Nothing Is Safe — A Look at the Standard Metagame for Harrogate Regionals

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

If Expanded is the realm of [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] , and has been since the latter was released, it must be emphasize that Standard is not. Or, should I say, not anymore. This is a topic I’ve already touched upon, but to summarize: unlike in Expanded, Standard Zoroark benefits neither from the high damage output allowed by [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], the free draw engine from [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”name”][/card]’s synergy with Trade, the draw power of [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card], or, perhaps most importantly, the variety of disruption options ([card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Red Card” set=”XY” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card], etc.). And compared to last year’s Standard, Zoroark decks need to deal with a higher variety of threats, while not having access to the same consistency as before. I had hopes that [card name=”Professor Elm’s Lecture” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”188″ c=”name”][/card] would fix the latter issue, being an adequate [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] replacement, but although it helped (and in the debate of Elm versus Lillie, I’m still #TeamElm), it has not brought back Zoroark to its former glory. I think the card that the deck misses most is [card name=”Evosoda” set=”XY” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card], as it provided an unconditional out to a turn two Zoroark-GX. [card name=”Timer Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] acts a replacement, sure, but not a great one. For this reason, I’m excited about the upcoming reprint of [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card], as it will fit perfectly in Zoroark-GX decks, allowing them both to access Zoroark on turn two, and any techs they might run. Unlike Evosoda or Timer Ball, Pokemon Communication can also grab your Basics! For example, you can use it to grab [card name=”Sneasel” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] when you want to set up a [card name=”Weavile” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]. Seeing as the combination of Zoroark’s draw engine and the ability to run techs to deal with any other deck is what made Zoroark so strong in the first place, I feel the deck could get much of its power back in the late season.

If I’m bemoaning Zoroark’s fall from grace, it’s not only because of my affinity for the deck. It’s also because Zoroark was, for the most part, a safe deck — something that you can run in any situation and, provided you run the right techs and play correctly, beat any deck with. This is why it was favored by many of the game’s top players and why it did so well at every event. This season, Zoroark doesn’t have nearly the same status, although it’s still more than playable. It’s not particularly safe anymore — and, perhaps more importantly, nothing is. There’s no deck that you can run and be confident that you’ll do well no matter what the metagame ends up being. I guess this is a bit like saying there’s no clear best deck in the format, although I make a difference between a BDIF and a safe deck, the latter having mostly skill-based, 50-50 matchups, rather than outright beating the majority of the metagame.

A format not having any obvious best deck is generally seen as a good thing, but the lack of a safe deck is a bit frightening. It means that understanding the metagame and making the right metacall is more important than ever. With Harrogate regionals just around the corner, I want to discuss the state of the Standard format — what I expect to be played, the safest decks to run, the possible metacalls. This article mainly, but not exclusively, features discussion on Zoroark-GX variants and [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card].

1. Zoroark-GX, the Undying

Since I’ve been so down on Zoroark-GX in the introduction, it may come as a surprise that it’s the first deck I want to talk about. However, if you look at the facts, Zoroark-GX is the only deck to have made Top 8 at all four of the major Standard events held with Lost Thunder legal (LAIC, Ronaoke and Brisbane Regionals, and the Special Event in Chile). What’s more, it also won the recent Champions League in Japan. Although Japanese events are played with a different structure (25 minutes, best of one matches in rounds and top cut) and a different format, and their results must therefore be taken with a grain of salt, it’s still additional evidence of Zoroark’s resilience.

There are two main Zoroark variants doing well: Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”none”][/card] and Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”132″ c=”custom”]Alolan Ninetales-GX[/card]. They play quite differently and their matchup spread is not the same at all, so I’ll talk about them separately.

Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX is the deck that most resembles last year’s Standard Zoroark variants, with Zoroark as the main attacker and Lycanroc as both a support Pokémon and a solid secondary attacker, especially in the mirror match.

Lists vary quite a lot: some players opt for a very streamlined deck that plays only Zoroark-GX and Lycanroc-GX, up to five Fighting Energy, and higher counts of cards like [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Devoured Field” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]. This allows the deck to often have an Energy on the board on the first turn, in order to use Lycanroc-GX as fast as needed. The additional copies of damage-boosting cards help the deck reach 180 damage, which makes it better in straightforward matchups like [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] / Naganadel. However, you have less options against non-GX decks like [card name=”Granbull” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”138″ c=”custom”]Granbull[/card], stall decks, or Stage 2 decks. (Against the latter, you can still go for some quick aggression to KO their Basics before they evolve.)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, some players opt for a variety of techs, especially among Pokemon. Thanks to [card name=”Unit Energy FDY” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card], you can play other attackers such as [card name=”Weavile” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] and Alolan Ninetales-GX, and even use Zoroark-GX’s Trickster GX. Other Stage 1 Pokemon that fit in the deck, thanks to [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”custom”]Ditto Prism Star[/card], include [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Deoxys” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Girafarig” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”94″ c=”custom”]Girafarig[/card], or [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Shining Legends” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] can also be played, for some Basic options. These cards all allow you to help your matchups against specific decks. Weavile is great against decks that play multiple Ability Pokemon, like Zoroark / Decidueye / Ninetales or [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]. Alolan Ninetales-GX is a counter to Ultra Beasts such as Buzzwole-GX. Alolan Muk helps to beat Granbull by shutting off [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card]’s Instruct and Malamar by neutralizing [card name=”Giratina” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card]. Girafarig makes the [card name=”Alolan Exeggutor” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”2″ c=”name”][/card] matchup favorable and prevents stall decks from building an infinite [card name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] loop, and so on. Of course, you have to choose which techs to run, as you have neither the deck space nor the needed consistency to include them all.

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My own take on the deck fits somewhere in the middle. I want the deck to be able to beat Blacephalon-GX / Naganadel, but I also think Weavile and Alolan Muk are too good not to run.

[decklist name=”Zoroark/Lycanroc” 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]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]2x [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”73″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Weavile” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sneasel” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]4x [card name=”Professor Elm’s Lecture” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”188″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Judge” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”143″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Timer Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/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=”Switch” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Multi Switch” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Devoured Field” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Unit Energy FDY” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

This list reflects what I want to tech against. I expect Zoroark-GX / Decidueye-GX / Alolan Ninetales-GX to be popular, so I run Weavile for the non-GX OHKO option, and an Enhanced Hammer which can earn some time, especially by preventing Decidueye-GX from answering Lycanroc-GX with Razor Leaf. I think Granbull will have a decent showing, and Alolan Muk gives us a decent chance in the matchup. I also feel like [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] has been quite popular in the UK by the past, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it played in decent numbers.

Zoroark / Lycanroc is, overall, a solid deck, and this list has a good shot in the meta I expect. I still can’t claim it’s a safe pick: stall decks (which are getting some popularity lately) are a big issue, the Blacephalon matchup is iffy, and Buzzwole-GX beats this version of the deck. I might end up playing it, but I don’t feel the same level of comfort I’m used to from Zoroark decks.

As for [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”none”][/card] / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”none”][/card] / Ninetales-GX, it’s probably the closest thing we have to a safe deck. It does pretty well against a number of popular decks, such as Blacephalon, Lost March, Granbull, and so on, with no terrible matchup beside stall decks (although its dependency on Abilities and Special Energy gives it weak points to exploit).

Even though I’ve played and had success with both Decidueye / Ninetales and Zoroark / Decidueye in the past, and actually played Decidueye / Ninetales at the Latin America International Championship, I’m not a huge fan of the hybrid of the two. It feels like the deck wants to accomplish too much. When it sets up, it does a lot, and Decidueye-GX is a great partner to Zoroark-GX. However, the deck can also be clunky in the beginning of the game. Nevertheless, I can’t argue with results: this is a deck that does pretty well.

I was running [card name=”Yveltal-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] in the deck when I was trying it out, and it proved pretty strong, especially in the mirror match, so I was glad when Clifton Goh was able to make Top 8 with it in Brisbane. I think that the next addition to the deck will be [card name=”Chimecho” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”43″ c=”name”][/card]: you’re already running [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”151″ c=”none”][/card], and it fits amazingly in a Decidueye-GX deck. Instead of just stalling your opponent while you set up, as you do in Malamar decks, you can actually snipe around their Active Pokémon with Feather Arrow, and take KOs on Pokemon like Zorua and Alolan Vulpix while they can’t evolve due to Bell of Silence.

2. The Strange Case of Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX

The second deck I want to talk about is the one I played at a League Cup last week-end, [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”none”][/card] / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”none”][/card]. I was not sure about the deck’s viability in an unknown metagame and was going to just get a feel for it, but I ended up winning the event, beating a bunch of [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”none”][/card] along the way. Here is the list I ran.

[decklist name=”Buzzwole/Lycanroc” amt=”60″ caption=”undefined” cname=”Marshadow” set=”Shining Legends” no=”45″][pokemon amt=”18″]4x [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Diancie Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Shining Legends” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Lisia” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”137″ 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=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Switch” set=”Evolutions” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Multi Switch” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Brooklet Hill” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]7x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]4x [card name=”Unit Energy FDY” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Beast Energy Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

[card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”custom”]Ditto Prism Star[/card] was a last minute addition to the deck, but it proved invaluable. Its real benefit is that you can search for it with [card name=”Lisia” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”137″ c=”custom”]Lisia[/card]  on turn one, along with your [card name=”Beast Energy Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”117″ c=”none”][/card]. This means that you can play Lisia and still be able to play down a [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”none”][/card] or [card name=”Alolan Ninetales-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”132″ c=”custom”]Alolan Ninetales-GX[/card] on turn two. Of course, simply having one more Basic Pokémon, one that can evolve into anything, is nice in its own right.

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

The strange thing about Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX is that it doesn’t look that strong. In theory, the deck doesn’t have the same raw power than Blacephalon-GX / Naganadel, in addition to Buzzwole’s Psychic weakness being an issue in that matchup. Against a Stage 2 deck like Gardevoir-GX, you’ll struggle to get KOs. Malamar hits you for weakness, Alolan Ninetales-GX one shots you with Sublimation GX, Granbull wins the Prize trade. It seems like the only positive matchup is Zoroark / Lycanroc.

Yet, when you actually see the deck in action, it can find answers to everything. The most important thing is how it puts pressure on the opponent and can prey on any weakness. Gardevoir-GX is powerful when set up, but to actually do so, it need to evolve many Basic Pokemon. Buzzwole-GX can target Basics before they evolve and just take KOs. If Gardevoir goes for the classic set up of [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”27″ c=”none”][/card] – Ralts – Mudkip, you could simply KO any of them. If they choose to take several Ralts and no Mudkip, then they won’t have access to [card name=”Swampert” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”35″ c=”name”][/card]’s draw power anytime soon, and so on. Against Granbull, you can target Magcargo and take KOs or simply force the opponent to play Switch or Guzma, something they have a limited number of — and by Knocking Out Magcargo rather than Granbull, you deny them the use of [card name=”Diantha” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card].

Of course, these matchups can absolutely still be lost. Buzzwole / Lycanroc is not the most dominant deck in the format. It is, however, one that can legitimately beat everything, and a lot of matchups need skill and experience to navigate — despite what some of its detractors claim, it’s not as easy as playing [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”none”][/card] — especially with several decks trying to deny you its use. A smart Zoroark / Decidueye / Ninetales player will try to take three or four prizes in one turn to skip the Beast Ring window, for example. This is why it’s another deck I consider playing this weekend.

I don’t think the list above is perfect and there are a number of other cards to consider, especially with Ditto in the deck. Some of them are:

• [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card]: It seems that Ditto Prism Star is now Alolan Muk’s official preevolution. Buzzwole / Lycanroc actually doesn’t partner that well with it, because it shuts down [card name=”Diancie Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”74″ c=”none”][/card] as well as [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”none”][/card], which is often used to find the game-winning [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”none”][/card]. The main use of this card would be against Granbull, since they have a hard time working without their draw engine. It can also prevent Malamar players from getting back their Giratina with Distorsion Door.
• [card name=”Electrode-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”48″ c=”name”][/card]: This is a weird inclusion, and its only use is to beat [card name=”Hoopa” set=”Shining Legends” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Regigigas” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Shuckle-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”17″ c=”custom”]Shuckle-GX[/card]. The idea is to use Electrode’s Ability, partly to recover Energy from the discard, but more importantly to give your opponent two Prizes. This lead won’t help them in any way since they don’t win by taking Prizes, but it allow you to play [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] and enjoy a permanent 120-damage Sledgehammer.
• [card name=”Machoke” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card]: Machoke is a general counter to decks that try to take multiple Prizes in one turn with attacks that damage the Bench (like Ninetales’ Snowy Wind) or Abilities such as Feather Arrow and Distorsion Door. As long as it’s in play, there’s no way around Beast Ring. The main issue I see with this tech is that it’s mostly useful against Zoroark / Decidueye / Ninetales, but that deck has several ways to KO Ditto on the Bench before it can evolve.
• [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card]: Another way to beat Zoroark / Decidueye / Ninetales would be to include Max Potion. Often, they will place damage counters on Buzzwole, Diancie Prism Star or some other non-GX Pokemon, in order to KO it with Feather Arrow on the same turn that they take a KO with Sublimation GX or another attack. Using Max Potion at the right time can simply prevent this KO. I should mention that usually, it’s unadvised to use an Item as a tech since you have no way to reliably search for it, but Ninetales’ Mysterious Guidance can actually find these one-ofs easily now.
• [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card]: The main reason for this card’s inclusion would be, once again, the Zoroark / Decidueye / Ninetales matchup. Specifically, it can discard a Rainbow or Double Colorless Energy from Decidueye-GX and therefore prevent it from using Razor Leaf. This removes the best answer the deck has to Lycanroc-GX, which can then take four Prizes in two turns (Dangerous Rogue GX on Ninetales or Decidueye, then Claw Slash on Zoroark-GX). Of course, Enhanced Hammer also helps against other decks that play Special Energy.

3. Other Picks

If you’re not convinced by the above picks, here are some other decks to run at your next Standard event. I want to focus on the reasons to play each of these decks.

My biggest mistake when analysing Lost Thunder, I believe, was completely underestimating the power of [card name=”Granbull” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card]. I discarded the deck as a gimmick, when it was actually the new best non-GX deck in the format. It uses the synergy between [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] in a different way than [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card] decks did, but in the end, it’s even stronger than them. Instead of various attackers that can each deal with some situations, it has a one-size-fit-all Pokemon in Granbull, that can OHKO non-GX and GX Pokemon alike (with some help from [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and Shrine of Punishment, of course).

Granbull is one of my favorite decks of the format. Since you need to set your hand size to zero every turn, while still drawing and playing cards that set up your board or get KOs (like Guzma or Choice Band), there’s a puzzle-like quality to it. It’s not unlike playing [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card], except you need to think more about how to manage your resources on the long term — use up all your [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] too soon, and you’ll likely end up in a situation where you can’t discard cards from your hand, further down the road.

All Granbull lists are pretty much alike. The minute variations can make a difference, but I don’t want to lecture you — see Caleb’s article on Granbull if you want to know more. Instead, I want to emphasize the linearity of the deck’s game plan: whatever you’re facing, you’ll always do the same moves in order to play all the cards in your hand. This means that, for example, in no situation will you want to attack with Oranguru instead of Granbull, or fill your hand with cards rather than play them all. (Yes, sometimes you can keep cards in hand when the base 30 damage from All Out is enough to get the KO, but it’s not the same as actively looking to draw.)

This is not a criticism of the deck. Actually, it can even be comforting, especially over the course of a long day of Pokemon — say, a nine-round Regional Championship. Buzzwole decks can lose because they didn’t go for the right target, Malamar decks because they chose the wrong attacker for the matchup, but Granbull will always be doing (mostly) the same thing, so as long as you’re comfortable with the deck’s strategy, you won’t ever feel lost.

This is not to say that there are no subtleties to the deck! To the contrary, the technical aspect of Granbull cannot be understated. If you’ve never played Granbull in your life, please don’t pick up the deck the day before an event and hope for the best! It is only if you are familiar with it that the deck becomes a very solid play.

Granbull is one of the decks I’m heavily considering for Harrogate. What would make me reconsider is a fear of Zoroark / Decidueye / Ninetales and possible stall decks, but there’s a lot of appeal in playing a simple and consistent deck.

[cardimg name=”Granbull” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”138″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Naganadel” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] is another deck with a linear game plan that’s strong enough to stand up to most of the competition. A lot of what has been said for Granbull is also true here, although there are more choices to make when building the deck. It does have some unfavorable matchups, such as Malamar and Granbull, but it can still beat them by going fast enough.

I expect the deck to be very popular, as it is simple and strong; if you’re lost and making your decision at the last minute, you could do much worse than Blacephalon. My main worry about playing the deck is that it rewards skill less than other decks. I especially don’t look forward to playing the mirror match, which is one of the least interesting in the metagame. A lot of it simply comes down to who gets the better set up.

If you’re looking for something completely different, though, stall decks like [card name=”Hoopa” set=”Shining Legends” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Regigigas” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Shuckle-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] should be in a good spot. For a long time, stall decks existed as an unintended side effect of the metagame. Nobody expected [card name=”Wailord-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] to become a thing, and every subsequent development, from [card name=”Heatmor” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Raichu” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] to [card name=”Steelix” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card]  / Hoopa, was similarly alien. However, [card name=”Unown” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] HAND finally gave stall decks legitimacy. They now have an explicit win condition, rather than winning by default after the opponent runs out of resources. Mirror matches can end. Stall decks feel like an accepted part of the game. (Another way to look at this is that [card name=”Girafarig” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] can break Lusamine loops; its release may also mean that these strategies are being acknowledged.)

To experienced stall players, this won’t matter. However, I think the average player now sees Hoopa / Regigigas as a real deck, and not something reserved to a few weirdos or geniuses. This is why I expect a higher amount of such decks than usual at Harrogate Regionals, and even at League Cups. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the metagame can favor them quite a lot. Just look at how many times I mentioned, in this very article, that a deck was good but struggled, or needed to tech, against stall decks! Although I don’t see myself playing one, mostly because of a lack of experience, I think that they are solid and could very well in the expected metagame.

That’s all from me this week! If you’re playing in Harrogate or Anaheim this week-end, best of luck to you! And as always, if you see me, don’t hesitate to say hi. I’ll have more Expanded content soon, since I’m officially registered for Dallas Regionals in January!

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