Lille and Sacramento Regionals Recap, Ting-Lu Ability Lock, and OP Banette Item LockLille and Sacramento Regionals Recap, Ting-Lu Ability Lock, and OP Banette Item Lock
The Payoff with Pete
Cory and Jared break down the Sacramento and Lille Pokémon Regionals, highlighting Lugia’s success, Miraidon’s struggles, and a mix of creative off-meta decks. They also spotlight a Banette item-lock strategy and share playful predictions for the upcoming Toronto event.
34:46•27 Oct 2023
Lille & Sacramento Pokémon Showdowns, Lugia’s Rise, and a Cheeky Banette Lock
Episode Overview
- Lugia continues to show strong results, including four decks in Sacramento’s top eight, signalling it remains a major force in the current meta.
- Miraidon underperforms despite theoretically strong matchups, raising questions about its place among top competitive choices.
- Off-meta decks like Dialga VSTAR, Hisuian Zoroark, and Snorlax control prove that creative “spice” can still reach day two and beyond.
- A Banette-focused ability and item-lock list, backed by Gardevoir, Mew ex and Shadow Rider Calyrex, offers a disruptive alternative strategy.
- The hosts expect Canadian players and Lost Box builds to be major contenders at the upcoming Toronto Regionals, with friendly wagers on specific finals matchups.
“You don’t have to be Azul Garcia Griego in order to win these tournaments. If you understand how the cards work and you know your deck in and out, you can take a win home.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? Here, the tone takes a sharp left turn into something lighter: two long-time friends geeking out over competitive Pokémon, card choices, and regional tournament drama. Cory and Jared, best mates and seasoned Pokémon players, sit down for a no-guest, chatty breakdown of the recent Sacramento and Lille (France) Regionals.
The vibe is relaxed and jokey, with plenty of friendly ribbing – at one point they’re laughing over "the land of the baguettes" and debating how badly they’re butchering French. If you enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their niche hobby, you’ll feel right at home. They talk through how Lugia, Lost Box, Mew, and a spread of other decks performed, and why the current meta feels wide open.
As Jared puts it, you don’t "have to be Azul Garcia Griego in order to win these tournaments" – if you know your deck and play confidently, you’ve got a shot. They point out first-time finalists, surprising showings from Arceus builds, and a worrying slide for Miraidon, which "just did not perform well enough" to break into the top slots.
A big chunk of the chat zooms in on “spice” lists – unusual or off-meta decks that still landed solid finishes. Cory lights up over control-style Snorlax lists with Pidgeot, while Jared can’t stop praising an ability-lock Banette build that keeps opponents from playing item cards. They happily theorycraft tweaks like adding Giacomo to strip special energy and debate how these decks might fare into Lugia and Mew.
By the end, they’re making playful bets on which decks will reach the finals in Toronto and imagining what Drake himself might play. If you like competitive card games, friendly banter, and hearing two friends think out loud about strategy and risk, this one’s an easy, light-hearted listen. What “spicy” idea might you be tempted to try after hearing their breakdown?
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