Did Keito Get Screwed at NAIC? How Are You Teching Your Deck?Did Keito Get Screwed at NAIC? How Are You Teching Your Deck?
The Payoff with Pete
Cory and Jared break down NAIC results, Gardevoir’s dominance, Lost Box’s win, and the upcoming Worlds structure while joking around like long-time friends. They also share a practical deck-building idea: shrinking weaker decks into a few powerful tech cards for stronger lists.
56:26•21 Jun 2024
Honey, I Shrunk the Deck: Gardevoir, Lost Box and Crafty Tech Choices
Episode Overview
- Gardevoir’s success at NAIC came from its consistency, flexibility, and the number of top players choosing it in an uncertain format.
- Lost Box remains dangerous because it can go fast, apply pressure early, and now run cards like Iron Hands for surprise multi-prize swings.
- Worlds’ new structure means fewer chances to counterpick between days, so players may need to commit to a single, well-rounded list.
- Some decks are less about full archetypes and more about one or two standout cards that can be lifted as tech into stronger shells.
- Targeting draw engines, managing energy carefully, and planning for comeback tools like Iono and Counter Catcher are key skills in the current meta.
“"Turn that deck into a tech."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey and still keep space for hobbies and fun? This chat between best mates Cory and Jared leans hard into passion and play through competitive Pokémon TCG, showing how a sober life can be full of strategy, laughter, and community. The pair rewind NAIC, asking why Gardevoir suddenly dominated while Charizard underperformed.
Cory outlines how players leaned on consistency and comfort in an uncertain format, with many top pros choosing Gardevoir as the “safe” play. They break down Lost Box’s win, Andrew’s clever use of Iron Hands, and why some results might *not* shift the Worlds meta as much as people think.
A big chunk of the talk centres on how the competitive structure for Worlds is changing this year: everyone plays day one, top players just get a free win instead of skipping straight to day two. They question regional point systems and the lack of a unified global circuit, comparing it to the Olympics and League of Legends and wondering whether the very best players are actually all making it to the biggest stage.
For deck-builders, there’s a fun, practical segment: “Honey, I Shrunk the Deck – turn that deck into a tech.” Jared argues that many of our beloved B- or C-tier lists are really just goldmines of one or two great cards that belong inside stronger archetypes. They point to Iron Thorns as a perfect example of a card lifted from a weaker deck and turned into a game-winning tech in top Lost Box lists.
Throughout, you’ll hear friendly teasing, sports analogies, and lots of meta talk, but underneath it all is a clear message: sober minds can still chase competition, creativity, and connection. If you’re rebuilding life after alcohol, could a focused hobby like this help fill the gap and give you something to get genuinely excited about?
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