Back to the Grind — Four Expanded Decks and Standard M Gardevoir-EX
Hey PokeBeach! My name is Zander Bennett, and I’m one of the newest writers coming into the season! Many people have asked about my articles from before wishing that I would get back to writing, and it’s about the time that I do so! The last article I wrote was about [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] last October, almost a year ago! But now, I’m back in business, with multiple new takes on Expanded with Steam Siege.
Many people like to admit that the majority of my CP comes from Expanded, and to that they are correct, so I’m going to take the time to delve into this format later on with some exclusive deck lists, but a quick pause for the PokeBeach Writer’s Battle Royale event! This format was Primal Clash through Steam Siege and was a great dive into what happens when we lose important cards like [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Startling Megaphone” set=”Flashfire” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card], Night Marchers, [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card], and my personal unfortunate loss, [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]. Throughout the tournament, we had eight unique decks, there were two [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card] decks but the differences between Andrew Mahone‘s list and John Kettler‘s decks were so significant that they almost can’t be compared. This was not planned out, and it’s amazing that this new metagame can open up such diversity.
There are some obvious higher tier decks coming into the PRC – STS format. Without Night March hitting them for Weakness, Colorless [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Shrine of Memories” set=”Primal Clash” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] both jump up in amazing power. We’ve already seen what M Rayquaza-EX can do in Standard, but with the only card it loses being [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], the deck can easily fill those slots with some extra Energy to [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card], having a 220 HP Pokemon attacking for 240 maximum as early as turn one is no slouch. M Mewtwo-EX on the other hand, which also only loses Battle Compressor, can easily deal with any deck that can not one shot it due to [card name=”Mewtwo-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY107″ c=”name”][/card]’s Damage Change. Another powerhouse from this format, which will not be the only time that you hear about this deck is Rainbow Road. The new dual types coming out from Steam Siege (which mainly means [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card]) combined with the influx of Mega decks that you can easily OHKO and no Tool removal to discard your [card name=”Exp. Share” set=”Primal Clash” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card], this deck can stream advantageous Prize-trades easier than ever before. With these three decks in mind, as well as numerous other things considered, I went with a deck that my good friend James Hart came up with a little bit before Worlds, [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card].
M Gardevoir-EX
M Gardevoir-EX, like M Mewtwo-EX, forces your opponent to take their Prizes on three full HP Mega Pokemon. As [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] can discard all used [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], as well as damaged M Gardevoir-EX, Despair Ray does not need to be taking OHKOs to be gaining an advantageous game state. Here’s the list that I ran in the event.
[decklist name=”Mega Gardevoir STS” amt=”60″ caption=”This list is pre-Karen, changes below for once it comes out.” cname=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″][pokemon amt=”13″]4x [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”78″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”39″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Gardevoir Spirit Link” set=”Primal Clash” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”XY” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]8x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”XY” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
I’m not going to breakdown every card in this list, but there are some more interesting choices that I certainly will discuss.
Card Explanations
4-4 M Gardevoir-EX, Four Spirit Link
The beauty of this deck is its’ consistency, and this allows you to do that. [card name=”Gardevoir Spirit Link” set=”Steam Siege” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] is in a sense the [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Primal Clash” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] of Mega Evolutions, and it would make no sense in a Stage 2 deck that needs to attack with its attacker to run any less than the full four Rare Candy, hence the full counts of both the Mega and the Spirit Link.
Hoopa-EX
You’d think in a deck like this that you’d want multiple [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] to fill your Bench, and this is true, but with double [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] you can shuffle it back for whenever you need it. Also, starting it is abysmal, and every time it was [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card]’d (games two and three versus John Kettler), it was a huge problem. If I were to play this now, I’d cut one of the [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] for an [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Primal Clash” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card], but without knowing the metagame the [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card] needed to stay.
Two Enhanced Hammer
I guess I’ll go a little bit out of order here since I already mentioned the Hammers, but without knowing what you were going against, these are great in so many matchups. To name a few there’s Colorless [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”M Mewtwo-EX” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”64″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”M Steelix-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card], Rainbow Road, [card name=”Carbink BREAK” set=”Fates Collide” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zygarde-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Xerneas BREAK” set=”Steam Siege” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. The main ones they were in here for were M Rayquaza-EX and M Steelix-EX, as Steelix hitting you for Weakness is highly annoying. Most people aren’t believers in M Steelix-EX yet, and it was not played in the Invitational, but I see it as a highly strong contender for next format as well as a deck worth teching against in the free slots in this list.
Two Lysandre, Two Hex Maniac
Higher counts of tech Supporters need to be ran in the new format with the loss of [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]. Two [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] was mainly for [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], another top deck for next format, as well as [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card], a deck that I didn’t expect much of, but it could easily destroy us if we weren’t prepared for it.
Three Parallel City
[cardimg name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ align=”right” c=”custom”]Choose the blue pill and you limit your opponent’s Bench or the red pill which limits their damage output. The choice is yours.[/cardimg]
This is the point where some of you all looking at the list stopped and said “doesn’t he already discard his own Benched Pokemon with Despair Ray?” and to this I say yes. However, [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] is amazing in so many matchups. In fact, I’ll say this now, Parallel City will be the premium game-changing Stadium for the new rotation. With the Ability to limit [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], Rainbow Road, and [card name=”Raichu” set=”XY” no=”43″ c=”name”][/card]’s damage outputs with the blue side as well as [card name=”Vespiquen” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”10″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Primal Kyogre-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]’s damage output with the red side, the card is a unique staple that disrupts decks not prepared for it. With Parallel City’s existence in the metagame, decks can fall behind fast from whiffing their Stadium to return.
Eight Fairy, Four Mega Turbo, and Professor’s Letter
These counts were exactly where they need to be, with being able to discard damaged [card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] with another Despair Ray, you need the four [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] to cycle attackers.
Two Super Rod and the Addition of Karen
This main change to this list for the first Standard Regionals is the addition of Karen. The tournament was held before the news that Karen will be legal after the upcoming Keldeo versus Rayquaza decks come out, and so I could justify (and highly recommend) cutting a [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card] for a Karen. I still really like one Super Rod as you could get some Pokemon back and then play a draw Supporter, but if you really wanted to, you could cut both.
So that’s the deck! I see this as a high contender in the next Standard format, with it being versatile and highly consistent it can be a large threat to many a matchup. But it’s time to go back to Expanded, and pick up where Spring Regionals left off! If you’d like to see new exclusive deck lists for [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], Rainbow Road, Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Volcanion” set=”Steam Siege” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card], get yourself a subscription! These lists are unique and entirely different than anything that I’ve seen thus far for these lists, and so I’d highly recommend checking them out.
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M Rayquaza-EX
It wouldn’t be right for me to talk about Expanded without mentioning [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], a deck that I have high levels of faith in, especially after we get Karen. Since Arizona Regionals, the first Expanded Regionals of the season, does not have Karen, I will be posting this list without it being legal. However, Karen in this deck is just one of the most absurd additions to the deck since the release of [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card]. Here’s the deck list that I would highly recommend for this deck coming into Expanded Regionals.
[decklist name=”Mega Rayquaza” amt=”60″ caption=”Man, I love this list. Once again, pre-Karen.” cname=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″][pokemon amt=”17″]3x [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Magearna-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”49″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”36″]2x [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Skyla” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Rayquaza Spirit Link” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”87″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Mega Turbo” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”86″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Sacred Ash” set=”Flashfire” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”7″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Metal Energy” set=”XY” no=”139″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
This list isn’t that crazy, but it definitely has some advantages that [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] can exploit that I will talk about. I’m gonna go out of order on this one, since that seems most fitting.
Card Explanations
Four Trainers’ Mail, Two Puzzle of Time, and One Skyla
I hate seeing [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] turn one. I mean it. With four Puzzle of Time, it clogs your early draws. There is nothing in this deck that you want to get out of your discard pile turn one, as the main strength this deck has is its’ draw synergies featuring no [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”XY” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card]. The deck only runs two [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], you only discard what you want to discard with this deck. Having two Puzzle of Time means that on turn one you’ll have more live draws in the early game, and four [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] is just a must in this deck with the cards that this deck must get to succeed on the turn one attack. The beauty of this deck is that it is an absurdly fast deck, and Puzzle of Time is not a fast card. This deck can draw through itself so easily with the four [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], three [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card], and when you need to hit both Puzzle of Time you will. In regards for what they are for, the main matchup they are here for is [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY150″ c=”name”][/card]. The best Yveltal players know how terrible this matchup is for them, such is why the two [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] two [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] version of this deck has seen an abundance of play, and success. Two Puzzle of Time allows you to get back the Stadiums when needed, as well as [card name=”Sacred Ash” set=”Flashfire” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] to in a dire situation replace the Parallel City and fill your Bench up again. The only time that Yveltal should be in an advantageous position against you is if you whiff the [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] on the massive Yveltal that they have been powering up, and it is extremely easy to get the Stadium and a Lysandre when they are simply using Oblivion Wing against you. The [card name=”Skyla” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] comes in as another out against specifically [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card], as it is your least favorite card turn one. With at least half a brain, this list should not lose to Yveltal.
[cardimg name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ align=”right” c=”custom”]”Play two Puzzle of Time, get back Sky Field and Sacred Ash, Ultra Ball for Hoopa-EX.”[/cardimg]
For those of you opposed to only two Puzzle of Time and you would rather run zero, which I highly do not recommend, add in a [card name=”Bunnelby” set=”Primal Clash” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] as a seventh Prize attacker that can also get back Stadiums. The 60th slot is then in your case, but the speed of twp Puzzles and the ease of getting them with a large [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] is not a problem.
Another difference in how this deck plays is that Puzzle of Time in here is not reactive, it’s offensive. In the Yveltal matchup, you know that you are going to need to win the Stadium war, so play the [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] normally after the first time that you see them on a big [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card]. If you sit on both of them, take a Knock Out, and get [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]’d and [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card]’d without an out to another Stadium, you lose. Get the Sky Field back into your deck, they matter and will win you the matchup. The only way you would lose this matchup is by getting N’d and Parallel City’d with no response for a few turns, and playing the Puzzle of Time to get you your outs to this situation can win you the matchup. This is the difference between two and four Puzzle of Time, playing four means that getting N’d to lower doesn’t hurt as bad as you still have the chance to hit double Puzzle, but four in this deck slows your turn one to a halt and I dislike that a ton. Expanded is a format where you need to be fast. Every deck is a turn one aggressor or a turn one controller. Seeing Puzzle of Time turn one is not exciting, baring a [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] somewhere in your draw, which in response is only a one-of.
I know that I’m delving a lot into the [card name=”Yveltal” set=”XY” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] matchup here, but as the most played deck I feel like this is beyond important. Going first, you don’t have to go all out, which I know conflicts everything that I have written up to this point. However, you waste Pokemon by going first, filling your Bench, and getting Parallel City’d. This does not mean that I would go second in the matchup at all given the choice, it is more of an analysis of when to explode. With a Benched Pokemon, Yveltal will not beat you turn one. Be safe and save the cards to go off for when you are going to attack.
One Magearna-EX and No Pokemon Ranger
I figured I would mention both of these cards in the same point as they both came out in our latest set, so here’s the breakdown.
[card name=”Magearna-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] is a sweet card. As demonstrated by our World Champion, this card blocks a ton of stuff, mainly Stardust, saving your two [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] for other more important cards, such as Stadiums previously mentioned.
No [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] is a choice that scares me a little bit, however I do not see a need for them. I’m not going into the analysis of the “People know Ranger exists so they won’t play decks that lose to Ranger so I won’t play Ranger” logic because that’s not exactly why I don’t run it, though it is a factor. The main matchup that it is relevant against is versus [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card], with which the [card name=”Xerosic” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card] that is also not in the list anymore, doesn’t change much. Here’s the logic with Giratina-EX.
Giratina-EX blocks your Tools, Special Energy, and Stadiums from hitting the board, right? So, they had to have Chaos Wheeled for this to happen, so with a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] on them your [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] has 110 damage on it. You [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] and play your [card name=”Rayquaza Spirit Link” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”87″ c=”name”][/card], Mega Evolve, attach your [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] all on another Rayquaza, and play your Sky Field. You are now praying on a few factors.
[cardimg name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ align=”right” c=”custom”]”You are the weakest link. Goodbye.”[/cardimg]
- They do not play a Stadium card, which for the case of [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] is semi-likely as they run two or three Stadiums.
- They do not discard your [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] on your [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card]. If they do, you must Pokemon Ranger again and attach another Double Colorless Energy hoping that they do not discard that the turn after. With [card name=”Crushing Hammer” set=”Generations” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Enhanced Hammer” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”94″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Xerosic” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”110″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], this is once again unlikely.
- You have all of this in your hand. You can’t play a [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] to get extra [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] draws, and if they have [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] then you can’t Shaymin-EX at all. If your hand is Pokemon Ranger and Sky Field, then you also have to have an [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] to get a Shaymin-EX to dig and still hope to draw it.
- All of these situations require that you have a [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] for your next turn. Pokemon Ranger is not good unless you go Pokemon Ranger first, then Hex Maniac next turn.
- They do not have another Giratina-EX powered up ready to go for when you Pokemon Ranger then Hex Maniac to Knock Out one Giratina-EX. If they have any of the cards listed above in points one and two, you’re behind again.
[card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] in [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is not a good card versus [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. Now, people are also saying that Pokemon Ranger is good against [card name=”Regice” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Glaceon-EX” set=”Fates Collide” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card], to this I agree. But the only deck that is supporting both of these Pokemon is Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] can ruin any chance that they have of powering it up. The only way that they get one of these guys out is if you whiff a Hex Maniac and they have Blastoise out (they most likely had to get this out under Hex Maniac which is almost impossible) and have the three Energy and the Regice and Glaceon-EX in hand. If the Regice or Glaceon-EX hits the board before the Hex Maniac chain ends, just [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] it and kill it. In one turn, they have to have the attacker, a way to retreat their Active, and a way to power it up (being both Deluge and access to three Water Energy). Under a Hex Maniac chain, this deck has to have a Pokemon to sacrifice each turn to not lose the game by getting Benched, and at this point we are taking Prizes over and over. On the turn that we miss the Hex Maniac chain, they now have to Bench even more Pokemon to get the attack off! It is very easy to take six Prizes on the board via Hex chains and [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] before Regice or Glaceon-EX does enough work to you. Without them running an [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card], I would argue that the matchup is still as good as it was for me at Arizona Regionals last year, and both of these can be fixed by an [card name=”Escape Rope” set=”Primal Clash” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card] if you choose to run it instead of one of the [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], which I deem unnecessary but if your faith is low than I’ll suggest it. Escape Rope is enough of an out because there is no way that they power up a Regice or a Glaceon-EX without benching a Blastoise.
With that ends my analysis on [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] in this format. I believe this list is of the highest caliber for what the metagame deems right now. Between having Hex Maniac which is still a year after its release such a powerhouse card, combined with the ability to do whatever you want essentially, once Night March rotates I can see this deck as a strong threat without many decks being able to beat it.
Rainbow Road
Staying in the realm of my lover, [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], Rainbow Road is another deck that is a solid choice for your Expanded Regionals coming up. The main problem with this deck is that [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] is a significantly worse matchup with this deck as opposed to [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], but this deck does have its own advantages. When people ask “Why Rainbow Road as opposed to M Rayquaza-EX?” my response is something along the lines of “Both decks do the same thing with the trade off that Rainbow Road is a good deck on a coin flip with a non-EX attacker.” The nice thing is that you get a few chances on the coin flip with multiple copies of [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card]. Let me share the list that I’ve been working on for this format.
[decklist name=”Rainbow Road” amt=”60″ caption=”This is pre-Karen but I don’t think I would run it in this deck.” cname=”Xerneas” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”107″][pokemon amt=”15″]4x [card name=”Xerneas” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”49″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY” no=”79″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”35″]3x [card name=”Professor Juniper” set=”Black and White” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Black and White” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”XY” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”XY” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”XY” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Darkness Energy” set=”XY” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Card Explanations
Two Ninja Boy and Four Different Basic Energy
If any deck exploits Ninja Boy in Expanded, it is Rainbow Road.
[cardimg name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ align=”right” c=”custom”]”And now, I will make this Ho-Oh-EX disappear!”[/cardimg]
This card is ridiculous in here! Literally insane! No longer do you have to get a [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] into play and find an [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Generations” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card], all you need to do is Ninja Boy your Ho-Oh-EX into a [card name=”Xerneas” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] and it’s fully powered up! Now, you have two other Energy types that you can [card name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] this card into. You want [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] on board but [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY08″ c=”name”][/card] are the most common Pokemon that morph from Xerneas instantly. This card on its own gives the deck more options, on top of the variety of options you had before hand. The reason we run four different types of Basic Energy now is because you cannot afford to prize you Dark Energy or Lightning Energy and only Rebirth for two if you are going for the Ninja Boy plan. You still do have your attachment for the turn, but this could be used attaching to another Xerneas that you did not have to Ninja Boy, so this plan allows you to go positive on Energy. With four [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], you still will have multiple outs to get all of your Ho-Oh-EX back into the discard pile post Ninja Boy, and so this deck gains a lot from this simple inclusion.
This deck does play a little bit differently as a response to the inclusion of Ninja Boy, mainly in regards to your retreating methods and choosing what to bench. If you Ninja Boy your Ho-Oh-EX into a Xerneas with three Energy on it, you can attach a [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Fates Collide” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] to something to retreat it for turn and still attack. This also works in reverse, as if you have a Xerneas powered up, they can [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] something in an attempt to stall for time, and you can Ninja Boy it into Jolteon-EX for free Retreat.
[card name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] is sweet but Rainbow Road is not a glorified Ninja Boy deck, it’s a deck that gains strength from Ninja Boy. If you need extra types on your Bench to get a Knock Out onto a Pokemon, you by all means bench those types. Ninja Boy adds options but it is not “the” option. The deck has enough power anyways in the form of Rainbow Force that those outs are only necessary if you need them or if they are giving you an advantageous board position. The neat thing about Ninja Boy is that in this deck it fills both roles as a consistency card and a “win-harder” card, while providing the same benefits of [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card]. After its’ release, I would not play this deck without it.
No Fighting Fury Belt, No Volcanion-EX, and No Pokemon Ranger
This section will be nowhere near as long as the others have been, as the response to each of these is pretty straightforward.
No [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] is because the only reason you aren’t getting Knock Outs is an absence of [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] and if you whiff the [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] you can [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] a [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] into a [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] for the turn. Flash Ray plus a no Sky Field Rainbow Force should definitely Knock Out everything, and this deck doesn’t mind sacrificing a Pokemon-EX because its main attacker is a non-EX.
No [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] is because Fire is represented by [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] and Water by [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card]. If you find yourself whiffing Knock Outs because of using Ninja Boy to shuffle in your Ho-Oh-EX, than you could consider running this. However, I would add something of another type just for the extra type, like a [card name=”Druddigon” set=”Flashfire” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] since we have no Dragon or [card name=”Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick” set=”Primal Clash” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] for Fighting. A [card name=”Hawlucha” set=”Furious Fists” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card] could be cute as another free retreater, and in that case change the Water Energy for a Fighting Energy.
No [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] is because the only reason you would want this card is, once again, [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card], but in this deck you can just flip on [card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Ninja Boy” set=”Steam Siege” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] it into a [card name=”Xerneas” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] for a KO. [card name=”Jolteon-EX” set=”Generations” no=”28″ c=”name”][/card] is not a threat to this deck, and this is the time that I will use the logic of “people won’t play Jolteon-EX because Pokemon Ranger exists so I don’t need to play it.” mostly because we struggle on space. The main reason we run our own Jolteon-EX is that it is a free retreater that we can get off of [card name=”Hoopa-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY71″ c=”name”][/card] and has utility with providing a relevant Energy type and a solid Ninja Boy target.
And that is Rainbow Road! Would you guys believe me if I said that the next two decks I’m going to be talking about won’t run [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card]? Next is Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card].
Archie’s Blastoise
Now, you may be wondering, “Zander, why Archie’s Blastoise? Don’t you just get body-bagged by multiples of the top decks?” In response to this question, I would normally say “Of course.” But this list is not the same. Let’s take a look and see,
[decklist name=”Black Kyurem/ArchieStoise” amt=”60″ caption=”Black Ballista *draws 2 prizes*” cname=”Black Kyurem-EX” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”95″][pokemon amt=”18″]3x [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”49″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Black Kyurem-EX” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Exeggcute” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”4″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Articuno” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”17″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Kyogre-EX” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”26″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]2x [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Juniper” set=”Black and White” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Superior Energy Retrieval” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]8x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”XY” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card]2x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”XY” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
For starters, let’s talk about what makes this different.
Card Explanations
Two Black Kyurem-EX and Two Muscle Band
Generally speaking, the matchups for this deck change a ton when considering [card name=”Black Kyurem-EX” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] as a main attacker over [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card]. Black Kyurem-EX over Keldeo-EX significantly improves the [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC16″ c=”name”][/card] matchup, as they can’t just Evil Ball and destroy your attacker. This deck would not be good right now without the addition of Black Kyurem-EX. Now with [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] being a common sight in Expanded, two [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] are needed so that Black Ballista can Knock Out the main Pokemon-EX in the metagame (which basically means [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY150″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card]). This also improves your [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] matchup, which is still not great, but significantly better since you can trade two for two on Prizes with a four Energy Muscle Banded [card name=”Black Kyurem-EX” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] over an eight Energy Muscle Banded [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card]. Though I mainly talk about this card as good in a few matchups, it has overall utility in any Pokemon-EX-based matchup as they just, well, die. Their Active Pokemon doesn’t live for long when you have a Black Kyurem-EX swinging.
Two Articuno
[cardimg name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ align=”right” c=”custom”]”The truth is in ya face when ya hear the Blastoise’s cannons go boom! Hamilton anyone?”[/cardimg]
This is mainly for a Night March expectant metagame, but soon enough Karen will be legal and we won’t need both of these. I would still run one because the card is simply very good in this deck, and I could see it being replaced with a few different cards. Another [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] could be considered (but with Karen, you may not need it), a [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] could be justified, another [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] or a third Lightning Energy, another [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], there are many options for this slot. The Float Stone seems like the best one, but it’s a free slot so it can be adjusted to your personal needs.
Three Unown Over Three Acro Bike
Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] is one of those decks that, in most matchups, shouldn’t lose if it gets set up (note this includes getting more than just an [card name=”Archie’s Ace in the Hole” set=”Primal Clash” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] off, you gotta get a board state too). Therefore, a lot of people’s fear in this deck comes from turn one [card name=”Ghetsis” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card], which as somebody who has lost in Top 4 of a Regional Championship due to Ghetsis, I can see why. But this is kind of a personal choice, [card name=”Acro Bike” set=”Primal Clash” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] is inherently better as you get to see two cards versus one while [card name=”Unown” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”30″ c=”name”][/card] means that your opponent has to have one more card to mess up your hand (which mainly means [card name=”Yveltal” set=”Steam Siege” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] since they are the only main decks commonly running the Ghetsis plus Silent Lab combo). I put Unown into the list because, going into a blind metagame, it’s a “better card” since it forces your opponent to need more stuff to mess you up, but it also has the unique use of being able to be Benched, not used, than you Archie and Farewell Letter after, while Acro Bike does not have such utility. Acro Bike also forces you to hit a playable off of the two cards, which the deck is built for you to do just that, but in an instance that Acro Bike whiffs, you just don’t end up with an Archie while Unown can still get you the value you need, since you’ll never be forced to use the Farewell Letter.
Eight Water and Two Lightning
You don’t need as many Energy when [card name=”Black Kyurem-EX” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] takes KO’s for four Energy while [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] needs way more, so we’re able to cut down on the Energy counts for this list, making room for other cool cards.
These isn’t much to note in regards to the Trainers in this deck, since the core of most Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] decks is pretty much the same, so that kind of ends the section about this deck. Archie’s Blastoise seems like a great play if you don’t know what the metagame will consist of. Now with Black Kyruem-EX, you have a lot more play to your matchups instead of just “how big can my Secret Sword be” since you can use your extra Energy on other attackers.
Volcanion
The deck I am most excited to talk about is [card name=”Volcanion” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY145″ c=”name”][/card], and it’s that time! This deck is literally flames. [card name=”Volcanion” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY145″ c=”name”][/card] is just a better [card name=”Yveltal” set=”XY” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] on so many levels, and we already know how good Oblivion Wing is, making Power Heater absurd. [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card] is no slouch too with its attack, 130 for three Energy is fantastic especially when you can scale it to your needs with Steam Up. The deck also gets some new friends in Expanded, or more like cards that are rotating out of Standard, in the form of [card name=”Blacksmith” set=”Flashfire” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], as well as [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] to Rush In and reset the “can’t attack” clause on Volcanion-EX. Here’s the list so you can see all the spice I got going on here.
[decklist name=”Volcanion” amt=”60″ caption=”Baby Volcanion is straight up the MVP” cname=”Volcanion” set=”Steam Siege” no=”25″][pokemon amt=”11″]4x [card name=”Volcanion” set=”Steam Siege” no=”25″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”49″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”37″]3x [card name=”Professor Juniper” set=”Black and White” no=”101″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Blacksmith” set=”Flashfire” no=”88″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Flashfire” no=”90″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trainers’ Mail” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”99″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”XY” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Black and White” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Superior Energy Retrieval” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Energy Recycler” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”72″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Energy Reset” set=”Fates Collide” no=”98″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]12x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”XY” no=”133″ c=”deck2″ amt=”12″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Yes, you did see an [card name=”Energy Reset” set=”Fates Collide” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card] in the list. Unlike Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] where the unique parts were in the Pokemon and the Energy, this deck is special in its Trainer counts, so let’s start straight in with six different one-of Supporters.
[cardimg name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ align=”right” c=”custom”]”Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.”[/cardimg]
Card Explanations
One-of Supporters
The main one-of worth talking about here is [card name=”Delinquent” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card], as this deck does not run a Stadium, we need a way to discard any [card name=”Silent Lab” set=”Primal Clash” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] played, but to be honest, Silent Lab isn’t as relevant as you might think. You still have ways to discard Fire Energy other than Steam Up (such as [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Fates Collide” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card]), and [card name=”Volcanion” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY145″ c=”name”][/card] does relevant amounts of damage versus Yveltal anyway. With the Delinquent, you can surprise an Yveltal player out of nowhere and take a big Knock Out, or shrink their hand size as this deck doesn’t need much than just Fire Energy. If you take a turn to discard their hand to zero and get two Energy in play with Power Heater that would be a great turn. Running only one [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] is because we now have [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] to Rush In and retreat to reset the attack clause like on [card name=”Kyurem” set=”Plasma Freeze” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] in the past years. All other one-of Supporters are pretty straightforward, [card name=”Colress” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] is pretty sweet in this deck since you will always have a full Bench, [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”AZ” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”91″ c=”name”][/card] are just staples, and [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] basically equals 120 damage from nowhere.
One Professor’s Letter, One Energy Retrieval, One Superior Energy Retrieval, One Energy Recycler, and One Energy Reset
This compilation of ways to get Energy back is absurdly good. [card name=”Professor’s Letter” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] gets Energy out both in the early and the late game thanks to the power of [card name=”Energy Recycler” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”72″ c=”name”][/card], which when you always want Energy in your deck, it’s kind of ridiculous. There will always be at least two Energy in your discard pile to get back with [card name=”Energy Retrieval” set=”Primal Clash” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card], so this is a great card at any time but the first turn. And then there is [card name=”Energy Reset” set=”Fates Collide” no=”98″ c=”name”][/card].
This is a card that I am going to have to talk a lot about, or at least give a huge sales pitch. With Power Heater, you end your first turn with three Energy in play. Most of the time it will die, and so you attach for turn and Power Heater and now that’s five Energy in play. So, you now have the means to Energy Reset, bringing five Energy to your hand, Steam Up four times (which most of the time, you don’t need all four), [card name=”Blacksmith” set=”Flashfire” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] back two of them, attach for turn, Power Heater, and all five Energy are back into play. It’s a sweet combo for getting a ton of Energy into play, and at its worse, it’s an Energy Retrieval. The set ups with this deck get way crazier as the game goes on, and this deck will have plenty of Energy to work with, so this card will always have some use post the first turn of the game. This card is insanely spicy, but as opposed to being spicy as in cute but not worth it, this card when played correctly will win games all on its own. It absolutely floods your hand with Energy, and in this deck that is never a bad thing.
Dowsing Machine
With the infinite mixed options from the plethora of Energy retrieval cards ran, [card name=”Dowsing Machine” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] lets us find the extra copy of the specific one we need for the job. The deck is rather straightforward in regards to what you want in the early turns of the game, so [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] isn’t necessary to find a piece to the puzzle like in Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”M Rayquaza-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], but instead can be used for that last clutch one-of.
Conclusion
I know that the analysis for the last two decks was a little shorter, but those decks don’t have as much to talk about in regards to specific card counts as opposed to why certain cards are worth running as opposed to others. If you have any questions about this article, please message me, I’d love to be of any assistance I can. These are the four decks that I am highly considering for all of the Expanded season, and I can’t see much changing that. These all seem like insane plays, and the lists may change some but the fact that all of these can beat [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY150″ c=”name”][/card], the highest played deck, with medium to high ease, plus are just strong decks against the rest of the metagame, makes me really excited to play them for this season.
I’m so glad to be writing again, thank you for taking the time to read this article! Until next time, where I may give Standard a whirl, Zander Bennett signing out.
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