Hey everyone. This past weekend for me was one well spent in Vancouver. As I write this, I’m currently sitting in the SeaTac airport waiting for my returning red-eye flight to Chicago. I’m both exhausted and excited as the future holds encouraging prospects for Pokémon, but also other activities that are less enjoyable. Now that this weekend has past, the next few weeks lack any competitive tournament I can attend. A break like this will be quite nice—one that I look forward to so I can focus on school.

As you may have guessed, this article will be about my performance in Vancouver, as well as the translation of Garbodor into the remnant tournaments of the pre-Crimson Invasion meta. Shining Legends is legal this weekend, bringing Zoroark-GX and other strong cards. Zoroark-GX is problematic for Garbodor, but won’t eliminate Garbodor completely. Trade can be handled by Garbotoxin, and Riotous Beating requires 6 Pokémon in play to OHKO. I plan to test Garbodor against the newcomers, hopefully to some successful end.

This article — “Rising to the Above” – Xander’s T4 Run in Vancouver, Garbodor/Drampa vs Gardevoir, and Shining Legends Thoughts — was originally published on SixPrizes.