Me First — A Look at Expanded Going Into Portland

By: Jimmy Pendarvis · Posted Posted onMar 19, 2017 at 6:34 PM · 0 Comments

Hello PokeBeach readers! It’s Jimmy Pendarvis back with another article discussing the Expanded format! I recently got back from St. Louis Regionals, so I am going to start with a summary of my experience there. I’ll then move onto discussing the Expanded format as a whole. I will address what I would be testing for Portland if I planned to go, and share my opinion on how the matchups go. Hopefully this can get you guys in gear for preparing for Portland or any other Expanded tournaments you may have coming up, as I have learned that preparing for Expanded is a little bit harder than preparing for Standard simply due to how many decks are viable in each format! Without further ado, let’s get right into the swing of things with my St. Louis Regionals discussion.

My St. Louis Recap

I have recently been adopting the strategy of playing decks that have a good chance against everything, and then just building them to be as consistent as possible. I have found far more success with this strategy than my previous one of trying to counter the meta because I don’t really run the risk of hitting several autolosses and playing unwinnable games. This led me to start testing Mark Garcia’s Yveltal / Maxie’s list, and I only ended up making a couple changes. Let’s take a look at what I settled on.

The Deck

[decklist name=”Yveltal Maxie” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY08″][pokemon amt=”12″]3x [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY08″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]3x [card name=”Professor Juniper” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick” set=”Primal Clash” no=”133″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/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=”Plasma Blast” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Reverse Valley” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”110″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]7x [card name=”Darkness Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

I started with Mark Garcia’s San Jose Regionals list, and I really liked it a lot. The only changes I made were removing a [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] for a fourth [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] and removing [card name=”Ghetsis” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] for [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. I found the Shaymin-EX got in the way of a turn one Maxie’s, while the fourth Battle Compressor increased my chances a bit. In addition to that, removing a Shaymin-EX made it less likely for me to open with a horrible starter.

Card Choices

Four Battle Compressor

[cardimg name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

In testing, I not only found that [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] are required to win certain matchups, such as [card name=”Carbink BREAK” set=”Fates Collide” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zygarde-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Eelektrik” set=”Noble Victories” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Raikou” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card], but also that my win percentage was significantly higher when I was able to get out Gallade on the first or second turn. This got me thinking about how I would increase my chances of achieving a turn one Maxie’s, and a fourth Battle Compressor was the obvious answer. Another reason I chose to include a fourth copy of Battle Compressor was because I wanted my [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] to be easier to use in the early game. I often found myself having to discard one due to a lack of Dark Energy in the discard, which slowed me down in a lot of my testing games.

A Hex Maniac

I chose to include this card instead of the more popular choice of [card name=”Ghetsis” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] because I felt it was more helpful overall. Ghetsis was definitely incredible in some matchups, mostly the [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] decks, Night March, [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], but [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] felt like less of a hit or miss card. Hex Maniac shines against the turbo decks, [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card], Volcanion and [card name=”Eelektrik” set=”Noble Victories” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Raikou” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], all of which were pretty popular in the tournament. By turbo decks I mostly mean decks that are reliant on early [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] to setup, which ended up being very popular in the form of [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card].

Possible Inclusions

Ghetsis

This card is quite popular in the deck, and does have its uses, so I wouldn’t blame you for playing one. It is consistently good against a few of the turbo decks. I have found [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] to be equally good if not better against [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card], and only slightly worse against the other decks I previously mentioned. However, Hex Maniac almost never allows a player to instantly win the game, like Ghetsis can sometimes do.

A Second Shaymin-EX

I am definitely not a fan of this inclusion, but I have seen it being played in quite a few deck lists. It does allow for more aggressive starts and prevents you from being badly hurt by the prizing of your one Shaymin-EX, but I also found it making it harder for me to use [card name=”Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick” set=”Primal Clash” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card].

The Tournament

  • Round 1: Yveltal / Maxie’s 2-0 (1-0)
  • Round 2: [card name=”Carbink BREAK” set=”Fates Collide” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] 0-1 (1-1)
  • Round 3: Turbo Dark 2-0 (2-1)
  • Round 4: [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] 0-2 (2-2)
  • Round 5: Volcanion 2-0 (3-2)
  • Round 6: Night March 1-1 (3-2-1)
  • Round 7: [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] 2-0 (4-2-1)
  • Round 8: [card name=”Raikou” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Eelektrik” set=”Noble Victories” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] (1-2) (4-3-1)
  • Round 9: [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] 1-0 (5-3-1)

This record was definitely not what I was hoping for, and to make things even worse, I wasn’t fortunate enough to place in the Top 128 which left me at 496 CP. I was at least hoping to get my invite of off this tournament, but I will have plenty of chances in the future.

Some Brief Expanded Notes

  • [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] saw almost no play. I am not surprised by this honestly, and I actually stated that I thought this would be the case in my last article. However, it seemed to surprise a lot of other players.
  • [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card], previously one of the most popular decks in Expanded, is seemingly gone for good. Despite the lack of Giratina Promo, Greninja has a tough time in the current Expanded meta due to the increase in bulky Grass Pokemon.
  • [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] was not very popular, but it would have been a good call for the event.
  • Yveltal was not nearly as popular as it has been in the past. People seemingly shifted to countering Yveltal as opposed to joining the bandwagon.
  • Unfortunately, the Expanded meta is in a spot where the player going first has a significant advantage. This used to only apply to the [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] deck, but now [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] is in the same boat. In addition to this, going first and using [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Ghetsis” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] can cause the opponent to not have anything to do on their turn.
  • As I predicted in my last article, [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] emerged as the most popular and seemingly best Seismitoad-EX deck.
  • Players are pointing to Volcanion as an answer to the [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] decks due to the deck’s typing advantage, but the Vileplume decks had a positive record against Volcanion decks in day two of St. Louis.

Plays for Portland

The following decks are the decks I would be testing heading into Portland. All of them are either Item-lock decks, which I consider to be extremely strong in the current Expanded format, or they are decks that have a solid chance against the Item-lock decks. I truly think Expanded is at a point where players should either be playing Item-lock, or playing decks that beat Item-lock.

Yveltal / Maxie’s

I would still stick with the max consistency list I played at St. Louis Regionals, but two copies of [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] seems unnecessary moving forward. That being said, I would treat the second copy of it as an open spot for whatever card fits best based on the meta. I also talked about the deck quite a bit in my last article, so feel free to check that out if you want to hear more about my thoughts on the deck.

Decidueye-GX / Vileplume

This list is based on fellow PokeBeach writer John Kettler‘s second place St. Louis Regionals list.

[decklist name=”Decidueye/Vileplume” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″][pokemon amt=”23″]4x [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dartrix” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”10″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Rowlet” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”9″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Gloom” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”2″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Oddish” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”1″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Lugia-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tauros-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”29″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Flashfire” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Next Destinies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Card Choices

Zero AZ

With most [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] decks, it is a disaster if Vileplume gets trapped in the Active spot for a few turns because it gives the opponent a ton of time to set up. In some cases, this can even lead to the Vileplume player decking out. However, due to [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] being able to place damage even if Vileplume is trapped Active, it isn’t as big of a deal with this variant. In addition to that, [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] can be attached to an [card name=”Oddish” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Gloom” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”2″ c=”name”][/card] before it evolves into a Vileplume, which prevents any [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] shenanigans.

Potential Inclusions

Jirachi-EX

John played this card in his list, and I see where he is coming from, already playing [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and all, but I really don’t find this inclusion necessary unless more tech Supporters are added. He did also run a [card name=”Xerosic” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card], which I chose to remove for a third Level Ball, so that might be why he was a fan of Jirachi-EX. I don’t like the Bench spot that Jirachi-EX takes up, and I almost always feel like I would rather be using a [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card].

Lurantis-GX / Vileplume

[decklist name=”Lurantis/Vileplume” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″][pokemon amt=”16″]3x [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Fomantis” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”14″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Gloom” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”2″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Oddish” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”1″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Primal Clash” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Flashfire” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]9x [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”9″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Card Choices

Four AZ, Zero Float Stone

[card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] is so good in this deck because not only does it allow you to AZ [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] to either remove it from the Active or give yourself the option to play Items, but it works as a healing mechanism with [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card]. Think of it as a pseudo [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card].

One Pal Pad

This card can be super clutch for cycling back in [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] before [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] comes out or when Vileplume is getting AZ’d. Since this deck obviously can’t include [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], I really like the tech Pal Pad to provide a safety net in the early game.

Possible Inclusions

One Silver Bangle

Ross played this in his St. Louis deck list, but I am not a fan of it, especially going into Portland where the use of Pokemon-EX is at an all time low. It can be helpful for math if it actually makes its way onto the board before [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] comes out, but I think I would just rather have a consistency card instead, so I chose to remove it for a third [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Primal Clash” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card].

A Fourth Battle Compressor

When removing the [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card], I was torn between [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Primal Clash” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card]. The key combo in this deck is using Battle Compressor in combination with [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] to search out your Pokemon. The fourth Compressor feels unnecessary as long as one of the other ones is found on the first turn, but only playing three does decrease your chances of finding it. I really like Acro Bike because the most important card to find on the first turn of the game is [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card], which Acro Bike can help accomplish. Battle Compressor doesn’t directly obtain Forest of Giant Plants, but it does thin your deck which makes cards easier to draw into. It is quite a tough call as to which one is the better choice.

A Second N

Going into St. Louis, I would have agreed with Dave Richard, Dean Nezam, and Fred Hoban who all chose to play zero [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] in their [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] list, but now that Item-lock is very popular, I definitely think running one or two copies of N is the way to go because it allows you to draw cards while being Item locked. However, one could argue that the game is already at a point of no return if the opponent goes first and gets Vileplume out.

[premium]

Mega Gardevoir

[decklist name=”Gardy” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″][pokemon amt=”16″]3x [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Dragonite-EX” set=”Evolutions” no=”72″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rattata” set=”Evolutions” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]3x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ 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]4 x [card name=”Gardevoir Spirit Link” set=”Primal Clash” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4 “][/card]3x [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Noble Victories” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ 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=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”7″]7x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Card Choices

Three Hex Maniac

Mega Gardevoir decks already usually included two [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] in previous lists, but I really encourage everyone to try the third copy in the current meta. It is very strong against Item-lock decks, and is the only way this deck stands much of a chance against [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card].

One AZ

This allows for utility Pokemon such as [card name=”Dragonite-EX” set=”Evolutions” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] to be reused. It also provides an easy way to get a Pokemon out of the Active, even under Item-lock.

Two Trainers’ Mail

I chose to include these because it allows for extra reach throughout the game. These obviously aren’t great when Item-locked, but can be useful after a [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. I really like the consistency they bring to the first couple turns of the game.

Possible Inclusions

Professor Kukui

This allows for the deck to actually one shot things when it is necessary. I didn’t find this card to be super useful when I was playing with the deck, but a lot of lists I have seen for this deck have chose to include it.

Accelgor / Wobbufet

This is Mike Fouchet’s exact list that he piloted to a second place finish at the Philadelphia Regional Championships earlier this season. Despite that being quite a while ago, I still think his list is the best one to use.

[decklist name=”Accelgor/Wobb” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″][pokemon amt=”20″]4x [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Shelmet” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”7″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Musharna” set=”Next Destinies” no=”59″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Munna” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ 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=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Next Destinies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Noble Victories” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Virbank City Gym” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”126″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”5″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Mystery Energy” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Card Choices

Teammates

This Supporter seems odd at first, but its inclusion is definitely one that grows on you when playing the deck. I often found myself searching for [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card] or crucial one ofs, such as [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card].

One Silver Bangle, One Muscle Band

These cards help you reach ideal math when dealing with certain Pokemon. For example, an [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] with a [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] Knocks Out a [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] in one shot, which is one of the most annoying Pokemon for this deck to deal with otherwise.

Potential Inclusions

A Fourth Level Ball or a Fourth Ultra Ball

I am a huge fan of being as consistent as possible, and these cards are definitely good for consistency. I think I would add the fourth [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] before adding the fourth [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card], just because Level Ball is easier to use on the first turn of the game unless you’re looking to grab [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card].

Trevenant BREAK

[decklist name=”Trevenant” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″][pokemon amt=”17″]3x [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Phantump” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”64″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Grimer” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Wally” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Team Flare Grunt” set=”XY” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Xerosic” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”110″ 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=”Crushing Hammer” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Red Card” set=”Generations” no=”71″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Next Destinies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Noble Victories” no=”95″ 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=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”7″]7x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Card Choices

Muk

While [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] Promo wasn’t played very much at St. Louis Regionals, I still like the inclusion of the [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] in this deck. It serves its purpose of dealing with any Giratina Promo that might pop up, and limits the opponent’s options by denying the use of cards like [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].

Potential Inclusions

Trainers’ Mail

[card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] allows for a small consistency boost when two or three copies of this card are included. This should only be considered if [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] is finding its way out of the deck. While I do like the consistency it adds to the deck, space is a huge issue if Muk isn’t being removed.

Wobbufet

[card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card] gives the deck more options against opposing Item-Lock. I have been testing one copy of this instead of a few different cards in the deck, mostly the third [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Team Flare Grunt” set=”Generations” no=”73″ c=”name”][/card], but I’m not certain of how good this tech actually is.

Matchup Analyses

Yveltal / Maxie’s Versus Yveltal / Maxie’s

[cardimg name=”Tauros-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”144″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

As I said in my last article, [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] is very important in this matchup for several reasons. Not only does Gallade provide a ton of consistency throughout the game, but it is a solid attacker that shuts down opposing [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Tauros-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] very easily. I always try to get out Gallade as fast as possible in the mirror match, as it allows me to react to whatever they do with a very strong play because I can easily access whatever I’m looking for through the use of Premonition.

Yveltal / Maxie’s Versus Decidueye / Vileplume or Lurantis / Vileplume

I chose to lump these matchups together because they play out the same way for the most part. If [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] is established before the [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] deck is able to get their evolutions out, Yveltal will win every time because neither [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] deck runs a counter to Archeops. In a similar fashion, if the Vileplume deck is able to setup before Archeops comes onto the board, the Vileplume deck will win almost every time because Yveltal has such limited options with not being able to [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]. These matchups are largely based on who gets to go first game one because they get the first opportunity to reach their win condition of Archeops or Vileplume.

Yveltal / Maxie’s Versus Mega Gardevoir

Against the more standard [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] lists that play one or two [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] and zero [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], Yveltal has a solid chance by just using [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] and Fright Night [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] to put on a ton of pressure. However, my list for the Gardevoir deck will be able to deal with that strategy much easier due to being able to access Hex Maniac faster and more often. This makes it so that the Gardevoir deck can evolve and KO Fright Night, and from there the Yveltal deck will struggle to take Knock Outs due to [card name=”Max Potion” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card], Resistance and the low Energy requirement of Mega Gardevoir’s attack when [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] is in play.

Yveltal / Maxie’s Versus Accelgor / Wobbufet

This matchup is definitely not good for Yveltal unless their list is prepared for it by running [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Pokémon Center Lady” set=”Flashfire” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]. Most lists don’t have either because they just aren’t good in the current meta, which is what makes [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] so strong. Accelgor can just Deck and Cover into [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] while the opponent struggles to fight back.

Yveltal / Maxie’s Versus Trevenant

Yveltal is favored in this matchup due to how easy it is to Knock Out [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], but if Trevenant goes first it can steal wins due to how brutal its lock is. It can Item-lock the opponent and limit them to four cards on the first turn of the game. It can then setup [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] to prevent [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] from using their Abilities, which really limits the options of the Yveltal player. [card name=”Crushing Hammer” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] play a role in this matchup too because they can prevent the Yveltal player from consistently attacking, especially when in combination with [card name=”Team Flare Grunt” set=”Generations” no=”73″ c=”name”][/card]. The issue for the Trevenant deck is that its heavily on the back foot when going second, and even when it goes first, the Yveltal deck can allow itself to play Items by using [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card].

Yveltal / Maxie’s Versus Mega Rayquaza

The [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] in my Yveltal list is very strong in this matchup. This matchup is pretty close due to [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card], and high quality non-EX attackers. Obviously, there are some games where [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] gets a really aggressive start and just takes six Prizes in three turns, but for the most part, the games come down to N. Chaining Hex Maniac in the early game is very solid as almost all of their setup comes from [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]. [card name=”Yveltal” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] is a good attacker as well, especially if they are Hexed, because it is unlikely it will die on the turn it attacks if they are Hexed. The snipe damage it provides will make it a lot easier to kill Mega Rayquaza later in the game.

Decidueye / Vileplume Versus Decidueye / Vileplume

Unfortunately, this matchup is very reliant on who goes first because they are going to get setup significantly faster than their opponent. This then allows them to start picking off [card name=”Rowlet” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”9″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Dartrix” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] with Feather Arrow while the opponent struggles to setup and fight back. Going for [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] when going first is the main goal because of how badly it will hurt the opponent’s start.

Decidueye / Vileplume Versus Lurantis / Vileplume

[cardimg name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] is definitely favored in this matchup, assuming it can setup eventually. Even if it goes second after a turn one Vileplume, [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card] doesn’t really apply that much pressure, which gives the Decidueye deck quite a bit of time to get setup. After that, it trades pretty well with Lurantis due to being able to place 20 or 40 damage on any opposing Pokemon every turn. The Lurantis player should aim to be as aggressive as possible in this matchup.

Decidueye / Vileplume Versus Mega Gardevoir

This matchup is favored for [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card], even if we are talking about the lists that only run two [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. If Gardevoir gets to go first and use Hex Maniac, the game is already looking very bad for [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]. The deck is extremely reliant on [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], which usually means that [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] can’t even make its way into play on the first turn if Hexed, which Gardevoir can take huge advantage of by thinning their deck and setting up. Mega Gardevoir has a ton of HP, which makes killing it hard a task already. On top of that, the multiple Hex Maniac will allow this Mega Gardevoir to [card name=”Max Potion” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] throughout the game, which will take multiple turns worth of damage off the board each time.

Decidueye / Vileplume Versus Accelgor / Wobbufet

This is an absolutely horrible matchup for [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]. Not only does [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] not work, but neither does [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]. This makes it so that a [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card] doesn’t even get Knocked Out in one attack. Despite it taking quite a few Deck and Covers to Knock Out a Decidueye-GX, Decidueye plays literally no switching cards so it is forced to sit there and pass while these attacks occur.

Decidueye / Vileplume Versus Trevenant

This is heavily dependent on who goes first, because they are the person that gets to Item-lock the opponent out of the game. [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] can put on a large amount of pressure and completely cripple the Decidueye’s setup when going first. Decidueye can just get out two [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] turn one and their isn’t much Trevenant can do, even if it draws reasonably under Item-lock. The high HP total of Decidueye-GX combined with the pressure of being able to place at least 20 damage a turn is simply too much for Trevenant to handle.

Decidueye / Vileplume Versus Mega Rayquaza

We saw John lose in the finals to a [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] deck, but I personally think that he got quite unlucky. From my testing so far, it feels like the Item-lock is crippling enough to get Decidueye a sizable lead before Mega Rayquaza starts attacking. However, if the Rayquaza player is able to go first and chain [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card], it becomes an entirely different game. At that point, a Mega Rayquaza becomes incredibly hard to deal with, and can sometimes win the game by itself depending on how many turns in a row Hex Maniac gets played. This isn’t the easiest plan to accomplish though, especially when going second, which is why I have found the matchup to be in Decidueye’s favor.

Lurantis / Vileplume Versus Mega Gardevoir

This matchup is extremely similar to the Decidueye / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] versus Mega Gardevoir matchup, except this one is slightly easier for [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] because [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] lacks aggressiveness. This makes it even easier for Gardevoir to find its [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] before it is too late and then just take over the game. The Lurantis deck should attempt to target down any Gardevoir-EX that get energy attached to them, because that is the best way to apply pressure and make the board state awkward for Gardevoir deal with.

Lurantis / Vileplume Versus Accelgor / Wobbufet

As we saw on stream at St. Louis Regionals, this matchup is pretty brutal for the [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card] deck. [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card] allows [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] to set up perfectly fine and use Items throughout the game, and the Lurantis deck only has [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] as an answer to Deck and Cover. Even when it is able to AZ, all that does is allow it to KO a Wobbufet, and an opposing Accelgor can just Deck and Cover again.

Lurantis / Vilepume Versus Trevenant

If Lurantis gets to go first, [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] is in a nearly unwinnable position already. Not only does that mean the [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card] deck gets to lock Trevenant’s Items for the entire game, but it also means that multiple Lurantis-GX get to hit the field. Lurantis-GX has 210 HP and heals itself, which makes it very difficult for Trevenant to KO it. On top of that, Lurantis / Vileplume plays four [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], which offers additional healing and prevents any beefy Pokemon from getting trapped Active. Even if the Trevenant deck goes first, if Lurantis starts attacking at an early point in the game, Trevenant is in trouble. That being said, it isn’t super easy to set up a Lurantis under Item-lock with a four card hand. An early [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] out of the Lurantis deck to break Item-lock and set up is a solid way around this though, but the deck does only play two [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] which makes that play unlikely to pull off.

Lurantis / Vileplume Versus Mega Rayquaza

I would actually put this matchup in Mega Rayquaza’s favor because [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card] applies basically no pressure. Unlike the [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] matchup, Lurantis gives [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] plenty of time to set up and find its [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card], which will eventually allow the deck to run away with the game. From the Lurantis’ perspective, a turn one Vileplume can win any game as long as the opponent just doesn’t find their answers in time, but this is definitely one of the sketchier matchups. The best strategy I have found for the Lurantis deck to use is to be as aggressive as possible.

Mega Gardevoir Versus Accelgor / Wobbufet

[cardimg name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Yet another positive matchup for [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card]. While I do think this matchup can be easily fixed for [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] by adding a [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card], I am not sure that is necessary because it isn’t incredibly unfavored as is. Gadevoir does run [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], which allows it to occasionally break the Deck and Cover lock, and it has multiple copies of [card name=”Max Potion” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] which makes the Accelgor deck need to Deck and Cover an extremely high number of times to take six Prizes. This can lead to Accelgor running out of steam and losing because it can’t keep the lock going.

Mega Gardevoir Versus Trevenant

With three [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card], this matchup should be pretty easy. [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] causes a lot of problems for [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] if it actually gets to play cards, and the Gardevoir list in this article is built to handle Item-lock. Three Hex Maniac and two [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card], along with two [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] to find them allows for Gardevoir to be able to play Items often throughout the game. This means being able to abuse [card name=”Max Potion” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card], which makes it very difficult for Trevenant to take any Prizes. Any damage put on Benched Pokemon can be wiped off with [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card]’s Despair Ray attack.

Mega Gardevoir Versus Mega Rayquaza

Unfortunately for Gardevoir, this matchup is kind of a blowout. [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] can consistently one shot every Pokemon in the Gardevoir deck, while [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] can only two shot a Mega Rayquaza. This means that if the Mega Rayquaza deck can attack with two Mega Rayquaza in a row, it literally cannot lose the Prize-trade. Gardevoir’s best chance to win this matchup is to go first and then chain [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] for the first few turns of the game. If the Gardevoir deck can take at least two Prizes before an opposing M Rayquaza-EX can start attacking, it has a chance to steal a win.

Accelgor / Wobbufet Versus Trevenant

This matchup is not pretty. [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]’s Ability is absolutely insane against [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] because a majority of their deck is Items, and they are necessary for Accelgor to be able to attack consistently. Another issue with being Item locked in this matchup is that [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] can’t be attached, which can allow Trevenant to trap something like a Wobbufet Active and just spread damage with Silent Fear.

Accelgor / Wobbufet Versus Mega Rayquaza

This matchup is very favorable for [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card]. Wobbufet causes a ton of problems for [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], as a lot of their draw comes from [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]. Rayquaza also doesn’t really have a good answer for Paralysis outside of [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW61″ c=”name”][/card], which doesn’t cause too many problems due to Wobbufet shutting it off and it being easily KOd by an Accelgor with a [card name=”Silver Bangle” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] attached.

Trevenant Versus Trevenant

Like I had described in my last article, this matchup is quite dependent on who goes first because they get to control the game with a turn one [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]. Some situations do occur where the player going first has to use a bunch of resources to get out Trevenant and then struggles to get Energy on the board, but that is relatively rare considering how easy getting out Trevenant is.

Trevenant Versus Mega Rayquaza

This matchup is also very dependent on who goes first, because the deciding factor is whether or not Rayquaza gets a turn of Items. Going first and getting fully setup as [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] makes it quite hard for [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] to keep up. On the other side of things, a turn one Trevenant makes a majority of Mega Rayquaza’s hands very dead. Even if a [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] is found, they can’t use Hex Maniac as a means of being able to [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] for [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], so they don’t really get an explosive start unless they have [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] or open Hoopa-EX and a Hex Maniac.

Mega Rayquaza Versus Mega Rayquaza

[card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Ghetsis” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] are important cards in this matchup, as they can slow down the opponent significantly. While it may seem like whoever attacks first wins, I have found the matchup to be a bit trickier than that. The most important part of the game is to be whoever kills the opposing [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] first because it is quite difficult for a player to pump out an attacking Mega Rayquaza three turns in a row, while being disrupted in one way or another whether it may be Ghetsis, Hex Maniac, or [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card].

Conclusion

That’s all for today’s article, I hope you enjoyed my in depth look at the current Expanded format! Unfortunately, my next Expanded event is not until Toronto Regionals in May, but I will be playing a lot more Expanded before the event than I have in the past. I did log quite a large number of games with Yveltal / Maxie’s prior to St. Louis, but I still didn’t feel prepared enough when it was time to play in the event. Expanded has a very large number of decks available for players to use, and I definitely felt that I was not as prepared for some matchups as I was for others. Anyways, I wish all of you guys good luck at your upcoming tournaments! My next couple weekends will consist of League Cups and the Win a Trip Tournament at Kent State University, so feel free to come up and say hi if you happen to be there!

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