The Meta Awakens

A Hyperspace Jump Through Weeks 2 and 3 of the Fall Regionals Trilogy

There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?

star wars the force awakens
“A long time ago in a metagame far, far away….”

Hey everyone! It’s only been a month and a half since I wrote my last article but a lot has happened in that time. I was able to improve on my 2-6-1 performance (yikes!) at Worlds 2014 with a Top 32 finish in Boston this year. You can get a recap of most of the story in this write-up by Christopher Schemanske but I wanted to highlight the role that my team played in my weekend. At first, I didn’t think that Gengar/Trevenant would be a solid play for the World Championships. However, my faith in my teammates gave me a reason to continue testing it and we ended up with a great rogue deck for the main event.

Working together with a team of players from my local area is the best decision I have ever made in this game. If you don’t have a group that you playtest with or bounce ideas off of, now is the best time to form that group! Many players are extra motivated by the promise of a Worlds invite at the beginning of the season so it should be easy to find other players who share the same drive that you do. This article by Mike Fouchet is very helpful if you need any tips for creating a team; I’ve read it several times since it was posted and it has definitely helped me to be a better team player.

Once you have a team or even if you’re preparing for Regionals on your own, you need to start looking at the popular decks. The first place to start with that is by studying the results from Arizona and Houston. They have defined the metagame in a very surprising way that I’m excited to analyze. Let’s have a look at the new heroes and villains of the Expanded format!

Week 1: Attack of the Clones

blastoise clone movie 3-2pokemonscreenshots.tumblr.com

Blind we are, of creation of this clone army we could not see.

The past weekend has given us two decks that stand far above the rest. Texas was dominated by our hero, the Jedi Master of this new format, Archie’s Blastoise. Fresh off of its emergence as the World Champion, Blastoise, along with Jedi Padawan Keldeo, was able to take 4 of the Top 8 spots in Texas and even 2 in Arizona. These results appear to show that the Jedi Order is in firm control of the galaxy.

However, the Dark Side was strong in Arizona where the Sith Lord Darkrai and his apprentice Yveltal also accounted for 4 of the Top 8 spots. With new friends Archeops, Ghetsis, and Hex Maniac, this most recent incarnation of the Darkrai deck has counters to almost everything. The return of Dark Patch was the last step on the path to Sith domination.

We haven’t had a format this well defined in years. Most of the recent formats have been more wide open with at least four decks in the top tier. This Regionals format is reminiscent of States 2012 when Zekrom BLW/Eelektrik NVI and Celebi Prime/Mewtwo-EX/Tornadus EPO were the two top decks. Almost every State Championship that year was won by one of those two decks with only a few other decks such as Durant, Terrakion NVI/Tornadus EPO, and Typhlosion Prime/Reshiram BLW managing to even make Top 4’s.

While I don’t think the current format is as restrictive as that one, I’m very happy to see a format this linear. I pride myself on my ability to counter the metagame and that becomes so much easier when there are only a select few decks that I expect to see at the top tables. That said, here is how I expect the format to develop in the next two weeks.

Week 2: Revenge of the Sith

yveltal m17 manga 16-9Bulbapedia

The Sith Lord Darkrai-EX and his apprentice Yveltal-EX descended upon Lancaster, PA. With new cronies Hex Maniac and Ghetsis in tow, they were ready to eliminate the Jedi once and for all. No one could stand in their way.

I fully expect Yveltal to dominate the 2nd weekend of Regionals and would be unsurprised to see as few as 1 Blastoise deck make Top 8. Yveltal has the best matchups against the field and players are comfortable with the deck since they have been able to play it on and off for parts of the last three seasons. Now that good lists have surfaced and other players have seen success, players will be more confident in dusting off their old Yveltal-EX and Darkrai-EX.

Although I don’t think Blastoise decks will do well in Pennsylvania, I do think that it will be heavily played. It’s an incredibly strong deck and a fun one at that. Most people didn’t really need a reason to play the deck after seeing it win Worlds and its success last weekend will magnify its play even more. I actually picked up the list that Christopher used in Houston for my League Challenge on Sunday just because of how much I enjoy playing the deck.

Here are a couple of decks that I think will be popular during the 2nd week of Regionals because of their strong Blastoise matchups:

The Overlord: Yveltal/Archeops

We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they are not all destroyed, it will be civil war without end.

Pokémon – 12

3 Yveltal-EX

2 Yveltal XY

2 Seismitoad-EX

1 Darkrai-EX DEX

1 Keldeo-EX

1 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Jirachi-EX

1 Archeops NVI

Trainers – 37

2 Professor Sycamore

2 Lysandre

1 Ghetsis

1 N

1 Maxie’s Hidden Ball Trick

1 Hex Maniac

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Trainers’ Mail

4 Dark Patch

4 Battle Compressor

3 Muscle Band

2 Acro Bike

2 Float Stone

1 Professor’s Letter

1 Computer Search

Energy – 11

7 D

4 Double Colorless

hex maniac aor 75 1-1
Helps spell victory against Stoise.

This is the version of Yveltal that saw the most hype leading up to the first weekend of Regionals. Archeops is an incredibly strong partner, singlehandedly shutting down decks like Vespiquen which give Yveltal a lot of trouble.

I chose to include a speed engine with Trainers’ Mail and Battle Compressor to make it easier to get the Maxie’s off for the Archeops. Another added benefit of these cards how easy it is to find the Supporters that you need at any given time. The inclusion of Hex Maniac and Ghetsis have really pushed Yveltal over the top. Using Ghetsis on the first turn completely shuts down a deck like Archie’s Blastoise — they have no way to get a Blastoise out on the first turn other than by topdecking a Battle Compressor, Ultra Ball, or other similar card.

Hex Maniac is the card that makes the deck worth playing now. Without it, Blastoise would beat Yveltal most of the time. Blastoise sets up faster and can sometimes even get a Turn 1 KO, especially if the Yveltal player is unfortunate enough to start with a Shaymin-EX or Jirachi-EX. It is also much easier for that deck to consistently load up Keldeos to return knockouts while also keeping up the pressure with N. Hex Maniac disrupts the Prize trade in the mid game when played after a knockout by leaving the Blastoise player without any Energy left on the board. If you can manage to chain Hex Maniac on consecutive turns, the game will be all but over.

The Traitor: Yveltal/Xerosic

Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis “the wise”? He became so powerful … the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, and then one night, his apprentice killed him in his sleep.

Pokémon – 12

3 Yveltal-EX

2 Yveltal XY

2 Seismitoad-EX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Darkrai-EX DEX

1 Keldeo-EX

1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 37

4 Professor Sycamore

3 N

2 Xerosic

2 Lysandre

2 Hex Maniac

1 Ghetsis

1 Colress

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Dark Patch

4 Hypnotoxic Laser

3 Muscle Band

1 Computer Search

 

2 Virbank City Gym

Energy – 11

7 D

4 Double Colorless

xerosic phf 110 art 1-1
Double-cross mirror matchups.

I haven’t had time to fully iron out all of the kinks in this list but this is pretty close to what I would be playing if I were attending Regionals this weekend. The 2 Xerosic in the list are mostly intended to help in the mirror match. The main use is for discarding DCE off of Seismitoad-EX as the start of the matchup often devolves into a Quaking Punch war. However, you can also use it to discard Float Stones that get attached to Keldeo-EX before you shut them out of their Items. Another practical use is to knock DCEs off of Benched Yveltal-EXs to make it less likely for your Yveltal to get Knocked Out after you take a knockout. Unfortunately, having Dark Patch in the format means that they can still get an attack off when you discard their only attached Energy but you still definitely set them back.

This list has moved away from the speed engine that was used in the Archeops list because that version is much worse against Seismitoad-EX. I added a few more draw Supporters and another Shaymin-EX to make up for those cuts. I could actually see adding a 3rd Shaymin to help with your draws. This list focuses a lot on playing the utility Supporters, especially in the early game. In that case, Pokémon-based draw is very necessary to hit the Pokémon and Energy drops that you need to stay in the game.

Speaking of utility Supporters, I added a second copy of Hex Maniac in this list. It makes it that much easier to chain them in the Blastoise matchup and also provides insurance against prizing the lone copy in the above list. I have also considered adding another Jirachi-EX in this list in case it is prized in a crucial situation. I couldn’t see having 3 Shaymin and 2 Jirachi so I’d probably look at cutting a Yveltal to accommodate just one of them.

This list is unfortunately not as good against Vespiquen as the version that uses Archeops. The Queen Bee could make a resurgence in the 2nd weekend of Regionals as it is a seemingly natural counter to Blastoise. This is a trade-off that I’m okay with as a quick Quaking Punch from Seismitoad-EX is often too much for Vespiquen to handle. The 2 Hex Maniac in this list are also pretty strong in the matchup as Vespiquen decks rely on Shaymin and Unown to set up in the early game. If you are concerned about the matchup, one of the Yveltal XY could be substituted for a 3rd copy of Seismitoad-EX.

The Apprentice: Seismitoad/Crobat

I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the dark side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.

Pokémon – 18

4 Seismitoad-EX

4 Zubat PLS 53

3 Golbat PHF

2 Crobat PHF

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Jirachi-EX

1 Mewtwo-EX NXD

1 Dedenne FFI

Trainers – 35

4 Professor Sycamore

2 N

2 Colress

2 Hex Maniac

1 Lysandre

1 AZ

1 Ghetsis

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Super Scoop Up

4 Hypnotoxic Laser

3 Muscle Band

1 Computer Search

 

2 Virbank City Gym

Energy – 7

4 Double Colorless

3 W

ghetsis scarypokescans.tumblr.com
Aim to lock Blastoise out early.

In a metagame ruled by Blastoise, Seismitoad can be a strong play even without the help of Yveltal and Darkrai. Contrary to the results of this year’s World Championship finals, Seismitoad is one of the best counters to Archie’s Blastoise decks. If you can prevent them from getting out the Turn 1 Blastoise, the matchup is as good as won. This list aims to do just that with the inclusion of Ghetsis and Jirachi-EX. In the past, Blastoise has been able to counter Seismitoad-EX decks because they always got a chance to get an Archie’s off before they could use Quaking Punch no matter who gets to go first. However, with Ghetsis, if the Seismitoad player gets to go first, they can completely shut a Blastoise out.

Hex Maniac is also included in this list as a way to counter Blastoise for the games when they successfully get one out. Silent Lab is another consideration for shutting off Keldeo’s Rush In but that seems like a more gimmicky strategy, relying on your opponent to not have a counter Stadium. Try both options out if you’re considering this deck.

It is pretty hard for a Seismitoad-EX to Knock Out a Keldeo-EX so I also included a Mewtwo-EX in the list. When paired with Hex Maniac, this is your best way to stop a Blastoise player from running through you with a fully loaded Keldeo. I debated using a Lugia-EX AOR in place of the Mewtwo but if other players include Lightning techs to counter Yveltal-EX, Lugia’s Weakness is more of a liability than Mewtwo’s.

Speaking of Lightning techs, a single Dedenne in this list should completely turn the Yveltal matchup in Seismitoad’s favor. Back in the States format from last year (the last time that Yveltal was really relevant), Seismitoad/Crobat already beat most Yveltal lists somewhat consistently. However, there are a few open spots in this list so I wanted to dedicate the space to have complete confidence in the matchup. I don’t think it’s unlikely to play against 4 or more Yveltal decks on the first day in Pennsylvania and up to 6 if you make Day 2. The one spot for added insurance is a small price to pay if you expect to play the matchup that many times. Dedenne can also return a 1-shot on a Keldeo with the help of a Muscle Band, Hypnotoxic Laser, or some Bat damage after they knockout your clean Seismitoad-EX.

Surprisingly, I have been able to fit almost everything that I wanted into this list. Other considerations include a 3rd Shaymin or 2nd Jirachi for the same reasons as the Yveltal list above. A Xerosic or Team Flare Grunt to help in the Quaking Punch war would be good additions but I’m not sure what to cut. Another Crobat or a recovery card like Super Rod or Sacred Ash could also be useful but I think AZ and Super Scoop Up provide enough ways to reuse the Bat Pokémon on their own.

The Acolyte: Night March

The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated. Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test.

Pokémon – 20

4 Joltik PHF

4 Pumpkaboo PHF

4 Lampent PHF

3 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Mew-EX

2 Shuppet ROS

1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 33

4 Professor Sycamore

2 Ghetsis

1 N

1 Lysandre

1 Hex Maniac

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Battle Compressor

4 Trainers’ Mail

4 Ultra Ball

2 Muscle Band

1 Float Stone

1 Computer Search

 

4 Dimension Valley

Energy – 7

4 Double Colorless

3 P

shuppet ros 30 1-1
I say ‘boo’ to your Item lock.

This is a fairly straightforward Night March list but the additions of Ghetsis and Hex Maniac should give it the tools that it needs to beat Blastoise. Both of these Supporters can also help against some matchups like Vespiquen or other Night March decks, especially in the early game. Jirachi-EX is used here instead of a 4th Shaymin-EX to search out these Supporters exactly when you need them.

The major tech that I have in this list is Shuppet ROS. I know what you’re thinking, “Bleh, that card sucks.” However, Shuppet is one of the only ways that Night March can deal with Quaking Punch if they don’t get enough Night Marchers in the discard before being locked out of their Items. This addition should be enough to keep the slightly favorable Yveltal matchup from turning sour.

The addition of Shuppet requires the use of P Energy, but that should actually be the Energy of choice in the standard Night March list anyway. At Worlds, using L Energy to improve your chances the mirror match was the talk of the community. You can use it with a Joltik and a Muscle Band to 1-shot an opposing Joltik without using one of your precious Double Colorless. However, this opens you up to getting Knocked Out by your opponent’s Joltik in the same way or a Shaymin-EX with Sky Return. P Energy allows for the same knockout on Joltik to be done with Pumpkaboo but this play requires that your opponent uses a DCE to respond.

Some players have been using Archeops in Night March but I don’t think that it is truly necessary. It would be a nice tech to combat opposing Vileplume before they hit the board so you could consider it if you think that will be a popular deck. Otherwise, Vespiquen is a 50/50 matchup at worst and should be shut down more by Ghetsis and Hex Maniac than Archeops. Remember, they can use Hex Maniac to get around your Archeops’ Ancient Power.

Week 3: Return of the Jedi

sid blastoise 16-9Bulbapedia

After being nearly wiped out in Pennsylvania, Blastoise and Keldeo are back with a vengeance for the third weekend of Regionals. They’ve recruited a few friends to help them vanquish the Sith once and for all. It will be a long battle spread out over North America but the Jedi are up to the task.

After Yveltal dominates in Pennsylvania, I expect it to only get more popular for the Regionals in Fort Wayne, San Jose, and Vancouver. Blastoise will probably dip in popularity after a below average showing in Week 2 but it is important to keep in mind as a threat. Other players will probably disregard it going into Week 3 which I think is definitely a mistake. A few rogue decks like Vileplume will probably make their way into the spotlight but I just don’t think anything will hold a share of the metagame like the Big 2. Here are a few decks that should be able to hold their own in this metagame:

The Master: Archie’s Blastoise

Remember, a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware: Anger, fear, aggression — the dark side, are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor …

Pokémon – 15

3 Keldeo-EX

2 Blastoise BCR

2 Jirachi-EX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Exeggcute PLF

2 Articuno ROS 17

2 Regice AOR

Trainers – 35

2 Professor Sycamore

2 N

2 Archie’s Ace in the Hole

1 Hex Maniac

1 Lysandre

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Battle Compressor

4 Trainers’ Mail

4 Superior Energy Retrieval

4 Ultra Ball

2 Acro Bike

2 Muscle Band

1 Computer Search

 

2 Tropical Beach

Energy – 10

10 W

I had to make a lot of changes to the Week 1 list that Christopher and I came up with to stand a chance against the new version of Yveltal. Unfortunately, I had to cut the Victini but it’s an acceptable cut now as I don’t think Vespiquen will be very popular for the rest of the format (plus, the re-flipping tactic was mostly a gimmick). I expected a lot of Bees in the first week because it was the new kid on the block but now that feeling has worn off. I did keep the 2 copies of Articuno in the list as a good counter to Seismitoad-EX. I have used Chilling Sigh in countless games to stop my opponent from using Quaking Punch, giving me a chance to set up a Blastoise in tough spots that are otherwise unwinnable.

regice-ancient-origins-aor-24
Give Yveltal the cold shoulder.

Regice AOR is the newest addition to the list which I adopted after the reigning World Champion, Jacob Van Wagner, used it in his Top 16 list at Arizona Regionals last weekend. It’s my main strategy for dealing with Yveltal decks as they can typically only damage you with Yveltal XY or Hypnotoxic Laser after you use Resistance Blizzard. Both of those options take a long time to Knock Out a Regice which will give you a few turns to load up damage on their board without worrying about Hex Maniac.

In the event that the Regice strategy isn’t enough to defeat Yveltal, the deck has a decent backup plan. The strategy is to N your opponent down to a low hand size and use Tropical Beach to replenish your hand, giving you the cards you need to mount a comeback. While this strategy seems rather obvious, it is one of the only ways to disrupt a Hex Maniac chain after the Yveltal player gets one in the discard and has a consistent way to draw into VS Seekers. Christopher and I disagree on this point, but I still think that hand disruption is a viable way to stop your opponent from finding the cards that they need. I added a 2nd copy of N to accommodate this strategy which may make it slightly harder to get off the Turn 1 Archie’s but the benefits outweigh the costs here.

Another small change that I made to combat Hex Maniac is dropping the Float Stone for a 2nd Muscle Band. Like Christopher, I have found Float Stone underwhelming. Instead, I like the extra Muscle Band as a way to get more damage output from a Keldeo-EX without having to rely on using Deluge. I also agree with Christopher about the addition of a Hex Maniac in this list for the mirror match. Vileplume is another matchup where it is useful in; in a pinch, you can whittle down your hand of Items after shutting off their Irritating Pollen in preparation for an Archie’s next turn. Unfortunately, you are still at the mercy of your topdeck, but it’s the best option you have in a bad situation.

The Padawan: Vespiquen/Raichu

One thing remains: Yveltal. You must … confront … Yveltal. Then, only then, a Jedi, will you be. And confront him, you will.

Pokémon – 27

4 Combee AOR

4 Vespiquen AOR 10

4 Pikachu XY

4 Raichu XY

3 Unown AOR

3 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Bronzor PHF

2 Bronzong PHF

1 Jirachi-EX

Trainers – 25

4 Professor Sycamore

2 Hex Maniac

1 N

1 Lysandre

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

4 Battle Compressor

2 Muscle Band

2 Switch

1 Computer Search

Energy – 8

4 M

4 Double Colorless

This is a deck that I have been working on that preys on the weaknesses of the standard Yveltal deck. I deviated a bit from the typical Vespiquen build by using Raichu instead of Flareon. I was actually really surprised to see how hard it can be to get 13-15 Pokémon in the discard pile to Knock Out Yveltal-EX in one shot. Raichu can be used instead, especially in the early game, to easily take down a Yveltal. If they choose to attack with Seismitoad-EX instead, Vespiquen is usually too much for them to handle with their Grass Weakness. When your set up cooperates, you are able to back a Yveltal deck into a corner that they can’t come out of.

Now that the deck is unable to make use of Blacksmith for Energy acceleration, I needed to find a new way to mitigate the reliance on Double Colorless Energy. Fortunately, Bronzong pairs very well with the Battle Compressor engine that the deck already runs so it was a natural addition. I had to add a 2nd Switch to accommodate for its hefty Retreat Cost and I have also been considering an AZ for this reason. However, if my opponent wants to stall me by dragging my Bronzong to the Active Spot, they’ll probably just use Quaking Punch to stop me from using Switch. Eventually they’ll just knock my Bronzong out and I most likely won’t even be behind in the Prize trade.

Once again, Hex Maniac has made its way into my list to shut down Blastoise decks. I have considered a Ghetsis as well but it hasn’t been as necessary in this deck. They just usually don’t have a good answer to a constant swarm of Bees. Unless my opponent is using a Victini NVI to increase their odds of a 1HKO from 50% to 75%, Articuno is not a very reliable way to deal with Vespiquen. Keldeo’s Weakness makes it easy prey for the Bees and Hex Maniac is usually the nail in the coffin.

Master of the Order: Speed M Rayquaza

Ready are you? What know you of ready? For 800 years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.

Pokémon – 14

3 Rayquaza-EX ROS 75

3 M Rayquaza-EX ROS 76

3 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Hoopa-EX

1 Keldeo-EX

1 Virizion-EX

1 Exeggcute PLF

Trainers – 38

3 Professor Sycamore

2 Lysandre

2 Colress

1 N

1 Hex Maniac

1 AZ

 

4 VS Seeker

4 Battle Compressor

4 Ultra Ball

3 Mega Turbo

3 Acro Bike

3 Rayquaza Spirit Link

2 Float Stone

1 Computer Search

 

4 Sky Field

Energy – 8

4 G

4 Double Colorless

Ah, just putting this list together brings back great memories of Nationals. But my nostalgia isn’t the only thing that draws me to this deck. The speed and power that M Rayquaza has is enough to go toe to toe with both Blastoise and Yveltal decks. In most games, this deck is able to completely overwhelm Yveltal-EX before it can even get powered up. When it doesn’t, the low Energy cost of Emerald Break makes it hard to take down a M Rayquaza-EX. They are forced to Knock you Out in 2 hits, and the AZ that I have in this list can make that impossible.

hoopa-ex-ancient-origins-aor-89
Seriously unbounds this deck.

The real MVP in this list is Hoopa-EX. One Ultra Ball can easily turn into a M Rayquaza-EX and a fully-stocked hand through Shaymin’s Set Up. Rayquaza decks were already some of the fastest in the game but Scoundrel Ring turns it all the way up to 11. The main argument against Hoopa has been that it clogs up your Bench, but this weakness turns into a strength in a Rayquaza deck. With Battle Compressor to thin your deck and search out Supporters, Acro Bike to selectively draw the pieces to the puzzle, and Exeggcute to make Ultra Ball discards more manageable, this deck runs like a dream.

I have neglected to run a full suite of utility Supporters in this list but I don’t think they are as necessary as they have been in other lists. Blastoise is already a good matchup without Ghetsis to shut them down; it would take 9 W Energy (or 8 with a Muscle Band of course) for Keldeo-EX to Knock Out M Rayquaza in one hit. However, M Rayquaza only needs 6 Benched Pokémon to return that knockout. And with only 10 or 11 W Energy in most Blastoise lists, it’s foolish to expect that trade to go in your favor for long.

I did include a Hex Maniac in this list but the main use here is to shut down Vileplume in the early turns. It also has uses in matchups like Night March to slow their setup or against decks that get out an Archeops so you can continue to evolve your Rayquaza-EX. There is only a single copy of Hex Maniac but it is incredibly easy to search out with the synergy between Battle Compressor and VS Seeker.

Other Supporters could be added like Xerosic but I haven’t found much use for it. Seismitoad-EX decks are already a good matchup for the deck with Virizion-EX to shut off Hypnotoxic Laser and the sheer power of Emerald Break picking up knockouts left and right.

Zander Bennett piloted a similar list to a Top 4 finish in Arizona. It looks like he chose to use a full set of Trainers’ Mail in lieu of any Professor Sycamore. While this may increase your speed in the first few turns of the game, I prefer the stability that Supporter-based draw gives you, especially in a drawn out game against Seismitoad-EX or Vileplume decks. Under Item lock, it can be difficult to keep chaining attacks together. Colress and Sycamore help you to find your Double Colorless Energy and the necessary Pokémon to keep you on track. I’ll be testing versions of this list with and without Trainers’ Mail in the next week to verify which one I like best.

This deck would be high on my short list if I was playing in Pennsylvania and I’m already considering it for Week 3 in Fort Wayne. I want to play around with some of the counts in the deck, namely the amount of Shaymin-EX, Battle Compressor, Mega Turbo, and Rayquaza Spirit Link. With a little bit of time spent to perfect the list, I think this deck can definitely take home one of the remaining four Regional Championships.

I Put That Stuff on Everything (Reprise)

jirachi blink
“Oh, look … another Jirachi!”

By now you have probably noticed that almost every list in this article includes a Jirachi-EX as well as some number of Ghetsis and/or Hex Maniac. This is not just lazy deckbuilding; I firmly believe that this is a good way to counter Blastoise decks. It’s a low-cost solution to a big problem that easily fits in most decks and isn’t completely useless in other matchups.

Blastoise has impacted this format in a way that a lot of people didn’t expect. Its speed is unmatched with a fairly consistent Turn 1 attack from Keldeo. Its consistency is amazing, I would put the chance of getting off an Archie’s Ace in the Hole on your first turn at around 85%. It is very hard to disrupt when played correctly, any Ultra Ball can turn an N to 1 to a new 6-card hand as long as you have Exeggcute in the discard.

Even though Ghetsis and Hex Maniac can reliably slow or shut down their set up, I don’t think the game is in a healthy state when almost every deck has to run them to stand a chance in the metagame. Hopefully the next few sets will give us more options to deal with our oppressive Jedi Masters.

Conclusion

You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.

All of these decks are a lot to take in, but this is the format that we have in front of us. Although I have provided some solid lists in this article, most of them could use some fine tuning. That’s where you come in. Even though you might be preparing for your Regionals in just 2 days, it’s not too late to start testing!

As always, feel free to reach out to me on the forums if you have any questions. I’d love to offer suggestions on other deck ideas you have or explain any of the choices from my decklists. I can also help you navigate the metagame if there are new developments that come out of Lancaster Regionals. All of us Underground writers are more than happy to hear from you, especially if you have any suggestions for improving our articles.

Also, I hope you’ve enjoyed my silly Star Wars references. Take it easy, hope to see you in Fort Wayne!

Alex


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