Doggos for Days — An Analysis of Lycanroc-GX / Zoroark-GX

Hey there, Beachers. Today’s article is all about my favorite doggos, [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]. When Guardians Rising was released, a friend asked me what cards he needed to pick up from the set. I mentioned Lycanroc-GX, and specifically said “this card is not good right now, but you should pick up two or three copies because it is going to be great in the right format.” Six months later, I can confidently say that this is the right format for Lycanroc-GX to shine.

At its core, this is still primarily a Zoroark-GX deck. The card is simply too powerful to ignore, providing built-in draw support, a cheap and effective attack, and a beefy 210 HP that makes it difficult to OHKO without hitting for Weakness. Lycanroc-GX makes the deck pop, providing the ability to OHKO any Pokemon with its GX attack if your opponent has a large enough Bench. Its Ability, Bloodthirsty Eyes, allows you to gain the effect of [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] without playing a Supporter. Since you do not need to use a Supporter for a gust effect, and you often do not need a Supporter to draw cards because of Zoroark-GX’s Trade Ability, you are free to use other powerful powerful Supporters such as [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card].

I recently played this deck to a Top 4 finish at a League Cup. During the swiss rounds, I actually won all of my matches without my opponent taking a single Prize. This deck is incredibly powerful, and it is currently one of my top choices for this weekend’s Memphis Regionals.

What to Expect in Memphis

Before we start diving into the deck, I want to cover the expected Memphis metagame. We are in an odd spot right now. I expect to see many different decks represented in day two of Memphis, but a common theme persists among them: [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]. As I mentioned before, the card is simply too good not to play. In rough order of Day 2 meta share, here is what I expect to see in Memphis:

• [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]
• Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]
• Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]
• Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX
• [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] / Lycanroc-GX
• [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]
• [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]

Gardevoir-GX

[cardimg name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”159″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] is still the most broken card in Standard, and is nearly unstoppable when it sets up. On top of that, [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] gives this deck a natural counter to the second-most broken card, Zoroark-GX. The one catch is that Gardevoir is a Stage 2 deck, giving it some inherent inconsistency. It generally plays a 1-1 line of [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] to help with mid to late game draws, but this has some flaws as well. If one piece of the 1-1 line is prized, you have a much harder time getting Octillery into play. Similarly, if your opponent takes an early Knock Out on [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card], you end up in the same boat. When the deck works, it really works, but it can be a bit spooky to play.

Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX

This deck just won the 2017 European International Championships, so it has some obvious attention focused on it. It is incredibly consistent, and can take early Knock Outs on anything with less than 120 HP. The one downside to the deck is that it has a fairly low damage cap. [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] can deal 180 damage once (by using its GX attack), but beyond that you are generally capped at 150 damage, which is not enough to take a Knock Out on any commonly used EX or GX Pokemon. Instead, the deck focuses on consistently using [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] turn after turn to deny opponents their own Knock Outs.

Zoroark-GX / Decidueye-GX

[card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] is an interesting partner for Zoroark-GX. It attempts to solve the damage cap problem posed by Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX  by augmenting Zoroark-GX’s damage with Decidueye-GX’s Feather Arrow Ability. Decidueye-GX also has a beefy 240 HP, allowing you to tank by using [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] to heal damage away. It is a cool concept that has had some success at recent League Cups.

Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX

Hey, that’s what this article is about! Obviously I am a fan of the deck, and with any luck I will be one of the 32+ players representing Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX in day two in Memphis. I doubt I am the only one on this line of thought, so I expect to see a couple more in day two.

Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX

It’s our favorite doggo paired up with the beastly [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. While both this deck and the one above feature Lycanroc-GX, their strategies are usually very different. Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX is an aggressive deck that aims to take quick Knock Outs on big Pokemon-EX and Pokemon-GX, closing out the game before your opponent can set up.

Greninja BREAK

When this deck works, it really works. I would expect to play against at least one [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] in Memphis. If your deck cannot beat Greninja without playing [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card], then ‘Tina is likely worth a slot in your list.

Vikavolt / Tapu Bulu-GX

This is another Stage 2 deck that hinges on its early game. This deck has a near cult-like following, so you can expect its biggest fans to stick with it and one or two of them to sneak into day two.

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Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX

[decklist name=”Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″][pokemon amt=”18″]4x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Zoroark” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM06″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]4x [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ 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=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Next Destinies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”EX Holon Phantoms” no=”110″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

This is the list I played at a League Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina. Credit goes to Zach Elliott for the initial list, and to James Miller for refining it to its current form. We included one copy of [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] to harass our opponent and take easy Knock Outs in the early game, while we set up Lycanroc-GX to take a big KO later.

Buzzwole-GX

[cardimg name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

We only play one copy, but this is one of most useful attackers in the deck. Since Buzzwole-GX is a Pokemon-GX , not a Pokemon-EX, [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] can search it out with ease on the first turn. If your opening hand also includes a [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card], you can swing for 50 damage plus a 30-damage snipe on the first turn. With Zoroark-GX such a staple in the current metagame, targeting an opposing [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] is a common play, giving you a quick and easy Knock Out on turn one while setting you up for another easy Knock Out on the next turn. We only included one copy, however, because we are unlikely to ever use it a second time, and the deck’s core strategy does not break down if Buzzwole-GX is prized.

Mewtwo

[card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] is a tech attacker intended to cover up Zoroark-GX’s Weakness to Fighting. We included it in the deck to deal with [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] and Buzzwole-GX. Against Gallade, you can use Mewtwo and a [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to Knock Out Gallade in one shot. Mewtwo can also be used to Knock Out a Buzzwole-GX if your opponent attaches three Energy to it. Even if only one Energy is attached to Buzzwole-GX, Mewtwo can still deal enough damage to be a nuisance, and it helps maintain a favorable Prize-trade by only giving up one Prize when it’s Knocked Out.

Three Float Stone

Three [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] is definitely a heavier count than I have seen other versions of this deck playing. In the early game, Float Stone is vital to getting the right Pokemon Active to start attacking with. Later on, you usually need Float Stone to retreat into Lycanroc-GX to take an important Knock Out. The one difference between Bloodthirsty Eyes and [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] is that the Ability does not allow you to switch into another of your Pokemon. This means that you have to find a way to get Lycanroc-GX into the Active spot to Knock Out your intended target.

Potential Inclusions

Giratina Promo

Like I mentioned earlier, [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] is a nuisance that you can expect to play against at least once in almost any major tournament. Giratina is a hard counter to the deck, solidifying the matchup for you. In any other matchup, it simply serves as fodder for Zoroark-GX’s Trade Ability, minimizing the expense of having a dead card in the deck.

Energy Loto

One of the common complaints players have when playing this deck is missing an Energy attachment at a key time, or having the wrong  kind of Energy in hand. Sitting on a hand of Strong Energy with only Zoroark-GX in play can be frustrating. [card name=”Energy Loto” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] essentially allows you to play one more of each Energy card, as long as you are a little lucky.

Three Brigette

Whether or not the third [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] should be included is a hotly contested topic. I like the idea of three Brigette, and I usually start any Zoroark-GX list with that many. A high count increases your odds of starting with it in your opening hand without playing down [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]. However, I always found myself wanting other cards more. I don’t remember what card took the place of the third Brigette, but now I am too attached to the current counts in this list to cut something for it.

Matchups

On paper, almost every matchup looks bad for [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]. Most decks hit either Zoroark-GX or Lycanroc-GX for Weakness, so it looks underwhelming. In action, what makes this deck great is the fact that it has so many options. It plays seven different Supporter cards, which is unheard of in other current Standard decks. Without [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”EX FireRed and LeafGreen” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] in format, thin Supporter lines are usually bad. However, the combination of [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] and Trade gives this deck a pseudo-[card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card].

In almost every matchup, attaching an Energy to [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM06″ c=”name”][/card] while attacking with something else will be one of your best plays. This allows you to either attack with Lycanroc-GX on the following turn, or attack again with your original attacker if your opponent uses Guzma to Knock Out your Rockruff. Either way, your opponent is left on the defensive.

Gardevoir-GX

[cardimg name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The early game can be vital in this matchup. Your biggest asset early on is [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. By only attaching one Energy, you make it difficult for [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] to take a Knock Out, and you can simultaneously harass your opponent’s low-HP Basic Pokemon. You want to target down [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] early on, so that your opponent cannot easily recover from a late game [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card]. If your opponent benches four or more Pokemon, Lycanroc-GX is almost guaranteed to take a Knock Out with Dangerous Rogue GX at some point in the game. If your opponent does not Bench four or more Pokemon, they are probably not setting up particularly well, which is also good for you. If you can keep Octillery off of your opponent’s board, and Knock Out a Gardevoir-GX with Dangerous Rogue GX, you are usually in a commanding position to finish out the game. Without access to Octillery, it is unlikely that your opponent will be able to respond with a return KO on your Lycanroc-GX, allowing you to take another KO on the following turn.

That is the ideal way for this matchup to play out, but obviously “ideal” does not happen every game. If your opponent goes first and hits multiple [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] on turn two, it can be difficult to keep up pace. Mewtwo can help swing things back in your favor if your opponent starts swinging with [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card], but remember you need to have [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to take a Knock Out.

Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX

This is an interesting matchup. Our side attacker (Lycanroc-GX) hits for Weakness to OHKO the opponent’s main attacker (Zoroark-GX), but their side attacker also hits for Weakness to OHKO our main attacker. On our side, [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] is a liability, but that does not mean you should ignore it. It is important to only evolve Rockruff into Lycanroc-GX when you are ready to swing for a Knock Out. As long as your opponent has a [card name=”Wimpod” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] in play, you can expect to see a return KO on your Lycanroc-GX. If Bloodthirsty Eyes will still swing the match in your favor, playing the Lycanroc-GX can easily be worth the sacrifice. The other way you can utilize Lycanroc-GX is to take a Knock Out on [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]. On its own, Zoroark-GX is only capable of dealing a maximum of 150 damage (with a full Bench and a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card]. By playing Professor Kukui, we can increase that damage to 170, which is just enough to Knock Out Tapu Lele-GX. The catch is that Tapu Lele-GX will almost always be on our opponent’s Bench, not in the Active spot. Since we cannot use [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] and Professor Kukui in the same turn, we can instead use Bloodthirsty Eyes, bring out the Tapu Lele-GX, play Professor Kukui, and take the Knock Out. This poses the same risk as attacking with Lycanroc-GX, since Golisopod-GX can easily Knock Out your Lycanroc-GX if they play a Guzma. However, if you have only two Prizes left, this play is a no-brainer since it guarantees the win.

The main way to gain advantage throughout the game is with Buzzwole-GX. It is difficult to OHKO something with Buzzwole-GX in this matchup, but the snipe damage can be annoying to your opponent. Your opponent can only use Acerola to pick up, at most, one Pokemon per turn. Leaving 30 damage on a Tapu Lele-GX sets it up for an easy Knock Out in the future, and leaving 30 damage on a Zoroark-GX opens up ways for Buzzwole-GX to take a Knock Out on that as well. If you can attack with Buzzwole-GX and use [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] to recycle it for multiple turns, you put yourself in a strong position to win the game. With a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], and either two Strong Energy or one Strong Energy and a Professor Kukui, Jet Punch deals 200 damage to an opposing Zoroark-GX!

Zoroark-GX / Decidueye-GX

This is one of the closer matchups I have played. [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] is the main threat in this deck, since it can Knock Out your [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] in one hit. Fortunately, Decidueye-GX takes two Energy attachments to attack, which gives you some advance warning. It is important to keep an Energy attached to a Rockruff or Lycanroc-GX so that you can quickly KO a Decidueye-GX if they ever attach Energy to it. Your opponent has to bench at least four Pokemon to really get their game going, so you have a fairly easy time hitting Decidueye-GX for a Knock Out with Dangerous Rogue GX. As long as your opponent cannot attack with Decidueye-GX, you can usually take at least four Prizes with Lycanroc-GX before your opponent is able to KO it. Just like in the Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX matchup, Buzzwole-GX can be a powerful early game attacker here as well. The one difference is that your opponent is actually able to Knock Out Buzzwole-GX in one hit if they have multiple Decidueye-GX in play. By using two Feather Arrows and attacking with Zoroark-GX, they can deal exactly 190 damage.

Ultimately, this matchup usually comes down to how quickly your opponent can get multiple Decidueye-GX into play, and if they can attach multiple Energy to one of them. It is important to remember that this deck almost always plays [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] so you have to be careful to not leave any damaged GX Pokemon in play, or you can be hit with a devastating Feather Arrow plus Miraculous Shine combo that will Knock Out multiple Pokemon in one turn.

Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX (The Mirror)

In the mirror, Lycanroc-GX is the MVP. The first player to attack with one is likely going to win, which means any Rockruff or Lycanroc-GX with Energy attached is the biggest weapon you possess. It can take easy Knock Outs on Zoroark-GX, as well as a decisive KO on an opposing Lycanroc-GX or Buzzwole-GX by using Dangerous Rogue GX. Outside of Lycanroc-GX, your best attacker in the mirror is Buzzwole-GX. It sets up two-shots the same way Zoroark-GX does, except that it can potentially set up a two-shot on two different Pokemon by sniping 30 to the Bench.

Finally, it is important to remember that Tapu Lele-GX is a liability in the mirror. Using Bloodthirsty Eyes and [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to deal 170 damage with Zoroark-GX is a great way to swing the Prize trade to your advantage.

Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX

This sounds like a terrible matchup on paper. They hit [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] for Weakness, while you struggle to take Knock Outs. The reality is that Zoroark-GX’s consistency factor makes the matchup much closer than it seems, and [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] forces your opponent to be careful not to load up a single Buzzwole-GX with too many Energy. Similar to in the mirror match, Lycanroc-GX is your most useful attacker, since it can take an important KO and it is difficult for your opponent to KO in return. Claw Slash can also hit some important numbers, even when it is not hitting for Weakness. With one [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], you have 160 damage right off the bat. A second Strong Energy or a Professor Kukui boosts that to 180 damage. If you manage both, you can swing for 200 damage. To be honest, though, if you manage to load up that much on a Lycanroc-GX, you are probably already winning the game. If your opponent takes a quick lead, one of your best paths to victory is going to be playing [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] to shrink their hand to a low size and then taking a key KO to leave them with a weak board state.

Greninja BREAK

If you play [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card], this matchup is essentially free. If your opponent cannot use Giant Water Shuriken, even taking two-shots with Zoroark-GX is enough to secure the matchup. Without Giratina, it is a little more difficult.

[cardimg name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

If you go first, you are almost guaranteed to take a Knock Out on your second turn, since you have so many attackers capable of dealing quick, easy damage. The first three Prizes should all come fairly easily; the match then becomes a race to Knock Out their [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] faster than they can get multiple [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] into play. Unfortunately, [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] only deals 120 damage with a full Bench, and with Greninja using Shadow Stitching, it is difficult to draw into Professor Kukui to boost that damage to 140 to OHKO a Greninja. If you can set up a Lycanroc-GX without having its Energy discard by [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card], you gain a way to deal 130 damage fairly easily (Claw Slash with a Strong Energy). If your opponent has at least three Pokemon on the Bench, it also allows you to deal 170 damage with its GX move, enough to Knock Out a Greninja BREAK.

Vikavolt / Tapu Bulu-GX

Like in most matchups, your big advantage here is Zoroark-GX’s incredibly consistency. You will have a difficult time knocking out [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] in one hit, since [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] is your only way of doing so. Instead, you can focus on Zoroark-GX and trading hits while trying to avoid getting Knocked Out. With any luck you should start the game at least one Prize ahead, since you can start taking quick KOs more easily. If they only bench one Grubbin, you may even be able to KO it before they evolve into [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]. If they can’t get a Vikavolt into play, the matchup is much easier. Once they get Vikavolt into play, they can take a OHKO with Tapu Bulu-GX by attaching a Choice Band. Once they get a Vikavolt into play, it’s possible for them to end the game in three turns. If you are lucky, you may be able to take enough Prizes before that happens to lock up the game. Unfortunately, that leaves much of the matchup in the hands of your opponent and their luck, instead of your decisions.

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned in the intro, this deck is currently my top choice for Memphis Regionals. The combination of consistent draw power and a powerful attacker makes it my ideal variety of deck. If you haven’t tried it out yet, I would definitely recommend it. The number of options available to you are incredible, and it takes some practice to remember all of them. Looking back the games I played at the League Cup, I realized multiple misplays where I forgot that I could have played [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card] at a critical moment. It is important to think through all of the Supporters available to you, both through [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] and Wonder Tag.

If you have any questions about the deck, leave a comment. I’m always happy to help!

-Ryan Allred

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