Tieramisu

10 Plays for Worlds and Initial Favorites from Ancient Origins
gary-oak-relax-vacation-hawaiian-shirt-640pokemonscreenshots.tumblr.com
It’s Hawaiian shirt season as well.

Hey there 6P! I’m glad to be back writing for you all this month! Summer is always an exciting time for Pokémon. Nationals and Worlds generally seem to be played in a fun and interesting format for us to figure out, and this year is no exception! And it’s always nice to see friends from around the world that we don’t get to see very often.

In today’s article, I’ll walk you through my thoughts on various archetypes and talk about how I feel about them as plays for Worlds. Additionally, now that we know that the rotation will be XY-on, I’ll try to provide some insight into the future for those of you who will not be competing in Boston.

Top Tier

seismitoad-ex 106 art
Public enemy number one … yet again!

Seismitoad/Garbodor

Pokémon – 10

4 Seismitoad-EX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Trubbish LTR

2 Garbodor LTR

Trainers – 43

4 Professor Sycamore

4 N

2 Lysandre

1 Colress

1 AZ

1 Xerosic

1 Team Flare Grunt

1 Shadow Triad

 

4 Ultra Ball

4 Hypnotoxic Laser

4 Crushing Hammer

3 VS Seeker

3 Float Stone

3 Muscle Band

2 Head Ringer

1 Enhanced Hammer

1 Computer Search

 

3 Virbank City Gym

Energy – 7

4 Double Colorless

3 W

This is the exact list that Jason Klaczynski used to take down the US National Championship. I believe this list is actually near perfect, and I can’t see myself changing a single card right now. Things that come to mind are the inclusion of the 4th VS Seeker and maybe a copy of Mewtwo-EX, but I’m not sure what I would cut to fit those in.

I think this deck will continue to be a strong play as we approach Worlds. Its ability to be aggressive as well as lock the opponent out of their options is unmatched in my opinion. It performs very well against Bronzong decks, which seemed to be all over the place at US Nationals. The deck also provides a way to deal with the ever-pesky Crobat decks thanks to Garbodor’s Garbotoxin. The deck’s Manectric matchup can be tricky, but with a few favorable Crushing Hammer and Hypnotoxic Laser flips it can easily be won.

Raichu/Crobat

Pokémon – 26

4 Pikachu XY

4 Raichu XY

3 Zubat PLS 53

3 Golbat PHF

2 Crobat PHF

2 Eevee FFI

2 Leafeon PLF

3 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Exeggcute PLF

1 Kecleon PLF

Trainers – 27

4 Professor Sycamore

2 N

2 Colress

2 Lysandre

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

3 Muscle Band

1 Sacred Ash

1 Computer Search

 

4 Sky Field

Energy – 7

4 Double Colorless

3 G

raichu-xy-43-ptcgo-1
When Toad is popular, Raichu becomes a better play.

This deck was heavily played at the Canadian National Championship, and it was expected to see tons of play at US Nationals. However, this simply wasn’t the case. The fear of Landorus seemed to scare many players away from playing the mouse Pokémon. That’s not to say this deck isn’t strong. In fact, I think this deck could be quite the strong play heading into Worlds.

Since Seismitoad won US Nationals, Landorus decks will likely decrease in play, which is a win-win for Raichu. Now all of a sudden, Raichu’s worst matchup is out of the way, and a solid matchup in Seismitoad is on the rise. Because of Raichu’s sheer power and with a little help from Leafeon, the Seismitoad matchup is pretty solid. Additionally, Raichu trades very favorably with Mega Rayquaza.

The one problem I can see Raichu facing in this evolving metagame however is Aegislash-EX. Because the deck only runs three basic Energy, it’s not too unreasonable to think Aegislash could just take the game over. If you expect a lot of Metal decks in the metagame, I would suggest adding another G Energy or two to the list. But other than that, I believe this deck is in great shape to perform well at Worlds. I’ll definitely be revisiting it in my own Worlds testing.

Metal/M Rayquaza

Pokémon – 19

2 Rayquaza-EX ROS 75

1 Rayquaza-EX ROS 60

2 M Rayquaza-EX ROS 76

3 Bronzor PHF

2 Bronzong PHF

3 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Heatran PHF

1 Aegislash-EX

1 Cobalion-EX

1 Keldeo-EX

1 Kecleon PLF

Trainers – 31

4 Professor Sycamore

3 N

3 Colress

2 Lysandre

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

3 Float Stone

3 Rayquaza Spirit Link

1 Computer Search

 

4 Sky Field

Energy – 10

6 M

4 Double Colorless

One thing you might notice about the list is more Supporter cards than usual. I think this is something that a lot of players overlook when building lists for this deck. For example, Geoff Sauk’s Top 8 list only included 3 Professor Sycamore, 3 Colress, and 1 N. While the deck does utilize Shaymin-EX ROS for draw power, I believe the deck should run more Supporters, so you are not as susceptible to Seismitoad. Another thing I’d like to point out is the addition of a second copy of Heatran PHF. I think Heatran is one of the best cards in the deck, and I’d advise playing two not only in this deck, but in any deck running Bronzong. Non-Pokémon-EX are very important right now in a format where Pokémon-EX are dominant, and trading 2 Prizes for 1 is as crucial as ever.

I believe this is one of the strongest decks in the format right now. The sheer power that comes from Emerald Break pushes it over the top. Combine that with its tech options available thanks to Bronzong, and you’re left with a very effective strategy. Its Seismitoad matchup is manageable thanks to techs like Cobalion-EX and Aegislash-EX. Seismitoad/Garbodor decks could cause slight problems for this deck, but utilizing Cobalion’s Righteous Edge to strip away their Double Colorless Energies can really devastate them. The deck’s Metal matchup is favorable, as you’re able to just set up a M Rayquaza with 3 M Energy and rip through their board with Emerald Break.

The only troublesome matchup that comes to mind is Manectric/Garbodor. Between Manectric’s type advantage and Garbodor shutting off your Bronzong, the matchup is next to impossible. However, if there isn’t much Manectric in the metagame, I believe this deck is a top contender.

Mid Tier

m manectric-ex 16-9
This dog’s bark has been worse than its bite … so far.

Manectric/Empoleon

Pokémon – 13

4 Manectric-EX

3 M Manectric-EX

2 Empoleon PLF

2 Keldeo-EX

1 Mewtwo-EX NXD

1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 37

4 Professor Sycamore

4 N

2 Lysandre

1 Archie’s Ace in the Hole

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Trainers’ Mail

3 Manectric Spirit Link

3 Float Stone

2 Battle Compressor

2 Max Potion

1 Computer Search

 

3 Rough Seas

Energy – 10

6 L

4 W

The more popular version of this deck utilizes Garbodor. However, I wanted to give you all a different perspective on the deck that takes a more straightforward approach. This list gains Keldeo-EX, which serves two purposes. The first is that it is an option to get you out of Sleep inflicted by Hypnotoxic Laser. Keldeo can also be a great attacker, particularly in the Landorus matchup if you are unable to get an Empoleon into play. 110 damage for 3 Energy is still pretty good! You can also throw an Articuno ROS 41 into the list as another non-EX option that can pick up some cheap Prizes in certain situations.

I believe this deck is an okay play for Worlds. It has a great Metal matchup which is certainly appealing. It also performs decently against Seismitoad decks. It wouldn’t surprise me to see this deck make another deep run like it did at US Nationals.

Primal Kyogre

Pokémon – 13

3 Kyogre-EX PRC

3 Primal Kyogre-EX

2 Keldeo-EX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Suicune PLB

1 Kyurem PLF

1 Absol ROS

Trainers – 35

4 Professor Sycamore

4 N

2 Lysandre

1 Colress

 

4 VS Seeker

3 Float Stone

3 Kyogre Spirit Link

3 Dive Ball

2 Ultra Ball

2 Energy Retrieval

2 Professor’s Letter

1 Computer Search

 

4 Rough Seas

Energy – 12

10 W

2 Double Colorless

primal-kyogre-ex-primal-clash-prc-55
That HP is killer.

The underdog of this year’s Nationals. When I last assessed this monster of a Pokémon, its biggest enemy — Virizion/Genesect — was still a top contender. Now that V/G has virtually been wiped out of the metagame, Kyogre has room to shine. After playing against this deck at the US National Championship, I quickly realized how much of a threat this deck poses. Between Kyogre’s massive 240 Hit Points and a full four copies of Rough Seas, scoring knockouts will certainly be a challenge for the opponent.

There are some options for this deck as far as teching goes. Absol is a neat inclusion, as it can take an opponent off guard and score sneaky knockouts in tandem with Primal Kyogre’s snipe damage. If you expect a decent amount of Colorless M Rayquaza-EX decks, Hard Charm can be a great inclusion, as it allows Primal Kyogre to tank a hit from Emerald Break even if the opponent has filled their Bench. Additionally, Articuno ROS 41 is another option as a non-EX attacker instead of Kyurem PLF. The ability to take an extra Prize card is very strong and could be used as a way to finish off a damaged Pokémon.

Now that this deck has made a splash at the US Nationals, placing 10th and 14th in Masters, as well as winning in Seniors, I would certainly give this deck some thought as well as playtest some games with and against it. It performs well against Seismitoad decks as well as Manectric decks. Unfortunately, even with the inclusion of Hard Charm, the Rayquaza matchup can still be troublesome. I could see this deck sneaking up and taking us by surprise again at Worlds.

Klinklang

Pokémon – 23

3 Klink PLS

3 Klang PLS

2 Klinklang PLS

3 Bronzor PHF

3 Bronzong PHF

3 Aegislash-EX

2 Heatran PHF

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Jirachi-EX

1 Keldeo-EX

Trainers – 27

4 N

3 Professor Sycamore

2 Colress

2 Lysandre

1 Teammates

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

2 Float Stone

1 Rare Candy

1 Repeat Ball

1 Computer Search

 

2 Sky Field

Energy – 10

7 M

3 Double Colorless

This list is similar to that of Dylan Bryan‘s that he surprised us all with at US Nationals this year, taking it all the way to a Top 8 finish. This deck is interesting because of how easily it can take wins just by setting up Klinklang. Matchups like Seismitoad (without Garbodor), Kyogre, and Landorus/Crobat are won simply by establishing Klinklang’s Plasma Steel Ability. One thing I really liked about Dylan’s list is the single copies of Rare Candy and Teammates. This allows for a sneaky way to get a quick Klinklang into play. If your opponent Knocks Out a Pokémon on their turn, you can follow up by Ultra Balling for Jirachi, grab Teammates and then get Rare Candy and Klinklang. It reminds me a lot of baiting a Twins play back in the day.

I think this deck has a lot of potential moving forward, and now that the list is public, I think we could be in for a lot of Plasma Steel at Worlds.

Bronzong/Attackers

Pokémon – 18

4 Bronzor PHF

3 Bronzong PHF

2 Seismitoad-EX

2 Aegislash-EX

2 Heatran PHF

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Cobalion-EX

1 Keldeo-EX

1 Kecleon PLF

Trainers – 30

4 Professor Sycamore

4 N

2 Colress

2 Lysandre

1 AZ

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

3 Muscle Band

3 Float Stone

1 Computer Search

 

2 Steel Shelter

Energy – 12

8 M

4 Double Colorless

This list is pretty standard. You’ll notice I included two copies of Heatran like in the Metal/M Rayquaza and Klinklang lists. Additionally, like in the Metal/M Rayquaza list, I included a copy of Kecleon. I think we will be seeing more and more of this card as M Rayquaza continues to perform. It provides answers to cards like Seismitoad, Mewtwo, and — most importantly — M Rayquaza, so I think its inclusion is certainly warranted.

I’ve always been under the opinion that Metal is a safe and consistent deck; perhaps not the best call, but always one that you can be confident in. With cards like Cobalion-EX and Aegislash-EX, the deck has ways to deal with Seismitoad. However, I do feel this deck is simply inferior to its M Rayquaza counterpart. I do expect to see this deck in large numbers at Worlds though, and you should definitely be ready for it.

Low Tier

landorus bcr full art 16-9
Circumstances are a bit muddy for Lando.

Landorus/Crobat

Pokémon – 17

4 Zubat PLS 53

3 Golbat PHF

2 Crobat PHF

3 Landorus-EX

3 Hawlucha FFI

1 Lucario-EX

1 Shaymin-EX ROS

Trainers – 34

4 Professor Sycamore

3 N

3 Colress

2 Korrina

1 Lysandre

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Super Scoop Up

4 Ultra Ball

3 Muscle Band

1 Sacred Ash

1 Computer Search

 

3 Fighting Stadium

1 Silent Lab

Energy – 9

5 F

4 Strong

This is the list that my friends and I piloted at Nationals. We chose this deck anticipating more Manectric decks than there actually were and we ultimately ended up running into too many Seismitoad and Kyogre decks to handle. However, this deck is still strong, and I could definitely see myself playing it again in the right metagame. The damage that this deck is able to output in one turn is insane, and the Prize denial that Super Scoop Up can offer can really cripple your opponent.

Unfortunately for Landorus, there might be too much hype surrounding Seismitoad heading into the World Championships for it to be a viable play. However, this deck could be a good play if Manectric decks make up a large portion of the metagame. We’ll have to wait and see what’s in store for the Harvest Pokémon.

Primal Groudon

Pokémon – 11

3 Groudon-EX PRC

3 Primal Groudon-EX

3 Wobbuffet PHF

1 Landorus-EX

1 Bunnelby PRC 121

Trainers – 38

4 Professor Sycamore

4 Korrina

2 N

2 Lysandre

1 Teammates

1 Pokémon Center Lady

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Robo Substitute

2 Professor’s Letter

2 Mega Turbo

2 Switch

2 Hard Charm

1 Focus Sash

1 Ultra Ball

1 Escape Rope

1 Computer Search

 

2 Fighting Stadium

2 Silent Lab

Energy – 11

7 F

4 Strong

primal-groudon-ex-primal-clash-pcl-86 (1)
The trio of new inclusions have been dino-mite.

The last time I played Groudon was at Georgia Regionals, when we still had access to Lysandre’s Trump Card. Since then, the format has slowed down a little bit, and so has this deck. This list is very similar to what Stefan Tabaco used to place 12th at US Nationals. Some new inclusions to the deck since I last spoke about it are Robo Substitute, Teammates, and Bunnelby PRC 121.

Robo Sub is something that I overlooked originally when considering Groudon. The ability to sit behind Robo Sub while setting up a Groudon is very strong. Additionally, Robo Sub pairs fantastically with Teammates, since Knocking Out a Robo Sub still counts as Knocking Out a Pokémon. This allows for a very efficient way to power up a Primal Groudon to take over the game. Finally, we have Bunnelby. The little bunny Pokémon can come in handy when you run out of Stadiums, as you can use Rototiller to recycle them. Additionally, it’s just another wall to push up while you’re getting Groudon ready.

I believe Groudon is a decent option for Worlds. It performs well against Seismitoad, and with an extra Focus Sash or two, Groudon can tackle M Rayquaza decks with ease as well. However, Groudon struggles with non-EX-based decks like Night March. If you don’t think there will be many of those decks in the meta, Groudon could be the deck for you!

Blastoise/Archie’s

Pokémon – 12

4 Keldeo-EX

2 Blastoise PLB

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Exeggcute PLF

1 Jirachi-EX

1 Kyurem PLF

Trainers – 38

4 Professor Sycamore

2 N

2 Lysandre

2 Archie’s Ace in the Hole

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Battle Compressor

4 Superior Energy Retrieval

4 Trainers’ Mail

4 Ultra Ball

4 Acro Bike

3 Float Stone

1 Computer Search

Energy – 10

10 W

I’ve never been too big a fan of Blastoise decks. Even back in the days of the original Blastoise/Tropical Beach decks that evolved up from Squirtle, I always thought this deck was very high risk, high reward. I feel as if this is the case even more so now, as your entire strategy hinges on pulling off an Archie’s for Blastoise. Things like Quaking Punch can shut this off very quickly and force you out of the game if you’re not able to get the Archie’s right away. However, results speak volumes, and this deck made Top 16 at US Nationals, so it’s worth taking a look at. It’s hard to deny that a Turn 1 Secret Sword for 110+ damage is strong. And the deck makes good use of non-Supporter draw such as Shaymin-EX, Trainers’ Mail, and Acro Bike to burn through the deck.

I personally do not have much experience with this deck, but my friends Nicholena Moon and Jimmy Pendarvis piloted a very similar deck at a States earlier this year, so I got some play time in against it then. I’m not sure I’d consider this deck for Worlds, but that’s not to say it isn’t a force to be reckoned with. A quick start from this deck can be enough to tear apart any deck in the format. However, the thing I dislike most about this deck is its reliance on a quick Archie’s for Blastoise. But with enough luck, I could see someone piloting this deck to an impressive performance at Worlds.

Initial Favorites from Ancient Origins

After that overview of the metagame for Worlds, I figured I would take this opportunity to shed some light on the future for those of you not making the trip to Boston. While the XY-on format won’t be relevant for about six more weeks, I know some people like to do their testing ahead of time, so I’d like to share my thoughts on some of the more interesting cards that will be hitting our shores next month.

Vileplume AOR

vileplume bandit ring jpnBulbapedia
No longer safe on the Bench.

It’s always nice to see cards from the past get reprints. It allows players to relive fond (or for some players, unpleasant) memories. However, this time around, I don’t think Vileplume will be as impactful. The last time Vileplume was in format, there was no way to bring it into the Active Spot. Pokémon Catcher was the only gust effect available at the time, and once Vileplume UD hit the board, Catcher was of course unplayable.

Now, we have Lysandre. This means that the opponent can not only drag up Vileplume and Knock it Out if they wish, they also have the option to just leave it there and trap it. Vileplume sports a hefty three Retreat Cost, and without Float Stone or Darkrai-EX in the format, retreating it could be a bit of a problem. Additionally, the new Supporter card Hex Maniac can completely shut Vileplume’s Ability off.

This isn’t to say that Vileplume won’t see play. In fact, I’m near certain it will see some kind of competitive play in its new lifespan in the Standard format.

Vespiquen AOR 10

Just as we’ll be saying goodbye to Flareon PLF, we welcome Vespiquen right into the format to take its place. In fact, Vespiquen is arguably better. Its first attack, Information Control, can help you draw out of dead hands. Its Hit Point total is perfect, allowing it to be searched via Level Ball (which is conveniently being reprinted in Ancient Origins). And to top it off, Vespiquen has a zero Retreat Cost! I definitely expect this card to make its way into competitive play right from the start of the format.

Flareon AOR, Vaporeon AOR, and Jolteon AOR

I lumped these cards together because their Abilities are very similar. Type changing is something we don’t see very often in the Pokémon TCG, and if I’m not mistaken, these Abilities are the first of their kind. Some Stage 1 Pokémon that could really benefit from this kind of ability are Raichu XY, Trevenant XY, Huntail PRC, and the new Vespiquen. These Abilities are too good to be overlooked, and I’m sure they’ll get plenty of attention once they become part of the Standard format.

Ace Trainer

I’m happy to see we’ll be getting a card that can disrupt the opponent’s hand a little bit. I like that it is not to the extreme that N offered, but still enough to potentially bring players back from losing positions. I don’t think this card will see play as more than a one- or 2-of, as it has the restriction that requires you to be down on Prizes to play it.


Now that we’ve taken a quick look at some of the new cards coming our way, I want to leave you with a list that I plan on testing once I return from the World Championship. Since I still have Worlds to worry about, I will warn you this list is untested, but I believe it’s a solid deck idea for players looking to get some early testing done.

Vespiquen/Eeveelutions

Pokémon – 24

4 Combee AOR

4 Vespiquen AOR 10

4 Eevee FFI

2 Flareon AOR

2 Vaporeon AOR

2 Jolteon AOR

3 Unown AOR

3 Shaymin-EX ROS

Trainers – 29

4 Professor Sycamore

3 Professor Birch’s Observations

2 Lysandre

1 Teammates

1 Ace Trainer

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Battle Compressor

4 Level Ball

3 Ultra Ball

2 Muscle Band

1 Sacred Ash

Energy – 7

4 Double Colorless

1 R

1 W

1 L

I borrowed the idea for this deck from Erik Nance’s article after reading about his Golurk AOR/Eeveelutions deck. The concept is simple. You have a heavy-hitting Stage 1 Pokémon that can become multiple types at once, allowing you to exploit Weakness and take 1HKOs. This deck in particular seems like it could be very consistent. For starters, every Pokémon in the deck outside of Shaymin-EX is searchable via Level Ball. While we lose Supporters like N and Colress to the rotation, we gain a nice consistency booster in Unown AOR. With its Last Will Ability, not only do we get to draw a card, we also add a Pokémon to our discard to fuel Bee Revenge.

The counts of the Eeveelutions as well as the basic Energy in the list can be adjusted based on how the metagame shapes up, but this gives you the basic idea. I definitely think this deck could be a contender come September 1st.

Conclusion

Well, that’s all I have for you today 6P. I hope you’ve enjoyed this article, and I hope I’ve helped you in one way or another. I can’t wait to get to Boston for the World Championships next month, and I plan on spending the rest of this month testing my heart out to prepare. If you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me via PM here on SixPrizes, or on Facebook. I’m always glad to help!

Thanks for reading!

Dylan


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