Hi there. Here is a Pokemon TCG local tournament report with my Archaludon ex + Scizor deck. This was in on a Sunday in January 2025.
Tournament Location
I go to Toronto around once or twice a month to do some shopping, pick up some Pokemon cards from online orders and to play local events there. The place I went to on a Sunday was A & C Games. A & C Games is near Toronto's Chinatown and near the University of Toronto campus.
Deck Played
For this local event I play Archaludon ex with Scizor. It is an off build. The popular build of Archaludon ex is with Dialga VSTAR.
Pokémon: 8
1 Banette LOR 73
4 Duraludon SCR 106
4 Archaludon ex SSP 130
1 Shuppet SVI 87
2 Scizor OBF 141
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Relicanth TEF 84
2 Scyther MEW 123
Trainer: 15
1 Kieran TWM 154
1 Scoop Up Cyclone TWM 162
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
3 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Professor's Research SVI 189
3 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Jamming Tower TWM 153
4 Iono PAL 185
2 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153 PH
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Switch SVI 194
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
Energy: 1
9 Basic {M} Energy Energy 16
Total Cards: 60
Picture Screenshots from PTCGL desktop app below for visual representation of the deck.
I wanted to play Archaludon ex as it was not too difficult to play with. Three hundred HP for a Stage 1 Pokemon is too good and bulky to ignore. The Assemble Alloy ability provides very good Metal Energy acceleration from the discard pile to your Metal Pokemon is very good too. The Metal Defender attack for 220 damage plus no weakness next turn is good too.
Three copies of Boss's Orders is used for hunting the opponent's two Prize liabilities. Get quick two prize knockouts is the main plan.
I like Scizor as an alternate attacker in case the opponent uses many Pokemon with abilities. A one Metal Energy attack that can do damage in the hundreds is good in my opinion.
An unusual thing I do is put in one Shuppet and one of this Banette. Being able to retrieve a Supporter card from the discard pile is useful in some cases.
Round One Versus Mewtwo ex + Xatu
My first round opponent played the Tera Mewtwo ex with the Xatu engine. I have seen this guy before in my previous visit at this store. In theory this matchup is favourable for me. It turned out that my first few turns were slow in terms of setup. I had to use Iono twice in turn one and two to get good setup.
The opponent's setup was also slow so I was not under much threat. I had to hit the Mewtwo ex twice with Archaludon ex for my first knockout. For the second knockout I think I knocked out the second Mewtwo ex. This results in me having two prize cards versus his 3 Prize cards left.
The opponent's final turn was confirmation that I won in the next turn. He could've used Mimuikyu to stall out but he chose not to. His Wyrdeer V was used to knockout my second Archludon ex. I had a backup Archaludon ex prepared for the counter revenge knockout. This ended the game for me to get Prize Card 5 and 6 for the win.
Round Two Versus Regidrago VSTAR + Teal Mask Ogerpon ex
In round two my opponent played Regidrago VSTAR with Teal Mask Ogerpon ex. His opening Active Pokemon was Regidrago V. He won the coin flip and chose to go first. I got nervous as I was not sure if Archaludon ex was favoured going second on the first turn. If I had went first then I am favoured as Archaludon ex can be in play as early as turn two before he can evolve into Regidrago VSTAR. Although Regidrago VSTAR is considered the best deck its major weakness is in the early game as it sets up.
The opponent's first turn was something like use Teal Mask Ogerpon ex ability and then manually attach one Energy to Regidrago V. Then end turn.
My first turn was pretty basic as it was setup Duraludon and attach one Energy then pass. I don't recall having any Benched Pokemon. This made me nervous as I ended my turn.
On the opponent's second turn it seemed that he did not have much of a hand. There were no more Teal Mask Ogerpon ex on the Bench, there was no Supporter played. He just attached a second Energy to the active Regidrago V and then ended his turn. I got lucky here.
For my second turn, I get Archaludon ex in play, do some setup stuff and attack his active Regidrago V for 220 damage for the knockout.
The opponent during the next turn used an Ultra Ball for Fezandipiti ex. Before he used the Flip The Script ability he had no cards in hand. There was no second Regidrago V in sight so he attacked with Teal Mask Ogerpon ex for 180 damage.
In my next turn I use Professor Turo's Scenario to being the damaged Archaludon ex to safety, re-evolve the other Duraludon to Archaludon ex, setup and attack his Active Teal Mask Ogerpon ex. I increase my lead to 2 Prize cards left to his 6 Prize Cards left. The opponent was too far behind so he conceded the game.
I asked him if he bricked in the early game. He said yes. I got lucky here.
Round Three Versus Miraidon ex
My round three opponent played Miraidon ex with the Pikachu ex, Iron Hands ex and Area Zero Underdepths. He won the coin flip and chose to go second. This opponent sat beside me in round two so I knew what he played. I think he knew what I played as well.
I go first and opened with one Duraludon in the active Spot and a second Duraludon on the Bench. An Ultra Ball or Earthen Vessel was used to get more Energy and to discard one Metal Energy. I manually attach one Metal Energy to the Active Duraludon.
I also play the Jamming Tower stadium to prevent Forest Seal Stone for being in play. If he had a Stadium bump then okay. As I had one Archaludon ex in my hand I expect his first turn attack with a Raikou V or something. I end my turn.
In the opponent's first turn going second, he pretty much hit the nuts. Miraidon ex for a second Miraidon ex to fill up his Bench. There was a Secret Box to get an Area Zero Underdepths stadium, Electric Generator, Arven and more. I don't remember his sequencing but he ended up getting two Miraidon ex, one Latias ex, one Pikachu ex, one Raikou V, one Iron Hands ex, one Zapdos and I think one Squawkabilly ex. He also uses up 3 Electric Generators where he gets 0 Lightning Energy, 1 and 2. All three Electric Energy from the Generators are for the Iron Hands ex.
Duraludon has 130 HP so Iron Hands ex with its Amp You Very Much does 120 damage plus 10 from the Zapdos for the knockout. He takes two Prize cards.
It comes to my turn. The second Duraludon goes to the Active and I evolve it into Archaludon ex. From the Assemble Alloy ability from Archaludon ex I get 2 Metal Energy from discard to it. Then I manually attach one Metal Energy from hand to Archaludon ex. I can only hit for 220 damage against 230 HP Iron Hands ex. I need more damage. The Pokegear from my hand is used and I get lucky. I get the Kieran off the Pokegear. I use Kieran for the damage boost and hit the Iron Hands ex for 250 damage from my Archaludon ex. I had no Benched Pokemon here but I knew I was safe as none of his Pokemon can hit for 300 damage the next turn.
His second turn did not result in a knockout for him. He did discard a Magnemite in the first turn so there was no way to accelerate Energy to attack. The result was him using Raikou V to attack my Archaludon ex for 180 damage or something (maybe 160 don't remember).
It comes to my third turn. I recall using a Hisuian Heavy Ball to get a Scyther in play to set up Scizor for next turn. I do more board setup and then attack the Raikou V to get Prize Card 3 and 4. I have two Prize cards left versus 4 for him.
The opponent's next turn was simply using Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex with one Lightning Energy to knockout my Archaludon ex.
On my turn I use Professor's Research in search of a Scizor against his Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex. He had 5 Pokemon with abilities so Scizor would do 260 damage which is enough for a Knockout. From the Professor's Research I do get 1 Metal Energy and an Ultra Ball. The Ultra Ball was enough to get the Scizor (I knew that 2 Scizor were in my deck after a deck check in my turn 1). Scizor attacks Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex for 260 damage for the final game ending knockout. I end up going 3 wins, no losses. This game was kind of wild given that he hit the nuts in his first turn.
If I did not knockout the Iron Hands ex then I don't think I was favoured. Miraidon ex decks are pretty aggressive like a zergling rush from Starcraft. Once you survive the onslaught then you can stabilize, set up and win with your more powerful attackers.
After The Tournament
My third round match finished a little early. I used this time to watch a few other games. After the 30 minute round was over, I did manage to do get some good trades in with other players there.
I traded two of these Counter Catchers for one Fezandipiti ex. The market value of Fezandipiti ex is around 20 to 22 CAD. I needed one as it is a modern staple card since Shrouded Fable. The trade partner valued 1 Counter Catcher at 10 CAD each. He did not know that 1 bought both of the Counter Catchers at 50 cents each. Shhh.
I managed to trade with a second guy. This guy was a bit of a big spender. He claimed that he opened something like 200 to 300 packs of Prismatic Evolutions. That is like 20 to 30 Elite Trainer Boxes (ETB). One Prismatic Evolutions ETB is around 150 CAD if you can get one. So 20 ETBs of Prismatic is 3000 CAD and 30 would be 4500 CAD. This guy said that he only got 5 Budew of the common rarity. Bad pull rates it seems.
This second trade guy wanted my one copy of Switch Cart holofoil with the Play Stamp, one copy of Hisuian Heavy Ball with the Play Stamp. Plus I added one holofoil Psychic Energy with the Play stamp. In exchange I get 2 common rarity of Budew. Switch Cart and Hisuian Heavy Ball are F cards and rotate out of standard play in April (G, H, I marked cards legal in next standard format).
One Budew is 4 CAD so two would be 8 CAD. I did need the Switch Cart or the Hisuian Heavy Ball. When it comes to playing I use minimum rarity cards as they are the cheapest. Plus I can playtest different decks with my brother. I am not concerned about making my deck shiny and stuff. The shiny cards are for trading (as trade bait, shhh).
When you go to local events to play Pokemon TCG one of the biggest advantages is the trading. Getting good trades in can feel better than winning and obtaining store prizes.
A few minutes later after trading the store organizer hands out the prizes. Even though I went 3 wins and no losses I did not get first. I get my three prize packs but no promo Pikachu card. I am still happy with how I played and my luck. I cannot complain too much.
From the three Prize Packs here are the pulls and playable cards I got. Nothing crazy like Charizard ex, Raging Bolt ex or Mew ex but I did get some nice playable cards. Obtaining Earthen Vessels does save me 4 CAD per copy.
It was a good event for me. Since I live kind far from Toronto it is a hassle for me to attend this store's event every Sunday.