Stargazing — Thoughts on the New Standard Format

By: Zachary Lesage · Posted Posted onSep 10, 2018 at 10:47 AM · 0 Comments

Hey PokeBeach readers, what is up y’all? I know most of you are finally getting settled back home from Nashville (me too!), but the new Standard format is gonna kick us in the butt if we all don’t figure it out early. For those of you who don’t know, our new Standard format is Sun and Moon-on which means that we have lost valuable staples including [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card]. While that list seems low, we have been playing the same format since most of those staples have been legal for play since 2011. That being said, what we once had a few weeks ago has now been taken away and the format has been opened up to a plethora of available options. In this article, I will be going over some of the major deck building changes, the metagame, and a few of my early favourite decks heading into Philadelphia Regionals. With this metagame being so fresh, be prepared to see new decks pop out of nowhere or for the metagame ‘sandbox’ to widen when comparing major event data. Well, there is a lot of ground to cover, so let’s hop into this article.

A New Engine in Motion

In our new Standard format, we have lost some of the best Supporters in the game, some solid draw Pokemon like [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card], and we don’t exactly have the correct answer for decks moving forward. This changes is making it difficult for any player to dive into this new format because everything is so different. Cards such as [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] are now being pulled from the back of the binder into every deck as speak. Cards that were ‘meh’ pulls three weeks ago such as [card name=”TV Reporter” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Tate & Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] are now serious contenders for deck spots. Before I jump into my findings, I do want to share some of the most important cards that were lost and share some suitable replacements in the process.

Disclaimer: Some of these cards are not direct replacements, but are substitutions based on the limitations of the new format.

  • [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] ([card name=”Pokemon Fan Club” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Dunsparce” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card])
  • N ([card name=”Marshadow” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM85″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Judge” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card])
  • [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] ([card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”TV Reporter” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Hala” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Sophocles” set=”Shining Legends” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Tate & Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card])
  • [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] ([card name=”Energy Recycle System” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card])
  • [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] ([card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card])
  • [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] ([card name=”Switch” set=”Primal Clash” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Altar of the Moone” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card])

That basically wraps up the lost support that we have had for a while, but it doesn’t necessarily allow us to plug and play what we need into a deck right now. There has been a lot of debate going on between players over the following two engines, but I am somewhere in the middle. The general premise is to make sure that you have access to your ‘Ball’ cards so that your deck starts working, Whether you draw your ‘Ball’ cards off a Lillie for eight or you directly search them out with [card name=”Apricorn Maker” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card], the goal remains the same.

Both engines are similar; both max out counts of Nest Ball and Ultra Ball, with a few Timer Ball. The only difference is whether you run more Apricorn Maker or more Lillie. Whichever engine you choose will depend on how you want the game to be played and your findings from testing. In addition, most decks are also adding in the following cards to round out their engines:

  • 4 [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 3 – 4 [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 0 – 4 [card name=”Tate & Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 0 – 2 [card name=”Pokemon Fan Club” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 0 – 2 [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 0 – 2 [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 0 – 2 [card name=”Energy Recycle System” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 0 – 2 [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card]

While this engine might sound broad, not every deck needs the same cards and counts will fluctuate depending on personal preferences. When new cards get added into the mix, it is possible that we will see these engines change over time as the format develops. There is also the possibility of new engines forming as the metagame shapes up because it seems like every new deck is hovering around 20 Items which could bring back the presence of [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]. If Garbodor were to make a big splash at upcoming events, deck building would have to include less Item cards overall. That would mean cards such as Pokemon Fan Club might see more play and bigger Pokemon such as [card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] might be a better call for specific events. For the limited data that we have access to right now, the above engines seem like they are the best option heading into Philadelphia Regionals.

The Metagame is Forming

Now that we know how to run our decks, we do need to look at the potential decks that we can play with heading into Philadelphia Regionals, League Challenges, and League Cups. With quite a few oppressive cards such as [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] rotating out of our format, the pool of available cards has grown to an enormous amount

[cardimg name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”77″ align=”right” c=”custom”]I still control the format![/cardimg]

  • [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM62″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Glaceon-GX” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Greninja-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ c=”name”][/card] / Lycanroc-GX
  • [card name=”Magnezone” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM102″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Banette-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor / [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / Shrine of Punishment
  • [card name=”Espeon-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM35″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor / Drampa-GX / Shrine of Punishment
  • [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Stakataka-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Stakataka-GX / [card name=”Dusk Mane Necrozma” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM107″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Metal Frying Pan” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Tapu Koko” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM30″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Tapu Lele” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] / Naganadel-GX / [card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Ho-Oh-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM57″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Salazzle-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM101″ c=”name”][/card] / Malamar
  • [card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Metagross-GX / [card name=”Solgaleo-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM16″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Rayquaza-GX / [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM28″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] / Vikavolt
  • [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Gardevoir-GX / [card name=”Sylveon-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Hoopa” set=”Shining Legends” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Deoxys” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card]

What Does this Mean?

[premium]

Well, Zoroark-GX is going to be a popular concept as always because it absolutely dominated the 2017 – 2018 season. After playing in a few post rotation Standard format tournaments, I have seen other variants such as

  • [card name=”Solgaleo-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM16″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Solgaleo Prism Star” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] / Zoroark-GX
  • [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM69″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] / Zoroark-GX
  • [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] / Zoroark-GX
  • Gardevoir-GX / Zoroark-GX
  • Sylveon-GX / Zoroark-GX

When it comes to Zoroark-GX, the world is your Cloyster which basically means that you can play it however you want to for the most part. Obviously there will be some concepts that are better than others, but at least [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] makes interesting concepts viable for the most part. So the way that the metagame will form is to combat these Zoroark-GX decks because they are the most proven concept. The biggest question is how will that be able to happen? Well, in order to figure out the next step in the metagame, we need look at what makes Zoroark-GX a strong concept:

  • Trade, the Ability
  • It can attack for a [card name=”Double Colorless” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card]
  • It can run counters to other popular decks with relative ease
  • It plays multiple cards to make it consistent
  • There are few natural counters to Zoroark-GX in format

Looking even deeper, we can look at these strengths to isolate them into weaknesses

  • The deck is Ability heavy
  • It usually runs exclusively Special Energy or it may run a limited amount of Basic Energy
  • Counter Pokemon can make a deck slightly inconsistent overall
  • It plays plenty of Item Cards which can be exploited by [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]

With all of that information, there are a few decks that can slip into the metagame as a counter to Zoroark-GX and potentially the format. These decks have largely remained in the outskirts of the metagame, but I do want to highlight them as we approach Philadelphia Regionals.

[cardimg name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

  • [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor / [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Buzzwole / [card name=”Weavile” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] / Shrine of Punishment

Both of those decks can handle Zoroark-GX because they isolate the weaknesses that exist within that deck. Additionally, they can have strong matchups against other concepts that have been dominating in the metagame such as the category of decks that I classify as the heavy hitters. This category is more of an in between category because they usually feature less Item Cards, a mix of Ability Pokemon with non-Ability Pokemon, a Stage 2 Pokemon that supports the deck, and a way to make the deck happen. Naturally, Weavile does well against these types of decks, but they can catch on to the new Buzzwole / [insert Pokemon here] / Shrine of Punishment concepts by changing the way that their deck is built. Regardless, I will list the heavy hitters of the format

  • [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM28″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] / Vikavolt
  • [card name=”Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM102″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dialga-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Magnezone” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Solgaleo-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM16″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]

Most of these concepts can get away by having a super strong set-up against a Buzzwole / Shrine of Punishment deck and really run away with the game. Some decks on the list such as, Rayquaza-GX / Vikavolt, Metagross-GX / Solgaleo-GX, and Gardevoir-GX may struggle due to the amount of Abilities they play, but they can limit their Item Cards played. This list of decks is strong and it ultimately rounds out what can be played in our metagame. The other decks that I have listed on the metagame chart can see success, but they either haven’t found a home in the metagame circle or they are better choices in a more specific metagame. Now don’t worry about the metagame becoming stale, there are always those new sets and shifts in the metagame allow for amazing concepts to see the light of day.

So as you can see, the format is as big as it sounds and I am sure there are other decks that can easily make it on that list. Once we have the finalized results from the Melbourne Open Special Event and the Balneario Camboriu Regional Championships is when the metagame will start to have a more defined tier list. Until then, use the above list as a ‘sandbox’ to try out decks that interest you and to make assumptions about the metagame at Philadelphia Regionals, League Challenges, and League Cups. I know that I have a much smaller list of decks built in real life and I would like to share two examples of those decks today.

Ultra Necrozma-GX / Malamar Deck

[decklist name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX / Malamar Deck” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM13″][pokemon amt=”16″]4x [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Inkay” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”63″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM85″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM13″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]4x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”TV Reporter” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/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″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Altar of the Moone” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]8x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card]3x [card name=”Metal Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Beast Energy Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Similar to the [card name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] decks that have seen success last season, this deck seems to be be an absolute (ultra) beast for upcoming events. This is because the deck has Energy manipulation in the form of Malamar, ‘infinite’ damage output in the form of Ultra Necrozma-GX, and free retreating options in the form of [card name=”Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM101″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Altar of the Moone” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card]. The reason why I like this deck as an early front runner is because it actually didn’t lose a lot from the rotation and it holds its own against the decks in our current metagame. The strategy of this deck is to discard Psychic Energy with cards such as [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] so that Malamar can power up Ultra Necrozma-GX to attack with Photon Geyser for massive amounts of damage. Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX and Altar of the Moone allow your Ultra Necrozma-GX to hit the Bench each turn to be powered up once more. If you are ever in a sticky situation, [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] can compensate for the lack of Malamar in play by speeding your deck up a few turns to get the job done. This deck features a modified [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] engine because this deck can actively search out most Pokemon with Mysterious Treasure. It also runs cards such as [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM85″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”TV Reporter” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] for additional support in the deck. The deck is mainly using Basic Pokemon and Stage 1 Pokemon so it is going to be quicker than other decks such as [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM28″ c=”name”][/card] that utilize a Basic Pokemon / Stage 2 Pokemon hybrid which are naturally slower.

Most of the cards in this deck are fairly common ideas that don’t require too much thought process to initiate, but I do want to go over two cards that need a bit more love.

Two Ultra Necrozma-GX

[cardimg name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”140″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This is the main attacking Pokemon in the deck so I want to go over a few important numbers. Though it’s not recommended, you can use [card name=”Beast Energy Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] to satisfy Photon Geyser’s Psychic Energy cost. It only deals 50 damage and is only going to Knock Out a few weak Basic Pokemon. Save your precious Beast Energy for Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX to hit for 210 on [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]. Paying an actual Psychic Energy nets you 100 damage, which is enough to Knock Out all evolving Basic Pokemon, such as [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Grubbin” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”13″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Beldum” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card], or [card name=”Zorua” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM83″ c=”name”][/card].

Paying two Psychic Energy yields 180 damage, which is enough to Knock Out threats like [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card]. Add a Choice Band to hit 210 damage and the OHKO on [card name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] and Zoroark-GX. Lastly, discarding three Psychic Energy makes you deal an outrageous 260 damage to OHKO any Pokemon in the game. Most Pokemon in this tier of HP are Stage 2 Pokemon such as [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card].

Two TV Reporter

The seldom used card, [card name=”TV Reporter” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card], is great at discarding Psychic Energy so that [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] can power up your Pokemon. I like this card better than [card name=”Sophocles” set=”Shining Legends” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card] because I can potentially draw a Psychic Energy from TV Reporter and still discard it.

There are a few cards that I have been considering adding into this deck based on how the metagame shifts so I will list those here too. I won’t be covering matchups because each local metagame is unique and the metagame for Philadelphia Regionals is looking muddy at best.

Potential Tech Cards

One Mewtwo-GX

While [card name=”Mewtwo-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card] has seen play in [card name=”Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM101″ c=”name”][/card] / Malamar, it doesn’t often get talked too much about when we discuss the Ultra Necrozma-GX variant of the deck. I like that this Pokemon can be a fine inclusion in the above list because it can swing for a solid 200 damage for only Psychic Energy whereas Ultra Necrozma-GX does require a Metal Energy to see an attack hit successfully.

One Mimikyu

This is a card that I would love to see in the deck and that is because [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM99″ c=”name”][/card] can swing for seemingly any amount of damage. I am hesitant to add this card into the deck for the sole reason that I am unsure how the metagame will shape up and have no quantifiable data on the attacks that Mimikyu will copy the most often. Once the metagame shapes up nicely, Mimikyu will either be a must have inclusion or a card that is left out.

Two Judge

I hate to say it, but I miss [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] a lot! I have found myself in situations that I don’t like being in a situation where I am no longer able to win a game because win conditions are secured in my opponent’s hand. [card name=”Judge” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM85″ c=”name”][/card] seem like the only viable options to disrupt any hand in the metagame so this inclusion is coming from that lack of disruption in our format.

Overall, this deck is a consistent powerhouse that will likely see success at Philadelphia Regionals.

Gardevoir-GX Deck

[decklist name=”Gardevoir-GX Deck” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″][pokemon amt=”12″]3x [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]4x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Apricorn Maker” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”142″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/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]2x [card name=”Timer Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Switch” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Energy Recycle System” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]7x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”Generations” no=”83″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

[card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] was a top contender for most of the season last year and it seems as if history is repeating itself this season. Gardevoir-GX is a great deck right now because it has a consistent engine, it has minimal bad matchups, and it hits other popular decks for Weakness. It can also use Twilight GX to get around tough scenarios like when your opponent drops a [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] to punish us for using Item cards. Gardevoir-GX is also powerful because it can deal an ‘infinite’ amount of damage with Infinite Force and it can load up Energy with its Secret Spring Ability. The strategy of this deck is to use [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] to find your key Pokemon pieces with Beacon while you utilize the core of the decks engine by using [card name=”Apricorn Maker” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] and ‘Ball’ cards. Once you are able to get a Gardevoir-GX set-up, you want to swing away with Infinite Force as much as possible. If your Gardevoir-GX takes any damage, you can use [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to fully heal yourself over and over again until your opponent can’t keep up. If you ever run out of key resources such as Energy cards, Max Potion, or [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card], you can use Twilight GX to reprise your deck in a pinch. The deck holds its own quite well because it doesn’t have a lot to get out, just [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], and ultimately Gardevoir-GX.

Why Alolan Vulpix?

[cardimg name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Brrr…[/cardimg]

This card is seemingly underpowered when compared to other Pokemon that can set-up a Gardevoir-GX such as [card name=”Sylveon-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card], so why do think that [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] is a good fit in the deck? Well, the issue that I am trying to solve is players who are running [card name=”Judge” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM85″ c=”name”][/card] to mimic the result of [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] after a player uses a deck search attack. After playing in a few post rotation Standard format tournaments, the format is leaning towards decks that use powerful set-up strategies against quicker Basic Pokemon concepts. In my real life data, I have found myself playing a Marshadow down after my opponent uses Magical Ribbon on Sylveon-GX or plays a [card name=”Steven’s Resolve” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] from their hand. Bringing these concepts back to a full circle, I would rather use Beacon on an Alolan Vulpix because it requires the least amount of effort. I know that there is always a possibility that my opponent will play a Judge / Marshadow against me, but at least I didn’t invest in a Stage 1 Pokemon and an Energy. For the tradeoff of Alolan Vulpix having a slightly worse consistency when compared to the other available options, I have been able to have more space when building the deck and less worries about Judge / Marshadow.

Similar to the Ultra Necrozma-GX / [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] deck above, I will show some techs that I have been considering in the Gardevoir-GX list that seem strong.

Potential Tech Cards

A Fourth Gardevoir-GX

This is merely a personal preference, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a fourth copy of Gardevoir-GX in this deck. In recent history, a Gardevoir-GX deck would play two copies of [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] to compensate for the fourth Gardevoir-GX, but there is no replacement right now. I’m not sure what I would cut, but it is likely going to replace the single copy of [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card].

Two Swampert, One Marshtomp, and Two Mudkip

This idea might be a bit out there, but it seems to be a consistent way to draw cards. You can always get back extra [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card] back with Twilight GX and the draw power of [card name=”Swampert” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”35″ c=”name”][/card] is more than [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]. The trade off for this card is going to be the additional space for the full evolution line of [card name=”Mudkip” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Marshtomp” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”34″ c=”name”][/card], and Swampert in comparison to other available draw cards.

Two Zoroark-GX and Two Zorua

I could see a small line of Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Zorua” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM83″ c=”name”][/card] working well in this deck or maybe even a small line of [card name=”Sylveon-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Eevee” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] seeing play. The deck as it stands right now is consistent, but having other options for draw and attackers is intriguing.

With this deck having a strong matchup against the popular [card name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], I fully expect this deck to appear at Philadelphia Regionals. Feel free to give the deck a try yourself to see if you want to give it a shot!

Off to Philly!

That’s it for today folks. It is my hope that this article has helped you solidify your thoughts on our early Sun and Moon– on Standard format in preparation for Philadelphia Regionals, League Challenges, and League Cups. I am personally excited to play in a major tournament in this format because it feels so different than what we have been used to for the past seven years. So that being said, I will see all of you at Philadelphia Regionals! I have already booked my flight, have hotel plans, and have paid my entry. My goal this season is to repeat my status as a top player in North America again and attend as many events as possible. If you are ever looking to follow me on my journey as a professional Pokemon player on my Twitter @zlesage_pokemon.

Cheers,

Zach

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