Prep for Toronto — Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX

Hey PokeBeach readers, I am back from the 2018 Latin American International Championships in São Paulo, Brazil and the subject of the article today is going to be [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]. While the deck has been on fire since its inception at Crimson Invasion, it is shaping up to be one of the most played decks heading forward. The best way to look at this deck is that it has proven itself to be one of the best decks in Standard, it just came off an International Championship win, and it is shaping up to be the best deck to play for the upcoming Toronto Regional Championships! In this article, I will go over my Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX deck that I played in São Paulo, a brief tournament recap, an updated list for Toronto Regionals, and an explanation of the matchups for this deck.

São Paulo Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX

[decklist name=”Saõ Paulo BuzzRoc” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″][pokemon amt=”16″]3x [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”73″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Regirock-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”43″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ 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=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Brooklet Hill” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]10x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”10″][/card]4x [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

This list is an inspiration of me talking to my friends at São Paulo and networking with other players. The changes that I made to get to this list were cutting a [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] for a Fighting Energy and another [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card]. While these changes sound minuscule, they were rewarding throughout the tournament by allowing my [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] to hit Fighting Energy more often and to make my deck more consistent. Both [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] played a strong role in São Paulo by allowing me to always have a comeback option against an opposing [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] when I was facing [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] decks. I also switched my split of Rockruff from one [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM06″ c=”from”][/card] and one [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”73″ c=”from”][/card] to both Rockruff having Corner. That last-second change was an idea by Daniel Altavilla because the promo Rockruff does the same thing as a Jet Punch to a [card name=”Zorua” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM83″ c=”name”][/card] so unless you’re expecting a lot of Hoopa, Corner is more valuable and can become a win condition sometimes.

Overall, this list was consistent, quick, and powerful for the event, and I don’t regret playing this deck at all. If you have never played a Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX deck before, here is a quick strategy:

Quick Strategy

In this deck, your goal is to foresee your win condition as early as possible and to chase that win condition until the end of the game. In most games, you want to use Buzzwole-GX to soften up your opponent’s board state with Jet Punch and possibly even try to draw some quick Prize cards. It is at this point in the game where you either need to play aggressively by using Knuckle Impact / Absorption GX or, if you can finesse your way into using Lycanroc-GX, to use Dangerous Rogue GX. Alternatively, you may find yourself playing against a Zoroark-GX deck that uses Mew-EX so you will want to have either a Mew or an Oricorio to react to the Mew-EX. Both of these cards can OHKO a Mew-EX with a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] (Oricorio requires a Stadium Card in play). Furthermore, if you find yourself playing against a [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] deck, you can use [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] to copy their Nature’s Judgement attack, discard all of your Energy and OHKO that Pokemon. This deck is all about using your resources at the right time, picking when and where to use your GX attack, and using damage modifiers to OHKO Pokemon with the right amount of damage.

Tournament Recap

So at this specific event, I ended up with a record of 6-3-0 after starting 6-1-0! It is a slightly bittersweet finish, but I can’t complain because I still made Top 64, won $500, and earned another 130 Championship Points. Here are the matchups that I played against:

[cardimg name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Jet Punch to victory![/cardimg]

Round 1 vs. Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX — WW 1-0-0
Round 2 vs. [card name=”Espeon-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM35″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] — WW 2-0-0
Round 3 vs. Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX — LWL 2-1-0
Round 4 vs. Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX — WW 3-1-0
Round 5 vs. Espeon-GX / Garbodor — WLW 4-1-0
Round 6 vs. Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card] — WW 5-1-0
Round 7 vs. Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX — LWW 6-1-0
Round 8 vs. Tapu Bulu-GX / [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM28″ c=”name”][/card] — LL 6-2-0
Round 9 vs. [card name=”Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM102″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Magnezone” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] — LL 6-3-0

As you can see, I had a strong run right out of the gates even through facing some close to unfavourable matchups, such as Espeon-GX / Garbodor twice during Swiss. If you want to read about how the matchups went, check out the matchup section below to get a general idea.

The one thing I would like to point out is that the 2018 Latin American International Championships had a strong metagame with some well built archetypes present. It was during this experience that I came up with the inspiration for this below list after seeing top players such as Azul Garcia Griego and Jimmy Pendarvis play similar lists at the event. Let’s check out the how my list is shaping up for Toronto Regionals:

Toronto Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX

[decklist name=”Toronto BuzzRoc” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″][pokemon amt=”16″]3x [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”73″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Regirock-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”43″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ 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=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Brooklet Hill” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]11x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”11″][/card]3x [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Why the Changes?

So the only changes that I made from my São Paulo list were cutting the Oricorio for a second copy of Mew and cutting a [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] for another Fighting Energy. I like the addition of a second Mew because it has free retreat, and it is functionally the same as Oricorio since its main purpose is to Knock Out an opposing Mew-EX. Interestingly enough, Mew can open up strong plays when playing against Tapu Bulu-GX because you can use Memories of Dawn to copy Sudowoodo’s Watch and Learn. This can be used up to two more times to copy Nature’s Judgement to always have a reaction play up your sleeve whenever you need to attack! The eleventh copy of Fighting Energy is useful for when you want to hit your Max Elixir throughout the game. It is unfortunate that the eleventh Fighting Energy came at the cost of a Strong Energy, but it keeps the equilibrium of the deck at par and it doesn’t hurt the damage output of the deck too much.

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The Matchups

I can write about strategy over and over again, but that won’t help you unless you know the specific matchup to utilize that strategy in. The following matchups are assessed based on the standard lists for each deck, average luck, and common tech cards such as [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] in [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] decks. I won’t list every single matchup because most of them follow a similar suit, but I will go over the most popular decks in Standard right now:

Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX — Slightly Favourable to Even

[cardimg name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ align=”right” c=”custom”]My Fighting Weakness is Showing[/cardimg]

It is ideal to start using Jet Punch right away to Knock Out opposing [card name=”Zorua” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM83″ c=”name”][/card] and apply splash damage to the Bench. It can sometimes be difficult to choose which Pokemon to hit on the Bench, but your options are limited to [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM06″ c=”name”][/card] or Zorua. If you choose Rockruff, it forces your opponent to prematurely evolve it into a [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] or sacrifice it to another turn of Jet Punch. If you hit the Zorua, it will enable you to OHKO a Zoroark-GX by using Jet Punch later in the game (30 from previous Jet Punch; 30 damage from base Jet Punch, 30 damage from [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], 20 damage from Strong Energy, and 10 damage from [card name=”Regirock-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”43″ c=”name”][/card], apply Weakness = 30 + 180).

Who to hit with Jet Punch for the Bench damage is the most controversial debate in Pokemon right now, but the goal in this matchup is to isolate Zoroark-GX / Zorua to avoid Pokemon that [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] can copy. Mew-EX can copy Riotous Beating, Zorua can evolve into a Zoroark-GX, and you also need to watch out for Rockruff while you play around Dangerous Rogue GX by having a small Bench. If your opponent does promote a Mew-EX to Knock Out a [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ c=”name”][/card], it is often the best plan to react with either a Mew or an Oricorio. Regardless, in order to OHKO the Mew-EX, you will need to have a Choice Band and possibly a Stadium card in play, such as [card name=”Brooklet Hill” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card], if you decide to use Oricorio. In most matches versus this deck, I draw my first few Prize cards with Jet Punch, use Knuckle Impact for another two Prizes, and either react to the Mew-EX or use Dangerous Rogue GX depending on how the game goes.

While I don’t often use [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] in this matchup, it should go without saying that it can come in clutch to copy a last ditch Riotous Beating or even a Dangerous Rogue GX. During a few of my games in São Paulo, I was surprised to be able to use Oricorio to spread damage with Supernatural Dance to snipe a Zorua or Rockruff for my last Prize card. Now that the deck is without Oricorio, that play is not possible, but Oricorio may find its way back into the list due to it having Fighting Resistance and more HP.

Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX — Even

What can I say about this matchup besides: set up first, hit more [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] than your opponent, and play slightly better? This matchup comes down to avoiding Dangerous Rogue GX, utilizing single-Prize attackers to combat your opponent, and always having a back-up plan such as another Buzzwole-GX powered up on your Bench. While you are trying to avoid all of the listed reasons, it is vital to look for opportunities that your opponent may have missed in the process. Maybe your opponent started with a Regirock-EX, has to play down a Tapu Lele-GX to search out a Supporter, and they now have a full Bench… You can promptly address this situation by using Dangerous Rogue GX to OHKO one of their powered up Buzzwole-GX to gain an early edge. Importantly, Sudowoodo can copy Knuckle Impact, Dangerous Rogue GX, and Absorption GX to quickly get yourself back into the game.

One of the most important factors for me in the game is correctly choosing when you can or can’t use your GX attack, so make sure you have that planned. Optimally, you want to use your GX attack to take a big Knock Out or when you can guarantee that you can attack again the next turn — don’t forget that Sudowoodo can copy a GX attack.

Overall, this is a mirror matchup so don’t expect yourself to pull miracles, but you can be as prepared as possible!

Espeon-GX / Garbodor — Slight Unfavourable to Even

[cardimg name=”Espeon-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM35″ align=”right” c=”custom”]MEOW![/cardimg]

This matchup can make a sane person cry when facing it, but I went 4-1 in gameplay in São Paulo which equaled to 2-0 versus it in the tournament. You may be wondering how I did it, and I am writing here today to fully explain that.

At the beginning of the match, you need to identify your win condition and in most cases it is by Knocking Out two [card name=”Espeon-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM35″ c=”name”][/card] and with another Pokemon-GX or two [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]. This is obviously easier said than done, but you do have some strong tools against this deck. Sudowoodo can copy Espeon-GX to use Psychic which automatically has a base damage of 60 and will do an additional 90 damage due to Espeon-GX requiring three Energy. If you have a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card], Sudowoodo can Knock Out a fully powered Espeon-GX and put you back in the game. Furthermore, Lycanroc-GX is a terrific attacker that does not have a Psychic Weakness which means it can likely use Dangerous Rogue GX for two Prizes cards and use Claw Slash to Knock Out a Garbodor (this play requires a Strong Energy). [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] can also do some serious damage to an Espeon-GX by copying Sudowoodo or Jet Punch, but it is advisable to see if your opponent has a [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] with a Pokemon Tool attached before you proceed with that play.

In order to get around Garbodor from Guardians Rising, you only want to play Item cards as necessary and only when they are immediately beneficial to you. I often find myself pretending to dead draw when playing against this deck because it forces me to play around Trashalanche, my opponent will debate playing N, and they may alter their plays to match my pretend board state.

[card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] is a card that I am still debating on whether it is worthwhile to set up or not due to the lack of [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] in this deck to turn off Garbotoxin. In most of my games in São Paulo, I did end up setting up an Octillery, but that was only to get rid of cards from my hand for when my opponent would play an N against me later on in the game.

Tapu Bulu-GX / Vikavolt — Even

This matchup is awkward because there are opposing Mew that can get a Knock Out out of nowhere and [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] with a Choice Band is a scary sight. In most cases, your win condition is to Knock Out three Pokemon-GX, usually two Tapu Bulu-GX and one [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card], while preparing your board state as quickly as possible. The key things you should keep in mind are the Grass Weakness on Rockruff and [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card], Tapu Bulu-GX does not need to discard Energy versus Lycanroc-GX, and that Buzzwole-GX takes double the amount of damage against a Mew. All hope isn’t lost in this matchup though. Sudowoodo with a Choice Band can effectively Knock Out Tapu Bulu-GX and it does that as a single-Prize attacker. Mew can copy Jet Punch to OHKO another Mew and leave your opponent hoping for a [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]. The best way to look at this matchup is to realize that you are a mostly Basic Pokemon deck and that Tapu Bulu-GX needs support from [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM28″ c=”name”][/card] and Choice Band to be viable. In all cases, try to take your Knock Outs with an expectation of what your opponent will dish out in response.

Those specific four matchups seem to make the bulk of the metagame and most of the other decks are variations of those decks ([card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM84″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]) or other decks that are played in lesser counts.

If I could leave you a single parting strategy, it would be to thin your deck out before using important cards such as [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card]. You want to use Brooklet Hill to take that Basic out of your deck, use Tapu Lele-GX to search for that Supporter, and you want to [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] to grab that Octillery. If you follow these rules, your Max Elixir will hit Energy more often and allow your deck to become that much stronger. Most games can be dictated on Max Elixir that hit and the ones that have failed too! Furthermore, make sure you go into your games with a relative plan (read the matchup section) and try to execute that plan as flawlessly as possible — that should be extremely useful for you!

Up in the Air

Well that’s it for today PokeBeach readers! I hope you enjoyed my updated thoughts on [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] and that you get a chance to play around with my updated lists over the next week! The week after Toronto, Forbidden Light is legal so most lists will likely change up with some of the decks in the current metagame. As for me, I am hopping on a flight tomorrow (at the time of writing this) to head off to Salt Lake City, Utah to play in an Expanded Regional Championships. I plan to play [card name=”Donphan” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card] for this event, but I was highly considering a concoction of [card name=”Tapu Koko” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM30″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]. As for Toronto Regionals, I have already picked Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX!

If you see me at Toronto Regionals, feel free to come up and talk to me. I try to be more than welcoming as a player. I enjoy talking to new players, and I will always make time to make some friends! If you are interested in following me on my Pokemon journey, follow me on my Twitter zlesage_pokemon to hear about my story, my latest articles, and some exclusive deck list information.

Until next time,

Zach

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