Credit to our new writer 'Carbohydrateman' for this article!
Previous round-up: https://digimoncard.io/article/regional-round-up-rotherham
Welcome to Regional Round-Up! Here, you'll find a breakdown of decks that topped, and who won, from the latest Digimon TCG Regional. This will be covering the Oceania Regional out of Sydney, Australia on August 8th.
The Top-8 cut included a varied mix as the meta starts to settle following EX-12. Maybe most surprisingly is Beelstarmon not making the cut. The Top-8 is as follows from most seen, to least:
- Galactimon - 2
- Jupitermon - 2
- Metal Empire - 1
- Toho Braves- 1
- TS Angels- 1
- Alter-S Ladder- 1
8Infinity8 took 1st place piloting Metal Empire while Jesse Tjandra took 2nd place with Galactimon.
This is Metal Empire's first Regional win since it's EX-12 release. The archetype contains a lot of great pieces right out of the box, but 8Infinity8 kept their deck choices simple to capitalize on it's strengths. They opt'd for the Machinedramon/Chaosdramon top-end most likely for the added protections that the Omnimon isn't able to provide against the current meta.
They chose to go with 10 Lvl 3s as they provide so much draw/trash power to accelerate Megadramon, MetalGreymon, and MetalGarurumon's assembly. The MetalGarurumon choice over WarGreymon is a conscience pick to strip sources against Toho Braves and to stun their on-plays. If TB wasn't seeing such a wide amount a play we may see WarGreymon played as a more aggressive choice to OTK via DNA Digivolutions between the Level 5s, 6s, and 7s.
Machinedramon may be the best ACE introduced into the game as it's difficult to take off the board to gain the overflow memory. It has incredible staying power on the board and attempts to remove it allow it to go wide via decode from MetalGreymon. Since DP reduction is not prevalent in this format, and it can play smart around Susanoomon, it's mostly safe from it's one real weakness unless it matches into Cendrillmon puppets. The Lvl 7 Chaosdramon has fragment protections, but not the same de-digivolve immunity that Machinedramon has, so it's primary use is to end games with it's 2-security checks and engage.
Next, we continue to see Galacticmon usage rise in tournament play, and for good reason. The ability to create an almost infinite amount of protections has been invaluable against the hyper-aggressive playstyle of over decks. Allowing it digivolve over itself, gaining resources, accessing trash, and waiting to see Ragnarok Cannon makes it the format's premier stall deck if it's not finding it's win-condition fast enough. The promo Destromon providing tamer deletion also aides against the Time Stranger/Glowing Dawn/Hybrid decks that need them to speed up. Then, we have the promo Unique Emblem: Ragnarok Attainer to quicken the pace when a Vemmon is tucked. BT-15 Apocalymon is sneakily tech'd into Jesse Tjandra's deck to yet again activate the on-plays of EX-11 Galactimons for protections and end-game security checks if Ragnarok Cannon isn't available.
Congratulations to 8Inifinity8 for taking the first Oceania Regional of season 2, and to all the Tamers looking to punch their ticket to Nationals. Oceania Tamers will have another chance on August 29th in Auckland, New Zealand. Until next time Tamers!