The Dallas Observer — Final Thoughts, Plays, and Predictions for Texas Regionals

By: Caleb Gedemer · Posted Posted onJan 17, 2019 at 1:43 PM · 0 Comments

[cardimg name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”104″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The next Regionals is almost upon us. The Expanded format is as confusing, frustrating, and polarizing as ever. Over the past few weeks, I’ve gone over some decks that haven’t been covered for the site yet — some really good ones. With the tournament so close it’s time for a general review of what to expect and a peek at some of the best plays for the event. There’s nearly too many Expanded format decks to count now, but here’s all of them by my count…

• [card name=”Alolan Exeggutor” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”2″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Magikarp and Wailord-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM166 ” c=”name”][/card]
• Blastoise Toolbox
• [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] Toolbox
• [card name=”Donphan” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]
• Garbodor / [card name=”Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM58″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Hitmontop” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Jumpluff” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”14″ c=”custom”]Lost March[/card]
• [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”44″ c=”custom”]Night March[/card]
• [card name=”Primal Groudon-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card] Control
• [card name=”Sceptile-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Raichu” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Sylveon-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] Control
• [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Unown” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card] DAMAGE / [card name=”Reuniclus” set=”Black and White” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Wailord-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] Control
• [card name=”Wobbuffet BREAK” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY155″ c=”name”][/card] Control
• Zoroark-GX Control
• Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card]
• Zoroark-GX / Exodia
• Zoroark-GX / Garbodor / [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card]
• Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]
• Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]

Narrowing Down the Field

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

That’s a lot to take in, and it’s even more unrealistic to think you could play a deck that can beat everything on this list. Here I would normally drop a tier list, but for even better simplicity the following are just the best decks — the ones that you should focus on and aim to beat. There isn’t exactly a perfect solution to beating them all so you may have to pick and choose what to focus on.

• Blastoise / Magikarp & Wailord-GX
• Blastoise Toolbox
• Buzzwole-GX Toolbox
• Lucario-GX
• Rayquaza-GX
• Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX
• Trevenant BREAK
• Vespiquen / Flareon
• Zoroark-GX Control
• Zoroark-GX / Exeggcute / Garbodor / Sky Field
• Zoroark-GX / Exodia
• Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX

These twelve decks are all very different from each other for the most part, so that creates a bit of a situation when it comes to deck building. On this list I’ve included two decks that would primarily be considered control-based, and as such there are specific techs you could play to counter that sort of a matchup. I usually don’t just pick a deck and tech it out; rather, I like to find a deck that has solid matchups all around then tech it as needed to fix unfavorable matchups.

Most Regional Championship events in the United States see around seven hundred players. Texas looks to be about the same, but to be safe I’m going to use seven hundred and fifty as a projection. Of these players, about 85% usually play decks that are considered part of the general metagame. It is my aim to provide you with my opinion about how many of each deck you should expect to face, techs for each deck, and more. All projections will be based on the Day 1 metagame.

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Blastoise Variants

Blastoise lists are going to be a mess this weekend, but one thing needs to be held constant: the presence of Magikarp & Wailord-GX. The dominance of Towering Splash GX is finally upon us and it is going to be epic. The spread to the Bench is extremely powerful and can completely decimate decks all at once. Getting to use it on the first turn is completely realistic with [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”XY” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] on board in Blastoise lists. Zoroark-GX decks should be more afraid than ever.

• Expect to play 1-2
• Consider a tech
• Tech [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card] against Blastoise variants

Buzzwole

Buzzwole-GX just does its thing regardless of the competition; there isn’t exactly a metagame that’s bad for it. While the new Magikarp & Wailord-GX presents a problem, I think the deck will still be played in relatively high numbers and see some success. The deck doesn’t have a direct counter tech either.

• Expect to play at least 2
• Don’t consider a tech
• Tech Mr. Mime or a Psychic Pokemon against Buzzwole-GX variants if you want to improve the matchup

Lucario-GX

[cardimg name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Lucario-GX has slipped back into the format after a solid showing in California, so I expect it to be played a bit. It’s a fan favorite deck that can hold its own in Expanded.

The deck relies on [card name=”Focus Sash” set=”Furious Fists” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] to stay kicking, and Psychic Pokemon can crush it as well. Parallel City can to a lesser extent disrupt its strategy since it becomes hard to have the proper Bench of Pokemon when you need to evolve a [card name=”Riolu” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] each turn to get the damage boost you’re looking for.

• Expect to play at least 1
• Consider a tech
• Tech [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] for Focus Sash variants (as long as you’re playing a deck that can one-shot a Lucario-GX)

Rayquaza-GX

I feel like Rayquaza-GX won’t enjoy the same success it did in Anaheim again, but it’ll still be around. The reentry of non-EX/GX decks will keep it in its place, but it’s still a deck I’d like to be able to beat. There isn’t a tech to beat Rayquaza-GX other than playing a specific deck that has a good matchup against it.

• Expect to play at least 1
• Without a viable tech don’t worry about playing one

Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX

Going into Dallas last year, Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX was all the rage but it flopped horribly. A year later, the deck has finally taken a stranglehold on Expanded and won’t let up, winning the last two Expanded format events and finishing with many other fine placements.

The deck is almost certainly the deck to beat. The thing is, though, that not too many people are ever playing it. So does that warrant a tech? I feel like while more people than ever before will be playing it this time, it will likely still not be enough to warrant a tech. Nonetheless, if success in Day 2 is your goal, then perhaps a tech has some value.

• Expect to play 0-1
• Consider a tech, mainly for the Day 2 metagame
• Tech [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Faba” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card], and/or [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] for Seismitoad-EX variants

Trevenant BREAK

I don’t expect much Trevenant BREAK for once. I think more players have realized that it’s just a lackluster deck in Expanded suffering from inconsistency, a low damage cap, and still has an abysmal Zoroark-GX matchup.

If you do happen to play against it, there aren’t many techs you can play outside of [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] or maybe [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card]. Things like [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] are alright as well, but you’ll need to get [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] out of the Active to use it. [card name=”Latias-EX” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] is a mill deck tech, but doesn’t fit in everything.

• Expect to play 0-1
• Don’t consider a tech
• Tech Acerola for Trevenant BREAK variants if you want to improve the matchup

Vespiquen / Flareon

Vespiquen / Flareon has seen a resurgence at long last and, unlike other decks, there are plenty of techs to beat it. While I don’t expect it to be popular, playing a tech just to beat it would have value if you did run into one. I honestly will not be playing a tech to beat it regardless of what I play; I don’t think it’s worth it.

• Expect to play 0-1
• Don’t consider a tech
• Tech [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] for Vespiquen / Flareon or Night March variants if you want to improve those matchups

Zoroark-GX Control

Before the inception of Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX, my testing group and I intended to play Zoroark-GX Control. The last remaining main of the deck, Isaiah Williams, has not given it up and has topped two Regionals in a row with the deck, proving it’s still a top contender.

The thing is, I doubt you’ll face anyone else playing the deck aside from him so techs aren’t worth it. An Oranguru in opposing Zoroark-GX decks with an out to [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] can do the trick though for the win.

• Expect to play 0-1
• Don’t consider a tech
• Tech Oranguru and an out to Roadblock for Zoroark-GX Control variants if you expect to face the matchup

Zoroark-GX / Exeggcute / Garbodor / Sky Field

[cardimg name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Zoroark-GX / Exeggcute / Garbodor / Sky Field can be crippled by Sudowoodo, Faba, Parallel City, control stuff in general, and Fighting-type decks. While there isn’t exactly a hard tech, I guess Sudowoodo kind of is?

This is a deck that needs to be on your radar. It’s the one Expanded deck that you should expect with certainty to face multiple times over the course of a Regionals.

• Expect to play 2-3
• Consider a tech
• Tech Sudowoodo for Zoroark-GX variants playing Sky Field

Zoroark-GX / Exodia

Zoroark-GX / Exodia is a tricky one as well. The tech options are strange and become obsolete if your hand gets destroyed before you get a turn, aside from [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] which you would have to play in high counts to start with anyways. I think this deck has died down in popularity quite a bit and I don’t expect to face many anymore. Originally after its success in Anaheim it seemed destined for greatness, but with people losing interest in the deck and deeming it inconsistent, I don’t think you’ll see many piloting it.

• Expect to play at least 1
• Don’t consider a tech
• Tech [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card], Sudowoodo, and/or Wobbuffet for Zoroark-GX / Exodia variants if you want to improve the matchup

Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX

Last and possibly least is Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX, a deck I don’t see showing up. Danny Prather took this to a Top 16 finish in Anaheim, but there weren’t many others playing the deck. It’s a clunky Zoroark-GX deck that plays an off-type attacker in Golisopod-GX for various matchups. It still suffers against control builds and can be overwhelmed by some of the speedier decks out there because it is built more for a grindy game.

• Expect to play 0-1
• Don’t consider a tech
• Tech Sudowoodo to slow Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX down even further if you want to improve the matchup

Quality Control

It might be too late to test more, but you can use your previous knowledge of your play options to consider the following:

• Your deck must beat [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] to stand any chance at doing well
• You should have an answer to Control, even if it’s just against the outlier decks like [card name=”Wailord-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] Control, perhaps now using the [card name=”Magikarp and Wailord-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM166 ” c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] should be prepared for and you should have at least an even chance at beating it
• [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] variants are scary, and while not as important as some other decks you should have a chance to beat it — I would take no less than a 40% win rate against it
• While Zoroark-GX / Exodia is a viable deck, I would worry little about it because of the following:
  • Going first it only has about an 80% chance of completing the first turn combo. That’s a lot, but it can miss
  • Going second, the win rate drops considerably and gives an opponent time to find a counter like Oranguru, Sudowoodo, and/or Wobbuffet
  • An opponent can draw out of the combo after it’s completed on the first turn, completely nullifying the work that was put into it and potentially losing the Zoroark-GX / Exodia player the game

Best Options

Blastoise Toolbox

I really like my Blastoise list and I’m heavily considering it for this event. What steers me away from it is the lack of control you have against mirror matches and other decks that are shooting to take one-hit Knock Outs like you are. I like the degenerate control decks in Expanded because they give you a chance to beat anything with the way you play and severely punish opponents that happen to make a mistake.

The addition of Magikarp & Wailord-GX gives this deck a whole new strategy and counter package to decks that it was formerly weak against. 300 HP is nearly impossible for any Expanded format attacker aside from Trashalanche to capably deal with, and Super Splash does just enough with a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] to one-shot a Zoroark-GX even if your opponent plays a [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card] to weaken Towering Splash GX, the main attraction to this card. This is 100% the YOLO deck for this weekend. I will be defaulting to it if all else fails and decide that I just want to ride the wave of luck.

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″][pokemon amt=”14″]2x [card name=”Magikarp and Wailord-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM166 ” c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Kingdra-GX” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”18″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]2x [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Superior Energy Retrieval” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Order Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”131″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]10x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”10″][/card][/energy][/decklist][cardimg name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

To talk about the list some, I like a higher count of [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] to make sure you have the gas to get the Towering Splash GX off when you want it.

[card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] is extra defense against Zoroark-GX / Exodia and is generally good in this deck instead of something like the fourth Shaymin-EX.

[card name=”Kingdra-GX” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card] might seem weird, but you really need it against other Blastoise variants that are playing Kingdra-GX themselves, as without it you will lack any way to Knock Out their Kingdra-GX in one hit.

[card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] is a decent one-Prize attacker and can be useful following a Towering Splash GX that hits a Shaymin-EX for 100, then you can clean it up for three Prize cards with Tri Edge.

Lastly, I’ve found that two [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] is amazing in this deck and completely shores up any matchup against [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”custom”]Garbotoxin[/card] for you, unless, of course, you get rolled over by [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]. The Field Blower combo helps you out against [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] as well, which can reduce your damage and prevent you from using [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] for Blastoise to execute your strategy.

I’ve bounced around this list quite a bit, starting with a massively aggressive list with four [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”XY” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] to this list that only plays one copy. I’ve found this list to be a perfect balance between being a glass cannon and the standard Blastoise lists I’m sure you’ve grown accustomed to.

If in doubt for a play this weekend, I would cop this list right here, submit it, play a few solitaire hands and roll with the punches. It’s tested, ready to go, and has great matchups. Like I said, the only thing missing for me is a bit more control over Expanded gameplay, which is simply not an option for the deck since much of its structure is luck-based, from setting up to finding your Energy. It’s an easy deck to exploit given the right deck.

In a fleeting last thought, I’ve been considering the addition of an [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] in this list to pick the Magikarp & Wailord-GX up over and over and survive Knock Outs. I really like the idea and it might shore your control matchups up a little more, especially against [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] which might attempt to lock your Blastoise Active. While it will be picked up with Acerola, you’ll have your sitting duck out of play and few obstacles in your way to coasting for the rest of the game so long as you have an attacker built — beware of [card name=”Articuno-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], though.

Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX

My affinity for Seismitoad-EX is dated; it might never pass. Quaking Punch is still extremely demoralizing in Expanded, in ways unlike the past. While this deck can take Knock Outs, it aims more to shut an opponent out of a game and keep them doing as little as possible while you build an infinite loop with [card name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card].

It’s very difficult to play and I wouldn’t recommend using it unless you have lots of practice with the deck. The biggest thing I can preach is building a powerful turn to do all of your disruption at once, rather than countering every little thing your opponent does. Say you’re playing [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Faba” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card]. You might want to immediately use one, but if you do that you could be risking your setup if you’re not loaded on Zoroark-GX just yet, or maybe you’ll lose an attacker due to not using Acerola. You can wear your opponent down and then play all those cards at once making for the perfect storm that can be hard to come back from.

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Archen” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”53″][pokemon amt=”20″]4x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Girafarig” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Articuno-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”31″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Archen” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]2x [card name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Fan Club” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”133″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Gladion” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Team Skull Grunt” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”133″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Faba” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”173″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Team Rocket’s Handiwork” set=”Fates Collide” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Switch” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”6″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist][cardimg name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”106″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This list is a little different than the winning build from Anaheim, but the changes are explainable.

The first thing you might notice is the inclusion of Shaymin-EX; this is mainly for further first turn reach to give you a better chance of getting a Quaking Punch off.

Two Seismitoad-EX has been fine in testing since you usually Trade one of them away anyway and never use three in a game. You have [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] to get a third back if needed.

[card name=”Switch” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] is a cute addition, sort of like a second [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card]. You can use it to move a Seismitoad-EX around that even has a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] on it, and it gives you another out against decks like [card name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] and other mill decks.

[card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] is a work in progress; I currently like it because it works like Parallel City in that it can free up your Bench, and it can be clutch to boost Zoroark-GX up against a pesky [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] or something of the like that you formerly couldn’t one-shot.

This deck can beat anything. You have so many options crammed in a consistent shell featuring Zoroark-GX. If Dallas were today I would submit this deck as my choice.

Zoroark-GX Control

My testing group and I, aside from Williams, keep bailing out on Zoroark-GX Control at the last minute before Regionals, making the audible to Seismitoad-EX. The decks have such similar strategies that the carryover between the two makes it easy to make that last-minute transition.

This deck is more focused on Zoroark-GX and how your opponent plays the game. The lock comes in the form of [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Red Card” set=”Generations” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card], so while it’s not a true lock like Seismitoad-EX and its Quaking Punch, it can be more powerful yet when [card name=”Trick Shovel” set=”Flashfire” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] hits and selects what your opponent draws for the turn. The thing here is that Seismitoad-EX can create a lock immediately and is much easier to solidify. With this deck you are at the mercy of what your opponent draws and in what order they draw those cards.

I like it, but I feel like stronger opponents, especially in Day 2, are more prepared for the mental warfare that wages across the table in matchups with this deck.

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Girafarig” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”94″][pokemon amt=”20″]4x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Xurkitree-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Girafarig” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]2x [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Gladion” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Trick Shovel” set=”Flashfire” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Red Card” set=”Generations” no=”71″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”5″]3x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist][cardimg name=”Xurkitree-GX” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”142″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This list has it all, including the extremely spicy [card name=”Xurkitree-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM68″ c=”name”][/card]. With Lighting GX you can pick a card that would otherwise disrupt your strategy from your opponent and put it in their Prize cards. This is extremely potent after a Red Card and Delinquent combo, where your opponent may be holding onto a playable card and then you put it in the Prize cards, effectively destroying their hand.

This list is primed with consistency featuring four [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] to never lose your flow of Supporter cards you want and to improve your first turn [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] odds.

Sky Field is included for many of the same reasons as in the Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX list, giving you a different way to “fix” your Bench and get the exact Pokemon down that you want or to take a Knock Out on a Pokemon you normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so on.

Multiple Oranguru are the centerpiece of this deck. They serve a similar purpose to [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card]’s with Junk Hunt in the past in other control-based decks.

This deck has a higher ceiling than the Seismitoad-EX variant, but a lower floor. Quaking Punch sets the lock immediately but this deck can completely stop an opponent from playing the game. Pick your poison, but the latter is certainly even more difficult to master with the extreme sequencing you need to showcase. Planning three or more turns in advance with either of these decks is a skill you ought to learn.

Planning

Three turns is a lot. How do you do it? A lot of it isn’t so much as planning, like having a blueprint; but more about gathering all the pieces of the puzzle that you want to play in one turn instead of slowly wasting them early on.

Take the Zoroark-GX Control build for example: if you have Delinquent and Red Card in hand early in the game you may be tempted to play them both at once. While that would be strong, you may want to wait until you have a stronger board and Xurkitree-GX as well so that you can completely remove your opponent’s hand altogether.

What can your opponent do? What is their strategy? Consider what they need to complete a Knock Out or to advance towards one. There’s points in the game where you can save a resource because you’re not being pressed to spend it immediately. Like against a Buzzwole-GX deck, if a Buzzwole-GX has one Energy on it you might want to play a [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] if another comes down. Conversely, if there are three Energy on a Buzzwole-GX all at once you may want to reconsider things and go for something else. Perhaps at that point, depending on your opponent’s hand size and how strong you perceive their hand to be, you could leave the Buzzwole-GX there with all of its Energy and turn towards a Counter Catcher strategy to strand useless Pokemon in the Active spot. These decks are all about repetition and knowing your opponent’s outs. You can do it, just think: what disruption are they most afraid of?

Fin

I’m going to cap it off here. Hit me up in the Subscribers’ Hideout with any questions. I’ll be in Dallas, if you see me there and want to chat or say hi don’t be afraid to! Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this. Good luck at Regionals if you’re attending. If you’re not, good luck at local events, or something as unrelated as an upcoming exam.

The best in all you do.

Peace,

Caleb

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