Return of the Rat – Pikachu & Zekrom-GX Bounces Back

[cardimg name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM168″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Hello Pokebeach readers! Since the release of Team Up, where [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] made its debut as one of the first Tag Team Pokemon, the deck has had its spot in the meta. In some cases that was a dominant role, while in others it was more of an outcast. It just always seemed to bounce back when it was least expected to do so, and now matter how bleak things looked, it was never down for the count. Now, I have to be honest and say I was one of the many people who wrote this deck off when the rotation was announced. Not only was it losing [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card], it was already a deck that was not performing very well at the end of last format, and the rest of the competition was heating up. This was until the past week or so, when the dominance of Pikachu & Zekrom-GX took the online competitive circuit by storm and really shook things up. It is still that same speedy Lightning deck everyone knows and loves (or hates!) but this time it comes with a few defensive tools and a wide variety of tech attackers. I would have to say this is one of the more interesting variations of the deck, and I do think it has great potential to be here for the long haul, so I thought it would be a great deck to write about! I hope you all agree with my choice because I will be going pretty in depth and focusing less on the meta as a whole, this is great news for Pikachu fans and pretty terrible new for Pikachu haters. With all of that being said, I hope you are ready for a real earful about the newest way to play Pikachu & Zekrom-GX! Lets get started by taking a look at what opened up this opportunity for the deck.

Pikarom: What Changed?

Honestly, nothing about the metagame changed in a way that opened up the opportunity for Pikachu & Zekrom-GX to succeed. In fact, I would argue that this deck would have been even stronger in earlier variations of the metagame based on how decks were being built then and how they are being built now. The [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] decks are a lot more aggressive and truly embrace the strategy of winning in just a couple turns, which leaves little room for error in the early game for any deck. On top of that, they also have [card name=”Tool Scrapper” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”168″ c=”name”][/card] now, which is definitely not something [card name=”Big Charm” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card]s (spoiler alert) want to worry about. Other than that, the presence of [card name=”Lucario and Melmetal-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM192″ c=”name”][/card] is something that this deck would not mind getting to avoid, as this deck’s low damage output makes it not the best matchup. So, if things have not progressed in a way that is much more favorable for Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, why has it been seeing so much success in tournaments lately? I think that for the most part, the deck was just overlooked in the post-rotation format. Electropower and Thunder Mountain Prism Star rotated, which was a considerable blow to a deck that was already not getting the best results. Past that, the version that people have been playing has been built really well to combat the threats of the metagame, and is a bit more reactive than Pikachu & Zekrom decks we have seen in the past. More will be explained and discussed throughout the article, so it is time to take a look at the decklist.

[decklist name=”Pikarom” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM168″][pokemon amt=”11″]2x [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM168″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Raichu and Alolan Raichu-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”54″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Boltund V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”67″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Koko V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”72″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]4x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Switch” set=”Evolutions” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Electromagnetic Radar” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Crushing Hammer” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Furious Fists” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Big Charm” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”158″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”13″]4x [card name=”Speed L Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”173″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]9x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”9″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Three Dedenne-GX, One Crobat V

These are the support Pokemon that every deck plays, but I wanted to go over the counts of each. [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] has more synergy with the deck thanks to its typing, as it can be searched via [card name=”Electromagnetic Radar” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card]. It is also considered the better of the two support Pokemon overall because it draws you six cards regardless of the situation, whereas [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] is a bit more situational. Crobat V is a nice inclusion to have because it gives you the option to use two draw support Pokemon in one turn, which can increase the speed you have in the early game and the reach you have when digging for something later in the game. As stated before, Crobat V is also situationally good because you can still draw quite a few cards while holding onto something you want to keep around. This can help save resources or set you up for a solid play on the following turn.

Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX, Boltund V, Tapu Koko V, Vikavolt V

This is the squadron of tech attackers that have made their way into the deck, all of which are good but mostly situational, and overall make up a huge part of the deck’s versatility. While Pikachu & Zekrom-GX is certainly the main attacker of the deck, each of these Pokemon has its moment to shine. Not all of them will be used every single game, but at least one of them will have an impact on every single game you play.[card name=”Raichu and Alolan Raichu-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card] is helpful against decks that are low on switch effects or don’t play many (or any) to begin with. In combination with [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card], along with this Pokemon’s beefy HP that can be increased even further by Big Charm, Tandem Shock can be a huge pain for the opponent to deal with. Lightning Ride GX is also a great way for this deck to do a lot of damage and end the game when it otherwise would fall short. [card name=”Boltund V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card], while it does have a solid secondary attack that will be used sometimes, is mainly used as a way of accelerating energy with Electrify. This is a great option to use on the first turn when you otherwise won’t have much to do, something that happens often I might add. Moving on to [card name=”Tapu Koko V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card], one of the less popular inclusions in the deck from what I have seen, is a good option when you need to do a higher amount of damage. Outside of your GX attacks or a really beefy Bolt Storm, Thunderous Bolt is your highest damage output attack. It outclasses our last attacker on the list in that regard, [card name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card], because it does ten more damage and its drawback is not as bad. Speaking of Vikavolt V, which does have a secondary attack that is a reasonable option for ending the game, I really only recommend attacking with this one when Paralyzing Bolt is a strong attack for the situation. This actually happens quite often, as it is a nice response to an Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX attack, assuming you can remove an energy with [card name=”Crushing Hammer” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], because their Tag Team Pokemon will be trapped in the Active Spot and grow a bit weaker as well. You can make a similar play after a Zacian V attacks thanks to the drawback of Brave Blade.

Four Professor’s Research, Four Marnie, Four Boss’s Orders

This is the standard Supporter line for a majority of decks at the moment and that continues to be the case here. While the deck has a bunch of other consistency, I would not recommend changing this Supporter line up at all. A [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] could come out if [card name=”Eldegoss V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”19″ c=”name”][/card] were to make its way in, but even then it would be ideal to maintain the maxed count.

Four Electromagnetic Radar

[cardimg name=”Electromagnetic Radar” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”169″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This is a card that has been in and out of Pikachu & Zekrom-GX decks since the release of Team Up, but with the speed of the format and the importance of having a solid turn one, I think that this powerful Trainer card is here to stay. It grabs you a Pikachu & Zekrom-GX and a Dedenne-GX, which is a great way to start off the game. In the late game it is essentially a more expensive [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card] that also thins your deck out a little bit more, but there are situations where grabbing a Dedenne-GX and an attacker is ideal as well. Having four of them increases the odds of having one on turn one, which was already mentioned as a great thing to have. Additionally, it provides some additional [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] recovery because it means grabbing a Dedenne-GX.

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Four Crushing Hammer

This card is looked at as a meme, and while it is frustrating to have such a luck based card play a significant role in a format, this is not the first or last time that is going to happen. Love it or hate it, Crushing Hammer is a good card at the moment because of how a majority of decks in the format operate. Against [card name=”Eternatus VMAX” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card], Crushing Hammer can stop them from attacking for several turns; even just one turn can mean all the difference. Against Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX, removing that Water Energy after they GX attack can also make a huge difference. Overall, Crushing Hammer is a great card in the early game and it works well with the speed this deck has to offer.

Two Energy Switch

These are mainly for being able to attack on turn one, as an ideal [card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] pop along with an [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”162″ c=”name”][/card] and Energy attachment from hand means a turn one Full Blitz, which is definitely the best turn one possible for the deck. A higher Energy Switch count would make this more likely, but two still gives you solid odds of doing so thanks to the speed this deck has to offer. Additionally, Energy Switch is substantially worse past turn one, meaning any extras are pretty low value and going first immediately kills the value of it as well. Overall, I have been fine with two, but I will discuss the benefits of increasing this count later on.

Two Reset Stamp

These are incredible cards thanks to the current state of the game and how decks are built, and Pikachu & Zekrom-GX is a deck that can use it and take advantage of it better than any other. For starters, the deck has other cards that disrupt and mess with the opponent, such as Marnie and Crushing Hammer. It also has attacks that limits the opponent’s options in Paralyzing Bolt and Tandem Shock. It can afford to include these because it has a less demanding strategy and more space in the deck, so it can play around having them in hand at an awkward time and generally finds a good time to make use of it.

Two Big Charm

It is pretty wild that our Pokemon with over 200 HP need a further boost, but that is what the game has come to, and this deck welcomes the opportunity with open arms. The fact of the matter is that this deck’s HP is one of the things that would otherwise hold it back because its low damage output would not be able to keep up with the high damage output other decks have. This deck plays with some finesse, while other decks are just trying to blast things out of the water, and Big Charm helps to even things out a little bit.

Two Chaotic Swell

Thanks to the rise of Fire decks, and even the prevalence of [card name=”Dark City” set=”Unified Minds” no=”193″ c=”name”][/card] in Eternatus VMAX, [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card] is a great defensive card at the moment. Those Stadiums do not directly harm this deck, but they do not benefit it in any way whatsoever, and they do greatly benefit the opponent. With that being said, it is best to keep them out of play, and doing so can truly make all the difference in any given game. This is especially true against fire decks because of how important [card name=”Giant Hearth” set=”Unified Minds” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card] is to them. Chaotic Swell is a great way to slow them down, especially when combined with Marnie or Reset Stamp. Crushing Hammers or even the disruption attacks this deck has to offer can be tossed on top of that and truly make for a rough time for the opponent.

Potential Inclusions

The cards listed below are the cards I would keep in mind when trying out the deck and playing it in tournaments, but it is by no means the final set of cards that could be included! Most things are worth trying out in testing, especially with such a versatile deck like this, so always keep your mind open.

Eldegoss V

I discussed this earlier in the article when I briefly went over the standard Supporter line of the standard format, so you should know by now that Eldegoss V is something I would really only want to include alongside the current lineup, as opposed to in place of. Boss’s Orders is probably the main target of this support Pokemon, as the other support Pokemon can draw you cards when need be. In fact, the 3rd Dedenne-GX in this list actually takes the spot of where Eldegoss V goes in a majority of the lists that play it. If you find yourself struggling to close games or failing to find Boss’s Orders in general, Eldegoss V could help you out.

More Energy Switch

This would increase the odds of finding that turn one attack, which means going second is even more powerful than it was before. In fact, in certain matchups you could even choose to go second and then start applying pressure with a Full Blitz right away. These cards, as stated above, are very weak when going first and they do take up spots in the deck, so be careful if you decide to increase the count. Just make sure you are getting your money’s worth in testing, otherwise it might be time to end the experiment.

Pros and Cons / Closing Thoughts

Pros

• The deck has a wide variety of attackers and options, which is always a nice thing to have.
• The deck has speed but also has the tools to play from behind and ways to disrupt the opponent.
• Right now no one is really teching for it, and some decks can’t really do so.
• It does not have any total autolosses, which is not something that can be said for most decks.
• It can be built and tweaked in ways to prepare for any given metagame.
• Very consistent and reliable.

Cons

• It does not have the same vibe as some of the other top decks, that can simply blow other decks out of the water right off the bat.
• Other decks can easily tech against it.
• The deck does not have any highly favorable matchups, outside of some lower tier decks.
• Crushing Hammer flips can determine games.

Quick Standard Notes

• Tool Scrapper was already seeing some play thanks to Lucario & Melmetal-GX / Zacian V abusing [card name=”Metal Goggles” set=”Team Up” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], and I think we will see even more of that now that Big Charm is being used in Pikachu & Zekrom-GX.
• [cardimg name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg][card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is a card we have seen be used explicitly for improving the Pikachu & Zekrom-GX matchup for some decks in the past, so it would not surprise me if history repeated itself on that.
• The [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] decks are seeing more play, with Blacephalon and Centiskorch VMAX both seeing the light of day.
• Thanks to the presence of the Fire decks, Lucario & Melmetal-GX might want to prepare for it in some way if it is going into a tournament setting.
• Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX / Zacian V has split into multiple variations, some with Crushing Hammer and some with [card name=”Pokémon Catcher” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card]. While I do think that Crushing Hammer is a good card at the moment, I think Pokemon Catcher is a more valuable tool for the  deck.

Those notes on the Standard format is going to signal the end of this article, so I hope you found some value in them. You may have noticed that this article did not have a tier list section, something I had done in every article since the rotation, so let me explain that before you all move on from this Pikachu novel. The tier list felt awkward to include in every article because things either did not change and there was no need for an update, or things changed in a way where it was hard to update the tier list in a confident manner. This means that the tier list was essentially the same as last article or possibly incorrect, since it is hard to know how a new deck will interact with the current metagame right off the bat. It is easy to tell if a deck is good or bad, and even relatively easy to judge its popularity, but it is hard to tell how the other decks will adapt and where the new deck will land on the totem pole. With all of that being said, new decks and developing information will always be shared, decks trending in or out will still be mentioned, and tier lists are by no means coming to an end for the rest of my articles. They will be included before major events or when a major change has truly settled, because that’s when the tier lists are most significant and interesting in my mind. Anyways, as for the rest of the article, I hope you enjoyed it! Pikachu & Zekrom-GX fan or not, I definitely recommend you give this deck a chance regardless of what setting you are playing in. It is a very solid one and pretty fun to play as well. If you are just not about it, feel free to check out my recent articles that go over some other great Standard archetypes! I will be back two more times this month with some more great information on the Standard format! Until then I will be enjoying the world of Pokemon in any way I can and I hope you do the same. Peace!

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