We Will Bee Great Again — The Next Coming of Flareon / Vespiquen
Howdy, PokeBeach! I’ve been playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game in the competitive sense for five years now. I have qualified for the World Championships in every one of my seasons, and this is my fourth go at it in the Masters division. So far in this current 2016 – 2017 season, I have been consistently ranked atop the North American leaderboards, in the top 16, and I hope I can keep it that way. My name is Caleb Gedemer, and I’m happy to be writing for y’all!
Today I’ll be spilling the beans on something very near and dear to my heart. This deck has been flying under the radar ever since the release of [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card], and, to a certain extent, even before that! While you may have your guesses now after the mention of [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card], let me reassure you I won’t be killing your eyes and soul with Night March lists, or any nonsense like that. Instead I’ll be going in depth on my favorite deck of all time, which also happens to be the coolest “degenerate [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] deck” out there. That deck is [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] paired with [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], and while I may not be known as one of the [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] “gods”, by any means (Dylan Bryan or Jimmy O’Brien might come to mind), I have played the deck a few times myself. Each time I’ve deployed this dangerous weapon at a tournament, I’ve strutted home with some valuable Championship Points to my name, including a Top 8 finish at last season’s Regional Championship in Illinois.
Alright, enough with the banter, let’s get into the good stuff. I would like to think I’m qualified enough to say it, but [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], I choose you!
What’s Going on Here?
So for all of you that may not be that familiar with this deck, let me open my book and read a little from it, just for you! Night March and the Pokemon I’ll be talking about today are very similar in stature. They each rely on a certain count of Pokemon in a player’s discard pile. Night March Pokemon have less HP than [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], and therefore each deck has its own unique merits in terms of gameplay. I prefer the fiery [card name=”Eevee” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] evolution and Queen Bee, personally, because they can last longer and after a while, they can even attack for more damage. Night March decks can only play 12 Night March Pokemon, whereas most Flareon decks run 28 Pokemon, in general.
This deck can function in one of two ways, a slower approach to begin the game, or a faster one, depending on the deck your opponent is using. I’ll get more into this later. So for now, to wrap this boy up, this deck relies on getting as many Pokemon in your discard pile as possible, through the use of [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] and other discarding functions. These actions all fuel the strength of your attacks, and as the game progresses, Knock Outs will be easier to come by and soon you’ll be rolling in Prize cards.
Battle Compressor
Battle Compressor, we’re talking about Battle Compressor? Yes, yes we are. Many players get confused from the get-go when they use a [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] in this deck. Whenever someone asks me about this, I quickly think back to an infamous sob story from one of my friends… “I discarded all of my attackers with [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card].” Well, first of all, let that be a lesson for you of what not to do, ever.
To make the most sense out of this, let me show off my Top 8 list from Illinois Regionals last year so that you have a better idea of what I’m talking about.
[decklist name=”Flareon/Vespiquen” amt=”60″ caption=”Top 8 Illinois Regional Championship 2015-2016″ cname=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″][pokemon amt=”28″]4x [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Eevee” set=”Furious Fists” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Combee” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”9″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”25″]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Blacksmith” set=”Flashfire” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ghetsis” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”101″ 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=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Life Dew” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”7″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
For instance with this deck list, my first [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] would depend first of all on what’s in my opening hand. Say I have a [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], and no other out to a Supporter card, then, my Compressor is absolutely going to discard a Supporter card of some kind, so that I can keep the wheels moving on my automobile to victory. Secondly, I will then take the time to search over my deck and pull out cards that aren’t useful in the matchup. [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”name”][/card] is always going to be priority number one, since I don’t plan on using Seed Bomb anytime soon. Next, I would probably mull over the [card name=”Jirachi” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY67″ c=”name”][/card], or [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Jirachi” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY67″ c=”name”][/card] was usually only useful against [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] decks, where I would use Stardust to buy time. [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card], on the other hand, was almost strictly for [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] decks. Making a good choice here is usually common sense, for the most part.
Now let me get into the tricky part, a step that a lot of players stumble on. While you don’t want to discard all of your attackers, it is fair to pitch some of them. Drawing the line on what is reasonable, however, can be very difficult for the average competitive player. In my first search of the game I always try to deduce what my Prize cards are, by looking for what is missing in my deck. Here’s where the tact comes in — when you play this deck, it is not a necessity to keep every single piece of [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] in the deck. Start off by checking how many [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Eevee” set=”Furious Fists” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] are available to you, and don’t forget to pay attention to what you have on your field, and hand! Let’s say you have two [card name=”Eevee” set=”Furious Fists” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] in the Prizes, and four [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] in your deck. In a situation like this, it’s usually a-ok to go ahead and dispose of two [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]. Why? Well with your limited use of them, considering the two [card name=”Eevee” set=”Furious Fists” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] in the Prizes, it not only won’t pay to have dead cards in the deck, but it will fuel the damage of your attacks in the meantime. This same sentiment applies to that of [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], check how many are available to you, and make your best deduction of how many you will need to last the course of a game.
Here’s where the next biggest piece of advice comes in. You only need so many attackers against certain decks. Let’s say you’re facing a Pokemon-EX heavy deck, like [card name=”Yveltal” set=”XY” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick” set=”Primal Clash” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card]. Stop and think for a minute, if your opponent uses the following attackers: [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card], and an [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] to attack, that means in theory you will only “need” five attackers throughout the course of the game. With that in mind, it can be acceptable to discard unnecessary pieces, like if you found all four [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Eevee” set=”Furious Fists” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Combee” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”9″ c=”name”][/card] in your deck.
Lastly, let me touch on discarding support Pokemon, which could be things like [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card], or even the new [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] card. These cards are very important, and I prefer to avoid discarding them unless it is absolutely essential to a big Knock Out. [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card] discard themselves with their Farewell Letter Ability, so it is somewhat silly to ever [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] them away, unless, of course, you find yourself faced with the predicament that I just touched on. [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] are similar, but are slightly more expendable. As I play this deck, I always try to never bench these setup Pokemon-EX. But, if I have to, then I have to. Regardless, if you are playing four [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], then it is definitely fair to throw away a single copy or two to begin the game, if needed. I always try to leave one in the deck for the late game, for defense against [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]. With a [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] in the deck, each [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] you draw can be used to replenish your hand up to a size that is workable to keep the gears turning!
To wrap this section up, [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], at least in my Illinois list of old, could be used to discard [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] to fuel [card name=”Blacksmith” set=”Flashfire” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card]. They also toss tech Supporters, so that they can be grabbed later in the game with [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]. Once your deck is very thin in the closing stages of a match, then it is very wise to use Compressor to chuck things that aren’t useful anymore, like perhaps Ultra Ball, or even something like a [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card], if you are already KOing everything in one hit. Overall, I can totally see where Battle Compressor are tricky. With the help I’ve mentioned, I’m sure you, too, can find yourself winning games handily with some crafty use of Compressor.
[premium]
Embrace the Orangutan?
At first sight, [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] might seem like an underwhelming card. Well, that’s partly because it is. When I first built my dearest deck up again, I threw an [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] in right away, thinking it would be a solid inclusion. While it showed some premise of viability after a few games, I soon found myself hating on its chunkiness on my Bench. In almost every situation I found myself in, I wanted it in my discard pile, adding to my damage output. Additionally, its Retreat Cost of two made things tricky if an opponent ever used a [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] to drag it up as my Active Pokemon. Shortly after, it found its way back into my box of cards. I wouldn’t play this card in this deck, and no, I would never keep a monkey as a pet, either.
Fried Eggs
“[card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”name”][/card]!” The egg says hello, and he even thinks you should play him in your [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] deck. Why? Well I did mention it above, but [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] is a fantastic card to draw late game from an [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]. If you are drawing just a single card, [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”name”][/card] can Propagation its way back into your hand, and get that [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] the two cards it needs to work properly. Not only that, but if you toss it early with a [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], every discard you make will be easy as pie. I love this card in a deck like this, and recommend it to anyone itching to play [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card].
Oh, Karen
Most of this deck’s viability is based on the assumption that [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] is an unpopular card. It has been, for sure, in the past few sets of tournaments. The few decks that use [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] are generally things like [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], which has a natural weakness to [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], with the inclusion of [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card]. If you are conservative with [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], all you need are nine Pokemon in the discard to take a Knock Out on a Ray, if you have [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] out, so I don’t expect [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] to be much of a problem, even in that matchup. I continue to believe that [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] won’t be used very much, and that’s what makes this deck great.
Talkin’ ‘Tina
Now here’s a card I’d like to scream and shout about. [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card]’s release had people going nuts about the “death” of [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card], and while that is far from reality, ‘Tina does help out the matchups with those cards immensely. Devour Light may be a weird name for an Ability, but its effect is pretty dang cool. Usually you have to spam [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] in order to beat [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], but now you can simply drop a [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card], and hopefully a [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] with it, to make things that much simpler. Most ‘ninja decks in the Expanded format do not include [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card], so the sky’s the limit for you.
[card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] is the next deck that [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] plays a role in, and while the card’s showing may not be as fabulous as it is against [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], it can make a real impact if you can get lucky. Playing one Pokemon card to counter [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] is never a solid strategy, since the Item-locking of Trev’s Forest Curse is sure to put a damper on any way you have to search out that very Pokemon. However, if you find yourself drawing into the [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] naturally with a draw Supporter, or even from your draw for turn, you’ll be in business. The only solid reason that [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] normally beats [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] is because your inability to play Item cards. Otherwise, you’d be swinging for a one hit Knock Out every turn with either Bee Revenge or Vengeance. [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] can get around that incapability, and hopefully help you reach that Knock Out potential.
Overall, I like this card in the deck going forward, and while it may not be foolproof against [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] decks, it more than compensates by truly improving the matchup against [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]. At the very worst [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] just becomes another Pokemon to throw away into the discard pile, so why not play it yourself?
Versus ‘Chops
[card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card], man, c’mon now! I’ve noticed that in nearly every corner of the competitive scene, people are quick to generalize this deck’s worst enemy, [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card], as a nearly impossible hurdle to leap, which is completely fallacious. Wobb’s Bide Barricade is all you’ll need to get your Stage 1 Pokemon onto the battlefield. Not only that, but in combination with an early [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW50″ c=”name”][/card], you can set up behind that mysterious purple blob creature, and pour Pokemon into your discard pile. You can truly rest easy when you start with this guy, not only against [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card], but in general against the rest of the Expanded format competition so many decks are reliant on Shaymin-EX’s Set Up Ability. [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card] is a completely necessary inclusion in this deck now, and sways the balance against [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card].
Where’s Your Pokemon-GX?
This is something I’d like to address, for sure. Many players have began to think of Pokemon-GX in an “Ace Spec” fashion, as in that they believe every deck should be playing one. I’d like to make a counter argument by simply saying “if [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Life Dew” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] didn’t exist, would every deck even play an Ace Spec?”, I don’t think they would. This same sentiment applies to Pokemon-GX. Why would you play something that doesn’t really mold into the deck?
Anyways, let’s talk about why I brought this up. [card name=”Tauros-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card], I love it, you love it, it’s amazing! I’ve tried it in [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] thinking it could serve as a “wall” to promote after using Shaymin-EX’s Sky Return, or simply as something to stick in the Active spot in a pinch. This doesn’t really work out that well since it still gives up two Prize cards, and to make the very best use of it in a seven-Prize game, one must use it as his or her final attacker (if your opponent has five Prizes left, you can then attack with a Pokemon that gives up two Prizes, hence the “seven-Prize” name tag). By the time you get to that point, your Bee Revenge and Vengeance attacks will probably be doing over 200 damage, which makes it strictly better to keep burning and buzzing your way to victory, versus riding your way there on a [card name=”Tauros-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card].
Overall, this card still will see play in some players’ versions of this deck, but I do not think it is optimal. I would rather play a Pokemon that does not give up a dreaded two Prizes, and stick to the strategy of being a non-EX / GX deck in stature.
Why’d You Use That Unown, Yo?
Here’s another mistake that grinds my gears, big time. [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card] has a cool Ability and all, but it does not read anywhere on it “must use at first sight”. So many players are quick to utter “Farewell Letter”, almost like clockwork, and just draw their card. Using the card like that is foolish, and the absolute best way to utilize it is much more conservatively.
When I play down an [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card], I at least take a couple seconds before using it. Ask yourself a few questions, like the following, before thinking about pulling the trigger: “do I need a way to defend myself against an [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] drop from my opponent?”, “do I need the extra 10 damage?”, or “do I need the extra card?” In many situations, it is best to just leave the Unown on the Bench until its services are more necessary to be called upon.
If you make sure to be patient and think some things like those through instead of being impulsive, your win rate with this deck should rise, and your overall confidence should boost, too. [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card] is a very special card, and brings a lot to the table for this deck. Its use is integral to many different ways to win, and conserving them is something you need to be mindful of when shooting for positive results.
The List
[decklist name=”Flareon/Vespiquen” amt=”60″ caption=”Black & White through Sun & Moon” cname=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″][pokemon amt=”28″]4x [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Eevee” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Combee” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”9″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”28″]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ 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=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Startling Megaphone” set=”Flashfire” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”4″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Card Explanations
Jolteon
I originally didn’t even include this card myself. The more I thought about it, though, the more I decided I’d like to have a favorable matchup against [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card]. Without [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card], that match is very tough.
Startling Megaphone
[card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] was the first bringer of “death” for [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], but if you include a [card name=”Startling Megaphone” set=”Flashfire” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card], all of that can change. Stripping the opponent of his or her precious Tool cards is amazing, and makes a lot of Knock Outs easier. Megaphone is fetchable with [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”name”][/card] after your opponent takes a Knock Out, which is amazing.
Tropical Beach
Beach is the best Stadium card in [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] decks, but if you don’t have it, it can be replaced with [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card]. The early turns of gameplay are always important, and [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW50″ c=”name”][/card] lets you see more cards and get more Pokemon in the discard pile. It’s nice to have a non-Parallel City counter Stadium, too, since if your opponent plays a Parallel, you can be trapped in awkward situations, no matter which direction they place the Stadium.
Pokemon Ranger
Normally I wouldn’t play this card, but it serves as a nice out to [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]. Without it, you can fall victim to an abysmal start. I had been running a [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] in this spot for a while, and while I liked that, the Ranger seems to shore up more of your problems and outweighs the option of extra damage.
Muscle Band
I started out by playing [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card], like old times, but I had a very silly mishap with it. I was attacking a [card name=”Tauros-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] with a [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] that had a Bangle on it, and I only did 150 damage. I was thinking, and thinking, I looked at the Pokemon Trading Card Game Online game log over and over and I just couldn’t figure it out! Then it hit me, it’s not a Pokemon-EX. I felt so stupid, and right after the game switched out the [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] for a [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and haven’t looked back. Band is also nice when attached to a [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], putting Sky Return up to 50 damage, which is a formidable amount when searching for a two-hit Knock Out on many of the beefier Pokemon in the game.
Matchups
When I write about matchups, I like to be short and to the point. Much of developing a true sense of a matchup comes from actually playing. I believe that matchup breakdowns in articles should be used as a reference point to determine if you, as a player, are interested in pursuing more testing on your own to see how things play out. In this portion, I will be putting my honest opinion on paper about the “percentage”, in a X-X format, of each deck’s chances to win, in ideal situations. In these ratios, the [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] deck will be listed first, and the opposing deck will be second. I have played every matchup extensively, as I have been playing with this deck for a long time now. If something like going first or second plays a role in the match’s outcome, I will be sure to make note of that. Read up, and maybe you’ll save yourself the trouble of playing as many games as I had to!
Accelgor / Wobbuffet 30-70 (Without AZ)
Deck and Cover does 50 damage from the start, and Poison with a [card name=”Virbank City Gym” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card] in play puts that number up to 80. Since you would be Paralyzed, too, you will be Knocked Out going back into the [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] player’s turn, which all but ends the game. Your only hope is to target down [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shelmet” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] when you do have the opportunity to actually attack. An [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] would really improve this matchup, but finding room is the problem. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Carbink BREAK / Zygarde-EX 55-45 (With Vespiquen)
[card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] always does well against Grass-weak Pokemon, like [card name=”Carbink” set=”Fates Collide” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Zygarde-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card]. You won’t have any problems attacking for damage, since you aren’t a Pokemon-EX. Lists for these decks vary a lot, and sometimes they play Energy disruption cards, like [card name=”Team Flare Grunt” set=”Generations” no=”73″ c=”name”][/card]. Even that won’t be a problem, since you have two [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]. However, [card name=”Focus Sash” set=”Furious Fists” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] is obnoxious and will stop you from taking clean Knock Outs. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Darkrai-EX 55-45 (With Startling Megaphone)
A true battle of non-EX Pokemon versus their Pokemon-EX counterparts. Usually the non-EX deck will come out on top, and that should be the case. However, [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] tops out at 220 HP, with a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], and that can be problematic when it comes to taking Knock Outs. [card name=”Startling Megaphone” set=”Flashfire” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] is there to help, though, and should improve the matchup. This deck is expected to be somewhat popular.
Eelektrik / Raikou 45-55 (With Hex Maniac)
This is a match I’ve played extensively, and it always tends to be very close, but slightly favorable for the [card name=”Eelektrik” set=”Noble Victories” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] player. [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] is really your only out to taking the lead, so getting it out early, and often, with [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], is important. [card name=”Raikou” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] is pretty beefy with a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], and you can have a hard time taking Knock Outs on them. Otherwise, the matchup is close to even. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Flareon / Vespiquen (Mirror) 50-50 (Without Umbreon-GX)
Normally this matchup should always be evenly paired, but some players are trying to be crafty with their lists. [card name=”Umbreon-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] is sometimes popping up these days, and if your opponent decides to play it down, then you’re in luck. Taking the lead on Prizes is a great way to win any competitive back and forth battle, and this one is no different. Avoiding the play of your own [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] is very crucial. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Greninja BREAK 60-40 (Without Silent Lab)
Giant Water Shuriken won’t be thwarting many of your plans because of [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card], so rest easy. [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] can take one hit Knock Outs with ease against the Grass-weak [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], too. As long as [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]’s Ability does not come into play, then this should be a pretty basic win, unless late game [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] do you in. This deck is expected to be somewhat popular.
Lurantis-GX 80-20 (With Flareon)
[cardimg name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
I’m not entirely sure this has made its way over into Expanded as a deck, but there may be a few people that try their luck with it. Unfortunately for them, [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] is not going to have anything good to say about [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card] unless they play [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card]; even then, you can just re-Battle Compressor Pokemon or use a [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] to get back into Flareon’s one hit Knock Out heyday. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
M Gardevoir-EX 30-70 (With Karen)
In the Expanded format, [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] decks play [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] over [card name=”Brock’s Grit” set=”Evolutions” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card], which is a death sentence in this matchup. The Garde player can set up quick, start taking cheap Knock Outs with help from [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], and spam Karen to win the game with [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
M Rayquaza-EX 60-40 (With Jolteon)
Since [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] has 220 HP, sometimes it is difficult for you to take a Knock Out. However, [card name=”Jolteon” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] shores this matchup up since it makes your Bee Revenge and Vengeance attacks hit for two times their normal strength. As long as the Ray deck doesn’t beat you to the punch and outspeed you, which is unlikely, this is generally a favorable matchup. This deck is expected to be somewhat popular.
Night March 45-55 (With Special Charge)
The dreaded March. This deck has died down considerably in the past few months after [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card]’s printing, but still remains a threat. This is a back and forth trade, and you are naturally at a disadvantage since you have Stage 1 attackers. However, depending on the way the cards fall, this can turn out to be a win for [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card]. It truly comes down to if a player misses a beat with attacking, or has to play down Pokemon-EX. This is a fun match to play, so try it out for yourself! This deck is expected to be somewhat popular.
Primal Groudon-EX 55-45 (With Special Charge)
Groudon is Grass-weak, so [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] can generally handle it. However, [card name=”Primal Groudon-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] decks usually play multiple copies of [card name=”Focus Sash” set=”Furious Fists” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] as a counter. This trend has gone down a little bit, since [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] is no longer a highly-popular deck. Regardless, that is a big threat, and this matchup needs to be taken very slowly. It is wise to use Shaymin-EX’s Sky Return as often as you can, while building up a surplus of Pokemon in your discard pile. With two [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card], you have a potential for eight [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card], so running out of Energy shouldn’t be a big problem. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Sableye / Garbodor 40-60 (Without AZ)
This is a matchup that you want to avoid, unless you play [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card]. A [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card] player can use [card name=”Target Whistle” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”106″ c=”name”][/card] to trap an unfavorable Pokemon in your Active position, and leave you stranded for the rest of the game. Otherwise, without this possibility, with eight potential [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card], it is possible to ride a lone [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] to victory. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Seismitoad-EX / Crobat 60-40 (With Tropical Beach)
This matchup was one of my draws to the [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] deck many moons ago, as it is generally favorable. Your first turn needs to land you nine Pokemon in your discard pile, the magic number for a one hit Knock Out on a [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] bearing a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], when attacking with Bee Revenge. As long as you can avoid any bumps in the road (discarding [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card]), you can usually pull this off. Always try to get as many [card name=”Combee” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”9″ c=”name”][/card] down as soon as possible. Your first turn should be very explosive. Toad / [card name=”Crobat” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] usually plays [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card], but you do play a counter to that in the form of [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW50″ c=”name”][/card]. Lab is very bad for the deck, since it stops the use of both [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card]. This deck is expected to be somewhat popular.
Seismitoad-EX / Decidueye-GX 55-45 (With Flareon)
This is one of the most hyped decks going into Expanded, and luckily for you, [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] hits [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] for Weakness, and [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] hits [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] for Weakness. This one-two combo is amazing. The rest of this matchup is similar to that of the [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Crobat” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] one, just make sure to get both [card name=”Eevee” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Combee” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”9″ c=”name”][/card] down this time. This deck is expected to be very popular.
Trevenant BREAK 30-70 (Going Second), 50-50 (Going First)
This is just a toss up of the opening coin. If [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] goes first and gets the Item-lock online, you’re going to lose, plain and simple. However, if you go first and get a substantial amount of Pokemon in the discard pile, you can threaten a one hit Knock Out every turn, and hopefully clear the opponent’s field of those pesky trees. This deck is expected to be somewhat popular.
Vileplume / Attackers 40-60 (With Glaceon-EX)
This is a matchup that is very hard to put a firm finger on, and can vary in many ways. First of all, your opponent could just get a [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] out on his or her first turn and you could brick instantly. Likewise, they could have a slow start, and you could use [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] to dismiss any threat that starts to get Energy attachments. Overall, I expect this one to be unfavorable for [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], since [card name=”Glaceon-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] is such a big game-winning threat with [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] in play, and most lists do not play a counter for it. [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] is a great counter, and definitely could make up for the obvious disadvantage you take in this matchup. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Xerneas 65-35 (Without Playing Down Shaymin-EX)
Rainbow Road isn’t a widely popular deck in Expanded, and for good reason, since it has many, many poor matchups. One of them is [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], since a Rainbow Road player is going to have to get many Pokemon-EX on the Bench to do significant damage. Namely, [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] is something that is almost guaranteed to hit the Bench every game. The non-EX attackers of [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] can easily handle the more clunkier attacker of [card name=”Xerneas” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card]. This deck is not expected to be very popular.
Yveltal / Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick 55-45 (Without Silent Lab)
Here we finally have what is generally the most popular deck in all of Expanded land. This matchup comes down to your opponent’s ability, or inability, to get [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] down, and then the clever use of [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card] to offset Ancient Power. It is completely doable with some patience and attention to detail. If your opponent plays [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card], and keep in mind most lists have begun cutting it, you will have a trickier time, since Wobbuffet’s Ability gets shut off, and therefore Archeops’s own Ability goes back online. Stadium conservation is extremely important, too. If you have time to practice only one matchup, this is the one I’d pick. This deck is expected to be very popular.
Conclusion
Wow, that went by so fast! I had a blast writing this up for you guys, and I hope you enjoyed reading it, too. There’s a lot of valuable content here that can help you grow as a player, so I hope you take it to heart. [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] is poised very well for a deep run at any upcoming Expanded format events that feature the new Sun & Moon set, so be on the lookout if you don’t decide to play it yourself.
I’ll catch ya next time, good luck out there, Trainers. Thanks for reading!
~Caleb
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