Dissertation of Memories — Looking at Zoroark-GX / Silvally-GX

[cardimg name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM84″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] is making a resurgence in Standard after a lackluster showing at California Regionals. While it did mediocre there, it performed extremely well internationally, as apparently some of the best players put their effort into making strong lists for the deck. Now that I’ve had some down time of my own from Regionals, I’ve been able to play many games with good old Zoroark-GX and I’m excited with how it’s gone. I played Zoroark-GX variants in two of my three League Cup events this past weekend, taking first and second, and also winning a League Challenge. Zoroark-GX is my first pick for Madison, Wisconsin, Regionals this weekend as of now as a result. Furthermore, if the event was tomorrow, I would be playing a Zoroark-GX deck. I used a build with [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Persian-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Slowking” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] to win Monday’s tournament but on Saturday I used one with [card name=”Drifblim” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Marowak” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] instead of Persian-GX. The former is my favorite because I really like Persian-GX in the deck. This article is going to focus primarily on [card name=”Silvally-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card], another new Zoroark-GX archetype, but I will talk briefly about the other versions before I go.

I write about Zoroark-GX a lot because I play the deck a lot. There’s so many versions, it has the means to be built in a variety of ways to increase your winning percentages and it complements strong play. I’m going to keep my eye on Zoroark-GX until it rotates later this year, I’m never going to give it up until I must. So Gustavo Wada played Zoroark-GX / Silvally-GX for a Regionals in Brazil a few weeks back. He even said himself that his list was subpar and I’ve personally made many changes to it. The basis of the deck is to use Silvally-GX with [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card] to then abuse Turbo Drive to take one-hit Knock Outs against decks where you can abuse your “Memory” Tool cards.

So why Silvally-GX? The Weakness advantage it can abuse is insane in this format. Taking a one-hit Knock Out against a [card name=”Reshiram and Charizard-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] scores you three Prizes all at once and being able to use different “Memory” Tools in different matchups gives you some much-needed versatility where you can save some space in deck-building. While some Zoroark-GX decks have to play both a Fighting-type  (Marowak) and a Water-type (Slowking) to counter Pokemon weak to them, this deck can simply run [card name=”Fighting Memory” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Water Memory” set=”Team Up” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card]. Gyro Unit is an added bonus and creates free pivots for your Basic Pokemon. Rebel GX is a built in one-shot threat on top of all that. This deck is lower maintenance than other Zoroark-GX decks right now and still manages to offer some of the same hitting-for-Weakness benefits.

List and Explanations

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″][pokemon amt=”22″]4x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Silvally-GX” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”116″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Type: Null” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Seel” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”44″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Grimer” set=”Team Up” no=”83″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Judge” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ 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=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Water Memory” set=”Team Up” no=”157″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Memory” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Devoured Field” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]4x [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Wada’s list did not play [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] or Water Memory, both of which I believe are some of the most important cards in this deck. He opted for a thicker Dewgong line which I still play a Dewgong, I just don’t think this is a deck that needs to get that fancy. Furthermore, you don’t even have enough Triple Acceleration to use multiple Dewgong and still be able to use Turbo Drive multiple times as you’ll want to. He also only ran three Zoroark-GX, but I think you still want four. While Riotous Beating is certainly not the focus of this deck, you still want to be able to Trade many times throughout the game and running anything less than four in that case is unideal. You do not want to jeopardize the consistency of a deck that relies much on Evolutions.

Two Type: Null and Two Silvally-GX

This has felt like the right number as you’re still going to have two to handle the heat of any deck that’s able to come back from a one-hit Knock Out made possible by type advantage. If you’re in need of another one, there’s [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] to fill in for [card name=”Type: Null” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] to bring either back. This is the “main attacker” in that it will swing the games you win in your favor and it’s arguably the most important card in this deck so it only makes sense to run at least two of each stage to make sure you don’t get ruined by your Prize cards.

One Tapu Lele-GX and One Dedenne-GX[cardimg name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”195″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Extending your turn past the point of your [card name=”Lillie” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] or just drawing more cards before you Lillie is amazing. [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] has been one of my favorite additions to attacking Zoroark-GX decks, in the late game it can help you extend your turn to get everything you want and in the early game it can save you from using a [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] to Wonder Tag and draw you even more cards in the process while thinning your deck. The only drawback is that sometimes you have to discard stuff like Triple Acceleration Energy, but you can shy away from it in those instances if that’s something you run into. Tapu Lele-GX is still great and needed as a way to Lillie frequently on the first turn and if it doesn’t need to be utilized you can use it mid-game for a Guzma and the like. Energy Drive is one of the best ways to handle a quick [card name=”Eevee and Snorlax-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] in this format and it’s just a solid attack in general so playing one is still a must. You would play two Tapu Lele-GX before two Dedenne-GX for sure but I’ve liked the split a ton.

[premium]

One Dewgong

Originally a hater of this card, I’ve turned heel completely and I’m completely infatuated with it. It’s so good to just set up plays that were never otherwise possible with Zoroark-GX. It’s great to snipe big threats on the Bench and set up Knock Outs on and you can use it to get an advantage in single Prize matchups like [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Team Up” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card]. I think I’ll perpetually be playing at least one in non-Control Zoroark-GX decks moving forward.

One Mew and One Marshadow

The little techs of this deck, [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is included for opposing Dewgong, [card name=”Weezing” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card], and even [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]. Psypower is even good time to time and can allow you to play around [card name=”Buzzwole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and its Sledgehammer. You can smack some things for 10 damage less than a Knock Out and then spread damage around after doing that three times and take three Knock Outs. It’s also just generally nice to set things up for a Knock Out if you have the misfortune of starting with it, which isn’t that bad, it’s just not a super great attack but does have some use. [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] and its Red Knuckles is amazing against Buzzwole as well, and its Ability is cool to have a searchable way to discard Stadium cards from play. It’s great value because it’s a tech for a Pokemon that’s hard to deal with an a generally useful card in regards to Stadiums against decks that aren’t playing Buzzwole.

Two Professor Kukui

While Water and Fighting Memory are great and all, they aren’t quite complete without some previous damage built up from Dewgong or a Professor Kukui. With Professor Kukui you can one-shot a Charizard and Reshiram-GX with Turbo Drive, dealing 280 damage after Weakness. Rebel GX can usually take a one-shot by itself, but after using your GX attack you’ll need a different way to ramp up your damage. Professor Kukui is also useful by allowing Zoroark-GX to deal enough damage with Riotous Beating to one-shot 130 and 140 HP Pokemon.

Two Water Memory and Two Fighting Memory

These are the best and only “Memory” cards you should be playing in this archetype. Water Memory is obviously for the Reshiram and Charizard-GX matchup where with Professor Kukui being played you can one-shot one with Turbo Drive. Fighting Memory is for Eevee and Snorlax-GX as well as Pikachu and Zekrom-GX and opposing [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]. Both are amazing cards and make your Silvally-GX much better than ever before.

One Devoured Field

This list doesn’t run [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], so [card name=”Devoured Field” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] acts as a counter Stadium and a damage modifier in one. Zoroark-GX can now two-shot a 270 HP Pokemon by doing 130 damage then 140 with a Professor Kukui and a full Bench. There’s a few other possibilities that open up like taking out a 130 HP Pokemon in one hit, and more. I like playing at least one Stadium in this deck but I could see this becoming another [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card].

Options

Adventure Bag[cardimg name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This is mainly best when you’re also playing Choice Band, although it’s decent even without it, you can have more reach for your Tool cards and thin your deck in the process. Not every matchup uses the “Memory” Tools so you can fish them out with [card name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card], Trade them, and get rid of them for good. Other times, it finds a crucial card when you need it most. I would avoid playing it unless you have Choice Band, though.

Choice Band

In this version of Zoroark-GX specifically, I like Choice Band mainly to boost the damage output of Rebel GX. Rebel GX can one-shot a lot of big Pokemon even with a type modifier, but Choice Band can make that easier if your opponent limits their Bench. Choice Band also allows you to swing for more damage with Zoroark-GX, but with your one-shot potential mainly invested in your “Memory” cards it’s less useful. Overall, I’m not a huge fan.

Basic Energy

Turbo Drive does accelerate basic Energy to your Benched Pokemon, so why not play some? This list doesn’t need to, but if you did want to it would likely be Darkness Energy so you could use Trickster GX. It helps power up more Turbo Drive uses on ensuing turns when just attaching a Double Colorless Energy instead of a Triple Acceleration Energy which are a limited resource. You could also get fancy with a different type and play something crazy, not sure what that would be off the top of my head, though.

Playing the Deck

Just like any other Zoroark-GX deck, you want to set up, the rest can come later. Your ideal opening against most decks is Ditto Prism Star, one Type: Null, and at least two [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card]. This can change a little bit depending on if Dewgong will have extended value or not and if you’re against something where you want to use [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] and want to get [card name=”Alolan Grimer” set=”Team Up” no=”83″ c=”name”][/card] down. From there you’ll go through the motions of setting up, identify if your “Memory” cards will be useful or not, and start attacking. Be careful with your Triple Acceleration Energy because they are limited and you don’t want to spend them superfluously. Map out your Prizes and make sure to Rebel GX for maximum value, ideally at least a Knock Out of two Prize cards. When using an important attacker in a matchup make sure you have its previous Basic on the Bench for a followup in case the Active Evolution gets Knocked Out. With only one Rescue Stretcher there’s less flexibility in this specific list but you can make it work with careful planning. This deck takes multiple combo pieces to get the one-hit Knock Outs you’re looking for so your setup of multiple Zoroark-GX is paramount, make sure you have the means to Trade and get the cards you want.

Matchups

Reshiram and Charizard-GX: Favorable

So your [card name=”Water Memory” set=”Team Up” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] are going to obviously be the MVP here. Your setup should be both [card name=”Type: Null” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] and your [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] so you have the potential to attack with three [card name=”Silvally-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card]. Your [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] should fill as many of the remaining slots as possible. [card name=”Seel” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] can be of use if you’re not confident you can get the [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to complete a one-hit Knock Out. [card name=”Eevee and Snorlax-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] remains the biggest threat in this matchup, but you can address it with [card name=”Fighting Memory” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card]. Focusing on a strong setup so you can chain out the Professor Kukui and also find the “Memory” cards is the key to victory. [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] is simply assurance to make sure you can take Knock Outs when you need them. As for the non-GX Pokemon your opponent plays, you can take those out with [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]. In the case of 130 or 140 HP ones you can Professor Kukui or Devoured Field to take the Knock Out. In a perfect world you would use Dewgong to throw a non-GX bone and then three Silvally-GX, although that’s unrealistic with the threat of [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card]. If all goes averagely well you will be favored in this matchup because you’ll take such a nice Prize advantage when you easily one-shot the Tag Team Pokemon-GX for three Prizes.

Wall Stall: Even [cardimg name=”Regigigas” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”84″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

You saw the [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] in the list, so why isn’t that enough? [card name=”Faba” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card] is an issue, it can run you completely out of Energy. There’s a few positives here: Silvally-GX gives your Basic Pokemon free Retreat, so you can easily switch Oranguru into Silvally-GX to attack. Silvally-GX is your best attacker in this matchup and can one-shot [card name=”Regigigas” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] with a Fighting Memory attached. Turbo Drive is a little short of a one-hit Knock Out on [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”8″ c=”name”][/card], but with Professor Kukui you can get there. So the overall strategy is to attack, then move into Oranguru, Resource Management, put back [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card], and spam your [card name=”Judge” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] over and over. With only four cards in hand it will be harder to Faba consistently and you can even potentially earn free Energy attachment turns where you can get two [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Generations” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] on Silvally-GX to have a lasting Energy to attack with, and of course retreat into Oranguru. This matchup is more winnable when you avoid putting unnecessary Pokemon on your Bench like Alolan Muk and support Pokemon. Without Alolan Muk your Dewgong can deal with [card name=”Hoopa” set=”Shining Legends” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], which is fine.

Weezing Spread: Slightly Favorable

Between [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and just the simple fact that you’re a Zoroark-GX archetype, you will be favored here. Make sure you get the best value out of [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] as possible, you don’t want to be overly punished by [card name=”Spell Tag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card] or you might slip into unfavorable territory. The biggest threat here is [card name=”Larvitar” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card], it can one-shot Silvally-GX or Zoroark-GX. Dewgong can take multiple single-Prize Knock Outs in this matchup to earn you a Prize advantage. Use your [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] to discard [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card] from play, you can even do that multiple times with [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] or Resource Management to recover it. If you’re worried about this matchup for some reason you can tech in a [card name=”Drifblim” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] to seal the deal and make it a free one.

Zapdos: Slightly Favorable

Alolan Muk and Dewgong are amazing in this matchup. You can take multiple Prizes on non-GX Pokemon and get ahead in the Prize trade. Silvally-GX is inferior to Zoroark-GX in this matchup, you just need to be sure to play around Sledgehammer to the best of your Ability and use Marshadow to address Buzzwole if it does ever rear its head. Your opening setup should be Alolan Grimer, Ditto Prism Star, Seel, and as many Zorua as possible. With both Alolan Grimer and Ditto Prism Star in play, your opponent can’t Knock Out both and you’ll be able to get Alolan Muk down. Without [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] to fly through the deck, Judge becomes much more powerful and you can dismantle your opponent in quick succession by simply attacking. This matchup is largely the same as it has been for Zoroark-GX decks for some time now, the addition of Silvally-GX to the deck does nothing for you in this one.

Zoroark-GX Variants: Slightly Favorable

With Silvally-GX to Rebel GX for a cheap Knock Out and Fighting Memory to take down other Zoroark-GX, this matchup is pretty simple. Many Zoroark-GX lists are using Dewgong in this format, so I would find your Mew as soon as possible to counteract that. The optimal setup is going to be Ditto Prism Star, at least one Type: Null, as many Zorua as possible and/or Mew, depending on if necessary. From there it’s just going to be a matter of if you can hit the Triple Acceleration Energy you need and the Fighting Memory to go with it to finish up one-hit Knock Outs. Be careful not to discard either Fighting Memory as you will likely need both to gain the advantage you want. Field Blower and just a Knock Out on the Silvally-GX holding it will force you to have another in short order to finish the job. This deck just combines an Energy-efficient attacker for type advantage with the consistency of Zoroark-GX to have the upper hand against other Zoroark-GX decks. If you’re facing a Lycanroc-GX, make sure you save your Rebel GX to one-shot it (hopefully there are at least four Benched Pokemon for your opponent) or soften it up with Dewgong beforehand. All this combines for one favorable matchup!

Aside on Another Variant

I like this version a lot and it has its own strengths, namely that it has more direct paths to one-hit Knock Outs. However, I’m also a huge fan of Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Persian-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card], a deck that I’ve been spamming on local events lately to much success. I don’t have time to go over the deck in detail, but it just has so many avenues to finish Knock Outs and an array of ways to deal with nearly deck. Adding a Pokemon that can one-shot a lot of stuff with another cool Ability in Catwalk is super nice. I love Dewgong more and more each time I play with it, it’s a strategic and powerful card that creates a lot of unique Knock Outs.

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″][pokemon amt=”22″]4x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Seel” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”44″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Slowking” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”55″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Slowpoke” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”54″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Persian-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Meowth” set=”Team Up” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Muk” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Grimer” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Lillie” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Judge” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ 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=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Brooklet Hill” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]4x [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Shining Legends” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Conclusion

The just-mentioned archetype is my front-runner for Madison, Wisconsin, Regionals right now, but obviously subject to change. It’s got so many options and is super fun to play. I’m excited to keep testing it and hopefully affirm my gut feeling that it’s the best choice. I will also continue testing Silvally-GX and see if it can edge out Persian-GX as the best partner. Time will tell, I’m just happy that this Standard format is so much fun, it’s truly one of the best we’ve had all season. There’s a lot of variety and interesting gameplay, Unbroken Bonds has brought a lot of new stuff to the table. As always, hit me up in the Subscribers’ Hideout with any questions you might have. Thanks for reading everyone, good luck out there, and take care!

Peace,

Caleb

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