[City League Aichi: Runner Up] Blacephalon Naganadal Deck List [Hikki Commentary]
Please find the original Japanese-language article here.

Hi, PokemonCardNews.com here.
This time we will be discussing the Aichi City League that
occurred on the 30th of December. We interviewed Hikki (@06269029),
the runner up of the tournament, and have gotten some deck commentary as well.
Please read ahead to learn about Blacephalon Naganadal, an archetype which can thrive
in all sorts of metagames.
Deck List

Hikki explained his Blacephalon deck is characterised by the copies of Kiawe
he runs. The ability to pile Energies onto either Blacephalon
or Naganadal with Kiawe may become an increasingly common strategy in the future.
It is also interesting to see that the line of draw
Supporters is quite thin, with only one Cynthia, four Lillie and one Erika's Hospitality.
Find out more detail about the deck in the interview below.
Interview with Hikki
PCN: Hello.
Congratulations on your recent finish at the City League. Could you please give
us a brief introduction?
Hikki: My hobbies
include anime, manga and video games, and I often go to conventions – you could
say that I am an “otaku.” I started playing the Pokemon TCG last August thanks to my friend getting me into it. This is the first time I've played in a big
tournament.
PCN: Wait, you only
started in August and you've managed to place so well at a City League already? I've heard that one of the top 8 players in the tournament, “AuAu Poyochan”,
also started very recently, in September, but still this is an amazing feat.
Hikki: I didn’t
think I would be able to win this many games. In fact, I think I was the one who was
most surprised about my finish!
PCN: This seems
like the year for new players to get ahead, doesn’t it? We’ve heard that you
played Blacephalon at the tournament, but could you please elaborate on why you chose
the deck?
Hikki: Originally,
I planned on using a Lost March deck which ran Emolga and Pokemon
Communication, but the matchup against Electric decks was very tough, so I
decided against that. After that, I decided to play Blacephalon for the
following reasons:
- It is a straightforward deck where everything is laid out for you
- With so many searching cards, it is uncommon to dead draw.
As this was my first time playing in a big tournament, I was
sure to get nervous and overthink my plays, which could lead to ties, so these features of the deck stood out to me.
There are few unfavourable matchups and I thought the deck would be able to hold its own against Pikachu & Zekrom. While I thought Pikachu & Zekrom
would be the most played deck, I believed there would also be a number of Venusaur
& Celebi and Lycanroc Zoroark, which my deck is favoured against.
After I made this decision, three days before the tournament
I realised the deck actually struggled against Pikachu & Zekrom. I thought
I should change to a Venusaur & Celebi deck but I had run out of time, so I
ended up sticking with Blacephalon.
PCN: There wasn't much time to prepare for the new format at all. Decks which can hold their own in different
formats are gaining attention - the ability to win convincingly across all kinds of metas is more important than ever. Would you mind
telling us a bit more about the deck?
Hikki: My
deck differs from most other Blacephalon builds because I run Kiawe. Compared
to a standard Blacephalon deck, you are able to apply more pressure
by playing Kiawe. With so many copies of Guzma, you are also able to knock out your
opponent’s beefy GX Pokemon. However, playing Kiawe did not always go as
expected against Pikachu & Zekrom. Retrospectively, for the Pikachu &
Zekrom matchup it would have been beneficial to switch out Choice Bands for Choice
Helmets. It may have also been good to include Viridian Forest to open up another avenue for discarding Energy.
PCN: Playing Kiawe
is quite the act of bravery. I imagine there are quite a few players who wouldn't take the risk of your turn ending upon playing Kiawe. Do you still
think it is a key card in the deck?
Hikki: It can go
either way, really. If you can play Kiawe with good timing, it can really swing
the game. However, if you find a Kiawe using Tapu Lele GX with no other
Supporters in hand, you run the risk of not getting the cards you need for next
turn, so you need to play very carefully.
PCN: Following
this result, the Kiawe variant of Blacephalon will probably rise in popularity. It is a
result that other Blacephalon players should be aware of. Are there any specific things to
keep in mind while playing this deck?
Hikki: One thing
is deciding whether to use Lillie or Kiawe on the first turn after seeing your
hand and your opponent’s opening. After that, you must formulate a plan to take
six Prize cards.
PCN: That does
sound like a difficult decision to make. It looks like we will need a lot of
practice. Hikki, what do you think about the current meta?
Hikki: I would
call this meta a Pikachu & Zekrom meta. Dedenne GX and Electromagnetic
Radar will come out in the next set, which will strengthen the deck even further. I think
it will remain incredibly strong if no good Fighting type cards are released.
PCN: Your
prediction of a thunderstorm sounds quite accurate. While Electric type Pokemon
were not widely played for a long time, they will likely have a place in the
meta from now on. Can you give us some details about your City League
experience?
Hikki: There were
seven qualifying rounds and three final rounds. Because I played ten intense
games with almost no break, I needed a lot of physical strength and I got very
tired. I was very nervous at the tournament, which, coupled with my tiredness
and lack of experience, led to me making quite a few misplays. So, I feel the
following are important for tournament success:
- Being able to adapt to various environments
- Practicing against all types of decks and opponents
- Tournament experience.
PCN: Yes, having
energy is necessary for playing in big tournaments. Top players also feel a lot
of pressure so it is difficult for them. I am looking forward to hearing about further
successes in the near future, Hikki. Do you have any goals moving forward from
this tournament?
Hikki: I
would like to participate in the Champions League and finish in the top 16.
PCN: I am looking
forward to that happening. This year, it seems that newer players like Hikki
will be more active in the competitive scene. Do you have final words about how
to improve your skill in the Pokemon TCG?
Hikki: The player
base increased dramatically last year, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it did turn
into a year where many newer players see good results! Since I am still quite new to the
game, I can’t give too much advice. But I will say that you should make friends
who play the game. If you have players who are just as passionate about the
game as you are, your motivation will skyrocket. By practicing together and
exchanging ideas with each other, you can play in tournaments together and have
a good time while increasingly getting better at the game.
PCN: As with teams, it is very important to have friends to learn the game with. The importance
of having a strong community to rely upon is a topic that many top
players have spoken about. Thank you for participating in our interview. Best
of luck with your future tournaments!
Conclusion
I was able to interview the City League Aichi runner up. While
Hikki has said that he has had some experience with TCGs, the Pokemon TCG is the
first he has played competitively. Another new player who did surprisingly well
was “Au Au Puyochan”, who made top 8 at the same City League.
This was an interview which made me think that 2019 may be
the year when players who began before and after the "Pokemon TCG boom" will make
their mark.
I also extend my gratitude to Hikki, who kindly
participated in this interview.
Please find the original Japanese-language article here.
Please find the original Japanese-language article here.
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