Orre Cup 11 [2023-12-02]
Journey Across America Tournament
by Mosquito

[see PART 1 for team]


PART 2

===Battle Report===
R1	2-0	skylarsnowsong 	(24th/32, 1-4)
Wobbuffet/Politoed/Clefable/Arcanine/Groudon/Latios
A weak Perish Trap team with only one Restricted.

The only 'mon that could hit Shedinja on their team is Arcanine, so I aimed to remove that as soon as possible.

R2	1-2	qsns	(14th/32, 2-3)
Kyogre/Groudon/Lugia/Jumpluff/Mewtwo/Snorlax
One of several Jumpluff teams in the tournament

Due to too many Shedinja-checks, I opted for Mewtwo+Lugia+Snorlax+Kyogre against every Jumpluff team. Against qsns, the Toxic-max-speed Lugia mirror proved painful. Furthermore, both of us ran max-speed Mewtwo and weather beasts as well. They made strong plays turn-to-turn, and it was here that I realized Toxic has 85 accuracy, not 90 accuracy. Game 3 came down to a Lugia speedtie, where they won and got an Icy Wind before I could Substitute. The set is a fine example of what a "typical" JAA matchup looks like.

R3	2-0	Fritz	(15th/32, 2-3)
Rayquaza/Mewtwo/Metagross/Groudon/Latias/Gengar
A Groudon-centric team with Metagross

Only two 'mons could hit Shedinja (Groudon and Rayquaza). I exploited the fact that neither had Protect, so I spammed Ice Beam with Mewtwo and Kyogre to aim for a winning Shedinja endgame.

R4	2-0	smudge
Kyogre/Groudon/Lugia/Jumpluff/Mewtwo/Snorlax
The 2nd Jumpluff team I faced

In both games I brought my anti-Jumpluff picks. Game 1 started well. I actually predicted the 2nd Protect + Boom and Protected with my Kyogre at one point, which prevented an auto loss. With only Lugia and Jumpluff remaining, it became a slow battle to exploit their lack of damage output. In Game 2 I played safely with Toxic Stall. I'm rewarded with safe Substitute play by an opposing Snorlax Selfdestruct. After Mewtwo also Selfdestructs, it's another slow game of attrition.

R5	2-0	JohanE91
Kyogre/Ludicolo/Metagross/Gengar/Zapdos/Snorlax
A hard rain team with only one Restricted

Going into Round 5, I was stressed because it was a win-and-in. Due to low resistance, losing this set would probably exclude me from Top 8. I was ecstatic to face hard Rain; Shedinja has a fantastic matchup. The only two 'mons that could hit Shedinja were Gengar and Snorlax, so I aimed to remove them.
Game 1 proved difficult due to Toxic misses and good predictions from my opponent. I had to hustle a Toxic stall game against Snorlax and pals, which came really close.
Game 2 turned out better, with a lucky Thunder paralysis turning the game. I make a hard read and Selfdestruct against Snorlax, removing it and paving the way for a Shedinja win condition.

T8	3-0	Noodle
Kyogre/Groudon/Lugia/Jumpluff/Mewtwo/Snorlax
The 3rd Jumpluff team I faced

I bring my anti-Jumpluff mode in all three games. My opponent leads Lugia + Mewtwo in all three games, making every opening a mirror.

In Game 1, I exploit Substitute Mewtwo + Toxic Lugia to punish the passive screens + Icy Wind my opponent has. We both get freezes but mine is more significant. I have to play safely with Snorlax, but later I forget Groudon has Endure+Salac. Very fortunately, I get an Ice Beam freeze which saves me. A fortunate Sp. Def drop lets me remove Mewtwo, and then my Mewtwo proceeds to stall my opponent. Once I'm up 4-2, I'm willing to click buttons and trade damage. My opponent foolishly Selfdestructs with Snorlax, trading it and turning the game into a 2v1.

In Game 2 I again go for Substitute. This time I switch Lugia for Snorlax Turn 1 because it proved effective against Mewtwo in Game 1.

In Game 3, I saw another Jumpluff team and brought my anti-Jumpluff options again. It's another mirror of fundamental plays. I get a lucky Quick Claw activation into Selfdestruct, removing half their team. I then win the 3v2 despite a long sleep with Lugia. Thank you critical hits.


T4	3-0	Lhions
Kyogre/Groudon/Lugia/Jumpluff/Mewtwo/Snorlax
The 4th and final Jumpluff team I faced

You know the drill. Mewtwo+Lugia+Snorlax+Kyogre.

Game 1 starts against Snorlax + Lugia, and I get an unlucky Toxic miss and they get a Quick Claw activation. They read me well but my ultimate goal is to get multiple Toxics off and remove Snorlax. Lugia survives at 1 HP later, which means I get an important Icy Wind into another Icy Wind. Kyogre sweeps the game.

Game 2 starts against Kyogre+Snorlax, and my opponent Self-Destructs into my safe Protect+Substitute. Mewtwo + Kyogre proceed to sweep the game.

Game 3 opens against Jumpluff (finally!) and I get a fortunate Sleep Powder miss (though my lead expects to trade sleeping Lugia for a Jumpluff KO anyway). After a desperate Selfdestruct into my double Protect, I'm basically guaranteed a win.

T2	3-1	Commode-O Dragon
Zapdos/Kyogre/Groudon/Metagross/Lugia/Mewtwo
A bulky team held together with support Mewtwo.

Between watching the Top 4 set (where Metagross survived a Kyogre Hydro Pump) and looking at the open teamsheet, my goals in the set were:
1. Don't bring Shedinja until I'm winning. It's safer to run standard mons.
2. Exploit Mewtwo's lack of damage output and Substitute spam then target Mewtwo's teammate.

Game 1 starts well with this strategy, but after a Toxic miss, my Lugia getting KOed, I go for a desperate Snorlax Selfdestruct. I get a fortunate critical hit to KO the Metagross switch-in and it's now 2v3. On Turn 7 I double into the recently-Protected Kyogre (which I know I outrun), changing it back into a 2v2. I proceed to double into the only damage threat (Lugia) which is Choice Band and cannot Protect.

Game 2 I have to deal with Light Screen, which makes removing Metagross difficult. I stagger my Protects so that Metagross can, at most, trade 1-for-1 with Explosion. KOing Metagross buys me a free tempo, and then I proceed to begin PP-stalling Lugia's Aeroblast. After removing Kyogre, I win the game.

In Game 3, I'm one win away from winning the set. I bring Shedinja for fun. My opponent switches to Groudon + Zapdos, which is new. I have to deal with ParaFlinch and the strong neutral STAB Thunderbolt from Zapdos. After two more Toxic misses, I'm too far down and I have to attempt to PP stall Rock Slide so Shedinja has a chance. CB Lugia defeats me easily. At least I learn that +1 Groudon Rock Slide cannot break Mewtwo's Substitute.

In Game 4 I opt against Shedinja. Having seen Zapdos, I expect they will bring it again and I opt for Groudon + Lugia + Kyogre + Mewtwo. Kyogre scares me on Turn 1, but knowing I'm fast, I gamble with an Earthquake, which at worst means a KO on Groudon. I figure my Kyogre can sweep once Kyogre is removed. The gamble pays off and my opponent takes 55% on Kyogre and hits Lugia instead. For the rest of the game I play a Toxic Stall game, aiming to reduce Aeroblast's PP. After a prolonged game, I win via Toxic residual damage and key Ice Beam hits. I've won Orre Cup 11 and a copy of Emerald.


===Post-Tournament Reflections===
I didn't like JAA going into this tournament and I feel the same way after. It feels like the exact opposite of Limited; battling can fun in many respects (lead roulette is reduced due to high stats), but teambuilding and matchups are boring. It feels difficult to justify not running Mewtwo+Lugia+Snorlax+weather mon+a possibly 2nd weather mon because their stats are so good. There was some creativity with movesets (shoutouts to the runner-up team used by Commode-O Dragon and company), but a lot of teambuilding devolves into "Screens, Substitute, trade damage" in a way that feels less exciting than standard. Mewtwo feels more oppressive than Latias because it gets guaranteed support options *and* deals big damage. The specific moves picked in battles can be exciting, but it gets boring facing the same 5 'mons again (whereas Standard's Holy Trinity feels more enjoyable to face against).

I built this team using the main core and shaped it into a stall team due to my love of Substitute. Shedinja helped me win three Swiss rounds but it felt too stressful to pilot. Standard teams have sufficient Shedinja counterplay and I would remove it from this team immediately. Zapdos and Gengar seem like the best alternative fillers. Jumpluff seems too risky for my taste but it's proven successful with 3 appearances in Top Cut.

Just like Limited, there's still room for growth for this format, but right now I'm tired of this format. I'm looking forward to more Standard battles. If we play JAA in the future, I wonder how the metagame will shape. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you in our next tournament!