Amazon Rainforest — Fighting Against the Trees
Hello PokeBeach readers! To recap from my last article, found here, I discussed Single-Prize Attacking Decks (or SPADs for short) and their placement on the meta. With the results from both Collinsville and Dallas Regionals, I think it is safe to say there’s a ton of diversity in Expanded right now. Normally, I’m a huge fan of a splattering of decks, meaning that I get to have fun no matter what opponent I sit across. Nowadays, on the ladder of PTCGO and in personal testing, it seems as if playing a game of Pokemon is just going through the motions of proper sequencing for both decks until one comes out the winner. Furthering my point, seven of the Top 8 decks at Collinsville were either a mill / stall variant, or an Item / hand lock variant. Ideally, we’ll get a fix soon, perhaps banning [card name=”Milotic” set=”Flashfire” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card] or another lock combo.
Keeping said degeneracy in mind when building a deck is important. For today, I have two decks that I would like to share that I have tested religiously and that I have tweaked to take into account the expected increase of [card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card] and/or [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card]: [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card]. These two decks are attacking decks (my favorite kind) that are able to break out of locks as well as steamroll through powerful decks like [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Snorlax VMAX” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card].
[cardimg name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Ultra Necrozma
I’d like to discuss Ultra Necrozma first. Since the conception of the card in Cosmic Eclipse, a single Prize attacker that does 170 base damage has sounded extremely good. In practice, it is still very good, albeit not as starry-eyed as one would expect. I believe the main reason for the deck’s middle of the road success at Collinsville was due to the rise of Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX and [card name=”Lillie’s Poké Doll” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card] Stall. There were a total of eight Day 2 Ultra Necrozma decks, fairing from Top 16 down to Top 64, but no “top” players chose to pilot the deck. With a prepared list, one can take down Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX, and I’m still working on the stall matchup.
The good news though, is the deck as a whole is extremely simple to play, requiring only proper management of resources, prize mapping, and basic sequencing.
Here’s the list:
[premium]
[decklist name=”Ultra Necrozma / Garbodor” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″][pokemon amt=”14″]4x [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Noble Victories” no=”48″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Absol” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Team Up” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”39″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ 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=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” 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=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Lucky Egg” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ 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=”7″]4x [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”EX Emerald” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
I hate [card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card]. With a passion. Night Watch is absolutely bonkers, and on top of that, Pale Moon GX takes care of things like [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Pyroar” set=”Flashfire” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]. Did I mention that I don’t like Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX?
Jokes aside, the winning deck of Collinsville will have a huge impact. Does your deck beat Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX? If the answer is no, don’t play the deck. With this in mind, I reneged on my campaign for [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]. As it turned out, a thick [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card] line really makes the deck that much more powerful. Being able to use Garbotoxin to avoid [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card] means gone are the days of bumping a Chaotic Swell with your [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] and passing. [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]’s Trashalanche also gives you a strong closer, allowing you to threaten a Knock Out even if you are ahead on Prizes, out of [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card], etc.
Let’s go through the list more thoroughly:
Four Ultra Necrozma and Four Double Dragon Energy
The heart of the deck. I love going second with this deck and seizing the momentum from the get-go by taking a fast KO or applying pressure with an Energy discard plus damage from Luster of Downfall. There are four of each card for consistency reasons, and I would never cut one of either.
One Absol, One Mimikyu, One Sudowoodo, and Two Counter Energy
[card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card]! There has to be a special place for Counter Energy. Using [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”name”][/card] for my [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] and Counter Energy is one of the best feelings in the world. Of course, Sudowoodo is here for [card name=”Snorlax VMAX” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card] as well as [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] and any stray [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Team Up” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] deals with a fast [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Noivern-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] (with a [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card]) while also helping with more stray Zacian V and such. [card name=”Absol” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] is the biggest tech I’ve added since Collinsville. With the quintuple of [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], Garbodor, [card name=”Lucky Egg” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card], Silent Lab, and Absol, Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX has been sufficiently destroyed in testing. With six benched Pokemon on your opponent’s board, Absol can take a clean KO on a full HP Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX, not to mention with only five, a [card name=”Gengar and Mimikyu-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] goes down. Absol helps against [card name=”Snorlax VMAX” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card] too.
3-2/1 Garbodor, One Wobbuffet, and One Psychic Energy
In a nutshell, Garbodor is better for this specific format, yet I am a believer that Octillery is better overall. For this format, Garbodor’s Garbotoxin Ability prevents things like [card name=”Milotic” set=”Flashfire” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Pyroar” set=”Flashfire” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Altaria” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]. In conjunction with Wobbuffet, one can certainly go a whole game without the opponent using any Abilities, giving you enough time to utilize all your Single Prize attackers. Wobbuffet is also a very good attacker with Counter Energy, cleaning up a hit on something like an [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card] or another big Tag Team Pokemon-GX.
Two Lucky Egg
[cardimg name=”Lucky Egg” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”167″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Lucky Egg has become a necessary evil. With the cut of Octillery and the rise of hand control, Lucky Egg gives you a buffer from both Night Watch as well as [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]. It finds niches as well in situations that otherwise would leave you with a dead hand.
The rest of the list I decided to keep from my last article, simply because consistency is king. I know I repeat that sentiment as often as I can, and I do it because it’s true! In order to win a long, weary 15 round Regional, one has to rely on the strategy of their deck. Yet, if you are feeling spicy, here are some ideas I toyed around with since last time:
Techs
Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX
Including one [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, since it allows [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] to firmly beat other SPADs. Yet, the consistency of having a single copy discouraged me from running it.
Four Teammates and Four Lucky Egg
Running an engine that was completely based off of Knock Outs sounded good to me and did quite well in testing until He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named (aka [card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card]) came around. I couldn’t rely on my hands to bail me out of trouble, hence the addition of Wobbuffet. The Teammates version also didn’t stand its ground versus any Arceus Dialga and Palkia-GXs, since I couldn’t use both Teammates and Pokemon Ranger.
Xtransceiver
While I was trying to find ways of beating Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX, I came across [card name=”Xtransceiver” set=”Noble Victories” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card]. Normally, [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] outclasses it by a mile, but being able to fetch a Teammates or Pokemon Ranger has been useful. Against Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX, if you go first, usually you can’t get a Supporter in the discard unless you open with [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card]. I don’t think I could pull the trigger, but it isn’t the worst consistency card.
Matchups
Moving forward, the matchups of Ultra Necrozma have stabilized with a good amount of known lists. Here’s an overview of the top matchups:
Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX
[card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card] is about 75-25 in favor of Ultra Necrozma. The only scary situation that I have found is when the Ultra Necrozma player goes first, cannot find a [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] and an Energy/[card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], and does not topdeck a Supporter after the first Night Watch. Usually, this matchup is a breeze by using Wobbuffet to slow down the game, setting up [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card], and prepping [card name=”Absol” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] on the Bench while poking with Ultra Necrozma.
Rowlet & Exeggutor-GX
Rowlet and Exeggutor-GX is also another 75-25 matchup for Ultra Necrozma, precisely for the same reasoning as my last article. Since we have substituted Garbotoxin for [card name=”Stealthy Hood” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card], using Wobbuffet as a way to reattach Tools is always necessary. Try to target down the Item-lock Vileplume as one of the few ways you can lose (as the Ultra Necrozma player) is to lose your Wobbuffet and get hit with [card name=”Faba” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card] in the same turn.
Snorlax VMAX
[cardimg name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
[card name=”Snorlax VMAX” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card] is yet another 80-20 matchup for Ultra Necrozma, since the big combo of Garbotoxin and [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] to copy G Max Fall is often too much for the Snorlax VMAX opponent. I try to chase the [card name=”Altaria” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] in case they run a Stealthy Hood. After that, it isn’t too hard to find your last two Prize Cards. Absol has great value paired with [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card].
Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V or Blacephalon-GX
A turn 1 Altered Creation GX is extremely scary for any Ultra Necrozma player, but keep calm and use Luster of Downfall to discard the Arceus Dialga and Palkia-GX’s [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card]. On turns 1-2, seek out your [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] as fast as you can. Garbotoxin is huge to shut down the turbo cards like [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]. Finally, clean up as necessary with your counter attackers and Ultra Necrozmas. Depending on draws and who goes first, I would say this matchup is about 60-40 in the Ultra Necrozma player’s favor.
Turbo Darkrai-GX / Weavile-GX
Last but not least, [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] is another favored matchup of Ultra Necrozma (70-30). Utilize [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] and Garbotoxin to prevent any tricky [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] plays, and target down all Tag Team Pokemon-GX. Sudowoodo is the ace up the sleeve for when things get messy too.
And that’s it. I’m a big fan of the list, and I am heavily considering running the deck if there is a way to salvage the [card name=”Lillie’s Poké Doll” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card] Stall matchup. Unfortunately, running only seven Energy cards against a deck that tries to remove Energy isn’t helping.
Turbo Darkrai-GX and Weavile-GX is the next deck on the chopping block. Initially, I wrote off this deck for Collinsville since it had a poor matchup to [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card], SPADs, and other random things. With the newfound love of locks in Expanded, I knew that alongside Weavile-GX, Turbo Dark archetypes could be built to counter the degeneracy. Here’s the list I’m working on:
[decklist name=”Turbo Dark” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”139″][pokemon amt=”16″]2x [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”139″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Greninja and Zoroark-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”201″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”226″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Weavile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Sneasel” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]2x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ 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]
Card Choices
Two Darkrai-GX, 2-2 Weavile-GX, One Darkrai-EX, 1 Guzzlord, One Zoroark & Greninja-GX, One Mega Sableye & Tyranitar-GX
The main power of this deck comes from these cards. Seamlessly switching from attacker to attacker and shifting Energy with Weavile-GX is the prime argument for why this deck should be played. The 13th place list from Collinsville ran other attackers such as [card name=”Umbreon and Darkrai-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM59″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Alolan Persian-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card], all of which are good in a vacuum, but not for the current meta. [card name=”Greninja and Zoroark-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] is simply a beatstick to take down medium HP Pokemon. [card name=”Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card] is used against any mill with its Gigafall GX attack. [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] paired with Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX’s Greedy Crush can make the deck a pseudo-[card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] deck since both effects are here to take bonus Prizes. Darkrai-GX is important to threaten a turn 1 Dead End GX as well as helping to flood the board with Energy. Weavile-GX is the blood in the veins, and [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] is the oxygen in the lungs.
One Sudowoodo (GRI)
[card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] is in the list to be a disruption for [card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Snorlax VMAX” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card], the mirror, and even some Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX variants. Since we cannot include [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] (Bide Barricade hurts us almost as much as our opponent), Sudowoodo is the next best card.
Three VS Seeker, One Hypnotixic Laser, and One Dowsing Machine
Space is tight in this list, and I wanted to sacrifice as little consistency as I could for the techs I wanted. Originally, I had four copies of [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] and two copies of [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card], but I had to shave some down to make room for my twelfth Darkness Energy and [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card].
Three Quick Ball and Three Ultra Ball
A normal person would ask why I chose to not cut an [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] for the fourth [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card]. Surprisingly, the answer is that you want to discard more cards with this deck. In order to get the maximum value out of cards like [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card], you need to thin your hand down to either draw more cards, or find other cards to thin.
Techs
Boy, did I try a ton of things in Turbo [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Weavile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card]! There are a lot of options, from things that saw success like Alolan Persian-GX to running a [card name=”Milotic” set=”Flashfire” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card] of your own (if you can’t beat them, join them?)
[cardimg name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
1-1 Milotic
(cut a [card name=”Sneasel” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] for a [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card])
A small line of Milotic may seem crazy but hear me out; Milotic can:
- Even out the Prizes against Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX to prevent [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card]
- Recharge Energy fast to get a key tempo Knock Out.
- Almost ensure a fully powered Gigafall GX against any stall.
Against things like [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card], losing a single Prize oftentimes doesn’t end up mattering since the opponent will take two Tag Team Pokemon-GX Knock Outs. The only downside to Milotic is that it can be tough to get both Milotic and Weavile-GX out unless one runs a second Sneasel in addition to Ditto Prism Star.
1-1 Naganadel
A small line of [card name=”Naganadel” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] has the same benefit of a line of Milotic except being a whole lot slower. I am a believer in Milotic over Naganadel since the bonus of two more instant Energy cards is higher on the totem pole than a slow and steady method. Against stall, however, with Weavile-GX and a Nagandel out, there is nothing the opponent can do.
One Malamar-EX
A [card name=”Malamar-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] could be inserted over the Hypnotoxic Laser. It makes Dead End GX much more attainable, but not on turn 1. In any situation where one isn’t taking a clean KO, Hyper Hypnosis is extremely good to add a little bit more pressure. Weavile-GX can also move the Energy attached around afterward.
One Bellelba & Brycen-Man
I originally tried this out in lieu of Sudowoodo. It was VS Seeker-able, unaffected by [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card], and had the benefit of removing liabilities such as Darkrai-GXs or [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]s from my board. (A cool play that I used a few times was to use Restoration twice, Shadow Connection away the Energy, use [card name=”Bellelba and Brycen-Man” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card] to discard the Darkrai-GXs and reuse Restoration). However, I could never find Bellelba and Brycen-Man quick enough, and it didn’t stop Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX at all.
One AZ
I pondered including [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] since it was essentially an [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] alongside Weavile-GX. I ended up dropping it for other consistency cards.
One Computer Search
I wish I could run [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] here. The consistency of it can’t be beat. Sadly, with the large amounts of resources that can be burned by a [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] or a Dedechange, [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] was another necessary evil.
Matchups
Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX
[card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card] was difficult to find the right combo of cards for. As of now, I believe that Sudowoodo alongside a powered up [card name=”Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card] is the way to go. With Psychic-type Resistance, Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX can take two hits from Night Watch and still be able to take four Prizes off of a Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX (even if they have a [card name=”Weakness Policy” set=”Primal Clash” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card]). This prevents the opponent from using a second Milotic, as they would have given you the last two Prizes. I find that Sudowoodo generally prevents a specific piece of the lock, whether it’s a Milotic, Alolan Muk, or getting out both [card name=”Gengar and Mimikyu-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] and Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX. Having only two Bench slots to work with forces the Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX player to get very lucky to get a full lock off, which of course you can topdeck out of. (65-45).
Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor-GX
[cardimg name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Rowlet and Exeggutor-GX is slightly favored. The biggest factor in this matchup is how well the opponent draws, and if they can constantly heal their Rowlet and Exeggutor-GXs. Usually the speed of Turbo [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] and option of [card name=”Weavile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] as an attacker hurts too much, leaving them unable to stream attackers. (60-40)
Snorlax VMAX
Against [card name=”Snorlax VMAX” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card], I chase down every [card name=”Alolan Grimer” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] I can see. If one can deny the Snorlax VMAX player Alolan Muk, then the game is won since Snorlax VMAX caps at 180 with G Max Fall while Sudowoodo is in play. In addition, if the opponent ever focuses too much on getting an Alolan Muk in play and forgets to get [card name=”Galarian Rapidash” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card], you can take a knockout with Dead End GX. After that, find a few Prizes with either Greedy Crush or Guzzlord’s Red Banquet to close the game. (60-40).
Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V or Blacephalon-GX
Against [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card]s, rush to find Pokemon Ranger as quick as humanly possible. If the Arceus Dialga and Palkia-GX player neglects to include [card name=”Comfey” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Cobalion-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”106″ c=”name”][/card], smack them with the quick Dead End GX. After that, use [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] or Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX to get three Prizes off of a Dedenne-GX, Shaymin-EX, or [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]. It is perhaps an even matchup, maybe slightly favored to the Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX player depending on draws (45-55).
Ultra Necrozma
[card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] is a rough matchup (30-70). The best option you have is to use Guzzlord to take extra Prizes, use [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] to get it back, and reuse Red Banquet. Sudowoodo can copy Red Banquet, so play around that and you’ll have a fair shot.
Lillie’s Poke Doll Stall
[card name=”Lillie’s Poké Doll” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card] Stall is a much better matchup for Turbo Dark than Ultra Necrozma. With Gigafall GX and tons of basic Energy, it is hard for the stall player to get around all your tricks. Beware any [card name=”Lugia-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”159″ c=”name”][/card], as you do need 10 Energy in play to use Gigafall GX for its maximum effect. [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card]’s Night Spear is very useful to take out multiple Lillie’s Poke Doll or [card name=”Robo Substitute” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] at once.
And that is about it! Ultra Necrozma is the SPAD powerhouse, out-muscling [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”5″ c=”name”][/card] while Turbo Darkrai-GX / Weavile-GX is the flexible turbo deck we all know and love. If the tournament were tomorrow, I would play Ultra Necrozma if I was confident that I could avoid stall; otherwise, I would probably pick Turbo Darkrai-GX / Weavile-GX or Turbo Zacian V as a way to get around these pesky dolls and locks.
Conclusion
Thanks for sticking by to the end and for subscribing to PokeBeach! I hope this article was a little bit more informed on what we covered last time and let me know in the comments if you enjoy the process of following a specific deck throughout a format.
Until next time,
–Blaine
Twitter: @blainehill2001
[/premium]