Killer Queen — How Karen Revitalizes Some Old Favorites in Standard and Expanded
Hey guys, it’s Zander Bennett back again with another article. I’m here to explain whether or not the $30 you spent on the Keldeo vs. Rayquaza Battle Arena Decks is worth it! And this is an easy question. Yes, Karen is great!
It entirely changes both Expanded and Standard, personally I think for the better. Night March reigned supreme in Standard for all of last season, and my good friend Connor Finton translated that success over to Expanded, winning Kansas Regionals. Looking at Arizona, Night March’s last stand, four Night March decks made day two, with Ryan Allred taking a 9th place finish and Kian Amini getting 16th, but it’s about time for other decks to see the light of day.
[cardimg name=”Joltik” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”26″ align=”right” c=”custom”]I’m not at all sad to see you go. You hit M Rayquaza-EX for Weakness.[/cardimg]
[card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] also had a solid run in Expanded last year, with Jimmy O’ Brien winning Lancaster and then pulling an extremely impressive 23-0-2 record between Lancaster Regionals (15-0-1) and day one of Fort Wayne (8-0-1). Ryan Sabelhaus made Top 8 at Fort Wayne with it, Dylan Bryan made Top 8 there as well. Vespiquen’s success continued into winter with Rahul Reddy making Top 8 at Virginia Regionals, Kevin Baxter getting 2nd at the same event, and Dalen Dockery also bringing home a 2nd place finish at Saint Louis. In Standard Fred Hoban reached Top 8 at Nationals with [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] and Brandon Flowers got 12th at the World Championships with the same deck. Ross Cawthon’s crazy [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Steam Siege” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] deck ended his season with a Top 4 finish at the World Championships. Looking at Seniors too, Jesper decimated the World Championship Senior division with his unique [card name=”Yanmega” set=”Steam Siege” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] deck that surprised everyone.
Both of these decks have a tough time now with Karen. Not much explanation needed, Pokemon discard strategies lose a lot of power with this simple Supporter. This card isn’t just good because it beats certain decks, it helps decks too, and that is what we are going to dive into today!
Karen is a much weaker [card name=”Lysandre’s Trump Card” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card], and we all know the effect that [card name=”Lysandre’s Trump Card” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] had on Standard, it was so influential that it was eventually banned. Getting resources back is a huge deal. The main selling part of [card name=”Lysandre’s Trump Card” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] was getting back things like [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card], but Karen limits you to just Pokemon. This isn’t as bad as it seems with cards like [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] existing. If you [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] away a bad hand filled with your evolutions, you now have an easy way to retrieve them. It’s got plenty of plus sides in each format, so let’s take a look at some of the decks that benefit!
Raichu
This deck is not the first deck that everybody considers when they are thinking about Standard, with Mega Pokemon and [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] seeming so dominant. Without [card name=”Crobat” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] being legal, there’s nowhere near as large of an incentive to run [card name=”Golbat” set=”Generations” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], and without [card name=”Golbat” set=”Generations” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], your damage caps at 160. I have a way to play around that limitation so let’s take a look at my list.
[decklist name=”Raichu/Bursting Balloon” amt=”59″ caption=”Bursting Balloons” cname=”Raichu” set=”Generations” no=”27″][pokemon amt=”21″]4x [card name=”Raichu” set=”Generations” no=”27″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Pikachu” set=”XY” no=”42″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Milotic” set=”Primal Clash” no=”44″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Feebas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”43″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hawlucha” set=”Steam Siege” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Giovanni’s Scheme” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x Karen (PRXY #177)4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”4″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
This list overall isn’t as crazy as you might think, and honestly, it’s rather linear, but still highly effective. Karen helps this deck a ton because you are able to get back any [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] used during the game, and draw through your deck hitting all the Pokemon you need to so you can get the full 160 damage Circle Circuit. I’m going to go out of order discussing cards for now, but it makes the most sense this way.
Card Explanations
Four Bursting Balloon
This card is what makes this deck good. With no Tool removal in the Standard format, [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] is a highly unexplored card, taking a third of an Pokemon-EX’s HP if they choose to attack into it. The math for this card works extremely well with a capped out Circle Circuit dealing 160 damage, which kills [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”M Scizor-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] if you can activate Bursting Balloon. Against [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card], you have to play a little backwards though, as instead of doing the 160 and then having them attack into the [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card], you have to let them attack into you, they take their 60, and then you hit them with the 160 for a KO. Putting a [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] on the [card name=”Raichu” set=”XY” no=”43″ c=”name”][/card] that just did 160 leaves them in a tough spot, if they attack, they will get Knocked Out by another [card name=”Raichu” set=”Generations” no=”27″ c=”name”][/card] swinging for 160. Between taking Prizes on [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], you can easily, but awkwardly, win this matchup.
[cardimg name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ align=”right” c=”custom”]One Bursting Balloon deals more damage than a Golbat and Crobat combined.[/cardimg]
[card name=”M Scizor-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] is also a little awkward with them being able to discard your Stadiums, but if you play conservatively with your resources you can win. The four [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] and two [card name=”Milotic” set=”Primal Clash” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] allow you to get back [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] whenever you need to, so you build up your hand for a turn where you can go “[card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], bench three Pokemon, and Circle Circuit for 160.” With a [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card], they have to either [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] something, accepting their fate for the next turn, or pass, with the [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] being able to KO them if you attacked.
[card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is easy, they are weak to Lightning so there’s not much to talk about. If for any reason they run [card name=”Altaria” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card], you can still do the [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] math I described or just Lysandre KO the Altaria at some point in the game.
Bursting Balloon also gives you math against Pokemon-EX sporting Fighting Fury Belt too. You KO [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] because of your [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card].
The main matchup that [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] doesn’t help is [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. I want to run two [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] just for this matchup. If you [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card], you need to have a ton of cards in your hand, as in [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card], and access to three Benched Pokémon, as well as a [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card]. This is not a matchup that I am worried about, as the main Dark variant is relying on Fright Night [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY150″ c=”name”][/card], both of which are easy to deal with due to Circle Circuit and Weakness.
Overall, this card is highly effective, and is the only reason this deck is worth discussing.
2-2 Milotic and Four Puzzle of Time
This is a weird inclusion as you would think that [card name=”Milotic” set=”Primal Clash” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] do the same thing. However, these cards make up the late game consistency of the deck. [card name=”Milotic” set=”Primal Clash” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] is also a Bench sitter and hasn’t got any worse since the deck included [card name=”Crobat” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]. Being able to get back [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] to give you more uses of double [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] is always convenient. You don’t need [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] because we already have a lot of recovery, and the same goes for [card name=”Eco Arm” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card]. If you were to cut the [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], these would be the first two cards that you would need to add in, or at least just Special Charge.
Four Shaymin-EX and Three Unown
This deck loses games with awkward hands in the opening turns. If you set up, you win, and this engine gives you the highest likelihood of a strong setup happening. [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] is just fantastic with this deck, being able to blitz your hand down and draw up, as well as [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card] being a Benched Pokemon that you can save for advantage whenever you need it later on within the game.
One Hawlucha STS
This card is spicy. It was originally put in the list because I couldn’t think of other relevant Bench sitting Pokemon to run, but I played a few games with this [card name=”Hawlucha” set=”Steam Siege” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] and it is crazy. It’s so randomly useful, and it also takes up a Bench space, but just being able to get something out of their Active that isn’t useful for you to deal damage to and instead hit something that matters is never something to be slept on.
[cardimg name=”Hawlucha” set=”Steam Siege” no=”97″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Spicy![/cardimg]
One Mew-EX
[card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] is crazy, not only in the sense that it provides a fifth attacker, but it’s an attacker that can one shot a [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card] with Circle Circuit. This makes your matchups versus Mewtwo decks without [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] super easy, as they have to attack into the Mew-EX, or they get Knocked Out again, and if you throw a [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] on it, then [card name=”Raichu” set=”XY” no=”43″ c=”name”][/card] can follow it up with another KO since they are forced to attack into the Bursting Balloon. Against Garbodor versions, since you are a non-EX deck, you can afford to take the time to [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] their Garbodor.
Pokemon Ranger and Giovanni’s Scheme
These are two cards that I’m really unsure on, but I bring them up because they are important.
[card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] is a solid card that gives you a chance versus [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card], but in one turn you’ll literally have to go [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card], full Bench, and a [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] to do 160, and hope that they don’t have another [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] powered up so they have to attack into you to block you from Special Energy and in the process KO themselves out. It’s a card that prevents an autoloss, but just barely.
[card name=”Giovanni’s Scheme” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] allows you to take an OHKO on a 180 HP Pokemon-EX whenever you need to, which is helpful, but all of the decks that run Pokemon-EX that aren’t Mega Pokemon are running [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], so you need to be able to do 220 consistently and this card doesn’t do that while [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] does. There is a chance chance that they won’t have a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] every time, and you can do cute things with [card name=”Hawlucha” set=”Steam Siege” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Giovanni’s Scheme” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card], but it may not be perfect for this metagame.
As an alternative to running Pokemon Ranger and Giovanni’s Scheme you can run two [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. Without [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] in format, we have to run multiple copies of Supporters that we want to see. Hex Maniac offers a ton of utility in matchups like [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] / Dark, and [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]. Drew Kennett just won Arizona Regionals with [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card], even if it is a different format, the deck doesn’t change much going into Standard. In fact, the only cards that Drew ran that are not in Standard right now are two [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] (which can become a fourth [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] and something else rather easily), a [card name=”Sacred Ash” set=”Flashfire” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] (which can become a [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card]), a [card name=”Startling Megaphone” set=”Flashfire” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] (which is the only thing that can’t be replaced), and a [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card]. In fact, Travis Nunlist, who also got Top 4 at Arizona with Greninja, wrote an article about three rogue decks for Standard, with one of them being [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]. I highly recommend checking it out.
Overall, I think that the [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Giovanni’s Scheme” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] might be better as they provide two options instead of one, but it really depends on what you expect the metagame to be.
This deck wouldn’t be a good deck if it wasn’t for Karen, without [card name=”Sacred Ash” set=”Flashfire” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] in format and [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] not being strong enough here, Karen gives you that hyper aggressive edge you need in a format where [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is so hyped that [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] is an simple fit in every deck without a Stadium.
[premium]
Primal Kyogre-EX
There are two ways that Karen is good though, eliminating bad matchups is a significant factor in Karen’s impact, in this case removing [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] from Standard. A Grass Pokemon that can hit for fast damage early on in the game can easily destroy a slow tank like this. It’s [card name=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] time!
[decklist name=”Primal Kyogre” amt=”60″ caption=”Not used to running so many Energy in a deck.” cname=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″][pokemon amt=”13″]3x [card name=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”54″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Manaphy-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Kyogre Spirit Link” set=”Primal Clash” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Primal Clash” no=”126″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]12x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”XY” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”12″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
This is weird, I know, but the truth is that [card name=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] hasn’t changed much as a deck since it originally came out in Primal Clash. We now run [card name=”Manaphy-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] instead of [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card], which is a significant bonus to the consistency of this deck. We can also now play [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] for added consistency. Let’s go over some interesting card counts.
[cardimg name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ align=”right” c=”custom”]I almost forgot this savage.[/cardimg]
Card Explanations
One Articuno
[card name=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] is a slow deck, so you need some kind of way to speed your overall clock up. This addition allows you to do so easily. You get some crazy set ups with hitting 150 with Tidal Storm and then moving the Energy to an [card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card], and then taking three Prizes with it. Against Mega Pokemon or Pokemon-EX with [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], you get a lot of overall value out of the Bench damage from Tidal Storm, where you can hit something with Tidal Storm, then if it comes Active put it at 180, and then [card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] can finish them off.
No Karen
Isn’t this article about decks that get better because of Karen? It is but not every deck that becomes good due to Karen is one that needs to run Karen. [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] will ideally be hated out of the metagame now, and this deck just doesn’t have many relevant Pokemon unless you discard two [card name=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] on your first turn.
Three Trainers’ Mail
There isn’t really anything in particular about the deck that I must share involving three [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], but this is just a great general tip. If you are at 61 cards and you don’t know what to cut, go from four [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] to three [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]. It isn’t the end of the world to do that, and ideally [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] is there to get you whatever copy of a card that you need, so instead you just draw whatever that special 61st card is instead.
Three Dive Ball and Three Ultra Ball
[card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] in this deck actually has a secret hidden text. It says “Discard two cards from your hand. Search your deck for a [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], reveal it, and put it onto your Bench. Then, search your deck for a [card name=”Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card], a [card name=”Manaphy-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card], and a [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], reveal them, and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. Bench the [card name=”Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card] and the [card name=”Manaphy-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card], then bench [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and draw until you have six cards in hand.”
[card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] is literally only in this deck to do that series described above. [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] is what you want turn one, [card name=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] is what you want for the rest of the time, hence the 3 / 3 split.
Three Rough Seas and Two Parallel City
This is awkward, I know. [card name=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] isn’t a deck that has a lot of space to work with, and I put the free space into two copies of [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card].
Let’s take a look at this deck’s matchups. I think the top five decks coming into Orlando worth discussing are [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Volcanion” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY145″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] / Dark, [card name=”M Scizor-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] / Rainbow Road (which for the sake of this I will just refer to as [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], since they are the same deck just with different engines).
M Mewtwo-EX is not a bad matchup even though Damage Change helps them considerably. There is this key clause on Primal Kyogre-EX that makes a big difference. “This attack does 30 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon-EX”.
[cardimg name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Both of my articles talk a ton about this card, yet it is the bane of my existence.[/cardimg]
This matters, a lot actually. They will Damage Change away your first initial hits, which you will follow up with retreating via [card name=”Manaphy-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] and using another Primal Kyogre-EX to hit them so that each of their Benched Pokemon are at 60. If you have a sick draw, you can hit them with Tidal Storm turn two and then [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY71″ c=”name”][/card] turn three to take a KO, and put them all at 60 and they can’t Damage Change. Either way, Damage Change doesn’t do much against you, you have to hit them for 150, it gets Damage Changed, you retreat and [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] (ideally), hit them again with a different Primal Kyogre-EX, they find a [card name=”Shrine of Memories” set=”Primal Clash” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] and Damage Change again, but in this process they also have to find a Lysandre because their Benched Pokemon are now at 60, you will heal to 90 remaining on the first Primal Kyogre-EX, and if you are able to Lysandre a Pokemon (which by turn four, you should be able to do this), you get Prizes, and now they don’t have a relevant number to Damage Change since your Primal Kyogre has 90 on it from healing with Rough Seas and each of their Benched Pokemon now has 90 on them. Parallel City also gives you options to completely eradicate Pokemon that are overly damaged. You will always win the Stadium war versus them, and that as a whole is huge, basically matchup winning. It’s a matchup you need to draw average in, maybe even a little above average, but it certainly isn’t bad.
[card name=”Volcanion” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY145″ c=”name”][/card] is an easy matchup. Weakness is clutch, combined with [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] to heal damage from Power Heater as they set up and [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] to lower their damage output.
[card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] / Dark doesn’t have a good response to a deck that so easily deals with Fright Night [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card]. Yes, we have to take a turn to Primal Evolve, but when Fright Night does 30 / 30 because of Rough Seas, it becomes a lot weaker. Tidal Storm will Knock Out Fright Night Yveltal in one shot, while setting up damage on their [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY150″ c=”name”][/card] so that you can KO those too. [card name=”Umbreon-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] can make situations spooky, but the only way that they are able to use it effectively is with [card name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card], and it is pretty easy to heal the damage and put the damaged Pokemon on the Bench, as they can’t [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] and Ninja Boy in the same turn. If they start to power it up manually, they take the snipe damage from Tidal Storm and put themselves at 140 HP remaining, which means they die to a direct Tidal Storm hit.
[card name=”M Scizor-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] is basically free. With Parallel City, you discard your [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY71″ c=”name”][/card] so that your only Pokemon that they can kill in one shot is [card name=”Manaphy-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card], which you don’t even mind if they go after. Though I think the M Scizor-EX / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] deck is bad, Garbodor can make you sweat a little bit if you don’t have means to find two Energy, but with two [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] and an [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], I’m not worried. They have to 3HKO a Primal Kyogre-EX between Rough Seas activations, and yes they can discard them with Iron Crusher, but one activation per Primal Kyogre-EX is all you need as it brings you from 120 to 90, then 90 to 210, and then 210 to Knocked Out.
And now, [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] is where this gets sketchy. With five Stadiums, we will win the Stadium war, but those decks don’t really give you enough time to stick out the Stadium war till the end. You will most likely need to play your Parallel City out as soon as they get to eight Benched Pokemon, and this will leave you with Rough Seas in play as your last Stadium, which you are cool with as you OHKO [card name=”Xerneas” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] and trade 2HKOs with [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card]. These matchups are still not great, but this at least gives you time to set up your board. Limiting their Bench with the blue side doesn’t matter in terms of your damage output since Xerneas still dies at 130 damage and M Rayquaza-EX will still get two shot at 130 each dealing 260.
In so many of these situations, Parallel City offers a lot of utility. Whether or not it just allows you to win the Stadium was by being at five instead of four, or its in its aggressive utility with either side, Parallel City is a card with a place to stay, and that won’t change.
Two Mega Turbo, Two Professor’s Letter, and One Energy Retrieval
These numbers just feel right. Two [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] means you won’t see it turn one but you should see it turn two, which is what you want. Two [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] works the same way, and [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] is required but you only need it late game so one copy is perfect. I debated on a [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card], but without a great way to find a one-of Supporter, Energy Retrieval is just better since at least you can [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] and try to draw into it.
This is, sadly, where we take a break from Standard. Orlando gets two sweet decks for Standard, but looking into the future our next Regional Championship, Philadelphia, is Expanded and has Karen. The fact that Night March and [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] don’t just trade super advantageously anymore with the large Pokemon-EX in the format does slow down the game some, not to a halt but to a point in which some Mega Pokemon can come back. Here’s a friend in Standard coming back for a round in Expanded, it’s [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card]!
M Mewtwo-EX
[decklist name=”Mega Mewtwo” amt=”60″ caption=”Psychic Infinity is the new X-Ball” cname=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″][pokemon amt=”13″]4x [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mewtwo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”54″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mewtwo Spirit Link” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”144″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]6x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”XY” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”6″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
This deck is rather sweet, without a lousy Pumpkin trying to kill you, it has some great matchups, and the weaker matchups can be improved with minor changes. This deck is a very metagame dependent deck and it truly depends on the metagame you expect.
Card Explanations
Mewtwo-EX NXD and Parallel City versus Mewtwo-EX BKT and Shrine of Memories
This is truly the section where it comes down to what decks you expect to beat. Looking at the matchups in Expanded, [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] definitely edges out [card name=”Shrine of Memories” set=”Primal Clash” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card].
[card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY08″ c=”name”][/card], as always, is the deck to beat. This changes some with [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] taking three of the Top 8 slots in Phoenix, but only three Yveltal / [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] players made day two and some of the best Yveltal / Archeops players in the form of Israel Sosa and Brad Curcio bubbled out of cut at 33rd and 34th. Fright Night [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] makes some situations awkward as they can turn off your [card name=”Mewtwo Spirit Link” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”144″ c=”name”][/card], but once you X Ball them, they don’t last for too long. Parallel City allows you to discard support Pokemon like [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], as well as damaged Mewtwo-EX so they aren’t put to rest by Fright Night. X Ball at its base does a solid 100 to a powered up Fright Night.
[cardimg name=”Mewtwo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”54″ align=”right” c=”custom”]”Guys, I’m still good!”[/cardimg]
The thing is that, they have more attackers than just Fright Night Yveltal, and if you get past the rage of Yveltal, Damage Change becomes more useful. With [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] as part of the picture, it does get weird as you have 210 HP so you can’t Damage Change to a 210 HP Pokemon-EX now that it has a Fighting Fury Belt or else you would be dead from the initial attacks, but you can Lysandre Pokemon that are left on their Bench and Damage Change to those. The X Ball option is more consistent, as mentioned earlier, so I’m going to stick with that one in regards to expecting lots of Yveltal.
[card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is also a matchup that benefits from [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] as both sides are useful. If they can’t bump your blue side of Parallel City on turn two, their Water Duplicates attack gets way worse. Later on, red side lets you discard your damaged Pokemon-EX and [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] that need to go away, while also lowering their damage output. Against you, they will most likely be Moonlight Slashing every turn, as you don’t have any relevant Abilities, so Parallel City can mess them up math-wise.
M Rayquaza-EX and Rainbow Road, are also matchups that become easier by running Parallel City, since you can limit them to a much lower Bench which does matter. Though Karen gives them more outs to Pokemon, you can still catch them in a rough spot and wreck them, and overall Shrine of Memories will not help you in either matchup at all, whereas Parallel City gives you a decent chance.
Overall, this card just improves more matchups than Shrine of Memories does, as this format is much more offensive in nature than Standard, where still fast, you at least have time to not get one shot by most things.
One Wobbuffet
This is our soft answer to [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card], though in the earlier turns of the game, you will be using X Ball against Fright Night Yveltal, so I’m not in a big hurry to find this card in that matchup. You also, if you need to, can use Psychic Assault and sneakily force them to take seven Prizes in some situations.
Four Mega Turbo and One Special Charge
All you want to do is attach Energy and say Psychic Infinity. The whole goal is to blitz out Energy, discarding them with your two copies of [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] attach them, while hitting a [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] attachment on most turns. The [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] allows you to consistently get Double Colorless Energy whenever you need them, because it basically counts as an extra 60 damage instead of 30, which matters a lot.
Overall, this deck is a sweet Expanded play.
M Manectric-EX / Garbodor
[decklist name=”Mega Manectric/Garbodor” amt=”60″ caption=”Finally, another deck about Karen that features Karen!undefined”undefined][pokemon amt=”15″]3x [card name=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”23″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”65″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x Karen (PRXY #177)4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Manectric Spirit Link” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]6x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Generations” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”6″][/card]3x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”XY” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
This deck was relatively popular around the start of last season, with a breakout showing at Lancaster Regionals. This deck is not one to mess around with.
Card Explanations
3-2 Garbodor
Don’t forget [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card]’s Tool Drop! This is basically a 2-2 [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] line and one Trubbish meant for attacking. This not only gives you better odds of benching two Trubbish turn one, but also gives you an extra Pokemon to attack with. Between having [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Manectric Spirit Link” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card], and your opponent’s Tools, you can get Trubbish to dish out about 100 damage which combined with Turbo Bolt gives you 210. This gives you a better Prize-trade since Trubbish is a non-EX Pokemon.
[cardimg name=”Trubbish” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”65″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Possibly one of my favorite cards of all time.[/cardimg]
3-3 M Manectric-EX
Karen will allow you to recover your Pokemon later in the game. You actually don’t want to start with [card name=”Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card] in this deck if you can help it.
One Wobbuffet
This guy allows you to get around [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] if they [card name=”Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick” set=”Primal Clash” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card] before you get Garbodor out. It also gives you another non-EX attacker that can finish off a Pokemon-EX previously damaged by Turbo Bolt. It’s also a fantastic starter, but a one-of isn’t consistent enough to go heavily into that.
Two Mega Turbo
This is our nod to [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] as they can just [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] your [card name=”Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card] that you attached to turn one and Emerald Break it, this is how we come back. I’ve done that many times playing M Rayquaza-EX and I have not lost a game to M Manectric-EX / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] playing Rayquaza. The [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] make the matchup much easier, since turn two you can Mega Evolve, Mega Turbo and attach, Turbo Bolt, and chain attackers while M Rayquaza-EX has to power up a new attacker every turn, possibly under Ability-lock.
Three Rough Seas and Two Parallel City
This Stadium suite is sweet. You get [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] for matchups like [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] while having [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] for Rainbow Road and [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card]. Overall this crazy high count of Stadiums wins a lot of matchups just by winning the Stadium wars.
This list is pretty straightforward, but the matchups aren’t, and playing M Manectric-EX isn’t straightforward at all. It’s really important to understand when to Turbo Bolt to another Manectric and when to be fine Turbo Bolting to a [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card] or a [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card]. This is another reason why the two Mega Turbo help, they can still be useful whenever you want to attack with something different.
The thing that’s good about M Manectric-EX is that it’s a solid 50 / 50 around the board deck, and you can tune this list to a certain metagame pretty easily. If you don’t know what to play for Expanded, and you don’t want to play Dark, try a few hands of M Manectric-EX. It’s not expensive to build, and really can beat anything when you make sure you Turbo Bolt to Pokemon properly.
Conclusion
Overall, for all four decks, Karen completely changes how viable they are. With Night March and Vespiquen becoming either bad or not as good, way more decks than what I’ve just written about get better. [card name=”Primal Groudon-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] is no longer scared of [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is no longer scared of Night March, Rainbow Road gets to shuffle its Pokemon back (as well as [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card], so you need to be smart with your [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]), and overall it’s just a sweet card. Some exciting combos are going to come out of Karen, and I’m excited.
Thanks for reading, and I’m planning to be at Orlando, Philly and Fort Wayne, so introduce yourself! Zander Bennett, signing out.
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