Gameplay Analysis Episode 5 – Yveltal Maxie VS Night March Marshadow

Videos

Hey trainers! In this video I explain the Yveltal Maxie VS Night March Marshadow matchup, over a best of three series using lists that you can see in my most recent article. This is the fifth episode in a series where I analyze some of the more complex matchups of our formats. This video will feature lists from the the Expanded format. Leave a comment telling … Continue reading Gameplay Analysis Episode 5 – Yveltal Maxie VS Night March Marshadow

Phinnegan Lynch2 Comments

“Marshadow and More:” A Look at the New Expanded Format

Articles

Hey guys, Phinn again with another piece about the meta. This time I want to cover the Expanded format in a holistic manner. I see people putting out articles about a single deck, or a couple Expanded options, but for this piece I want to talk about how we should view the Expanded format and what decks are actually top-tier. There are tons of options … Continue reading “Marshadow and More:” A Look at the New Expanded Format

Phinnegan Lynch

Post Worlds Conclusions: Final Lists and Lessons for Next Season

Articles

Hey reader, Phinn again. We are fresh from Worlds with plenty of information to explore and analyze. This article is going to cover what changes we saw in the meta, as opposed to past Worlds’ metas, and what has stayed consistent through each Worlds. The idea here is to think about what we thought we knew about the meta before Worlds, and then looking at … Continue reading Post Worlds Conclusions: Final Lists and Lessons for Next Season

Phinnegan Lynch

Newly Identified Toxins – A look at Garbodor variants

Articles

Hi, everyone! CutorTap’s Michael Perez, here with my first article. I have been on a hiatus from the game while attending school and getting settled with some life changes, although starting with the Anaheim Open, I’ll be playing again competitively for the 2018 season. Jumping back into the game is tough, so instead of trying to get a good idea of each deck and its … Continue reading Newly Identified Toxins – A look at Garbodor variants

Michael Perez

“So Say We All:” The Final Five Options for Worlds

Articles

In the weeks leading up to Worlds, we have had (and continue to have) a rapidly-evolving meta that will most likely give us a completely new format. Now we have Gardevoir GX, but this has not changed the fact that Garbodor is incredibly strong. Decidueye/Vileplume is actually able to beat both. With that being said, Volcanion and Rayquaza beat Decidueye. Volcanion seemed amazing when we … Continue reading “So Say We All:” The Final Five Options for Worlds

Phinnegan Lynch

“Don’t Wimp Out!” First Impressions on Golisopod/Vileplume and Tips for Worlds

Articles

Hey CutOrTap readers, it’s Charlie, back with another article.  This is the one time of year where there is a major divide between players – some are working to test for Worlds while others are testing out next year’s format.  Today, I’m going to share with you some of the front-runners in my group’s large testing pool, along with a few predictions for what will … Continue reading “Don’t Wimp Out!” First Impressions on Golisopod/Vileplume and Tips for Worlds

Charlie Lockyer

Gameplay Analysis Episode 4 – Rayquaza Volcanion VS Decidueye Vileplume Ninetales

Videos

Hey trainers! In this video I explain the Rayquaza Volcanion VS Decidueye Vileplume matchup, over a best of three series using lists that you can see in my most recent article. This is the fourth episode in a series where I analyze some of the more complex matchups of our formats. This video will feature lists from the Primal Clash though Burning Shadows format. Leave a … Continue reading Gameplay Analysis Episode 4 – Rayquaza Volcanion VS Decidueye Vileplume Ninetales

Phinnegan Lynch

Four more options for Worlds – Decidueye Vileplume, Volcanion, Mega Rayquaza, and Garbodor

Articles

Hey readers! Sorry about the wait on this piece. I’m back with four new and unique options for Worlds. Over the last two weeks I have been testing a jungle of decks, tweaking the previous lists and recreating past archetypes to deal with a new meta. Decidueye Vileplume has proven to be an extremely strong option in this format, seeing as it is one of … Continue reading Four more options for Worlds – Decidueye Vileplume, Volcanion, Mega Rayquaza, and Garbodor

Phinnegan Lynch1 Comment

Gameplay Analysis Episode 3 – Turtonator Volcanion VS Gardevoir

Videos

Hey trainers! In this video I explain the Turtonator Volcanion VS Gardevoir, over a best of three series using lists that you can see bellow the video. This is the Third episode in a series where I analyze some of the more complex matchups of our formats. This video will feature lists from the Primal Clash though Burning Shadows format. Leave a comment telling me what … Continue reading Gameplay Analysis Episode 3 – Turtonator Volcanion VS Gardevoir

Phinnegan Lynch

“Grandpa on Wheels:” John Collins’s Senior Rogue Deck for NA Intercontinentals

Articles

Hey, Cut or Tap readers! My name is John Collins, and I’m here to write about the deck I played for North America Intercontinentals. I’m a Top 16 Senior for NA and I ended this season with 960 Championship Points. I managed to get Top 32 with a rogue deck that Charlie Lockyer and I made less than a day before the tournament started: “Grandpa … Continue reading “Grandpa on Wheels:” John Collins’s Senior Rogue Deck for NA Intercontinentals

Phinnegan Lynch1 Comment

Gameplay Analysis Episode 2 – Gardevoir VS Vespiquen Machoke

Videos

Hey trainers! In this video Michael Perez and I explain the Gardevoir VS Vespiquen matchup, over a best of three series using a Gardevoir list from similar to the one from this article, and a Vespiquen list that you can see bellow the video. This is the second episode in a series where I analyze some of the more complex matchups of our formats. This … Continue reading Gameplay Analysis Episode 2 – Gardevoir VS Vespiquen Machoke

Phinnegan Lynch

Average Joe to Ultra Pro: Frank Percic’s Do’s and Don’ts of Learning the Game

Public Articles

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Frank Percic, and I picked up my first Pokemon card in November of 2016. Seven months later, I found myself at 394 championship points trying to clinch my invite with a Top 64 at NAIC. I had a lot of help on my short journey – probably more than most. That being said, the … Continue reading Average Joe to Ultra Pro: Frank Percic’s Do’s and Don’ts of Learning the Game

Phinnegan Lynch

Primal Clash through Burning Shadows – Gardevoir, Greninja, Darkrai, and Noivern

Articles

Hey reader! Many of us are preparing for a format including a set that does not exist in English yet. For most Worlds competitors the format that is relevant at the moment is including Burning Shadows. The only tournament we have to base our format on is the 2017 Japan championship, which actually is a different format because they have many more sets legal. For … Continue reading Primal Clash through Burning Shadows – Gardevoir, Greninja, Darkrai, and Noivern

Phinnegan Lynch2 Comments

Darkrai garb, a shadowed play for U.S. intercontinentals (By Isaac Milaski)

Public Articles

Hey, Cut or Tap readers! My name is Isaac Milaski, and I’ll be talking about my recent tournament experience at the North American International Championships. I ended up placing 6th in the Senior division after some unfortunate events in Top 8. I chose Darkrai/Garb for this tournament because it had 50/50 matchups or better against the entire field of what Seniors were expected to play. … Continue reading Darkrai garb, a shadowed play for U.S. intercontinentals (By Isaac Milaski)

Phinnegan Lynch

Gameplay Analysis Episode 1 – Zoroark Umbreon VS Garbodor Espeon

Videos

Hey trainers! In this video I explain the Garbodor Espeon VS Zoroark Umbreon matchup, over a best of three series using the Garbodor list from this article, and a Zoroark list that you can find here. This is the first instalment in a series where I analyze some of the more complex matchups of our formats. This video will feature lists from the current Standard format (no … Continue reading Gameplay Analysis Episode 1 – Zoroark Umbreon VS Garbodor Espeon

Phinnegan Lynch

“International Espeonage:” 17th-Place Tournament Report with Espeon/Garbodor

Articles

Hey guys, Bubble Boy back again with another tournament report. US Intercontinentals was this past weekend with a somewhat diverse meta and tons of interesting information to talk about. I ended the event with yet another bubble, but this time it wasn’t as painful because it was only for Top 16 rather than Top 8. I took notes about my matches throughout all of Day … Continue reading “International Espeonage:” 17th-Place Tournament Report with Espeon/Garbodor

Phinnegan Lynch

“Choose Your Character!” Meta Predictions for North American Intercontinentals

Articles

USA Intercontinentals is less than a week away, and the unfortunate truth is that most people still don’t know what they are playing. I am here to help those players figure that out with my metagame predictions, and with what decks I expect to be making it to Day 2 of the event. Some archetypes will be better for players just looking to hit Day 2, … Continue reading “Choose Your Character!” Meta Predictions for North American Intercontinentals

Phinnegan Lynch

“May the Forest Be With You: Discovering DeciPlume for Nationals

Articles

What’s up, Cut or Tap readers? It has been a little while since my last article and I wanted to update everyone on my own personal Pokemon journey with some awesome news: I made it to Worlds! After a grind of a season and a last minute trip to the Origins Special Event in Columbus, Ohio, I am now invited to the 2017 Pokemon World … Continue reading “May the Forest Be With You: Discovering DeciPlume for Nationals

Zachary Lesage

“Divide (GX) and Conquer:” My Options for US Intercontinentals

Articles

Hey friends, Phinn again. This article is mostly an update on lists going into Nationals. Most of my time has been put into practicing Vespiquen, Zoroark, and Garbodor; however I have come up with some other lists like Raichu Lycanroc, and Raichu Bats. I’m not going to go into a ton of detail on any of these decks, because I have already covered all of … Continue reading “Divide (GX) and Conquer:” My Options for US Intercontinentals

Phinnegan Lynch