Japan City League Results and Updated Pokemon Live ELO LeaderboardJapan City League Results and Updated Pokemon Live ELO Leaderboard
The Payoff with Pete
Corey and Jared chat about Pokémon Live’s ELO ladder, Japan City League deck trends, and how rotation will shake up the metagame. They also speak candidly about burnout and why taking a break from competitive play can be a healthy choice.
41:53•18 Jan 2025
ELO Ladders, Japan City Leagues and Knowing When to Take a Break
Episode Overview
- The new Pokémon Live ELO system rewards streaks but can create long queue times at higher ratings, making each match feel high stakes.
- Japan’s City League results highlight Dragapult, Gardevoir, Ceruledge/Palkia and Archaludon as major forces, often built differently from Western lists.
- Upcoming rotation on 11 April removes F‑regulation cards like Radiant Greninja, Arceus, Lugia and Regidrago, which will reshape core strategies.
- Archaludon and Ceruledge are presented as strong, beginner-friendly archetypes that can win now and stay relevant for years, especially for kids and parents.
- Burnout is treated as normal; stepping back, playing less, or shifting into roles like judging or helping at league is framed as a healthy choice.
“"It's okay to take a break sometimes. And sometimes it's needed."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This time the focus shifts to a different kind of grind: competitive Pokémon TCG on Pokémon Live, with a heavy dose of honesty about burnout, balance, and long-term play. Host Corey chats with co‑host Jared about the new ELO system on Pokémon Live and a homemade leaderboard Corey built by tracking more than 200 opponents on the ranked ladder.
You’ll hear how win streaks, long queue times at high ELO, and deck choices like Gardevoir, Regidrago, Goldengo/Togekiss, and “tried and true” Cloth Terapagos shape their push past 1,700 rating, all while Corey jokes about “selling his soul” to play Regidrago. From there, the conversation shifts to Japan’s City League results.
Corey and Jared break down why Dragapult is so popular there, how Bidoof’s item lock changes things, and why Japan favours three Okidogi/Monkidori builds and Palkia VSTAR plus Ceruledge as a flexible, sniping-heavy package. They also highlight Archaludon as a resilient, fire-resistant contender that’s all over Japanese top cuts. A big chunk of the chat is about rotation and what it means to lose F‑regulation cards like Radiant Greninja, Arceus VSTAR, Lugia, Regidrago and Palkia.
Corey even calls Radiant Greninja “probably the greatest pokemon card of all time,” while Jared points out how many “legendary” cards are disappearing at once. For anyone feeling tired of the grind, they speak openly about taking breaks. Jared calls it a “stalemate in pokemon” and stresses that it’s perfectly fine to step back, play less, or shift into other roles like judging or helping at league.
The message is simple: the game will still be there when you’re ready to return. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to pause your competitive push and still stay connected to something you love, this conversation might be exactly the reassurance you need.
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