By day, I am a K-mart sales associate, but at night, I am a Pokémon machine. Every night as of late, I have been lying in bed after long days and nights at work pondering what would be a good play for Nationals. I have thought about all the big metagame decks including Jumpluff/Luxray, Gengar/Garchomp C, CurseGar, Dialga/Garchomp C, Luxray GL/Garchomp C, Blaziken FB/Luxray GL/Garchomp C, and so on. Until the beginning of this week, I was stuck on one of the Gengar variants.
Last season was my first back into the TCG since the 2005-2006 season. I mostly judged, though I did play in a couple events. I took a Gengar list containing several techs including Crobat G, Skuntank G, and Power Spray to Nationals and managed a successful 5-3 record.
pokemon-paradijs.comThis year, I don’t want to feel like I’m stuck on Gengar. I’m very attached to it, but I wanted to find a new beast to attach myself to before Nationals. After discussing several concepts with people like Jordan V-H and Joe H (they wouldn’t have forgiven me if this article was published and I didn’t mention their names after the countless late night hours I have bombarded them with Poké-ideas flying through my head), I spotted a card that is rarely played but may be the key to building a successful rogue deck for Nationals.
Garchomp from Supreme Victors (that’s right, Garchomp… NOT Garchomp C) has a very neat Poké-Body, “Dragon Intimidation”, that bounces an Energy Card back to your opponent’s hand from the Defending Pokémon after they damage Garchomp with an attack. Its first attack is semi-useful. For two C Energy (which can be used easily with a Double Colorless Energy), “Guard Claw” does 40 damage and reduces all damage done to Garchomp by 20 during your opponent’s next turn.
The main reason for using this card, however, is its attack which combines well with its Poké-Body. “Speed Impact”, for just three C Energy does 120 damage minus 20 for each Energy attached to the Defending Pokémon.
So this card has been around since August of 2009, so why is it more useful now? Cards such as Jumpluff and Kingdra only use one Energy in order to do their massive amounts of damage. And the best part is that these massive amounts of damage are normally not even enough to take down Garchomp’s bulky 130 HP. This Garchomp also does well against Pokémon SP that are not Dialga G LV.X because of their low Energy costs to attack combined with their relatively low HP and the use of Energy Gain.
pokemon-paradijs.comI have also been asked whether or not the +30 Colorless Weakness hurts Garchomp. Its SP counterpart, Garchomp C LV.X, when attacking an active Garchomp, will do 80 damage plus 30 weakness for 110 total damage. Most of the time, one would not have to worry about Expert Belt’s added damage because of the popularity of Energy Gain combined with Double Colorless Energy in decks that use Garchomp C. Because of this, Garchomp is not 1HKO’d, and it can hit back for the easy knockout (after discarding their Double Colorless, that will be 240 damage after applying Weakness).
So what cards give Garchomp issues that are popular in this metagame? Dialga G was mentioned before. Its Poké-Body shuts off other Poké-Bodies, and Dialga can stack on Special M Energies to really wall the damage that Garchomp can do. Because of this, I have considered the use of a tech fire-type Arceus, though I have not yet added this to the list I am using. I figure that DialgaChomp really isn’t that popular of a deck, and the only player using it who I am truly concerned about is Mr. Kyle “Pooka” S., though the chances of playing him in Swiss during Nationals is slim to none.
pokemon-paradijs.comAnother deck that could give me issues is CurseGar. Because of all the cards in the decks being resistant to Colorless, the damage output is reduced. Most of the cards that Gengar switches in for, however, can easily be 1HKO’d. If I ran into a Gengar that just walls my Garchomp, I include a 2-2 Manectric (PL) line in my deck. Manectric can get easy bench KOs when combined with Crobat G’s “Flash Bite” Poké-Power. And the Manectric tech helps stop the popular Garchomp C LV.X from sniping my bench.
Because this deck is based on countering the metagame, matches and techs are extremely important. Heck, you could consider this to be nothing more than a tech deck.
Since the release of HS: Unleashed, I have grown attached to Shaymin. Combined with Super Scoop Up, Shaymin can make Garchomp an even more solid tank by moving Energy to a new Garchomp capable of walling against the most massive of “Mass Attacks”.
Now that I have discussed Garchomp (SV) and its strengths and weaknesses, I shall give you my list. In the end, I probably will not play something like this at Nationals, but I am bound to continue playtesting this and several other ideas that are capable of both being speedy, consistent, and countering the popular metagame decks.
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Pokémon (23) 4 Gible SV 2 Gabite OP9 4 Garchomp SV 2 Baltoy GE 2 Claydol GE 2 Electrike PL 2 Manectric PL 2 Crobat G PL 1 Uxie LA 1 Azelf LA 1 Shaymin UL |
Trainers (28) 4 Roseanne’s Research 3 Bebe’s Search 2 Cyrus’s Conspiracy 1 Judge 1 Palmer’s Contribution 4 Super Scoop Up |
Energy (9) 4 Double Colorless 5 Electric Energy |
Thank you very much for reading, and best of luck at the remainder of the Spring Battle Roads and the ultimate weekend vacation that is Nationals.
All comments, criticisms, and questions will be greatly appreciated and responded to! And thanks for reading my first article!
I know you won't be attacking much with it, but use Gabite MT instead of the POP9 one, not many cards can retrieve DCE from the discard pile. I also think that Cyrus isn't really needed here, you can draw your Poké Turns with Claydol. I'd definitely run at least 2 Warp Point in a deck with so many Pokémon with free retreat, you can get some easy prizes by KOing benched Pokémon with no energy on them.
Nice deck anyway, Garchomp is a really underrated card.
Lolz! I work at Kmart too, but I'm a cart associate =[
If you can fit it I think a 1-0-1 Ampharos PT works well, especially with the crobat g and manectric combination. Ampharos is helpful in a variety of matchups, particularly gengar. Being able to lock gengar's powers really hampers the deck.
I ran a list very similar to this one a little while ago, and it was pretty successful.
Is there any reason you don't use any Multi-Energy in the deck? It would let some of your techs attack in a tight spot, which might not help, but it wouldn't hurt.
I would actually bump up the Cyrus line. Get an energy, another supporter, and oh yeah, grab that poke turn? Its great even in non SP decks.
1 thing actually,
it actually is usually OHKO'd when they have Lucario GL on the field.
I mainly play this card lol :) its very fun, but luxchomp is the hardest matchup by far
one time i had a spiritomb start, got set up, even used judge, and lost to a luxchomp
i was thinking the manectric tech as well, maybe it would help against that matchup slightly kinda forcing them to target it.
multi energy would kinda slow it down. not much energy is actually needed for techs. you're only going to be attacking with garchomp or manectric. but call energy is recommended
Nice to see Manectric get some play. His artwork is awesome!
try garchamp….antimeta right on its face.
Hey Derrick, nice deck. I'm a REALLY big fan of Garchomp SV also but it just has too many bad matches. Stuff like you mentioned + Feraligatr, and it can be OHKOed with Lucario + Garchomp C. I feel it needs a second attacker to make up for that.
I would highly consider bumping up Broken Time-Space to 3 or 4. Considering this is a Stage 2 deck, the need to get your evolutions up and running should be your greatest priority.
Garchomp can be such a beast!
Awesome article Derrick! That rogue deck really looks as if it can win against anything in the format right now! It's also quite nice to see that Shaymin UL is being used for once.
Once again, awesome article! THIS is truly a great rogue deck.
I played a variant of this deck until yesterday morning. Garchomp SV with Crobat Prime UL. Garchomp was a heavy hitter but if all else fails, warp or reversal something with high retreat to the front and snipe with Crobat. Also when you need something done but won't get the KO with an attack, Severe Poison. Saved me multiple times. But as I said I changed my deck yesterday. Built a new deck at 4am, didn't play test it til I got to Bentonville Battle Roads, got second.
I'm nowhere near an expert on this deck, but I wonder why you don't run more Judge. If “Dragon Intimidation” is a key point of the deck, then I think Judge/Looker/Initiative could be a good play. When you're trying to hurt SP, Jumpluff, Gyarados, Shuppet, or any other low-energy attacker, putting that energy back into their deck will really screw with them.
Where at? Woot for Kmart #3692. :-p
What would you suggest I remove from this list?
I really like Cyrus in here, but I see where you are coming from. Perhaps Cyrus can be replaced with more Judge?
I considered Ampharos, but I really don't wanna run Claydol in a deck with Ampharos. It is so easy for your opponent to just drop a Crobat G or have a Kingdra placing damage counters and just like that you have a wasted bench spot.
Yeah Multi Energy would not work too well here with Double Colorless being used. Call Energy would be good. I just wouldn't know how to fit it in.
If I included the Arceus tech I mentioend in the article or something along those lines, I would add Rainbow over Multi because of the special Energies in the deck.
Yeah, I forgot about Lucario GL when I was writing this article, and then afterward, I realized why I forgot it. Lucario GL just isn't as popular of a card as it used to be since HGSS was released because of all weakness going back to x2.
Manectric is a pretty good card!
I love this Garchomp just because it does counter the current metagame so well.
Yeah, this was just another idea for me. I didn't play it this past weekend at BR's, and I don't plan on playing it at nats, but its just something for people to consider.
Right, but SO many decks in the format run BTS. If you really need to catch up to speed with an opponent, they're probably playing a fast Stage 2 deck like Jumpluff or Gengar or Kingdra. And you can take advantage of their BTS in play.
True dat sir!
Thank you very much. I appreciate the praise. And yeah, Shaymin is an underrated card.
I really think Crobat is garbage and is quite overrated…
I would love to run more Judge, but where is the room?
I told you. I'm no expert. You probably don't want my opinion on this one.
Here it is, though, in case you're crazy enough to still be reading.
Not an option:
-2 Cyrus's Conspiracy (I don't see a ton of utility here)
+2 Judge
Option 1:
-1 Palmer's (do you really need 5?)
+1 Night Maintenance (not a supporter)
Option 2:
-1 Uxie (and I LOVE Uxie)
+1 Judge
Option 3:
-1 DCE
-2 Electric (this is where my analysis is pure speculation, but it just seems like you don't need 5)
-1 Poke Turn (?????)
+4 Call Energy
Option 4 (most drastic, but maybe best):
-2 Crobat G
-3 Poketurn
-2 Electric
+4 Call Energy
+1 Night Maintenance
+1 Warp Point
+1 BTS
I think I'd try the first “not an option” combined with option 4 and option 1. Option 1 is really a style choice, but I'm allergic to supporters.
ok never go rogue for tourneys. always take a consistent deck you know by heart. inside and out. how to get out of situations and struggles during your match. its the player that wins games… sorry dude but your deck is honestly really a piece of **** dont mean to be rude but yeah. im one of the top players in southern california. and id like to tell you . not to run this. you'll regret it if you do
I will try running this in the professor cup.
granted, it will be a 30-card version, with a 2 card limit, as per the professor cup rules.
I will try running this in the professor cup.
granted, it will be a 30-card version, with a 2 card limit, as per the professor cup rules.
I do like this deck alot…. I've done alot of testing with it too with input from some of the Midwest's finest Oldpokes as they like to be called.
Try the Gabite MT instead of the Pop9 like another has mentioned. DCE from the discard…
The Crobat G's/Poke Turn. I play it with a different “twist” (you'll see later). They're solid in here, but Try using only 1 with 2 poketurns. You have a Shaymin you might get stuck having to use…. I'd like you to try the DITTO with 1 Grass energy. Hello Jumpluff… And what's the harm with an energy that most of your stuff can use?
Lets talk energy… Garchomp SV — TWIST EM till they have to bring you a no energy poke. If you can manage Cyclone/Warp energies in here, you'll love 120 shots!
I've been told by much better players to try to “sneak” a Dusknoir DP in here…. they want to load up a poke with energy… Good! Send it packing!
“Not to be rude…”
Well, you were.
You can most definitely go rogue and do well. GeChamp and Sablelock both started as rogue decks and have done amazing and become metagame decks. I'm not saying this deck was going to become one of those decks, but there is nothing wrong with playing rogue. You can invent archetypes, and it shows your true skill as a deckbuilder and player. Sorry you aren't good enough and have to always net decks off the internet to do well. Also, there's more to Pokemon than winning… playing good and fun games is also part of it. I ended up playing Torterra/Flygon at Nationals and am glad I did… I made top cut, only to lose in Top 128. It was a fun weekend, and I did well and didn't play the most popular deck out there.
Pretty sure you played against me in Round 3 and kicked my butt.
Their is a guy that plays a variant of this deck at my league…..its great.
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