Tournament Report: Top 16 jdkoren JP NA WGP 25/26

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Melanie Lynette (ML): How did you get into TCGs and specifically Weiss Schwarz as a game?

jdkoren (JDK): I started playing TCGs in the late 90's. I briefly played Pokémon, then switched to Magic and have played on and off since (now I mostly collect it). As for Weiss, during Covid I started collecting Prisma Illya SPs without even knowing what game they were from. I had seen the cards in shops in Japan prior to that, but didn't buy any at the time. At some point I started wondering what this game was, how to play, and eventually bought a Prisma Illya deck. Now it's my main game.

ML:  Onto the WGP interview! How did the event go for you overall?

JDK: I went undefeated in Swiss, but unfortunately was knocked out in Top 16.

Winning Decklist:

BushiNavi Code: 6FY6R

https://decklog-en.bushiroad.com/ja/view/6FY6R

ML: One of the things that stood out to me specifically about your Oshi no Ko list here is that you've opted not to run the 1/0 Aqua (see pictured below). Many decks will use this to recur the 0/0 Akane to skirt the stock issues the deck can have in playing out triple of the Level 3 Akane changer/finisher and help bring hand size down to 5 or less for her finisher to fire off. What led to that decision and how did it feel play wise for you?

JDK: Great question. I run the Level 0 Akane Riko instead, because the Kana brainstorm is the engine of the deck and I want to get that out as soon as possible. It also lets me recycle attackers if I'm stuck at Level 0, and sometimes it denies reverses. The slots that would be taken by 1/0 Aqua are extra Level 2s and 3s, increasing the likelihood that I hit the top-check of the brainstorm.

ML: I will also note that I like your additional tech of the yellow Level Kana double bounce on top of the 2/1 Akane to deal with anti-auto damage effects like you find in Fairy Tail and Gakuen Idolm@ster. Using the 0/0 Akane you can play her and get around the color requirement to deal with your opponent's board states in various situations. On to the main rounds! What was your match up and how did Round 1 go for you?

JDK: I won against Idolm@ster Shiny Colors: 8 Choice. I fell behind early and misplayed a few times. At 3-4, I went in with double Akane just to heal down, but ended up defeating my opponent from 2-3, which neither of us expected.

ML: What was your match up and how did Round 2 go for you?

JDK: I won against Azur Lane: 4 Standby / 4 Choice. I don't recall much about this game other than my opponent had a good amount of disruption. He was able to deny my Ai Fuka and take out my brainstormer by swapping it to the front. Somehow I grinded out a win.

ML: What was your match up and how did Round 3 go for you?

JDK: I won against Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko: 8 Standby. My opponent had all 4 of his 3/2 Haruhi on board at 2-4 and combo'd, which hit me to Level 3, and leaving up 3 stock. I had checked his waiting room before the last refresh and saw it was full of Level 0s, so I knew Akane would pop off. I double bounced his back row so that my Akanes would beat his front row, and my one Akane changing from waiting room allowed me play around his event rest counter.

ML: What was your match up and how did Round 4 go for you?

JDK: I won against Uma Musume: Pretty Derby: 4 Stock Soul/ 4 Comeback (Door). I had a weird start and passed Turn 1 going first.  After clocking, my hand had only 1 Level 0 card. I thought if he clean cuts and I don't draw more playables, next turn will be even worse and the game will go downhill fast.  Then at Level 1 things got weird for him. My opponent ends up attacking only once in one turn, only twice the next turn, and ultimately he never really got to compress with stock and markers. He hits Level 3 first and makes a push, but I had stabilized and was too far out of range. The follow-up closes out the game for me.

ML: What was your match up and how did Round 5 go for you?

JDK: I won against Aogiri High School: 4 Choice / 4 Comeback (Door)/. My opponent had a bad game and lost while I was still Level 2. He told me afterward that he was climax flooded pretty much the whole time.

ML: So after deck checks, we're on to the Top 16 matchup. How did the game go from your perspective?

JDK: I lost against Gakuen Idolm@ster: 4 Comeback (Door)/ 4 Gate (Pants). My opponent only fielded 1 Saki combo this game (which I denied the reverse), and mainly used brainstorms and Ramiris to keep up. I didn't draw a climax for Level 1, but I hit 4 off a brainstorm, so held a 10 card hand over refresh. The rest of the game I pretty much had all the resources I could have asked for. When he hit Level 3, I was 2-4 with 2 clean in deck, full hand with all the pieces, and plenty of stock. He put down double Temari and swung for 2 in the 3rd lane. I refresh 8 CX and penalty a clean card, so I'm 3-0 with 8 CX in 20 cards, but the swing for 4 from the first Temari sticks. I lose from the ping 1s and another refresh point.

ML: Even though that was a tough way to go out, congratulations on your accomplishments, including making Top 16, as well as being undefeated in Swiss! Are there any final reflections or shout outs you would like to share?

JDK: Everybody was awesome, and it was super cool to put faces to names of people I have met and talked to online.

ML: And that concludes our interview with JP NA WGP 25/26 Top 16 Player jdkoren! A special thanks to jdkoren for sharing with us! Congratulations again on your achievements and good luck as you continue to compete moving forward in the game!

Interested in more Tournament Reports or you would like to submit your own Top 16 interview from the JP NA WGP 2025? Check out more reports or submit a form at https://level4weissschwarz.wixsite.com/lvl4ws/tournament-reports !