Finally got to try out my Luxray GL LV.X with Honchkrow G idea the past few days against Jeremy and Quaziko. Here is my current list, though it is not the list I used in the games I will provide detail about.
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Pokémon-17 |
Trainers-30 |
A few notes about the list…I had originally used 2 Honchkrow G, but discovered that I really did not need more than 1. I took 1 out for Drifblim FB SV for a few games, but I just found it way too difficult to use effectively. My theory was that late game I would be able to put “Flash Impact” damage from Luxray onto it (up to 90 damage) and then drop Technical Machine G on to hit anything in play for 90, but it would always get sniped by something before I could actually attack with it.
I decided to put Quagsire GL RR in after testing with Quaziko tonight. My bench was getting filled to capacity with the recoil damage from “Flash Impact”. It was the only attack I used pretty much the whole game, every game, and it left all my Pokémon severely weakened by the time I promoted any of them to the Active Spot. If I had a Quagsire in the deck, I could have just let it absorb damage the whole game and my Pokémon would have been much stronger and less vulnerable to easy knock outs.
The strategy of the deck really depends on what you are playing against. If your opponent is using 3/3 Claydol, Broken Time-Space, and Cynthia’s Feelings, then pretty much forget about targeting Claydol unless it is VERY early in the game and you think they may not have the resources to recover. Focus on attacking Uxies, Crobat G’s, and any basics for easy prizes. Do not try to Knock Out every Claydol your opponent gets in play…it won’t happen! You will waste too many resources trying to do this and your opponent will just plop a new Claydol down every time you do KO one.
However, if your opponent does not play a super heavy Claydol or Cynthia’s Feelings (aka most SP decks), go for the Claydol early. This will hinder their draw power (check out this article for more detail on the subject) and you should be able to get ahead and stay ahead for the remainder of the game.
I like the Aaron’s Collection, Night Maintenance, AND Premier Ball all in the deck because Luxray GL LV.X is really your only attacker, so you need multiple ways to keep it going.
3 Crobat G has also been very money so far. I just like knowing I have that many copies in the deck to get the extra damage you need for the all important pushover prizes.
Anyway, here is some detail about the games I played using the deck:
I first used it against Jeremy’s Dusknoir with Honchkrow SV variant. His deck was honestly too slow and clunky to compete in the current format. It was a cool idea, but it just never got going in any of the games we played.
Game 1 I took out a Baltoy and Claydol by turn 3 with Luxray and proceeded to Power Spray him for a few turns. He was never able to recover and I won handily.
Game 2 I decided that targeting his Claydols was too risky of a strategy (I was rather fortunate in Game 1), so I focused solely on Dusknoirs and Uxies. As soon as Jeremy put an energy on any Pokémon, I gusted it up and attacked it. There was just no way he could catch up on energy drops without Double Rainbow or Scramble Energy available anymore. I won again with ease.
Game 3 was more of the same, I attacked whatever Jeremy tried power up and there was no way he could respond.
In all, Dusknoir with Honchkrow SV is just too sluggish of a concept to use at the moment. I did however feel that my deck performed the way I wanted it to. It was quick and drew easy prizes the whole game.
Tonight I played a few games versus Quaziko’s Kingdra deck. I went 1-2, though I feel I should finished with 2 wins. The main problem was that “Flash Impact” was hitting my benched Pokémon for damage, as well Kingdra’s “Dragon Pump”, so I was giving up extremely easy prizes to him. After those games I realized that Quagsire GL Rising Rivals probably would have bailed me out big time.
My strategy may have also been off a bit in the first 2 games we played. I lost both of those trying to target his Claydols early thinking I would be able to swing momentum in my favor right of the bat, but he responded with Uxies, Cynthia’s Feelings, and Claydols via Broken Time-Space the following turns.
I should have just focused on attacking anything BUT the Claydols. I now know it is almost never worth the risk to aim at Claydol early against a deck like that.
I still think this list can be slightly better. It is late right now so I can’t think of anything good to add. I was thinking that one more tech Pokémon or maybe a couple stadiums would be good. Give me some ideas! :)
Blaziken FB be is weak to water, but he can also hit for 60 (1F, 1C) if the opponent has a water Pokemon in play. Luring Flame (1F) can pull someone off the Bench and burn them.
You could use Blaziken to finish off a Kingdra with Vapor Kick, after you hit once with Flash Impact. Free retreat next turn and bring up Blaziken for the KO. You won’t take another 30 damage to your bench. You would just need to watch that there was not another water Pokemon ready to come up and OHKO Blaziken.
He’d also help out if you ran into a Dialga G.
As you are already running 3 SP Energy you would not need to add in any Fire Energy.
Blaziken FB be is weak to water, but he can also hit for 60 (1F, 1C) if the opponent has a water Pokemon in play. Luring Flame (1F) can pull someone off the Bench and burn them.
You could use Blaziken to finish off a Kingdra with Vapor Kick, after you hit once with Flash Impact. Free retreat next turn and bring up Blaziken for the KO. You won’t take another 30 damage to your bench. You would just need to watch that there was not another water Pokemon ready to come up and OHKO Blaziken.
He’d also help out if you ran into a Dialga G.
As you are already running 3 SP Energy you would not need to add in any Fire Energy.
Re: Drifblim — That’s a good thought, too bad it didn’t work out for you.
Re: Quagsire — Good choice! I ran 2 Quagsire, but 1 should work just fine. Another suggestion is to put the damage on guys like Crobat or Uxie that can be Poke Turned/SSU’d/Shuffled, etc. so that it can disappear eventually. Quagsire is definitely the way to go though.
Re: Claydols, etc. — Yeah, sniping Baltoys and Claydols early is a huge positive about this deck. Being able to do 60 for one (kinda) on T3 of the game in general is huge for this deck, and has lead me to a lot of donk wins. Combine that with Crobat G and you’re doing great.
Re: Aaron’s, Night Maintenance — I’ve never been a huge fan of Aaron’s Collection, but I’d also suggest Pokemon Rescue in this deck, I ran 1 and it was helpful.
Re: Crobat — I always ran two Crobat and felt it was enough, but I never tried with 3 so I can’t really comment.
Re: Kindgra — I’ve played Kindra dozens of times with this deck. I think the key is to be as fast as possible. I’d recommend running either a Lake Boundary or a Lucario GL, making it that much easier to kill a Horsea on T1. I also make it a rule to add a stadium no matter what, just to knock my opponents stadium out.
You should mess around with BlazeRay and/or LuxApe.
Re: Drifblim — That’s a good thought, too bad it didn’t work out for you.
Re: Quagsire — Good choice! I ran 2 Quagsire, but 1 should work just fine. Another suggestion is to put the damage on guys like Crobat or Uxie that can be Poke Turned/SSU’d/Shuffled, etc. so that it can disappear eventually. Quagsire is definitely the way to go though.
Re: Claydols, etc. — Yeah, sniping Baltoys and Claydols early is a huge positive about this deck. Being able to do 60 for one (kinda) on T3 of the game in general is huge for this deck, and has lead me to a lot of donk wins. Combine that with Crobat G and you’re doing great.
Re: Aaron’s, Night Maintenance — I’ve never been a huge fan of Aaron’s Collection, but I’d also suggest Pokemon Rescue in this deck, I ran 1 and it was helpful.
Re: Crobat — I always ran two Crobat and felt it was enough, but I never tried with 3 so I can’t really comment.
Re: Kindgra — I’ve played Kindra dozens of times with this deck. I think the key is to be as fast as possible. I’d recommend running either a Lake Boundary or a Lucario GL, making it that much easier to kill a Horsea on T1. I also make it a rule to add a stadium no matter what, just to knock my opponents stadium out.
You should mess around with BlazeRay and/or LuxApe.
Thanks for the suggestions guys!
Dave, yah I think Blaziken could be a great addition to the deck. I am trying to see if I can keep it with just Luxray right now, but Blaziken might make the deck just that much better.
K dub, I tried to put damage on Crobats and Uxies, but it was hard to find spots where I could clean the damage off of them. Quagsire should be perfect.
I love Aaron’s just because you can grab it with Cyrus. You can’t do that with Night Maintenance or Pokemon Rescue.
And ya I will try those other two decks out, just messing with this first. ;)
I can’t imagine how flash impact would hurt you all that much. What were you using your poketurns on? I’d add Vs. Seeker to the deck and maybe Lucario GL.
I put most of my recoil damage onto Crobats, but it added up very quickly. I usually held on to my Poke Turns to use on Luxrays, if possible I would drop another Crobat rather than use a Poke Turn on one already benched.
It may have partly been the matchup causing me so many problems as far as bench damage, but I think keeping all your Pokemon without damage via Quagsire is a good thing.
I agree its good to try and fit in at least one Stadium, if only to counter your opponent’s. It’s not foolproof however, as many decks that rely on Stadiums run 3-5 of them to counter your counter.
I agree its good to try and fit in at least one Stadium, if only to counter your opponent’s. It’s not foolproof however, as many decks that rely on Stadiums run 3-5 of them to counter your counter.
Thanks for the suggestions guys!
Dave, yah I think Blaziken could be a great addition to the deck. I am trying to see if I can keep it with just Luxray right now, but Blaziken might make the deck just that much better.
K dub, I tried to put damage on Crobats and Uxies, but it was hard to find spots where I could clean the damage off of them. Quagsire should be perfect.
I love Aaron’s just because you can grab it with Cyrus. You can’t do that with Night Maintenance or Pokemon Rescue.
And ya I will try those other two decks out, just messing with this first. ;)
I can’t imagine how flash impact would hurt you all that much. What were you using your poketurns on? I’d add Vs. Seeker to the deck and maybe Lucario GL.
I put most of my recoil damage onto Crobats, but it added up very quickly. I usually held on to my Poke Turns to use on Luxrays, if possible I would drop another Crobat rather than use a Poke Turn on one already benched.
It may have partly been the matchup causing me so many problems as far as bench damage, but I think keeping all your Pokemon without damage via Quagsire is a good thing.
Tested some today (not with this deck), but I realized that this NEEDS Toxicroak Promo to OHKO other Luxrays and possibly Uxie LV.X to KO Toxicroaks.
Both uxie X and toxicroak offer 2 more solid attackers and 2 more types to hit for weakness (giving you 5 total). I would do it.
Tested some today (not with this deck), but I realized that this NEEDS Toxicroak Promo to OHKO other Luxrays and possibly Uxie LV.X to KO Toxicroaks.
Both uxie X and toxicroak offer 2 more solid attackers and 2 more types to hit for weakness (giving you 5 total). I would do it.
Both uxie X and toxicroak offer 2 more solid attackers and 2 more types to hit for weakness (giving you 5 total). I would do it.
I would consider Sunyshore, Adam. 4 of them.
It’s really your only viable out against Machamp and soon-to-be Relicanth.
Sunyshore only adds to the damage relicanth can do to your bench, so its not that great of a solution…lol
I think Machamp will have to be a loss for this deck, they play Broken-Time Space anyway and would be able to counter your stadium more times than not.
I can let Relicanth OHKO me because I have a couple ways to OHKO it back. I don’t know how effective Relicanth will prove to be. Besides if I have a Stadium out against it, that means it can hit any of my Pokemon for 60-90 damage. I’d rather have less tools in play and deal with the OHKO of my active.
I would consider Sunyshore, Adam. 4 of them.
It’s really your only viable out against Machamp and soon-to-be Relicanth.
Sunyshore only adds to the damage relicanth can do to your bench, so its not that great of a solution…lol
I think Machamp will have to be a loss for this deck, they play Broken-Time Space anyway and would be able to counter your stadium more times than not.
I can let Relicanth OHKO me because I have a couple ways to OHKO it back. I don’t know how effective Relicanth will prove to be. Besides if I have a Stadium out against it, that means it can hit any of my Pokemon for 60-90 damage. I’d rather have less tools in play and deal with the OHKO of my active.
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