Japan. Could you explain your additions?
- Garchomp & Giratina-GX
Initially I tested Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX but I realised that it’s a dead card in many matchups. Plus, a good Pikachu & Zekrom-GX player would be able to control the board. This card does exactly what it is intended for – an answer to Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, on top of the ability to KO other big Pokémon-GX / V. It’s first attack is particularly useful against Ditto Prism Star / Cinccino Stall matchups (where you want to set up damage) or deal early damage to Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX.
- Psychic-type Naganadel-GX
This is such an important addition especially with numerous stall archetypes predicted at OCIC 2020. It’s particularly helpful if you’re going against a mirror / Pokemon-GX deck – you can evolve Ditto Prism Star into it and aim to take a large KO for the win. (Bonus: It can be used as cost for Dragon-type Naganadel-GX’s Ultra Conversion Ability to draw 3 cards, provided you evolved into it from a Ditto Prism Star 😉)
- Alolan Persian-GX
After discussing a suitable tech with a few Malaysian players (Syahmi Razak and Yee Wei), we found a simple counter to a standard Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar and Blacephalon (UNB 32). Coincidentally, all three of us came up with Alolan Persian-GX the same time when discussing about those matchups. It almost auto-wins the above matchups.
- Erika’s Hospitality
Having tested 8 Supporters (4 Professor and 4 Marnie), the deck still has a tendency to brick. Erika’s Hospitality is an amazing draw Supporter in a meta where everyone aims to maximise the bench. It was my favourite one-off supporter that was included in the deck.
- 1-off counts of Great Catcher and Pokemon Catcher
1-off Great Catchers are in regular Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar lists. With so many cards / techs inside the deck, it’s hard to run a Custom Catcher based list. I included the Pokémon Catcher just as a surprise factor and to be able to potentially pull out any important Benched Pokémon. It won me several games.
Could you give us a quick rundown of how the deck is played?
The standard play for Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar is to set up and determine which attacks you are planning to use. I normally begin with copying Gengar & Mimikyu-GX’s Horror House GX but not all the time – it depends on the opponent’s board / your set up. I will give a short example on how I prepared for each top tier matchups at OCIC 2020.
Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V
If my opponent is planning to go for Altered Creation GX, my main plan is to disrupt my opponent’s hand (first using Horror House GX and subsequently using a Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX’s Night Watch after Marnie). Usually it will disrupt your opponent’s hand enough to turn the matchup in your favour. Otherwise, continuously disrupt your opponent’s hand while setting up Ultra Necrozma-GX to be able to take OHKOs on Zacian V. However, this is still a matchup slightly in-favour to Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V if played well.
Stall
This is a favourable matchup. The plan is to use Naganadel-GX’s Stinger GX and get Blacephalon set up as early as possible, while considering whether your opponent has techs against you (Aerodactyl GX / Girafarig). The ideal scenario is to evolve your Ditto Prism Star into a Naganadel-GX instead of using Mewtwo & Mew-GX to copy the attack, as some stall players have teched in Mewtwo & Mew-GX to copy Aerodactyl-GX and deal a return KO.
Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
The matchup is decent. You will aim to disrupt your opponent and utilise Mewtwo & Mew-GX’s Miraculous Duo GX to KO your opponent’s Tapu Koko V or use an early Garchomp & Giratina-GX Linear Attack to snipe and ensure a KO on Pikachu & Zekrom-GX / Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX the following turn. Should be a decently favoured matchup, provided your opponent doesn’t pull off a turn 1 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX Full Blitz.
Blacephalon (UNB 32)
Alolan Persian-GX should win you the match. I didn’t expect opponents to tech in an Ultra Forest Kartenvoy in their decks during OCIC. All you must aim for is to KO a Cramorant V and you’re good to go.
Mewtwo & Mew-GX / Malamar
Both players will end up using other attackers in their deck, such as Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX as Mewtwo & Mew-GX has a Psychic-type Weakness. In this case the Alolan Persian-GX is supposed to provide you with the upper hand (especially as a Dark-type) attacker, since both Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX and Gengar & Mimikyu-GX have Dark-type Weakness.
Decks I was not prepared for:
- Psychic Malamar (this is a disaster to fight against!)
- Welder based decks (somehow, I missed out testing this matchup extensively)
- Galarian Obstagoon (I don’t expect this to be too difficult of a matchup)
Ultimately, the decks at OCIC 2020 were generally as we predicted. Somehow, I met three stall decks and a Psychic Malamar deck, which I scooped in less than 10 minutes.
What are changes you would make for the deck now that the current metagame is clearer?
I would probably:
- Increase its consistency, less techs (add more draw Supporters / Acro Bike)
- Cut the Alolan Persian-GX (the cat’s out of the bag!)
- Adapt to Fire-type Welder based decks
- Adapt it to the new optimised Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V (Mimikyu Copycat perhaps?)
- Spice it up to an entirely new variation of the deck (coming soon!)
What is your advice for players when deciding on certain tech cards for their decks?
Techs are good, but as saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth 😉. Don’t try to be too cute as it ends up clunking your deck instead!
How do you deal with pressure in major tournaments?
It’s all in the mind. I learnt it the hard way a few years ago, where you get nervous and subsequently make misplays. At the end of the day, we’re all just players who want to enjoy the game. Just take it easy, foster good sportsmanship etiquette and you’ll also make a new friend or two. I think that ought to be the mindset of players going to these events. Once you relax, you’ll feel much of the pressure to be off you.
The Southern Islands 