Round	Result	Opponent	Opponent’s team	List
R1	LL	Rayne Tay (Myosotis)

My round 1 opponent was Rayne Tay, and they had a team I felt extremely confident against. It was Federico Camporesi‘s NAIC winning team except Tornadus over Whimsicott, which was even better as this meant that Basculegion was insanely powerful.

Game 1

• Me:
• Opp:

I led with Iron Hands + Calyrex, my default lead against Incineroar + Miraidon. I protected + attacked but he used Fake Out into Iron Hands + Electro Drift into my Protect. Next turn, he Terastallized + used Electro Drift again, as I survived but fainted to U-turn from his Assault Vest Incineroar, bringing in Lunala as my Intimidated Low Kick does nearly nothing. I sent in Basculegion, Terastallized it and KO’d Incineroar, as he set up Trick Room and went into Ursaluna: I fell for the trap he set. I lost to Ursaluna under Trick Room.

Game 2

• Me:
• Opp:

I tried a Kyogre + Iron Hands lead to pressure him and I did the play that I said I liked to do a lot against this: Terastallizing Kyogre and Water Spout + Fake Out Miraidon. What ended up happening is we traded Fake Outs, me faking out Miraidon and him faking out Kyogre. Turn 2 he unexpectedly used Dazzling Gleam without Terastallizing with Miraidon + U-turn with Incineroar on my Kyogre before I could attack, indicating that it was likely max Speed, so my Origin Pulse landed into a switched-in Lunala and Miraidon, + Iron Hands’s Low Kick brought Miraidon down very low in HP. However, both my Pokémon were in range of Fairy Tera Type-boosted Dazzling Gleam, so I had to sacrifice Kyogre and Iron Hands to get my final two Pokémon in safely, Basculegion and Calyrex. I tried to attack Miraidon and ignore Lunala, predicting a Wide Guard (which in hindsight I realise it was never going to go for), so the turn played out as Incineroar swapped in to Last Respects and Lunala KO’d Basculegion. Calyrex could not win the 1v4 as it went down to a Knock Off + Moongeist Beam.

At this point I just assumed I was going to lose, but continued playing for fun.

Round	Result	Opponent	Opponent’s team	List
R2	WLTW	Eugene Tan		N/A

My next opponent was Eugene Tan, a name I recognise very well. He has been playing since 2015 as I remember his Mega Lopunny team, though when I asked apparently he has been playing since even 2011. His team was extremely difficult as I normally use Iron Jugulis to reduce progress on Terapagos teams, but the Ice Rider Calyrex means I am never safe to. Iron Hands gets both weakened by Intimidate and redirected by Amoonguss, and Kyogre is just outright bad here.

Game 1

• Me:
• Opp:

I led with Amoonguss + Kyogre, expecting him not to lead Rillaboom, and brought Calyrex and Iron Jugulis in the back; Basculegion had too many issues in this matchup so I left it behind. He ended up leading with his Urshifu + Calyrex (though he later informed me that this was unintentional and his game timed out). However, at the time it felt really bad for me as Amoonguss was now cornered, I was forced to Terastallize into a Water type turn 1, making me weak to Tera Starstorm from Terastallized Terapagos later. I used Spore on his Calyrex, not clicking Rage Powder, and Kyogre took a huge Close Combat, doing about 55% to it; my Water Spout thus didn’t do much, but I survived Glacial Lance and put Calyrex to sleep… though I really wish it was Urshifu. I let Kyogre go down to get that Spore off, putting me down 3v4 with little damage dealt but both opposing Pokémon asleep, allowing me to bring in Calyrex to Leech Seed his Calyrex, doubling it with Spore as well in case it woke up. This time it woke up and used High Horsepower on Amoonguss, as Urshifu stayed asleep for 2 turns, letting me set up Trick Room as Amoonguss uses Spore on the still asleep Calyrex. Oops.

This time I don’t Spore, it’s too predictable. I used Pollen Puff + Glacial Lance to KO the -2 Urshifu and it worked before the bear could wake up and do massive damage, as my Amoonguss survived the Glacial Lance. However, my Trick Room set up their own Amoonguss. I tried to Spore Calyrex before one of my Pokémon fell asleep, but they switched to Rillaboom and used Spore on my Calyrex, leaving me with a Water-type Amoonguss + a sleeping Calyrex against his Rillaboom + Amoonguss. However, he couldn’t do much damage to my Pokémon, so I just tried to stay alive, protecting Amoonguss on Grassy Glide as their Amoonguss did minimal damage to my Calyrex and the combination of Leftovers and Grassy Terrain healed me a lot. Now I revealed Iron Jugulis, who came in to a Wood Hammer (which made a lot of sense as his Amoonguss continued Pollen Puffing). My Calyrex stayed asleep for all 3 turns but it was still very healthy, and the Trick Room I set finally ends. His Amoonguss has Dark Tera Type, so instead of predicting Rillaboom to Terastallize into Fire, I used Taunt on his Amoonguss. My move choice payed off and, although Rillaboom used U-turn into Calyrex, I could use Glacial Lance and KO his Calyrex. From here, he cannot defeat my Flying and Ice types with just Rillaboom and Amoonguss.

Game 2

• Me:
• Opp:

I predicted Incineroar in his team, but for some reason I dropped Kyogre and brought Basculegion instead, realizing how dangerous Urshifu was and deciding I didn’t need Rain against Terapagos. I led with Amoonguss + Calyrex as he led with Urshifu + Terapagos. He used U-turn on my Calyrex + Protect, getting in the Incineroar I expected, but I Pollen Puff back while Leech Seed hit the Protect. I switched Calyrex into Iron Jugulis, but Incineroar used Fake Out to prevent my Spore as Terapagos got off a Calm Mind. Next turn I used Taunt on Incineroar to prevent Parting Shot, but Knock Off came out to leave Amoonguss at 55% HP as I used Spore on his Terapagos’s Protect. I switched Amoonguss to Basculegion and took a Tera Starstorm, but he made an excellent play and used Knock Off again; I survived because of Iron Jugulis’s Snarl. I used Air Slash on Incineroar, sure that he would switch to one of his Grass types or Urshifu on Wave Crash, and I caught Rillaboom with it + Wave Crash just in case of a stay in; Rillaboom was down at 35% HP and even survived recoil as Terapagos used a second Calm Mind. I wanted to switch Basculegion to Amoonguss, but Fake Out into Iron Jugulis was possible, so I sacrificed Basculegion to Grassy Glide and used Snarl as he used Calm Mind for a third time, and I brought Calyrex in. Rillaboom switched into Incineroar as I used Air Slash to try and KO it, and Terapagos finally attacks, doing 40%; I finally got a Leech Seed on it too. Expecting Fake Out, I switched Iron Jugulis into Amoonguss, but took a Flare Blitz + Tera Starstorm and went down as Calyrex set Trick Room for a mushroom that just fainted. From here, I lost as Calyrex was Intimidated and Iron Jugulis could not keep Terapagos at bay for long enough.

Game 3

• Me:
• Opp:

Those sets took a very long time and my mental was cracking at the moment under so much pressure to continue onwards. I dropped Basculegion for Iron Hands, another new change, this time meant to handle Terapagos better. I just did not think Kyogre could do much here, and after seeing his leads in the previous games, I went with Iron Jugulis + Calyrex, a lead I used to do a lot against these types of teams, as he led Urshifu + Terapagos again. Afraid of Water Tera Type-boosted Surging Strikes, I switched in Amoonguss but he used U-turn to get Incineroar in freely while I set Trick Room and Terapagos used Calm Mind, not protecting my potential Leech Seed. I doubled the Terapagos with Spore + Leech Seed but failed as Incineroar used Flare Blitz on Amoonguss and dealt huge damage, putting me so far behind; I had to make use of Trick Room. Unfortunately I misclicked, using Leech Seed on Terapagos as it switched to Rillaboom. I successfully switched Amoonguss for Iron Hands however, revealing my adjustment, as Incineroar used Knock Off to remove my crucial Assault Vest. I switched back into Amoonguss on Fake Out as Glacial Lance did 75% to Rillaboom after the Intimidate, but I take a Knock Off in return. I used Spore on Rillaboom in case Eugene tried to save it from Glacial Lance, but he didn’t, letting me get the KO as Calyrex went down to Flare Blitz, but I was OK with that, as Trick Room ended. Iron Hands and Terapagos hit the field. I used Fake Out on Incineroar and Spore on the protect, a dud turn, and next turn I switched Amoonguss into Iron Jugulis as Incineroar used Parting Shot, which I knew was coming. I used Wild Charge, dealing about 80% to Urshifu, as Terapagos used Calm Mind. The path forward is arduous but winnable, but suddenly… a disconnection happens.

Game 4

• Me:
• Opp:

The judges decided to put us into a sudden death, my first-ever sudden death in VGC: whoever loses a Pokémon first wins, but if we both lose one on the same turn we have to keep playing. Because of this, I led Kyogre + Amoonguss to try and blast everything apart with Basculegion and Calyrex in the back. Our sets had taken so long that everyone else was watching us now and the pressure was on to win, and I saw he led with the same Urshifu + Terapagos. Terapagos protected (which I expected) and Urshifu used U-turn into Rillaboom, as I used Rage Powder + Water Spout for alright damage. To remove my Rain, he Terastallized, reducing my Kyogre’s damage output, but I expected this; he used Fake Out on Amoonguss and I got an Ice Beam off on Rillaboom, taking a Tera Starstorm on both Pokémon, but both still in the green. I regenerated some HP on Amoonguss and went into Basculegion, predicting the Terapagos to protect, as he switched Rillaboom into Urshifu, but my Water Spout didn’t do much to Urshifu without the Rain. However, I saw a guaranteed win as the damage is enough for Basculegion. I protected and switched Kyogre into my supertank Amoonguss to take a Close Combat + Tera Starstorm, surviving with both my Pokémon, switching back into Kyogre and KO’ing Urshifu with Wave Crash. Both Pokémon survived the Tera Starstorm and thus I won my first and hopefully last ever sudden death. My nerves were calmed having beaten a veteran player!

Round	Result	Opponent	Opponent’s team	List
R3	LWW	Kristen Goh		N/A

Round 3 is against Kristen Goh and the match-up is mostly comfortable. Miraidon, Volcarona, Grimmsnarl, Ice Rider Calyrex and Iron Hands are nothing new. The issue is the Annihilape, as it can Final Gambit if I lead with Iron Hands and a Restricted and I can’t stop it from doing so.

Game 1

• Me:
• Opp:

I chose to lead it anyways, intending to try Fake Out and maybe making aggressive Basculegion plays. I saw Miraidon + Iron Hands, so I used Fake Out on her Miraidon + Leech Seed that same slot, predicting a Volt Switch to Calyrex: their Iron Hands used Fake Out on mine, making me confident that she had Speed EVs on it, as the Volt Switch came out and the Leech Seed targeted Grimmsnarl, not Calyrex… but I unfortunately missed. I switched to Basculegion in fear of a Low Kick and Terastallized Calyrex, also in fear of a Low Kick. They used Reflect but my Terastallization saves Calyrex from fainting to Low Kick, and I used Leech Seed on Iron Hands, letting me heal up very fast. I switched Basculegion back into Iron Hands + used Protect with Calyrex, predicting Wild Charge + Thunder Wave, and I was right: Iron Hands came in on the Thunder Wave and the Protect blocked Wild Charge, and now Fake Out was active. She was tired of healing my Calyrex and switched into her own Calyrex as I used Fake Out on it + finally Leech Seed on Grimmsnarl. I no longer resisted Glacial Lance, however, so I needed to be careful. I switched Iron Hands into Kyogre and she switched Grimmsnarl straight into her Iron Hands, as Glacial Lance did a lot and I used Leech Seed to try and sustain myself against her Calyrex. She switched Calyrex straight into Miraidon, which I expected, but Fake Out hit my Calyrex. However, without a Light Screen, I did massive damage with Water Spout. I decided to expose both Restricted Pokémon, expecting my Calyrex to go down as I claimed a KO regardless, and indeed it fainted to Electro Drift, while Water Spout KO’d Iron Hands. I sent in Iron Hands and she sent in Calyrex. Fake Out + Water Spout looked free, so instead I predicted Calyrex to Terastallize into a Water type and I used Wild Charge on it, but, while Miraidon switched into Grimmsnarl, Calyrex protected. I switched Iron Hands to Basculegion to take a Spirit Break + Glacial Lance combo as Light Screen went up, letting both Pokémon survive Water Spout, and I take a Glacial Lance. I made a hard read that Grimmsnarl would not use Thunder Wave but switch to Miraidon as Basculegion has Aqua Jet, so I switched Kyogre to Iron Hands and used Last Respects. Sadly, Calyrex protected and Thunder Wave came out, so the switch to Iron Hands + Aqua Jet would have been fine. I KO’d Grimmsnarl with Fake Out, took a Glacial Lance, lost Iron Hands and KO’d Calyrex, putting us in a 2v1. Miraidon could still Terastallize to Fairy to survive Ice Beam, being at about 40% HP after taking two Water Spouts, so I used Aqua Jet + Ice Beam. With Basculegion paralyzed, now I was only losing to Miraidon attacking Kyogre and Basculegion getting paralysed… and hilariously I got fully paralyzed twice. I lost.

Game 2

• Me:
• Opp:

I adjusted my lead to Iron Hands + Kyogre, intending to win with a late-game Calyrex instead. Kyogre Terastallized and her Iron Hands used Fake Out on my Iron Hands again as I took a Volt Switch; this was exactly what I wanted and Water Spout did huge damage to Iron Hands and the switched-in Grimmsnarl. Grimmsnarl chose to use Reflect, respecting my physical attackers in the back instead of the Kyogre in front of it, and I KO’d it as Iron Hands KO’d my Kyogre with a Low Kick before I gave it a taste of its own medicine and used Low Kick back, putting me 3v2 in the lead. We both sent in our Calyrex, with my Iron Hands + Calyrex against her Miraidon + Calyrex. Miraidon did 80% with Choice Specs-boosted Electro Drift to my Calyrex and her Glacial Lance didn’t finish it off, as I used Leech Seed on her Calyrex + Low Kick on Miraidon, doing 45%. I protected next turn to defend myself against Electro Drift + nearly KO’d Miraidon with a second Low Kick, as her Calyrex attacked into my Protect. With Iron Hands so low, I switched to Basculegion to save it and Miraidon KO’d my Calyrex, with Trick Room going up. I now see a guaranteed win. I used Aqua Jet on Miraidon + Fake Out on Calyrex, but because my switching let Iron Hands be in Calyrex’s position, it was healing from the earlier Leech Seed. Next turn, I used Wild Charge + Last Respects, and, despite the Reflect and the Water Tera Type, Calyrex went down to low enough HP that the Leech Seed KO’d it.

Game 3

• Me:
• Opp:

I kept my lead the same as she could not defend herself against Water Spout very well. However, I blundered hard, I used Fake Out on the Iron Hands and they used Fake Out on my Kyogre, not my Iron Hands; she used Volt Switch on my Iron Hands and went into the demon itself, Annihilape. My notes say:

“Iron Hands Fake Out Kyogre
I Fake Out Iron Hands, they Volt Switch my Iron Hands
Annihilape is in, I cry”

Next turn I used Water Spout + Wild Charge on her Iron Hands, predicting Coaching + Iron Hands’ Terastallization into Water… but the Terastallization did not happen as her Iron Hands KO’d Kyogre; I was ok with it as now both her Pokémon were low and Annihilape was stuck using Coaching. I doubled into Iron Hands as it swapped into Calyrex, which I predicted, doing 80% with Last Respects + my Iron Hands finishing it off. Miraidon came in to replace Calyrex and they did some pivoting as Annihilape went into Iron Hands. Basculegion chipped off 50% of Miraidon’s HP, but Miraidon KO’d it with Volt Switch, bringing Annihilape in on the Low Kick. However, now I could bring in my own Calyrex. I protected but she used Fake Out + Close Combat on Iron Hands; I knew this was possible and was ok with it. Annihilape took out Iron Hands and put me down 1v3, but Low Kick did less than half to Calyrex, and I set Trick Room up. Knowing Iron Hands probably had some Speed, I expected it to be slower than Calyrex in Trick Room. They sent in Miraidon to give Iron Hands a Quark Drive boost, but it didn’t matter as I went first with Glacial Lance, KO’ing both Miraidon and Iron Hands through the Water Tera Type. I finished Annihilape off and won the set, putting me at 2-1.

Round	Result	Opponent	Opponent’s team	List
R4	WLW	Zachary Kelly (Zach)

Every single battle was so difficult, but my next was even worse. It was Trace’s friend and someone who I mistook for Zachary Chia. Zachary Kelly, who had a strange team, including another Annihilape. He had the same Restricted duo as Kristen Goh in Miraidon + Ice Rider Calyrex, but had Incineroar, Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon and a very unique Covert Cloak Stellar-Tera Type Single Strike Style Urshifu.

Game 1

• Me:
• Opp:

Once again I feared the Annihilape as he may play differently from Kristen, but I kept my usual lead of Calyrex + Iron Hands and saw a Miraidon + Calyrex lead. Miraidon switched to Incineroar as I predicted, so I doubled the Calyrex with Low Kick + Leech Seed. Sadly, Fake Out was the correct play and I missed Leech Seed again, taking a Glacial Lance with both Pokémon. I switched Iron Hands to Kyogre as Incineroar missed a Will-O-Wisp, and this time I hit the Leech Seed as Kyogre got hit by one too. Incineroar Terastallized to Bug and my Water Spout dealt most of both Pokémon’s HP, but both survived; he burned my Calyrex, which made both Pokémon survive the Glacial Lance and his Calyrex use Leech Seed on mine to heal back up very fast. I double-switched to get rid of the Leech Seeds as Incineroar went into Miraidon and Calyrex tried to protect: a good turn. I used Fake Out + Wave Crash on Miraidon as Calyrex used Leech Seed on Basculegion. However, next turn Incineroar switched in for Calyrex, my Wave Crash left Miraidon with 1% and it KO’d Basculegion with Volt Switch; Iron Hands did very little damage to Incineroar and he brought in Calyrex again. I switched Iron Hands to Calyrex, taking Fake Out + Glacial Lance while doing nothing. Next turn I used Water Spout to KO Incineroar while both Calyrex protected. Ogerpon came in for Incineroar, revealing his final Pokémon. I switched Kyogre to Iron Hands to take Ivy Cudgel + Glacial Lance and set up Trick Room, trying to win with a burnt Calyrex. I used Fake Out + Leech Seed on his Calyrex as Ivy Cudgel brought my Calyrex very low in HP. With so little HP left, I Terastallized Iron Hands to Water to take Glacial Lance, but I was faster in Trick Room, so I KO’d his Calyrex anyways and did massive damage to Ogerpon with Glacial Lance before it KO’d Iron Hands. With 2 Trick Room turns left, Calyrex + Kyogre defeated Ogerpon + Miraidon.

Game 2

• Me:
• Opp:

This game however I lost nearly immediately. I led Iron Hands + Kyogre into Annihilape + Miraidon, and I protected Kyogre as he doubled Iron Hands with Final Gambit + Electro Drift. With Electric Tera Type, he KO’d my Calyrex with Electro Drift + the switched-in Ogerpon’s Ivy Cudgel, wasting my Fairy-type Terastallization. I could not win from there.

Game 3

• Me:
• Opp:

I went back to my initial lead of Calyrex + Iron Hands, but I was sweating over how to beat the stupid Annihilape reliably, I knew it would be a threat. However all this tunnel visioning led to Urshifu + Incineroar of all things being his lead, Intimidating my two physical attackers. Incineroar used Fake Out on Iron Hands and horrendously I forgot to Terastallize Calyrex, taking massive damage from Wicked Blow, but I get the coveted Trick Room up. Next turn I Terastallized to Fairy and used Leech Seed on Incineroar, accepting that one of my Pokémon would get burnt: it was Iron Hands, who used Drain Punch on a Detect. Turn 3 Urshifu went into Annihilape on Drain Punch, but I didn’t predict Will-O-Wisp into Calyrex and instead I used Glacial Lance immediately, as Iron Hands took Incineroar’s Parting Shot to get Urshifu in. I predicted them to use Detect + Coaching, so I switched Iron Hands into Kyogre, but instead Annihilape switched into Incineroar on Leech Seed and Urshifu detected. I switched Calyrex into Basculegion and Kyogre into Iron Hands on Fake Out + Close Combat, trying to let Iron Hands tank the hits for the team but also Fake Out stuff as Trick Room ends, and I did! I used Fake Out on Urshifu to save Basculegion, but do you remember the Urshifu item?… Urshifu used Sucker Punch on Basculegion, but I survived, KO’ing Incineroar with Wave Crash and opening Calyrex up to win the game as it fainted to recoil. Miraidon + Urshifu stared down Calyrex + my burnt Iron Hands. He switched Urshifu into Annihilape + used Electro Drift on Calyrex, but I survived and set up Trick Room, guaranteeing me a win from there. Miraidon switched to Urshifu and I used Glacial Lance + Low Kick: Urshifu went down and Final Gambit did not KO Calyrex after taking so much damage, leaving Miraidon in Trick Room alone. I won.

Round	Result	Opponent	Opponent’s team	List
R5	LL	Kester Teh (Kester)

At this point I am extremely happy. I came back from an 0-1 deficit and beat good player after good player in close, tight nail-biter sets that absolutely pushed me past my initial limits, showing that I could stand up to these players. However my joy is short-lived: suddenly a team check commences and I am informed that my Amoonguss is Sassy although I submitted a Relaxed Amoonguss… and now I’m down a Pokémon. This is ok as long as I keep playing Miraidon however, as I don’t need Amoonguss for those, but my Round 5 also has a game loss penalty for game 1, meaning I need to win two games in a row. It’s against Kester Teh. I would love my own Amoonguss here but sadly that was not an option anymore, and I chose to not take notes and focus.

Game 2

• Me:
• Opp:

His lead was Shadow Rider Calyrex + Amoonguss against my Iron Hands + Ice Rider Calyrex, which was devastating; I usually face Zamazenta + Raging Bolt in this matchup’s lead, and I had Iron Jugulis… why would he bring a lead so weak to Iron Jugulis? The game eventually came down to Rillaboom + Amoonguss staring down my Calyrex + Iron Hands. I could KO both Pokémon with Glacial Lance but he could protect Amoonguss and switch to Zamazenta to save it, so I used Leech Seed + Low Kick. He left Amoonguss exposed as I KO’d Zamazenta with Low Kick, meaning Glacial Lance was free anyways. I got Spored, he used Nasty Plots with Calyrex and won. I had that game and let it slip, just typing and recalling it makes me upset. I needed 4-1 to secure Day 2 and now it was risky, 3-2 did not guarantee it. Thankfully, thanks to fighting so many top players, I get into Day 2!