Dallas and Beyond – Turbo Dark for Dallas, Plus TinaChomp in Standard
Hello everyone! I am excited to be back with another article for you all today. I have been playing a lot of Pokemon, even after returning from a nice week-long adventure at the Georgia marathon, and it has been a lot of fun. On top of that, I’ve learned a lot myself! My opinions across both formats have become more solid, I am more confident in the new Expanded format than I was before the marathon, and I feel that the current Standard format has largely been “solved” at this point.
I was able to take down a Standard League Cup with [card name=”Garchomp and Giratina-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card], a deck I hadn’t played with before. I really liked the deck and appreciated the variety of strategies I could utilize to outplay opponents–I always felt like I had a shot at winning each game, even when things looked dire. I’ll be considering that deck as a top choice for future Standard events in this format.
Expanded, however, is probably where many players are directing their attention at the moment. The 2020 Dallas Regional Championships are just a few days away, and I am in the final stages of my testing. While I haven’t solidified a deck choice and don’t (yet) have a “secret deck,” I have formed some strong opinions, mostly regarding decks I do not like. I’ve also found a handful of decks I do really like, including Turbo Dark, which will be my main focus of the second part of this article. There will be other useful Expanded information included though, so please don’t get discouraged if you aren’t planning on playing Turbo Dark!
Without further ado, let’s start with Standard and take a look at that Garchomp & Giratina-GX deck.
Standard Garchomp & Giratina-GX
[decklist name=”Tinachomp” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Garchomp and Giratina-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”146″][pokemon amt=”16″]3x [card name=”Garchomp and Giratina-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Mismagius” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Misdreavus” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Weezing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]4x [card name=”Green’s Exploration” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”175″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Cynthia and Caitlin” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”189″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Lt. Surge’s Strategy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Faba” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”173″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mallow and Lana” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”198″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma and Hala” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”193″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Tag Call” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”206″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lure Ball” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Karate Belt” set=”Unified Minds” no=”201″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Gain” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”170″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Wait and See Hammer” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Switch” set=”Evolutions” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Energy Spinner” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”170″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dusk Stone” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Power Plant” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”183″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]4x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Weakness Guard Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”213″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Deck analysis
This is the only Standard deck I’ve given any real attention to since I won that Cup with it. I believe it truly just outclasses the competition, as it has a ton of options and comeback potential, all while remaining fast and consistent. It has a way to handle every deck in the format, and the deck is interesting in that its games seem to play out differently almost every time.
Favorable matchups
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ADP
You are able to take over the game early with GG End GX after [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] uses Altered Creation GX, which gives you plenty of time to set up Knock Outs with Linear Attack. [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Power Plant” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card] are both outs to [card name=”Keldeo-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card]. The only thing to worry about in this matchup is the [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Team Up” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] tech that some lists run, which can take an easy KO on a Garchomp & Giratina-GX at some point.
Pidgeotto Control
In this matchup, just spread damage across your opponent’s early with Garchomp & Giratina-GX and/or [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card], and gradually build up to a turn when you can pop three [card name=”Mismagius” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] at once. You can then [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card] the opponent to just three cards and remove their Pidgeotto from the board with Blacephalon, which should almost guarantee you the win. I have never won this matchup as the Pidgeotto player.
Malamar
My plan here is to start off using Linear Attack and [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card] as much as possible to spread damage around, but I do not use Mismagius during the early game. You want to force your opponent to KO a Garchomp & Giratina-GX without having used any Mismagius yet, so that you have exactly three Prizes remaining and can get the full effect of Fireworks Bomb. You can combine a big damage spread turn with a Reset Stamp to three cards, then use a Mismagius to draw what you need in the late game. The opponent will still have to deal with another Garchomp & Giratina-GX after they KO Blacephalon, meaning if you use only one Mismagius, you are essentially forcing your opponent to take eight Prizes.
Unfavorable matchups
Blacephalon-GX/Naganadel
This matchup is not great because of [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]’s high damage output as well as their ability to use Stinger GX. Stinger GX makes it so they will only need to KO one Garchomp & Giratina-GX, which is pretty easy to attain. Be careful about using two Mismagius in this matchup, since if you do and your opponent KOs one Garchomp & Giratina-GX, they can just use Burst GX to win. If you can combine Power Plant and Reset Stamp with a KO on a Blacephalon-GX after your opponent has taken a few Prizes, you can sometimes get lucky and steal a win by causing them to whiff [card name=”Beast Ring” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card].
Card Choices
Blacephalon
This card doesn’t get used in every game, but it is incredible when you do use it. It should be used heavily against decks that fill their Benches with low-HP Pokemon, such as [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card]/[card name=”Pidgeotto” set=”Team Up” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card], and Pidgeotto Control. (See the matchups section above to get a better understanding of this card’s value.)
Mimikyu
This is another card that is only useful in some matchups, but very good when it is needed. In particular, it can completely dismantle [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] decks since they cannot even attack without their Abilities. As mentioned above, it also turns off Keldeo-GX’s Ability to improve the ADP matchup even further.
Be careful not to Bench Mimikyu until you need it, because as soon as it hits the board, you will not be able to use [card name=”Green’s Exploration” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card] for the rest of the game (or until it is Knocked Out). Against ADP, you generally only bench it when your board has been established and you just need to finish off a Keldeo-GX to wrap up the game. Against Mewtwo & Mew-GX, you sometimes want to save it for the late game in combination with Reset Stamp, minimizing the chance your opponent can find a [card name=”Stealthy Hood” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Mallow and Lana” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”198″ c=”name”][/card] to get around Shadow Box. Its usage really just depends on how the early game shapes up for both players. If it looks like your hand-building and setup is going to come mostly from Green’s Exploration, you’ll want to hold off on the Mimikyu. Although it is a very poor starter, and is technically a flex spot, I would not cut Mimikyu from the deck unless you don’t expect to play against any ADP/Keldeo-GX or Mewtwo & Mew-GX (which of course are two of the most common decks in the format).
Wait and See Hammer
There are a few decks in the format whose gameplans rely on manual Energy attachments over the first turns of the game. [card name=”Wait and See Hammer” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] punishes these decks’ setup phases and allows you to get ahead in the matchup even if you had a slow start. The most common matchup where you’ll use this card is ADP, since it delays Altered Creation GX (and then Ultimate Ray) one more turn, but it also useful against [card name=”Reshiram and Charizard-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] (preventing the turn 2 Double Blaze GX for 300 damage), [card name=”Gardevoir and Sylveon-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card], and sometimes even [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card]. It can be searched easily with Green’s Exploration.
In the mirror match, this card can be clutch since it can allow you to be the first player to use GG End GX even if you went second. At the Cup I won with this deck, I played against two mirror matches in Swiss and one more in Top 8–and I did not lose a single game, because I was the first player to use GG End GX in almost all of them.
Potential Inclusions
Pokégear 3.0
This is a nice way to increase the consistency of the deck, especially when it comes to finding Green’s Exploration. I wouldn’t play just one copy, but you also don’t have to run a full four. I haven’t really tested this in my list yet but I plan to start testing two and then three copies. Either two or zero copies seem like the most likely counts to work out. To add two [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”182″ c=”name”][/card], I will have to cut a couple of other cards that are not essential. Below is a list of cards I could try taking out in favor of this consistency boost.
- one [card name=”Karate Belt” set=”Unified Minds” no=”201″ c=”name”][/card] (I probably wouldn’t cut this, because playing only one copy and Prizing it would be very bad)
- one [card name=”Power Plant” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card] (especially in tournaments where I expect a low presence of Mewtwo & Mew-GX)
- [card name=”Wait and See Hammer” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] (especially in tournaments where I expect a low presence of the mirror match)
Gengar & Mimikyu-GX
I listed this card as a potential inclusion because my teammate Daniel Altavilla will not stop talking about it. Xander Pero actually did include this card in his list for Bochum Regionals, where he finished 4-1-4. It is supposedly very good in the mirror match, because you can use Horror House-GX and then Poltergeist as a way of slowing down the game for a turn and then taking a big KO. This deck does play a ton of Items, so I can understand [card name=”Gengar and Mimikyu-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card]’s usefulness in the mirror. I’ll definitely be experimenting with this card in testing and encourage you all to do so as well.
Expanded Turbo Dark
[decklist name=”Turbo Dark” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Greninja and Zoroark-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”107″][pokemon amt=”11″]2x [card name=”Greninja and Zoroark-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”63″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]3x [card name=”Professor Juniper” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/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=”N” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW100″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]12x [card name=”Darkness Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”12″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Deck analysis
I am not going to do a matchups section like I did with the previous deck, simply because Turbo Dark is played basically the same in almost all of its matchups. It is a very linear deck, but that is one of the reasons I believe it is so strong right now.
Unlike the Expanded Dark deck that I shared in my previous article (a slower variant that was meant to deal with control decks), this one does live up to the “Turbo” name! The deck is extremely fast and consistent, and aims to win by simply taking six Prizes before your opponent can do anything about it. It is not a “mindless” deck–you need to decide which attackers to use, determine which of your opponent’s Pokemon to focus down, and of course sequence your hands properly so you don’t whiff cards like [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card]–but it is certainly one of the easier decks to play in this format. Throughout the game, be sure you are thinning your deck out as much as possible to increase your chance of drawing the cards you need to find in the late game, especially when you are stuck with a small hand after an [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card].
I think this archetype has a pretty solid matchup spread, only taking unfavorable matchups to Night March and [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]. There isn’t much you can do against Night March outside of maybe running an [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card]and spamming N. Adding [card name=”Weavile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] back into the deck would turn the Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor-GX matchup from very bad to very good, but I don’t really fear that deck at this moment and I don’t generally like Weavile-GX in this deck.
Card choices
Sudowoodo
It is shocking to me how many people have decided to cut this card from their Expanded decks! I think it is incredibly good in multiple archetypes, and this is one of them. It’s just an additional way to apply quick pressure to your opponent, which is the name of the game for this deck. If you are running super aggro and threatening everything on the opponent’s board with KOs, Sudowoodo can prevent them from going aggro themselves and keeping up with you. It is helpful not just in the mirror but against any other “turbo” deck that aims to fill up the Bench with draw support Pokemon.
Oranguru
This card is very good for gaining a little bit of extra value throughout the game whenever you are able to thin your hand, and it shines at the end of the game when your opponent uses N–your deck is usually so thin at that point that even drawing one or two cards with Oranguru will probably find you the win. There is very little downside because it gives up only one Prize and is not susceptible to [card name=”Power Plant” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card].
N
This is an extremely common card in Expanded, but I just wanted to mention it briefly because it might seem a little counterproductive to some readers. At the start of the game, there are some hands that you just don’t want to discard with [card name=”Professor Juniper” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card], which means N or [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] will be your Supporter of choice. This is especially true against control decks (since you want to retain as many resources as possible), and against [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] (since you don’t want to feed Trashalanche too much).
Speaking of Control decks, I expect [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card]/[card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card]and Doll Stall to be the two most popular variants at Dallas, and both of those are relatively weak to a well-timed N in combination with the pressure this deck already applies. You can even afford to use N in the late game since you have Oranguru.
2 Hypnotoxic Laser
I did say I wanted to remove any card from this list that didn’t help me go faster, but this is one of those few cards that is simply too good to remove. Dead End GX is a very strong GX attack, and it is surprisingly easy to use even on turn 1 simply because of of this deck’s sheer draw power. Dead End GX will mainly used against Tag Team Pokemon, or in situations where you can’t afford to leave your own Tag Team in the active position. Hypnotoxic Laser can also double as a [card name=”PlusPower” set=”Black and White” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card], occasionally pushing your attacks that extra mile to get a KO.
Potential inclusions
Weavile-GX
I am possibly the only player on Earth that does not have this included in my Turbo Dark list right now, and that’s okay with me. I am simply not a fan of having a Stage 1 card in this “turbo” deck. I don’t even find myself using this card much outside of the Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor-GX matchup. It just doesn’t bring a lot to the table, other than letting you use tech attackers such as [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] (which I was also not a fan of when I had it in this deck). I think the best way to build this deck is to make it as fast and consistent as possible, which is what I have done here.
Great Catcher
I played a League Cup with this deck with a copy of [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card], and I made Top 8 and not once did I play this card down from my hand. Never did I even so much as try to dig for it and whiff it. It genuinely was just a dead card in every game at that event. That being said, I do see how the card can be very good in this archetype (since it lets you combine a gust effect with a draw Supporter), but it just has not worked out for me. It is probably something that should be afforded more testing though.
Dallas Regionals thoughts and predictions
- [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card] will see some play, but will have a low Day 2 conversion rate. One lucky competitor could end up going very far with the deck if they hit the right matchups.
- Turbo Dark will be overwhelmingly popular, and will be highly represented in day two because of its popularity and strength. I would be surprised if the Top 8 did not contain a Turbo Dark deck.
- [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card]’s popularity will once again not match its hype, but it will perform well regardless.
- [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card]Control decks, at least in their previous form, will likely be borderline nonexistent. The banlist updates as well as the expected meta are not good for this archetype.
- [card name=”Sableye” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card]/[card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card], Doll Stall, and Shock Lock will all reach Day 2, but will not be heavily played on Day 1.
- [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM84″ c=”name”][/card]/Garbodor will be popular, but will have a low conversion rate to Day 2 and Top 8.
- Night March will perform well at the event, but will not be highly represented.
- [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] will not appear in Day 2.
That’s all for today’s article! I tried to include everything I could about my recent tournament experiences in an attempt for this article to have something for players worried about Standard as well as Expanded. I know some people will still be grinding Standard cups, and I strongly suggest those readers dedicate some testing to [card name=”Garchomp and Giratina-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card], as it is one of the strongest decks I have played in recent memory.
If you are going to Dallas, I recommend giving Turbo Dark and [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] Toolbox plenty of attention in your testing, as those decks have been two of my own favorites so far. They play differently and have different matchup spreads, but they both have a strong place in the meta, and I expect both to finish strongly this weekend.
Regardless of what events you might be attending next, I wish you good luck in achieving your 2020 World Championships invite or any other goals you are aiming for. I will be back next month with a couple more articles. See you then!
Jimmy
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