“Dear Diary…” — Gedemer’s Final Thoughts on Dallas

By: Caleb Gedemer · Posted Posted onJan 16, 2020 at 11:50 AM · 0 Comments

Going to Dallas? Pull up a chair, let’s talk about some of the final considerations and trends moving into the first American Regionals in 2020. First, there’s the decks; here’s the metagame for this tournament by my count:

[cardimg name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

  • Primary Threats
    • [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] Toolbox | Article
    • Turbo Dark | Article
    • [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card]
    • [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Secondary Threats
    • [card name=”Aromatisse” set=”XY” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card]/ [card name=”Gardevoir and Sylveon-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card]
    • [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card]/ [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] | Article
    • [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Tertiary Threats
    • [card name=”Durant” set=”Noble Victories” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] Mill
    • [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]
    • [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card] / Fighting
    • [card name=”Moltres and Zapdos and Articuno-GX” set=”Hidden Fates” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] | Article
    • Night March | Article
    • [card name=”Reshiram and Zekrom-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card]
    • Shock Lock
    • Wall Stall

Follow the listed links for my most recent Expanded format articles on each respective deck. For this article, I’ll be analyzing what’s left.

First, Mewtwo and Mew-GX is one of the decks to beat. Easy techs like a [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] to get around [card name=”Noivern-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card]’s Distort and Sonic Volume might not be enough, but they can improve your chances. If you’re a setup deck with frail Basic Pokemon, [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] can get around [card name=”Venusaur and Snivy-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]’s Solar Plant GX. A Psychic Pokemon tech if you’re playing [card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] or anything that could use [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card], or Mewtwo and Mew-GX can give you type advantage, barring [card name=”Jirachi-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card]. Conversely, Mewtwo and Mew-GX can be teched to beat anything. A new Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX addition can make or break a matchup, you need to know how to pick ’em. This is one of the decks I want to beat for sure in Texas if I’m not playing Mewtwo and Mew-GX myself.

Turbo Dark is the linchpin of the format. The metagame revolves around it, decks are made viable because of its existence (Fighting / anything). The mirror matches are extremely luck-based to the point of frustration, so perhaps the mirror matches will limit the amount of success the deck can have without running into itself. Random bad matchups in the form of Fighting decks can hurt and some matchups are closer due to things like [card name=”Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card]. Turbo Dark has dominated, and will continue to do so because so many players are playing the deck. I’ve covered both Turbo Dark and Mewtwo and Mew-GX in length in past articles which you can view through the links provided above. My current lists for each deck are as follows:

[premium]

Mewtwo and Mew-GX Toolbox

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″][pokemon amt=”20″]4x [card name=”Giratina” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Venusaur and Snivy-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”1″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Noivern-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”165″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Garchomp and Giratina-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cobalion-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Absol” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]2x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma and Hala” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”193″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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=”Giovanni’s Exile” set=”Hidden Fates” no=”57″ 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=”Cherish Ball” set=”Unified Minds” no=”191″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Stealthy Hood” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”186″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”6″]4x [card name=”Prism Energy” set=”Next Destinies” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

In [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] I’ve gone back to using [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”EX FireRed and LeafGreen” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card]. I missed [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] too often and wanted more outs to [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] in the late game. I admit that the streamlined list with only [card name=”Guzma and Hala” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”193″ c=”name”][/card] checked a few boxes, focusing entirely on getting attacks. But that’s all it did. Without [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card], you relied heavily on [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card], which was excellent against Turbo Dark and other Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX based decks in my early testing. But against the rest of the field, you’re going to want Guzma. Four [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Cherish Ball” set=”Unified Minds” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card] improves your consistency by giving you both [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] outs. I don’t think [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] is better than either of these cards but one thing’s for sure: [card name=”Tag Call” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card] is suboptimal in this deck.

Weaknesses:

  • Ability lock
  • [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Non Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX decks

Turbo Dark

[decklist name=”Turbo Dark” amt=”60″ caption=”Turbo Dark” cname=”Greninja and Zoroark-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”107″][pokemon amt=”14″]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=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Weavile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sneasel” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”73″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ 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=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/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=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Flashfire” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ 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=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” 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=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ 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=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]12x [card name=”Darkness Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”12″][/card][/energy][/decklist][cardimg name=”Greninja and Zoroark-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”107″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

In the case of Turbo Dark, I’m currently testing out a [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card]-based list, which may be better than typical [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] lists. Chaotic Swell is underplayed in Expanded right now. Not everything has [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] to pop it and play another Stadium card. In those circumstances you can wreak decks like [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card], which rely on [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] to attack. Plus, you have a nice time with decks like [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] where [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] is great in their deck. Against Turbo Dark decks that utilise Sky Field, both [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] and Chaotic Swell in play creates a checkmate situation on their Bench. Playing without Sky Field “slows you down” as you don’t have room for multiple [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], so there’s one fewer copy of each in this deck. It’s a bit of a more balanced build of the deck, looking to set up and win all at once rather than popping off on the first turn. Many of the other aspects have remained the same, but [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] has become [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] yet again because this list can’t be as greedy.

Weaknesses:

  • Bench limitation
  • Fighting type decks
  • [card name=”Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card]

Ultra Necrozma

Grant covered this deck well about a month ago. His list doesn’t play [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card], which is a step in the right direction. However, I do think [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] needs to be in the deck instead, and I like the inclusion of [card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] and a couple tech options. Turbo Dark decks that play [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] can be very difficult to handle. But you can use [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card]’s Watch and Learn to copy Red Banquet and take an extra Prize card after a Weakness Knock Out.

[decklist name=”Ultra Necrozma” amt=”60″ caption=”Ultra Necrozma” cname=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″][pokemon amt=”16″]4x [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Alolan Grimer” set=”Unified Minds” no=”127″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”18″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Naganadel and Guzzlord-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”158″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cobalion” set=”Steam Siege” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”38″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ 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=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ 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=”Ultra Ball” set=”Flashfire” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Gain” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”170″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”6″]2x [card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

In here the Alolan Muk, instead of Garbotoxin, protects you from opposing [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] plays because you can actually play [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]. In the Garbodor list you can lose to N, an awful drawback. Sure, you can use [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]’s Trashalanche but you need to find a Psychic Energy to use it and if you’re getting hit with an N to one, that’s probably not going to happen. The addition of [card name=”Naganadel and Guzzlord-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card] fixes a few of this deck’s problems with a neat Chaotic Order GX attack that can close a game all at once by taking two Prizes. Much like [card name=”Pheromosa and Buzzwole-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card] in [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Team Up” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] decks last season, this can be this deck’s finisher without having to play it down until the very end. If you’re ever behind on Prize cards, your opponent will inevitably go down to a single Prize, perhaps to your two Prize cards, where you can use Chaotic Order GX with [card name=”Counter Gain” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] to win the game.

Weaknesses:

  • [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Control decks
  • Guzzlord

Zoroark-GX / Garbodor

The deck to watch out for and perpetually the deck to beat. It’s gotten a little worse perhaps, but [card name=”Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card] as an inclusion with [card name=”Counter Gain” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card] has breathed new life into this deck. There’s more, [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]’s Trashalanche is strong and especially so against Turbo Dark decks that aren’t expecting it. Here is my list:

[decklist name=”Zoroark Garbodor” amt=”60″ caption=”Zoroark Garbodor” cname=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″][pokemon amt=”24″]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=”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]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Noble Victories” no=”48″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”165″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Klefki” set=”Steam Siege” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Flashfire” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Noble Victories” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Gain” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”170″ 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=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”HeartGold and SoulSilver” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

It’s a basic list, one with standard options and a few new things like Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX’s Jumping Balloon. This deck is going to continue as a solid option into the distant future. The addition of [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] gives [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] a bit of a boost that it used to take in the form of [card name=”Lt. Surge’s Strategy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card], giving you the opportunity to play [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] and use a gusting effect to take extra Prize cards from a Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX.

Weaknesses:

  • Fighting decks
  • Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX
  • Non Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX decks

Top Tier Synthesis

Okay so what the heck do you do with all of this? Basically you need to make a decision: Which of these are you going to play, or what are you going to play that beats all, or maybe three of these? Here’s a matchup spreadsheet with the breakdown of these decks being pitted against each other. Each deck’s personal matchups descend, you would read matchups north to south. For example, [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] has a 40-60 chance against [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card], an unfavorable pairing for Mewtwo and Mew-GX.

Mewtwo and Mew-GX Toolbox
 
Turbo Dark
 
Ultra Necrozma
 
Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
 
Mewtwo and Mew-GX Toolbox
 
50-50
 
50-50
 
60-40
 
40-60
 
Turbo Dark
 
50-50
 
50-50
 
45-55
 
40-60
 
Ultra Necrozma
 
40-60
 
55-45
 
50-50
 
60-40
 
Zoroark-GX / Garbodor
 
60-40
 
55-45
 
40-60
 
50-50

 

So which of these has the best chance against all the others? Turbo Dark for sure, Mewtwo and Mew-GX is close behind, but Turbo Dark is the only one of these four big decks that I would comfortably suggest to anyone. In fact, that has been something that I’ve been doing: Recommending Turbo Dark to friends in need of a Dallas play. Against the rest of the field, it stands up well and is such a consistently powerful deck. Mewtwo and Mew-GX takes a lot of brainpower to pilot optimally, as there are a lot of decisions to be made each turn. Much of the deck’s win conditions are based around craft spread damage strategies, skills that can only be built through practice or quick-thinking on the fly. Mewtwo and Mew-GX takes my second pick of these four for the “average” player, but the deck is a favorite to those that have tested it. With that, let me label these bluntly:

  • Best pick, the best deck: Turbo Dark
  • Crafty pick, high upside for strong play: Mewtwo and Mew-GX
  • Non Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX Pick: Ultra Necrozma
  • Bland, run-of-the-mill pick, perhaps for those in doubt and has past experience with it: [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card]

Now What?

These aren’t the only four decks out there though, there are some other solid choices to choose from. These are the most popular decks, the ones that most players will gravitate towards especially on short notice. I can’t thoroughly review every deck, but I’m going to glance over the other decks I’ve mentioned at the top of this article. Each deck will be followed by my rating out of five, along with its “trend” (down, neutral, or up in terms of potential success) as well as why.

Aromatisse / Gardevoir and Sylveon-GX

1/5 | Down: Turbo Dark is a terrible matchup.

I hate this [card name=”Aromatisse” set=”XY” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Gardevoir and Sylveon-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] deck, it’s inconsistent, slow, and has a terrible Turbo Dark matchup. This alone is going to drive me away from it and I have tried it: I played it for a 0/2/0 League Cup drop back in December. That left a sour taste in my mouth and perhaps you’re familiar with my personal struggles against opponents playing the deck. In any case, I would never play something that losses to Turbo Dark in this format. Playing [card name=”Wonder Energy” set=”Primal Clash” no=”144″ c=”name”][/card] shuts off [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card]’s Dead End GX but they can reach the one-shot mark with nine Darkness Energy in place, something that eventually happens almost every game. Dead End GX can go off if you ever leave a Fairy Pokemon without a Wonder Energy in play. This advances the Prize trade in your opponent’s favor and puts them in a winning position. If you like this deck, it does have a solid matchup against [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] as well as [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card]. It has a winnable matchup against [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] too, barring [card name=”Cobalion” set=”Steam Siege” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] use. Wonder Energy stops the Luster of Downfall discard and [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] stops Knock Outs.

Blastoise / Archie’s Ace in the Hole

[cardimg name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

4/5 | Up: Can beat anything if you get [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] out.

The addition of [card name=”Misty and Lorelei” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”199″ c=”name”][/card] is great for straight Water type lists but [card name=”Espeon and Deoxys-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card] is a more worthwhile inclusion with [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card] returning into a few decks again. I like Blastoise when I’m feeling lucky, but it’s not as attractive when you’re real with yourself and understand that you may be packing a few games up from poor draws and an inability to get your Stage-2 Blastoise out with [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card]. I’ve covered this deck and Turbo Water a lot in my article, and I think Turbo Water has a lot of potential as well. A [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card] version of Turbo Water may fare better but I need to try it first.

Durant Mill

1/5 | Down: Sketchy deck to begin with and [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] in Turbo Dark wrecks it.

This [card name=”Durant” set=”Noble Victories” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] deck is trash, Guzzlord eats it alive by taking extra Prizes and I’m not convinced that it can beat anything if the opponent is conservative as possible, limits their Bench, and saves a [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] to replenish the deck late in the game by drawing as little cards as possible.

Hitmonchan

Neutral: A solid Turbo Dark matchup keeps it in contention but everything else is mostly bleak.

With lower [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] counts and both [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] leaned on more often in the Expanded format, [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] becomes a great option. Bide Barricade can shut both of these down and [card name=”Hitmonchan” set=”Team Up” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]’s Hit and Run possesses the damage mods to ramp up its damage and be a two-shot warrior. If you’re feeling fancy, you can add [card name=”Hitmontop” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] for Finishing Combo to deal some spread damage. There’s new options to try out with this deck and its already strong Turbo Dark matchup is appealing enough to at least take a second look at. It might be closer to the up-side of trending.

Lucario-GX / Fighting

2/5 | Neutral: Unlike Hitmonchan, [card name=”Lucario-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM100″ c=”name”][/card] Turbo Dark matchup is the only reason it’s viable; it’s bad and only beats Turbo Dark consistently, but that can be a close game with Turbo Dark’s [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card].

This deck is horrible, I don’t understand why anyone would put their chips on a build like this. You are accepting the fact that you will almost only beat Turbo Dark decks (sometimes not) and lose to everything else. The Mewtwo and Mew-GX matchup is absolutely unwinnable, especially if your opponent has [card name=”Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card] for Damage Change. They one-shot you and [card name=”Giratina” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card]’s Distortion Door Ability will delete [card name=”Focus Sash” set=”Furious Fists” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] from the equation. Aura Strike only does 120 base damage, not enough to get close to a one-shot on many different things. The Zoroark-GX matchup is questionable too because Garbotoxin and [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] can reduce the likelihood of another Aura Strike in the late game when N gets your opponent one or two. Once that happens, the Zoroark-GX player can take a nice lead and finish on top!

Moltres and Zapdos and Articuno-GX

2/5 | Neutral: This [card name=”Moltres and Zapdos and Articuno-GX” set=”Hidden Fates” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] deck is like “another version” of Turbo Dark; it powers itself up similarly but has different things to offer, much of the appeal is multiple Knock Outs with Sky Legends GX but your opponent needs to misplay to lose the game to that GX attack alone.

While I like this deck, I don’t think it’s any better than Turbo Dark. Turbo Dark is more consistent and can accelerate Energy without a gimmick like using [card name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] on [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] to turn it into Moltres and Zapdos and Articuno-GX. While good in a nutshell, there are better options and I’d prefer to play any of those. Ability lock hurts this deck and that’s a big worry for me if I were to play it. Rising [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] counts with Roadblock hurts the deck as well, lessening its chances of getting a big turn off with a Ho-Oh-EX turning into something else with Ninja Boy.

Night March

4/5 | Up: I think this is a great play for Dallas as I made clear in my article on it; with four [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”name”][/card] you can one-shot anything and it does well against Turbo Dark with [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card].

Ultra Necrozma and Night March are very similar in terms of strength. But Night March could be better as Electropower takes the deck to new heights in a Tag Team Pokemon-GX dominated format. You’re fast, consistent and unlike most decks, can attack on the second turn rather consistently. Night March is a bit under the radar right now too, which makes it a great play. Without counters, the deck is at its best.

Reshiram and Zekrom-GX

2/5 | Up: I’m not fully convinced on this all-in [card name=”Reshiram and Zekrom-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] deck other than that it beats Turbo Dark.

It’s got bad non Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX matchups but if you want to play an easy deck that beats Turbo Dark, this one’s for you. Your Mewtwo and Mew-GX matchup is pretty bad since you’re Pokemon-EX / Pokemon-GX reliant and [card name=”Mega Lopunny and Jigglypuff-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card] bodies you. Ability lock hurts this deck too. I’m not as big a fan of this deck as I was at first.

Vileplume / Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX

2/5 | Down: Turbo Dark is a bad matchup, that’s as much reason as any to be trending down; a slew of automatic wins where you can use [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]’s Disgusting Pollen is a plus though.

This is a super linear deck, bricks a lot and can be slow. Turbo Dark’s [card name=”Weavile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] actually trashes this deck so unless you’re aware of something I’m not, I’d avoid playing Vileplume / [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]. Losing to Turbo Dark is an instant delete key for me in this format, it’s a matchup I refuse to lose and taking that loss is laughably bad. I genuinely expect to face at least three Turbo Dark decks in Day 1 alone at Texas Regionals; be prepared.

Shock Lock

[cardimg name=”Raichu” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”41″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

5/5 | Up: I’m not sure there’s anything stopping Shock Lock from a huge finish down in Texas; switching cards are nonexistent; as long as you can avoid Garbodor you should be in business.

Got [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW50″ c=”name”][/card], want to flaunt it? This is the deck for you. Not many decks can beat it naturally, it usually requires a switching card tech which is very rare in Expanded since [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] usually fills that hole but against a [card name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card], that’s not an option. I think Shock Lock looks good in this format with winnable matchups against all but Zoroark-GX / Garbodor among the top four decks. It’s under the radar for the most part. The last time it was actually hyped last season was at Hartford Regionals, and more than a few people showed up with it.

Wall Stall

2/5 | Down: This shouldn’t exist, but I’ve seen it in a few League Cup results; the [card name=”Lillie’s Poké Doll” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”197″ c=”custom”]Doll[/card] Stall variant is solid, but not infallible because of [card name=”Landorus-EX” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card]’s Hammerhead, [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Pheromosa and Buzzwole-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]’s Jet Punch, and / or [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card]’s Night Spear.

Doll Stall is the only viable deck of this style, but the old [card name=”Magikarp and Wailord-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM166″ c=”name”][/card] style lists are a relic that should be retired. They get OHKO with Darkrai-GX’s Dead End GX and you are immediately unfavored. Again, Turbo Dark is quality control in this format, if you can’t beat it, you need to either join it or play something else. Doll Stall is solid, Grant has talked a lot about it, but it can have shaky starts and I’m not sure I want to run it again. I took it to a League Cup, losing the first round to a strange Turbo Dark list that decked me with [card name=”Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card]’s Gigafall GX and then to a Lucario-GX / Fighting build that used Landorus-EX to pressure my Lillie’s Poke Doll and [card name=”Robo Substitute” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] out of the game for good. Snipe damage is an issue for this archetype by my count.

Conclusion

Use this information to your benefit. You don’t have to take my opinions as absolute, but they could help guide you to a better deck choice. I like Turbo Dark the most. It’s boring, but it’s the best deck; no one can argue with that. I hope this Regionals isn’t completely devoid of anything not Turbo Dark but it’s starting to look that way. I have been playing a lot of [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] but I don’t like a few of its matchups. Night March and [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] intrigue me and I’m going to be testing those more in the coming days. Hopefully I can pick a deck for Dallas soon, I want to start testing Sword and Shield in Standard format to prepare for the next Internationals! As always, don’t be afraid to hit me up in the Subscribers’ Hideout and take care.

Peace,

–Caleb

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