The Kettlog — A Testing Diary

By: John Kettler · Posted Posted onAug 27, 2017 at 10:21 AM · 0 Comments

Hey, PokeBeach denizens! John Kettler back with another article — but this time it’s somewhat different. Since this is an article slated for release very shortly after the World Championships, I figured the best approach would be to log some of my preparations for you all.

Today’s article includes a comprehensive log from August 1st to August 16th, and an epilogue of sorts recounting the pros and cons of my preparation. Each entry has some sort of purpose in bettering our games, so it should be a fun, engaging, and varied set of ideas for you! They might also include a couple neat concepts you can incorporate into any future Expanded tournaments you may attend.

August 1st: A Mega Discovery?

After some earlier preparations, I wrote up a lengthy matchup chart that shows how 15 of the format’s most important decks are predicted to do against each other. That chart revealed to me what I already know:

[cardimg name=”M Sceptile-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”85″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

  • I think [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] is the best deck in the PRC – BUS format
  • I havea serious bias towards Decidueye-GX that I’m unable to ignore

Thus, it comes to zero surprise that [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] is my number one play for Worlds, easily. This comfort and security in my most reliable deck of 2017 gives me latitude to mess around with different ideas. Today was all about that.

One strategy I’ve since adopted is to focus primarily on beating five heavily-played decks: [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], Volcanion, and [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]. With the new [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card] coming out, which blocks Basic Pokemon from attacking, an alternate idea to simply playing Decidueye is to test a [card name=”M Sceptile-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”8″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] anti-meta deck. Here are some of the pros:

  • Beat [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] with heavy heal, Item-lock, and tons of switching
  • Beat [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] with healing and an Ancient Trait that blocks Feather Arrow done to [card name=”M Sceptile-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”8″ c=”name”][/card]\
  • Beat [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] on Weakness, Item-lock, healing, and the Ancient Trait
  • Beat most Volcanion lists by simply playing your board down to a lone [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card]

At this point it appears that the deck loses to [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]. I’m at a loss as to how to fix that, but four of five is great.

For better or for worse, I’ve decided to base the majority of my post-Burning Shadows testing on Pokemon Trading Card Game Online. Thus, the testing for this new concept is beginning a set behind –not ideal, but certainly not a waste of time because I need to get the basic build down first. Here’s what I currently have…

[decklist name=”M Sceptile EX” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″][pokemon amt=”17″]2x [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Gloom” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”2″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Oddish” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”1″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”M Sceptile-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”8″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Sceptile-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Olympia” set=”Generations” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]11x [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”EX Emerald” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”11″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

This list already deals out nicely (for the most part), but changing it for Burning Shadows is a piece of cake since I can cut:

  • Two [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Two [card name=”Olympia” set=”Generations” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]
  • One [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card]

For

  • Three [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]
  • One [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]
  • One [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card]

After talking a bit with my good friend Ryan Soles, we’ve found that this deck might also have a lot of Weaknesses outside of the “big five,” such as [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] / Eeveelutions, and [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] / Eeveelutions.  Is there some other “anti-everything” deck I could use instead, which employs more or less the same ideas but with greater efficiency?

August 2nd: Soles-galeo

Brief profile on Ryan Soles — He’s pretty much my oldest friend in competitive Pokemon TCG. He’s gotten invited to Worlds a couple times, and is a great deck builder/theorist in his own right, but he simply doesn’t travel the “circuit” like people addicted to the game might. Still, he enjoys following and testing the game regularly, and currently treats it as a sort of social activity to enjoy with his buds in Chicago.

At this point I’m daydreaming about decks, and [card name=”Solgaleo-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM16″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Solgaleo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”87″ c=”name”][/card]  / techs has entered my mind. No deck exploits the card pool from Burning Shadows more in my opinion, and he seems to agree. At around the same time, we move towards running Metal and Rainbow Energy, but for different reasons — me because I want more techs than [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card], and him for [card name=”Diancie” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card]. We both agree it’s a good call however, and so the new the idea to replace my barely-untested tech deck is born.

I extended the talks with another one of my long-time TCG confidants: Alex Fields, a Texas player with a good reputation of his own. He brought me down to Earth a bit by reminding me that, yes, Jolteon-EX is somewhat countered by [card name=”Turtonator-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card] and Shell Trap. He also asked for a list, and at that point I knew that both for your and my benefit, it was essential to draft it up…

[decklist name=”Solgaleo Tech” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Diancie” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”94″][pokemon amt=”18″]3x [card name=”Solgaleo-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Solgaleo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”87″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Cosmoem” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”65″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Cosmog” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”64″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Genesect-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Zygarde-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Diancie” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”EX FireRed and LeafGreen” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”EX Sandstorm” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]8x [card name=”Metal Energy” set=”Diamond and Pearl” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card]4x [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

This was actually a carryover idea from a few months back, but now it’s much stronger for a lot of reasons. The most obvious is the metagame: Solgaleo with a hard Volcanion counter has good matchups against nearly every major deck in the format, in theory, at least.

August 3rd: Returning to an Old Idea

Today is the first day of Burning Shadows being available on PTCGO. While I am still waiting on the two booster boxes I purchased, I’ve fortunately opened and/or traded for all of the new cards needed to make this idea work, so I can actually deal out some games with this! Today I returned to an old, strange idea, which was [card name=”Lapras-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”35″ c=”name”][/card].

  • Game one versus Volcanion / [card name=”Turtonator-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card]: I get off to a slow start vs a turn two Bright Flame KO on my Lapras. I don’t do a good job keeping up with that and get executed.
  • Game two versus [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]: I made some changes to make the deck a little bit more like the tanky [card name=”Lapras-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”35″ c=”name”][/card] that won Virginia Regionals, while at the same time accepting that this was its own invention. I go straight for the [card name=”Tapu Fini-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card] to counteract his amazing start. He digs out of it though, thanks in large part to an amazingly lucky [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] to five. I try for the [card name=”Glaceon-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] wall, which is the best way to win this matchup, but on a crucial turn his [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] ruins my chance to ever set it up.
  • Game three versus (Steve Guthrie). My list is not built for this matchup, but my hand is awful. I unceremoniously get stomped.

Here is the list I used for games two and three. I unfortunately forgot the list for game one.

[decklist name=”Lapras Lock” amt=”60″ caption=”undefined” cname=”Tapu Fini-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”39″][pokemon amt=”12″]3x [card name=”Lapras-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”35″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Starmie” set=”Evolutions” no=”31″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Staryu” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”25″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Glaceon-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Fini-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”39″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”EX FireRed and LeafGreen” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Aqua Patch” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]11x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”11″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

[card name=”Lapras-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”35″ c=”name”][/card] doesn’t pull weight like it used to, so I later decided to just streamline the deck into a [card name=”Glaceon-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] build. I played and got crushed by three of the big five, but with a little tweaking I think I can fix those matchups.

[cardimg name=”Lapras-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”139″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

  • Game one: I have a great early start but I don’t’ hit Energy denial and he loads up a [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] for the win.
  • Game two: I’m up against a rogue [card name=”Turtonator-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card]/ [card name=”Lurantis” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM25″ c=”name”][/card] deck. Is my match-making ranking lower now? Somehow I get destroyed again — two [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]prized and can’t hit stuff for my life.

Meanwhile, I soundly 4-0 top tier decks with a very-slightly modified [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] list. It was the same as my North American International Championship list, but with the following changes:

  • -1 [card name=”Lugia-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card]
  • -2 [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card]
  • -1 [card name=”Olympia” set=”Generations” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]
  • -1 [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +3 [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 [card name=”Tapu Koko” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM30″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]

I might give my Waterbox monstrosity another shot tomorrow, but those are some sorely disappointing results.

[premium]

August 4th: One Last Try

Tonight I’ll be hanging out a lot with my girlfriend and her cousin, so not as much time to test. At any rate, giving one last hurrah to this Waterbox thing, though the main idea that constantly returns to my mind is a [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] which auto-wins the Volcanion matchup. It’s so dirty I don’t even feel like talking about it or playing it against anyone. Only so many people are thinking about it in the same way.

For now though, I’ve successfully gotten a playset of [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] on PTCGO, so time to test that! I think this will be a decent deck both for Worlds and when after [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] rotates.

[decklist name=”Decidueye/Golisopod” amt=”60″ caption=”undefined” cname=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″][pokemon amt=”21″]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=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Wimpod” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”16″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ 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″]5x [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”5″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

  • Game one: I destroy a [card name=”Zoroark” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Game two: I destroy a [card name=”Tapu Koko” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM31″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Game three: I destroy a [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Game four: A Decidueye / Ninetales deems our game hopeless and scoops against me on turn two

I shook off my sickness of the Aqua Toolbox variants discussed above, and just rebuilt it almost entirely in the image of James Arnold’s winning Virginia list:

  • Game one: creamed Volcanion.
  • Game two: Got benched by a Decidueye/ Ninetales. Bad beats
  • Game three: Beat a [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card]???
  • Game four: Three Tails in a row on Confusion flips stink against [card name=”Espeon-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card].

Getting killed in that fourth game was hard, but it made me realize the deck needed a couple basic tweaks. It just so happened that those tweaks made it much stronger:

  • -1 [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]

With the changes I played some more games:

  • Game five versus Espygarb (Steve Guthrie, again): A very grindy game but I win thanks to a couple clutch [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]drops. I might need two of this card…
  • Game six versus [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / Ninetales. I actually set up this game and Energy denial works out beautifully. I win a close one against four Decidueye!

It seems like the changes are really helping, but with a finite amount of time left, I need to move to my Metal deck and finalize a solid Decidueye / Vileplume list. I’ll make improving this a side project.

August 5th: A Break

I didn’t play at all today. But I did some theorymon messages about Decidueye / Vileplume / [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] with Daniel Altavilla.

August 6th: Metal Musings

[cardimg name=”Solgaleo-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”143″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Back to testing, and it seems Daniel Altavilla’s heading the same direction as me now with [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] as a new answer to Volcanion. Whether to play Jolteon-EX or not is a decision that will be made much easier considering that most Worlds day one competitors must turn in their lists in by Thursday meaning that only latecomer Volcanion players with special permission will get the chance to digest the threat posed by an auto win tech.

As for actual playing, I decided to start up my Solgaleo games.

  • Game one versus [card name=”Lurantis” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM25″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]: I get destroyed. Sol Burst is nice but only when you have decent support to back it up.
  • Game two versus Volcanion: He goes first with a [card name=”Kiawe” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card]. I misplay by not benching a Basic, Sycamore, draw garbage, and get benched.
  • Game three versus [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] / Eevees / [card name=”Zoroark” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card]: A weak hand and I get destroyed by what appears simply to be his normal setup.

Even though it’s only three games, I’m appreciating that this Solgaleo tech deck could be trash. Perhaps the Solgaleo player I beat a couple days ago felt the same? At any rate, I think a Metal tech deck still has potential, and so I switch to a [card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] tech idea, which has more durability and fits these elements in much more seamlessly.

  • Game one versus [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]: I destroy it.
  • Game two versus Waterbox: This shouldn’t have been a loss, but his [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] hit me hard, and I only ran three [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], meaning I had a lot of bad luck fishing for another. My auto win turned into a close loss.
  • Game three versus [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]: This is normally unfavorable, and he gets a turn one Decidueye, but not much to follow that up. He still top decks out of it and hits the complete turn two setup. But there isn’t much to back him up from there, and so my [card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] swarm and [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] take him out.
  • Game four versus Mega Ray: He runs the Kukui and just bleeds through my Metagrosses, while at the same time never gives me a solid chance to exploit Safeguard on Alolan Ninetales. I also have all three of my Ns prized and so my comeback potential is completely eliminated.

While perhaps many more games would be needed to know for certain if Metal tech deck could work, we simply don’t have the time left to mess with that. I will therefore be scrapping all metal tech decks from consideration, and investing much of my final efforts into Grass decks. If I do return to a metal deck however, then it will be a normal Metagross list with mild teching for the new set.

Here are some random Decidueye / Vileplume results:

  • Game one versus [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card]: I really want to see how this does with safeguard against me.  I’m taking good board control until I make a terrible misclick. I still win because of an awful [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] hand, however.
  • Game two: I continue to make the dreaded misclick and pass. But I’m not even sure what this is, and the guy’s just forced to lone [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] pass, so I win.
    Game three versus Waterbox: I destroy it because it’s an insanely good matchup.
    Game four versus [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]: I draw a mediocre hand and get stomped.
    Game five versus some Basic Fire thing: [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] is prized and he gets turn one [card name=”Kiawe” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Ho-Oh-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Turtonator-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card] in play. Not like it would matter anyways because he runs [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card]. I made an incredible comeback, but he drew more Kiawe and [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]at the right times.

The Basic Fire thing creamed me in a way Volcanion could only dream of doing. However, I highly doubt something so linear and so bad versus [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] would be played — it’s basically about as good as a Dragon [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] deck would be. Still, Golisopod continues to impress me, so tomorrow’s testing will be for those two major decks of the new set.

August 7th: The BDIF

[decklist name=”Gardevoir GX” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″][pokemon amt=”18″]4x [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Diancie” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”EX Sandstorm” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”EX FireRed and LeafGreen” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]8x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”XY” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

My initial games with Gardevoir:

[cardimg name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”140″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

  • Game one versus [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]: I go second, prize my [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card], and somehow fail to draw into any [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] out of 25 cards.
  • Game two versus Volcanion: He seems to get an okay start, but unceremoniously concedes (or glitches out — I felt like he would have played the game out).
  • Game three versus Decidueye / Ninetales: This was a Rainbow version of the deck with multiple techs including [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card]. Needless to say, I get slaughtered.
  • Game four versus [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card]: I tore through three [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”27″ c=”name”][/card] and an [card name=”Alolan Ninetales” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] with Safeguard (thanks, [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]). However, he starts mounting a comeback on an [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] to one with a second Safegaurd Ninetales, but I just [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] out of it after a couple turns of draw-retreat-pass.
  • Game five versus [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card]: I’m off to a strong early start with a [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], but there’s nothing to back it up and I’m backed into a corner.

2-3 with the supposed “best new deck” is not very comforting, but most people headed into Worlds sorely overestimate its naturally bad Decidueye matchup, and the Vikavolt / Bulu game could have been won if my list were just a little bit stronger. It’s at this point where I notice that I’ve seriously lost focus. Despite the somewhat depressing record with Gardevoir-GX, I decided it was time to return to Lapras to at least come closer to eliminating a choice.

  • Game one versus Tapu Bulu / Vikavolt: I try a [card name=”Tapu Fini-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card] GX attack to slow him down, but that only buys me a single turn. Truth is that this matchup is beyond winnable, although my disruption at least helps. Too bad I can’t use it multiple times! Him running out of Grass Energy and not getting / having [card name=”Brock’s Grit” set=”Evolutions” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] gave me a comeback opportunity, but his wacky [card name=”Tapu Koko-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card] tech closed it out.
  • Game two versus Volcanion: He concedes before the game even begins. Not sure why though — it’s much closer than the Weakness would suggest.
  • Game three versus Charizard / Salazzle / Turtonator: Now I know I’ve dipped far in the online rankings. I draw a horrible hand with a Lapras and no Energy, forced to pass for the first three turns. Yet because the matchup should be so inherently in favor of Lapras, I make a four Prize comeback and win fairly comfortably. [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] keeps the [card name=”Charizard-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] under control.
  • Game four versus [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]: He gets off to a strong early start, but the [card name=”Glaceon-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] wall actually works! In a long, drawn-out game, I take it.
  • Game five versus [card name=”Sylveon-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]: This was a painful and grindy game, as to be expected from Sylveon, but a 2-2 [card name=”Starmie” set=”Evolutions” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] line is an obscene out against any mill concept.
  • Game six versus [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]: Super close loss. If I ran any [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] I would’ve won, though I got lucky on account of multiple Paralysis Heads on Starmie.

These aren’t exactly “bad” results, but I’ve invested a ton of time into a lead I don’t really see myself playing or doing well with. At this point I think it would be wise for me to retire this idea, at least until the 2017-2018 tournament season.

Lapras Out of Consideration

August 8th: Eye on Decidueye

Today is going to be all about [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] tinkering. First up is Decidueye / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] with a few minor tweaks.

[decklist name=”Decidueye Vileplume” amt=”60″ caption=”undefined” cname=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″][pokemon amt=”24″]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=”Ancient Origins” no=”2″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Oddish” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”1″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”28″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ 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=”Rainbow Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

A couple of the concepts here are interchangeable. [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] could be subbed out for Grass and the [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card], though Jolteon-EX’s free Retreat gives it utility the Vileplume simply doesn’t have. [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] is a general workhorse card the way [card name=”Lugia-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] was, only now it helps out against basically every matchup.

[cardimg name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM37″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Game one: VS Gyarados. Because the AOR Gyarados deck requires Magikarps to have damage, this is one of the most lopsided matchups in the game’s history due to Feather Arrow.

  • Game two versus Volcanion (Ahmed Ali): I basically spend the whole game angling to build a [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] while also not placing down six Prizes worth of KO targets. That doesn’t pan out though, and so I instead opt to make Jolteon just a wall with no [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]. His hand is pretty awful though, so it works without much interruption.
  • Game three versus Sylveon / [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]. So [card name=”Sylveon-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] has picked up steam as a starter for Gardevoir. His setup isn’t too insanely fast, however, and so I spend the first couple turns softening up his Sylveon. He finally gets a Gardevoir-GX out after his Magical Ribbon got [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]’d twice in a row, but he gets too aggressive and so I’m able to respond-KO his Gardevoir with Feather Arrow and a [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card].
  • Game four versus Vikavolt: My unplayable opening hand is quickly N’d, but my start remains slow. My lock normally wouldn’t be enough at this point, but [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] attacking puts in serious work, KO’ing a damaged Tapu Lele and then forcing a [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] to use its GX Attack prematurely. Eventually he loses all of his Energy and can’t dig into [card name=”Brock’s Grit” set=”Evolutions” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card], securing me the win.

Have these games taught me much of anything? No, but after our match Ahmed and I had a pretty good talk about the anti-Volcanion hate options. I’m seriously considering a thicker Vileplume line in place of a Jolteon and Necrozma, or just switching out Jolteon for Vileplume.

I also gave a no-Vileplume Decidueye list a few testing games. Here are the cards I changed from the above list to turn it into a new variant:

  • -2 Vileplume
  • -2 Gloom
  • -2 Oddish
  • -1 Revitalizer
  • +1 [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 [card name=”Ho-Oh-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +2 [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card]

Games:

  • Game one versus [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]: Despite a very clunky hand, my Tapu Lele / Choice Band shenanigans work wonders!
  • Game two versus Gardevoir-GX: My clunky start gets exploited and he’s able to wreak havoc with [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card]. A Gardevoir-GX normally would have finished me off, but [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] and multiple Owls in play puts me back in the game, and I close it out.
  • Game three versus Volcanion: I mulligan four times and go second. I put up a decent fight, but it really just amounts to an inevitable loss as I’m unable to position [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card].

Overall thoughts on Decidueye / Plume versus Decidueye / Techs:

  • There’s a reason I chose to play Plume in the first place. It just does such a better job vs its good matchups, and irons out many of its bad matchups as well.
  • Decidueye / Vileplume is more consistent for totally bizarre reasons. Being able to evolve Vileplume pieces frees them from your hand, meaning you have better deck thin yields and of course more cards for [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]’s Set Up.
  • In the end, I’ve probably just been delaying the inevitable. While you may have needed a premium subscription to see my thought process, you certainly didn’t need it to guess I had a good chance of running Decidueye / Vileplume again.

August 9th-11th: Night Owls

I’ll be focusing on [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] again, with a similar list as above. While I went on to play many games during this period, there were a couple interesting things I noticed:

  • Versus [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]: A teched list using [card name=”Po Town” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] ate my lunch. As I’m familiar with, games where I’m unable to draw into the [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] become very painful against [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card].
  • Versus [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]: Is it just me or is this deck getting a lot more popular? I get out a decent [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] lock strategy, but lose a close game in large part due to his unusually high [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] count (four). Sounds like a European player…

August 12th: Is This Real Life?

Despite all the many games I’ve tested, these were my very first in-person games of the PRC – Burning Shadows Standard format. I played against my good friend Alex Fields, who graciously offered me to help test for Worlds, and my request was simple: test bad or questionable matchups against me with equally bad or questionable situations involved. I also had him make matters worse by going first each game.

I first wanted to see how a list with [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card] would do against a Volcanion with [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. Although I won none of the games, Decidueye / Vileplume without the auto-win option put up a strong fight, narrowly losing two of the three games. I then played a fourth in which I ran both [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] and Vileplume, but the Jolteon EX was easily picked apart. Before calling it quits for the night, we played a final game against [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card], which I would have won pretty comfortably had I not let him re-shuffle his mediocre hand back into the deck for a great hand.

My results might have been a bit skewed due to my somewhat sticky sleeves. Houston humidity stays with your stuff even if you go drive 250 miles north to Dallas, so I’m sure I will need a new set of sleeves before Worlds. Since I had several noticeable, unnatural clumps of cards like Decidueye, Energy, and [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card], I suspect I could have won two or even three of the five games with a better randomized, less sticky deck. All speculation, though!

August 13th and 14th: Getting Close

I took advantage of this opportunity to listen to some podcasts. While you might not agree 100% with what the other people are saying, I love getting new perspectives and sides to every topics and this metagame has tons of interesting topics!

I also tested a [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Alolan Ninetales” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] list, similar to the non-Vileplume list above. For the most part, Safeguard stall is a gimmick, and with how brittle Decidueye / Vileplume’s consistency already is, cutting important things like Energy and dead hand outs is unacceptable. Beacon may be a great attack, but so many games are won and lost on everything going your way the first two turns.

At this point I arrived at an outright bizarre but strangely hopeful concept: [card name=”Glalie-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”34″ c=”name”][/card]. It hits harder and more consistently against the Volcanion matchup, yet still has applications in every other matchup, including bad ones. The only downside is I would have to make some seriously strange tweaks to my list, such as running two or three [card name=”Judge” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card].

August 15th: A Birthday Surprise?

Happy birthday to me! I played some games with Decidueye of course, but didn’t go too crazy.

August 16th: The Decision

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

This is it. For all intents and purposes, today is the last day I have to make any real changes to my list, barring the morning before turning in my list. To the surprise of no one, I am going with [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]. This entry will be my complete and total theory layout, and my final thoughts over last second inclusions.

Matchups

Mirror

I think every mirror is mostly a crap-shoot, but players who do play the [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] over not playing it will be rewarded heavily. As of right now I’m probably a very slight underdog, only because the [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card] is a dead card in mirror. If I run [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] and / or [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] though, I might create an opening, especially against my friends who might still be running [card name=”Lugia-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card].

Volcanion

In my final days of testing, I’ve found Volcanion to be a bad matchup without a hate card. With [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card] / [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card], I beat it handily assuming they run no [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. This is a gamble I am very willing to take. If they do run the Hex, I lose anyways; if they don’t, then I just stole a match.

Against Volcanion, eight Energy is important, because attacking with the Vileplume is infinitely more effective than deck-out or Sky Return loops with [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card].

Gardevoir-GX

As long as whatever final list I use is consistent, Gardevoir should be a pretty safe matchup. [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] would be nice but I consider it a “win more” card.

Garbodor

I’ve probably overrated the difficulty of Espygarb, and underrated the difficulty of Drampagarb. Versus Espy, I now have three Supporter switching options instead of one; versus Drampa, the current list now has one whole fewer viable attackers. Even if I ran zero [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], a [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] could be really good against Drampagarb. Against Drampagarb, eight Energy and / or playing Grass over Rainbow is important. If I want a little extra strength in these matchups, I should run [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card]or a second [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card].

Golisopod

[card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] is a tough matchup to juggle attackers against at times, so my initial belief that this was purely favorable may not be entirely accurate. But when they have two Golisopod and 1-2 [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] in play, [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] can be incredible.

Mega Rayquaza

I setup and probably win; I don’t and I lose. [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]would again be very good if I chose to run it.

Metagross

Maybe it changes a bit if they run a Necrozma build, but they need a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and two Psychic Energy or three Psychic Energy to score any significant one-shots. Shockingly, [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card] might actually be helpful in situational spots. If I want an easier time vs this, I should run a [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] of my own, or an [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card].

Matchups Not Worth Thinking About

[card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Gyarados” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY60″ c=”name”][/card], and any fringe stuff.

Possible Changes

I’ve selected each card which might somehow find its way onto the chopping block, or perhaps sneak in at the last second. Let’s look at each individually:

Necrozma-GX

[cardimg name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”134″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] clearly keeps popping up as a situational yet incredible tech attacker. If I run it, I can take two directions:

  • Run all [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] and turn Necrozma into a viable attacker
  • Keep all Grass Energy and just use it for the GX Attack and occasional walling

If I run Rainbows, I’ve just opened up a whole new aggro option, but at the exchange of the [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] matchup. If I ran such an Energy lineup, I would feel safest teching in a [card name=”Magearna-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY175″ c=”name”][/card]. Magearna’s Ability would protect my Special Energy from being discarded, while at the same time giving me a whole new incredible attacker against [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]. It can also help against tricky stuff like an opposing [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card].

If I run Rainbow Energy, I put myself in further range for kills from anything with [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] (10 damage plus 30 Choice Band is an even number on [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]).

If I run Grass, then there’s nothing further needed, but my Necrozma’s utility becomes a lot more limited.

This idea is still in consideration, but needs more brainstorming.

Espeon-EX

[card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] can be great, but there was a reason it didn’t make it into my final Nationals list: [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]’s 70 HP makes it not nearly as helpful,  and there are probably better mirror options with more utility in more matchups.

This idea is out of consideration.

Vileplume from Burning Shadows / Jolteon-EX

Life would be much simpler if Volcanion didn’t get so many good new cards. Since I anticipate Volcanion to be the weekend’s most popular deck, I need to run this, even if it’s useless against most other matchups. The only question is, which hate card is the best? [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] is a harder lock to counter, but [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card] is far simpler and requires less alterations to the deck.

This will be included for day one, but not totally sure which one.

Deviating from Eight Energy

Sometimes you have to make calls based off of what you’re comfortable with. I’ve had my greatest success this season using eight Energy, so that’s what we’re going to keep this tournament.

This will be included for all days of play; might include [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] over Grass, but nothing lower than four.

Guzma / Lysandre / Acerola Mix

While I’ve mostly seen a one [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] / one [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] split as a fancy out to situations where you can’t switch, having three switching options is actually incredible against [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]. It’s also particular cool to have Acerola as a heal option, especially when cycling [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]. But perhaps the most important thing here is that the choice to run Guzma rarely matters, but the ability to switch out of a bad Active always matters. I do know however that if I keep the count at three, then Acerola is going to be helpful for when I need to heal / switch without changing their Active.

I’m not 100% sure, but I know I want at least two ways to switch with Supporters.

Skyla or Mallow Over a Trainers’ Mail

I originally chose to run three [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] to maintain a certain sense of speed for all matchups, Volcanion and good matchups in particular. My approach to Volcanion has changed drastically however, and the good matchups are still good, so it’s now less essential I run three Trainers’ Mail. I know my speed will suffer slightly, but who cares?

With that in mind, what’s better between [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card]? If I choose Skyla, I always have immediate access to [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]; if I choose Mallow, it’s easier to chain incredible turn one combos but I don’t actually get anything immediately. Mallow is also never an immediate out to a bad hand, whereas Skyla is almost always an out unless you lack [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] or are under Ability-lock.

Also, while a second Field Blower may marginally help my Garbodor matchup, it will probably do terrible things to my Set Ups.

I’m probably going to cut a Trainers’ Mail for a Supporter, but not sure which one yet.

All that brainstorming, and what do you get?

  • -1 [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]
  • +1 Supporter

Ouch. Talk about a whole lot of theory! Sometimes that happens when you’re down to your final cards, as obviously the choice to run [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] is much easier than the 59th and 60th cards.But there’s one more idea…

Drampa-GX Over Necrozma-GX for Card #60

[cardimg name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”142″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Most [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] lists are still on the Tord Reklev bandwagon of running tons of [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card]. Therefore, I think my Righteous Edge is far more disruptive than theirs, and can be incredibly effective when combined with [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]. It also doesn’t require me to use any new cards like Rainbow, has applicability against all the same matchups Necrozma does, and is probably a lot less situational. Most importantly, its additional consistency — something not even [card name=”Lugia-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] gave me. It’s also nice to have an attacker [card name=”Espeon-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] isn’t going to return-KO in some situations.

But what do I cut for it without devastating consistency? The second [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] might be a good call. [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] gives me a guaranteed way to fetch it just with the [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], and it’s cutting recovery for pure consistency and power.

  • -1 Revitalizer (a cut I still hesitate to make)
  • +1 Drampa-GX (or [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card])

Drampa has not been tested by me, but it’s also a known quantity:

  • Special Energy discard in general is painful in a ton of matchups
  • Brad and Azul both did excellently with it at the Mexico City Regionals
  • Drampa-GX as a card is a known quantity, and is just good in general

At this point, I don’t need to theorymon myself into exhaustion. Unlike many tournaments before this one, I actually have no fewer than 57/60 of my cards set in stone. Contrast that to tens of other people, who are scrambling to switch whole decks at the last second. No matter what happens, I have placed myself in a much better position to win than at least half my competition.

No more writing today. For now I’m just going to relax, get my stuff together for the big trip, and enjoy a nice dinner. My list is due tomorrow, after all!

August 17th: The Final Day

On my plane ride over, I spent the better part thinking about my final list. In the end, here is what I selected to use for Worlds day one.

[decklist name=”Final Worlds List for Decidueye/Vileplume” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″][pokemon amt=”24″]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]1x [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Gloom” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”2″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Oddish” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”1″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oddish” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”28″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ 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=”Grass Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

This isn’t much different from my musings yesterday, but since this is the ultimate list for day one, let’s go over every card choice:

4-4-4 Decidueye-GX

This is the heart of your deck, and therefore is a very strong inclusion for being maxed out. I considered running a thinner line and more techs, but I’m acutely aware of how devastating bad Prizes can be for this deck. It could have been a bold decision to go 3-3-3, but in the end I didn’t test it enough to judge that to be a wise move.

1-1 Oddish Split

I ran one old [card name=”Oddish” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card] and one new [card name=”Oddish” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”4″ c=”name”][/card] for two very situational reasons. Old Oddish deals damage and can therefore be an out for a turn one KO; new Oddish Poisons, and can therefore be a shocking late game move when a heavy retreater is out in the Active. Although this never made a difference in testing, I’ve won at least one crucial game before based off of pre-evolutions, so I know it’s a wise thing to think through.

Two Gloom

I chose not to run the new [card name=”Gloom” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”5″ c=”name”][/card] because of the two Retreat Cost. Although Confusion is a very attractive option to avoid losing an otherwise unwinnable game, the far more likely scenario was that the heavier Retreat Cost would cause me great heartache.

Two Vilelume AOR / One Vileplume BUS

Two [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”from”][/card] is standard to increase your odds that one is usually in your deck. The [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”from”][/card] became my Volcanion hate card of choice for the reasons stated above.

Two Shaymin-EX

Prior to Guardians Rising, I ran three [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], but now with so many dead hand outs, and the increased liability of Shaymin being placed on the Bench, I determined that two was the safest balance.

Three Tapu Lele-GX

[card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] has replaced [card name=”Lugia-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] and any other tech attackers entirely. While my log here obviously demonstrates a great interest in other tech attackers, I wanted to maximize my consistency and leave the teching to only what I thought was necessary. I also really liked how reliable my list was in fetching [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] for attacker juggling, which actually turned out to be crucial in a couple bad matchups.

Four Professor Sycamore

I want to say about 25% of your games are won entirely on an explosive first turn. While resource management is incredibly important in this deck, sometimes you have to commit to a more aggressive, less resource-friendly approach to the game. Thus, max [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] is important.

Four N

[card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] is the mirror image of Sycamore; a card I max out for situations where I specifically want to be conservative with my resources. It’s also an essential element of securing the lock of [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card].

Two Guzma

Switching is great; lure effects like [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] are great. Two [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] therefore became an instant hit with me in this deck. While there was a huge debate between running either all Guzma or a Guzma / Lysandre split, I determined that the few situations where Guzma actively hurts you are balanced out by the exponential good it brings to the deck.

One Acerola

[cardimg name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”142″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

With the new direction of the meta, I determined that I still needed a healing / switching option similar to [card name=”Olympia” set=”Generations” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] however is much better at healing, and not too bad at switching either. It also helps that three [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] makes it incredibly easy to juggle Tapu Lele as attackers without them actually getting Knocked Out.

One Skyla

I ultimately settled on running the [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] for a couple crucial reasons:

  • As we discussed, it’s an instant out, which I sometimes I can’t spend time waiting on with [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card].
  • Since I settled on [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card] as my counter to Volcanion, it makes [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] much more effective in pulling it out turn one.
  • It makes cutting a second [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] much less painful.

Four Ultra Ball

Four [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] was a non-negotiable aspect of the deck. You simply need too many Pokemon in play, requiring you max these out so as to max your odds of drawing into the perfect combination.

Two Trainers’ Mail

Some count of [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] helps smooth out the deck’s clunkiness, but I ran only two simply because space demanded it. Since [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]’s release, I invested at least one slot into a Supporter, and so following through on my [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] idea required me to go even further down.

Two Level Ball

Two [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is a nice count in this or any Vileplume-lock variant because it increases the number of outs to all of your [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] pieces without making too much of a difference in deck space. I only chose not to run three or four because without [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”27″ c=”name”][/card], it can oftentimes be a dead card.

Two Float Stone

Two [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] under Item-lock are pretty important not only to transition from one attacker into the next; they make a big difference in keeping Vileplume out of the Active position for too long.

Zach Lesage and Jesper Eriksen used an interesting max [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] version with no Float Stone. While in theory I like the idea of making Deicudye a tank, I ultimately chose not to go with this strategy because the heart of the concept is a consistent setup. Float Stone can help [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]’s Set Up because you can play them from your hand to decrease hand size.

One Revitalizer

[card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] is a powerful Grass-specific Item card that, when played right, is the heart to your strongest aggressive starts. Whenever playing these starts, it’s inevitable to discard a few Pokemon, so Decidueye / Vileplume always needs at least one in the deck. The only reason I cut the second was space constraints. Discarding the Revitalizer may hurt early game, and the odds of drawing into it on an aggressive start may be hindered by a singleton copy, but it overall wasn’t a bad call.

One Field Blower

Considering how popular [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] would be, as well as Float Stone in general, I knew it was essential to run at least one [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card].

Four Forest of Giant Plants

Forest is the heart of my speed and explosive early starts, and is also a roundabout way to increase the draw power of [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]’s Set Up. Too bad it’s getting banned, though!

Four Grass Energy

Please see above in the August 16th entry for my rationale.

Four Double Colorless

Believe it or not, I have flirted before with cutting a Double Colorless. However, anything fewer than four Double Colorless Energy starves your aggressive options with this deck, so I backed off of that idea fast.

Epilogue: Tournament Results and Debriefing

[cardimg name=”Champions Festival” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY176″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

In the end, I didn’t do nearly as well as I would have liked in both the main event as well as the Anaheim Open. In the main event, I lost a surprisingly close game against a favorable matchup ([card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card]), proceeded to beat an incredibly tough matchup in the form of [card name=”Weavile” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / techs, conceded a tie against [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] due to superior board state, beat [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card], lost a close three-game series to the mirror, and then tied a match against [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] I had almost 100% beat in the third game. Despite the strange field of Worlds day one, my matchups in the Anaheim Open appeared much more normal, including four [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] variants, two [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Gyarados” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card]. Yet I ended up tying way too many times, and somehow failed to beat either Gardevoir-GX. This resulted in a decent finish, but not enough to continue onto the interesting “Top 8+” cut designed to remove resistance.

Looking back at the above notes and my process, I’m beginning to appreciate three important lessons for future tournaments:

  • I made a poor metagame prediction. Despite Volcanion improving drastically, it was simply non-existent throughout the entirety of my Worlds experience. To put into perspective how irrelevant Volcanion was, it wasn’t even the best-finishing Fire deck of day two. That honor belongs to [card name=”Ho-Oh-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Salazzle-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card]! [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] was clearly present, which was why I remained content with most of my deck list choices, but there were a couple games where I needed every card to count — and they just didn’t.
  • Since I knew I was going to use [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] no matter what, I may have benefited by focusing solely on that deck and nothing else. For example, I may have overestimated Decidueye’s strength against the [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] matchup, but had I tested that matchup some more, I may have determined that [card name=”Magearna-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY175″ c=”name”][/card] would have been an excellent metagame call. That in turn may have resulted in other stronger card choices, like [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]. My faith in Decidueye was not at all misplaced: Gustavo Wada still did excellently with the deck in day two of Masters, and Benjamin Pham won the Anaheim Open with Decidueye / Ninetales. However, had I focused less on shiny fun rogue ideas like [card name=”Lapras-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”35″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Solgaleo-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], I may have more easily arrived at the perfect Decidueye build, and walked away with either a trophy or at least more Championship Points.
  • In the future, I should diversify my testing more. The idea behind playing the VS ladder on PTCGO is effective at discovering new ideas and play styles, and is a great “default” on normal days, but it should also be balanced out by a strong series of games against one or a few dedicated testing partners. I also think I may have been better served playing more games in real life, and not quite as many online. Although I haven’t yet decided on whether to go to Ft. Wayne’s Expanded Regionals, I’m already taking my own advice on this front and am brainstorming hard. I have a lot of catching up to do with the Expanded format, however!

A bit anticlimactic, but there’s always a great deal to learn from this game. I hope my lists, process, and musings on ways to improve helped improve your own testing regimen, and gave you insight into how I approach not only new ideas, but perfecting and nuancing old ones, too.

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