The Overlooked Rogue – Big Lux

[cardimg name=”Luxray ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”195″ align=”left” c=”none”][/cardimg] Hello everyone! July always marks the break of the competitive season, with no major tournaments happening until Worlds. As such, my group and I have already begun our testing for Worlds, but of course, the urgency hasn’t set in just yet. The upcoming Shrouded Fable set will also be legal for Worlds, and playing with cards that don’t come out for another month feels a little strange. I usually don’t play with cards this far in advance, but I think it will go a long way in helping me prepare. A few decks have stood out to me, and several more have already been eliminated. Putting down [card name=”Dipplin” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Blissey ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] was tough for me, but for every handful of loser decks, something emerges as a viable option. Today I will be discussing one of those such options, a deck that hasn’t yet gotten its chance to shine, until now.

[card name=”Luxray ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] is a card that many players took notice of upon the release of Twilight Masquerade. It is, regrettably, a Stage 2, but one with two incredible attacks. Its first attack reminds many players of the successful [card name=”Luxray V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card]. For just two Colorless Energy, usually fueled by a single [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card], Luxray ex can snipe any card of your choice out of your opponent’s hand. Unlike its Basic counterpart, Luxray ex deals a respectable 100-120 damage with this attack, making it an attacking threat in addition to just a disruption option. This is obviously good, especially combined with the likes of [card name=”Eri ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card]or [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card]. Thanks to Double Turbo Energy, this attack is easy to use if you’re able to get the Stage 2 into play.

Luxray’s second attack deals 250 damage for two Lightning Energy, while also requiring you to discard all Energy attached. This is a desirable and more offensive option, but the big question is: how do you use it? Playing [card name=”Electric Generator” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] and tons of Lightning Energy alongside a Stage 2 line is just too much. Fortunately, you don’t have to use Volt Strike every turn. Therefore, [card name=”Neo Upper Energy ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”162″ c=”name”][/card] finds the perfect niche here. You can commit to the big attack at the right time when it will have the most impact. If you need to do so a second time, [card name=”Roseanne’s Backup” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] can retrieve the Neo Upper Energy. I’ve ended up needing to do this less often than I expected, and the reason for this becomes more apparent when we look at the list.

Being such a new card, Luxray’s only real chance to perform was NAIC, and nobody played the deck. This is understandable, as it was a completely unknown quantity, and not as obviously broken as other new cards like [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”141″ c=”name”][/card]. Looking forward to Shrouded Fable, Luxray is positioned even better, which I will elaborate on a little later. For now, here’s the list.

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[decklist name=”big lux” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Luxray ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”68″][pokemon amt=”18″]3x [card name=”Luxray ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Shinx” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”49″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Pidgey” set=”151″ no=”16″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Noivern ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”153″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Noibat” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rotom V” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cleffa” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]4x [card name=”Arven” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”166″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Turo’s Scenario” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Eri ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Roseanne’s Backup” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x Xerosic’s Plan (SHF)1x [card name=”Thorton” set=”Lost Origin” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”84″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Buddy-Buddy Poffin ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”144″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”160″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”182″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/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″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Forest Seal Stone” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Board ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Technical Machine: Devolution” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”177″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lost City” set=”Lost Origin” no=”161″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Artazon” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”6″]3x [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Mist Energy ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”161″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Neo Upper Energy ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

It wouldn’t be unfair to call this deck Luxray Control, but if you do, it’s the most aggressive Control deck of all time. I initially considered this to be a Control deck, but it’s more of an attacking deck with a heavy emphasis on disruption and making comebacks, similar to how [card name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] currently is. Luxray disrupts the tempo of the game as well as your opponent’s hand. In that respect, it has Control-like elements. However, like Gardevoir, it is still attacking most of the time and always aims to take all six Prize cards.

Your overall strategy is going to vary based on the matchup, but most of the time, you’re just going in with Luxray as soon as possible. Piercing Gaze combos well with the disruptive Supporters and [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card], deleting opponent’s resources like crazy. Sometimes you’re picking off threats, and other times you’ll trap things into the Active. Quite often, you’re actually using Volt Strike as an immediate response to fast pressure from an opponent. Thanks to Bloodmoon Ursaluna, this deck is happy to enter winning Prize trades, as it is capable of going blow for blow with aggressive decks. Sometimes Volt Strike is just a stopgap though, and you’ll slow the game back down after using it once.

We play a 3-0-3 line of Luxray so that we can use at least two in every game. Sometimes you’ll only use one, or even more rarely, zero, but two is the most common amount required. The 40 HP [card name=”Shinx” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”49″ c=”name”][/card] is on the vulnerable side, but it has free retreat for extra synergy with [card name=”Cleffa” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card]. There’s a point where a low amount of HP doesn’t really matter, as it can be protected with Manaphy and Mist Energy.

[card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] is the only real option for Luxray’s partner. As we’ve seen with other Stage 2 Pokemon, Pidgeot works well because it is the gift that keeps on giving. You only need the startup cost for one Stage 2, as Pidgeot seamlessly enables the rest. Furthermore, you are looking for specific combo pieces at all stages during the game, most of which are one-ofs. Quick Search is the only way to support this kind of lifestyle.

[cardimg name=”Noivern ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”246″ align=”left” c=”none”][/cardimg][card name=”Noivern ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”153″ c=”name”][/card] is a real odd duck here. It is primarily included to counter the Raging Bolt matchup, but also gives you wins against the likes of Future Box and Miraidon. Of course, it’s not quite that simple. Noivern is rather high-maintenance, and there are times where simply going for a Prize trade or disruptive strategy is better. [card name=”Thorton” set=”Lost Origin” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card] enables the Noivern combo while also having plenty of other uses. Against decks that lose to Noivern, they will naturally target the Noibat before it evolves. If they KO anything else, they will fold to lone Noivern. Thorton not only counters this strategy, but also removes a liability from the board. Thorton is the reason why the Noivern strategy works. Furthermore, Thorton is your primary way of recovering Pokemon, particularly Bloodmoon Ursaluna, as well as Manaphy, Shinx, or Pidgey on occasion.

[card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] allows you to find both Shinx and Rotom off just one Nest Ball, Ultra Ball, or Arven. This is a staggering amount of efficiency for just one deck spot, and in practice, it works like a dream. [card name=”Rotom V” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] is the setup catalyst, just as it is for every Pidgeot deck. When it’s prized, hopefully you’ll have [card name=”Arven” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”166″ c=”name”][/card]  for [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card]. Given the critical importance of one-ofs such as Rotom, Bloodmoon Ursaluna, and sometimes Manaphy, the deck does enjoy the safety net of the Hisuian Heavy Ball.

Like Miraidon, [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Cleffa” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] are efficient consistency cards. They add so much value to around 15 of the cards you already play in your deck. Lumineon also gives you some recourse when Pidgeot doesn’t show up to work.

[card name=”Professor Turo’s Scenario” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] is a valuable option for healing, removing liabilities, and enabling the Noivern strategy. Two copies are needed to consistently apply Noivern, and sometimes you even use both.

[card name=”Eri ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card], and Xerosic’s Plan comprise the power trio of disruption. Each and every one of these Supporters can be absolutely devastating in the right scenario, and Luxray’s Piercing Gaze draws out their true power with a ridiculous amount of synergy. Xerosic’s Plan in particular has greatly impressed me, and I think it is a much better card than people realize. Regardless, since that card won’t be out for awhile, I would recommend playing a second Eri. Iono could be a consideration for consistency, but in practice, Eri’s effect most closely replicates Xerosic’s. If you’re already testing with Shrouded Fable like I am, then play with the Xerosic, and experiment with it in other decks as well. I think Xerosic has massive potential in random meta decks, especially those that do not otherwise use much disruption. If your opponent has time to build up their hand, a well-timed Xerosic’s Plan in addition to the normal amount of attacking pressure your deck applies can be a nasty combo. I think decks like Gardevoir are less likely to include Xerosic’s Plan, as they are constantly regulating the opponent’s hand size. Even more than that, opponents are already expecting you to do so.

[card name=”Roseanne’s Backup” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Technical Machine: Devolution” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”177″ c=”name”][/card] are integral parts of the Charizard matchup. With Charizard expected to become more popular with Shrouded Fable‘s release, we need a solid answer. Personally, I think the Charizard hype is justified and that deck is completely broken, so respecting it is reasonable. We could play a second Devolution instead of Roseanne’s Backup, but of course, the Supporter has a lot of useful versatility. In addition to the Devolution, Roseanne’s commonly recovers Pokemon and Neo Upper Energy.

[card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”182″ c=”name”][/card] is a natural inclusion with the plethora of single copy Supporters. You usually need one Pal Pad to recover a situational Supporter. It’s possible that playing just one copy would be best, but you’d get punished in the games where it’s prized. The second copy is also nice to naturally draw into, as using Quick Search for Pal Pad and then the Supporter you recovered can be rather slow.

[card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”name”][/card] is handy for a variety of situations. Of course, it helps against your Gardevoir and Temple of Sinnohs, as usual. A common strategy against this deck is to leave Forest Seal Stone on the board. That way, it cannot get sniped out of the hand, and it can help the opponent recover from disruption. This would actually be quite effective if you did not use Lost Vacuum to counter it.

[card name=”Rescue Board ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”159″ c=”name”][/card] is very strong alongside Arven and Cleffa. Futhermore, it is very nice to retreat various Pokemon like Miraidon or Manaphy when they end up in the Active, or when you start with them. Otherwise, it can be a pain to move these Pokemon around.

The Stadium split is one I’m unsure about. Both [card name=”Artazon” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Lost City” set=”Lost Origin” no=”161″ c=”name”][/card] are great, and you want to have Stadiums in the first place to deal with [card name=”Temple of Sinnoh” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”155″ c=”name”][/card]. Lost City is somewhat detrimental at times. Sometimes you have to play it to draw more from Cleffa, and then your Pokemon get sent to the Lost Zone. Opening with Lost City is bad, as you wish it was Artazon at those times. Artazon is a safer and useful consistency card. Oftentimes you’ll have [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] for Miraidon, but you’re missing the Pidgey. Artazon increases the percent of games you can get both, which is neat. However, Lost City is a powerful and impactful card in many matchups. Of course, the usual suspects are Gardevoir and Lost Box, and it is still great against those. However, one of the bigger targets is actually Charizard. You want to hunt down the [card name=”Charmeleon” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”8″ c=”name”][/card] with Lost City, and then you can easily win with Devolution. Lost Zoning their Duskull is also fantastic. As a compromise, I’ve arrived at a 1/1 split of the Stadiums for now, but it’s definitely possible that a full committal one way or the other is optimal.

[card name=”Mist Energy ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”161″ c=”name”][/card] has a variety of purposes, such as protecting the little ones from [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card], or the big guns from Devolution or [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card]’s Frenzied Gouging. I thought it would also be nice to use with Noivern to beat Lost Box, but this doesn’t come up as much as I expected.

Matchups

Charizard – Slightly Favorable

Like most rogue decks, this matchup becomes much closer when your opponent is accustomed to the matchup. As I mentioned briefly, your best friends are Devolution, Roseanne’s Backup, and Lost City. If your opponent goes with an aggressive double [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card] play, Devolution just wrecks them. They should go slower with Charmeleon on turn 2 instead. If you can KO Charmeleon before it evolves, go for it. Usually you have to chill and set up more though. Using Devolution for just the Pidgeot is completely fine, and usually worth it. Taking a prize card aggressively only serves to activate Counter Catcher, Defiance Band, and more damage from Charizard. Of course, if that early KO is on their only Pidgey, only Charmander, or Charmeleon, it’s still best to go for that.

Another common line is to attack into the Charizard for 100 while disrupting their hand. You follow this up with Devolution and Lost City, sending the Charmeleon under the Charizrad to the Lost Zone while also getting rid of Pidgeot and delaying Dusknoir. Dusknoir is a card from Shrouded Fable that most Charizard decks will play. It is a major pain point in this matchup, forcing you to take a Prize card at a bad time, while also allowing for an easy one-shot on a Luxray ex. Devolution slows it down, and sometimes you get a chance to KO it. This is more common if they go for a turn 2 KO, which activates your Counter Catcher. However, sometimes the cards fall in such a way that they just have an extra Candy for a burst Dusknoir play, and it’s rather annoying.

Raging Bolt – Even

This matchup is so volatile. Both the wins and losses are so one-sided, but on average, the overall win rate seems to be about even. If you draw well and are able to take the first two Prize cards, you can go for the Prize trade route. This usually involves Luxray with [card name=”Neo Upper Energy ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”162″ c=”name”][/card] for your first two Prize cards, followed by two KO’s with Bloodmoon Ursaluna. You may end up using Lost Vacuum on [card name=”Bravery Charm” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card], or [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] to hit something that’s easier to KO. It’s also worth noting that Luxray’s Piercing Gaze can KO [card name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card].

More often than not, you’ll be playing for the Noivern line. This involves keeping your Bench small, but you’ll still use Rotom and Pidgeot to set up and fill your hand. They are forced to target Noibat, which allows your support Pokemon to live a little longer. Try to disrupt their hand with a Supporter on the turn before your Thorton play. [cardimg name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ align=”left” c=”none”][/cardimg] Thorton removes a liability like Rotom, and gives them a one-turn window to find the double gust on Noivern. If they don’t have it, you use Professor Turo’s Scenario to pick up Pidgeot (or whatever happens to be on board) and win with lone Noivern. Lone Noivern is the win condition.

[card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] are two somewhat uncommon techs that render Noivern obsolete. It’s possible to beat Iron Bundle depending on what they do, and if you’ve already committed to Noivern, you should stick to it. Against Cornerstone Ogerpon, abandon the Noivern idea no matter what, as it will not work. If you know beforehand that they play either of these techs, try for the Prize trade route instead. I think Raging Bolt should play Iron Bundle, but I think Cornerstone Ogerpon is complete garbage. Cornerstone doesn’t even beat Charizard anymore because of Dusknoir.

Lost Box – Slightly Favorable

It’s possible for Lost Box to get a fast start and just overrun you with aggressive snipes. You will lose some of those games without any say in the matter, so don’t think about it too hard. Mist Energy and Manaphy do what they can to protect your Bench, so lean on those and try to set up Pidgeot and Luxray as soon as possible. Mist Energy should be prioritized on whichever Pokemon evolves later, in order to protect against Sableye. For the most part, you are spamming disruption in this matchup.

If they get a fast [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card], respond with a Neo Upper Energy KO. Try to keep Counter Catcher or Boss’s Orders around so you can deal with [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]. Other than that, you’re mostly spamming Piercing Gaze along with disruptive Supporters, as well as the occasional Counter Catcher stall or Lost City play. Noivern with Mist Energy can be a win condition depending on the resources your opponent has used, but I haven’t found those spots very often.

Other

Against those decks with all Basic attackers, you can play for the lone Noivern. Mist Energy would also be needed against the likes of Roaring Moon ex, or anything that can place damage counters. The Gardevoir matchup is really bizarre, and largely depends on which of the various lines your opponent goes for. In general, don’t go for a prize lead in the early-game, as you will get farmed by Counter Catcher. Using Lost City to permanently remove their [card name=”Drifloon” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] is incredibly strong. Xerosic’s Plan is devastating if they build up a large hand. Against Lugia, go for the Counter Catcher on [card name=”Archeops” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] plus Piercing Gaze KO as soon as possible. From there, take out the Energy, and they shouldn’t be able to keep up with your big-HP Luxray.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! If you’re looking for an interesting new deck, give Luxray ex a shot! This deck becomes even better when Shrouded Fable comes out, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it make waves in the meta. This is definitely a tricky and nonlinear deck to play, so be sure to keep an open mind and look for unorthodox plays when you’re trying to decide what line to go for!

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