Card support beyond Tag Team Cards

"With the release of the latest Pokémon TCG expansion, Sun & Moon—Team Up, you're undoubtedly hearing a lot about the new TAG TEAM cards that add a whole new element of strategy to the game. But with all the excitement surrounding those cards, let's not forget all the other fantastic cards that you'll find in this new expansion. Take a look at some of the other useful cards that will boost the power of your deck." - from the pokemon Website

This states that even through the power of the introduced Tag Team cards, there are plenty of other core-support cards that were introduced as well.

Prism Star Cards

"Prism Star cards continue to be mighty additions in the Sun & Moon—Team Upexpansion. Tapu Koko Prism Star, for example, makes an impact with its Dance of the Ancients Ability, which lets you attach a Lightning Energy from your discard pile to 2 of your Benched Pokémon, if Tapu Koko  is also Benched. Tapu Koko must then be placed in the Lost Zone, and any cards attached to it get discarded." - Pokemon Website

These rarities give you the chance to use powerful abilities to support your deck's strategies. For example, Tapu Koko is an extremely useful support card for the Marshadow/Vika Volt deck.

This favors a return for the lost zone, which has existed all the way back in Diamond and Pearl.

The Pokemon TCG in 2019!

Hey again friends,

it's been a while, but as I am about to travel to Japan to partake in a few tournaments, I would like to let you know some thoughts about what types of decks are becoming popular.

For now, it's basically Marshadow/Vikavolt/Dedenne/Zapdos and a variety of Magikarp/Wailord tag Team variants!

Seismitoad EX Revival

Seismitoad EX's Fate

With a lot of cards being rotated out of a typical Seismitoad EX decklist, Seismitoad will have to obtain a new fate. 

The base strategy for a typical Seismitoad EX deck would be to prevent your opponent from playing item cards starting turn 1.

Now that the compatible tools have rotated out, Seismitoad needs to survive on its on.

But how?

Seismitoad has now become a tool that can be used in almost any deck. Whether it is to stall while setting up your main attackers, or using Seismitoad to counter popular cards, this is the fate that has been given to him.

He is now a card that can be splashed into any deck.

"Hey, what deck do you play?" "Vespiquen, with a splash of Seismitoad" = This is what typical Pokemon TCG conversations will be like. 

So, why is he so compatible?

1. He has a double colorless energy attack, compatible energy-wise with every deck today.

2. Its primary attack can slow your opponent's setup massively. This will make your setup faster/keep up with your opponent.

3. It has 180 HP, like most EXs.

What are some of his downsides?

1. 30 Damage is not really much for an EX. a Muscle band would help quite a bit.

2. A 3 retreat cost.

3. Its water typing. Now that Grass Pokemon are back on the rise, it will be hard to keep up its HP in the new format.

Thus, I would recommend running 1-2 Seismitoad EX in your decks at most.

Tidal Wave Deck

Tidal Wave Deck

A Kyogre EX healing based Deck

Now that every type has some kind of set-up support, Water types cannot be let out of the 'flow'.

The strategy behind this Water deck includes stalling for continuous HP regeneration and energy movement accross your side of the field.

Let's get started!

Main Attackers/Ability users: Ancient Trait Swamper & Primal Kyogre EX

These two Pokemon will be used for energy acceleration, to get the 'flow' going. Swampert's ability lets him get any card in your deck, and put it on top, after shuffling it, of course. This means that the deck has at least one search engine to rely on, making the setup easier. Only if the Swampert is already existent on the field, of course.

Each of these Pokemon have an Ancient Trait which lets them attach 2 energies on them, per turn. This effect will be important in combination with various trainer cards. Presented below.

Support stadium/Tool

Roles:

Healing Scarf: 

Used for healing the Pokemon it is attached to whenever an energy is attached to that specific Pokemon. In the case of Swampert/Primal Kyogre EX, that would be 40 Damage healed. PER TURN!

Rough Seas:

Lets you heal 30 damage from each of your water Pokemon EACH TURN. That is already a 70 Health Regen per turn.

 These were the base cards you want in this deck. Now, since I have gotten them out of the way, I will be talking about the alternatives, which are not mandatory, but my own preferred cards to be used in this deck.

Alternatives:

Mega Turbo:

I suggest running just 1 or 2 of these, as they don't affect the ancient trait abilities of either Swampert or Kyogre. They are used as a last stand defense mechanism, nothing more. Used to get energy out of the discard pile to one of your Mega Pokemon. (Primal Kyogre)

Ancient Origins Lugia EX:

I know I just love this card, same goes with Mewtwo EX, but since this deck is an energy spreading deck, I would suggest using Lugia EX as a location to move your energy from Primal Kyogre EX's attack.

Potions:

Many more potions! Want to just annoy your opponent by healing even MORE damage off your Pokemon? Now you can, by running 4 of these in your deck!

There are many more Pokemon with safeguard abilities, such as Legendary Treasures' Sigilyph, or the Safeguard Suicune. However, as I want to keep my site to the new standard format, which is going to be XY-On, these cards just can't be included.

Now that I have dicussed the base strategy for the deck, how can you counter it?

Since Ancient Origins is going to feature a lot of Grass-Pokemon-Setup-Tools (A mouthful!)

more grass type Pokemon should be expected in decks. A prime example would be Sceptile EX, or the Stage 2 Sceptile evolution line in combination with Giant Plant Forest. Both Kyogre EX and Swampert are weak to grass type Pokemon, and their abilities are easily countered by Pokemon such as Wobbuffet. So, it would be a good idea to run similar cards in your main deck if you are afraid of this type of water deck.

Base skeleton.

In my own personal unfinished-deck-skeleton, I will be including the alternatives I listed.

Pokemon (15):

3 Kyogre EX

3 Primal Kyogre EX

3 Mudkip 

1 Marshtomp

3 Swampert 

2 Lugia EX AO

?

Supporters (12):

3 Professor Sycamore

2 Shauna

2 Professor Birch

2 Lysandre

1 Steven

2 Pokemon Fan Club

?

Items (22):

3 Healing Scarf

2 Kyogre Spirit Link

1 Muscle Band

2 Mega Turbo

2 Potion

4 Dive ball

3 Professor's Letter

3 Energy Retrieval

2 Rare Candy

?

Stadiums (4):

1 Silent Lab

3 Rough Seas

Energy (12):

10 Water

2 DCE

55 Cards, with 5 card space to change/add whatever you want.

Fin~

Ultimate Disruption Deck

Ultimate Disruption Deck

With the relative recent release of Ancient Trait ability Pokemon, various non-competetive fun decks have been created. Deck ideas such as these would include the Extra Prize Articuno, or double attack Medicham.

In this review, I would like to introduce my version of the all-time Ultimate Disruption Deck. This deck is by no means competetive. 

Let's get to it!

Main attacker: Bunnelby.

Role: Disruptor/Attacker.

Bunnelby's ancient Trait ability lets it attack twice per turn. This can result in him discarding two cards from the top of your opponent's deck.

I would prefer to run life dew or lucky helmet in combination with this, as it will make your opponent crazy.

Running 4 of these is a must.

Disruption Trainer Items.

Roles: Further Disruption.

Trick Shovel:

Mainly used to prevent your opponent from drawing cards that would help him set up. Also used to just discard your opponent's cards.

Enhanced Hammer:

Since so many decks nowadays run special energies, Enhanced Hammer is one of the most set-up disrupt tools. 

Crushing Hammer:

Used to disrupt your opponent even more. Although a coin flip is needed, crushing hammer can be proven effective against basic energy setups.

Disruption Supporters

Roles: Set-up Disruption/Stalling

Xerosic:

Is used to get down special energies or tools that are still left on the field.

Team Flare Grunt:

Used to discard an Energy card attached to your opponents ACTIVE Pokemon, if crushing hammer just can't do the job.

Lysandre:

Mostly used for stalling/defense measures in this deck. Used to drag up a heavy Pokemon with a big retreat cost, to then continue your strategy while your opponent struggles to set up.

What else?

Since XY-on is going to be the Standard Format for quite a while, ACE SPECS won't be an option. Otherwise, you would want to run either Computer Search or Dowsing Machine.

Other than that, you would probably want a backup attacker. For this, I would probably choose the upcoming Lugia EX, explained in my previous post. It also just needs colorless energy (Any type), and is there for simplicity's sake. I would prefer to run at least 2 of them.

The standard 3-4 Sycamore, 1-3 Shauna/Birch are also supposed to be present. Same goes with Ultra balls and the upcoming Level Balls, as they will be reprinted in the new set, Ancient Origins.

Maybe even the new Giratina EX for stalling measures?

Small Skeleton List:

Pokemon (6):

4 Bunnelby Ancient Trait

2 Lugia EX AO

(Alternatives) ? (Maybe Rayquaza EX, fast attacker, or Seismitoad EX/Giratina EX)

Supporters (15):

4 Sycamore

2 Shauna

1 Birch

3 Lysandre

2 Xerosic

3 Team Flare Grunt

Items (23):

4 Trick Shovel

4 Enhanced Hammer

4 Crushing Hammer

3 Ultra Ball

3 Level Ball

1 Professor's Letter

2 Roller Skates

2 Sacred Ash

Energies (9):

2 Grass

2 Water

2 Psychic

3 DCE

The rest is up to you! It is just a base skeleton list to get you started.

Got any recommendations? Post it in the comments!

Mewtwo EX Replacement

Mewtwo EX Replacement

With the upcoming release of the new Ancient Origins set, and with the Card Game rotating out quite a few other sets to keep its game fresh, it is important to replace prior attackers with new ones.

Mewtwo EX was one of the few cards present in almost every deck through 2013-2015.

Now that it is rotating out, Pokemon International has decided to produce a very similar card, to keep its fans from becoming unhappy.

The answer to the deprevation of Mewtwo wars: Ancient Origin's Lugia EX.

Lugia and Mewtwo are sharing many similar features, like the 2 energy retreat cost, and 170 HP.

However, the main reason to be using Lugia, like Mewtwo, is for his first attack. Aero Ball, a two colorless energy attack which does 20 damage times the amount of energy attached to both active Pokemon. That is the same attack cost, base damage, and attack effect as Mewtwo's.

Now, here is my theory. 

With the upcoming release of Mewtwo EX and Darkrai EX battle decks, N, Darkrai, and Mewtwo EX will be reprinted. A few fans have speculated that these reprints will only be allowed in the Expanded format, while I believe that these three cards will be allowed in the main Format again.

Definitely keep an eye open!

More info here: Pokebeach.com

Card Rotation 2015-2016

Card Rotation 2015-2016

In less than 3 weeks, the new Pokemon TCG rotation will be in place. The new rotation will be featuring all sets from XY on, including the upcoming Ancient Origins set.

The recently introduced Expanded format will play a big role, as many will be missing the previous format with mishaps such as the Mewtwo Wars.

More info on the rotation can be found here: 

http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/pokemon-tcg-format-rotation-for-2016/