Hey everyone, I’m glad to be writing for SixPrizes as this will be my first article on here. First, I’d like to thank Adam for giving me the opportunity to write for this wonderful site. For those that don’t know me, I play out of the Orlando, Florida area. I have been playing competitively since 2010 and have racked up a number of accomplishments over the years. Most notably winning Hartford Regionals with Rayquaza-GX and placing Top 4 at the Oceania International Championships with PikaRom this past season. I finished the 2018-2019 season ranked 3rd in the US/Canada leaderboards which netted me a Day 2 Worlds invite with a staggering 1917 Championship Points. I am very proud of this accomplishment as I was 17th last season so I have come a long way to try and stay at the top of my game and be the best player I can strive to be. I’m known for playing Rayquaza a lot so maybe you have heard of me because of that haha. I am also the team captain of the professional team, Team ARG (Alter Reality Games). Anyway, that’s enough about me. Worlds is coming up fast and players have to test more than ever to get ready for this prestigious event. The fact that Worlds this year is in a completely new format will have everyone competing on the same playing field. This is great because it’ll reward those that prepare and test more with better results in the long run. For my first article here at SixPrizes, I will discuss a couple of decks for the Worlds format that has seen plenty of success in the past, however, updated with Unified Minds. Those two decks are PikaRom and ReshiZard. Both decks have gained a number of cards in Unified Minds to make them stronger for Worlds so today I will showcase those.
PikaRom + Unified Minds
Decklist
|
Pokémon – 12 |
Trainers – 37 4 Lillie 3 Volkner 2 Cynthia
1 Switch
1 Thunder Mountain |
Energy – 11
11 L |
TAG TEAM attackers
Most times you will want to use Full Blitz to power up other attackers. If you are taking a KO with Full Blitz then even better. However, worst case you can set up future KOs. Tag Bolt-GX can potentially take a huge multi-prize turn which a lot of the time Tag Bolt-GX is used as an end game attack to finish the game quickly. Before if you Full Blitz onto the active Pikachu & Zekrom-GX it could get punished by an attacker that could otherwise take it down in one blow. However, now you can play around this scenario thanks to Tag Switch. By powering up a benched Pikachu & Zekrom-GX you can Tag Switch onto a fresh one and still easily pull off the Tag Bolt-GX for the extra bench damage.
One of the new TAG TEAM attackers that most if not all PikaRom decks will play. It’s first attack, Tandem Shock does 80 base damage and an additional 80 damage if Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX went to the Active Spot that turn. Not only that but the active Pokémon is also Paralyzed. Right now Paralyzation is better than ever because Guzma won’t be legal for Worlds. Now, it’s attack, Lightning Ride-GX does 150 base damage and lets you switch Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX back to the bench. Similar to Golisopod-GX and Persian-GX’s GX attacks. However, Lightning Ride-GX also does an additional 100 damage if Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX has 2 extra L Energy on it for a whopping 250 damage. Add one Electropower and that’s enough to basically take down any relevant Pokémon.
1 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
I’ve included one of these to help take down an opposing Mewtwo & Mew-GX in one blow. This can easily be done thanks to Tag Switch and Energy Switch. You can technically attack with Mewtwo & Mew-GX out of nowhere. If you copy Full Blitz then you can also power up another attacker while taking 3 Prize cards.
2 Dedenne-GX/2 Zeraora-GX/2 Zapdos
I could see adding a 3rd copy of Dedenne-GX for prizing issues. Most times you will likely use 2 of them. You can use Zeraora-GX as an attacker if need be but it’ll most likely just sit on the bench to abuse its ability. Against Latios-GX is where Zeraoa-GX and Zapdos will be useful. Zapdos, on the other hand, will be even more useful against Keldeo-GX as it’s the only Pokémon in the deck that can get around its ability.
I still think the way to go is the Lillie Engine. Being able to just fill your hand to 8 on the first turn of the game is just too good to pass up personally. I also do like having a heavier count of Volkner even more so now because of the inclusion of some of the new items. I can also see a heavier count of Cynthia but right now I think I will stick with 2.
Guzma will not be legal for Worlds so that means we have to find another way to bring up benched Pokémon. Maxing out on Custom Catcher in this deck is recommended because you can search out 1 copy with Volkner should you already have a copy in hand. PikaRom playing Volkner is one of the few decks that can utilize Custom Catcher quite effectively.
4 Electromagnetic Radar/3 Pokémon Communication/1 Cherish Ball
These are the decks ways of searching out Pokémon now that both Nest Ball and Ultra Ball are no longer legal for Worlds. Maxing out on Electromagnetic Radar should be a staple now because it’s really what you want to see in your opening hand. Not only does it get you 2 Pokémon-GX including Dedenne-GX which is your draw power but it also lets you put L Energy into the discard so you can then use Dance of the Ancients more effectively.
As you can see I like my switching energy effects. Back at the Australian International Championships, I was known for playing 6 copies (4 Energy Switch and 2 Multi Switch) in my Top 4 list. However, now with the release of Tag Switch, it makes going into fresh TAG TEAM attackers much easier.
1 Switch/1 Stadium Nav/1 Reset Stamp
I’ve added one Switch just in case you need to get out of an opposing Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX attack or Sleep condition. Stadium Nav is nice since it can potentially get you one of your Stadiums you need that the time. Volkner can search out Stadium Nav making it more efficient. There is also one Reset Stamp because again it can be searched with Volkner when you need it most. Being able to minimize the opponent’s hand size can be helpful in the long run. I don’t like Reset Stamp that much but in a deck that can automatically search it out I think, it’s good in.
2 Lysandre Labs/1 Thunder Mountain
Shutting off Tools can be handy since this deck doesn’t play any itself so Lysandre Labs will only help you.
Other card choices
In this deck, this card will strickly be used for its ability, Invasion. Against opposing Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX, Invasion will be very useful in getting yourself out of Paralyzation. You can drop the 1-of Switch for Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX if you prefer to go that route. Not to mention, Invasion is also just useful against any status conditions in general not just Paralyzation.
Stormy Winds can help put another L Energy into play so you can have a faster or more efficient way of moving energy around. If you prize Tapu Koko p then Rayquaza-GX will surely come in handy.
Jirachi + Escape Board
Going this route is still a good way to keep the deck consistent. Having access to Stellar Wish can net you that 2nd copy of Custom Catcher or any Item, in general, you are looking for at the time. Escape Board is also still useful in getting yourself out of both Sleep and Paralyzation which will be even more relevant now thanks to Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX.
Decks like Shedinja Stall can still pop up so if you are wary of decks like that then I recommend adding Oranguru. However, I personally don’t see decks like that being all that great anymore. I’d think twice about adding in Oranguru for consistencies sake.
This card is quite similar to that of Buzzole and it’s Sledgehammer attack. Although Xurkitree’s attack, Three Mirrors does the same damage as SledgeHammer except the opponent has to be at 3 Prize cards remaining instead of 4 like Buzzwole. Still, I can see this attack being useful after the opponent takes down one of your TAG TEAM Pokémon as the first KO. Xurkitree can also be an answer to Keldeo-GX. Not to mention, Electropower can beef Three Mirrors for even greater damage.
This card can be used for multiple reasons. The first, as a counter to Buzzwole as Marshadow, can take it down in one blow for just single energy. The second reason Marshadow is useful is for its ability, Resetting Hole. It lets you discard any Stadium in play such as Shrine of Punishment. This also includes Prism Star Stadiums such as Heat Factory.
Against Mewtwo & Mew-GX decks which rely on their attackers being mostly in the discard means Girafarig can be useful. It’s attack, Get Lost can Lost Zone two of their attackers or even P Energy. If Mewtwo & Mew-GX keeps getting the hype it deserves then I wouldn’t be surprised to see players start teching in Girafarig.
Just another solid supporter you can play to draw extra cards. A well-timed Erika’s Hospitality can net you a good amount of cards.
Pokémon Fab Club
We lost both Nest Ball and Ultra Ball so having Pokémon Fab Club able to search out any 2 of your Basic Pokémon can be useful. Especially to search out Tapu Koko p. Plus they go into your hand so you can get the effect of Dedenne-GX should you chose to grab it as one of your 2 Basic Pokémon.
Being able to search out both Thunder Mountain and Tapu Koko p at the same time is extremely good. However, Lisia is a supporter and Tapu Lele-GX is gone so the deck has no way to search for Lisia. I can see Lisia played more in a Jirachi build that way you can potentially find it more efficiently off Stellar Wish.
This new Tool card is definitely interesting. If the opponent does 180 or more damage to the Pokémon this tool is attached to then the attacking Pokémon takes 10 damage counters. Giant Bomb can force odd situations where the opponent may have to just pass or simply take the 10 damage counters risking a revenge KO.
This card can be used for a number of reasons. Being able to heal your Pokémon, reusing Dedenne-GX’s ability, getting out of status conditions, and denying the opponent a multi-prize KO. I personally just don’t like the flip effect but if you do then, by all means, go for it. You only really need to hit 1 or 2 heads to make the card incredible in a given scenario.
Great card for adding more consistency to the deck. Flipping one or two heads is all you really need to get what you want. However, I just am not a fan of the flip aspect.
ReshiZard + Unified Minds
Decklist
|
Pokémon – 8 4 Volcanion UNB |
Trainers – 40 Energy -12 4 Green’s Exploration 12 R
3 Pokégear 3.0 1 Reset Stamp
|
Pokémon
The decks preferred starter. Used to accelerate your attackers when going 2nd but also used as an attacker for its High-Heat Blast attack which can set up KOs. Volcanion will be your attacker against both Keldeo-GX and Latios-GX.
The deck’s main attacker when taking big KOs. Flare Blitz can take down a number of relevant Pokémon thanks to its mighty 230 damage output. Now, Double Blaze-GX does a solid 200 base damage which is enough to 1HKO a number of Pokémon. However, if Reshiram & Charizard-GX has 3 extra R Energy attached then Double Blaze-GX does an additional 100 damage which will take down essentially any Pokémon. Not only that but Double Blaze-GX has an extra effect in which lets you basically pierce through any effect on any given Pokémon including Keldeo-GX and Latios-GX.
Mainly useful against decks that play Evolution Pokémon. It’s second attack, Dump Truck Press will demonish decks that rely on Evolution Pokémon by doing 240 damage per hit. If you need to draw cards then Megaton Friends-GX can get you out of a dead hand while doing big damage.
Tank Items
4 Mixed Herbs/4 Great Potion/2 Choice Helmet
This build is meant to basically be a tanky build whereas you want to try and keep your attackers alive as long as possible. By doing this we have cards like Mixed Herbs which you can search 2 copies out with Green’s Exploration. Mixed Herbs can heal 90 damage and remove all Special Conditions from your active Pokémon should you use 2 at once. However, if you use one then you can get yourself out of a status condition most notably Paralyzation. The deck also plays 4 copies of Great Poton which is a new Unified Minds card. Great Potion lets you heal 50 damage from your active Pokémon-GX. You can see how this deck is supposed to be tanky with all the healing it has. Let’s not forget about Choice Helmet. It reduces 30 damage done to the Pokémon this tool is attached to done by Pokémon-GX and EX. Choice Helmet can prevent being 1HKO’d while also healing drastically following the survivability.
Other card choices
Solid 1 Prize attacker that has the potential to 1HKO any Pokémon theoretically. It’s attack, Explosive Jet does 50 damage for each R Energy you discard on your side of the field which can be great in the mirror match. If you are able to trade 1 Prize for 3 then you should run away with the game at that point.
I did mention the use of this card which was mainly against Shedinja Stall or just stall decks in general that would otherwise disrupt your energy or win conditions.
Another way to search out specific attackers now that Nest Ball and Ultra Ball are gone.
You can easily transition into a fresh ReshiZard should you play Tag Switch. At the moment the list does not play it but I can see it being useful at some point and maybe it may make its way into the list in the near future.
Choice Band is no more meaning ReshiZard’s Flare Strike is just 10 damage shy from taking down a PikaRom in one blow. Green’s Exploration can search out Shrine of Punishment so you can take that big 1HKO.
At the moment, the list does not have Power Plant, however, I can see it being in the deck. Shutting off GX and EX abilities can be useful. Especially against Keldeo-GX or Aerodactyl-GX.
Conclusion
That will conclude my first article here at SixPrizes. I believe both PikaRom and ReshiZard will still see a hefty amount of play for Worlds because they are still quite strong given the current state of the game. I recommend playtesting against these lists as they will likely be how these two decks will be built now. Try to familiarize yourself with these two decks because I wouldn’t be surprised to play against them at Worlds. I’m very excited about Worlds mainly to see all my friends and just have a great time in Washington, DC. If you see me at Worlds don’t be shy and come say hello. I am always down to meet players no matter what part of the world they are from.
If you want to help support my team you can check us out on our Pokémon page on Facebook: “Team ARG Pokémon-TCG.” There you can keep up to date with all the players on the team. Also, be sure to check out tcevolutions.com where you can pick up some awesome dice, GX markers, and Ability Markers.
Also, I am now doing full-time coaching so if you are interested in taking coaching lessons from me then feel free to either PM me on Facebook or on my Twitter. My Twitter handle is below if you want to follow me for when I post lists, other exciting news, or if you want to reach me that way as I mentioned.
If you have any questions, then please feel free to leave me a comment below or message me on Facebook. I’ll be sure to get to them as soon as possible.
If you enjoyed reading my first SixPrizes article, then please consider giving it a thumbs up. Until next time!
–Twitter @Jose_MarreroTCG
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