Everybody Chill! — Frosmoth in the New Standard

You might say that [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] is back — sort of. The brand new Frosmoth from Sword & Shield is better in almost every way since it’s a Stage-1 and can easily be played down, but there’s a small downside; only being able to attach Water Energy from hand to your Pokemon on the Bench. That said, you have two options to work around that: [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Switch” set=”Shining Legends” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM101″ c=”name”][/card] and Air Balloon (also from Sword & Shield). Right now, I hold Jirachi in higher regard because it improves your starting turns and using a Switch into a Jirachi with Escape Board is a nice consistency boost; “free” cards off Stellar Wish is never a bad thing. When you go for the latter of the two packages, you’ll likely be running a more turbo list with [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] and maybe even [card name=”Judge Whistle” set=”Team Up” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card]. With that in mind, Jirachi is more of a middle ground between all this, a more balanced approach.

Frosmoth’s Place in the Meta

One thing’s for sure; Frosmoth is the real deal and will be a competitively viable deck. I would consider it in the top tier of Standard archetypes right out the gate and I see it being fairly popular for a variety of reasons. Namely, it is reminiscent of Blastoise decks that have been doing well at tournaments since the card was brought into the “modern” era back with the release of Boundaries Crossed. Previously, those decks needed to run [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW28″ c=”name”][/card] to set up consistently — a true barrier to playing the deck at the top level. However, with [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] dropping, the deck was given new life in a super turbo way. Now, Frosmoth should have a similar appeal, just like in both of those eras and even in Expanded today. Playing lots of Energy is fun and should intrigue the masses to the deck. Second of all, the Water Pokemon pool just got a lot better with the release of Keldeo V and Lapras VMAX. These two can swing for unlimited damage, depending on the number of Water Energy you have in your deck. Not forgetting, [card name=”Black Kyurem” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] does 200 damage as a single-Prize Pokemon, the best Pokemon of that designation available in Standard. With nearly unlimited damage, a quick setup in being a Stage-1, and a great supply of tech attacker options if you want them, this deck is sure to please.

In building this deck I wanted to start with a consistent base, one that would still be able to do stuff when playing first. That’s something to consider with any deck in the “new” Standard format, the rule change of no first turn Supporter is significant. Clearly Jirachi is going to be more powerful, provided you can find it, and playing a maxed count of Quick Ball seems like a staple in pretty much everything. Not only to find Pokemon that you’d normally hope to draw with your Supporter, but to grant access to [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] to keep things moving when you don’t have an ideal starting hand. The Jirachi option while playing first is another reason why I like this version a bit more than the Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX build. Don’t get me wrong though, both have merit. Anyways, enough about the rule changes; I think this deck should still opt to play first — you want to get a second turn Frosmoth and the quickest way to do that is by playing first. However, my list includes a novel “playing-second” option that you’ll want to see. Here it is:

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[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Froslass” set=”Legends Awakened” no=”3″][pokemon amt=”19″]4x [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x Frosmoth (SSH #64)2x Snom (SSH #63)2x Keldeo V (SSH #53)2x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Zebstrika” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”82″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x Lapras VMAX (SSH #50)1x Lapras V (SSH #49)1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cobalion-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Black Kyurem” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”61″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”29″]4x Professor’s Research (SSH #178)3x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Switch” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x Quick Ball (SSH #179)4x [card name=”Pokémon Catcher” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x Evolution Incense (SSH #163)2x [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Black and White” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Viridian Forest” set=”Team Up” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]12x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”12″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Explanations

Two Snom, Three Frosmoth, One Zebstrika, and One Ditto Prism Star

I went with a [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] instead of a third Snom to grant the option of using [card name=”Zebstrika” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card]. This effectively turns your Evolution Incense into an option to draw out of a dead hand which is a really nice touch. I do want another out to these Pokemon though, and perhaps an Ordinary Rod to recover pieces would do it. This list has worked fine in testing thus far, however, as you really only need one Frosmoth to get going, and from there you can have another Snom on the Bench in reserve in case your opponent manages to take a Knock Out on the other (hard to do without [card name=”Custom Catcher” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Pokémon Catcher” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card]). The Zebstrika really improves this deck, digging for extra Water Energy, discarding junk, and more! Why not when you can run Ditto Prism Star?

Two Keldeo V, Two Energy Retrieval, and Twelve Water Energy

This is your main attacker — Secret Sword can hit for as much as 410 damage with this list and its twelve Water Energy. This card is basically the centerpiece of this list so let’s talk about the Energy and recovery of said Energy! You can run more Water Energy to unlock some other possibilities, but I don’t like bricking and drawing a ton of Water Energy will do just that to you. The fewer the better, but finding a middle ground is entirely possible because you also do want a bunch once you set up. It’s hard to gauge! Twelve has felt good, but other times I admit that more would be nice to find them early instead. Taking out a Zacian V is a good play to start, so let’s look at that. You’ll need six Water Energy on a Keldeo V to one-shot then, barring any damage reductions. That’s relatively practical and is only half of your Energy, so it’ll be easier once you get some down and can [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card] to recycle some back and get bunches of them all at once.

One Lapras V and One Lapras VMAX

As an attacker Lapras V isn’t bad, 210 damage for four Water Energy is solid and you can reattach those that return to your hand on your next turn. G-Max Pump is a ramped-up Secret Sword, clocking at 90 base damage with the same 30 damage buff for each Water Energy. This is a good touch and as an Evolution Pokemon, as it avoids Galarian Obstagoon shenanigans; you don’t want to be locked out of the game when your Basic Pokemon can’t deal damage. The Frosmoth doesn’t deal relevant damage to the point where it can pose a threat to a Galarian Obstagoon. In fact, Frosmoth actually gets one-shotted by Obstruct, so forget that option entirely. The Lapras VMAX is a counter card and a “better” Keldeo V when you’re looking for a damage buff. The extra HP is nice too; you’ll almost always get two-shot when attacking with this Pokemon. Remember, whenever you’re using a three Prize Pokemon as long as you get that many or more you’re trading Prizes favorably — that’s all you could hope for.

One Cobalion-GX

Iron Rule GX gives Frosmoth decks a GX attack, something missing from the new Pokemon V cards. When stopping your opponent from attacking you can bide time to power up a big attacker and start dealing one-hit Knock Outs. That’s literally all [card name=”Cobalion-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”106″ c=”name”][/card] card does for you, but it’s worth it; it can come in clutch when you’re setting up if you can find it on your first turn when playing second, and late game it can set you up a game-winning turn if you need to find more Water Energy or perhaps a Pokemon Catcher that you’re missing.

Four Pokemon Catcher

Get your flipping coin ready, this card is back — with Pokemon V entering the scene, the inclusion of Great Catcher in most decks was short-lived, and Custom Catcher seems to have equally run its course. Enter Pokemon Catcher,  a better version of each of these cards at the risk of getting a heads flip. With four you’re going to have multiple opportunities to snag the Pokemon you want, so maxing the count is the way to go to give yourself the best possible chance of getting a Prize advantage or eliminating an important piece of your opponent’s deck. Literally speaking, Pokemon Catcher is better than Custom Catcher in almost every deck, except maybe those with [card name=”Green’s Exploration” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card]. The new Oranguru can make Custom Catcher a little better too, but it works awkwardly as the card that you draw might equally be something you don’t want to discard with Dedechange or Professor’s Research.

Two Viridian Forest

More would be nice, but you should play more Water Energy (once you’ve hit two copies of [card name=”Viridian Forest” set=”Team Up” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card]) before more copies of this Stadium. Stadium cards have been very important in recent formats and should continue to be with [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] decks on the rise and their inherent use of [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card]; you need to be able to bump that important Stadium immediately so they don’t run you over with it.

Options

Mew

Bench Barrier looks good again to stop Tag Bolt GX, but right now I’m standing pat with this. The Pikachu and Zekrom-GX matchup with this deck is really fast-paced and you’re going to want to set up more than you want to prevent Bench damage. Not sure about [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], it’s also a valuable Bench space in a deck that’s going to have at least two spaces devoted to your Frosmoth and then a few others with attackers and/or Dedenne-GX. You’re already pretty poor off against Lightning-type decks, that’s where the following card is nice.

Palkia-GX

[cardimg name=”Palkia-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”20″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Zero Vanish GX is quite good against Pikachu and Zekrom-GX for a few reasons, one, the Grass Weakness is amazing since without it literally everything else in your deck with the exception of Black Kyurem gets destroyed by Lightning type Pokemon. If you put all of your opponent’s Lightning Energy back into the deck, too, they can miss an attack on their next turn and you can target wherever they put their single Energy for the turn for a Knock Out. The more I think about [card name=”Palkia-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card], the more I want it, I’ve taken it out, but I think I’ve underestimated Pikachu and Zekrom-GX in testing so far so maybe it’s time to put it back in. You could maybe drop Cobalion-GX for this!

Fisherman

Like Energy Retrieval, a doubly effective Energy recovery option is quite nice, but at the cost of your Supporter for your turn is a big downside. I haven’t found much time in games where I would have used a [card name=”Fisherman” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card]. On average, more copies of Water Energy or Energy Retrieval is better than this card but it is a hard recovery card that could be nice from time to time.

More on Frosmoth Versions

Say you swapped to the Acro Bike version of this deck, you’d be taking out the following:

  • -4 Jirachi
  • -4 Switch
  • -2 Escape Board

While adding something like this:

  • +1 Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX
  • +4 Acro Bike
  • +3 Air Balloon
  • +2 Something Else

I suggest trying both of these versions out, let me know your thoughts on each in the Subscribers’ Hideout if you want. I’m not fully decided on either myself, they both have merit. Whichever way you work it, I’m confident either of these lists is a great start to testing Frosmoth if you’re interested in it.

Matchups

In all of these matchups you need to find a first turn Snom. Aggressively go after it, pursue Jirachi to Stellar Wish, increasing the chances of finding Quick Ball. If you need to, Dedenne-GX away even the most precious of hands because if you don’t have Frosmoth quickly you are going to lose. This deck doesn’t work without its knack for accelerating Energy, so don’t squander the opportunity to execute your strategy.

Blacephalon / Green’s Exploration

In this list’s current form you’re not going to be favored one bit in this matchup. In fact, to win this matchup you need to do some tech-ing! A few options include [card name=”Magikarp and Wailord-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM166″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Volcanion Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] as well as playing [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card]. Without any of these, you have your one [card name=”Black Kyurem” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] as a non-Pokemon-GX, but other than that you’re best using Lapras VMAX to hope that your opponent can’t one-shot it. Perhaps early, Keldeo V can sometimes survive a hit because it does have 210 HP, requiring Fireball Circus of five Fire Energy from [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card]. The Frosmoth, sadly, can only deal 60 damage even after Weakness to a [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] so that won’t be of any help. Playing the Towering Splash option via [card name=”Magikarp and Wailord-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM166″ c=”name”][/card], leading off with a Sauna Blast from [card name=”Volcanion Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], can get you a complete board wipe, and the win. Maybe it’s worth it? Lists for this deck are going to ebb and flow depending on the metagame, as there are so many Wate-Type options you can run to counter the field.

Frosmoth Mirror

The mirror could be slightly improved with Palkia-GX and Zero Vanish GX. That way, you can brick your opponent into a clunky deck of a ton of Water Energy, but other than that it’s a slugfest. Trade one-hit Knock Outs, or you can use Pokemon Catcher aggressively to eliminate your opponent’s Frosmoth. The Lapras VMAX can be hard to one-shot if your opponent doesn’t play their own, so lean on that once you’re set up. Other than those few things it’s business as usual, playing Reset Stamp could potentially help to get another small advantage in the late game. The thing about Reset Stamp in this deck is with the aggressive structuring of Professor’s Research to discard and draw seven cards, you’re going to have a hard time keeping them for the best moments.

Mewtwo and Mew-GX

Perfection is set to take many forms with the drop of Sword & Shield. The idea of adding [card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card] alongside [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] has been tossed around, so you can Marnie, put an opponent to four cards, then Night Watch to drop that hand size to two. This is really disruptive and easily accomplished with the Energy acceleration of Malamar. This version can also play Indeedee V now as a one-shot potential attacker and way to heal out of [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] and Shadow Box. These lists fold to a Zebstrika that can draw out of Night Watch. You’re going to be able to one-shot with either Secret Sword or G-Max Pump, meaning you’ll also be ahead on Prizes in no time. Traditional [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] decks relying on [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] can look forward to getting one-shot quickly, but not being able to do so themselves, and certainly not as efficiently. I believe that Frosmoth outclasses Welder, so in that regard, you’ve got another advantage under your belt.

Zacian V

Now, this is set to be the biggest new deck from Sword & Shield and that’s certainly not unwarranted. This matchup is close, mostly because both decks do similar things: they pop out Energy, and fast. They’re a Basic, you’re not; you’re slightly unfavored at a starting point. However, you can flip this to your advantage by using Lapras VMAX, which can’t be one-shot without a bunch of Galarian Perrserker and a Vitality Band — this will likely not be happening. Also, Zamazenta V is another problem in of its own though, but you can counter it with Keldeo V, it’s not a big deal. If you can get Lapras VMAX running, you’re able to snowball into multiple one-hit Knock Outs that should be relatively unopposed. To set up the Lapras VMAX, you can Iron Rule GX on the turn you play down the Lapras V to make sure it doesn’t get gusted up and Knocked Out.

Conclusion

I think that Frosmoth has great potential. There are enough viable Water-type attackers in Standard to make it adaptable to any metagame, there are many options to counter various things. In addition, [card name=”Black Kyurem” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] is so powerful for a one Prize Pokemon as an added bonus! Now to top this piece off let’s look at a tier list with a bit of rationale:

Broken

[cardimg name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

  • [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Green’s Exploration” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card]  / Lucky Egg
  • Frosmoth Toolbox
  • Zacian V

Great

  • Blacephalon / Cinccino
  • Mewtwo and Mew-GX Toolbox
  • [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]

Good

  • Cinccino Control
  • [card name=”Florges” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] Stall
  • Malamar Toolbox
  • Welder Toolbox
  • [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Team Up” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] / Ultra Beast

Meh

  • [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Keldeo-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Arceus and Dialga and Palkia / [card name=”Moltres and Zapdos and Articuno-GX” set=”Hidden Fates” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Garchomp and Giratina-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Persian-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] / Roxie
  • Welder / Green’s Exploration

Bad

  • [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Gardevoir and Sylveon-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Lucario and Melmetal-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card]

Unsure

I think Lucky Egg makes Blacephalon with Green’s Exploration considerably strong. The deck used to get hurt a ton by Reset Stamp, but now it doesn’t because of Lucky Egg — you can draw right back up to seven. You could also say that Blacephalon with Cinccino is a direct upgrade from the [card name=”Pidgeotto” set=”Team Up” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] build because you get to thin the deck now. I could see playing both though, maybe a split of each? This goes for control decks also. Good old Pikachu and Zekrom-GX gets Tapu Koko V, enough said, and Zapdos is finally back with the release of Quick Ball as you can use Tapu Koko V much like [card name=”Tapu Koko-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM33″ c=”name”][/card], a quick way to take a big Knock Out with assistance from T[card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card].

The Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX decks fall off quite a bit, Zacian V gives them all sorts of problems and they’re almost certainly outclassed by that. If you want to play this Pokemon, look no further than with Zacian V itself, I think that pairing is extremely good. Honestly, Gardevoir and Sylveon-GX is dead. If it does well I will be appalled; Zacian V makes the deck completely unplayable. The new archetype of Galarian Obstagoon is intriguing, I’m unsure if [card name=”Phione” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] will screw with the deck or if people will tech for it and make it obsolete — Grant Manley might be writing about it soon, be on the lookout! It seems like Morpeko V is a big-time hit and run-style attacker; [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”name”][/card] can amp it up even further; Lillie’s Poke Doll is the ideal wall to hide behind, maybe it’s good as a deck? Finally, Stonjourner VMAX is just so beefy, I need to test it. It can heal, so you could play it as a control deck, or you could simply heal when you need to and take Prizes as normal — it’s vanilla 200 damage attack is never bad.

Alright folks, that’s all, thanks for reading. Take care and I’ll see you next time!

Peace,

–Caleb

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