It’s Turbo Time

ReshiRom-GX/Ho-Oh-EX, aka the New and Improved Expanded Rayquaza, for Dallas
The thing better than one Dragon? Two Dragons.

Hello again, 6P readers! I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and holiday. The last major we had in the US was San Diego Regionals 🇺🇸 which was in the UPR–CEC Standard format. I played Blacephalon-GX/Naganadel for that event, one last time, and ended up getting some CP. As I mentioned in my last article, I’ll get into Top 16 soon enough. As of today, I’m currently back in there after some successful League Cup runs not too long ago. I’m now sitting at 656 CP and trying my best to stay in the group of phenomenal players also currently in Top 16.

Dallas Regionals is the next major event in North America and it’ll be the first Expanded major with Cosmic Eclipse added into the mix. So for this article, I’d like to dive into a deck that’s reminiscent of one of my all-time favorites, Rayquaza-GX/Ho-Oh-EX. Those that know me know that I love decks that have speed and raw power, and this new deck is no slouch in those regards. ReshiRom-GX/Ho-Oh-EX is basically like Rayquaza-GX/Ho-Oh-EX except more powerful, as much as that saddens me to say because I love Rayquaza.

ReshiRom-GX/Ho-Oh-EX

We now have more of a use for Double Dragon Energy (DDE), which makes this deck do wonders. With the release of Cosmic Eclipse, DDE gives new decks a chance to thrive in the Expanded format. ReshiRom-GX/Ho-Oh-EX has more speed and power than any other Turbo deck in my opinion. The deck can get a turn 1 270–280 easier than you may think thanks to Ho-Oh-EX and other Energy acceleration options. I believe that is the reason why this deck is the most powerful of all the Turbo decks.

The List

Pokémon (15)

3 Reshiram & Zekrom-GX

3 Ho-Oh-EX DRX

1 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX

1 Giratina-EX AOR

1 Eevee SUM

1 Jolteon-GX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Dedenne-GX

1 Tapu Lele-GX

1 Tapu Koko p

Trainer (30)

3 Professor Sycamore

1 Guzma

1 Guzma & Hala

1 N

 

4 Ultra Ball

4 VS Seeker

3 Max Elixir

2 Battle Compressor

2 Mysterious Treasure

1 Field Blower

1 Super Rod

 

2 Fighting Fury Belt

2 Float Stone

 

1 Computer Search

 

2 Sky Field

Energy (15)

6 L

5 R

4 Double Dragon

 

Copy List

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 15

* 3 Reshiram & Zekrom-GX CEC 157
* 3 Ho-Oh-EX DRX 22
* 1 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156
* 1 Giratina-EX AOR 57
* 1 Eevee SUM 101
* 1 Jolteon-GX PR-SM 173
* 2 Shaymin-EX ROS 77
* 1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 1 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 60
* 1 Tapu Koko p TEU 51

##Trainer Cards - 30

* 3 Professor Sycamore BKP 107
* 1 N FCO 105
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
* 4 VS Seeker PHF 109
* 4 Ultra Ball SLG 68
* 3 Max Elixir BKP 102
* 2 Battle Compressor PHF 92
* 2 Mysterious Treasure FLI 113
* 2 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
* 2 Float Stone BKT 137
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Super Rod BKT 149
* 1 Computer Search BCR 137
* 2 Sky Field ROS 89

##Energy - 15

* 6 L Energy Energy 4
* 5 R Energy Energy 2
* 4 Double Dragon Energy ROS 97

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=78798 ******

Card Choices

3 ReshiRom-GX

Fabled Flarebolts can easily be fueled by just 1 Double Dragon Energy, meaning you can start doing big damage as fast as turn 1, which is another reason why I think this is the most powerful Turbo deck. Fabled Flarebolts maxes out at 270 damage; however, you can boost that damage with modifiers such as ADP-GX and Fighting Fury Belt. Now, its GX attack, Cross Break-GX, is situational and you will likely want to use Altered Creation-GX as your GX attack. Still, Cross Break-GX can pick something off the Bench for an easy Prize or two. You can even use 2 Double Dragon Energy to fuel Cross Break-GX.

3 Ho-Oh-EX DRX

Its Ability, Rebirth, is the bread and butter in this deck and how you will accelerate Energy onto the board with ease. If you are able to get 1 Rebirth flip that means ReshiRom-GX is already doing 180 damage. If you add 1 more basic Energy, then that adds up to 270 which should be enough to take down most relevant Pokémon in the format. If the opponent bumps your Sky Field you can even reuse Rebirth. Remember, you can Rebirth under Power Plant but not Silent Lab.

1 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX

I’ve included 1 copy of this card mainly for its GX attack, Altered Creation-GX. Against decks that abuse 1-Prize attackers, such as Night March and Ultra Necrozma/Garbodor, is where Altered Creation-GX comes in handy. This way you can keep up on the Prize trade. You can also use Ultimate Ray to take Prize cards and accelerate Energy at the same time to fuel ReshiRom-GX. Altered Creation-GX would also make ReshiRom-GX do a hefty 300 damage, and 310 with Fighting Fury Belt, which is enough to take down an opposing ReshiRom-GX with a Fighting Fury Belt of their own or most other TAG TEAM attackers in general.

1 Giratina-EX AOR

In testing, the Ultra Necrozma/Garbodor matchup was close, so I added this card in. If you are able to get Chaos Wheel off when the opponent has no Energy in play or no Tool on Trubbish/Garbodor, then you can lock the opponent out of the game. Their whole deck revolves around what Chaos Wheel denies. Giratina-EX’s Ability, Renegade Pulse, can potentially auto-win you some matchups—such as M Rayquaza-GX should they not play cards like Alolan Muk SUM to shut off Renegade Pulse or Pokémon Ranger to shut off Chaos Wheel, given that they only play Triple Acceleration Energy.

1-1 Jolteon-GX

This card was added mainly for Vileplume BUS. However, it’s also quite useful against Honchkrow-GX given that you can 1HKO it because of Weakness to Lightning. If you are able to use Altered Creation-GX before using Jolteon-GX, then you can take 1HKOs on Vileplumes for 2 Prize cards.

1 Tapu Lele-GX

I like having the 1-of Tapu Lele-GX, especially with Mysterious Treasure in the deck. It’ll make finding your 1-of Supporters easier for sure.

1 Guzma & Hala

This card does wonders in this type of deck because it can get you a Stadium, Tool, and Special Energy—all of which the deck can abuse. Guzma & Hala can also assist in getting Energy or Ho-Oh-EXs in the discard.

3 Max Elixir

I would love to fit a 4th; however, the list is tight and I think the deck needs to keep Jolteon-GX for Vileplume BUS, so I had to make a couple of cuts to fit it in. Having the 4th Max Elixir would also make getting a turn 1 Chaos Wheel more efficient.

2 Mysterious Treasure

The deck has a number of Pokémon which Mysterious Treasure can grab. ReshiRom-GX, your main attacker, is one of them. Being able to grab Giratina-EX or ADP-GX is nice as well, and Tapu Lele-GX as previously mentioned. Mysterious Treasure can also assist in getting Energy and Ho-Oh-EX in the discard.

2 Fighting Fury Belt, 2 Float Stone

I chose Fighting Fury Belt over other damage-modifying Tools such as Choice Band and Muscle Band because of the extra 40 Hit Points. The extra 10 damage should be enough to take down most of what’s, if not everything that’s, relevant in the format, namely ADP-GX.

Float Stones are nice because they are searchable with Guzma & Hala. On top of that, if you open with something other than ReshiRom-GX, then Float Stone will make it easier for you to start attacking turn 1.

1 Field Blower

This card is needed against decks like Ultra Necrozma/Garbodor because of their Tools and Silent Labs. Field Blower will also be crucial in getting 1HKOs easier against Pokémon that have Fighting Fury Belt or Focus Sash attached, so use it wisely.

Super Rod (over Rescue Stretcher)

I chose Super Rod instead of Rescue Stretcher mainly because Super Rod can also recover basic Energy, which will make Max Elixirs more effective. Recovering basic Energy can be clutch in the long run, especially against Energy denial decks.

Potential Inclusions

This deck can play tons of other cards, but I feel these are some of cards that the deck can make use of the most.

Reshiram ROS/Turtonator DRM

These cards would help against Pokémon such as Hoopa SLG and Keldeo-GX. Reshiram can also accelerate R Energy onto the board with its Ability. Turtonator can use Double Dragon Energy to attack easier, except DDE only counts as 50 damage for its attack, so keep that in mind.

N’s Resolve

Mainly to fuel Cross Break-GX to be able to do 170 to 2 Benched Pokémon. However, the reason I currently don’t have it in the list is because of ADP-GX, but having both options might be the way to go. There are times where I wish I played N’s Resolve in testing, so it may make its way into the deck come Dallas 🇺🇸.

Acerola

Having a healing card that can recover Energy and heal a beefy TAG TEAM attacker like ReshiRom-GX can go a long way, especially against decks that can’t 1HKO. At the moment I can’t find room for a copy, otherwise I would add it in.

Wall Counters

Everyone hates those pesky Wall cards that prevent you from taking Prize cards and thus force you into a slow and painful loss. Fret not, for I am here to discuss those counters and hopefully give you ideas on how to deal with them.

Hoopa SLG/Keldeo-GX

These are grouped together because their Abilities are exactly the same, just with different names. Currently, in the list, the only way to deal with these cards is Tapu Koko p. This is not the most efficient way to deal with these two walls, though Tapu Koko p can 1HKO Hoopa SLG. To be honest, these two walls I expect less than the others I’ll be discussing, so I wouldn’t worry too much about them. However, if you are worried about them, then Reshiram ROS and Turtonator DRM as I mentioned will help.

Jolteon-EX/Pyroar FLF

Not many decks play these cards. PikaRom and Mew Box could play Jolteon-EX. If that’s the case, your options are to use Jolteon-GX or, if they are attacking with Jolteon-EX instead of using Mewtwo & Mew-GX to copy its attack, then you can Guzma around it and use Cross Break-GX to pick off Jolteon on the Bench for the KO. Other than that, playing a copy of Pokémon Ranger will do the trick. Against Pyroar FLF, you just take the 1HKO with Jolteon-GX.

Vileplume BUS

Jolteon-GX is your best option because you can use Electrobullet to do 30 to it, then finish it off with 110. Another thing you can do is snipe it on the Bench with Cross Break-GX. However, if they have another Vileplume BUS, then Cross Break-GX won’t be as effective unless you play N’s Resolve and take 2 out at once. Either way, I believe Jolteon-GX should be enough to take them down.

Be wary of Vileplume-GX because it can Paralyze Jolteon-GX with its GX attack then KO it next turn with its other attack. This strategy is only effective when they have Vileplume AOR too because otherwise you can VS Seeker and Guzma out of Paralysis.

Matchups

Expanded can have tons of decks and decks that come out of nowhere. However, these are the matchups I expect to see the most.

ZoroGarb: 55-45

This matchup basically will come down to whether or not the opponent can keep Garbodor BKP live on board. Shutting off Rebirth can be troublesome. However, ReshiRom-GX is fast and can take KOs on the first turn. If you are able to use Altered Creation-GX then I would go for that; this way you need to take down just 2 GX/EXs. If they use Pokémon Ranger, then that’s fine because you can still take out 3 Zoroark-GX.

Ultra Necrozma/Garbodor: 50-50 w/o Garbodor GRI, 45-55 w/ Garbodor GRI

I believe this matchup is really close because both decks can get a turn 1 attack with ease. If you can prioritize Altered Creation-GX you only need to take down 3 Ultra Necrozma CEC or Garbodor GRI instead of 6. As I mentioned before, Giratina-EX and its Chaos Wheel attack can cripple this deck if you are able to pull it off before they Guzma or Great Catcher it. If they play Garbodor GRI, then Giratina-EX becomes less viable and thus the ADP-GX strategy becomes more efficient.

EggLet: 60-40 w/o Vileplume-GX, 50-50 w/ Vileplume-GX

If they don’t play Vileplume-GX then your strategy is to simply get Jolteon-GX and let it do what it’s supposed to do. However, if they play Vileplume-GX, then the matchup becomes somewhat more difficult. Make sure to use your Guzma wisely.

Archie’s Blastoise: 60-40 w/o Palkia-GX FLI, 50-50 w/ Palkia-GX FLI

This matchup should be fine if they do not play Palkia-GX FLI, especially if they use Mewtwo & Mew-GX as their main attacker. Just 1HKO two of them and the game’s over. If they play Palkia-GX FLI, then you can reuse Ho-Oh-EXs if you discard your Sky Field with Field Blower and replace it again.

GardEon: 60-40 w/ Fairy Charm N or Fighting Fury Belt

If they play Dragon Fairy Charm then the matchup becomes harder and you will have to find your Field Blower before they are able to take a KO on a TAG TEAM. If they play Fighting Fury Belt instead, then it’s basically the same thing. I give the edge to ReshiRom-GX because it can 1HKO GardEon easier and faster. Altered Creation-GX turn 1 is ideal, as even if they Fighting Fury Belt you still take a 1HKO.

Turbo Dark: 60-40 w/ or w/o Dragons

The Turbo Dark variant doesn’t really matter because you can take down a Greninja & Zoroark-GX with ease, and if they play ADP-GX then you just need to find a Fighting Fury Belt. ReshiRom-GX should be able to out-speed Turbo Dark.

Conclusion

That will conclude this article on ReshiRom-GX/Ho-Oh-EX. At the moment, it’s my top choice going into Dallas next month, and if you know me that shouldn’t be a surprise to you. I believe its matchups across the board are fine and it should be able to take down all of the other Turbo, TAG TEAM decks.

If you see me in Dallas, be sure to stop by and say hi. I can’t wait to see everyone there and just have an awesome time. This month-long break we’ve been given since San Diego Regionals has been nice so far, but I’m definitely excited to start playing Regionals again.

As usual, I do full-time coaching, so if you are interested in taking lessons, feel free to message me either on Facebook or @Jose_MarreroTCG and we can go over the details.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below or message me through social media. I’ll be sure to get to back to you as soon as possible. Until next time!


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