Battle Styles — Bronzong and Top Picks for the New Set
Hello Pokebeach readers! In this article I’m going to be talking about [card name=”Bronzong” set=”Battle Styles” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] from Battle Styles. In previous seasons, Energy transfer decks would use [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to take favorable trades with Pokemon that couldn’t OHKO their attackers. However, Max Potion isn’t legal in this format. So this deck takes advantage of the new supporter card [card name=”Cheryl” set=”Battle Styles” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card], but since Cheryl doesn’t heal Basic Pokemon, this deck is going to attack with a Pokemon VMAX — [card name=”Copperajah VMAX” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card]! With its massive 340 HP, this Pokemon is never getting OHKO’d. Bronzong combined with Cheryl lets the Copperajah VMAX out trade and two shot everything your opponent throws at you. Normally, these Energy transfer decks run a form of [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card] like [card name=”Aurora Energy” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card] along with different attackers from various Pokemon types to abuse Weakness and take easy KOs. The reason I’ve choosen not to do that is because most Basic Pokemon get OHKO’d in this format, meaning the Energy transfer is nearly useless aside from being Energy acceleration when combined with [card name=”Metal Saucer” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card]. This strategy isn’t strong enough to contend with the Tier 1 decks in the current meta. That is why I’ve chosen to lean toward a Copperjah VMAX build trying to take as many hits as possible while pressuring your opponent with consistent 240 damage.
The Copperajah VMAX / Bronzong List
[decklist name=”brozng” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Bronzong” set=”Battle Styles” no=”102″][pokemon amt=”15″]2x [card name=”Bronzong” set=”Battle Styles” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Bronzor” set=”Battle Styles” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Copperajah VMAX” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Copperajah V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Eldegoss V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”19″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]4x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Shining Fates” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Cheryl” set=”Battle Styles” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Switch” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Metal Saucer” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”170″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Metal Goggles” set=”Team Up” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”182″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]7x [card name=”Metal Energy” set=”Diamond and Pearl” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]4x [card name=”Coating Metal Energy” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
[cardimg name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Evolution Lines
I’ve opted for a 3-2 Bronzong line because it isn’t needed in the early game. Bronzong is important to set up somewhere in the middle of the match so you can start using Cheryl. Since you don’t need Bronzong immediately, cutting back on the line helps improve the deck’s consistency. The Copperajah VMAX line is a bit thicker at 3-3, but this is because it is not really needed until about turn 3 as you will often use [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] throughout the early turns. These thinner lines help make space for higher counts of cards such as [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Metal Goggles” set=”Team Up” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], which really let the deck work to its fullest.
Three Zacian V
Three copies of Zacian V are needed to ensure the deck is consistent, especially as you don’t attack in the early turns. But Zacian V is also a great attacker in this deck because it it hits for about the same amount of damage as Copperajah VMAX, as well as being a Basic Pokemon. You can attach Metal Googles onto Zacian V, which takes it out of range against many of the top decks in Standard. As you can see in this list, the deck isn’t running a ton of support Pokemon and that’s because it wants to play around [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card]. It is difficult for your opponent to use Boss’s Orders to take a Knock Out on Zacian V with Metal Googles attached.
Two Boss’s Orders
Unlike most decks, this deck often doesn’t get free turns to play Boss’s Orders. Boss’s Orders isn’t as reliable since this deck doesn’t play [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card]. However, with how the deck is built Boss’s Orders isn’t that important. Most decks get two shot by a [card name=”Copperajah VMAX” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], plus many decks can’t afford to switch between attackers constantly so they often attack with the damaged attacker. This means we can lower its Boss’s Orders count to make more space for consistency cards and healing options. Another reason this deck doesn’t play a higher count of Boss’s Orders is because most turns are spent healing your Active Spot Pokemon with Cheryl. Decks like [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] (ADP) / Zacian V and [card name=”Eternatus VMAX” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] will try and two shot your Copperajah VMAX then take some easy Prizes with Boss’s Orders, so you need to keep using [card name=”Cheryl” set=”Battle Styles” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Bronzong” set=”Battle Styles” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] to stop that. But if you play Cheryl, you can’t play Boss’s Orders on the same turn. Boss’s Orders isn’t a very pivotal card in this deck unlike the majority of decks in the current Standard format.
Four Pokemon Communication
If you’ve read some of my other articles you will know I despise Pokemon Communication. I think the card is inherently inconsistent because you are forced to have another specific card in your hand. However, this deck plays a fair amount of Pokemon along with two different Evolution lines. Currently, the only other way to search for these Evolution Pokemon would be [card name=”Evolution Incense” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card], but I don’t play it because it doesn’t allow you to get Basic Pokemon — making it completely useless on turn 1, the most important turn of the game. For that reason I have begrudgingly chosen Pokemon Communication as my secondary Pokemon search card. Pokemon Communication gets the job done in most scenarios because it finds you your Copperajah VMAX as well as Bronzong. If another search option were to be released, I would recommend using that over Pokemon Communication because the natural inconsistencies behind Pokemon Communication can make the difference between winning and losing a game.
Switch
Most Energy transfer decks in the past would run some form of a free retreat option. However this deck doesn’t have access to that, so it unfortunately has to play four [card name=”Switch” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card]. This deck runs Switch mostly as an anti-stall card and to get your Copperajah VMAX into the Active Spot. You could cut down on Switch to make room for better cards, but in this list I felt I wanted to maximize consistency in the early turns to ensure you aren’t giving up free Prizes.
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Metal Goggles
This is the best tool for this deck. It helps keep the core strategy of the deck by allowing Copperajah VMAX to tank more hits and potentially allow you to whiff a turn of Cheryl. You can also attach Metal Goggles to Bronzong so you can avoid getting KO’d by cards like [card name=”Dragapult VMAX” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] that will try to snipe down your Bronzong on the Bench. Another tool of choice would be [card name=”Big Charm” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card] as the HP boost can be helpful against decks such as Poison Eternatus VMAX because Metal Goggles doesn’t prevent damage from Poison. I feel that Metal Goggles preventing spread damage onto Bronzong is the bigger upside so it is the better addition. But if Poison becomes more prevalent then Big Charm could be a better option.
Pokegear 3.0
This card acts as both a consistency and healing card in this deck. When playing with this deck I often found myself wanting more consistency, so I tried cards such as [card name=”Sonia” set=”Champion’s Path” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Bruno” set=”Battle Styles” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] to potentially give the deck the boost it needed. Both these cards felt flat and often didn’t provide the consistency the deck needs. But [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Sword and Shield” no=”174″ c=”name”][/card] has been a great card because it helps you find Supporters especially Cheryl so you can heal your Active Spot Pokemon. If I were to cut a card from this list, I want to add a fourth copy of Pokegear 3.0 because of how much this Item brings to the deck.
Coating Metal Energy
There isn’t much to say about [card name=”Coating Metal Energy” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card] because its pretty self explanatory, but I felt it was worth mentioning that it is strictly to make the [card name=”Centiskorch VMAX” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”34″ c=”name”][/card] matchup winnable. If you feel the matchup isn’t good enough with Coating Metal Energy or you don’t care about the matchup, you can cut it from your deck. But I would recommend keeping the Energy count to at least ten to maintain a consistent stream of Energy cards for your attacker.
Potential Inclusions
Aegislash VMAX
[cardimg name=”Aegislash VMAX” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”127″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
This would be an alternative attacker for the deck. With [card name=”Aegislash VMAX” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card], you have some upsides in the form of a hyper damage cap and a better Pokemon V in [card name=”Aegislash V” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card] when compared to [card name=”Copperajah V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card]. However, Aegislash VMAX has less HP and is a bit weaker in the early game, which is why I chose Copperajah VMAX for this build. Aegislash VMAX also can’t two shot an Eternatus VMAX if you haven’t taken a Prize, which was a deciding factor in why I felt it wasn’t as good as Copperajah VMAX. Aegislash VMAX does have some potential so it would likely be just as strong as Copperajah VMAX in all matchups except Eternatus VMAX.
Lucario and Melmetal-GX
The addition of [card name=”Lucario and Melmetal-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] is mostly for its GX attack. This would make Copperajah VMAX a 400 HP tank that can be fully healed. I opted not to play it in the current build because I felt the extra damage reduction wasn’t needed and having it in play is a liability that would ultimately lose games. However the GX attack does bring a lot to the table. You can’t lose the [card name=”Decidueye” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”13″ c=”name”][/card] matchup as they basically can’t deal damage. In addition, your [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] cant be OHKO by an opposing Zacian V in the ADP matchup. If those are important matchups in an upcoming event, one copy of Lucario and Melmetal-GX is a great inclusion and makes the deck harder to beat.
Stoutland V
A weird inclusion I’ve been messing with is Stoutland V. Stoutland V’s first attack allows you to take an extra Prize card if the Pokemon is KO’d by the damage from the attack. 40 damage isn’t very much so you’d have to soften them up with another attack beforehand, but in both the Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX and [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] matchups you can hit their Pokemon for just enough damage so they aren’t KO’d, then use Stoutland V to take an extra Prize. This can be pivotal against [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] specifically because you often hit ADP for 240 damage with [card name=”Copperajah VMAX” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], then they attack you and try to get the two shot. This allows you to go into Stoutland V to take the KO and checkmate your opponent as you will be able to knock out their Zacian V on the following turn with your own Zacian V. You can also do this to an opposing Zacian V by using Copperajah VMAX’s first attack then using Stoutland V for the KO. As for Pikachu and Zekrom-GX and [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card], you can pull off the same combo where you hit for 240 damage then use Stoutland V to take four Prizes. I don’t play Stoutland V because it felt too inconsistent in testing, but if you can find a way to make it work I feel Stoutland V is a great addition to this deck and can really put some pressure on your opponent.
Top Picks for Battle Styles
Stoutland V
I talked about how Stoutland V can be used in the [card name=”Bronzong” set=”Battle Styles” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] / Copperajah VMAX deck but I feel it has the potential to be a great tech in a lot of Standard format decks. For example, in ADP Stoutland V is a great tech against any deck that runs [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] like the [card name=”Blacephalon-GX” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”52″ c=”name”][/card] deck. When combined with ADP, you can use Stoutland V to KO a Jirachi and take three Prize cards. This will swing nearly any matchup against decks with Jirachi to your favor because they often try to use Jirachi as a free Prize during the game. Stoutland V is also good in any deck that can power it up in a single turn like [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] decks and Pikachu and Zekrom-GX because it runs [card name=”Tag Switch” set=”Unified Minds” no=”209″ c=”name”][/card]. In these decks, you can manipulate your damage then use Stoutland to close out games where you’d otherwise need to take another KO. Stoutland V isn’t good in every deck, but it definitely brings a lot of value to decks in a format where games finish in three turns. I will try to make Stoutland V work and potentially write about it in my next article so watch out for that.
Single Strike Style Mustard and Rapid Strike Style Mustard
I don’t think these cards are very good right now because there are only a few Single Strike and Rapid Strike Pokemon. But these cards have the potential to be as game breaking as [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick” set=”Primal Clash” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card]. This card effect is so strong that it got Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick banned and Archie’s Ace in the Hole remains a staple in the Expanded format. I believe that once we see more Single Strike and Rapid Strike Pokemon, these cards will likely find their way into a competitive deck. As for now, I think their best use is in the Expanded format to get an Urshifu VMAX onto the board on turn 1. In Expanded, a [card name=”Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] deck with a [card name=”Rapid Strike Style Mustard” set=”Battle Styles” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] engine could be very strong. You can do 210 damage on turn 1 with [card name=”Strong Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Diancie Prism Star” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]. Plus, it is a 330 HP massive Pokemon that can utilise [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to heal any damage done to it. Either [card name=”Single Strike Style Mustard” set=”Battle Styles” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] or Rapid Strike Style Mustard wouldn’t make or break this deck because you likely would play some normal [card name=”Single Strike Urshifu V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”85″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Rapid Strike Urshifu V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”87″ c=”name”][/card] to establish some form of [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] chain — to return a damaged [card name=”Single Strike Urshifu VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] or Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX to your hand and evolve another at the Active Spot. To summarize, I think both Mustard Supporter cards are currently not good enough in Standard but will likely find a deck as more Single Strike and Rapid Strike Pokemon are released.
Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX
I talked briefly about it but this card needs to have a section for itself. Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX is insanely strong and will likely be a Tier 1 deck in the upcoming Standard format. In combination with [card name=”Cheryl” set=”Battle Styles” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card], this card is going to be incredibly hard to KO as well as two hitting everything in the meta. Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX is a Fighting-type, great for the current meta because it hits both Pikachu and Zekrom-GX and [card name=”Eternatus VMAX” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] for Weakness. Urshifu VMAX also has a phenomenal second attack when combined with the new Rapid Strike Energy, making it very easy to snipe two Pokemon on your opponent’s Bench for 120 damage every other turn. This snipe damage combined with the easy pressure from Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX’s first attack will make this card an incredible force in the Standard and Expanded format.
Kricketune V
Similar to [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Kricketune V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card] provides a nice source of draw power that helps when your opponent plays [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card] during the late game when you are low on Prizes. I currently use Kicketune V as one of the main draw sources in my Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX deck. Since on most turns you want to move Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX to your Bench either through a [card name=”Switch” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card] or an [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card], you can get the bonus affect of getting an extra card off Kricketune V. This extra draw is great in a deck like Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX because it wants to be as aggressive as possible. I run [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] as my main Supporter in this deck because Kricketune V provides the extra draw you are getting by not using a better Supporter such as [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card].
Empoleon V
I honestly don’t know where [card name=”Empoleon V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card]’s Ability fits into either Standard or Expanded formats because it doesn’t affect Pokemon with a Rule Box. However, similar Abilities in the past find a way to be very strong. My first idea with Empoleon V was to use it in Expanded as a wall because you can use [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW28″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] while its at the Active Spot, limiting the opponent. But [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] plays that role better. For now, I’m not sure where Empoleon V fits into either meta but I’m confident that with such a strong Ability, it will likely see play at some point either in a stall deck or a hit and run deck.
Conclusion
I think Bronzong / [card name=”Copperajah VMAX” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] is going to be a strong deck that keeps pace with the rest of the meta as it can consistently tank hits from all of the top decks. Being able to completely heal a 340 HP Pokemon and consistently hit for 240 damage is unheard of in the Pokemon TCG until this point and will make for an incredibly strong deck.
My top picks for Battle Styles are all cards I think have a ton of potential and will be competitive at some point in their life span. These cards provide great effects that allow many decks to either outpace the opponent or completely cripple their set up.
As always, make sure you check out the other articles here on PokeBeach — there’s a ton of great content that’s useful for all types of players, old and new. If you have any questions for me about the deck in this article, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Until next time.
-Michael
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