Malamar’s Melbourne Mediocrity — The Rise of Zacian V and M2 to Meet it

By: Caleb Gedemer · Posted Posted onFeb 27, 2020 at 7:46 PM · 0 Comments

[cardimg name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] was my deck of choice in my third time competing at the Oceania International Championship. My testing team and I went for a straightforward list that had solid matchups. I was personally very worried about the “fifty-fifty” designation we placed on the [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] matchup, as consistently beating that deck would have been preferred for this event. We tested a lot, filled out the matchup spreadsheet, and it told us to basically stick with Malamar or make the risky choice of playing [card name=”Galarian Obstagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card]. With so many things that could go run in the case of the latter, Malamar was the call. I was rightfully worried about the Zacian V matchup, while I only played one, partners like Jimmy Pendarvis had an overall negative record against the deck and missed Championship Points because of it. While you might have an even matchup against something, that doesn’t mean a whole lot when your deck can’t really outplay people; Malamar has almost always been a build that aims to set up and win a Prize trade. Here’s how my rounds went:

  • Round One [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] • WLW 1/0/0
  • Round Two [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] / Malamar • WW 2/0/0
  • Round Three [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Green’s Exploration” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card] • WLT 2/0/1
  • Round Four Blacephalon / [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] • WLW 3/0/1
  • Round Five Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Zacian V • LL 3/1/1
  • Round Six Pikachu and Zekrom-GX • LL 3/2/1
  • Round Seven Mewtwo and Mew-GX • WW 4/2/1
  • Round Eight [card name=”Cinccino” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] Mill • LL 4/3/1
  • Round Nine Mewtwo and Mew-GX / Malamar • WW 5/3/1

I walked away with some coveted International Championship CP, but things could have gone better. The fifth round matchup featured [card name=”Absol” set=”Team Up” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Mallow and Lana” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”198″ c=”name”][/card], as well as [card name=”Metal Core Barrier” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”180″ c=”name”][/card]; nearly impossible for Malamar to beat. The next round was an absolute meltdown on the part of my deck, and then a cripplingly bad matchup in the eighth sealed my fate.

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Blacephalon” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”104″][pokemon amt=”20″]4x [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Inkay” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”50″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Giratina” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Solgaleo and Lunala-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Latios-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Espurr” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]4x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Spell Tag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”190″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mysterious Treasure” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Switch” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”183″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Lana’s Fishing Rod” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”195″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Viridian Forest” set=”Team Up” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]8x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

The last decision on the list was the argument for [card name=”Solgaleo and Lunala-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] over [card name=”Espeon and Deoxys-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card]—the original inclusion. Most of us ultimately decided on the former, although not everyone could find one in time before deck submission closed—as a result, some went with Espeon and Deoxys-GX instead. Everything else was well-polished! The greatest thing I still want is a second [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card], it’s extremely important against Zacian V—getting a Brave Blade in return for a one-shot is super game-changing. Four [card name=”Spell Tag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card] is very important with rising HP numbers in most decks. [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card] are the biggest additions to the deck, though, it really doesn’t brick anymore unless you run into a hand with a bunch of Pokemon. Moving forward the deck still looks good. Perhaps even more effort into testing the Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Zacian V matchup is needed—I thought my fifty-plus games of the pairing before the event were enough… Anyways, keep Malamar in reserve until the metagame comes around, you’re confident you can dodge the aforementioned matchup, or if you find a way to make it favorable—I don’t think the fifty-fifty pairing is going to be good enough. [card name=”Latios-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] can only get you so far…

Day 2 Metagame

[cardimg name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

  • 24 Zacian V Variants
  • 7 Mewtwo and Mew-GX Variants
  • 5 Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
  • 3 Blacephalon Variants
  • 3 [card name=”Bellelba and Brycen-Man” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card] Mill Variants
  • 2 Malamar
  • 2 [card name=”Magcargo-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card]
  • 1 [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] Toolbox
  • 1 Galarian Obstagoon

Top 8 Standings

  1. Mewtwo and Mew-GX / Welder
  2. Welder Toolbox
  3. Galarian Obstagoon
  4. Cinccino Mill
  5. Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Zacian V
  6. Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Zacian V
  7. Mewtwo and Mew-GX / Welder
  8. Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Zacian V

Takeaways

Zacian V absolutely dominated this event. Three spots of the Top 8, twenty-four in Day 2—that’s nearly unheard of! The last time a deck was so dominant was arguably Seattle, Washington, Regionals back in 2017 when [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] just dropped. Moving forward you need to beat Zacian V or play it yourself. There’s a few underexplored cards that were played namely: [card name=”Dragon Talon” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”59″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card], and Metal Core Barrier. Each deserves an explanation…

Dragon Talon

This can set up some never-before-seen Brave Blade Knock Outs. Assuming you used Altered Creation Gk, if you get hit into you can Brave Blade for 260, the Dragon Talon providing the extra 30 to take something like another Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX out or even a Mewtwo and Mew-GX if you don’t have Galarian Zigzagoon and/or [card name=”Vitality Band” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card]. The slight issue with all this is that you’re probably only playing it as a one-of and [card name=”Big Charm” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card] is usually better on Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX to try to survive longer. Dragon Talon is the worst of the few unorthodox inclusions that we saw for this event. Speaking of extra damage, one thing’s for sure; [card name=”Galarian Perrserker” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] was not played and is not good; however, there is a Galarian Meowth that will make it more viable in the future, making Zacian V even better.

Magcargo

Smooth Over is quite strong in Zacian V decks. You can set up Intrepid Sword plays to attach Metal Energy, set Custom Catcher on the top of your deck to draw into later, and more. I think this is a clunky tech that has the chance to shine when you get it out, but without Stage 1 Pokemon search in most Zacian V decks, I don’t think it’s worth playing ways to get it for its intended purpose. It seems counterintuitive to shove cards that aren’t good for really anything other than finding Magcargo into a deck that wants to be as fast as possible. There’s some value, but I’d have to try it to have a better opinion.

[premium]

Metal Core Barrier

[cardimg name=”Metal Core Barrier” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”180″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

I honestly forgot about this card. Reducing 70 damage is a whole lot, enough to avoid one-hit Knock Outs from opposing Zacian V, and more. This is a mirror-breaker if you can avoid getting gusted around for a turn, or stay away from players including [card name=”Lysandre Labs” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”111″ c=”name”][/card]. The problem with that is it’s really going to determine a whole lot on the contents of your opponent’s list. Outside from those matchups, it’s crushing against Malamar decks, making it so they barely do any damage and you should run them over even harder—worse still if you play Mallow and Lana. I think this is superior to [card name=”Metal Frying Pan” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] in defense versions of the deck. It’s more relevant to avoiding one-hit Knock Outs which is how you’re going to ever find an advantage anyways. Try it out, I will be for future Standard events!

Mewtwo and Mew-GX still remains to be good, it can attack turn one playing second if you hit a Welder play and that’s going to give you a clear advantage against a lot of decks. It’s one of the only decks that’s outright favored against Zacian V decks, you can just one-shot them as easily as they can you and you have the first opportunity to gain the Prize advantage with your Flare Blitz GX. Victini V adds a lot to this deck as not only an attacker, but an Energy accelerator. The big draw to it is that you can go TAG TEAM Pokemon-GX into Victini V or visa-versa. If your opponent takes both of those Knock Outs they’ll be on one Prize left and you can Reset Stamp them to one. Mewtwo and Mew-GX is the complete and total embodiment of a toolbox deck and will always be able to hang with the rest of the metagame it seems.

Pikachu and Zekrom-GX has put itself back on the list of top decks for one reason: it can attack on the first turn very consistently and for a lot of damage. That’s literally it—oh and [card name=”Pokémon Catcher” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card] is better in this deck than any other gust effect. I like four and one [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card]! This deck looks to be well-primed for consistent success from here on out. Look to Big Charm for added protection against Zacian V and Mewtwo and Mew-GX decks, a card that not all lists were running.

Blacephalon doesn’t like [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card], even though it’s not a great card against much anything else. Fireball Circus just can’t operate how it wants to without a large hand size and Marnie putting the cards you had—the ones you want—on the bottom of your deck is nearly a death sentence. I am wary of ever playing this deck because of Marnie alone, not to mention if you miss a beat you’re behind in most games anyways. It’s got a handful of terrible matchups too, like mill stuff, Malamar, and Galarian Obstagoon. The best way to run it is just the Jirachi version. It’s more consistent, a little better against Marnie plays, and Green’s Exploration is so much weaker when it can’t be played going first.

Mill is still around, but Stinger GX as an inclusion in a variety of Mewtwo and Mew-GX hurts it—when also paired with Blacephalon—as does the existence of Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX decks as a whole. Zacian V doesn’t necessarily even have to be the partner, Altered Creation GX takes mill for a ride, especially with multiple gust effects—Pokemon Catcher being the best. [card name=”Phione” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] is troublesome and more; it’s a matchup-based deck that’s great against about half or more of the metagame.

Malamar did what I wanted to with the exception of one set against Pikachu and Zekrom-GX. I drew hands of Pokemon, didn’t do much, and fell behind too many turns in what is otherwise a great matchup—one that I even crushed in the first round. It’s again a matchup-based deck, one that when it bricks it hardly ever wins, so perhaps that makes it a little weaker than other decks that can brick and still win? I suppose it does, so perhaps all Malamar matchups need to be taken with a grain of salt… This deck feels a bit like a [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] trap in the past; it’s a deck that wins if it sets up, and you do have some leeway against very good matchups. The biggest problem for me is getting over that even if not slightly unfavorable hump of Zacian V decks, just because of Altered Creation GX. Latios-GX happens most games that you play second, but that doesn’t always happen and sometimes still you whiff. A lot can go wrong with the deck and I could go on and on; perhaps a better tech will arise or the metagame will shift away from Zacian V.

Magcargo-GX is the only deck in Day 2 that I didn’t play a single game with in preparation for Oceania. It’s a surprising deck that is going to have a great Zacian V matchup and perhaps decent ones elsewhere, with the exception of one-Prize builds like Blacephalon and Malamar. I can’t see this being better than the next deck, but it did have double its slots in Day 2wo, so maybe?

Welder Toolbox, still the run-hot deck of the format, took Australia for a wild ride all the way to the finals. Last time it won the Internationals, this time it got second—what’s next for it? It never seems to do well at American Regionals, oddly, but perhaps more will play it and that will change. Quick Ball adds a lot of depth to a deck that was formerly frustratingly bound to [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] when trying to find important Pokemon like Jirachi or [card name=”Vulpix” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card], so Quick Ball inherently improves the deck. Additionally, like for Mewtwo and Mew-GX, [card name=”Victini V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] is another great Energy accelerator and attacker—just making the deck better.

Galarian Obstagoon is a wild card deck that made a splash, almost beating Nico Alabas in the semifinals. Quite literally a polarizing deck, it can’t really beat anything with a random deck as well as a handful of decks that just naturally beat it. The biggest thing that scared my group off of it was the frequent bricks you encounter while playing it—[card name=”Rosa” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”204″ c=”name”][/card] smooths some of that over—they get you into losing situations against even the easiest of matchups like Zacian V. It’s a wild deck indeed, one that may continue to pop up and surprise the masses. Don’t discount it, it’s a deck that playing a single card tech to beat may be worth doing.

Going First Or Second?

Zacian V variants want to go first unless they’re playing [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”162″ c=”name”][/card] with the explicit intent of the playing-second-first-turn Altered Creation GX.

Mewtwo and Mew-GX variants go second, hoping to get the Welder off if possible. If not, they can fall behind, but sometimes that’s okay. The balance here is perhaps playing Jirachi, providing yourself with a bit of a buffer if you do happen to miss the first turn Welder.

Pikachu and Zekrom-GX should always be built to get the first turn attack, so you want to go second by default. If you’re playing a list that doesn’t have a great chance of the first turn attack—maybe you should play something else—then I guess you’d go first.

Blacephalon variants always go second. You rely heavily on Welder to even attack—you need to go second for the chance at a clear-cut advantage.

Bellelba and Brycen-Man mill variants I’m sort of iffy on, I think they want to go first to get a chance to evolve their [card name=”Minccino” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Slugma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] quicker. Additionally, with Zacian V they can always end the turn by drawing more cards—the only downside is having a bad hand and immediately losing. Most lists don’t actually play hard draw Supporters like Professor’s Research, so going second has less benefit.

Malamar always second unless you know you’re up against an Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX list that does not have Energy Switch for the first turn Altered Creation GX. Against anything else you won’t regret going second, you get the extra firepower that a Supporter for turn grants and you’re nearly guaranteed to not get Benched out with that extra card boost.

Magcargo-GX has Welder, go second.

Welder Toolbox, it’s in the name, even! Go second.

Galarian Obstagoon goes both ways honestly. You might want to be risky (I haven’t played more than ten games with the deck so I don’t have an extremely informed opinion) and go first, getting the first turn Energy attachment and then vying for the second turn Obstruct. This is a lot to ask for, so I think going second to get some extra draw and find more Basics is better. I know the semifinalist list didn’t play it, but Lillie’s Poke Doll is very good in this deck and if you’re going second you have a higher likelihood of finding one, getting it into play, and sending it up—all after you Stellar Wish, of course.

Expanded Blurb

I focused all of my testing time in the past couple weeks on Australia. I have played a few games of Expanded now, just a mix of everything. This is probably going to be the least prepared I’ve been for an event so far this season, so we’ll see how that goes. Regardless, Zacian V seems better than ever in Expanded with the addition of [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Dhelmise” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”59″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Ether” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and the new [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] have a sweet pairing but I haven’t found an amazing card to base that kind of a deck around yet. Control decks still feel bad, you’d have to heavily devote slots to beating decks that take extra Prize cards with stuff like [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card]. Maybe a [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Counter Energy” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] package? Zacian V also gets [card name=”Dialga-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Cobalion” set=”Steam Siege” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] in Expanded, some nice adds. There’s just so many decks. Oh yeah, [card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Milotic” set=”Flashfire” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card] is supposed to be the gatekeeper of this format—it only gets better with the rule change and can lock you completely out of the game on its first turn. Sigh, here’s a list of all the relevant stuff, I think most noticeable is that [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] has dipped off for now.

Relevant Decks

  • Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Big Attacker
  • [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Mewtwo and Mew-GX Toolbox
  • [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”44″ c=”custom”]Night March[/card]
  • Pikachu and Zekrom-GX
  • [card name=”Regirock” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY49″ c=”name”][/card] Stall
  • [card name=”Rowlet and Alolan Exeggutor-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”1″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Garchomp and Giratina-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Raichu” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”41″ c=”custom”]Shock[/card] [card name=”Stoutland” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”122″ c=”custom”]Lock[/card]
  • [card name=”Snorlax VMAX” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card]
  • Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX / Milotic
  • Turbo Darkness
  • Turbo Zacian V
  • [card name=”Ultra Necrozma” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card]
  • [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card]

Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Big Attacker Deck Idea

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Tapu Koko V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”72″][pokemon amt=”9″]2x [card name=”Tapu Koko V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”72″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Koko-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”47″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]4x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Target Whistle” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Energy Loto” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Electrocharger” set=”Team Up” no=”139″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]10x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”10″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

This is a somewhat refined list for a deck I’ve been trying out. Basically the idea of the “Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX / Big Attacker” builds is to Altered Creation GX and then win the game as soon as possible so Pokemon Ranger is less of a threat. This idea popped out to me as it seems to be the most Energy-efficient way to power up an attacker behind an Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX. You get [card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card], so you’ll very often be attacking on your second turn for one-hit Knock Outs and extra Prizes. The converse to this deck would simply be with Zacian V, but [card name=”Tapu Koko V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card] also gets [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”name”][/card] and its free Retreat Cost is also super attractive. You can run [card name=”Tapu Koko-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card] as an alternate GX attack if you ever see the need and [card name=”Marshadow-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] fills in to one-shot stuff that’s Fighting-weak. Oranguru is ran to guarantee Max Elixir drops and I’ve even bounced around with a pair of Ether alongside Max Elixir for even more Energy acceleration. This deck is super fast and can beat pretty much anything. [card name=”Electrocharger” set=”Team Up” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] is to recycle Electropower and finish another big Knock Out if you need to.

Conclusion

Expanded, it’s upon us again already… Hopefully something sparks in the next couple days (today is Wednesday for me) and I’m still pretty stumped; well more so that I just don’t have much time! Oceania was fun as always and the Standard format seems to be in an alright place with a variety of competitive decks that you can pick and choose and nothing is degenerate and oppressive. If anything, there’s Zacian V, but there’s counters aplenty and most decks will be playing to beat it if not joining it themselves. Alright folks take care, hit me up in the Subscribers’ Hideout if you’d like.

Peace,

Caleb

[/premium]