Announcing The Top 10 Pick Up Artists Of 2006!
December 29, 2006 by Joseph Matthews
Filed under News
Okay, fellow womanizers – it’s that time of year again!
That’s right. It’s time to list the Top 10 PUAs of the year! As you know, it’s become something of a tradition of mine to go out and meet as many pick-up artists as I can, and then rank them based on how I percieve their skills to be.
Of course, because I’m the judge, you won’t see me on the list ever. But you will see an honest appraisal of many of the guys out there. Remember: just because someone SAYS they’re a pick up artist, doesn’t really mean they are one. After all, the community has had it’s fair share of frauds in the past. (Need I remind anyone of the “guru” who created an audio series based on his ability to bang hookers in Tijuana? Didn’t think so.)
I’m sure this years picks are sure to stir up some controversy! So let me know what you think by leaving your comments where appropriate.
And without further ado, let’s get to the countdown…
1. Swinggcat
We have a new number one this year! And that honor belongs to Swinggcat, a PUA who is no stranger to the top of the list. He has consistently been very highly ranked in the top 10 for the past couple of years, and this year he finally breaks into the #1 spot, dethroning past champion Neil Strauss, who’s held that honor since the rankings have begun. This is not to say that Neil’s skill as a pick up artist has deteriorated in any way (in fact, he’s just as good as ever!). The reason for the sudden jump to number one has to do with many things…
Swinggcat’s game has been consistently getting better and better, and 2006 was definitely his year. Swinggcat has been going out pretty consistently since the year began, we’re talking like 4 to 5 nights a week. And more often than not, he pulls women back for a lay.
So the prevalence of his seduction prowess has really grown in 2006 – both in club game and day game. In fact, I’d go so far to say that he’s pulled as many chicks from walking down 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica as he has from the night clubs in Los Angeles. Not only that, but evidence of him pulling girls away in front of their very own boyfriends and banging them in a nearby bathroom while the boyfriend wonders where his girl went is getting to be a pretty standard staple for Swinggcat, who seems to have perfected the art of “instant powerful attraction.”
But more than his incredible pick-up prowess, and probably the biggest reason why he has jumped up to the number one spot this year, has been his innovation and development of pick up skills. Though Neil Strauss had the Annihilation Method, which was definitely a huge benchmark in 2006, Swinggcat has been developing a very different – but no less powerful, method of seduction and attraction. Unlike Neil, though, Swinggcat has kept this system mostly to himself, though he’s shared a few of his new ideas with me, and I must say, they are quite fascinating.
Not only that, but Swinggcat has also been actively involved in the community in 2006, in a distinctly non-commercial capacity, which is another reason why I decided to rank him #1 this year. Where other seduction gurus tend to charge for workshops and seminars, Swinggcat has been very good about meeting up with local pick-up artists and taking them out to sarge. He’s even fostered a few guys I know of, taking them under his wing and showing them the ropes.
All these factors have combined to bring Swinggcat to the top of the list. A surprise, no doubt, to some – but not anyone who’s seen Swinggcat in action this past year, for sure.
2. Style
I had to think long and hard about the role Style was going to play in this year’s Top 10. Sure, technically he’s “out of the game,” but ever since his break up with his girlfriend, I know Neil has been up to his old tricks. This was a tough one, because I have such a high respect for Neil and his abilities, and the fact that Swinggcat and Mystery are both such impressive PUAs in their own right, that Mystery should probably be in the number two spot this year, but I’d be remiss in giving Neil anything less than a second place ranking for one very big reason…
2006 was most definitely the year of the Annihilation Method. Neil’s revealing of his special techniques to a lucky 375 people was clearly the biggest event of the PUA community in 2006 – not just for the fact that he revealed an incredible amount of Pick Up knowledge, but the success of his product could very well change the business landscape of the community at large.
But as always, Style is one of the best there is, and unless he settles down in 2007, I’m sure he’ll be on the list next year as well. Heck, he might even be able to reclaim his #1 spot!
3. Mystery
I feel bad about dropping Mystery to #3 this year, probably because he deserves better due to his skill set, but there were a few factors that weighed heavy on my decision. The first was the lack of innovation Mystery showed this year. Not to take anything away from Mystery Method, but it’s exactly the same as it was last year. Mystery also cut back on his workshops, so he wasn’t as prolific as he was in previous years. But that said, 2006 wasn’t a bum year for the man. His business got huge, he created Project Miami, the sequel to the ill-fated Project Hollywood house, and he also shot a pilot for VH1. And of course, Mystery is still Mystery – charming, funny, sauve, and crazy as ever. I’m hoping to see great things from him in 2007, and maybe he can finally be ranked in the #1 spot he, by all rights, deserves.
4. Zan
Zan is back on the list this year, and with a vengeance, running all the way back to the #4 spot after getting just an honorable mention last year. I had the opportunity to hang out and talk with Zan in 2006, and like a fine wine, the guy is getting better with age.
Zan has entered the field of commercial seduction teaching with his Enlightened Seduction business, and his philosophy on life and love is definitely a very powerful influence on me personally.
Zan no longer has his 6-girlfriend harem, but he’s down to two women he really loves, but that of course doesn’t stop him from following his passions when the opportunity arises. Expect to see great things from Zan the Man in 2007.
5. Sinn
I finally got to meet Sinn this year. Now, this isn’t the original Sinn, from the book The Game. This is the NEW Sinn, Mystery Method’s top instructor. When I met the guy, I was quite impressed with his confident demeanor, easy going attitude, and charm. He also has very powerful interactions with women, from what I’ve seen. No doubt, we can expect great things from this rising star in the future, should he ever try to strike out on his own and innovate the field any.
6. Lance Mason
Also known as “Sensei,” Lance has been tearing up the San Francisco scene as he continues to expand his workshop company Pick-Up 101. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that PU101 is the only workshop business out there that can conceivably compete with Mystery Method in that field, and this is in no small part due to Lance and his drive to help men get better with women. Lance has also worked hard to deliver some quality products sharing his thoughts and ideas to the marketplace this year. While he hasn’t shared anything completely groundbreaking with the world, his style is a nice alternative to the uber-scientific aspects of Mystery Method, which seem to reign at the moment.
In short: Lance is a PUA to watch.
7. David DeAngelo
This year was a real treat, because I actually got to hang out with David D in Las Vegas for a weekend and see him in action for myself. Needless to say, the guy picked up a new stripper every night. As Borat would say – NICE! I don’t think anyone can argue about the influence this man has had on the community at large (in fact, I’d argue the only person with more widespread appeal is Neil Strauss), and now that I’ve gotten to see his skill for myself, I can honestly say he belongs on the Top 10. He may not be as prolific as someone like Mystery, or as dedicated to his craft as someone like Swinggcat, but the man has the goods where it counts. Seeing his cocky/funny style in action (and keep in mid, this is the guy who created it!) was really enlightening. I think if he had focused more on Double Your Dating this year than his other business ventures, he’d probably be higher on the list.
8. Juggler
Up from number 10 last year, I’d say Juggler is now officially here to stay. Since his big comeback in 2005 with his appearance in The Game, he seems to have really focused on building his Charisma Arts business into an industry staple. People who take a Juggler workshop swear by the guy, and because of this, he has a very loyal fan base. He’s also embracing more mainstream media coverage, and taking a more active role in the community it seems, which is the reason for his bump this year.
9. Playboy LA
Back on the list this year is Playboy LA (who ironically enough lives in New York). Having known Stephen for a while, I can attest to his incredible skill as a pick up artist. In fact, he likes to joke that he’s the “Real Life Hitch!” 2006 saw Stephen part ways with his CECI buddy Sickboy, and striking out on his own. He now runs CECI on his own, and is steering that company in a direction that is specifically unique to him. Stephen seems very dedicated to not only improve the technology of Pick Up, but innovate it and help men realize better self confidence and more opportunities with women. I’m really excited to see what Playboy is able to pull of in the new year!
10. Mehow
It was a tough decision to put Mehow on the list this year, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is — I’ve never met the guy! (Usually a big factor in getting ranked) But I’ve heard from enough people who have seen him in action that he’s the next big star in the community, and he’s been aggressively courting attention both on the web and the mainstream media. I’ve heard he’s not only a part of Project Miami, but also a part of Mystery’s VH1 pilot (And in addition to all that, he seems to have been able to charm Mystery away from his long-standing relationship with his business partner Nick Savoy!). Not only that, but he seems to be making a concerted effort to teach other men how to do better with women, not only trough offering his own workshops, but apparently he’s also posted videos of himself sarging for free up on Youtube for the world to see so other guys can learn from example — and all this has gotten him some attention. Of course, a big drawback to Mehow is the fact that he seems to be doing pure Mystery Method to the extreme, and this lack of his own style and innovation could mean he’s just a “pretender to the throne” of Mystery Method, but I’ve heard from enough people that it’s quite possible he could break out on his own and take the PUA world in a unique direction. Who knows? 2007 could be the year of Mehow! Only time will tell, I suppose.
Honorable Mentions:
David Wygant
A new addition to the list this year is David Wygant. He’s not as well known as some of the people in the community, but having met the guy a couple times, I can attest to his skill and charm. Someday when I see him in real action, I’m sure he’ll make his way onto the Top 10.
Carlos Xuma
Carlos is another guy I want to mention because he really seems to have his game together. Again, he’s someone I haven’t personally seen in field, and am really anxious to do so. I like his products, and he’s a genuinely good guy.
Badboy
Badboy just can’t seem to get off the honorable mentions list! And that’s primarily because of his distance from the U.S. I do hear good things about the guy, but I also hear a lot of bad things, so until I get a chance to hang out with him, I’m gonna have to keep him stuck in the Honorable Mentions category.
Dr. Paul
The man from Chicago once again makes an HM appearance. Someday he may find himself on the Top 10, but like most of the Honorable Mentions this year, I really gotta meet this guy! His inner game teachings are quickly becoming legendary.
Steve Piccus & Hypnotica
These guys are two of my favorite people in the seduction community, and they are always up to some kind of hijinks. I did not get a chance to hang out with them in 2006 as much as I would like, which is one of the reasons they did not make the Top 10. But anyone looking to help reprogram their beliefs and fix their inner game should definitely seek these dude’s out!
Rick H.
And we end this year’s honorable mentions with the man himself – Rick H. He’s still in Romania, still banging tons of hot Eastern European women, and partying his ass off. Because of this, I did not get the pleasure of hanging out with him this year as I did in 2005, so unfortunately, I had to stick him in the HM category this time around. But regardless, the man is still a Legend!
I maybe wrong but I think you have some incorrect details in the top 10.
You stated that Swinggcat did not push any commercial products, well he’s been selling his Foundations for Generating Attraction CD series this year.
You stated that Mystery has not made many appearances for workshops. This is true, but you didn’t mention the same for Lance Mason. He hardly ever teaches any workshop anymore, they are all taught by his instructors which is similar to how MM is delivering workshops.
I didn’t say Swinggcat did not push any commercial products. I said he took a non-commercial role in the community by actually taking guys out, for free, and picking up with them.
And I know Lance has taught a few workshops, though he doesn’t have as many extra-curricular activities going on as Mystery does.
–JM
TC,
haven’t been here for ages – how’ve you been?
i like the new layout and reads easier than the lair.
IMO, this is the best list you’ve put together so far.
Random thoughts – i hope Swinggcat has a day job. does a CD series and an e-book pay the rent, let alone his condom costs? haven’t hear about that guy for ages.
I wouldn’t hold lack of innovations against Mystery. he’s found something that works like a charm – why fiddle with it further? Sinn posted microcalibration (check it out) – if thats new, its awesome – most comprehensive outline of social dynamics out there.
if your going on hearsay with some of the choices – check out Brent. reports of his abilities are out of the roof.
cheerio,
Sting
…Tyler Durden? Not even an honorable mention?
Having met Sinn in person and doing an interview with him for 000relationships, I’d have to agree with you, he’s certainly one of the best. He didn’t invent Mystery Method, but probably performs it better than Mystery.
Tyler Durden will never be on this blog’s Top Ten List. TD was supposed to write articles for Thundercat’s Seduction Lair, but did not keep doing that. As a result, Joseph Matthews hates Tyler Durden and not only will never promote him, but will knock him down whenever he can.
This is despite the fact that TD has this year released the Foundations DVDs, swung back into teaching regular superconferences, and shockingly changed to “no routine” style. He’s definitely done more than Swinggcat or Style this year. Then again, unlike them, he is not releasing products through Joseph Matthews like Swinggcat is. Go figure.
I just discovered Mehow a couple weeks ago, and his candid sarging videos are AWESOME…if he continues work on those and develops a little on his own, he’ll be Unstoppable (I say that like he’s stoppable now
)
Great list!
Why does it look like you did this list all on your own? Don’t you have friends, aren’t we a community?
Why do you have “Jessica Alba” and “Jessica Simpson” in your “Hot Chicks” section? Are these your neighbours, or just the covers of your favorite magazine?
Just asking …
lol, another self-made list from the mediocre Josheph Matthews!
you seem to think your personal *opinion* is pretty important, don’t you.
oh, but in this case, what about Ross Jeffries, Major Mark, Bishop, and Tyler Durden??
oh, and last but not least, you’re forgeting… Stephane.
LOL
I’m not forgetting any of those guys. I didn’t hang out with Major Mark OR Bishop this year, so I can’t really speak to their abilities. Ross is… well, Ross. He’s never been a pick up artists and never will be. I would never recommend his stuff to anyone – I’ve just seen too many people get messed up by his teachings. Stephane isn’t really a PUA, he teaches sex techniques, all of which he learned from Steve Piccus. And as to Tyler, find out the real reason why he will never be on the Top 10 here:
RSD Exposed
I feel the people I’ve listed in the Top 10 are the genuine articles, aren’t looking to rip people off, aren’t in it for ego reasons or the adoration of other men, and actually make a good contribution to society at large.
If you guys feel someone should have been recognized but wasn’t, list them here and I’ll be sure to check them out for next year.
–JM
Okay, So Mystery and Mehow are involved with a Project Miami….? So how come I don’t see anything on that at all.
Mehow… still waiting for something original there. Top 10? Come on JM!
If you allowed him on the top ten, surely Dr Paul would find a place above him for how much he’s done for the community. (You haven’t met both guys)
Deep Inner Game… DatingOS, MindOS, seminars…
I would have considered him a better candidate for the Top Ten than some unknown, who I’ve heard from a reputable source doesn’t pull HBs, like others can.
Dr Paul is the real deal, genuine awesome guy who I just had lunch with in Chicago!
Happy New Year Everybody!
I appreciate the mention on the list.
Couple of comments — the reason everybody thinks I just do MM is that on a lot of my videos I’m doing a MM based attraction and comfort structure. I actually teach a radically different attraction system but I don’t post that publicly. On my videos I do my version of what is essentially ‘community game’ — e.g. Mystery’s stuff — but I do it with pretty much entirely original content. I do that so me and my students gain the benefit of my game staying secret.
Props to Mystery for getting me started — also I learned a ton from the other guys on this list – Swingcat, Hypnotica, Steve P, Style, David D, Juggler, and Badboy. I have learned a ton from each of you. You guys all rock. Pretty much the community changed my life and I’m deeply indebted to all the guys out there that I learned from in person or via their material.
If you are legitimate community press we welcome you to come hang out with us anytime at a bootcamp and I can show you what we are about. Ping certainty@mehow.tv for info on community press comps to our bootcamps.
Again Happy New Year!
-m
tyler tops most, if not all of the guys on the list here, as far as pick up skills go. whether he’s a good person or not and whether he contributes to charity organizations is simply **irrelevant**. your list reflects your personal values and is far from being objectively accurate.
plus, you’re achieving opposite results from what you want. by making RSD ‘the forbidden fruit’, you only draw more and more people to check them out. in fact you’re doing the same mistake that Ross Jeffries keeps doing when he disses his competitors. you disrespect him, but you behave exactly like him. too bad for you, thundercat.
don’t deny the fact that Ross -created- the seduction community, *you* wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for him.
DYD came from him, Mystery studied from him, Bishop is his student, as are Major mark and Dave Riker.
your man Style is SS+MM,
Rich H. is Ross’ student as well.
oh and IN10SE.
so stop the shit talking and pay your respect where it’s dued.
and what is so damn “prestigious” about being a “Pick-Up Artist” ?
This whole top PUA rating thing is stupid, controversal, and rediculous.
While I agree with most of the people on your list, I feel that you should have ranked Juggler much higher than #8. While I admire Style, Mystery and Juggler the most because they prove they know there stuff time after time on the field. I find myself learning more from Swingcat, Deangelo and Lance. Anyways Happy New Year and lets go USC!!!
Phoenix says: “and what is so damn “prestigious” about being a “Pick-Up Artist” ? This whole top PUA rating thing is stupid, controversal, and rediculous”
I disagree. Because I agree with parts of the list, I’m more inclined to check out the other people. I love Style, DeAngelo and Juggler’s work…so I’m gonna check up on the rest of these fellas.
“plus, you’re achieving opposite results from what you want. by making RSD ‘the forbidden fruit’”
Not me at least…I did some looking into it, and now that I know the story, I’ll never pay for an RSD product ever. Good work team.
Hmmm no Brad P, and seriously no Woodhaven? Why were these names left out?
Hi TC,
haven’t been to your place for ages – how’ve you been.
congratulations on the new look – the signing in is welcome and the tone has a better sound to it.
the annual top 10 is a fun thing – and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. the only way to be objective about such an item is to see ALL the top candidates (as known through hearsay), in a VARIETY of enviornments (day game, club game, dentist waiting room game) on MULTIPLE occasions for each in every enviornment.
on top of that, a judge would have to weigh results subjectively. who’s better – a guy who gets 3 kiss closes or 10 #closes? who’s better – a guy who does lots of ONS’ or a guy who builds up each up each lay to a STR or LTR?
nobody could do that – i’m just happy to enjoy this without getting too into it.
IMO – its the best all around list you’ve put together so far. couple of comments and suggestions -
– haven’t heard about Swinggcat in ages. hope he has a day job – i wouldn’t count on an old e-book and a CD program in competition with all the other CD programs out there to hold his condom costs, let alone pay the rent.
- i wouldn’t have held Mystery’s lack of innovations against him. he’s found a way that works consistently for him and has done for a long time – innovations for innovations sake don’t have much value. does his un-changed teachings still pack punch? – would have been my final question on deciding his ranking.
- Sinn posted about Microocalibration, IMO the most comprehensive review of all social dynamics, not just PU. don’t know when it was invented or who by – thats a point in his or Mystery’s favour for your rankings.
- if your going on hearsay about someone’s abilities (Mehow) than be sure to check out Brent. his prices and reviews, are through the roof.
cheerio and happy new year,
Sting
Please verify my address on this post so you guys know this is the real Sinn.
Now onto Mehow. How exactly does using an attraction-comfort-seduction model differ from The Mystery Method? I haven’t taught a boot camp in a week and a half, but that sequence sounds strikingly similar to what you and I were both taught quite a while ago, Mehow… in a Mystery Method boot camp.
I think that you may have confused the underlying structure of a courtship for routines that have been passed around the community. I don’t mean to phrase this as an attack, but that’s a mistake I hear from students who take a 1-on-1 or a phone consultation from us. It’s not the routines and lines that saw The Mystery Method written up in Elle, the New York Times, Marie Claire, and the LA Times. The routines are training wheels. What any successful Mystery Method student understands– and I would think as a self-professed guru you would understand this– is that one of the most powerful lessons men can learn from The Mystery Method is, in fact, the structure and the impetus to forge an attractive identity.
Also why do you post videos of you demonstrating game that is not what your potential students will be learning? I suspect that disparity would lead to confusion on the part of students in the best case scenario, and indignation in the worst.
If your structure varies so much from The Mystery Method structure, why not show off your new structure? I mean, as it stands, you’re just taking up a weird defensive posture that asks a very obvious question with what seems a shifty answer. Look at it this way: we reveal The Mystery Method structure on our website openly. It’s been around for years and years. And we are currently the leading commercial pick-up company. As an elder company to a younger one, trust those who have walked the road before you: revealing that structure can only help you, not hurt.
Even the subtleties I sometimes debate with more inner-game focused commercial PUA companies are not present. You are still running attraction routines, rather than assuming attraction. You disqualify, then qualify. I apologize if I’m being obtuse, Mehow. Again, unveiling a more nuanced look at your structure would be far more illuminating. As it is, I can’t help but feel the only differences between your product and The Mystery Method are in the routines (i.e. training wheels) our respective companies teach.
Instead of making sweeping claims and hiding under a cloak of corporate secrecy, help me… actually never mind me, help your potential customers understand the difference between your product and The Mystery Method, so they can take the Pepsi Challenge on their own terms.
Also why the term “community press comps”? I dislike maintaining the barrier between “the community” and everyone else. I don’t even know what the community press is, to be honest. If some guy wants to see what we’re made of, and he can’t make it to one of my boot camps, then grab a beer with him and show him I’m not a charlatan. It seems disingenuous to insinuate you are having actual press relations when the only reason you have been approached by media besides Current TV* is because you pay a PR firm. (For those who don’t know, this is who you are referred to in the link on Mehow’s site regarding “media relations.”) It’s not that I have a problem with using a PR firm. I think it’s a great idea. It’s just that waving your arms frantically and screaming on the ground doesn’t mean you’re flying. You pay people to talk to you and say nice things later; that’s hardly a crime, but it’s also not a good pretext to what is finally a rather personal and emotionally sensitive teaching process.
You even mention interweaving grounding routines on your website, when it was on this very site that Mystery first wrote up his piece on grounding routines. I couldn’t find it on Thundercat’s site, but we included it in the VAH.
Regrettably, I’m in Las Vegas with Future, Tenmagnet, and Neo, so I don’t have access to my home computer. When I get home, I’ll post a screenshot taken in the fall of 2006 where Mehow himself admits on fastseduction.com that he was able to seal the deal only once after his boot camp. While one’s first lay with The Mystery Method is always exhilarating, I think it’s presumption to start a seduction company after one woman shared her body with you.
Sadly, it has to be a screenshot since Mehow changed his year-in-review early last year, both on fastseduction.com and Mystery’s Lounge… shortly before he went commercial. Our moderators can easily produce proof of when he edited the post; it was shortly before mehow.tv went online. I don’t know how extensive Formhandle’s logs and archives are, so I won’t speak for his ability to do the same.
If you want to steal our system, Mehow, that’s fine. Your success is our success. It would be stupid for me to criticize your flash game. (Although I suspect Future could teach you a thing or fifty about comfort) But it’s a chickenshit move to become an excellent student, then a Mystery Method instructor, then run off claiming you’ve discovered some new mastery theory of pick-up. All this community has is ideas. We can’t truly patent any of them. But the ideas you ripped off were Mystery Method ideas, and all you’ve done is rebranded them and sold them under a counterfeit brand. Very fucking manly.
* – I think it’s a mistake to count the Current TV piece as yours since they were interviewing you as an instructor with The Mystery Method, not as a solo act or a separate brand.)
Interesting take Sinn.
I remember Mehow wrote about 9 months ago in Mystery’s lounge saying something along the lines of producing a website so that people would be referred back to the Mystery Method VAH. “I’m not out to make money.” As I recall. But Mehow went and created ANOTHER seduction company teaching the same stuff (with the evidence I have). It’s not the making money aspect, or the startup, its all about the fact that it’s really not original material.
Nobody’s doubting Mehow’s ability to use MM, we know you’re good at that (atleast that’s what some have said). Just don’t try to market it as something else.
Current.TV was all Mystery. I don’t think we saw more than 20 seconds of Mehow.
Having said that… good luck. I’m not trying to a dick about it all.
I’m running the Top Dating Coach of 2006 on my blog, all who want, feel free to vote. Mehow is a nominee =)
I voted for Juggler. So did a lot of people by the looks of things!
Nice List. In my own personal opinion, I’d have to agree with Sinn regarding Mehow. For example, based on reading his posts, Mehow does have a good understanding of game. However, as admitted in his own posts, he finally got his first lay using Mystery Method sometime in 2006. It appears he has good flash game, but still needs more full closes to be a top PUA.
Also, regarding Dr. Paul, I wonder about his integrity. For example, he misrepresents his system in claiming it is patented.
That aside, thanks for the list, not only is it good, but the controversy is also fun.
Thundercat,
What happened to Shark AKA Ranko Magami? He has been on your honorable mentions for years, but now he’s gone, while Badboy is still there. Is it because you have taken sides with Badboy against Ranko?