The Frog Prince — Greninja / Talonflame for Fort Wayne!
It’s the year 2017, as I’m about to play in my first Regional Championships of the year! I’m very excited for this prestigious privilege of being part of the Travel Back program. I’ve worked very hard on my time travelling machine skills, and it seems to have worked. I’ve appeared in none other that Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it seems like I’m currently blending in — Justin Bieber is still big, everybody is still wearing Vans, life’s good!
Who am I kidding, we’re only behind by one year. It’s 2016 all over again, and I’m a little concerned about what I’m going to play. I could play Night March, Turbo Dark, maybe even [card name=”Primal Groudon-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card]? None of these really appeal to me, and I have no clue why people are playing [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card], don’t they know that card is banned? Oh well, I know what’ll do the trick! Cody Walinski played [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] and did really well at the 2016 World Championships, maybe that’ll win it for me? It handles all of the top tier decks running around, and nothing really stands in its way except [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card]. Wait, Archeops got banned? What is going on?! I’ve spoken too much, the entire format is changing, I’m changing too much in the timeline, the whole world is….. distorting! Save the Expanded format before it’s too late readers! Heeeeeeeeelp………!
[inaudible mumbling]
[cue shuriken sounds in the background]
[cardimg name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Well, that guy is in a lot of trouble, he leaked government secrets out to the public. Needless to say, I’ll let the cat out of the bag on this one — [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is shaping up to be one of the best decks, if not the best deck of the 2017-2018 format! Why, you ask? One can not just ask this question without a 4,000 word article in front of you for your reading pleasure, my dearest Watson! Past the cringe-worthy post-apocalyptic introduction, the point as a writer that I was trying to demonstrate is that past formats are being emulated by future formats. This upcoming format will include a few new kids on the block, however the majority of the format will be played out by the same decks we saw at the 2016 World Championships. Keeping in mind a few cards that jump over from the Expanded format, it’s important to look at the parallels between the two, and notice that we’ll have (relatively) the same deck strategies entering this new format. Let’s have a look, shall we?
- Night March => Night March (plus [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card])
- Yveltal / Maxie’s => Yveltal / Maxies or Turbo Darkrai (plus [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card])
- Volcanion => Volcanion (plus [card name=”Ho-Oh-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Turtonator-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Kiawe” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card])
- Primal Groudon => Primal Groudon (plus [card name=”Wishful Baton” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card])
- [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]=> Trevenant (plus [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card])
These are all just decks that have been spawned into discussion over the past few days, and I’m sure the list could go on a little longer. Almost every single deck received a buff over the past set release of Burning Shadows, so we must adapt accordingly! Also important to note was the recent…
Ban List Update
Throughout the past few months, there have been a couple instances of updates to the Expanded ban list specifically! This is something that makes me happy as a player, because Pokemon is making sure there is effort put into what card combinations are born, and which card combinations are purged. In any card game I think this is something that provides a healthy metagame, and Pokemon is no different. On the website, Pokemon describes the banning of specific cards as follows:
“[card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]: The Forest of Giant Plants Stadium card enables many dangerous strategies with Grass-type Pokémon in the Expanded format. These strategies can range from locking down the opponent’s options to winning the game on the first turn, and all of them can happen before the opponent ever gets a chance to play. No single strategy was powerful enough to ban this Stadium card, but so many of them existing at the same time gave sufficient cause to ban it.”
“[card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card]: The existence of Archeops’s Ancient Power Ability has a very negative effect on decks that rely on evolved Pokémon. There are ways to combat it—Hex Maniac, Evosoda, or Wobbuffet are a few examples—but decks that focus on evolved Pokémon are forced to use these cards just to evolve their Pokémon. The combination of Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick with Archeops can stop Evolution before the opponent ever gets a chance to evolve their Pokémon, which limits the number of viable strategies. Removing a different part of the combo (Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick or Battle Compressor was also considered, but banning Archeops impacted existing strategies the least, so that was the route that made the most sense.”
Both of these cards were posing a threat to the current format, so in preparation for Regional-level events, and the 2018 season, Pokemon made the executive decision to forbid these from seeing play in the Expanded format. The exciting thing is that now that these cards are banned, [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] now has one of the best matchup spreads it has ever been graced with! Since Archeops has been banned, Greninja no longer has to waste time playing cards such as [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Evosoda” set=”Generations” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card] in order to evade the primal bird’s Ancient Power Ability. With Forest of Giant Plants being banned in the Expanded format, Greninja no longer has to deal with difficult Grass-type Pokemon, such as [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card], [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]. Greninja always struggled with these Pokemon since it has a glaring Weakness to Grass-type Pokemon, and some Grass-type Pokemon may even resist Water. In combination, both of these ban list cards pole-vault Greninja over the goal post, and with that in mind, we can move onto discussing Greninja’s strength as a card, and as a stand alone deck!
Greninja / Talonflame
[decklist name=”Greninja/Talonflame” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″][pokemon amt=”18″]3x [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ 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=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ 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=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]8x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card]2x [card name=”Splash Energy” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Strategy
Much like every deck, there’s usually a strategy! In this deck’s case, it uses a unique strategy of utilizing Pokemon that only give up one Prize each in order to force the opponent to take six KOs! This is of course at a cost, and in this case, that cost is overall consistency (which we’ll talk about a little bit later on). Our ideal setup is to begin with [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card], and then on the second turn use [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card]’s Water Duplicates attack to spawn off your field with as many of the Stage 1 frog as possible. Proceed to then setup as many [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] as applicable, and then preserve their HP with [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card].
The BREAK opens up many dynamics that the regular Greninja could never provide — the BREAK evolution can snipe Bench Pokemon by utilizing Giant Water Shuriken! This Ability comes at the cost of a single Water, and Greninja BREAK must be Active. In some builds, we can retain the Water Energy and bounce them back to our hand at the leisure of [card name=”Starmie” set=”Evolutions” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], and its lovely Space Beacon Ability. The overall game-plan is to keep our Greninja on the board for as long as possible in order to maximize efficiency and damage, while using Talonflame in the early game to setup. Not exactly the newest concept, but a brief review can do wonders on reminding everybody just how lovely this deck is!
[premium]
Card Choices
We utilize a base list of something similar that Cody used at the 2016 World Championships. Let’s take a quick peak at some of the card choices we opted to make.
Four N, Four Professor Sycamore
These cards are in multiples of four because we want to maximize this decks consistency of drawing cards. Anything less than this would be doing the deck a disservice by not being able to draw into the cards it needs fluently enough. Likewise, there’s lots of clutter in the deck (like [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] past turn one), so it’s nice to do some damage control with a [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card]. In the same manor, [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] is a very strong card to play in a high count here, because it is able to manipulate your opponent’s hand size and eventually cause them to brick.
Three Froakie
[cardimg name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
“Three [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card]? You’re absolutely insane!”
That’s what they all say, I promise I’m not crazy though. The premise behind this count is that we want less basics in the deck so we start [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] more often. There’s a lot of math that goes into deciding probabilities like that, but when we decide to dedicate four spots to a card we need to open with on the first turn, as deck builders we’ll do anything to maximize odds. Even at the cost of cutting a fourth Froakie!
Four Talonflame
Ah, the reason why this deck is able to survive in this metagame! Entering the Expanded format is brutal, because there are so many back-breaking combinations that can total an opponent on as early as turn one. For us, we’re lucky to have a unique card such as [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] that’ll help us in order to smooth those bumps! One of the biggest hurdles to our success would be [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], the turn one Item-locking tree; we can get around this via Aero Blitz. By being able to search out one of our copies of [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], as well as any Pokemon we may need (or any card for that matter), we can heal off the spread damage put on us by [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card], and sneakily setup our board. Talonflame also proves to be a much needed buffer in terms of Prize-trade against Turbo Darkrai decks. While starting with a Froakie will be a snack for our opponent’s Darkrai-EX, we’ll have no problem taking a hit with out 130 HP Talonflame. These four spots are mandatory right now.
One Ace Trainer, One Teammates
These are cards that we use to round out our Supporter count to a nice even ten-count. We utilize [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card] as a more hazardous [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] in the early game, and as a way to draw more cards while disrupting in the mid-game. This is a beautiful card in combination with [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card], because in a deck without [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card], we’re able to capitalize on Aero Blitz.
[card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”name”][/card] really helps the deck in searching for key cards in order to progress your board state, or in order to return a KO from the opponent. Both of these cards have to be used when you’re behind (or in Teammates case, after an opposing KO). Luckily for [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], those are the most opportune times to use these cards, and will more than likely benefit us more than being ahead in terms of Prizes. It’s all about the board state, baby!
One Fisherman
[card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] plays a key role in the deck, allowing us to get back Energy from the discard pile. This has great synergy with [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]’s Ability, and earns its spot in this deck.
Four VS Seeker
I love playing counts of this card in combination with Supporters like [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card] — they’re very situational Supporters that we wouldn’t want to play heavy counts of, but when we need them, [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Supreme Victors” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] is always there to recycle them from the discard. Since we don’t play any support Pokemon besides [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card], we rely highly on draw Supporters; once we’ve played a single draw Supporter, all VS Seeker become live in the deck!
Three Rough Seas
[card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] are vital for our survival against [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] — without [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], we wouldn’t be able to heal off any damage from [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]’s Silent Fear attack. Their Item-lock is also quite pesky, so in combination with Talonflame, I feel that three Rough Seas is enough to coast off of. Rough Seas also helps us to create awkward numbers for our opponent, and can provide tons of use when our opponent can’t OHKO us (think [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card]). We’re constantly switching back and forth between our attackers, so keeping a few Greninja on the Bench and healing them off with this Stadium will give you tons of time to surf up on your opponent’s board.
One Battle Compressor
[cardimg name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
With the amount of testing I’ve done with this deck, I’ve gotten so much mileage off of this single [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]. Its main utility is to discard your excess [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] out of the deck so you don’t draw into them in the late game, but it’s also very efficient in getting our one-of Supporter cards out of the deck, as well as discarding Water for [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card]. An all around solid inclusion to this deck!
Two Rescue Stretcher, One Super Rod
As seen in Michael Long’s list, heavy [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] counts aid in setting up our army of frogs. [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] is mainly to give you the ability to recycle Water Energy back into the deck, while also being a “soft” Rescue Stretcher at the same time. As opposed to 2017 Standard, this 2018 Expanded Greninja deck doesn’t run [card name=”Starmie” set=”Evolutions” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], so we need to keep Energy flowing at all times.
Four Dive Ball, Two Ultra Ball
This count’s purpose is sheerly so that you don’t get donked — you’re going to need multiple [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] in play in order to ensure that you can setup. While it’s a bit of a stretch to sometimes get multiple Froakie in play (we play three), these Items will help you do the trick. [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] helps us to get rid of discard fodder, such as [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card].
Two Choice Band
[card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] helps Greninja reach numbers it couldn’t typically before, and the math adds up brilliantly with all of the attacks in the deck. For example, with a Choice Band, a [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] can use GWS and Moonlight Slash to OHKO an [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] (80 + 30 + 60 = 170).
One Field Blower
I know that I hate staring down [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] that I can’t knock off, don’t you? This is mainly used for this sole purpose, as well as getting rid of any Pokemon Tool that may be on a [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. The last thing we need is to not have our Abilities, and we wouldn’t want that now, would we? Field Blower is also very useful to knock off Float Stone from any [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW61″ c=”name”][/card], and limit our opponent’s mobility options.
One Computer Search
[cardimg name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
I really just wanted to comment on the Ace Spec of choice here — [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] really helps in terms of boosting consistency, which Greninja tends to lack. Other choices, such as [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Scoop Up Cyclone” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] would be cute, but we need a card that can dig us out of a bad hand pronto. Not to mention, this card greatly helps us discard excess [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card], while also nabbing us key cards out of the deck!
Eight Water, Two Splash Energy
We play a thinner line of [card name=”Splash Energy” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card]in this deck because we unfortunately can’t attach them to our Talonflame! In some cases, this greatly can delay our setup, and we can mitigate that risk by running a higher count of Water.
No Talonflame BREAK
While this can be a great addition to the deck, there aren’t many Fire-weak Pokemon in the Expanded format that we’re very worried about. Most of them became unplayable when [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] became banned. The HP boost is nice, but there are better cards to fit in over this.
No Bursting Balloon
[card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] is a very obscure card for this format right now, because it’s a dead card when playing against [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], but it’s very effective in terms of destroying glass cannon Night March decks, or whaling down on bullies like Darkrai-EX. If I were to play Bursting Balloon in the deck, I’d most likely take out the [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] so that the Tool slot on Greninja can be utilized for this pointy card.
No Silent Lab
I’m unsure how populous [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] will be in the next few Regionals, but either way we unfortunately can’t dedicate any slots to play [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] in an effort to counter the card. Our Stadium of choice will surely prove to be more effective against the prominent Trevenant deck, rather than the very rare Giratina tech.
No Guzma or Lysandre
This is probably the biggest surprise out of my list. I’m not a fan of this card whatsoever in Greninja, because it consistently under-performs in here. Try the list without it and you’ll see what I mean; rather than having a gust effect in the deck, I’d rather be more consistent and get off GWS as quick as possible. You’re sniping the Bench anyways, who needs a Supporter to do that anyways?
Matchups
Turbo Darkrai – 50 / 50
This is a matchup that becomes very close because the Darkrai player is just so fast compared to our slow setup. A list without [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] would easily succumb to Darkrai’s speed, but due to Talonflames steep 140 HP barrier, we’re actually able to resist a hit from Darkrai players. This allows us to slow down the Prize-trade in a way where we can catch up, and take surprise KOs via GWS. It’s likely that some Darkrai lists will play [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] which will hurt us in the late game, but [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card] will slow the opponent down. Another thing that can aid in this matchup is Shadow Stitching in order to prevent the opponent from using Dark Cloak. Then, when we damage the opposing Active, our opponent will be forced to pay the Retreat Cost in order to avenue benchward. This process is useful when we’re trying to vigorously catch up in the Prize-trade, and when we’ve most likely fallen behind. By forcing the opponent to hard retreat, they give up a percentage of their damage output with Dark Pulse.
Night March / Marshadow-GX – 65 / 35
This is a matchup I deem as highly favourable due to our opponent playing a “glass connon” style deck. These are decks that tend to dish out high amounts of damage, but tend to have very low HP. In Night March’s case, they gained a new tool to boost HP in the form of [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card]! Unfortunately for the Night March player, this means they now have to run a higher GX count, which allows the Greninja player to catch-up on the Prize-trade.
Night Marchers tend to be burdened greatly by GWS, as a single Water can KO any of their attackers for a Prize (provided they don’t have a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] attached). This game usually ends up with the Night March player falling behind in the late game since Greninja will eventually flood the board with [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]. N also hurts Night March more than the average deck since their attacker gets KOd every turn, they will always be consistently searching for an Energy and an attacker; when [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]’d to one card hands, sometimes this isn’t always within the real of possibility! [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] also pushes this matchup over the top, if you opt to play this deck that route.
Trevenant – 60 / 40
[cardimg name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
This matchup is based almost entirely around your odds of beginning the game with [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] — if you don’t begin with Talonflame, things can get rocky very quickly! You need to be able to search out your copies of [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] in this matchup (as well as conserve them properly) in order to fend off Silent Fear damage. The combination of Item-lock and spread is too much for this deck to handle without our feathered bird, as we would have no way to directly search them out of the deck! The brilliance behind Talonflame is that it not only provides key damage to opposing Trevenant, but allows us the time we need to setup [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], and then sweep our opponent’s board. When we do not begin with Talonflame, we are most likely going to lose the game. Likewise, when we do begin Talonflame, we have more than enough resources to ward off these haunted willows. We’re also not susceptible to [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] since we don’t play any Pokemon-EX or Pokemon-GX in this list.
Primal Groudon – 65 / 35
This is yet again, another positive matchup for [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card]! I wish I could say I’m being biased, but this deck is just way too good right now with all the ban listed cards! Our opponent’s most optimal start will be to wall with things such as [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Regirock” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY49″ c=”name”][/card], or [card name=”Bunnelby” set=”Primal Clash” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card]. We need time to setup, so do they. This is currently the slowest match in Expanded right now, as both ends just need so many pieces to develop board state, so it’s key you take a win game one, otherwise you will fall to time! Pro tip: if your hand is lacklustre or you prized too many [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card], consider scooping within the first few turns.
So, you’ll begin KO’ing several Wobbuffet, and the opponent will finally send up a [card name=”Primal Groudon-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card]. At this point, they’ll need to always have a Stadium on hand, as well as a Primal Groudon-EX on the Bench as a secondary attacker ready to go. Between [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card], natural draw, and pressure from GWS, they’ll whiff KOs, and this becomes our easiest Prize-trade matchup yet. The only way you can lose this match is if they draw very optimally, and you fall behind to lose game one, and then promptly get timed out in game two.
Volcanion – 65 / 35
This matchup is a giant blowout! Water Weakness makes it extremely easy for us to score OHKOs, especially with the addition of [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] to Expanded lists. In most cases, the Volcanion player will feel ahead in the early-mid game, but once we get a single [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]out in this matchup, they’ll be unable to KO it when you use Shadow Stitch. This matchup can sway pendant on whether Volcanion decks will play [card name=”Ho-Oh-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] in Expanded, but don’t be worried — it’s just another Pokemon-GX to feed our positive trade-off. Just setup, target wisely with GWS, and take OHKOs with Moonlight Slash (or play defensively with Shadow Stitch). Either way, it’s a hay-day!
Garbodor Variants – 40 / 60
This is a matchup that is being introduced into Expanded at Fort Wayne! Unfortunately, with the list we play right now, we are unable to boast a positive matchup to the trashbag himself, [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]. If we played a second copy of [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], it would be a lot closer! Without the second copy, they’ll establish Garbotoxin and just beat us down with efficient attacks. In order to combat this, just try to play as few Items as possible, and use [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] to directly search things out instead of playing cards such as [card name=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card].
Mega Rayquaza – 30 / 70 (60 / 40 without Giratina)
[cardimg name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
This deck is popularized for running [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] due to Alex Wilson’s performance at St. Louis Regionals, where he played a single copy of this card to victory. This is a deck that has a weird spot in the metagame right now due to [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] becoming popular once again, and I’m unsure if it will be played in high numbers. My estimate is that it will be played in small amount, allowing Greninja to succeed. If the deck opts to not play Giratina, than we’ll be able to use GWS and [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] to whittle down our opponent’s field. Otherwise, we have no way to shutoff Devour Light, and will suffer the consequences of playing a BREAK Pokemon.
Battle at Fort Wayne Wargrounds
This years first Regional Championships takes place just two weeks after the World Championships, and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the 2018 season! After a shakey Worlds performance from myself, I’m eager to jump back into action and play out this year with a higher insight than I had in previous seasons. I urge you to try this list out and let me know what you think of it! It has a ton of potential given all the factors stated in the article, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it take home the trophy this upcoming weekend. I can’t wait to see all of you lovely readers at the debut Regionals of the season, in Fort Wyne, Indiana! Until then, cheers PokeBeach, and remember, get lucky, run hot!
~Jay Lesage
#PlayPokemon
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