Championship Recap – Expanded in Florida and Standard in Berlin
I’m pleased to report that I am now a three-time Regional Champion, claiming my third trophy with the [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] deck I wrote about the last time I was with you. My testing group and I worked on the deck throughout the week leading up to Florida Regionals and by Wednesday had locked it in as our choice for the event. [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] was so amazing in the deck and truly breathed life back into a deck that was written off for quite a while. The ban of [card name=”Lusamine” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] threw this deck for a loop, but Hypnotoxic Laser really boosted the control aspect of this deck and that handle on the game was apparent in every game I played. I loved being able to take Knock Outs at the conclusion of my opponent’s turn again, it had been a long time. The deck was so great – I think it’s the best deck in Expanded, and certainly still is moving forward. It’ll be interesting to see if [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] finds a place in most lists now, or lists move away from being [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]-based. Some decks are better against it than others too, so time will tell.
Deck Discussion
[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″][pokemon amt=”17″]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=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ 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=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”39″]3x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ 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″ 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=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Virbank City Gym” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”126″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”4″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Changes
[cardimg name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”106″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
- +1 Seismitoad-EX
- +2 [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card]
- +2 [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]
- +1 [card name=”Plumeria” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card]
- +3 [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card]
- +1 [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card]
- +1 [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card]
- +1 [card name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card]
- +1 [card name=”Virbank City Gym” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card]
- -1 [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]
- -2 [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card]
- -1 [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card]
- -4 [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Next Destinies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card]
- -2 [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card]
- -1 [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]
- -1 [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card]
- -1 [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card]
All in all, thirteen cards were changed from the posted list in my last article. I was mistaken about the strength of Lillie, and ultimately opted for the raw consistency of Professor Sycamore and Nest Ball. Nest Ball doesn’t add additional outs to your opening setup like Level Ball for Jirachi-EX did, but it gets Seismitoad-EX which is extremely nice and boosts your turn one and turn two Quaking Punch odds. The entire focus of this deck is to get a Quaking Punch off as soon as you can and then move into [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] with Resource Management if needed. The Lillie engine was nice, but somewhat inconsistent sometimes. Deciding on Professor Sycamore in the end was the better choice and one that was thankfully made.
Special Charge was never needed; you have your Resource Management if more [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”111″ c=”name”][/card] are needed. The only time it could have been solid would have been in mirror matches, but those were rare (although I did play three in total), and unexpected. Pal Pad was removed in favor of more Acerola, one of the new defining points of the list. Counter Catcher was just a victim of needing to fit more cards and didn’t fit the mold of the deck when you’re very often leading on Prizes with your punishing control approach to begin games with Quaking Punch.
A few other changes were made like the fourth Seismitoad-EX, we figured out that the extra eight-or-so percent chance of starting with it was attributable to roughly seven game wins (not matches) over the course of an event. That’s potentially two whole or more sets that you would otherwise win now and that was significant enough to warrant the addition. A few other consistency additions were made like more copies of Acerola (extremely important to this deck’s goals), Enhanced Hammer, and Virbank City Gym. Adventure Bag was an amazing addition, thinning out the deck and grabbing you what could potentially be two Tool cards that you could want at once.
Final Standings
- 1. Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX
- 2. [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]
- 3. Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX
- 4. Zoroark-GX / Control
- 5. [card name=”Raichu” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”41″ c=”custom”]Shock[/card] [card name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ c=”custom”]Lock[/card]
- 6. [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]
- 7. [card name=”Celebi and Venusaur-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]
- 8. Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
Day Two Metagame Breakdown
- 8 Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
- 7 Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX
- 5 [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card]
- 2 Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
- 2 Zoroark-GX / Control
- 2 [card name=”Rayquaza-GX” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]
- 2 [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]
- 1 [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Flareon” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card]
- 1 [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]
- 1 Shock Lock
- 1 Seismitoad-EX / Garbodor
- 1 Sableye / Garbodor
- 1 Celebi and Venusaur-GX
- 1 [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]
- 1 [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]
- 1 [card name=”Alolan Exeggutor” set=”Team Up” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]
Pikachu and Zekrom-GX was the most played deck, not a surprise at all. Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX wasn’t the most played deck, but it had one of the best day two showings because it was such a great play for the event. Blastoise was the last “super popular deck” but had a disastrous day two. I think this is mainly because of the presence of Seismitoad-EX decks and the fact that most decks in Expanded have been built around the mold of the most powerful deck, Blastoise.
Tier List for Connecticut Regionals
[premium]
First
- Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
- Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX
- Shock Lock [cardimg name=”Raichu” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”41″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Second
- Blastoise
- Hitmonchan
- Rayquaza-GX
- Zoroark-GX / Control
- Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
Third
- Buzzwole / Garbodor
- Buzzwole-GX
- Celebi and Venusaur-GX
- Sableye / Garbodor
- Seismitoad-EX / Garbodor
- Trevenant BREAK
- Vespiquen / Flareon
Nothing surprising here, other than the inclusion of Shock Lock in the first tier. Jonathan Croxton has revolutionized the deck, including [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] for extra consistency. His list gets the lock off without fail over and over and I think this deck is the real deal now. Pikachu and Zekrom-GX isn’t playing Item-based switching cards and Zoroark-GX / Garbodor, as well as Garbodor decks in general, have been pushed back in the format to pave its path clear.
Moving Forward
For the next and final Expanded Regionals in Hartford, Connecticut, I intend to test Seismitoad-EX / Zoroark-GX more, specifically against lists that are more prepared for it. Will it be worth playing Pokemon Ranger in decks like Pikachu and Zekrom-GX? This is the type of question that I want to answer – for once, at last, will people play Pokemon Ranger as a means to dispel Seismitoad-EX? Pikachu and Zekrom-GX remains my second choice in Expanded right now; its raw power, consistency, and prowess in the Prize trade with Tag Bolt GX is so strong that you can’t ignore it. I dislike every other Expanded deck other than Shock Lock right now – another consideration – as they’re all super weak to certain things and have not been consistent performers. Expanded being the less-frequently used format that it is, there are fewer opportunities to test and looking at the last event’s results is always a great place to start your decision-making and/or decide on your deck outright. That’s all I’ve got for Expanded, now for a final look at Standard before Berlin, the last major event taking place in the Sun & Moon to Team Up format; Unbroken Bonds is coming out soon!
Standard Decks
- [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] – Tier 2
- Celebi and Venusaur-GX – Tier 3
- [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Ultra Necrozma-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] – Tier 2
- Pikachu and Zekrom-GX / Turbo – Tier 1
- Pikachu and Zekrom-GX / [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Team Up” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] – Tier 1
- [card name=”Regigigas” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] / Control – Tier 2
- Zapdos / [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM161″ c=”name”][/card] – Tier 3
- Zapdos / [card name=”Jolteon-GX ” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM173″ c=”name”][/card] – Tier 3
- Zapdos / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] – Tier 2
- Zapdos / Ultra Beast – Tier 1
- [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / Control – Tier 1
- Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX – Tier 2
The best deck in Standard is Pikachu and Zekrom-GX. It’s more powerful than most of the rest of the format and can hold its own against control by going as fast as possible with a turbo list. That’s what I’m thinking about most for Berlin Internationals right now. I still like the idea of a control deck, preferably Zoroark-GX, but I think people will begin countering it again with the addition of Oranguru in many lists that otherwise wouldn’t have been playing it, complicating your strategy and weakening your matchup spread.
Blacephalon-GX
Love or hate it, one of the easiest decks to play in Standard is always an attractive quality to players of all kinds. Its simple nature makes it difficult to counter and many decks like Zoroark-GX have a hard time against it, complicating the deck-building process when you’re wanting to beat as many archetypes as possible.
Strengths
- Great against control decks and Zoroark-GX builds
- Simple
- Unlimited damage output
Weaknesses
- Dependent on [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] to close out games – if your opponent finds a way to play around it (like a double Pokemon-GX Knock Out with a Tag Bolt GX) you can lose
- Underwhelming Zapdos matchup, much of your wins derive from [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Shining Legends” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card]’s Let Loose and [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card]
- Weak to some rogue decks like [card name=”Naganadel” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Quagsire” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] – a linear deck in nature with a set array of good matchups and little room for deviation from that schedule
I actually like this deck a bit for Berlin. I have yet to grind out a bunch of games against Zapdos with Alolan Muk included, but if that matchup proves to be favorable with Power of Alchemy in action, you might just see me playing this deck across the pond. The great control matchup and pairing with Zoroark-GX makes it a nice play if you expect both of those. If Zapdos turns out to be even slightly favorable, then you’re beating all the best decks and have a recipe for success.
Celebi and Venusaur-GX [cardimg name=”Celebi and Venusaur-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM167″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Quite a surprise as it did well at Denver Regionals, Ronald Gonzalez showed us some new tricks the deck had in store. [card name=”Mixed Herbs” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”184″ c=”name”][/card] is a welcome inclusion, adding to the healing strategy and giving you another healing card to recover with Evergreen GX for the added bonus of putting your discard pile back into your deck.
Strengths
- Burn, Confusion, and Poison can be difficult to deal with in a format devoid of many decks (aside from Zapdos) using multiple switching cards
- Even simpler than Blacephalon-GX: attach, attack, and heal
- Nearly unlimited healing makes decks that rely on multiple attacks (looking at you, Zapdos) very weak against it
Weaknesses
- Bad against one-shot decks like Blacephalon-GX and Malamar / Ultra Necrozma-GX
- So linear to the point where if you miss Energy attachments for one turn you will lose
- Somewhat inconsistent because you can’t afford to play many Pokemon so not to give up easy Prizes
Make sure that when you play this deck you don’t put down more than two non-GX Pokemon ([card name=”Shaymin” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]). If you put down three, then all your opponent will have to do is Knock Out three of those and one Celebi and Venusaur-GX, instead of two of the non-GX Pokemon and two Celebi and Venusaur-GX. I dislike this deck because it has insolvably bad matchups, is inconsistent, and offers little skillful play to outsmart opponents.
Malamar / Ultra Necrozma-GX
Malamar has been pushed further and further out of the format, but it looks like it’s in a better spot than usual right now. The strategy against Zapdos is still the same – don’t put down Pokemon-GX if you can help it and spam your [card name=”Giratina” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] to trade Prizes.
Strengths
- Giratina is great against all the non-GX decks out there like Zapdos
- Marshadow-GX is a great counter to both Pikachu and Zekrom-GX and Zoroark-GX
- Unlimited damage output to address any number of HP
Weaknesses
- Alolan Muk in many decks is collateral damage to your Giratina and [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card]
- Currently outclassed by Pokemon-GX decks like Blacephalon-GX and Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
- Inconsistent and setup-based – Knock Outs on Malamar can screw you up, and many decks like Zapdos can efficiently take those Knock Outs
I hate Malamar, not going to lie – it’s so inconsistent. That’s about all I’ve got, I’m almost certainly not going to play it for Berlin, and I don’t think it’s in any better a spot these days than ever. Faster Pikachu and Zekrom-GX lists can more efficiently Tag Bolt GX to Knock Out multiple Malamar and slow you down, and Zapdos is as fast against you as always with repeated Guzma.
Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
The de facto best deck in Standard right now, you need to be able to beat this deck when making a choice for a tournament. I like it the most right now, but that’s really just because I’m not as confident in anything else that I would normally be interested in like Zoroark-GX / Control. Still my number one pick for Germany right now, I favor a speed-based list with Acro Bike and Order Pad.
Strengths
- Extremely fast, depending on the way to you build it
- Such a fast and strong deck can beat anything, even bad matchups
- Versatile and open to many techs, it’s really dependent on what you want to do with the deck
Weaknesses
- Lone [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card] can automatically beat you if you’re not playing Jolteon-GX, which I think is bad
- Missing the first turn Full Blitz with one of the turbo lists can be really bad, giving your opponent an extra turn to damage you and get an eventual lead in the Prize trade
- Zapdos decks with Fighting-type Pokemon are difficult to beat
When it doubt, play the best deck. That’s where I’m at with this and that’s where I’m at going into Berlin. Here’s the list…
[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″][pokemon amt=”10″]4x [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Zeraora-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Shining Legends” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1 x [card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1 “][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”38″]4x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Order Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”131″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]12x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”12″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Regigigas / Control [cardimg name=”Regigigas” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”84″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Get some big HP Pokemon down, heal some damage, and discard some Energy. There’s not much to this deck and it’s a little frustrating; not too many decks do very well against it.
Strengths
- Control is hard to play against and players are often times unprepared for it
- Great against Zapdos
- Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to play – know when to heal and know when to discard resources of your opponent’s
Weaknesses
- A bad start could lose you the game quickly, as can [card name=”Judge” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] in Zoroark-GX decks or Marshadow in other stuff
- Decks that recover Energy are good against it (Blacephalon, Malamar, et cetera)
- Oranguru will likely find itself in more lists and weaken the strength of control decks in general
I considered this deck for a moment today, but I don’t like it any more than Zoroark-GX / Control so it won’t be something I’d consider. Its weaknesses are extremely hard to deal with, there’s really nothing you can do to combat those. Zoroark-GX versions of control have more flexibility and are just better in general.
Zapdos
Old faithful for some by now, Zapdos variants are very customizable and can be teched to beat whatever you’re looking for. The best version is the one with Ultra Beast Pokemon, I have turned against my original favorite of Lycanroc-GX, it’s just a little too inconsistent when compared to the power of equally strong Basic Fighting Pokemon in Buzzwole.
Strengths
- Basic Pokemon consistency of Jirachi
- Low maintenance, unlike any other Standard format deck out there
- Makes the best use of Guzma against setup decks by prying on the pre-Evolutions with Guzma and Thunderous Assault for 80
Weaknesses
- Alolan Muk is the bane of its existence – [card name=”Zebstrika” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card] is a way to combat it, but still
- Formerly the face of the format, not so much anymore, it’s still easy to go into a tournament as one of the decks to beat – most decks have simply adjusted the way they’re built to have a solid matchup against Zapdos
- Zoroark-GX decks playing heavy counts of [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] are extremely hard to beat
Zapdos / Ultra Beast is my favorite Zapdos list. I don’t really like any of the other versions and I would play that version if I were to use one for a tournament. I like Zebstrika as well in any of the builds because it helps against Alolan Muk.
Zoroark-GX / Control
I won a Regionals with this just a few weeks ago, so I am naturally fond of it. Zoroark-GX makes control decks so much better and gives you the means to loop cards back with Oranguru. This is sort of my audible deck in case anything else doesn’t work out. I’m thinking I might need to make a few changes.
Strengths
- Control can beat anything when played with Zoroark-GX
- Lavender Town gives you nearly full control over a game once you set your opponent up with a dead hand off Judge
- Zoroark-GX can still attack to eliminate bigger threats that you can’t deal with disruption cards alone against decks like Pikachu and Zekrom-GX – something that non-attacking control decks just can’t do
Weaknesses
- Blacephalon-GX players that know what they’re doing with conserving [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] and keeping Marshadow and/or [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] off the Bench are hard to beat
- Hard to play especially when opposing recovery cards like Oranguru are difficult to deal with and I expect more Oranguru to be played
- The Pikachu and Zekrom-GX matchup can be harder if an opponent plays more turbo cards – they can speed past you and put on too much pressure for you to handle, even in games against more traditional lists, you have a lot of work to do with Judge, then hitting the cards you need, and not missing a beat
Like I said, this is my backup if I am unsure of what to play at the last second. The combination of Zoroark-GX with control cards is always a good play and it has treated me extremely well in the past. I wouldn’t recommend this deck to anyone that hasn’t played it before, especially in another time where its status is relatively uncertain.
Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX [cardimg name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”138″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Always the same solid Zoroark-GX deck as always, the powers of Trade and Bloodthirsty Eyes unite together. Always a deck with a set of bad matchups and solid pairings against everything else, it’s a safe play, perhaps too safe for some.
Strengths
- Bloodthirsty Eyes is one of the greatest Abilities in the game
- Fighting is a good type to be against so many of the decks out there (Pikachu and Zekrom-GX, other Zoroark-GX decks, and more)
- Zoroark-GX is consistent, at least, when you set up
Weaknesses
- Linear and restricted to its generic damage output of 120 at max for Riotous Beating before damage modifiers
- Weak to control decks, even if you play an Oranguru – it’s hard to do enough significant damage to get ahead
- With a lower damage output it can be overrun by Blacephalon-GX, Pikachu and Zekrom-GX, and other one-hit Knock Out decks
I don’t think I’ll be playing this deck again anytime soon, Zoroark-GX / Control is the best Zoroark-GX deck right now. If you’ve had a ton of experience with this deck in the past it might be a good idea to play this deck even still.
Conclusion
I still like Pikachu and Zekrom-GX the most for Germany Internationals right now. I’m also thinking about playing a Zoroark-GX / Control deck if Pikachu and Zekrom-GX doesn’t pan out. Thanks for reading everyone, take care!
Peace,
Caleb
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