Buzzing Without Abilities — Garbodor / Buzzwole-GX for Oceania

By: Caleb Gedemer · Posted Posted onJan 30, 2018 at 9:02 PM · 0 Comments

[cardimg name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Garbodor has been in the background of the Standard format ever since the European International Championship. There, most decks were prepared for it with multiple copies of [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], so it would have been difficult to get anywhere in the event. My friend and teammate Frank Percic, however, was able to prove the haters wrong with a day-two finish at Tennessee Regionals with this deck. While he changed about ten cards from my original list, this deck’s creation was my doing. I didn’t think it was that great at the time, so I never ended up using it at an event until recently.

It’s worth noting that I used this deck to blaze through two League Cups recently. My records were as follows:

01/07/2018 in Coon Rapids, Minnesota: 5th Place at 5-1-1

  • Round One versus [card name=”Turtonator-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Lurantis” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM25″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]: 1-0-0
  • Round Two versus [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Tapu Koko” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM30″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Mew” set=”Fates Collide” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card]: 2-0-0
  • Round Three versus Tapu Bulu-GX / Vikavolt / Tapu Koko / Mew: 3-0-0
  • Round Four versus [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] / Mewtwo / [card name=”Mr. Mime” set=”Generations” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] / Tapu Koko: 3-0-1
  • Round Five versus Turtonator-GX / [card name=”Volcanion” set=”Steam Siege” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Starmie” set=”Evolutions” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card]: 4-0-1
  • Round Six versus Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] / Mewtwo: 5-0-1
  • Quarterfinals versus [card name=”Xerneas BREAK” set=”Steam Siege” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card]: 1-2; 5-1-1

01/13/2018 in Chicago, Illinois: 1st Place at 7-1-0

  • Round One versus Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Zoroark” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] / Lycanroc-GX / Mewtwo: 1-0-0
  • Round Two versus Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX / [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card]: 2-0-0
  • Round Three versus Tapu Bulu-GX / Vikavolt: 3-0-0
  • Round Four versus Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] / Mewtwo: 4-0-0
  • Round Five versus Concession: 4-1-0
  • Quarterfinals versus Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX / Mew-EX: 2-0; 5-1-0
  • Semifinals versus Tapu Bulu-GX / Vikavolt: 2-1; 6-1-0
  • Finals versus Golisopod-GX / [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] / Tapu Koko: 2-0; 7-1-0

The first event didn’t end well since I drew awfully in the last two games of the quarterfinals, but aside from that, the deck ran super well. Dominance of this kind in any setting is impressive, even if it is a League Cup. Frank’s run with it in Memphis does a lot to prove the merit of the deck as well. Almost every matchup for the deck is positive, and even the negative ones can be flipped around if your opponent plays foolishly with Items. Mewtwo is very easy to play around if you have [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] and attach your Energy wisely.

In any case this deck is primed for a big finish in Oceania for Internationals, as well as any League Cup events before then. Zoroark-GX decks are easy work for this deck for many reasons, namely because of their Weakness to Fighting types and then [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] with Garbotoxin makes it even easier. This deck is a great play in the Standard format, and it shouldn’t even slow down with the release of Ultra Prism, either! The following list is the exact build that Frank used in Memphis and the one that I’ve used recently to some success:

List

[decklist name=”null” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″][pokemon amt=”14″]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Trubbish” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]4x [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Four Trubbish, Two Garbodor and Two Garbodor

Three [card name=”Trubbish” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] is a minimum, but four is incredibly nice to have so that you find them early and often without having to play [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card]. Two of each Garbodor gives you plenty of options and helps you find those more often as well. Garbodor decks are inherently inconsistent, so you want to mitigate that as much as you possibly can.

[cardimg name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Three Buzzwole-GX

With four [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] in your deck, you don’t need to play a fourth of these to improve your odds of starting with it ever so slightly. In a game, you’re usually going to use three [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] and a Garbodor in between that. [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] can get you another Buzzwole-GX in the event that you prize one, so don’t worry about this count. I haven’t had any problems with it at all.

Two Tapu Lele-GX

I’d like to have three [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] to improve the odds of nailing a first turn Brigette, but this deck’s space is limited, and Bench space is too. You’re going to want a lot of Trubbish down and another Buzzwole-GX to attack with, so you likely won’t be able to afford the luxury of playing three of these.

One Espeon-EX

Without [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card], matchups like [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] and even [card name=”Metagross-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] wouldn’t be favorable. It allows you to get the most use out of Jet Punch and set up Knock Outs on the pre-Evolutions of evolved Pokemon. Knock Outs are just a whole lot easier to come by with this card in the deck, so it’s absolutely worth playing.

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Four Professor Sycamore, Four N and One Lillie

Garbodor decks are clunky and, at times, inconsistent. Trying to fix this as much as possible should be a priority every time you sleeve one of them up. Maxing out on [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] for hard consistency outs is optimal. While [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] should be replaced with [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card] after the release of Ultra Prism, it’s here for now. Cynthia will bring a much-needed boost to Garbodor decks, since it will substitute as another draw Supporter for when things get tough.

Three Guzma

I’d love to play four [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card], but three operates just fine if you get maximum usage out of each of them. I wouldn’t go lower than this no matter what since you’re going to want to be setting up Knock Outs on a variety of Pokemon, which will force you to switch your opponent’s Active around occasionally.

Three Acerola

This deck is similar to a Golisopod-GX deck that wants to avoid ever getting Knocked Out and keep putting out chip damage. [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] allows you to execute that plan and is a huge help against opposing [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] with Psychic. You can afford to take a hit, pick up your Buzzwole-GX, and get back to work. [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] helps you avoid Knock Outs even more easily, so you can rest assured that your Buzzwole-GX will be sticking around for a long while.

One Brigette

This sounds really counterintuitive, but this deck doesn’t need a first turn [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] to win games. Yes, you do want it when you can get it, but you also want to be as aggressive as possible. A Professor Sycamore can be just as strong in many cases, since you might be digging to hit a combination of cards that allows you to attack with [card name=”Buzzwole-GX ” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card]on your first turn. There isn’t as much setup that goes into this deck, so a single copy of Brigette will suffice.

Four Ultra Ball

Don’t question four [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Shining Legends” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card], ever. It will bail you out when you need it most by finding [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] and help you thin out your deck so you don’t lose as often to late game N plays.

Four Float Stone and Four Fighting Fury Belt

[cardimg name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This might seem weird with [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], but the turn one 60 damage is insane in the format right now. Buzzwole-GX can use Jet Punch for 30, and then a Fighting Fury Belt and a [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] boost that up to 60 exactly. This is perfect math for taking down the likes of [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Rockruff” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”73″ c=”name”][/card] and more.

Maxed copies of [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] help with getting Garbotoxin online quickly and getting Buzzwole-GX into the Active spot to attack. I like to put Float Stone on Buzzwole-GX itself to avoid Knock Outs sometimes, too.

Two Field Blower

I could see going down to just a single copy of [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] since you don’t rely on Trashalanche as much in this deck. Getting rid of your opponent’s [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and other damage modifiers keep your Buzzwole-GX kicking for longer and get you more value out of Acerola.

Two Enhanced Hammer

These are incredible in the current format since so many decks rely on Special Energy. These two are the nail in the coffin for [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] decks, even if they are able to get an early lead on you. [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] helps address the [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] problem as well, and can get a bulky Pokemon stuck in your opponent’s Active spot where you’ll be free to Jet Punch the Bench at will.

One Rescue Stretcher

At least one [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] is essential in this deck. It’s clutch to get back Espeon-EX at times and Garbodor line pieces if you were to happen to discard something at some point. Even Buzzwole-GX is nice to recover occasionally, especially if you prize one, like I mentioned earlier.

Two Parallel City

[card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] is broken in the game right now. Many decks rely on a large Bench, so limiting that down to just three is strangling. Just be sure to not be foolish and limit your opponent’s Bench when damaged Pokemon could get discarded. Sometimes you’ll want to limit your own Bench to discard damaged critters yourself, which can be useful since this deck revolves around denying Prizes.

Four Rainbow Energy, Four Strong Energy and Three Fighting Energy

This Energy lineup is optimal. This is a [card name=”Buzzwole-GX ” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] deck, so you want to have basic Fighting Energy as opposed to Psychic Energy. Tapu Lele-GX can get powered up with Fighting Energy, as can Espeon-EX. [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] is too versatile to pass up on as well. [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] won’t attach to anything except Buzzwole-GX but is too important for boosting the output of Jet Punch. I’ve played enough with this deck now to know that these counts shouldn’t be messed with.

Alternate Option: Special Charge

This list is super refined, and this is genuinely the only card I’ve been thinking about fitting in. I think the optimal cut would be the second Field Blower, but that’s open to discussion. [card name=”Special Charge” set=”Steam Siege” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] makes Trashalanche a bit more of a threat, but I don’t know if I’ve desired having more Energy recovery enough to even warrant this card’s addition.

Matchups

Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX | Slightly Unfavorable

This matchup might make you scratch your head a bit; you have [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] with Trashalanche, so why would it be bad? [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] in a Buzzwole-GX is simply faster, so if your opponent is smart then he or she should have the advantage. It’s hard to come back from a turn two Absorption GX for a Knock Out, especially if your opponent didn’t have to play that many Items. Garbodor with Buzzwole-GX plays for a slow, grindy game where you outlast your opponent. If you can manage to get off your Trashalanche attacks quickly, you might have a chance simply by trading Prizes. If not, it’s going to be an awkward match.

Garbodor / Golisopod-GX | Slightly Favorable

Even if your opponent has [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Evolutions” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card], you still have a slight advantage. Basically, both you and your opponent are playing the same deck, only yours is faster, more consistent, and more reliable. As a Stage 1, [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] is inherently clunky, so Buzzwole-GX is better in general, at least in this matchup. While you can’t trade two-hit Knock Outs, you can use [card name=”Espeon-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] to finish up your work and devolve Golisopod-GX for a Knock Out. Most of the time this comes as a surprise to your opponent, so you can gain an edge right there. Hold onto your [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] for the late game, since it will ice your opponent if he or she doesn’t draw another strong Supporter to get out of it.

Gardevoir-GX / Max Potion | Slightly Favorable

[cardimg name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”140″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Max Potion” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] makes this matchup a little more challenging than without, but it’s still within reach. Setting up Garbotoxin is a must, and spreading damage with Jet Punch to set up devolution Knock Outs should be your game plan. Even Trashalanche plays a role since it can threaten big damage if your opponent doesn’t use Twilight GX to put Items back into his or her deck.

Making sure you can [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] to heal your Buzzwole-GX is very important in this matchup, and if you don’t have an immediate Acerola you should leave your Buzzwole-GX without a Tool attached. Float Stone can deny your opponent Prizes, so you want to be mindful of that before putting a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] down just for some extra damage. You won’t have to worry about [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] taking one-hit Knock Outs since Garbotoxin will be keeping Secret Spring in check.

Gardevoir-GX / Sylveon-GX | Favorable

This is just an easier matchup than the Max Potion variant. Even if your opponent does have Max Potion, he or she won’t have as many. Plea GX from [card name=”Sylveon-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] doesn’t affect you very much since your opponent would rather use Twilight GX almost exclusively to reduce the damage of Trashalanche. Again, go for Garbotoxin early: make sure your opponent can’t use Abilities!

Greninja BREAK | Slightly Favorable

[card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] only plays a couple [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], and aside from that, it’ll be smooth sailing for you. You have the ability to use Jet Punch to down a [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] on your first turn with a Fighting Fury Belt and a Strong Energy, so that’s what you want to shoot for right away. Prioritizing Garbotoxin is important as well, but you do have some time to get it out since the only meaningful Ability comes on Greninja BREAK which is a “Stage 3”. [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] are incredible in this matchup since you can use them to keep more frogs from coming into play. In the late game, Trashalanche should be dealing a significant amount of damage, enough to clear the field for you and get you those last few Prizes.

Vikavolt / Tapu Bulu-GX | Slightly Favorable

Ability lock and [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] are your keys to victory for winning this matchup. [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card] needs a [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] to knock you out as well, and that’s only if you don’t have a Fighting Fury Belt attached. The absolutely nuts is a [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] with Garbotoxin down with a Parallel City reducing the damage of Tapu Bulu-GX and a Fighting Fury Belt attached to your Buzzwole-GX. Check this out:

190 HP Buzzwole-GX + 40 HP Fighting Fury Belt “+” 20 HP Parallel City = 250 HP

This puts Nature’s Judgment completely out of reach of a Knock Out on your Buzzwole-GX, and you’ll be able to effectively Acerola loop your opponent. Trashalanche can finish things off in the late game, and if you ever get the chance to use Absorption GX or Knuckle Impact, [card name=”Vikavolt” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] is going to have a hard time. I like to put high Retreat Pokemon up with Guzma and start spreading damage to Benched Tapu Bulu-GX. Setting up multiple Knock Outs at once is strong, and so is [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] once your opponent has taken some Prizes since he or she will need so many things to get back into the game.

Volcanion | Slightly Favorable

Against [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY173″ c=”name”][/card], Fighting Fury Belt is huge for making this winnable. Garbotoxin needs to be prioritized as always, too. Make sure to plan out your Prizes; each one is going to be valuable since you don’t have huge damage potential outside of the clunky Absorption GX and Knuckle Impact. Trashalanche is hard for your opponent to deal with since it’s a non-EX/GX Pokemon but can usually swing in the two-hit Knock Out range of things. Setting up Knock Outs with Jet Punch and finishing things off with Trashalanche is the way to go. If you can Absorption GX or Knuckle Impact for a Knock Out, that’s just a bonus.

Zoroark-GX / Decidueye-GX | Highly Favorable

[cardimg name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”77″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This matchup is incredibly easy. Parallel City, Enhanced Hammer, Ability lock with Garbodor… everything is going against your opponent’s strategy! Throw Buzzwole-GX into the mix and your opponent is looking at what’s nearly an automatic loss. You need to just be careful not to get trapped by [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] or become easy pickings for Mewtwo. If you can do both of those things this matchup will be as easy as I say it can be. [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM37″ c=”name”][/card] just can’t keep up.

Zoroark-GX / Golisopod-GX | Favorable

[card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card] is the only nuisance in this matchup. Garbotoxin should be your first priority in any [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] matchup, because eliminating the path to an Acerola chain is how you win the game. Mewtwo is just an easy Knock Out for you as well, so don’t worry about that either. In the late game, believe it or not, Trashalanche will be doing a ton of damage!

Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX | Favorable

I’ve faced this deck with Buzzwole-GX even when my opponent had [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] and still won. N and Garbotoxin are way too strong in the late game for your opponent to handle, so as long as you can hang with him or her in the beginning by setting up some Garbodor and spreading some damage, you’ll be fine. Parallel City and Enhanced Hammer, like in many other matchups, are strong in this one, too, since your opponent will be relying on a large Bench and many Special Energy.

Ultra Prism Thoughts

As mentioned earlier, [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card] is going to make Garbodor decks more consistent. Simply having more outs to draw Supporters under Ability lock is a much-needed addition. There isn’t really anything else that improves Garbodor with Buzzwole-GX, but the deck itself will remain strong. There are many new Ability-based decks coming from the like like [card name=”Lucario” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garchomp” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Magnezone” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card]. Ability lock was already strong before Ultra Prism, but the new set is going to draw the usual hype of new decks and Garbodor will be primed for a perfect opening to strike the Standard format again.

Conclusion

That’s all I’ve got. I’m enthralled with this deck and as of now it’s my top pick for Oceania Internationals in early February. Ultra Prism is only going to make Garbodor a better deck, so there’s a lot to look forward to if you’re a trash fan like me. Thanks for stopping by and as always, please ask me any questions you might have in our PTCG Subscribers’ Hideout. Take care!

~Caleb

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