Beginning with BREAKthrough-on — Advice and Updates for Standard

By: John Kettler · Posted Posted onSep 5, 2017 at 10:08 PM · 0 Comments

A new season means we have a new Standard format — BKT-on, to be precise! However, it is a little uncertain where we as players and deck builders will go from here, especially since we have lost more important cards than possibly any other point over the last three years.

Today, I will help you navigate this new Standard: first by going over the most important new differences, and second by offering a detailed analysis of four post-rotation archetypes, and how my changes could help keep them afloat for the coming tournament season.

An Approach to the New Format: Not as Hard as We Thought!

[cardimg name=”VS Seeker” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”110″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Finding a replacement was not hard.[/cardimg]

For the first time in a while, we are experiencing a Standard format rotation that makes a big impact on the way decks are built. I’m going to spend this section talking about the most important losses, deck construction issues resulting from those cards’ loss, and how we can fill those voids with the current card pool. As we go staple by staple, I hope it becomes clear that adjusting to the changes will not actually be all that hard.

Problem: Decks Now Have Weaker Mid and Late Games

Losing [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card] is a big loss, but it will be surprisingly easy to replace. For the past three years, the core of most lists have looked more or less like this:

• 3 – 4 [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card]
• 2 – 4 [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”Steam Siege” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card]
• 1 – 4 [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card]

That, right there, was draw power — and reusable draw power, at that. It is the perfect balance between aggressive discard draw and conservative shuffle draw at all points in the game. Now with VS Seeker gone, you will have to be much more careful in when you play your N or Professor Sycamore; otherwise, you may be entirely out of draw as early as the second or third turn. To add insult to injury, many decks might not even have enough draw cards anymore, since four N and four Professor Sycamore might not be enough!

Solution: Play a Couple More Draw and Search Cards

It’s tough to find the ideal counts for setting up, as well as continuing to draw cards late into the game, but a lot of the loss of VS Seeker can be handled simply by running more of these outs to good cards. [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] smooths out this whole problem of “not enough good draw Supporters” by giving you an instant couple of outs to N or Professor Sycamore, and [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] is an excellent turn one alternative which will surely save your core draw cards for later.

In two of the below lists, you’ll see me take radically different directions in updating them for the new Standard, but they both follow this same general principle: replace VS Seekers with more consistency cards.

Problem: Tech and Utility Supporters are Harder to Time Right or Conserve Until the Late Game

Since VS Seeker’s re-release in Phantom Forces, securing tech Supporter cards for later periods of the game was simple: You just had to draw into it, discard or use it, and then all of your VS Seeker became outs to using that Supporter. Now that VS Seeker is gone, being able to secure the timing of those tech Supporters is much harder, and will arguably make them weaker cards as a result.

Solution 1: Stop Playing Tech Supporters

This is the first response you will see from many deck builders at this early point in the season, but generally speaking, it’s unwise to forsake the utility Supporters. As we discussed above, [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] being such a good attacker and search card is a complete game-changer, making utility Supporters a far safer call. Therefore, this solution is not a “solution” so much as a poor reaction to a new situation.

This advice might be decent, however, when applied to tech Supporters that do not make as big of a difference on the outcome of a game as they would have otherwise. For example, [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] is a powerful Energy-discarding Supporter, but only when timed perfectly. That actually involves not only timing your discard right, but at a point in the game where discarding cards from your hand will not lose you the game. Now that Plumeria is so much harder to use, players who might have teched it into their lists may think twice.

Solution 2: Play More of Certain Tech or Utility Cards

While I use terms like “tech” and “utility” interchangeably, I should clarify that tech cards are single copies, whereas utility cards are non-draw / non-setup options. At any rate, playing bigger counts of these cards could be the better option than simply not running them at all.

[card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] instantly comes to mind as the best example of a card that will go up in count. Given that most players were already running two copies, would it really surprise you to see them run a third copy to accommodate for the loss of VS Seeker.

Shaymin-EX: Not as Big of a Loss as You’d Think

[cardimg name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Just when you got your full art![/cardimg]

Several decks are already treating the loss of [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] as a zero-sum game: for every Shaymin-EX you can no longer play, run a Tapu Lele-GX. Many deck lists such as both the NAIC-winning [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] and the Worlds-winning [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] have already moved away entirely from Shaymin-EX, but in case your deck needed the extra boost for consistency, just run more Lele.

However, there is a role Shaymin-EX fits which Tapu Lele-GX does not quite meet…

Problem: Decks are Less “N-proof” Than Before

In the final stages of a long, close game, your opponent will probably use an [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] against you. This card will force you to shuffle your hand into your deck and draw a single card, because you most likely only have a single Prize left. Because Shaymin-EX was such an important card, players would often plan ahead and orchestrate a game so that they would draw their last two Prize cards at the same time, letting them draw more cards off of the opponent’s N and put them in range to use any spare [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card]. (Two cards for N plus a card for the turn is just enough to play Ultra Ball!)

Now that Shaymin-EX is gone, an important element of N recovery is gone with it. However, recent releases have already been preparing us for this change…

Solution: Play Oranguru

[card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] already saw a lot of play to counter N drops, and while it may not draw into as many cards as a Shaymin-EX does when it uses Set Up, it is arguably much better in both formats as a hard answer to late game N. Sure, drawing into large combinations of cards to win a game is no longer feasible, but with an Oranguru, you can at least increase your odds exponentially of drawing into small combinations of cards to seal a close game.

Problem: Setting up Stage 2 Pokemon is Harder Than Before

[card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] were important cards for the majority of the time both were legal, and were frequent features in the [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] archetypes last season. Now that both are gone, it is simply much harder to set up Stage 2 lines outside of Fairy decks ([card name=”Diancie” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] works wonders to get Stage 1 Pokemon into play).

Solution: Run More Ways to Fetch Basics as Well as Stage 1s

Similar to the above approach of simply replacing [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card] with more Supporters, you will also benefit by replacing your Level Ball and Dive Ball with more ways to get the pre-evolved pieces of your Stage 2 Pokemon into play. The number one way to do this is to either run [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] if you were not already, or to run an additional copy of Brigette. For those pesky Stage 1 lines, you can run options like [card name=”Evosoda” set=”Generations” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card] or even [card name=”Wally” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card], which have the added bonus of getting your Stage 2 Pokemon into play.

Four Formatted Favorites: Archetype Updates and Discussion

Now that we’ve gone over the main changes to deck-building trends, let’s see those changes in action! Listed below are four decks: two archetypes that dominated Worlds and will continue to remain on top; and two old favorites that need major revisions in order to remain viable.

Gardevoir-GX

[decklist name=”Gardevoir GX” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″][pokemon amt=”19″]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=”Kirlia” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Diancie” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”29″]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]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ 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]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”EX Sandstorm” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/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=”Evolutions” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

The 2017 World Championship winner remains a top tier contender going into the immediate set of Standard tournaments. This list is mostly the same as the one Diego Cassiraga won with in the Masters division, although you’ll notice some important alterations to make it 2017 – 2018 compliant.

[premium]

Maintaining the Status Quo-kemon

Diego’s Pokemon line from Worlds remains unchanged because I believe it is an almost perfect composition of the lines. I have altered the Kirlia a bit to reflect which options I prefer out of that Stage 1, but it is a pretty minor difference of opinion. If you felt like you must change something about this, run an extra consistency Pokemon like [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card].

[cardimg name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”122″ align=”right” c=”custom”]I’m still around![/cardimg]

Higher Supporter Count

Earlier we discussed the need to compensate for VS Seeker’s loss by running more of the critical setup cards. These include a second [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card]to assure early game Basic-grabbing, four N for maximum draw power, and even a single copy of [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] to grab critical Item cards for getting out our Gardevoir-GX, such as [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] and Ultra Ball.

Three Guzma

Earlier we discussed the need for more utility cards in order to accommodate for an inability to reuse Supporters prior to our GX attack. Three [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] not only means we have high odds of drawing it it; we also can afford occasionally discarding one via Ultra Ball or Professor Sycamore.

One Acerola

You’ll notice that [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card], a popular inclusion in Gardevoir during the World Championships, remains as a one-of copy. While I consider a powerful effect like Guzma to require more copies, I have discovered that a less aggressive effect such as Acerola’s healing is fine to keep as a single copy. Other changes I have made to the deck, as as four N and two Brigette, supply us with more opportunities to avoid being forced into discarding Acerola when we are not quite ready to use it.

Possible Changes

While I love four [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] in a deck revolving around a Stage 2 Pokemon, you might find that the fourth one could be better invested into another draw or search card. To that end, I might consider a [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] in this spot.

Golisopod-GX / Garbodor

[decklist name=”Golisopod/Garbodor” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″][pokemon amt=”19″]3x [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Wimpod” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”16″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Magearna-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY175″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Koko” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM30″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/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]4x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Multi Switch” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”129″ 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=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

The 2017 runner-up loses very little headed into the new season. However, the loss of [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card] makes your switching capabilities a little clunkier, and we had two great variants to work from, so here is my definitive starting point for the archetype.

Card Choices

4-3 Golisopod-GX

A maximum count on [card name=”Wimpod” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] lets us move freely between first-turn Active Pokemon, allowing us to protect our low-HP Basics until they are ready to become [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]. Speaking of which, the only reason why we do not run four Golisopod-GX is because there are already enough outs into finding the card — four Ultra Ball and a [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card], to be precise.

3-2/1 Garbodor (Emphasis on Trashalanche)

[cardimg name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ align=”right” c=”custom”]I’m not trash now![/cardimg]

In many ways, the loss of VS Seeker and [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] means that Garbodor from Guardians Rising becomes a decisively worse attacker. Nevertheless, I actually focus on it over the arguably stronger Ability-locking [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] from BREAKpoint because Trashalanche serves as a solid alternative in the late game to all of Golisopod-GX’s attacks, which are mostly strong early-game options.

Three Tapu Lele-GX

In some games, Golisopod-GX is a poor attacker, and in some situations there are not enough Items to make Garbodor even capable of attacking. It’s these awkward situations where Tapu Lele-GX shines, posing as a respectable offensive threat in order to exert enough of your opponent’s resources, Items preferably. And as always, Tapu Lele-GX’s Wonder Tag is increased consistency, making the odds of a turn one [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] even greater.

One Magearna-EX

One aspect of Sho’s Top 4 list I loved, which unfortunately did not make it into the second place list, was a [card name=”Magearna-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] to hard-counter the Gardevoir-GX matchup. This card is also a great option when facing down [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] decks, or even opposing Trashalanche variants.

One Tapu Koko

[card name=”Tapu Koko” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM30″ c=”name”][/card] with its high HP, versatile Flying Flip attack, and free retreat remains a valuable addition to the Golisopod-GX lineup. Unfortunately, there may be fewer matchups where its Flying Flip attack makes that big of a difference.

One Oranguru

We are directly applying our replacement logic from above, accounting for the loss of crucial cards like VS Seeker and [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] with a copy of [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] to keep our hands full when our opponents play N to give us a single card.

Four N, Four Professor Sycamore

Again, we are taking our own advice and running as many of these two draw Supporters as possible!

Four Guzma, Two Acerola

First Impression is the most important attack in the deck, and being able to activate it at a moment’s notice is absolutely crucial to win a game with [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]. It’s no surprise then that I run an insane number of utility Supporters that also let you reset your Active Pokemon. In case you find running six of these Supporters to be clunky, or not versatile enough for spots where you just need to draw cards, you may consider taking one of these out for a [card name=”Switch” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card].

Four Float Stone, Two Choice Band

Because [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] is the perfect method of “resetting” [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]’s First Impression attack, and because [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] is crucial in arriving at key damage counts, I’ve included both. The reason why I emphasize Float Stone though is because of the above need to keep First Impression working like a charm.

Two Multi Switch

We have a lot of different attackers, and a lot of Special Energy, so [card name=”Multi Switch” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] is a wonderful way to charge up and attack with a Magearna-EX out of nowhere.

Greninja

[decklist name=”Greninja” amt=”60″ caption=”undefined” cname=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″][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=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Wally” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”94″ 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=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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] 

[card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is a deck that failed to impress in either major Masters event at the World Championship, and looks like it is on a steady decline headed into the new season. An already inconsistent deck, Greninja is perhaps more hindered by the loss of Item search and [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card] than any other deck in the format. I have so far had the least success making this work out of any of the four major archetypes in today’s article, but the fact I can keep this thing afloat is a miracle… kind of.

On Using Talonflame

[cardimg name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Greninja IS consistent[/cardimg]

Greninja is historically played either with [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] as a starter, or with no starter at all and a tech 1-1 [card name=”Starmie” set=”Evolutions” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] line to get back Energy. I have decided to go with Talonflame headed into the new season because let’s face it: this deck needs all of the search it can get. Another option, which might be worth investigating, is to run a normalized draw engine featuring an [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] line. Such a line may include a 2-1 or 2-2 [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card], and even a [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]!

12 Draw Supporters

You may be gasping for breath looking at the number of draw cards I run, but in a deck that runs no [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card], Octillery, or Tapu Lele-GX, lots of draw is  what will let us chain our Greninja, hit late game Water Energy, and stay in the entire game. The huge [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] count has been surprisingly effective, permitting me to sustain a stronger first turn while not having to discard precious resources off of [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card]. As later revisions of the deck come in, I might cut the [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] or remove them entirely, but for now they smooth out an otherwise shaky deck.

Three Guzma, Two Fisherman

Both of these cards are great when timed right, so I have again followed my own advice and simply chosen to run more of them. As time goes on, I may find that [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] simply isn’t reliable enough to keep, and so may cut them for something Item-based like [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Energy Recycler” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card].

Four Ultra Ball, Three Nest Ball

One of the biggest problems I have encountered with post-rotation Greninja is the surprisingly high chances of losing a game due to benching. To correct this, as well as increase my odds of getting a [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] into play turn one, I run three [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] to supplement my four Ultra Ball, which will probably now be a staple in any attempt at Greninja in Standard. Without a doubt, this search lineup is much uglier than anything at your disposal in Expanded. Nevertheless, sometimes updating decks for Standard simply amounts to making them.

Alternate Options

[card name=”Evosoda” set=”Generations” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card], more [card name=”Wally” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC27″ c=”name”][/card], and even a tech [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] are all solid options.

Core Supporters are the Same as Before

Decidueye / Vileplume has practically trained me into not feeling the urge to always play [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”EX FireRed and LeafGreen” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] in my lists, so when I decided to copy and paste my core Decidueye / Vileplume Supporter line, it came as no surprise that it worked as well as ever. Four [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card], Four [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card], and three [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] on top of four Ultra Ball means you have enough draw selections to last you a full game. As for two [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card], I figure this amount does not need to be changed despite the loss of VS Seeker because our whole deck is nothing but Bench hitters!

One Brigette

[card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] is no longer a turbo deck, so that means Brigette becomes even more important for setting Feather Arrow up than before. I strongly considered running two copies like I did in the Gardevoir-GX list, but two [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] and a slew of free retreat options make games where I prize Brigette not too problematic.

One Wally

[card name=”Wally” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC27″ c=”name”][/card] is a strange but surprisingly helpful inclusion in this updated list. The first and most important reason for why I run it is in order to accelerate my second Decidueye-GX. The second benefit is when you draw the perfect card combination to allow for a turn one [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card], which can be impressive when up against [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card].

One Skyla

We run [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] in here for many of the same reasons we run Skyla in Gardevoir-GX. I also find a great deal of utility in Skyla because it is a guaranteed way to access [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], a card for this deck that is crucial in nearly every matchup you will play in the new Standard format.

One Acerola

[cardimg name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ align=”right” c=”custom”]So annoying![/cardimg]

Again like our Gardevoir-GX list, we can manage our resources effectively through well-timed [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] to be sure we do not discard Acerola prematurely. However, Decidueye-GX enjoys the added bonus of being able to retrieve Acerola thanks to Hollow Hunt GX, making the one-of Supporter not too problematic in getting to use.

One Super Rod, One Rescue Stretcher, Zero Revitalizer

Longtime fans of Decidueye-GX may be very surprised at the thought of not running [card name=”Revitalizer” set=”Generations” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card]. Despite the immediate benefit in getting two pieces to a Decidueye-GX line at once, the card is far weaker in a format without [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] because you cannot immediately play down the Grass Pokemon you just grabbed. This results in an oftentimes wasted recovery card, so I decided the spots would be better served with [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card]. Super Rod is a neat way to replenish both my Pokemon and my basic Grass Energy, and Rescue Stretcher is a balance between the occasional need for instant gratification or higher counts of Pokemon preservation.

Four Grass Energy

I still remain a fan of four Grass Energy in Decidueye-GX lists because each time you draw one, you know that you can activate a Hollow Hunt GX if you need to do so. In a slower format like the Standard we have now, Hollow Hunt’s recovery becomes even stronger since you now have more time to use the resources you grabbed, so I would rather not risk whiffing the card when my draw power is also weaker now (i.e., no more [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]).

Conclusion

I love the start of a new season. Despite the fact that much of our understanding of where to begin with a changed format is based on what previously worked, we nevertheless have to find new ways to succeed regardless of deck choice. It keeps the game fresh, skill-based, and very fun and engaging.

Best of luck in your deck building endeavors, and take full advantage of these starting points I’ve given you for the 2017 – 2018 season!

~Kettler

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