Location: Melbourne Olympic Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Attendance: 101 Masters
Format: Standard SM-CST
Part of the 2018 Melbourne Esports Open, this was the first major tournament to use the Sun and Moon-on format following the 2018 rotation. It was held the weekend following the 2018 World Championships.
Seven Swiss rounds were played on Saturday with the ensuing Top 8 bracket held on Sunday.
Top 8 final standings
- Vighnesh Murthy, Vikavolt/Rayquaza-GX
- Shane Quinn, Magnezone/Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX with Ribombee BUS
- Yu Xiang, Vikavolt/Rayquaza-GX
- Luke Schmitt, Zoroark-GX/Lycanroc-GX
- Jordan Palmer, Vikavolt/Tapu Bulu-GX with Xurkitree-GX
- Zach Quince, Zoroark-GX/Lycanroc-GX
- Jimmy Chen, Zoroark-GX/Garbodor
- Huy Nguyen, Malamar/Psychic with 2 Marshadow-GX
Notes
- Vighnesh Murthy and Yu Xiang played a 60-card Vikavolt/Rayquaza-GX mirror in Top 4. They had built the list together a few days before the tournament.
Decklists
Vighnesh Murthy, 1st, and Yu Xiang, 3rd - Vikavolt/Rayquaza-GX
- Murthy: "[I] probably used Stormy Winds 50% of the time. Did not use if [a] key card was needed next turn for fear of milling."
- Murthy: "The deck relies on Tempest GX. [The attack] combos well with Marshadow because you limit the options your opponent has to Judge or Marshadow you back."
- Murthy: "...I didn't go for Lillie turn 1 as much as I went for Fan Club turn 1. Fan Club ensures you have a Grubbin [in play before using] Tempest GX."
Shane Quinn, 2nd - Magnezone/Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX with Ribombee BUS
- "Ribombee is straight fire and wins so many games. Cutiefly having free Retreat is also amazing."
- "[Stakataka-GX] was mainly to put [Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX's HP] outside Metagross-GX's range with Choice Band and Dhelmise. However, it also has a midrange attack...that doesn't discard [Energy and] OHKOs Garbodor which is nice. The GX attack...is good too."
- "[Dialga-GX] is something I used to play with but cut before this event to fit Ribombee in. It might be nice with a Choice Band as a way to come back in the mirror or [Vikavolt/Rayquaza-GX] matchup but five Energy can be a big ask if you can't get Mt. Coronet to stick."
- "I actually [used Steven's Resolve on turn 1] quite often. You go pretty hard for it turn 1 if you can, especially when going first. It can lead to you getting punished by Judge or Marshadow...but if your opponent wants to [bring both players' hands] to four cards then they are just as likely to brick as you are, [and you have] triple Tapu Lele-GX."
Luke Schmitt, 4th - Zoroark-GX/Lycanroc-GX
Huy Nguyen, 8th - Malamar/Psychic
- Sudowoodo was "very" useful.
- "Would prefer another Switch over [one of the] Altar of the Moone. I [often] didn't have the luxury to attach an Energy just to retreat."
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