My Top Two Choices for Natal Regionals and Why

Hello all PokeBeach readers! Gabriel Semedo here again with another Pokémon TCG article and this time I’m going to talk about my two main picks to use in the Natal Regional in Brazil.

[cardimg name=”Raikou V” set=”Crown Zenith GG” no=”GG41″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

I know that this format is already at an end and no one can stand to see [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] anymore, but I believe that little by little the format has found a balance, and new decks have begun to stand out in addition to Lugia VSTAR, [card name=”Mew VMAX” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Regigigas” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] and Lost Box, such as [card name=”Hisuian Goodra VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Raikou V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”48″ c=”name”][/card]. Lugia VSTAR remains the best deck in the format, but any of the other six decks above are plausible choices to use competitively. Depending on the metagame you’re targeting, there’s one choice that’s better suited than the other.

Regionals in Brazil are not as common as they are in the United States; we only have three Regionals per season, so each Regional is valuable for Brazilian players. My choices for the regionals have changed a lot since the beginning of my preparation, but now in the final stretch, I’ve managed to reduce it to two options. I still can’t say which of the options I like the most, and I still have a few days to choose, so I decided to write today’s article highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of both of these decks.

Why should you play Lugia VSTAR?

Lugia VSTAR has been called the best deck in the format because it achieves excellence in the three main factors that make up a successful deck; strength, consistency, and metagame position. The strength of the deck is way above average, with incredible attacks from Amazing [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Shining Fates” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card], Amazing [card name=”Raikou” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Stoutland V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card]. The deck’s consistency also stands out, because it’s a deck that does a lot with only a little. Simply attach a [card name=”Capture Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] to find Amazing Yveltal, accelerate four Special Energy from the deck with Archeops, and Knock Out a Duraludon VMAX. In other words, with only a Capture Energy you do what many decks can’t do in an entire game. Lugia VSTAR’s weakest point is the metagame, and I wouldn’t even say it’s a weak point, as the deck has an answer for almost everything.

An Answer For Everything

The deck has the best attacks in the game and they are solutions to all problems in the metagame. Amazing Raikou hits for a relevant Weakness, with an attack that hits the Bench, so if your opponent has no Manaphy they will be punished. Stoutland V is always good for taking a KO on any single Prize Pokémon with 100HP or less. Then there’s Amazing Yveltal which can Knock Out any Pokemon, even if it has 600HP. If you think about it, the damage and effects are so powerful that almost nothing can stop them.

It Beats Random Decks

A player who is not using Lugia VSTAR only causes problems for a good Lugia VSTAR player if they are prepared for this matchup, but any list that’s a little less focused on beating Lugia VSTAR isn’t going to be able to contain the strength of the deck. Lugia VSTAR is one of the most successful decks in the game’s history and needs to take this matchup with respect. When you train a lot with friends who don’t play Lugia VSTAR, you tend to want to adapt your deck to beat specific matchups like Goodra VSTAR or Mew VMAX, therefore, during preparation, it’s important that you never lose sight of the metagame and what are in fact the strongest and most successful decks. At this point, coaching sessions with prepared players are good, because it’s neutral training, with quality gameplay and focused on the competitive metagame.

It is worth remembering that it is normal in a tournament to face decks that are not in Tier One of the metagame, such as [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] variants, [card name=”Kyurem VMAX” set=”Lost Origin” no=”49″ c=”name”][/card], or any other deck that were successful in the past or that at some point showed competitive potential. That’s great for Lugia VSTAR, as many of the Tier Two decks are only there because they simply can’t beat Lugia VSTAR. Many of the decks that manage to beat Lugia VSTAR end up going to Tier One.

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My Lugia VSTAR List

[decklist name=”Lugia VSTAR” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″][pokemon amt=”19″]2x [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Lugia V” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Archeops” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Stoutland V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Shining Fates” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Raikou” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dunsparce” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”207″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”25″]3x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”201″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Serena” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”200″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Bird Keeper” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”237″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Evolution Incense” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”16″]4x [card name=”Powerful Colorless Energy” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”176″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Aurora Energy” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”186″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Capture Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”V Guard Energy” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Heat Fire Energy” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”174″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Speed L Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”173″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Things to Consider When Playing Lugia VSTAR

Mirror Match

When a deck is the best like [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card], the result is that you end up playing a lot of mirror matches, as everyone wants to use the best that the format has to offer. Usually, players don’t like to play mirror matches because they say it’s a matchup based on luck — whoever starts the match has a big advantage. This is true, but this advantage is not enough to define the winner.

[cardimg name=”Stoutland V” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”116″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The mirror match has its variables and there is a right way to play. Amazing [card name=”Raikou” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Stoutland V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] are good Pokémon to turn the matchup around when you’re going second. Stoutland V can take 2 Prizes from [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Dunsparce” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”207″ c=”name”][/card], while Amazing Raikou can potentially take three Prizes in one turn if there is no Manaphy or Dunsparce on the field. Lugia VSTAR with [card name=”V Guard Energy” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] greatly prevents Lugia VSTAR from performing the KO, plus an Amazing Raikou or [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Shining Fates” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] with V Guard Energy is not KO’d by the opponent’s [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card].

These are a series of details that at this point in the format you must have already experienced in part, but if you want to know more you can find them in previous articles written by me and other PokeBeach writers. TLDR: if two players know how to play the matchup and are attentive to all the details that can be explored, then yes; the matchup can be considered luck, however, you can count the number of players who genuinely know how to play mirror match with excellence with the fingers on one hand, and if you happen to meet one of these players in a tournament, they’ll probably make it to Day 2, or even Top 8.

Aerodactyl VSTAR

At a certain point in the format, [card name=”Aerodactyl VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] became popular because it was considered one of the best ways to beat Lugia VSTAR, but gradually this Pokémon stopped seeing play. The truth is that whenever Lugia VSTAR suffers under Aerodactyl VSTAR’s Ancient Power, the matchup will be difficult to win. The good part is that this will only happen half the time you face an opponent that has this Pokémon, and they might not be able to get this attack off in time.

If Aerodactyl VSTAR does use its VSTAR Power you need to KO this Pokémon, and to achieve that you will need at best two [card name=”Powerful Colorless Energy” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”176″ c=”name”][/card], a [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card].

Galarian Weezing

This is the best Pokémon in the format with the ability to shut off Lugia VSTAR’s VSTAR Power by the second turn, but as I understand, any [card name=”Galarian Weezing” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] deck is inconsistent. Recently the Galarian Weezing / [card name=”Eternatus VMAX” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] version was successful, and I believe it should be the most popular until the end of this format. In that case, your best way to escape a Galarian Weezing is with [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Serena” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card]– use a [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”237″ c=”name”][/card] to find [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] on the first turn to find your Supporter and hope your opponent doesn’t use [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card]. The lock caused by Galarian Weezing doesn’t last long if you can attach Energy from your hand and manage to set up slowly. Drawing cards with [card name=”Lugia V” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card]’s Read the Wind attack is a good option to speed up the process.

Path to the Peak

Like Galarian Weezing, [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] aims to delay your setup by turning off Lugia VSTAR’s Summoning Star Ability. The idea behind this Stadium is to gain a turn so that they can use Aerodactyl VSTAR’s VSTAR Power early, even when they don’t start the match. [card name=”Mew VMAX” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] uses this strategy a lot, and some Turbo [card name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] decks do as well.

Temple of Sinnoh

[card name=”Temple of Sinnoh” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”155″ c=”name”][/card] doesn’t Ability lock, but against Lugia VSTAR it may as well do. Because of this Stadium, the maximum you can do with Lugia VSTAR is 220 damage and no more. It’s still not bad, but it pales in comparison to the insane attacks this deck can usually do. For your opponent, this Stadium is a good play in the mid-game to late-game, especially paired with [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Hisuian Goodra VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] decks use this Stadium most commonly, between three to four copies, precisely in order to reduce Lugia VSTAR’s damage to the point that it can be controllable.

Celebrations Yveltal

[cardimg name=”Yveltal” set=”Celebrations” no=”19″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

All control decks of the format use [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Celebrations” no=”19″ c=”name”][/card] to remove three Special Energy from the field and the strategy is to use this attack practically the entire game. So that you don’t run out of Energy, your best attacker to Knock Out Yveltal is Lumineon V, but the opponent will find a way so that you don’t win easily by attacking with your two Lumineon V, either with [card name=”Radiant Gardevoir” set=”Lost Origin” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Cape of Toughness” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card].

Amazing [card name=”Raikou” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card] has the best attack for this matchup, as you can KO up to two Yveltal in one go. [card name=”Stoutland V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] with four Powerful Colorless Energy can also KO an Yveltal to take two Prizes, but it will rarely succeed in doing so. Some games can be won simply by attacking with [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] and saving Energy for Amazing Raikou to finish.

Sidney

The same decks that use four copies of Yveltal use [card name=”Sidney” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”241″ c=”name”][/card] too, so you have to avoid having Special Energy in your hand. For that, you’ll use [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card]. Every turn you can swap a Special Energy from your hand, and then you need to perform an action that involves shuffling your deck to get that Special Energy off the top so you don’t draw it again — it could be an [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Archeops” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] Ability.

Galar Mine

Knowing that Lugia VSTAR decks barely use [card name=”Switch” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”144″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Galar Mine” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card] is a good Stadium to trap a [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] or Radiant [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] on your opponent’s Bench. Usually, this Stadium is used together with confusion and for that, cards like [card name=”Yell Horn” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Jynx” set=”Lost Origin” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] from Lost Origins are used.

Articuno

[card name=”Articuno” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] is used in [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] decks, but Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR decks are not popular in the format, so it’s not something you need to worry about — know that it is possible to face this matchup, because Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR is not a bad deck, and Articuno is effective against the best deck in the format.

[card name=”Bird Keeper” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”159″ c=”name”][/card] is on the list mainly to have some way to get rid of paralysis, even if it’s only once in the game. When the opponent attacks with Articuno, you need to use Bird Keeper and attack with Stoutland V. Articuno decks usually use [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card], and if they use Inteleon, then they use [card name=”Sobble” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Drizzile” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card], which can be KO’d by Stoutland V also. The idea is to KO a Sobble and then use Bird Keeper to take the KO on Articuno, with your last two Prizes being taken on Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR.

Zekrom

[card name=”Zekrom” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] is much less popular — it had its moment in the spotlight in the final of the Brisbane Regional and since has had no more success. Zekrom can only be seen in decks with [card name=”Flaaffy” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] and Flaaffy decks are inconsistent, especially if you need to have two on the field for the deck to work. The idea with Zekrom is to Paralyze your Lugia VSTAR and leave it with only 20 HP so that they can KO it with [card name=”Medicham V” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] the next turn. This combo is not easy to perform and does not always guarantee victory, plus Flaaffy Box’s performance in other metagame matchups is disastrous, so overall, don’t worry about this Pokémon.

Jynx and Yell Horn

[cardimg name=”Jynx” set=”Lost Origin” no=”68″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

You will only find Jynx in some control decks, so you may never face one, but along with Galar Mine the aim is to pull up a Pokémon from the Bench and leave it Confused, so you have to choose to flip the coin to attack or pay a high Retreat Cost. Yell Horn has the same concept but as an Item. With Yell Horn, you can use [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Celebrations” no=”19″ c=”name”][/card] to make a stronger move than the Jynx play on its own, but it’s a more complex move, something that would be possible to achieve with a few turns of setup.

Bird Keeper is your best card to get out of this situation, so use it wisely. Avoid playing bad Pokémon for this stall situation (Pokémon with a high Retreat Cost), which includes Radiant Charizard, Amazing [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Shining Fates” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card], and Pumpkaboo.

The Argument for Vikavolt V / Raikou V

[card name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Raikou V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”48″ c=”name”][/card] is the deck used by Natalie Millar and Christian Hasbani at Perth Regionals, and I considerably enjoyed the matchup against [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card]. Despite being a limited deck in terms of variations of moves (after all you basically only have Vikavolt V and Raikou V to attack), the deck has the strongest first turn in the game and this is something that’s strong in a format where good attacks only start on the second turn. The impact of having the first three turns of the game so strong has surprised me more and more, however, it is a deck designed to face a specific metagame, full of good and bad matchups.

Good Matchup VS Lugia VSTAR

This is the main highlight of the list; finally a consistent deck with a good matchup against the best deck in the format. I believe that Vikavolt V can beat Lugia VSTAR 70% of the time, which for me is already great. Even [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Celebrations” no=”19″ c=”name”][/card] control decks can’t do that, and they’re also designed with a lot of focus on beating Lugia VSTAR.

The strategy to beat Lugia VSTAR consists of attacking in the first round with Vikavolt V and playing [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], so there is a good chance that the opponent will not be able to use Lugia VSTAR’s VSTAR Power — that way you get the advantage because you will be able to take six Prizes before the opponent if all goes well. [card name=”Sky Seal Stone” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card] allows you to take an extra Prize when you KO Lugia VSTAR, and Vikavolt V manages to Knock Out [card name=”Dunsparce” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”207″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Galarian Zigzagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card], so KO Dunsparce and then Lugia VSTAR with the Sky Seal Stone to take a total of four Prizes.

Good Matchup VS Mew VMAX

This matchup is always underrated and that’s why [card name=”Mew VMAX” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] is always doing well, even with an absurd hard counter in the name of [card name=”Drapion V” set=”Lost Origin” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card]. It’s already clear that one copy of Drapion V played in a list is not enough to beat Mew VMAX, but in this list, only one copy is enough and the reasons for that are two-fold; Raikou V being able to achieve a KO on the first turn, which can be followed up with Drapion V with a Sky Seal Stone. It’s possible for the opponent to escape Raikou V’s Knock Out in the first turn if they don’t bench too many Pokémon, but if you remember that you still have Zapdos and Galarian Zigzagoon, it’s difficult for you not to get enough damage to KO at least a Pokémon V. Be sure to KO with Raikou V before attacking with Drapion V, because if you take three or four Prizes too quickly, the opponent will use [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card] plus Path to the Peak and lock you out of a follow-up KO.

It is a Consistent Turbo Deck

I’ve always found Turbo Vikavolt V decks weak and inconsistent, but this list is different. The deck has above-average consistency to attack first and perform your other moves later. It is a deck that assumes that it only has the strength to play in the first turns and as the game lengthens, the opponent will gain strength.

My Vikavolt V / Raikou V List

[decklist name=”Vikavolt / Raikou” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″][pokemon amt=”14″]4x [card name=”Mew” set=”Celebrations” no=”11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Raikou V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”48″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”29″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Galarian Zigzagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Drapion V” set=”Lost Origin” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]4x [card name=”Melony” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”TG26″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Trekking Shoes” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Scoop Up Net” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”165″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Cross Switcher” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”230″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Battle VIP Pass” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”225″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Energy Search” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”161″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Switch Cart” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Primal Clash” no=”127″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Air Balloon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Forest Seal Stone” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sky Seal Stone” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”143″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cape of Toughness” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”160″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]4x [card name=”Speed L Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”173″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Matchups and Considerations

Regigigas

[cardimg name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

If you bet that the metagame is changing and [card name=”Regigigas” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] won’t be popular because it’s not a good call, then go for [card name=”Vikavolt V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Raikou V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”48″ c=”name”][/card], but otherwise, switch decks. This list wasn’t designed to beat Regis, but maybe you can win by locking the opponent’s Items with Vikavolt V from the first turn. With [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Galarian Zigzagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] you can Knock Out any of the Regis in two attacks.

Goodra VSTAR

Vikavolt V is good for KOing [card name=”Comfey” set=”Lost Origin” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Cramorant” set=”Lost Origin” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card], but Item Lock won’t help when [card name=”Hisuian Goodra VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] arrives. The idea is that you can put as much pressure as you can and try to Knock Out a Hisuian Goodra VSTAR with [card name=”Sky Seal Stone” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Battle Styles” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] plus [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] is a way to remove Hisuian Goodra VSTAR’s 80-damage reduction and go all out with Raikou V.

Duraludon VMAX

This is another difficult matchup to win, in fact, this one is almost impossible. [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] is a Pokémon that plays without Items and Abilities, and in the worst case, use Trinity Charge from [card name=”Arceus V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] to power up [card name=”Duraludon V” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] and wait for [card name=”Duraludon VMAX” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card]. Your best way out in this matchup is to do two Vikavolt V and not use Raikou V because the opponent won’t have many Pokémon on the Bench. In addition, use [card name=”Cape of Toughness” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card] so that Vikavolt V can withstand an attack from Duraludon VMAX.

Main Attackers With Low HP

One of the reasons the deck is weak in the mid to late game is the low HP of its Pokémon V for the format. Even with Cape of Toughness, Vikavolt V only reaches 260HP and this is a value that the best decks in the format can easily reach.

No Marnie or Roxanne

The deck revolves around [card name=”Melony” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] to power up her attackers, which means you can’t use [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card]. On turns you don’t want to use Melony, you prefer to use Boss’s Orders. The idea is to finish the game quickly because it doesn’t have the strength to finish a drawn-out game where your opponent has time to set up. Marnie is a Supporter that slows down the game a bit.

Final Thoughts

In the end, my two main choices boil down to this; play [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] or use something that beats Lugia VSTAR, but then, I already knew that this would be the case. Vikavolt V / Raikou V is a deck that if you face the matchups you want, you have everything to win the Regional, however, if you face strange matchups outside the metagame, things can get a lot more complicated. Tank decks like [card name=”Kyurem VMAX” set=”Lost Origin” no=”49″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Flying Pikachu VMAX” set=”Celebrations” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card] are pretty bad matchups because in addition to losing you know that the tendency for these players to do well in the current metagame is low, something that worsens their rating in the competition and thus lowers your opponent’s win percentage for tie breakers later on.

With Vikavolt V / Raikou V I feel that I can win the Regional, but the chance of doing poorly to the point of not scoring is greater. With Lugia VSTAR I feel that I have greater chances of doing well, making a Day 2 or who knows a Top 8, but I think I have a lower chance of being champion, simply because there will be several other good Lugia VSTAR players who deserve to win too.

That’s all for now folks, I hope you enjoyed it, and see you after Natal Regionals!

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