Trevenant, Eh? — Toronto Regionals and Where to Go Next

By: Caleb Gedemer · Posted Posted onMar 15, 2019 at 8:21 AM · 0 Comments

Going into Ontario Regionals, [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] was the deck to beat by all counts. In fact, 43 of them showed up in total for Masters, trailed shortly after by [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] with 38 players playing the deck overall. Other big decks were represented well like [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card] with 30 showings, [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] at 29, [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] with 22, and Night March with 21. From there the rest of the field was more scarce, [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] at 16, [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=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] all with 12, [card name=”Alolan Exeggutor” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”2″ c=”name”][/card] with 10, and [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] / Toolbox and [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Team Up” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] with nine slots apiece. From there everything gets pretty muddied, a huge mix of decks in the often overwhelming Expanded format. How did day two go?

  • [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] (Four with [card name=”Pyroar” set=”Flashfire” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]) @ 10
  • [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor @ 4
  • Night March @ 4
  • [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] @ 3
  • [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card] @ 2
  • [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] @ 1
  • [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Team Up” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] / Garbodor @ 1
  • [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] @ 1
  • Shock Lock @ 1
  • [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM168″ c=”name”][/card] @ 1
  • [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] / Toolbox @ 1
  • [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] @ 1
  • [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] @ 1
  • [card name=”Alolan Exeggutor” set=”Team Up” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] @ 1

This panned out to a Top 8 of…

  • 1. Night March
  • 2. Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
  • 3. Trevenant BREAK
  • 4. Trevenant BREAK
  • 5. Mew / Toolbox
  • 6. Trevenant BREAK
  • 7. Blastoise
  • 8. Trevenant BREAK (with Pyroar)

Regionals lately seem to follow a trend: a deck either does well out of nowhere, then is countered profusely, or a deck is hyped up to extremes and then under performs. This almost certainly has to do with the information trail these days — everything is almost instant and can be communicated immediately and spread throughout the masses.

Let me interlude quickly with how I did. I played Night March and my teammates Isaiah Williams and Jimmy Pendarvis joined me in making day two. I entered in with the best record of us at 6/0/3 but got absolutely bodied. I played all three of the [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] decks that made day two and finished my last round with a loss to [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] — I won my only round against Lucario-GX. My bad matchups aside, Pendarvis was able to fall two Trevenant BREAK decks and a Hitmonchan deck on his way to winning the tournament. Did he get lucky? Most definitely, but it just goes to show how good of a play Night March was nevertheless.

I did not expect to play Night March for this event until my testing team and I filled out our matchup spreadsheet Friday night as a last-ditch effort to figure out what to play. Surprising to us all, Night March was spat out as the best-equipped deck for the event so we threw together a list and went with it. For those curious, the percent-based portion are our takes on the matchups, then the representation piece works like a multiplier, taking weight away from less significant decks and weighting important decks that you want to beat at higher numbers. The end result is a ranking where in this case, Night March was the clear-cut favorite. One thing you can see is that we left out Trevenant BREAK completely. We didn’t expect the deck at all and it really stunk to find out the deck was popular after choosing to play Night March.

 

I don’t think I’ll be playing Night March this coming weekend in North Carolina. It’s always countered after doing well and I expect this to be the case in Greensboro. You can beat [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] frequently, but seeing it in every deck is troublesome and the real problem is [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] these days (no more [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]). The uprising of Trevenant BREAK decks makes matters even worse and even Hitmonchan is pretty difficult to beat (we had the matchup percentage very wrong on the spreadsheet).

[premium]

Greensboro Metagame

Instead of a tier list based on strengths, I’m going to list “how much I want to beat” each deck by priority.

Priority

  • Blastoise
  • Hitmonchan
  • Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
  • Trevenant BREAK
  • Zoroark-GX / Garbodor

Neutral

  • Lucario-GX
  • Night March

Ignore

  • [card name=”Alolan Exeggutor” set=”Team Up” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Mew / Toolbox
  • Shock Lock
  • Vespiquen
  • Zapdos / Garbodor
  • Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card]

Seeing how something like [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM168″ c=”name”][/card] did poorly but I still have it on the priority list, you might be confused. Just because it did poorly doesn’t make it a bad deck, it’s still extremely strong and if you choose to ignore it then it will rise again and do well. Pyroar in Trevenant BREAK decks is an entirely new problem, but you can run [card name=”Jolteon-GX ” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM173″ c=”name”][/card] to get around it (I’ve checked for better counters, but Jolteon-GX is still the best option). I think the metagame is going to be much of the same, just more people know what to expect now, especially in the case of Trevenant BREAK. I expect lots of players to pick up Trevenant BREAK going into this event, it’s always a super popular deck at its heights, this being one of them. [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] seems to have some appeal to the masses as well; it’s newly introduced decks like this that just attract players to use them. Blastoise and Pikachu and Zekrom-GX are not going to become less popular, do not discount them. Zoroark-GX / Garbodor is going to crop up again more also, it was played in Toronto, but didn’t see much success. Trevenant BREAK doing well will certainly change that. While Night March is a deck I would look to counter naturally, it’s not one that I would tech for. I can’t see many people playing it after it just won, it’s just not a good call, counters are going to be in full force.

Checking ‘Em Out

Blastoise

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Giratina” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”97″][pokemon amt=”14″]3x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Magikarp and Wailord-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM166″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Volcanion Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”31″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Palkia-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Onix” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Giratina” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]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″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” 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]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=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Order Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”131″ 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=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Viridian Forest” set=”Team Up” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]11x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”11″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Russell LaParre took a slightly unconventional Blastoise list to Top 8 in Toronto, opting to drop two [card name=”Order Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card] in favor of more techs. While I don’t necessarily condone the cutting of consistency cards, I like what he was able to add. I wish there was an [card name=”Eevee and Snorlax-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] in the list though, it’s really nice in a lot of situations, especially against [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card]. This week in Greensboro if you’re looking for a last-minute pick I think this is the deck for you. I’d consider a second [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] for even more protection against Wobbuffet. While I like [card name=”Viridian Forest” set=”Team Up” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card], the second Silent Lab may just be better. [card name=”Palkia-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] is optional; I haven’t liked it too much in my own testing. It’s decent against Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, the mirror match, and Rayquaza-GX, though. Blastoise has never really gone away after the banning of [card name=”Ghetsis” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] and I don’t expect it to. It can beat Trevenant BREAK as long as you set up and most other matchups are generally even at worst. Another Silent Lab seems like the play with Hitmonchan, so I’d throw that in and roll with this deck if you’re looking for something to play without much testing. The decks that did well this weekend won’t change the place Blastoise has in the metagame very much, other than maybe its matchup against Night March. If you’re looking to improve that I’d look into playing an [card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] to get ahead on Prizes.

Hitmonchan

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″][pokemon amt=”14″]4x [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Nihilego” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”106″ 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]1x [card name=”Goomy” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Diancie Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”38″]4x [card name=”Korrina” set=”Furious Fists” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Focus Sash” set=”Furious Fists” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Energy Loto” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”122″ 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″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]4x [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Prism Energy” set=”Next Destinies” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Zach Lesage used this list to take 17th and Jon Eng used a different Hitmonchan list to finish a place higher. I prefer Lesage’s list so that’s what I’ll talk about in terms of this deck right now. He already included an [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] for the arrival of Night March — a good call — and also played a slew of awesome techs that I have no qualms with. I would have liked to see a [card name=”Hitmonlee” set=”Team Up” no=”73″ c=”name”][/card] in the deck, though: Special Combo is far too strong not to play. You can surprise an opponent with a snipe out of nowhere and pick off stuff like [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] in Expanded, pretty awesome. I love the focus on [card name=”Korrina” set=”Furious Fists” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] in this list, everything looks extremely polished. I’d only really like to find space for the Hitmonlee, I’d likely cut one copy of [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”name”][/card] for it. This deck should stay competitive, but it has to worry more about Trevenant BREAK now. A [card name=”Latias-EX” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] could help a little, but [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] is often played by your opponent for various reasons, one as a way to get around Bright Down. I’d stay away from playing Hitmonchan this week, although I think people will still play it. It’s super cheap to get together, has solid matchups, and can hold its own against most decks. Trevenant BREAK is such a bad matchup though, I don’t think there’s much you can do about it.

Pikachu and Zekrom-GX

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Eevee” set=”Furious Fists” no=”80″][pokemon amt=”12″]3x [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Jolteon-GX ” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM173″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Eevee” set=”Furious Fists” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Zeraora-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”86″ 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 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-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Shining Legends” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]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=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ 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″ 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=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Scramble Switch” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]11x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”11″][/card]3x [card name=”Flash Energy” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”83″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

I still think this deck is really strong and something that the format needs to build around so not to get blown out. [card name=”Pyroar” set=”Flashfire” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] is no longer a suitable counter when you also play Jolteon-GX and Night March is much more doable with an Oricorio. Night March has to dump a lot of Pokemon to reach for one-hit Knock Outs against a Pikachu and Zekrom-GX, especially with a [card name=”Flash Energy” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] attached, so I am confident that Oricorio is better than [card name=”Karen” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY177″ c=”name”][/card] in this deck as a counter. If you had both Oricorio and [card name=”Xurkitree-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM68″ c=”name”][/card] I think the matchup would be almost free. This deck is basically trending neutrally with its poor performance in Toronto and its under the radar outlook moving forward. If anything, it could be a stronger play because of all of this. It will be back on my list of decks to consider for the tournament and with the geographical distance between Toronto and Greensboro I predict that many players that weren’t able to go to Toronto will still play this deck because they haven’t had a chance to in Expanded yet. I’d mainly be worried about Hitmonchan if I were to play this deck.

Trevenant BREAK

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″][pokemon amt=”18″]3x [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Phantump” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”64″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pyroar” set=”Flashfire” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Litleo” set=”Steam Siege” no=”22″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ 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=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Rescue Scarf” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Scoop Up Cyclone” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]4x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Mystery Energy” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Blend Energy GRPD” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

I’ve always hated this deck, I’ve found it to be inconsistent and extremely linear, without the capability to outplay an opponent. The spin that many Canadian players took on it with Pyroar was amazing, and truly an innovation worthy of praise. However, moving forward, Pyroar is just going to become one more thing that decks it was included to beat can tech for. The one cause of hope is that Pyroar is increasingly more difficult to tech for in an Expanded format devoid of [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. This list aside from the Pyroar is pretty standard, including the things Trevenant BREAK decks usually ought to play. I’m a little concerned about just three [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], but concessions had to be made to include even a thin Pyroar line. Moving forward I think you’ll see an increase in [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] decks making Trevenant BREAK a more risky play and maybe even some other Darkness type counters might pop up. Whenever a deck has such a dominant day two effort like Trevenant BREAK did in Toronto, things get shaken up and usually the deck won’t be able to replicate that kind of success anytime soon. I’d stay away from this deck until a more opportune time in the future, although I’m sure some players will take it to great heights again.

Zoroark-GX / Garbodor

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″][pokemon amt=”24″]4x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Zoroark” set=”Black and White” no=”71″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Noble Victories” no=”48″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ 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=”Klefki” set=”Steam Siege” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]2x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ 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=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Red Card” set=”Generations” no=”71″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/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″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ 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=”6″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

I love this Zoroark-GX / Garbodor list. It’s got a heavy focus on [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] with Trashalanche which is really nice in this metagame. I think [card name=”Zoroark” set=”Black and White” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] with Foul Play is slightly better than the Mind Jack one so I like that also. Everything about this list looks polished, I even like the [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card]. The one thing I’d like to see is an [card name=”Iris” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card]. This would give you the firepower to one-shot a Pikachu and Zekrom-GX with Riotous Beating in combination with Hypnotoxic Laser or outright with Iris if your opponent has taken three Prizes and you have a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] attached. Other than that I can’t really see anything I’d like to change about this list. It’s got it all and this is currently my favorite pick for Greensboro Regionals. Zoroark-GX / Garbodor is always a safe pick and with a solid list like this you can beat just about anything, especially Trevenant BREAK, the new Public Enemy Number 1.

Thoughts on Control

So where did control decks go? There was one deck in day two of Toronto that aimed to win via running an opponent out of resources. That deck was the unconventional Shock Lock. So is control still viable? I think so, I’m currently trying to brew something up. I’m between two ideas, both involving Zoroark-GX. The first, just a traditional Zoroark-GX / Control deck. It can run disruption cards and just hope to outlast an opponent with [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] using Resource Management. I think the hand lock concepts with [card name=”Trick Shovel” set=”Flashfire” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] are far too gimmicky right now so playing something aiming to deny an opponent Prizes by attacking their resources is the best way to run the deck. It would be something similar to the deck that Tord Reklev popularized at the North American International Championship last year with his second place finish. The other option is a [card name=”Magnezone” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] build. I thought that [card name=”Gengar and Mimikyu-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] would become a control deck staple, but it really hasn’t panned out. It’s difficult to execute properly and there’s honestly not too much upside as a result anyways.

Relevant Hand Control Options

  • [card name=”Hooligans Jim and Cas” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Mars” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Morty” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card]

These options stink. The loss of [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] was huge for control decks in the Expanded format, as was [card name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] for different, slower concepts. I think the most reliable way to disrupt an opponent’s hand in the Expanded format now is with Magnezone and its Dual Brains. Each of these control cards has a bit of merit, the worst being Hooligans Jim and Cas. You can sacrifice a Psychic-type Pokemon and then Morty your opponent following a [card name=”Red Card” set=”XY” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card]. This deck concept is so fancy though… I’m at odds of what to do. This Regionals I might just play a super consistent deck that does what it wants each game like Zoroark-GX / Garbodor, unless I can crack a control deck open. Control would be so well-positioned in this format if it just had another card or two, the most recent bans hit it hard. Here’s a look at the Zoroark-GX / Magnezone deck:

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″][pokemon amt=”19″]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=”Magnezone” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Magnemite” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Gengar and Mimikyu-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]2x [card name=”Mars” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Elm’s Lecture” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”188″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Morty” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”186″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ 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=”Faba” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”173″ 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″ 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]3x [card name=”Trick Shovel” set=”Flashfire” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Red Card” set=”Generations” no=”71″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”142″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/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]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=”4″]2x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

With a ton of options, once this deck sets up Magnezone you have the world at your fingertips. The general idea is to lock your opponent’s hand out at some point with Mars and/or Morty and from there control their hand with Trick Shovel by checking what your opponent will draw each turn. This has been the most successful of my control deck ideas thus far and if it can perform consistently enough it would be my top choice for any upcoming Expanded format events.

The Frogotten One…

[cardimg name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] is dead. Without [card name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] the deck can no longer operate functionally, the big problem mainly being the lack of interchangeability between Stadium cards. Formerly you could switch around your Stadium cards at will depending on the situation and while Pal Pad can recover Supporter cards, the Stadium part of the card will be gravely missed. Quaking Punch is still powerful, but I believe the best way to play Seismitoad-EX now is simply with [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] for Ability lock.

Conclusion

For the best, or for the worst, depending on your opinion of them, control-style decks seem to be gone from Expanded for a while. They’re too unreliable, but some options are out there if you want to tinker with them. I love playing control decks because I think my skill as a player can always give me a bit of an advantage with them, regardless of the matchup, so it’s a bummer not to have one readily available right now. My top picks for Greensboro right now are a Zoroark-GX / Control deck and Zoroark-GX / Garbodor, it’s really just going to come down to if I can put together a strong enough control deck. If I can play it and I believe in it’s power, it’s so on. Expect more of the same as Toronto in North Carolina if you’re going, but add [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] to your list of decks to beat. Hopefully this gave you a bit of a refresher on Expanded if you needed one, or a look at what to prepare for if you’re headed to the Regionals yourself. Ask me anything you’ve got in the Subscribers’ Hideout and with that, take care, good luck out there. See you next time!

Peace,

Caleb

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