VTL 22 一些感想 (少技術討論)
TL:DR: 很高興第一次參賽VTL(VGC Taiwan League)就奪亞，雖然個人成績有點辜負了隊伍，希望在接下來的VTL/其他賽事努力吧。
我係Richard，遊戲名稱huh，以往在Pokemon對戰都只在ShowDown/PO玩單打6v6的多，假如說是雙打4v4，大概是2020年2/3月開始? 那時被友人Michael Kan叫我租些隊玩啦，不然自己練寵也很快啦，這下子加上疫情關係(可以在家工作下)就不知不覺玩了兩年。
封面Credit : Icefairy
本來我對VTL的印象沒有很深，就是在VGC分享社看過了，沒有深入了解是什麼的一回事，因為我投放在VGC的時間很飄忽。
偶然之下友人Alvin Mak就在Discord叫我去玩，那時我也打算在美國這邊打一下Regional級的比賽，也抱著好奇的心態去了報名。由於時差跟前一晚是SLC Regional的比賽，給朋友抄了情報就睡了，沒有追看最緊張的選秀。起床一看就被選上了，超感謝萊恩(隊長)在選秀中選上了我，我在VGC界別不是十分活躍，想不到也有人認識T^T。看了Replay後才知道萊恩跟我在S9/11都玩Z神(臭味相投www)。當然我很早也有看過萊恩的Z神隊，可能大家都比較喜歡玩奇怪玩意吧。
告白環節，首先想說萊恩(隊長)真的超nice很有凝聚力。雖然沒有經常要我們練習，不過明顯能夠令到隊友也經常會到場支持自己隊友，個人覺得是很重要的。我也很不知醜地早期問了萊恩，呀我們用不用整理一下對手的情報，主要是我在S12真的信心不大，很怕負擔不起隊中第三輪就被選上的重任。
就結果而言只個人成績有4勝3敗，不過不失吧，奪冠失敗當然會失落，不過畢竟是隊制賽。大家都是互補之下才能跑到決賽，亦不得不提我們的大腿隊友YMM，未嘗一敗也太強了吧。其他隊員也做得很好，雖然有朋的成績看上來不太好，但我沒有忘記你的固拉多視力有多麼差T^T，運氣元素不可控制T^T。
告白完了，再說說自己對S12的感想。簡單說就是超進攻向的meta，對於少想gameplan的我是個大挑戰，始終打了很久的6v6單打，操作還是比較傾向節奏較慢的環境，雙神獸+極巨化真的要太進取，整體回合數少，自然每回合的操作容錯率就越低。
亦大概說一下這次VTL我所使用的隊伍跟對決(左邊是我,右邊是對手):
Week1:
Game1 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1544363161
Game2 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1544365259
S12早期我是重度的劍蓋玩家，畢竟是兩隻T0/T1的神獸，試過好幾個組合還是比較愛用Indeedee的保守(無腦)打法。
所以第一週就用了典型的劍蓋、草猩火貓，再補上Indeedee跟電柱。
對上白騎珍珠組合，對面高機會強開欺騙空間，使電柱發揮不大，因對手高機會珍珠先手，只好帶上Indeedee+劍狗，不斷跟我來拖走極巨的回合。G1G2對手水砲打在火貓都miss，超不好意思的orz。
Week2:
Game1 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1548850867
Game2 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1548851088
第二週大概是Rinya Sun成名後的時間，我在NYC打個本地比賽，亦用上VTL同隊。
蓋+白騎大概也是看了幾遍隊友小軒的隊伍，加上日本一些高分段隊伍決定用的。順帶一提我在NYC 本地比賽五輪中的兩敗，都是敗給晴隊的orz。
對方是挺奇怪的配置，game1就是直接放置背背龍，最後剛剛好極光幕完了，蓋趕得上傷害完場。Game2也是一直放置背背龍，對面除了背背龍沒有抗冰，所以就不斷用極巨冰打下去。
Week3:
Game1 (Lose):https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1559628102-xdmciatpvb8ya650p3ysi3dqxfgftsmpw
Game2 (Lose):https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1559628192-dvylq86cragzk2j0m52nupzld881no2pw
第三週是Aaron/Wolfey 在EUIC使用的隊伍，用的原因是我首兩輪也是用了蓋歐卡，感覺會被針對，然後在ShowDown很快爬上了1600分，個人看法就是順風/電柱狂轟，再用草猩火貓擊掌奇襲給壓力。
如果主攻屬性為鋼、火、草、電、鬼的情況下，就只有鬼不是對白龍減半，加上長毛雙牆之下白龍完全打不動。
我只能極巨黑騎，白龍仍是不動如山所以雙敗了。
Week4:
Game1 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1564614833
Game2 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1564614999
第四週算是第二週的改版，直接用了噴火龍打晴隊，試著試著也是不錯的，噴火龍的超極巨+蓋/白騎後手清場。
Game1我打得很保守，直接點超極火就完了，Game2電網miss了不過好像不算太大關係。
Week5:
Game1 (Win):https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1566717918
Game2 (Lose):https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1566718094
Game3 (Win):https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1566718286
聯賽最後一週我是用Indianapolis Regional中使用的隊伍，把白騎換成了固拉多，最主要是意識到meta開始多了Y雀/黑騎+劍，白騎不是很好打。
而我真的很想無腦用打全埸的招式就選了固拉多作為我的物攻手。
這輪是贏得挺險的，Game3被欺騙空間，而我又開了順風，很辛苦才拖得完。
Week6:
Game1 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1573231366-ncmwa5uinxs9ldihfiwh76gu0u7artbpw
Game2 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1573231700-igrm6d8aa87zrahlfzrkmf96hp4ocaipw
小插曲就是我Indianapolis Regional比賽結果2W-4L棄權 ，每一輪都打到Game3，我決定還是用別人隊伍再微調一下，結果用了Francesco(Alexis_vgc)EUIC的隊伍，也都符合我愛將Indeedee+雙天氣還有劍狗的陣容。
成為了我VTL季後賽所採用的隊伍。結果看到Esmond的雷鳥不是命玉，我就知連眠粉仔戰術行不通了orz。
Week7:
Game1 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1579036856
Game2 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1579037155
最後其他隊友打成平手，加上首名bonus加持下，成功晉身決賽。
這週也是Secaucus Regional比賽，所以打算用同一隊來打。本來是打算用Hektik的劍Y(長毛巨魔，而非土地雲)，在Indianapolis見過面後跑去twitter問了一下他的意見，他說就是打劍蓋不好受，劍蓋也是接下來的meta，所以不建議繼績用了，即是Zee的版本(土地雲)較好。
在VTL中運氣加持下取了Game1, Game2就比較輕鬆地打了。
題外話是結果在Secaucus Regional也是2W-4L棄權，當中兩輪對上順風蓋也無力的就敗了。
無聊統計一下個人使用數據：
| 使用次數 | 精靈 |
| 6 | 電柱 |
| 5 | 蓋歐卡、Indeedee |
| 4 | 劍狗、風妖精 |
| 3 | 草猩、火貓、噴火龍 |
| 2 | 白騎 |
| 1 | Y鳥、固拉多、土地雲、奇異花、毒氣雙子，紙御劍 |
大概我主要用的就是蓋/電柱/Indeedee作為core吧。最後就是這次VTL大概就是我S12的句號了，北美CP制下我不大可能進到World Championship，而且真的花費不少，唯有在朱紫努力努力。Q口Q
對VLT有興趣的話，可以在以下網址找到有關資訊：shorturl.at/gxMTU
Reflection of VGC Taiwan League (VTL) 22
TL:DR: Super glad to be the finalist of my first VTL competition, although my personal record wasn’t great as a third pick team member from draft. Hope I can be better in the future VTL/other tournament.
I am Richard, aka ‘huh’ in game. In the past years, I only played single 6vs6 on showdown (/PO). My VGC adventure started around Feb 2020, my buddy Michael Kan suggests me try rent team in double for fun. Although training new team is way faster than before. Under the pandemic, I have more time to play VGC and has been for two years.
TBH, I knew VTL before but not in deep since the time I spent on VGC is quite unsteady. Fortunately, my friend Alvin Mak told me to join this season VTL form the HK VGC discord group. Since I was planning to play Regional in NA, so yeah, I gave it a try for my practice and interacting more to other players. The draft was held the morning (US time) after SLC regional day 1, I was organized the team information from the VGC stream to my friend. I was tired to wake up early to watch the draft stream. When I woke up, surprisingly my name had been on the draft list. Thanks a lot to our team manager Ryan picking me in the third round since I was pretty new in the VGC community. I realized that the reason was that Ryan and I both played Zygarde in S9/11 XDD. Of course, I read the team report of Ryan’s Zygarde team before and knew we both like to play some off meta team.
Confession to my team Realm of Goodra<3, first Ryan as our team manager is super nice and building up strong cohesion of the team. Although we were not forced to practice a lot, our team will always support each other’s battle, which personally feel important in the team. In the early week of this season, I talked to Ryan about the need of managing the opponent information systematically. Since picked in the third gave me some pressure and doubt if I can play well in S12 myself, so even I play not good enough but still can contribute something to the team. Overall my record was average resulted in 4 wins & 3 loses. Losing in final is slightly disappointed, but it’s a team league where teammates were covering each others to reach the final. Notably mention my teammate YMM, who never lost 1 round in this season and carried us to the final. Other teammates were also doing well, although Doggo’s record is not very good, I remember how bad his Groudon accuracy. Those RNG was not his misplay at all T^T.
Briefly talk about my feeling of S12. Simply say is a hyper-offensive meta, which is a challenge to me, never have solid gameplan most of the time. I started playing pokemon from 6vs6 singles, where the pace is way slower with normally 50+ turns. The double restricted with dynamax is a really aggressive meta, where the total turns of a game is less than before, so the tolerance of move in each turn is relatively low.
Here go through my team and match up in VTL (My Team / Opp. team):
Week1:
Game1 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1544363161
Game2 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1544365259
In early S12 meta, I mainly playe Swordfish, and more into the Indeedee set which is press the button to win.
So in week 1, I used the typical Swordfish with Rillaboom and Incineroar. On top of that I brought Indeedee and Regieleki. Facing the Ice-rider+Palk team, my opponent was most likely to lead Palkia and activate Trick Room, so I lead with Indeedee + Zacian, spamming follow me to stall out the dynamax turns. I won the round but felt bad since my opponent missed Hydro Pump on Incineroar in both games.
Week2:
Game1 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1548850867
Game2 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1548851088
Week2 is around the time when Rinya Sun became the ‘answer’ of S12. I was going to play in X9 NYC local, so I want to use something counter the Rinya Sun in this week. Inspired by my teammate Siu Hin and some Japanese top ranking team, I decided to use Kyogre& Ice rider.
In VTL, I just used Indeedee to stall Dynamax turn from either Reshiram&Lapras. Unfortunately, the 2 loses in 5 roundin X9 NYC were both Sunny team lmao.
Week3:
Game1 (Lose):https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1559628102-xdmciatpvb8ya650p3ysi3dqxfgftsmpw
Game2 (Lose):https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1559628192-dvylq86cragzk2j0m52nupzld881no2pw
I used Aaron/Wolfey EUIC’s team in week3. The reason was that I used Kyogre in the first two weeks and I climbed to 1600 quickly on Showdown.
My personal interpretation of this team was chip damage by Tailwind/Eleki/CSR, and then using Rillaboom and Incineroar giving fake out pressure. However it turned out I can’t KO AV Reshiram&Grimmsnarl.
Week4:
Game1 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1564614833
Game2 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1564614999
Week4’s is version 2 of week2’s. I used Charizard for the Sunny team match. I used Charizard to counter sun team and then use Kyogre + Ice Rider to sweep the remaining. However, I played over passive in this round, missing the chance to max Charizard. In game1, I should just click Gmax Wildfire to end the game. Although I missed Electro Web in game2, it doesn’t matter a lot.
Week5:
Game1 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1566717918
Game2 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1566718094
Game3 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1566718286
The team used in the last week of VTL regular is same as my Indianapolis Regional team. Basically I changed ice rider into AV Groudon for slightly better match up against Yveltal/CSR+Zacian. Also, I just want to spam the spread attack moves.
This round was quite close, in game 3, I set up tailwind for CSR but his CSR set up trick room…It cost me a lot to stall out the trick room.
Week6:
Game1 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1573231366-ncmwa5uinxs9ldihfiwh76gu0u7artbpw
Game2 (Lose): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1573231700-igrm6d8aa87zrahlfzrkmf96hp4ocaipw
I didn’t play well in Indianapolis Regional and 2-4 drop although all the rounds went to game3.
At this point I should consider some more standard team and finally I used Francesco(Alexis_vgc) EUIC team. Indeedee + double weather + Zacianfits my style. However, I have no easy way to knock out Esmond’s non-Life Orb Zapdos, which is probably bringing goggles.
Week7:
Game1 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1579036856
Game2 (Win): https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8vgc2022-1579037155
Although we tied with other VLT team in playoff, we can still enter the final under the advantage of regular stage. The final is also the week of Secaucus Regional, so I decided to use the same team in VTL and Secaucus.
Originally, I planned to use Hektik’sZacian+Yveltal’s team (Grimm instead of Landorus-T). I sought for his opinions on the team, he told me it will be tough since Swordfish meta is back, so not recommend me to use it, or use the Zee’s version which bring Landorus-T.
Anyway, I won the game 1 in VTL by hax and game 2 is quite easy for me. Unfortunately, I can’t do much against tailwind ogre and resulted in 2-4 drop again T^T.
Summary of usage：
| #usage | Pokemon |
| 6 | Regieleki |
| 5 | Kyogre,Indeedee |
| 4 | Zacian,Whimscott |
| 3 | Rillaboom, Incineroar, Charizard |
| 2 | Calyrex-Ice |
| 1 | Yveltal, Groudon, Landorus-T, Venusaur, Weezing, Kartana |
Basically, my comfort combo is Ogre+eleki+Indeedee. VTL 22 is a nice end for my S12, since I can’t enter WCS under NA CP rules and the cost of travelling is quite a lot. Hope to see you in Scarlet/Violet!
Play Pokemon Hong Kong 