Regidrago Wins Again and Will Budew Item Lock Win Japan?Regidrago Wins Again and Will Budew Item Lock Win Japan?
The Payoff with Pete
Corey and Jared break down Regidrago’s huge showing at Toronto Regionals, the rise of Budew item lock in Japan, and how playing hated decks can sharpen competitive skills. The chat blends meta analysis, predictions for Champions League Osaka, and a Sun Tzu-inspired call to “become your enemy” in Pokémon TCG.
37:18•21 Dec 2024
Regidrago’s Reign, Budew Item Lock Chaos and Why You Should Play the Decks You Hate
Episode Overview
- Regidrago VSTAR is currently extremely dominant, but its late-blooming support may limit its long-term legacy.
- Key tech cards such as Temple of Sinnoh, Jamming Tower and Kyurem can swing specific matchups in high-level play.
- Budew’s cheap item-lock attack and free retreat make it a powerful one-of tech across many Japanese decks.
- Playing the decks that frustrate you – including stall – is one of the best ways to understand and beat them.
- Tracking ladder ratings and matchups on Pokémon Live can give extra insight into the true strength of popular decks.
“"To know your enemy, you must become your enemy."”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? On this spin-off-style chat from the broader Payoff universe, the focus shifts from sobriety to strategy, as Corey and Jared geek out over high-level Pokémon TCG play – and anyone who loves competitive games, ladders and metas will feel right at home. Corey and his co-host Jared break down the Toronto Regionals, where Regidrago VSTAR completely dominated.
Jared sums it up bluntly: "This is going to be one of the brightest flames and shortest-lived flames in Pokémon history, but it is very dominant right now." They debate whether Regidrago could be classed as the best deck ever, weigh it up against classics like Zoroark/Garbodor and Mew, and point out how late support cards gave it a sudden burst of power.
You’ll hear plenty of tournament detail – from Cal Conner’s winning list and spicy tech choices like Temple of Sinnoh and Jamming Tower, to Hassan’s Pidgeot control with Kyurem tech for paralysing Dragon types. The pair also chat through why beloved decks such as Gardevoir and Gholdengo underperformed, and why mirror matches full of Regidrago don’t exactly thrill everyone. Things then shift to Japan’s Champions League Osaka and the tiny card causing a huge stir: Budew.
With its free retreat and one-energy-free item lock attack, it’s popping up everywhere, leading Corey to joke that matches could devolve into "Budew to Budew" standoffs. Jared predicts Gardevoir will rise again in this format, while Corey backs Dragapult with Iron Thorns.
The education segment leans into mindset: Jared quotes Sun Tzu – "To know your enemy, you must become your enemy" – and urges competitive players to actually play the decks that annoy them the most, from Regidrago to full-on stall, so they truly understand the weaknesses from the inside. If you’re climbing the Pokémon Live ladder, tuning your list for regionals, or just love meta talk with a bit of banter, this one might be your next queue-up.
Which deck are you ready to "become" next?
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