The Champion’s Test

A Pokémon Progress Report and Top 10 List for State Championships
test question poliwagpokemonscreenshots.tumblr.com
Pop quiz! Poliwag, Poliwhirl, or Poliwrath?

SixPrizes! I am so excited to be back this month after a wild run of Winter Regionals. After traveling to Virginia and Florida these past weeks, 14th and 11th place finishes respectively were enough to seal my invitation to the World Championships this year in Boston! Florida Regionals was our first look at the newest format with the release of Primal Clash, and I was ecstatic to take part in this event. This format opens up the doors for new ideas, interesting tech cards and a vast amount of successful decks for tournament play. With a taste of what to expect for State Championships (starting March 21st), there is a lot to be excited about looking forward!

With so many deck options, I have come up with a Top 10 list of decks for State Championships. This list will give us a solid understanding of how the newest set has impacted the format and what to expect so we can be as prepared as possible.

I also have another surprise for you this article! My brother and I grew up in a household with two public school teachers as parents, so progress reports and report cards were quite important in our family. Being as I am currently taking midterms this week at my university, it seems fitting that I take a look at the decks of the 2015 season in a similar fashion. This recap should be a fun, new way to investigate which decks have been effective and how they’ve achieved their success.

Progress Report

clefairy says remember this pokemon stadiumdxplay2128.tumblr.com
Which decks will pass and which will get the hammer? You decide!

A Pokémon season is much like a school year, in that both will test your abilities and those who give their best effort are likely to find success. Think of the decks of the 2015 season as students, being tested on all different levels. League Challenges are homework; you can miss some assignments but these will prepare you for future tests. Fall and Winter Regionals were our first real tests covering the opening chapters of the year, and Cities were quizzes thrown in between.

Now we are in March and it’s time for midterms, also known as State Championships. It is important to see how decks are doing before we take these midterms, so I have broken down the decks of this year over different subjects to take an in-depth look at why they were successful. Let’s jump into it!

Math

To be successful in mathematics, you have to acquire an understanding of formulas. In Pokémon, the only true formula we need is X = 1HKO (1HKO). Coming into State Championships (midterms), a few decks (students) have shown the ability to solve this equation time and time again.

Night March

This student has shown tremendous progress in math over the school year, with solid performances at the first couple of Regional tests. After studying with Archie and mastering his famous “Ace in the Hole” strategy, Night March has consistently found a way to solve for “X.” After studying with Night March for this last test at Winter Regionals, I have witnessed firsthand just how easy math has become for this student.

Flareon

Studying with Archie seems to be the trick when learning how to answer this equation. With multiple Exeggcute to help, Empoleon is the ultimate cheat sheet. Pokémon fly into the discard regardless of almost any issues that may come about, making the perfect math for 1HKOs happen quicker than ever before. After setting the curve at Winter Regionals, it’s clear that this student is looking to top the class.

Groudon

The class bully played hooky until Florida Regionals, but this student has made an impact in his short time in the classroom. Nobody dares to mess with him while he sits in the back of the class studying for the next exam. Groudon loads up on the Bench and sends out his minion Landorus to collect notes, and before you know it Groudon is solving the formula and can’t be stopped.

I’d like to open this up to you and the other readers to decide which student is at the top of the class, so enjoy this moment to play professor for a minute!

Who is the math whiz? Night March, Flareon, or Groudon?

Chemistry

To be the best student in chemistry class, a student has to have synergy. When working on the most successful strategy to do well on a test, the key will be the interaction between the working pieces. The student that reaches this synergy with consistency and the most effectiveness will see that A+ on their report card.

Landorus/Crobat

After the success of this student on the first tests of the year, it seems obvious that Landorus/Crobat would be brought up. With the performances this deck saw piloted by Brandon Salazar and Andrew Mahone in Virginia and St. Louis respectively, over 10 counts of this deck reached Day 2 at Florida Regionals. The synergy between Landorus and the Crobat line is one for the ages, with Golbat and Crobat setting up the perfect math for Landorus or vice versa. With the assistance of Scoop Up Cyclone and/or Super Scoop Ups, chemistry looks to be this student’s favorite subject.

Seismitoad/Slurpuff

After some difficult study sessions, the student seems to finally understand chemistry. With so many options of what to add to the study guide, such as Super Scoop Up, Crushing Hammer, Victini-EX and endless more combinations, Seismitoad/Slurpuff has found multiple ways to see success when tested. One question now is, “Can this student top the class?” With the addition of Dragalge FLF to add synergy with Hypnotoxic Laser and Virbank City Gym, I believe this deck may have what it takes. Cassius/VS Seeker along with Float Stone/Slurpuff was enough to get my attention as a professor, but these other studying tricks really set this student apart from the rest.

Flareon

The chemistry between some of the cards in this deck is too good to ignore. Flareon, a Pokémon with a real struggle studying for Seismitoad, can call on his brother Leafeon to take over and handle this issue. When Silver Mirror shows up on the test, Empoleon volunteers to clear a path to the next question. When it comes to consistency, a deck with multiple Exeggcute was given an Empoleon for essentially free Diving Draws. With Flareon’s performance in math and chemistry at the top of the class, could this student be graduating summa cum laude?

Enter your grade here for the most successful student in chemistry!

Who has the right chemistry? Landorus/Crobat, Seismitoad/Slurpuff, or Flareon?

History

To be a history buff, a student must show the ability to maintain success over a long course of time. In this subject, the course content is the students. Decks that have made a name for themselves and continued to stay relevant will take the highest grade.

Yveltal/Garbodor

Yveltal has seen dominance ever since its release. This student has withstood the test of time, staying just enough under the radar to bounce back and dominate after the Manectric hype started to fall off. The success that this student saw during Florida Regionals was astounding to me. I believed this student would only find success during Day 2 with the addition of Dark Patch, but I was happily mistaken. With the consistent success of Yveltal/Garbodor leading all the way up to this year’s State Championships, should Yveltal/Garbodor take the top spot?

Virizion/Genesect

This student won last year’s World Championships. The success of Virizion/Genesect over the years since its release is phenomenal when we look at the adversity this deck has faced. Pyroar last year and Flareon this year were the ultimate class clowns, distracting Virizion/Genesect to a point where its grades started to slip. If this student can get back on track and refocus their efforts away from their pesky rival Flareon, then this stretch of greatness could find permanence in the history books.

Donphan

The most timid student of the bunch, Donphan has certainly made an impact on history. With the use of “Outrage” attackers like Zekrom, Reshiram and Kyurem in the early days, to the eventual Sigilyph, Wobbuffet and now Robo Substitute, Donphan has found many study partners to achieve success. Donphan is the type of student that waits for the perfect moment — when all the stars align and the metagame opens up for some Spinning Turns. With the record stretch that Donphan had in the beginning of the year and the hopeful outlook for this student’s future, Donphan could be the one etched in stone.

Submit you result here!

Who is the biggest history buff? Yveltal/Garbodor, Virizion/Genesect, or Donphan?

Top Ten Decks

virizion axew emolgasonofabug.tumblr.com
Watch out, Groudon.

State Championships are an exciting time of year. I have been fortunate enough to win enough to count on two hands, and I hope to extend one of these hands to help you prepare for these events. Here listed are the top ten decks that I believe will see success in the upcoming weeks:

10. Virizion/Genesect

Pokémon – 9

4 Virizion-EX
4 Genesect-EX
1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 37

4 Professor Juniper
4 N
3 Skyla
1 Colress
1 Shadow Triad
1 Lysandre
1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

3 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball
3 Muscle Band
3 Energy Switch
2 Enhanced Hammer

2 Switch
1 Escape Rope

1 Professor’s Letter

1 Startling Megaphone
1 G Booster

 

1 Plasma Frigate

Energy – 14

10 G
4 Plasma

After the lack of Virizion/Genesect popularity at Florida Regionals, this deck seems to be on the decline. When Primal Clash was first released, the glaring advantage of Virizion/Genesect against the new Groudon-EX and Kyogre-EX made this deck look like a clear frontrunner. However, the success of Flareon and Night March at the previous Winter Regionals was hard to overlook. With Flareon claiming the Florida Regional Championship, there is no other place for Virizion/Genesect on this list other than number 10.

If Groudon and Seismitoad decks seem to be the metagame in your area, this deck still has the opportunity to see success. The consistency of this deck is still unmatched, but ignoring Flareon and Night March would likely not be the wisest decision.

9. Fairies

Pokémon – 14

4 Florges-EX

3 Spritzee FLF
2 Aromatisse XY

2 Xerneas XY
1 Xerneas-EX

1 Kangaskhan-EX
1 M Kangaskhan-EX

Trainers – 37

4 Professor Juniper
3 N
2 Colress
2 Lysandre
1 Xerosic
1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Max Potion
4 Hard Charm
2 Jamming Net
1 Switch
1 Computer Search

 

4 Fairy Garden

Energy – 9

9 Y

It’s odd to see both of the most successful decks at the ECC here rounding off the Top 10 list, but that just goes to show how impactful Primal Clash is on the format. The consistency, healing and mid-range damage output of Fairies is enough to give decks like Landorus/Crobat and some Seismitoad variants a difficult time, but the list ends there. Newcomers like Groudon absolutely dominate this deck, and of course the Night Marches and Flareon with the added consistency of Empoleon can take out a Florges-EX with a Hard Charm attached with ease.

There is some hope if M Kangaskhan with a Hard Charm can reach the board, as both Night March and Flareon have difficultly reaching such damage output (Night March would need 11 Marchers in discard AND a Silver Bangle). My final summation of Fairies is that it is a great deck, just not great right now.

8. Seismitoad/Slurpuff

Pokémon – 12

3 Seismitoad-EX
3 Swirlix PHF
3 Slurpuff PHF
1 Skrelp FLF
1 Dragalge FLF
1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 44

4 Professor Juniper
3 N
2 Lysandre
1 Colress
1 Team Flare Grunt
1 Cassius
1 Pokémon Center Lady
1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Hypnotoxic Laser
3 Head Ringer
3 Muscle Band
2 Float Stone
3 Crushing Hammer
2 Enhanced Hammer
2 Switch
1 Computer Search

 

2 Virbank City Gym

Energy – 4

4 Double Colorless

SlurpToad is one of the most disruptive decks in the current format. The ability to see so many cards in a turn and continue an Item lock can never be overlooked. With great matchups against Yveltal builds, Landorus/Crobat and Night March, Seismitoad/Slurpuff has the ability to reach the top seed at a State Championship. The only real issues for this deck are Groudon’s insane damage output and Leafeon. If a Flareon deck can get a Silver Bangle down on the first turn, it’s basically lights out for Seismitoad.

This list is a consistent approach compared to the Super Scoop Up variants I have seen becoming popular. The power of Cassius in this deck is fantastic, with the ability to take a heavily damaged Active Seismitoad and shuffle it back into the deck. This leaves a Slurpuff to be promoted to the Active Spot, allowing for the Tasting Ability to draw 2 cards. After using all of your Tasting Abilities, it is likely that you will have the resources to bench another Seismitoad with a Double Colorless Energy and continue the Item lock. If your opponent thought this was annoying, just wait until you use one of the 4 VS Seeker and do it all over again.

Overall, the strategy of this deck and its consistency are a perfect example of a combination capable of winning a major event. Unfortunately, the popularity of Flareon and Groudon in some metagames may require the search for the right State Championship deck to continue on.

7. Seismitoad/Garbodor

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Smile! Numbers 7 and 8 aren’t bad. <3

Pokémon – 9

4 Seismitoad-EX
2 Trubbish LTR
2 Garbodor LTR
1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 47

4 Professor Juniper
4 N
2 Lysandre
1 Lysandre’s Trump Card
3 Skyla
1 Colress
1 Shadow Triad

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Crushing Hammer
1 Enhanced Hammer

4 Hypnotoxic Laser

3 Super Scoop Up
3 Head Ringer
3 Muscle Band
2 Float Stone

2 Switch
2 Ultra Ball

1 Computer Search

 

2 Virbank City Gym

Energy – 4

4 Double Colorless

This is one of the few decks that I continue to go back and forth on over the year. The lock of Items and Abilities is a fantastic combination, and the consistency of this occurrence has been successful enough to see some great success. My favorite part about this deck for State Championships is the fantastic matchup against Night March and the respectable matchup against Flareon builds. Seismitoad/Garbodor can also win many games from an early Item and Ability lock shutting down their opponent’s hand, which is a blessing in match play with a full day (or two) of Pokémon ahead at State Championships.

If your metagame has little Groudon and Flareon, Seismitoad/Garbodor may be the perfect deck choice.

6. Landorus/Crobat

Pokémon – 18

3 Landorus-EX
2 Hawlucha FFI
1 Lucario-EX
1 Jirachi-EX
4 Zubat PLS 53
4 Golbat PHF
3 Crobat PHF

Trainers – 33

4 Professor Juniper
3 N
2 Korrina
2 Lysandre
1 Colress
1 AZ
1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

3 VS Seeker
3 Muscle Band
2 Ultra Ball
2 Repeat Ball
2 Escape Rope
1 Max Potion
1 Professor’s Letter
1 Scoop Up Cyclone

 

2 Silent Lab
2 Fighting Stadium

Energy – 9

5 F

4 Strong

This was the most popular deck at Florida Regionals that found success on Day 1. The strategy is simple and powerful, and the addition of Silent Lab to combat Mr. Mime has to be one of the best changes to the deck since Primal Clash. This specific list is the one that I am currently testing for State Championships. Super Scoop Up is a fantastic card when it works, but I decided to work on a list that focused on leaving little up to chance. Max Potion, Scoop Up Cyclone and AZ all save a Landorus-EX from knockout, and when Landorus doesn’t need saving, the AZ and Scoop Up Cyclone can replay a Crobat line just like Super Scoop Up would. Landorus/Crobat has few opponents that it cannot compete with, and so many decks in the metagame can continue to see the same fate versus it that they did at these past Regionals.

5. Donphan

Pokémon – 11

4 Phanpy PLS
4 Donphan PLS
2 Hawlucha FFI
1 Dedenne FFI

Trainers – 39

4 Professor Juniper
3 N

3 Korrina
2 Lysandre

1 Colress

1 Teammates

1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

3 VS Seeker

2 Bicycle
2 Ultra Ball
1 Repeat Ball

4 Robo Substitute

2 Enhanced Hammer
2 Escape Rope
2 Muscle Band

1 Silver Bangle
1 Silver Mirror

1 Computer Search

 

3 Fighting Stadium

Energy – 10

4 Strong
4 F
2 Double Colorless

This may come as somewhat of a surprise, but don’t count out Donphan. This deck has reemerged as a big threat with the increased popularity in Night March, Flareon, and now Groudon. This newer list has a complete focus on consistency, and the addition of Teammates has supplied another wrinkle to the deck. It is also important to note that Yveltal lists are starting to focus more on Garbodor or aggression, and the defensive Hard Charm and Max Potion builds that basically sealed Donphan’s fate (along with Seismitoad) are a thing of the past. Don’t be shocked if a few Donphan decks find themselves at the top tables of State Championships.

4. Yveltal/Garbodor

yveltal flying stillslugmas.tumblr.com
Yveltal is still flying with the eagles.

Pokémon – 14

3 Yveltal-EX

3 Seismitoad-EX

2 Yveltal XY

2 Trubbish LTR

2 Garbodor LTR

1 Darkrai-EX DEX

1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 34

4 Professor Juniper

4 N

2 Colress

2 Lysandre

1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

3 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Hypnotoxic Laser

3 Muscle Band

2 Float Stone

2 Escape Rope

1 Computer Search

 

2 Virbank City Gym

Energy – 12

8 D

4 Double Colorless

Yveltal performed fantastically in the hands of Dylan Dreyer and Jordan Parrish at Florida Regionals. This is Dylan’s list, and I wouldn’t change a single card. After locking up 1st and 2nd seeds on Day 1, it is clear that Yveltal is not to be forgotten about amongst the hype brought on by the addition of Primal Clash to the format. With Manectric basically absent from the current metagame, Yveltal with Garbodor will not face many auto-losses. Joltik can be a pest with the Lightning Weakness for Yveltal-EX and Yveltal XY, but with a well-managed board, the Prize swap against Night March can certainly end favorably. Also, with the popularity of Landorus/Crobat at Winter Regionals, Yveltal/Garbodor continues to look like a solid play for the upcoming State Championships.

If you would like to read more about Dylan’s Florida Regionals experience, please check out his most recent article!

3. Groudon

Pokémon – 13

3 Groudon-EX PRC

3 Primal Groudon-EX

3 Landorus FFI
2 Surskit
 PRC

2 Masquerain PLB

Trainers – 35

4 Professor Juniper

4 N

3 Korrina

2 Lysandre

1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

3 VS Seeker
2 Ultra Ball

3 Groudon Spirit Link

2 Focus Sash

2 Float Stone
1 Hard Charm

1 Professor’s Letter

1 Scramble Switch

 

4 Scorched Earth

2 Silent Lab

Energy – 12

8 F

4 Strong

The sheer power of this deck is astounding. Since neither Lysandre nor Pokémon Catcher cannot target Primal Groudon, you have plenty of turns to set up and prepare for battle. The Masquerain gives Groudon the ability to take advantage of many different Tool cards, depending on what the in-game situation calls for. As long as Virizion/Genesect decks are on the decline in your area, Groudon is a fantastic call for State Championships. Seismitoad builds, Fairies, Night March and other popular decks can all be favorable once a player gets a grip for how to play this deck with all the Tool options.

2. Night March/Empoleon

Pokémon – 19

4 Lampent PHF
4 Joltik PHF
4 Pumpkaboo PHF
3 Mew-EX
2 Empoleon DEX
1 Jirachi-EX
1 Mr. Mime PLF

Trainers – 34

4 Professor Juniper
2 Archie’s Ace in the Hole
2 Lysandre
1 N

 

4 VS Seeker
4 Ultra Ball
4 Battle Compressor
3 Acro Bike
3 Muscle Band
1 Silver Bangle
1 Switch
1 Computer Search

 

4 Dimension Valley

Energy – 7

4 Double Colorless
3 W

This is my exact 60-card list from Florida Regionals. After 14 grueling matches with this deck, I still believe I would continue playing this same list in future events. Night March was a good deck before Empoleon, but with Archie’s Ace in the Hole, Night March has become an elite deck. The consistency to deal out massive damage so early in a game is nearly unmatched. Night March also carries a slight edge against Flareon builds, as all of the attackers in this deck don’t need to evolve before being traded off in the Prize exchange. This one reason led my decision when coming down to a metagame ruled by Flareon. With this decision there is certainly a downfall. Seismitoad decks are quite difficult to handle without an attacker like Leafeon. An early Empoleon on board is essential to staying competitive with Seismitoad.

Other matchups for Night March are pretty straightforward. Virizion/Genesect and Fairy builds are a near auto-win. Yveltal XY can be a hassle when playing against Yveltal builds, but the Joltik can steal Yveltal-EX knockouts and turn the tides. Donphan is likely one of the most difficult matchups (besides Seismitoad decks), but with Pumpkaboo’s Fighting Resistance and some well-timed Lysandres, this match is certainly winnable. Don’t forget that Empoleon can also take advantage of Donphan’s Water Weakness!

1. Flareon/Empoleon

flareon tail shake whapcarbink.tumblr.com
Flareon knows it’s good.

Pokémon – 25

3 Eevee PLF 90
1 Eevee FFI

4 Flareon PLF
3 Leafeon PLF
2 Ditto BCR
2 Audino BCR
1 Slurpuff XY
1 Swirlix PHF
1 Jirachi-EX
1 Deoxys-EX
1 Mr. Mime PLF

2 Exeggcute PLF
1 Exeggutor PLF
2 Empoleon DEX

Trainers – 28

4 Professor Juniper
1 N

1 Lysandre
1 Archie’s Ace in the Hole
1 Lysandre’s Trump Card

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball
4 Battle Compressor

2 Acro Bike
2 Silver Bangle
2 Float Stone
1 Computer Search

 

1 Training Center

Energy – 7

4 Double Colorless
2 W
1 G

Flareon took the world by storm after the amazing performance Orion Craig at Florida Regionals. Sure, the addition of Archie’s Ace in the Hole and Acro Bike were spectacular for the consistency and the matchups of this deck, but let’s not forget that the Roll family was dominating with a Flareon build back during the Georgia Marathon. This deck is battle tested, and after Grafton Roll and I finished 9th and 14th at Virginia Regionals (playing it both Day 1 and Day 2), it is save to say this deck could become a staple in most metagames.

Empoleon’s addition to this deck cannot be overstated. A problem that the earlier builds Flareon faced around the time of City Championships was Silver Mirror, as Flareon and Leafeon were essentially useless. Now, for 1 W Energy, Empoleon can clear this issue off the board and continue business as usual. Another benefit the deck has now is that Lysandre’s Trump Card or a late-game N are not nearly as devastating as in the past. The instant draw power and discarding can bring a Flareon player right back in an advantageous board state in record time.

In this list I have also added an Exeggutor PLF, since this card can really disrupt some unfavorable matchups. Groudon and Seismitoad builds struggle to set up without Supporters. It is also worth noting that if such a play isn’t worth making, Exeggutor can be thrown in the discard pile from Battle Compressor and add to the attack power of Flareon.

Conclusion

Thank you so much for reading and hopefully participating with others as a professor on the report card segment. I wish everyone the best of luck in the upcoming State Championships, and if you have any questions or would like to discuss anything about the article more in depth, feel free to comment on the article or reach me personally at my Facebook, Twitter or here on SixPrizes!

– Kyle Sabelhaus


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