Edgy Ending — Looking at Greensboro Regionals and Expanded from Here On Out

By: Caleb Gedemer · Posted Posted onMar 22, 2019 at 5:05 PM · 0 Comments

[cardimg name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Did someone call for me?[/cardimg]

Despite the Unbroken Bonds set not becoming legal until mid May, there’s still more Expanded format events to be played. The results of the most recent Regional Championship stateside in North Carolina will be relevant in the months to come. Expanded changed a lot the week prior in Toronto; [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] and things like [card name=”Pyroar” set=”Flashfire” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] popped up after a long hibernation. Most shocking of all, Night March won the entire event.

Headed into Greensboro the following weekend, a few things were for sure: Trevenant BREAK and Night March were going to be countered. These two statements played out exactly as projected as each deck finished as high as 24th and 41st, respectively — miles behind their success the previous weekend. Let’s start with a big picture of the event featuring the most played decks:

Post Regional Results

  • 57 [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”custom”]Archie’s[/card] [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 49 [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 47 [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 28 [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 23 Trevenant BREAK
  • 19 [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 14 [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 11 [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 11 [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 10 [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 7 [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor
  • 6 Night March
  • 5 [card name=”Celebi and Venusaur-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 5 [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]

Now for contents of the 43 Day Two slots:

  • 9 Blastoise
  • 8 Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
  • 5 Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
  • 3 Drampa-GX / Garbodor
  • 3 Hitmonchan
  • 2 Rayquaza-GX
  • 2 Celebi and Venusaur-GX
  • 2 Trevenant BREAK
  • 2 Lucario-GX
  • 1 [card name=”Alolan Exeggutor” set=”Team Up” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 1 [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 1 Garbodor / [card name=”Mismagius” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 1 Night March
  • 1 Seismitoad-EX / Garbodor
  • 1 Shock Lock
  • 1 Zoroark-GX / Control

Of this, a Top 8 was constructed and the final standings are:

  • 1st — Drampa-GX / Garbodor
  • 2nd — Blastoise
  • 3rd — Blastoise
  • 4th — Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
  • 5th — Shock Lock
  • 6th — Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
  • 7th — Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
  • 8th — Pikachu and Zekrom-GX

The most noticeable thing here is that Blastoise performed much better than it did in Toronto. I used the same list as second-place finisher Azul Garcia Griego, but I did not do as well. I had a weird day marred with two very unfavorable matchups with lots of unfortunate draws and luck; I finished 4-3-2 for zero Championship Points.

I think the reason Blastoise did much better than the week prior is that many strong players used it. Sometimes you’ll notice that lots of Day 2 standings are filled with strong players. Much of this is because their skill can carry them regardless of what deck they’re using, but in this case I think it was a little bit of both. Blastoise was a strong play for the tournament no matter which way you look at it, and my testing group and I decided on it because our spreadsheet also backed up our assumptions about the deck:

 

 

We ranked [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”custom”]Garbodor[/card] the highest, with Blastoise being the most popular deck overall. While playing the top-rated deck isn’t always correct, it felt that way this week because Blastoise is a deck that can beat anything.

[cardimg name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The play ended up working out, and a second-place effort is nothing to scoff at, but I think [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor winning is as big a surprise as Night March winning the week prior. Drampa-GX / Garbodor has casually continued to put up results even after its “nerfing” by the start of a new year of Expanded events. Its quiet success has not convinced many people to use the deck — seven in total of all those in Greensboro — but it continues to put up results.

Was this an anomaly or just good pairings? Much like how the stars aligned for [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] to do well in Canada, [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”custom”]Garbodor with Trashalanche[/card] was well-poised for Greensboro. Expanded is home to Items galore, and with Trevenant BREAK doing well in the previous event, Zoroark-GX was sure to make an appearance.

I think the Zoroark-GX matchup for Drampa-GX / Garbodor has always been slightly positive and that’s no different these days. It’s hard to counter an [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] to a low hand size in conjunction with a [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] drop and a Righteous Edge to remove a [card name=”Double Colorless” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card]. Much to everyone’s surprise, the deck ended up having a slew of great matchups in the tournament.

You might wondering if I regret playing Blastoise? Should I have played Garbodor instead? I still think Blastoise was a great play. Drampa-GX / Garbodor can be clunky and it can lose to decks it should beat because of inconsistencies. While I do regret not putting more thought into the power of Trashalanche this past weekend, Blastoise was still a great deck and I felt like I could have beaten any of my opponents regardless of what they were playing.

Seeing the Day 2 metagame, Drampa-GX / Garbodor was extremely well positioned and I am not surprised it won when I look at it in that perspective. In the spreadsheet, we made a mistake by listing the Drampa-GX / Garbodor matchup with Zoroark-GX / Garbodor at 40%, when it’s really the inverse at 60%. This makes a difference, boosting the deck to fifth in ranking overall, but I don’t think it’s near the point where I would have considered it. Why was the matchup wrong? No one in my testing group had tested the matchup in a while and just made a mistake. After seeing the matchup play out, it reminded me a lot of how it would go “back in the day” last year, righting it at a “60-40” designation.

[premium]

  • What happened to Night March?
    • Blastoise decks started running [card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] to punish [card name=”Joltik” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] and get ahead on Prize cards.
    • Less players used the deck — in fact, only six Night March were seen at the event in total for Masters.
    • There were fifteen [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] in Day Two and five decks using [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card]; counters to Night March are the bane of its existence, Night March was only able to do well in Toronto because it was super under the radar.
  • What happened to Trevenant BREAK?
    • Blastoise and Trevenant BREAK pair up evenly, but Blastoise brings a small advantage to the table with a first turn [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] for Blastoise; getting this combo off almost ensures a win so long as that player doesn’t brick and draw things that aren’t Water Energy.
    • Pikachu and Zekrom-GX players got smart, adding [card name=”Xurkitree-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM68″ c=”name”][/card] in as a counter to [card name=”Pyroar” set=”Flashfire” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]; with only [card name=”Blend Energy GRPD” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] in the rivaling deck, there is no way to damage a Xurkitree-GX and Rumbling Wires will eventually deck an opponent out.
    • Zoroark-GX happened; there were 49 players repping the deck, more than the week prior, and many of them were likely to have been stronger players that made the switch to the deck after seeing [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] dominate the week before in Canada.
  • Why did Pikachu and Zekrom-GX recover after an awful showing the previous week?
    • Blastoise and Zoroark-GX / Garbodor are close matchups, but not anything worse than slightly unfavorable; with more popular decks in the mix that aren’t terrible matchups — unlike the week prior with something like Night March — it’s easier to do well.
    • [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card] dived off, going from one of the most popular decks to only eleven slots total; without a terrible matchup in the fold a deck is sure to do better.
    • Surprise counters like Pyroar were no longer, especially in decks that would have been a strong matchup for Pikachu and Zekrom-GX if not for the tech’s inclusion; additionally, Pikachu and Zekrom-GX went a bit under the radar after an awful performance and was subsequently rewarded with better finishes.

Moving Forward

The next Expanded format event is all the way in late April in Daytona Beach, Florida, so it’s going to be a little while. Fortunately, there’s not going to be much action coming to the game other than the release and legalization of the Detective Pikachu sub-set. Ditto and Mr. Mime both are promising for different reasons. I can’t see Ditto being played in Expanded with spiritual predecessors existing like [card name=”Ditto” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY40″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Kecleon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card], among others. Mr. Mime is going to be strong, though. You can use this with [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] to Smooth Over whatever you want to the top and then move that to the Prizes. Cards like [card name=”Jirachi Prism Star” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Greedy Dice” set=”Steam Siege” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] come to mind as options, specifically the latter which is an Expanded-only card. The new Mr. Mime is perfect with [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card], and it will likely make Magcargo and Jirachi Prism Star staples in every Zoroark-GX build. It might seem fancy, but an extra Prize is insane as it speeds games up and plays around things like [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and its Sledgehammer, and maybe [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] if the cards align correctly. There’s a lot of creativity that’s sure to come with the Pantomime Ability, I’m excited to see where it leads.

Aside from the new and original, I think we’ll see yet another shift in the metagame. Now that [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”custom”]Garbodor[/card] has done well, I would expect to see more of it at the next event. It’s a hard deck to play, so I wouldn’t expect everyone to be a huge threat with the deck, but it’s sure to scare things off like [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card]. With Blastoise taking a back seat, that opens the door further for something like Buzzwole / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] to crack out of the woodwork. I think that’s the next big deck that I would hone in on. I expect [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] to fill much of the void that Blastoise trails away with as it does have a favorable Drampa-GX / Garbodor matchup.

I said it last time, but I’ll say it again: there’s gotta be something out there, some control deck that will crack the format. Drampa-GX / Garbodor doing poorly against control decks is even further reason to pursue them and the assumed exit of Blastoise will also open the gate for control. While Pikachu and Zekrom-GX is difficult to beat, there could be a spicy inclusion like Pyroar in addition to control cards to even the tides.

Aside on Seismitoad-EX / Garbodor

I faced this deck in round four of Greensboro and felt a strong sense of dread immediately. Blastoise has a hard time with both Ability and Item lock. Seeing this deck, I was taken aback, regretting my lack of thinking of its existence.

It seemed like an amazing play for the event, but I don’t think its Pikachu and Zekrom-GX matchup is that great. Blastoise can beat it, but it has to pop off and must get the first turn Archie’s Ace in the Hole most games. There’s a lot of clumsiness with [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] as well, so, after giving it more thought, I think the deck belongs in a binder. Only one made Day 2 and I’m sure a decent sized group of players used the deck, so I’m not as keen about the deck anymore.

I think this deck does deserve a small slice of the pie in Expanded though and I will be testing it for upcoming events to be sure. It might have the highest upside of anything out there. Aside from a terrible matchup against Drampa-GX / Garbodor, everything else seems like you can at least tech to beat it.

1st-place Decklist

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Mr. Mime” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”47″][pokemon amt=”17″]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Noble Victories” no=”48″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sigilyph-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”47″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]4x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]5x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”5″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Andrew Martin made a fantastic Drampa-GX / Garbodor list for the event. Let’s quickly take a look at why the deck was able to make it all the way to first place.

I’m not sure if you need [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card], as I think your Blastoise matchup is already strong, so that’s a potential cut.

[cardimg name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”101″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The Supporter lineup is perfect. I love four [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]; this deck lives off N and Garbotoxin in the late game.

The lack of [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] is fine as your only unsearchable Pokemon with [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] are Drampa-GX and [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card], cards you only need against [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card], in which case you can use [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] to find them.

One of my favorite parts about the list is [card name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card] because it’s a way to thin some cards, find that pesky one-of [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], and yet another way to get Garbodor online with Garbotoxin.

Three [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] is perfect because I don’t think Zoroark-GX is popular to the point where you want four anymore.

A fifth Psychic Energy is another lovely inclusion because it improves your chances of finding Energy and this deck being inconsistent has been one of its downfalls.

The only deck that [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor struggles with is Pikachu and Zekrom-GX, although [card name=”Sigilyph-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] is great in that matchup, as well as against Buzzwole and [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card].

This deck will be a threat for the rest of the Expanded season and probably into next year if the format sticks around. I would recommend picking this deck up as soon as possible and getting games in as soon as you can if you want to play it. One of the biggest skills to emulate is patience; you don’t always need to be taking Knock Outs, just focus on disrupting your opponent.

Rayquaza-GX

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″][pokemon amt=”18″]4x [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Zeraora-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Xurkitree-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Koko-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”47″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Shaymin Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”10″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”47″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Shining Legends” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”28″]2x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]7x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]7x [card name=”Grass Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Jose Marrero continues to innovate [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] this season, now turning to the Expanded format. While Marrero himself performed poorly in Day Two, Jeffrey Criss was able to take their list to a ninth place finish, bubbling out of Top 8. Rayquaza-GX wasn’t seen as a top contender going into the event, but I’m sure that this finish will change that and draw more people to pick up the deck. Fast decks like this always seem to be popular.

However, I’m worried this one is not cracked up to be what it seems. Its [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] matchup is too close for comfort; its [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] matchup and the Drampa-GX / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] matchup are similarly shaky. We’ll see if it holds up in the future.

For now I think this list is nearly perfect. You could tweak around some of the techs, such as [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] if you don’t expect Night March anymore, and Mr. Mime if you’re not expecting Blastoise. Mr. Mime is great against Pikachu and Zekrom-GX as well, but with [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] in that deck, I’m not sure how effective it would be.

Overall, this deck is neat and has a super high power ceiling and can beat anything when it runs hot.

Shock Lock

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″][pokemon amt=”19″]4x [card name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Herdier” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Lillipup” set=”Black and White” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Raichu” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Pikachu” set=”Generations” no=”26″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Grimer” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”83″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Gladion” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ 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=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”142″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Devolution Spray” set=”Evolutions” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”4″]4x [card name=”Memory Energy” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”194″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist][cardimg name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Control did make a showing in Greensboro, just not in the way I thought. Shock Lock with [card name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] came back with a vengeance, and one of two players using the deck made Day Two, advancing all the way to Top 8.

This list is a little different than Shock Lock lists we’ve seen in the past, using [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] for extra consistency and even playing an N. Without [card name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] this deck remains competitively relevant, carrying itself with a single copy of [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]. Its inclusion of [card name=”Memory Energy” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”194″ c=”name”][/card] unlocks a lot of other options since you don’t need to play [card name=”Shining Celebi” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM79″ c=”name”][/card] anymore. Garbotoxin is an automatic loss for this deck, and its pilot, Jonathan Croxton, said that he didn’t think [card name=”Goodra” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] was worth playing in the deck. I agree with him as well as every card in his list. This list looks extremely polished and I can’t get over how good Trainers’ Mail is in the deck.

While this deck has a large barrier to entry in the purchase of [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW50″ c=”name”][/card], if you can overcome that you will have your hands on a great control deck that has a few bad matchups but nearly auto-wins a bunch of others.

Conclusion

Expanded continues to grow and develop and we’ll see if Detective Pikachu cards end up doing anything to it. I think the Mr. Mime will, but time will tell. For another month, we won’t be seeing much Expanded action other than in the occasional League Cup, so keep this article in your back pocket for when the next Expanded Regionals comes along.

If I had to choose something this instant for the next Expanded Regionals I would probably play [card name=”Drampa-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor. It’s a good deck and I think I could pilot it well as I do have experience with the deck from testing in the past. Shock Lock is an interesting case itself, but with the fear of Garbodor and its Garbotoxin, I’m not sure if I could bring myself to play it.

I’ll be back next time with a preview of Denver, Colorado Regionals and hopefully showing off some cool Standard decks. See you later, take care, and thanks for reading!

Peace,

Caleb

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