Lost Zone Box Breakdown for EUIC
Hello to all PokeBeach readers! This is Gabriel Semedo again with another Pokémon TCG article and this time I’m going to talk about the future of Lost Zone box in the post-rotation format, and with the arrival of the new Temporal Forces set release.
A New Format
[cardimg name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”213″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
With only a few days left until the European International Championship, all competitors are racing against time to learn everything about the new standard format. EUIC will be the first post-rotation tournament, that is, all cards with the letter E regulation mark will no longer be valid, with only cards with the letter F onwards being allowed. Cards like [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Battle VIP Pass” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”225″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Gardevoir” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] had a direct impact on the format and now cease to exist, opening up the possibility for new strategies to appear. Decks that were already good but suffered under Path to the Peak will be even better, as is the case with [card name=”Chien-Pao ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Baxcalibur” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card].
Additionally, a new set will be valid for the first time in EUIC, which is Temporal Forces. The highlight of the collection is the return of ACE SPECs, which are Trainer cards that are stronger than normal and which you can only use one copy of per deck. All the news and details about Temporal Forces and the new format are being heavily covered by our PokeBeach writers and editors as studies and testing are being carried out, so don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss anything.
Although Temporal Forces brings several new deck archetypes with great potential, such as Ancient box and Future box, my focus currently has been on finding the best Lost Zone box lists. Much of this desire comes due to the Top 32 I recently made on Goiania Regionals with the Lost Zone box list presented in my previous article, but also because I believe that the deck still has all the necessary elements to do well in EUIC. Another fundamental factor in defining this as the subject of today’s article is that I believe that, like me, many readers may also have doubts about how to proceed with Lost Zone box in the new format.
Post-Rotation Lost Zone Box Variants
There are two versions of Lost Zone box with Basic Pokémon that I believe have competitive potential. The two versions are similar, having [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] and Lightning Energy, but they differ in that one uses [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] and the other uses [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card]. Throughout the article, I will explain all the details of each of them.
The Roaring Moon ex Build
This version of Lost Zone box was already being used even before rotation, but has now become the most popular version as [card name=”Dragonite V” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] is no longer legal. The strategy of this deck is to use two of the strongest Basic Pokémon in the format in harmony in the same deck. Roaring Moon ex and Iron Hands ex bring surprising effects and all this adds to the Lost Box mechanic with its consistent attackers; [card name=”Cramorant” set=”Lost Origin” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] — the deck becomes a complete package ready to deal with the most diverse situations.
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[decklist name=”Lost Box / Roaring Moon” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Hoopa ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”98″][pokemon amt=”13″]4x [card name=”Comfey” set=”Lost Origin” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Cramorant” set=”Lost Origin” no=”50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1 x [card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1 “][/card]1x [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew ex” set=”151″ no=”151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hoopa ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”38″]4x [card name=”Colress’s Experiment” set=”Lost Origin” no=”155″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Switch Cart” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mirage Gate” set=”Lost Origin” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Buddy-Buddy Poffin” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”144″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Switch” set=”Evolutions” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”182″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Prime Catcher” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”160″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Board” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Beach Court” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Artazon” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]4x [card name=”Darkness Energy” set=”Diamond and Pearl” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
List Breakdown
Radiant Greninja For Draw Power
The Water Shuriken attack is strong and at least forces the opponent to have to bench [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]. If, due to bad luck, the opponent is unable to find Manaphy in time or prizes it, then [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] can punish the opponent considerably. In most games, however, the opponent will have Manaphy on the field and Radiant Greninja will only be used for drawing cards, which is already beneficial. In the end, the Water Shuriken attack fails a lot because all decks in the format are already prepared to have their Bench targeted by it.
By choosing not to attack with Radiant Greninja, I was able to remove three Water Energy and replace them with two Psychic Energy and a [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card]. Despite being different attacks, both aim to cause Bench damage and, thinking about effectiveness, the opponent is more likely to forgo [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card] than Manaphy.
Iron Bundle is Our New Escape Rope
[cardimg name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
[card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] was around in the previous format but received little attention as [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Battle Styles” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] still stole all the shine. While the famous single Escape Rope present in several victors offered two great benefits in one card, now you need to use Iron Bundle to obtain one of the effects of Escape Rope and [card name=”Switch” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”194″ c=”name”][/card] to receive another. In the end, you have to use more cards or more actions to achieve the same result, but in practice, everything works well and you soon get used to it.
Iron Bundle has few qualities that an Escape Rope doesn’t have, and it’s a Pokémon so can be found with [card name=”Artazon” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card]. It can be benched whenever, but its effect can be saved for when you need it, which is good in matchups where you are on the receiving end of [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card].
This specific Lost Zone box list has three [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”188″ c=”name”][/card], so you can use the Ability of the Iron Bundle up to four times — great against control to remove [card name=”Snorlax” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] from the Active.
Roaring Moon ex is Strong, But Can’t Do It Alone
Lost Zone box with [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] has been an almost standard combination when talking about Lost Zone Basic box in recent times. At first glance, it’s such a complete Pokémon; one of its attacks deals 220 and Knocks Out almost anything, and its other attack Knocks Out literally everything. It seems like the best of both worlds, but these attacks have several flaws that mean the list has to use certain techs to fix the things that Roaring Moon ex doesn’t do efficiently.
One of the cases that has caught my attention the most lately is the fact that Roaring Moon ex can’t KO [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] due to 10 extra HP. Of course, it’s possible to KO with Frenzied Gouging and take 200 recoil damage, but I don’t like to think of that as a good option. Because of this detail, it’s necessary to use [card name=”Hoopa ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] to achieve this KO a little easier.
Another constant problem with Roaring Moon ex is needing a Stadium on the field to be able to deal 220 damage. If the opponent knows that you use Roaring Moon ex, the tendency is for them to avoid playing the Stadium if they want to force you into taking damage from Frenzied Gouging. This is an issue that I had to address in the list by finding space to include the third Stadium, as I had missed Roaring Moon ex’s attack a few times due to the lack of Stadium on the field in the past.
In general, Roaring Moon ex solves many problems, and for me, the highlight of this Pokémon is its end-game potential, as there is no better attack to end a game than Frenzied Gouging. No matter which opposing Pokémon is in the Active, if you want to take your final Prizes and win, Frenzied Gouging does the trick.
Iron Hands ex is Always a Good Option
In the two lists presented in this article, Iron Hands ex is present for the simple fact that the Lost Zone box with [card name=”Mirage Gate” set=”Lost Origin” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card] mechanic allows you to power up this Pokémon quickly, and attack consistently with Amp You Very Much.
[cardimg name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”248″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
I actually like both of Iron Hands ex’s attacks, and that’s why I make a point of using three Lightning Energy, as Arm Press can Knock Out some important Pokémon in the metagame like [card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Baxcalibur” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card].
Although [card name=”Prime Catcher” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] offers a simple way to Knock Out whatever you want from your opponent’s Bench, it’s worth remembering that Lost Zone box is still a more reactive deck than an aggressive one, meaning in many cases you’ll have to change your attackers according to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. for example, if it’s a single-Prize Pokémon in the Active position, then you attack with Iron hands ex, if it’s a [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], then you attack with Roaring Moon ex for a KO. That’s why it’s best to always keep Mirage Gate on hand and only use it when you know exactly which Pokémon you want to attack with.
Mew ex Counters Giratina VSTAR and Iono
I started to like [card name=”Mew ex” set=”151″ no=”151″ c=”name”][/card] in Lost Zone box decks simply because this Pokémon has the best possible attack to Knock Out [card name=”Giratina VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card]; its own Lost Impact. Although, in theory, Mew ex can copy other good attacks, such as [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card]’s Water Shuriken, in practice I only use Mew ex for Giratina VSTAR matchups.
Another advantage of Mew ex is using its Ability to draw some more cards, especially at the end of the game after [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card]. It’s recommended never to bench Mew ex unnecessarily and keep it in the deck as long as possible. Retain a few copies of [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] so when the opponent uses Roxanne you have more ways to find Mew ex.
Hoopa ex Destroys Iron Hands ex and Arceus VSTAR
The idea of [card name=”Hoopa ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] is to quickly and easily deal with [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card]. If you realize that you are facing a deck with Iron Hands ex, you need to bench Hoopa ex and attach Darkness Energy to it, then, if Iron Hands ex emerges, you already have the ideal answer without even needing to use [card name=”Mirage Gate” set=”Lost Origin” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card].
Furthermore, Hoopa ex is useful in matchups against [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card], precisely because it has a Fighting Weakness. [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] can also struggle against Hoopa ex if it puts too much Energy on the field.
Prime Catcher is Perfect for Lost Box
Talking about how [card name=”Prime Catcher” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] is a good card is unnecessary, but it’s important to highlight that the effect of this card has direct synergy with Lost Zone box, mainly because the switching effect on your own Pokémon allows you to use an extra [card name=”Comfey” set=”Lost Origin” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card], at the same time as the gusting effect which removes the need to use [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card]. It’s a two-for-one deal!
The Fire Build
The previous list served as a basis for me to arrive at this variant, which I prefer to the version with [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card].
The advantage of this list is being able to solve the most diverse problems in the metagame with one high-damage raw attack. [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] manages to play almost the same role as [card name=”Dragonite V” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card], in most cases, does an even better job. Not having [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] directly interferes with consistency, but in exchange for that, the list gains more consistent and effective responses.
[decklist name=”Sablezard / Gouging Fire” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″][pokemon amt=”12″]4x [card name=”Comfey” set=”Lost Origin” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Cramorant” set=”Lost Origin” no=”50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]4x [card name=”Colress’s Experiment” set=”Lost Origin” no=”155″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Switch Cart” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mirage Gate” set=”Lost Origin” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Buddy-Buddy Poffin” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”144″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”188″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Switch” set=”Evolutions” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”182″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Prime Catcher” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”160″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Board” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Artazon” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]4x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Jet Energy” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”190″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
List Breakdown
Sableye is Still Here
[cardimg name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
It is a fact that [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] isn’t as strong as it was before due to [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card], and also because there are a lot of [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] in the format. Jirachi can usually be found in [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Chien-Pao ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] decks, but, in reality, it can easily be slotted into any deck the player feels the need to use. If they don’t feel the need, then they are probably using a deck that has a good response to Sableye, such as Iron Hands ex. If you’re on the receiving end of Amp You Very Much in the first or second turn, you will only get one or two attacks with Sableye, that is, Iron Hands ex shortens the game time and forces you to have a quick response, or the big robot will take two more Prizes on the next turn.
Many of the strategies that were used with Sableye are now no longer possible, such as winning the game little by little, by spreading damage. Jirachi and Iron Hands ex prevent you from doing this, but it’s still cool to have a copy of Sableye to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that arise in the game. In some cases, your best chance of winning against a Chien-Pao ex may be to use [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card] on a [card name=”Baxcalibur” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card], use [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card] and KO [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] with Sableye. Only Sableye can make this type of play, and it has the potential to turn losing games around. The one turn your opponent stops attacking could be all the time you need to win a losing game.
Despite Sableye’s inconsistency regarding its effectiveness, it is worth mentioning that there are matchups in which Sableye plays freely as in the past and it is important to be able to fix some relevant numbers for [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] decks do not have Jirachi or Iron Hands ex, allowing the free use of Sableye to distribute damage.
Radiant Charizard is the New Dragonite V
One of the crucial points currently to prefer Radiant Charizard over [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] is the fact that Radiant Charizard hits 250 and Knocks Out all Basic Pokémon V and ex, something that only [card name=”Dragonite V” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] did in the Lost Zone box versions with Radiant Greninja. Now only Lost Zone box with [card name=”Giratina VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card] can use Radiant Greninja to attack, as Lost Zone box with [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] only uses Radiant Greninja to draw cards — unfortunately, it cannot use the excellent Moonlight Shuriken attack.
Having an attacker like Radiant Charizard is essential for the survival of Lost Zone box in the format, as this Pokémon is one of the best answers to [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] and is also capable of stopping powerful Pokémon in the format with [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”176″ c=”name”][/card], such as [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card], Giratina VSTAR, and Arceus VSTAR.
There’s not much to say about Radiant Charizard; it’s one of the best Pokémon in the game and now without [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] it plays even more freely. The problem with Radiant Charizard being so good is that it will become prominent again and because of that, I already foresee the return of [card name=”Lost City” set=”Lost Origin” no=”161″ c=”name”][/card]…
Or is it Gouging Fire ex?
[cardimg name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”204″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
When I started testing this new version of ‘SableZard’ in the new format I still didn’t realize how [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] fit perfectly into the list. Even after considering the possibility of using [card name=”Entei V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] from the past, I thought it wouldn’t be necessary to include it, as Radiant Charizard already does similar damage and has the advantage of being a single-Prize attacker, but some details made me believe that Gouging Fire ex It deserves a space on the deck.
The advantage of using Gouging Fire ex is that you have the possibility of dealing 260 damage on the second turn, something that Radiant Charizard cannot do — it can only achieve this if the opponent takes at least two Prizes first. Another advantage is its 230 HP, which means it can be a more interesting option than Radiant Charizard in cases where you think you can keep it alive until the next turn. Another consideration is having two Pokémon capable of causing big damage — even if the opponent uses Lost City and throws your Radiant Charizard to the Lost Zone, you still have Gouging Fire ex to continue in the match. Finally, Gouging Fire ex manages to KO [card name=”Alolan Vulpix VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”34″ c=”name”][/card] in one attack.
No More Raihan or Avery
In addition to the four traditional and fundamental copies of [card name=”Colress’s Experiment” set=”Lost Origin” no=”155″ c=”name”][/card], I always missed at least one more Supporter that could help with consistency, even if it didn’t have incredible draw power. [card name=”Raihan” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Avery” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] were the most popular picks even before the rotation, as they offered consistency and a unique effect, such as boosting Energy or decreasing the opponent’s Bench size. Now that these Supporters have been rotated, only [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] is left to replace the space, maintaining the draw power with positive effect characteristics.
I’ve been liking Iono because it works like a second [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card] in the late game, but it also serves as a good draw Supporter in the early game.
Choice Belt Might Be a Good Metacall
If the EUIC metagame is similar to Japan’s metagame, everything suggests that [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”176″ c=”name”][/card] will be an effective card for the list. With the Choice Belt, both [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] can Knock Out Pokémon that are standing out in the metagame, such as [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Giratina VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card].
Jet Energy is a Soft Counter for Control Decks
In addition to the already obvious advantages of [card name=”Jet Energy” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card] in a Lost Zone box deck, I think it is essential to be able to count on two copies of this Energy for matchups against control, be it [card name=”Snorlax” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] stall or [card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] box.
A Snorlax deck’s main objective is to bring one of your ineffective attackers to the Active Spot, such as a [card name=”Comfey” set=”Lost Origin” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card], and lock it forever in the Active Spot with Snorlax’s Ability. Meanwhile, the opponent will use Supporters like [card name=”Eri” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Miss Fortune Sisters” set=”Lost Origin” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] to remove your switching Item cards. A Pidgeot ex box will do practically the same thing, but the list also includes [card name=”Luxray V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card] to remove even more Trainers. In neither case, however, is the opponent able to remove your Jet Energy. The Supporter that was capable of this, [card name=”Sidney” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”241″ c=”name”][/card], left in the rotation.
Final Thoughts
[cardimg name=”Choice Belt” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”211″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
The two Lost Zone box variants presented aim to respond to as many threats as possible in the metagame. While Lost Zone box with [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] uses a greater variety of Pokémon to answer some metagame-specific things, the Fire variant answers most things with the brute force of its attacks, with the help of the [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”176″ c=”name”][/card].
If an [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] appears in front, [card name=”Hoopa ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] responds more easily and consistently than [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card], but in the end, both can get the job done. Hoopa ex is useless in some matchups, however, while Gouging Fire ex is useful in several.
The reason for presenting both lists is precisely because it is difficult to know which one is better — both are similar in strength and consistency but differ in important ways.
That’s all for today guys, I hope you enjoyed it and see you next time!
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