Single Prize Party — Blacephalon and Checkmate Updated
[cardimg name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Last time, we looked at Stage-2 Pokemon; today, we’ll focus on single-Prize decks! We’re winding down our scheduled Standard format coverage here on PokeBeach-—that is, the current format through Sword and Shield. Soon we’ll have Rebel Clash on our hands and the game will morph accordingly. In my next piece I’ll be introducing you to that upcoming expansion and share some of the draft ideas I have!
[card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] has gone through some major changes in recent months, starting as a [card name=”Green’s Exploration” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card] deck, then introducing [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], and finally even some two-Prize Pokemon. Now we have a completely Ability-based version of the deck that still preys on Tag Team Pokemon-GX and performs its strategy without fail, barring a brick or bad hand from [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card]. While postponed temporarily, Blacephalon was my choice for the first qualifier in the PTCGO tournament series. Stephane did a great job covering the deck for us about a month ago, but I’d like to share my updated list and talk about some of the cards. Then, we’ll take a look at one of the coolest decks in Standard right now — something not yet covered here. Let’s begin with my list for Blacephalon:
Blacephalon Deck List
[premium]
[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″][pokemon amt=”13″]4x [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oricorio-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cramorant V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”155″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]4x [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Switch” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”183″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Fire Crystal” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”173″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Fiery Flint” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”160″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Stadium Nav” set=”Unified Minds” no=”208″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lucky Egg” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Beast Bringer” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Adventure Bag” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ultra Space” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Heat Factory Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Giant Hearth” set=”Unified Minds” no=”197″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]14x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”Evolutions” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”14″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Explanations
Four Blacephalon
Blacephalon is your main attacker, it’s a shame some lists play any less than the maximum number of copies. I’ve seen other lists drop one for a [card name=”Victini Prism Star” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card], but I don’t like this change since you don’t run enough Fire Energy to one-shot anything big with Infinity. Moreover, by running more you don’t have to you use your [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card] as often to find Blacephalon, allowing you to look for [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] on your first turn, [card name=”Oricorio-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] is for later in the game, and so on. It’s a consistency count, and I don’t think there’s another Pokemon or card that should take the fourth copy’s place.
One Zacian V
This needs to be in the deck, it’s your best target when you’re going first! I think on average (aside from the mirror), you want to go first with this deck. If you go second, you run the risk of getting wrecked by Altered Creation GX, falling behind. The reason for this is that you want this three-card boost playing first (which is optimal) and on any turn where it’s better to pass than attack. This is a deck where if you don’t have the appropriate number of Fire Energy to one-shot a defending Pokemon, you’re going to want to pass instead of dealing chip damage. On those turns, Intrepid Sword is the perfect substitute to dealing chip damage. The extra cards are super important to collect more Fire Energy and have the necessary resources to conquer your following turn. This deck is weak to [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card] so having a Pokemon that can always draw you back up out of a bad spot on your Bench is never a bad thing.
One Stadium Nav, Ultra Space, One Heat Factory Prism Star, and One Giant Hearth
I love this Stadium package, all serving a unique purpose. [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card] is not super popular in this format aside from its place in Ultimate [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card]. That said, you’ll usually be able to get value out of each and every one of these. [card name=”Ultra Space” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] is effectively another Blacephalon search, [card name=”Heat Factory Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card] is more draw power, and lastly, [card name=”Giant Hearth” set=”Unified Minds” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card] is like a “fifth” [card name=”Fiery Flint” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Stadium Nav” set=”Unified Minds” no=”208″ c=”name”][/card] ties all three of these pieces together; and while it’s not searchable itself off something like [card name=”Green’s Exploration” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card], it’s an important out that you can find it off Stellar Wish. This deck thins itself a ton after your first few Energy searches with Fiery Flint; the number of cards remaining in your deck goes down.
Options
Phione and/or Great Catcher
[cardimg name=”Phione” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”57″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
I don’t think this deck needs a gust effect, but if you were to play one, I’d run [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card]. The reason to play one is out of fear of falling behind on Prizes to the point where you’re losing because of it. Due to the single Prize nature of this deck that’s a rarity, so it’s better to focus on consistency in my opinion. This deck has the resources and recoverability to take a Knock Out on anything that’s thrown at it in the Active position, so I like the constant strategy of dealing with whatever is defending. You will be able to cope since you will inevitably gain Prize advantage due to the multiple Prize building of most other decks. [card name=”Phione” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] can come in handy to get around [card name=”Lillie’s Poké Doll” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Galarian Obstagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card], but it’s not a foolproof solution hence why it’s not included in the list.
Mew
Bench Barrier is good in this deck against [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card], that’s about it. In rare occasions you might want to protect yourself against opposing [card name=”Cramorant V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”155″ c=”name”][/card] if you have [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] in play. Regardless, the matchup is fine if you don’t brick—but if your opponent is able to use Full Blitz to a Pikachu and Zekrom-GX on the Bench to load up for Tag Bolt GX, then it can get tricky without a gust effect. Perhaps a better tech if you’re worried about this exact scenario is a Great Catcher; it would have more use overall with the small drawback of being harder to find.
Absol
Truly the utility Pokemon of this Standard format; [card name=”Absol” set=”Team Up” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] can only make some matchups better. That’s the thing though, it makes them better— what if they were already favorable? I would call this a “win-harder” card for this deck, with the only exception to that being matching up against [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card]—against Malamar you’d need a heck of a lot more techs in this deck to win, but Absol would be one of them (the matchup is very bad).
Summing Up
[card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] will remain one of the best decks in this format until Rebel Clash comes out. Once it does, I don’t see anything that should change that for the time being, either. It’s Prize advantage against almost every deck is a never-ending advantage and its damage output is nothing to scoff at either. It boasts one of the format’s best matchups against [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]—when that’s one of your bragging points you must know a deck is good. I will probably play this for the continuation of the PTCGO tournament series if it’s still in the same format.
Checkmate
[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″][pokemon amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Minccino” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Cinccino” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Poipole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”55″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Naganadel” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Meowth” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Persian-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Koffing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Weezing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Seel” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”44″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ 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=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”25″]4x [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Professor Elm’s Lecture” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”188″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Tate and Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Great Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lana’s Fishing Rod” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”195″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Island Challenge Amulet” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”194″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”5″]4x [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Recycle Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”212″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Explanations
Four Jirachi and One Escape Board
Originally I didn’t even play an [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card], but it’s really nice to have a pivot option in this deck. [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] sets things up for you and you don’t mind giving the Prizes that they award. The general premise of this deck is to set up a path to three Prizes (after you Stinger GX) and win in a turn or two. Up to that point, you’re free to do anything really, just sit around and bide time. Jirachi is like a wall in those moments, you’ll be sitting behind it until things develop to your liking. The Escape Board one will allow you to use two Stellar Wish a turn if you desire, pushing up the one with the Tool, using it, then moving to another on the Bench.
Two Poipole, Two Naganadel-GX, and One Naganadel
[cardimg name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
[card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] is your main attacker—I guess you can say that—you will be using Stinger GX almost every game to set things up. The baby [card name=”Naganadel” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] is a solid attacker for the cost of a [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card] and has great merit to deal a one-hit Knock Out against Psychic-weak Pokemon or to finish something off. Regardless, the latter is more of a tech and the former is your main guy. You want two of them as a result and while [card name=”Poipole” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] is super important in its own right, having two is enough with [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] in the deck as well.
Two Koffing and Two Weezing
These are [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card] fodder, and while the [card name=”Koffing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] might seem odd or out of place, it’s a decent starter that you can sacrifice, but it can also be searched out with [card name=”Professor Elm’s Lecture” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”188″ c=”name”][/card]–a mainstay in this deck. The utility of a getting Koffing with a Supporter you’re already running makes it better than just playing four [card name=”Weezing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], so that’s why it’s in here. Starting it can be annoying only sometimes, so it’s worth it.
One Seel, One Dewgong, and One Ditto Prism Star
[card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] sets up multiple Prize plays in a single turn. Dual Blizzard can deal 60 to two Pokemon, so you can either finish something off, or bop it outright. [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] gets around this awesome card, but if your opponent isn’t running it you might have a clear path to victory. Roxie can further set up nifty plays with this Stage-1. Ditto Prism Star is usually reserved for a last-chance effort to pull something off, meaning I would hold onto it for as long as possible until you have to use it to make an attacker or support piece. I often use it to get “another” Dewgong in consecutive turns.
One Oranguru
[card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card]’s Resource Management can put together a chain of Roxie plays or recover Triple Acceleration Energy; sometimes this deck can run out of Energy or have a weird opening that discards things you want for later with Make Do. In any case, this is your out to being control decks and a safeguard in rough situations. I would not take it out, you’ll use it almost every game to maneuver yourself into a better situation.
Four Professor Elm’s Lecture
Professor Elm’s Lecture is your main setup card, you want all four to give yourself the best chance of opening with it or hitting it with Stellar Wish. There’s no situation where this count should be lowered, it’s incredibly important to your game plan and sets everything up for you. Don’t touch this count!
Two Tate and Liza
This deck doesn’t have a ton of ways to switch things around, so [card name=”Tate and Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] fills that void. This is especially important in this deck since it loses its Energy attachment for turn as Triple Acceleration Energy falls off at the end of your turn. You’ll need these to switch out of your Naganadel-GX after you use Stinger GX or to switch into a different attacker to finish things off. Trust me, while these might seem lacklustre, they are extremely important to this deck’s success.
Four Pokemon Communication and Four Great Ball
I’ve been running this search line in most “setup” decks that require Evolution Pokemon. [card name=”Great Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] can find both Evolution Pokemon and Basic Pokemon — outclassing the likes of Evolution Incense for that reason. [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] can get anything and this deck plays a ton of Pokemon (thirty to be exact). This means you’ll be getting bang for your buck with almost every play of either of these cards!
Two Reset Stamp
Since Stinger GX is a huge part of your game map each game, [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card] is extremely strong in this deck. You can, realistically, let your opponent take five Prizes, use a Reset Stamp to put them to one, then Stinger GX and reset the board. You can use one of these at about the two or three Prize mark to get another crack at trying to brick them. If either of these Reset Stamp sticks, you will be in the driver’s seat to win. At worst, playing two is so that you get to use at least one a game, you don’t want to Prize this super important card.
One Pal Pad and One Lana’s Fishing Rod
For recovery this might seem wacky. This deck draws a ton of cards quickly, though, so both of these make sense in this list. Using Make Do will speed you through your cards and you can quickly redraw what you put back with [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] (usually Tate and Liza). [card name=”Lana’s Fishing Rod” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”195″ c=”name”][/card] started as an [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card], but I’ve made the switch to get access to another [card name=”Island Challenge Amulet” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”194″ c=”name”][/card] (instead of running two copies) or a “second” [card name=”Escape Board” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card]. The Pokemon recovery can get you a clutch [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] back to use the attacker twice in a game or to recover a [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card] target like [card name=”Koffing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Weezing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card].
[cardimg name=”Island Challenge Amulet” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”194″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
One Island Challenge Amulet
Island Challenge Amulet is an important card to this deck for the turn that you use Stinger GX or attack with [card name=”Persian-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card]. I said earlier that [card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] is your “main attacker” and while that may be so, Persian-GX is close behind. Whenever you use either of these Pokemon-GX, Island Challenge Amulet lets you keep up your Prize advantage when either is Knocked Out since they will only award a single Prize. The HP decrease hardly matters, the idea is keeping your advantage of single Prize Pokemon up.
One Great Catcher
To finish the Stinger GX for the win strategy, you will need to gust something up, often a Tag Team Pokemon-GX. You can’t afford to drag your feet for too long after Stinger GX; you want to win the game as soon as possible afterwards. A single [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] pulls its weight, the same argument could be made for the single copy here in the case of two Reset Stamp—important cards that you really only need once.
Options
Whimsicott-GX, Tapu Lele, and Counter Gain
The Fairy-type package is a decent way to improve your matchup against things with [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card]. With this, you need to run Fairy Energy and that’s going to be a two or three card commitment. What you’ll get is a way to one-shot the Fairy-weak 280 HP Pokemon. Energy Blow with the prerequisite Fairy Energy as well as a [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card] is 260. If you can use Roxie on that turn or earlier in the game to set it up, you can one-shot the three-Prize Tag Team Pokemon-GX and win the game so long as you used Stinger GX the turn before this. [card name=”Tapu Lele” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] can set up some cool spread game plans, but you’ll need [card name=”Counter Gain” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card] to pull it off in a single turn, yet another card. All said, this is going to be about a six-card package. If you’re down for that, try it out! I haven’t found the space and I like to run the deck how I have it.
Tyrogue
Bratty Kick is something to do when you’re still setting up. It’s strong against control decks where you might not have the resources to keep attacking with Pokemon that obviously will need Energy to keep swinging. [card name=”Tyrogue” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”100″ c=”name”][/card] plays into the spread potential for this deck and honestly, it’s pretty good. I’d like to have it, but it can be awkward to find Bench space for it and it’s only really good on the first few turns before you perform the Stinger GX checkmate. I think I’d skip it, but I do need to try it more to be sure. If I fit it in I might take out the baby [card name=”Naganadel” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card] or the second [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card].
Chaotic Swell
A Stadium is never bad, but I don’t think they’re needed in this deck. Some of the top-performing lists for this deck have played a single copy and when they have it’s been [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Sky Pillar” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”144″ c=”name”][/card]. Both of these are lackluster and unnecessary, I’d save the space for something else that will help you out and win you some games. I cannot envision a scenario where either of these Stadiums is great other than the fringe use against a [card name=”Lysandre Labs” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”111″ c=”name”][/card] to stop [card name=”Island Challenge Amulet” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”194″ c=”name”][/card] in a [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] deck to one-shot one of your Pokemon-GX and win the game (after Altered Creation GX). Finding the Chaotic Swell right before that happens for the Stinger GX turn throws a wrench into that strategy, so I’d just skip it altogether.
Playing the Deck
We’ve mentioned it, but outright, this deck can forge a game-winning turn against almost anything. Against anything single Prize you are heavily favored because you can take multiple Knock Outs in one turn with [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] or set something up between your [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card] (discarding [card name=”Koffing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and/or [card name=”Weezing” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]). This means your [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Galarian Obstagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card] matchups are stupendous! Against anything control with [card name=”Cinccino” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] you can accomplish the same thing, setting up a multiple Prize-taking turn with either Mew or Dewgong after a few Roxie spreads. [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] can use Resource Management and get anything extra you need to set that inevitability up.
Decks playing Tag Team Pokemon-GX that also frequently put them into place are typically favorable. You can attack into one of these Pokemon, use Stinger GX, then take a Knock Out on any of the two remaining turns you’ll have before you lose. In the case of Altered Creation GX pairings this is a little different, I’d like to flesh this out because that’s a big question mark. Fact is, you struggle against [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card]. This goes two ways, first, you might not be able to Stinger GX and set anything up before you lose. You’re on a five-turn clock from the start of the game. They GX attack on their second turn almost every game, then they have to take three Knock Outs to win. You’ll need to set up well in this matchup to win. Once set up, you need to first smack into an Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX for at least 90 damage. As long as no healing occurs, Vengeance will do 190 at its peak to finish the job the turn your Stinger GX play. I think this matchup is slightly unfavorable because it can be hard to set up as well as you need to, but perhaps a Fairy-type package could help this.
[cardimg name=”Magcargo-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”44″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Decks without a Tag Team Pokemon-GX are a little harder, but still favorable in most cases. For example, [card name=”Magcargo-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] doesn’t have one (unless they foolishly Bench [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card]) so you’ll need to take out either a baby [card name=”Magcargo” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] or their [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] in addition to a Magcargo-GX. Again, here, Island Challenge Amulet is absolutely necessary to be on your [card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] that uses Stinger GX and then on the [card name=”Persian-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] you attack with next, unless it’s a single Prize Pokemon like Dewgong (quite good in the matchup). As long as your Naganadel-GX that uses Stinger GX has an Island Challenge Amulet, these matchups are still favorable as long as you don’t put other two Prize Pokemon into play. Also be careful against anything with Magcargo-GX not to drop to five or fewer cards in deck, you don’t want to get decked out! This deck has plenty of ways to replenish the deck so as long as you’re mindful of that win condition, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Conclusion
Blacephalon is a lot more straight forward, but overwhelmingly strong. Checkmate is a crafty way to figure out a game plan and put it into action. It’s more complicated, but more rewarding when you win. Either of these decks are good in the Standard format. Try them out if you haven’t and be sure to ask any questions you’ve got in the Subscribers’ Hideout. Thanks for tuning in and continue being safe!
Peace,
–Caleb
Follow me on Twitter @shredemerptcg.
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