Oracle Think Tank dominates 1st SukaCat Championship

The 1st Sukacat VGCS at the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament Center "Bato Loco" in Takadanobaba, Tokyo, ended today with overall 41% of all participants in the team tournament running Oracle Think Tank decks. First place went to Team Samurai Flamenco running Oracle, Oracle, and Kagerо̄, second place to Team Umapyoi Densetsu running Oracle, Royal Paladin, and Oracle, third place to Team Moukazaru running Royal Paladin, Oracle, and Royal Paladin, and fourth place to Team l Doll meets [sic] running Kagerо̄, Oracle, and Oracle. Decklists are provided below, and in addition to the core tournament results we also have the first-place lists from the seven sub-tournaments run concurrently with the top cut.

The 1st Sukacat VGCS was originally set for a maximum of 126 participants, but ended up over capacity with two extra teams.

Deck breakdown (132 participants, gathered from round 1 registrations)
21 Royal Paladin
35 Kagerо̄
55 Oracle Think Tank
21 Nova Grappler

Prior to the tournament there was a great deal of discussion and an open vote on whether or not to restrict clan usage for the event. Many team tournaments prevent team members from having overlapping clans, but this rule could prove problematic in a format with only four possible clans to play. Ultimately Sukacat did not restrict clan usage, and the end result was that nearly every team had two Oracle Think Tank fighters on it. Public opinion has generally shifted towards Oracles as the best clan in the format. Team Moukazaru member Masshi had been considering running Nova Grappler in the days leading up to the event, and even borrowed a Nova deck from their friend Raito, but decided to stick with Oracles because they "wanted to win."

The tournament bracket for the initial top cut consisted of 4 Royal Paladin, 1 Kagerо̄, 12 Oracle Think Tank, and 1 Nova Grappler decks. Top 4 consisted of 3 Royal Paladin, 2 Kagerо̄, 7 Oracle Think Tank, and 0 Nova Grappler decks. The Sukacat VGCS consisted of four Swiss rounds of 30 minute best-of-one matches between teams, followed by a cut to a 3-round tournament bracket with 60-minute best-of-three matches for the finals. Entry at the SukaCat CS cost 4500 yen per team, around $40 at current conversion rates.

Team Samurai Flamenco won 12 boxes of V-Booster Set 01: UNITE! TEAM Q4, as well as three playmats exclusive to the Sukacat VGCS, and three Pongal promotional cards featuring the shop tournament winner gold foiling. Team Umapyoi Densetsu won 6 boxes of V-BT01 and three Sukacat VGCS playmats, Team Moukazaru won 3 boxes of V-BT01, and Team l Doll won 1 box of V-BT01. All participating teams received 3 copies of the High Dog Breeder Seiran promo.

First-place: Team Samurai Flamenco (Overall record 7-0)

Next went 6-1 with his Kagerо̄ deck, facing Royal Paladin (loss) Oracle, Oracle, and Kagerо̄ in the preliminaries, then went 2-0, 2-1, and 2-0 in the top cut, all against Oracle decks.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lizard Runner, Undeux (First Vanguard)
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo (Heal Trigger)
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri (Draw Trigger)
x2 Red Gem Carbuncle (Draw Trigger)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr (Critical Trigger)
x2 Demonic Dragon Berserker, Yakshasa (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Flame of Hope, Aermo
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Lizard Soldier, Raopia
x1 Dragonic Gaias
Grade 2: 12
x4 Berserk Dragon
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem (Trial Deck version)
x4 Embodiment of Shield, Rahm
 Grade 3: 8
x4 Dragonic Waterfall
x4 Dragonic Overlord

Ryo went completely undefeated in both rounds and sets, facing Kagerо̄, Royal Paladin, Nova Grappler, and Nova Grappler in the preliminaries, and Kagerо̄, Oracle Think Tank, and Royal Paladin in the top cut.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Circle Magus
x4 Farfalle Magus
x3 Goddess of Time's Passing, Mizunohame
x2 Luck Bird
Grade 2: 10
x2 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x1 Onmyoji of the Moonlit Night
x4 Promise Daughter
x3 Yellow Witch, MeMe
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Shiimo went 6-1, facing Oracle, Kagerо̄, Oracle, and Oracle in the preliminaries, then Oracle, Kagerо̄ (2-1) and Oracle (0-2) in the top cut.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Circle Magus
x4 Farfalle Magus
x3 Goddess of Time's Passing, Mizunohame
x2 Luck Bird
Grade 2: 10 
x4 Promise Daughter
x3 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x3 Yellow Witch, MeMe
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Second-place: Team Umapyoi Densetsu (Overall record 5-2)

KD went 6-1 overall, facing Kagerо̄ (loss), Nova Grappler, Kagerо̄, and Kagerо̄ in the preliminaries, then Kagerо̄ (2-1), Royal Paladin, and Oracle Think Tank in the top cut.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Circle Magus
x2 Farfalle Magus
x2 Goddess of Time's Passing, Mizunohame
x2 Luck Bird
x3 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
Grade 2: 10 
x4 Promise Daughter
x4 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x2 Yellow Witch, MeMe
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Ahiru's record was not posted.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Glyme (First Vanguard)
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine (Heal Trigger)
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult (Draw Trigger)
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona (Critical Trigger)
x4 Flogal (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x4 Knight Squire, Allen
x4 Pongal
x1 Wingal
Grade 2: 13
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x2 Conjurer of Mithril
x3 Sage of the Arts, Jarron
Grade 3: 7
x4 King of Knights, Alfred
x3 Soul Saver Dragon

Masaru went 1-6.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Circle Magus
x4 Farfalle Magus
x3 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
x2 Goddess of Time's Passing, Mizunohame
Grade 2: 10 
x4 Promise Daughter
x3 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x3 Yellow Witch, MeMe
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Third place: Team Moukazaru (Overall record 5-2)

Note: The team is named after the Japanese name of the Pokémon Monferno.

Masshii went 5-2, versus Oracle, Royal Paladin (loss) Oracle, and Kagerо̄ (loss) in the preliminaries, and Oracle, Royal Paladin (2-1) and Oracle in the top cut.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 12
x4 Circle Magus
x3 Farfalle Magus
x3 Luck Bird
x2 Goddess of Time's Passing, Mizunohame
Grade 2: 11
x4 Promise Daughter
x4 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x3 Silent Tom
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Ebi-kun did not post their record.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Glyme (First Vanguard)
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine (Heal Trigger)
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult (Draw Trigger)
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona (Critical Trigger)
x4 Flogal (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x3 Little Sage, Marron
x4 Knight Squire, Allen
x4 Pongal
x2 Wingal
Grade 2: 12
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x4 Sage of the Arts, Jarron
Grade 3: 8
x4 King of Knights, Alfred
x4 Soul Saver Dragon

Basshii did not post their record.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Glyme (First Vanguard)
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine (Heal Trigger)
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult (Draw Trigger)
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona (Critical Trigger)
x4 Flogal (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x4 Knight Squire, Allen
x4 Pongal
x1 Knight of Rose, Morgana
x1 Radical Knight, Anil
 Grade 2: 12
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x4 Sage of the Arts, Jarron
Grade 3: 8
x4 King of Knights, Alfred
x4 Soul Saver Dragon

Fourth place: Team l Doll meets (Overall record 5-2)

Suga went 4-3.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 12
x4 Circle Magus
x3 Farfalle Magus
x3 Luck Bird
x2 Goddess of Time's Passing, Mizunohame
Grade 2: 12
x4 Promise Daughter
x4 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x2 Yellow Witch, MeMe
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Rabi went 5-2, versus Nova Grappler, Nova Grappler, Kagerо̄, and Kagerо̄ in the preliminaries, followed by Nova (2-1) Kagerо̄ (2-1) and Royal Paladin (2-0) in the top cut.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x1 Miracle Kid (Draw Trigger)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x3 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 12
x4 Circle Magus
x4 Farfalle Magus
x4 Luck Bird
Grade 2: 11
x4 Promise Daughter
x3 Silent Tom
x2 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x2 Yellow Witch, MeMe
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Pakocha's record was not posted, but lost the pre-match games of rock-paper-scissors 1-6.

Grade 0: 17
x1 Lizard Runner, Undeux (First Vanguard)
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo (Heal Trigger)
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri (Draw Trigger)
x3 Red Gem Carbuncle (Draw Trigger)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr (Critical Trigger)
x1 Demonic Dragon Berserker, Yakshasa (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Flame of Hope, Aermo
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Lizard Soldier, Raopia
x1 Dragonic Gaias
Grade 2: 12
x4 Berserk Dragon
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem (Trial Deck version)
x4 Dragon Armored Knight (Trial Deck version)
 Grade 3: 8
x4 Dragonic Waterfall
x4 Dragonic Overlord

Sub-tournament winners
In addition to the main event, seven 16-person sub-tournaments were held with a playmat or a booster box of V-Booster Set 01: Unite! Team Q4 on the line. Each of the fighters below is a first-place top.

Playmat sub-tournament #1 winner: Light
Grade 0: 17
x1 Lizard Runner, Undeux (First Vanguard)
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo (Heal Trigger)
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri (Draw Trigger)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr (Critical Trigger)
x4 Demonic Dragon Berserker, Yakshasa (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 14
x4 Flame of Hope, Aermo
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x3 Dragonic Gaias
x3 Lizard Soldier, Raopia
Grade 2: 10
x4 Berserk Dragon
x3 Dragon Knight, Nehalem (Trial Deck version)
x3 Dragon Armored Knight (Start Deck version)
 Grade 3: 9
x4 Dragonic Waterfall
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x1 Cruel Dragon

Playmat sub-tournament #2 winner: Azuma
Grade 0: 17
x1 Glyme (First Vanguard)
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine (Heal Trigger)
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult (Draw Trigger)
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona (Critical Trigger)
x4 Flogal (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Knight Squire, Allen
x4 Pongal
x2 Wingal
Grade 2: 13
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x3 Conjurer of Mithril
x2 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
Grade 3: 7
x2 King of Knights, Alfred
x2 Soul Saver Dragon
x3 Alfred Early

Playmat sub-tournament #3 winner: Tabatha
Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 12
x4 Circle Magus
x4 Farfalle Magus
x4 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
Grade 2: 12
x4 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x4 Promise Daughter
x4 Yellow Witch, MeMe
Grade 3: 9
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x1 Victorious Deer

Playmat sub-tournament #4 winner: Rizu
Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Circle Magus
x4 Farfalle Magus
x3 Luck Bird
x2 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
Grade 2: 10
x4 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x4 Promise Daughter
x2 Silent Tom
Grade 3: 10
x4 Imperial Daughter
x4 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

Playmat sub-tournament winner #5: Enzai
Grade 0: 17
x1 Battleraizer (First Vanguard)
x4 Wall Boy (Heal Trigger)
x4 Twin Blader (Draw Trigger)
x1 Three Minutes (Draw Trigger)
x4 Turbo Raizer (Front Trigger)
x3 Cannon Ball (Front Trigger)
Grade 1: 12
x4 Raizer Custom
x4 Jet Raizer
x4 Death Army Guy
Grade 2: 12
x4 Hi-powered Raizer Custom
x4 Iron Killer
x4 Burstraizer
Grade 3: 9
x4 Perfect Raizer
x3 Battledore Fighter
x2 Maximum Raizer

Playmat sub-tournament winner #6: Tsubame of the Three Musketeers of Noda
Grade 0: 17
x1 Lizard Runner, Undeux (First Vanguard)
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo (Heal Trigger)
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri (Draw Trigger)
x3 Red Gem Carbuncle (Draw Trigger)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr (Critical Trigger)
x1 Demonic Dragon Berserker, Yakshasa (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 14
x4 Flame of Hope, Aermo
x2 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragonic Gaias
x4 Lizard Soldier, Raopia
Grade 2: 11
x4 Berserk Dragon
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem (Trial Deck version)
x3 Spillover Dragon
 Grade 3: 8
x4 Dragonic Waterfall
x4 Dragonic Overlord

Box sub-tournament winner: Pen Knight
Grade 0: 17
x1 Lozenge Magus (First Vanguard)
x4 Sphere Magus (Heal Trigger)
x4 Weather Forecaster, Miss Mist (Draw Trigger) (Sentinel)
x4 Psychic Bird (Critical Trigger)
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike (Critical Trigger)
Grade 1: 13
x4 Circle Magus
x4 Farfalle Magus
x3 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
x2 Goddess of Time's Passing, Mizunohame
Grade 2: 11
x3 Goddess of Insight, Sotoorihime
x4 Silent Tom
x4 Promise Daughter
Grade 3: 9
x4 Imperial Daughter
x3 CEO Amaterasu
x2 Victorious Deer

The VGCS tournaments are a series of unofficial tournaments organized by fans and cardshops in Japan. Unlike Bushiroad's official tournaments, most VGCS events are done using a best-of-three, Swiss tournament model. Turnout is typically 70-80 persons, but some events see 100 or more participants, all of whom compete using pseudonyms and net handles rather than their real names as in official events.