The Rise of Charizard and Interview with Top 8 and 16 finisher Collin Merli-MatthewsThe Rise of Charizard and Interview with Top 8 and 16 finisher Collin Merli-Matthews
The Payoff with Pete
Cory and Jared chat with top competitor Collin Merli-Matthews about Charizard’s surge in tournaments, his long-term commitment to Mew, and how careful sequencing and mindset shape success at events like Pittsburgh regionals. The conversation blends humour with practical tournament advice and candid reflections on pressure, misplays, and long-term goals.
49:31•13 Oct 2023
Charizard, Mew, and Matchup Roulette with Top Player Collin Merli-Matthews
Episode Overview
- Familiarity and consistency with a deck can matter more than fearing a specific bad matchup.
- Sequencing actions carefully each turn is crucial; small ordering mistakes can ruin an otherwise winning line.
- You cannot control which decks you face, only how well you understand your win conditions in each pairing.
- Reviewing recorded games, including your own misplays, is a powerful way to improve decision-making.
- Regular practice with friends, local events, and theory work between rounds helps sustain long-term competitive progress.
“You can’t control matchup roulette. You just control how you handle the matchup roulette.”
What drives someone to seek a life so deeply rooted in strategy, competition, and community? This chat with competitive player Collin Merli-Matthews gives a front-row seat to how serious, thoughtful – and frankly hilarious – high-level Pokémon TCG can be. Cory and Jared kick things off geeking out over “the rise of Charizard” in recent tournament results, joking about dodging Charizard matchups and dreaming up senior divisions and daycare at regionals.
Their banter keeps things light, but underneath it sits a clear message: competitive play takes planning, structure and a lot of discipline. Collin joins the second half, bringing calm confidence and a grounded perspective. He shares his Pokémon origin story, moving from Yu-Gi-Oh!
and Cardfight Vanguard into Pokémon around the Ultra Prism era, and explains why he gravitated toward Mew: consistency, comfort and the ability to “always set up… 95% of the time.” He’s honest about low points too, calling the ADP era “a really dark time.” The episode spends plenty of time on tournament reality.
Collin breaks down key plays from his Top 4 run in Pittsburgh, including a clever Ice Q “checkmate” sequence and how he approached scary matchups like Lugia and Charizard without panicking. He stresses sequencing and knowing your win paths: “You can’t control matchup roulette.
You just control how you handle the matchup roulette.” There’s also a peek behind the curtain on practice habits, team support, and the nerves of playing on stream – including the infamous double-supporter misplay that his friends won’t let him forget. If you’re someone who leans on structured hobbies or competitive games to keep your head straight, this episode offers plenty to relate to.
Maybe the real question is: what’s your version of a ‘Mew deck’ – the thing you lean on because it just works for you?
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