Shadow Connections

Jose’s Mew Box and ADP Dark for Dallas
Perfection in Expanded: So. Many. Attacks!

Hello again, 6P readers! I hope you all had a nice weekend as I sure did. It was my birthday last Friday and boy am I getting old. I have been playing the game for about 10 years now, which, come to think of it, is mind-blowing to me. Dallas Regionals is right around the corner, so for this article, I’d like to talk about two other decks (besides ReshiRom) that have been on my radar.

In my last article, I discussed ReshiRom-GX/Ho-Oh-EX, which is still in my Top 3 going into Dallas 🇺🇸 this weekend. However, Mew Box and ADP Dark will likely be forces to be reckoned with at Dallas, so those are the next two decks I’ll be discussing. They are fast, consistent, and can win games by brute force. Fellow writers Alex Schemanske and Pablo Meza discussed Turbo Dark variants last week, and Jon Eng discussed Mew Box in his most recent article. The lists I’ll be diving into are quite different than theirs, so I recommend that you explore all of them to see which strategies you prefer.

As we approach Dallas, I am sitting at 15th in the North American race for Top 16 with 682 CP. I still have a lot of room to improve when it comes to major events this season, so hopefully I can snag some CP this weekend.

Mew Box

This deck has plenty of attacking options, which is why it’s considered one of the strongest plays going into Dallas. Depending on what you are up against your strategy changes. Every Pokémon in the deck has merit and it’s ultimately up to you to find your win condition and pinpoint your strategy as soon as you know what you are facing up against.

The List

Pokémon (20)

3 Mewtwo & Mew-GX

3 Giratina LOT

1 M Gardevoir-EX STS

1 Mewtwo-EX BKT 158

1 Noivern-GX

1 Venusaur & Snivy-GX

1 Garchomp & Giratina-GX

1 Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX

1 Altaria-GX

1 Cobalion-GX

1 Jirachi-GX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Dedenne-GX

1 Tapu Lele-GX

1 Wobbuffet PHF

Trainer (32)

3 Professor Sycamore

2 Guzma & Hala

1 Guzma

1 N

1 Pokémon Ranger

 

4 Battle Compressor

4 Ultra Ball

4 VS Seeker

2 Field Blower

1 Rescue Stretcher

 

2 Float Stone

2 Stealthy Hood

 

1 Dowsing Machine

 

4 Dimension Valley

Energy (8)

4 Prism Energy

3 Double Colorless Energy

1 Rainbow Energy

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 20

* 3 Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71
* 3 Giratina LOT 97
* 1 M Gardevoir-EX STS 79
* 1 Mewtwo-EX BKT 158
* 1 Noivern-GX BUS 99
* 1 Venusaur & Snivy-GX CEC 1
* 1 Garchomp & Giratina-GX UNM 146
* 1 Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX CEC 165
* 1 Altaria-GX DRM 41
* 1 Cobalion-GX TEU 106
* 1 Jirachi-GX UNM 79
* 2 Shaymin-EX ROS 106
* 1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 1 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 60
* 1 Wobbuffet PHF 36

##Trainer Cards - 32

* 3 Professor Sycamore BKP 107
* 2 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 1 N PR-BLW 100
* 1 Pokémon Ranger STS 104
* 4 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
* 4 Ultra Ball SUM 135
* 4 VS Seeker ROS 110
* 2 Field Blower GRI 125
* 2 Float Stone BKT 137
* 2 Stealthy Hood UNB 186
* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 1 Dowsing Machine PLS 128
* 4 Dimension Valley PHF 93

##Energy - 8

* 4 Prism Energy NXD 93
* 3 Double Colorless Energy SLG 69
* 1 Rainbow Energy CES 151

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=78959 ******

Card Choices

3 Giratina LOT, 1 Venusaur & Snivy-GX

I like that Jon Eng’s list includes this package because, with it, you can take multiple Prizes in a single turn against low-HP Pokémon, namely Zorua and Trubbish, when combined with Distortion Door. There are a few other Pokémon that have a similar attack as SnivySaur, though I think Solar Plant-GX is the most viable one as it can board-wipe relevant Pokémon as mentioned.

1 M Gardevoir-EX STS

This card combined with Giratina LOT is nice because Despair Ray lets you reuse Distortion Door over and over. It also lets you discard Pokémon that are a liability on the Bench.

1 Mewtwo-EX BKT 158

Its attack, Damage Change, lets Mewtwo swap damage counters with the opponent’s Active Pokémon. You can potentially take a KO with Damage Change while healing to full, which can be game-changing.

1 Noivern-GX

Both of its attacks are phenomenal. Distort, which can be used on the first turn of the game thanks to Dimension Valley, Item-locks the opponent while you set up your game plan. Its second attack, Sonic Volume, can do wonders against decks that rely on Special Energy, namely UltraGarb and M Rayquaza-EX. These decks would have to play Pokémon Ranger in order to stand a chance against Sonic Volume.

1 Garchomp & Giratina-GX

All of its attacks have merit here. Its first attack, Linear Attack, can be used for 0 Energy with Dimension Valley. Calamitous Slash is what you can use to take 1HKOs when combined with Distortion Door. GG End-GX can discard one of your opponent’s Pokémon which seems to be a threat that you may have trouble with.

1 Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX

This card is effective against decks that bench a hefty amount of EX/Pokémon-GX, such as Turbo Dark, PikaRom, or basically any Turbo-type deck. Jumping Balloon can be used for just a single Double Colorless Energy if you also have Dimension Valley in play.

1 Altaria-GX

Its attack, Bright Tone, can wall other EX/Pokémon-GX. Its second attack, Sonic Edge, can pierce through things that would otherwise deny you from doing damage. Altaria-GX can help stall for a bit if needed until it’s time to use a more powerful attack. Its GX attack, Euphoria-GX, isn’t bad either since it lets you heal all of your Pokémon to full and put the opponent’s Active Pokémon to Sleep.

1 Cobalion-GX

Mainly in the deck for its Ability, Metal Symbol, which is used to deny Special Conditions such as Paralysis and Poison. Decks like Shock Lock can Paralyze. Turbo Dark can use Hypnotoxic Laser (for Poison/Sleep) and Dead End-GX (for Sleep). Its GX attack, Iron Rule-GX, can come in handy as well if you need to stall a turn.

1 Jirachi-GX

Useful for a few reasons: Not only for the mirror match, but also against other Psychic-type Pokémon such as Garbodor GRI. Nullifying our Weakness will be huge and make your attackers survive longer.

1 Wobbuffet PHF

I decided to add this card in namely for Vileplume AOR. This way you can use your Items until you feel it’s time to start attacking again. Even if you open with Wobbuffet, you can still use Tapu Lele-GX, so it’s not too big a deal. Wobbuffet is also useful against Shock Lock.

1 Pokémon Ranger

Against ADP-GX you can nullify their GX attack. Pokémon Ranger also helps against any attacks that would otherwise deny you from attacking or playing Items.

2 Stealthy Hood

I like having two copies in case you prize one. This card is great against Garbodor BKP, Alolan Muk SUM, and more. This way your Mewtwo & Mew-GX can still attack while under those locks. There are plenty of other cards that Stealthy Hood works against such as against Shock Lock and their Raichu BUS.

Potential Inclusions

Absol ROS

I know Jon Eng’s list plays this card, but I decided to go with Wobbuffet PHF instead as I feel it has more merit overall. His points on Absol are all valid, though.

Gladion

I can see why this deck may seem like it needs Gladion with all the 1-of Pokémon. However, you should be able to get by with another attack given that the deck has plenty of attacking options.

Combating Perfection Denial

These may seem like they make Mewtwo & Mew-GX unplayable; however, there are ways around them:

  1. Both Silent Lab and Power Plant can be countered by your own Stadiums, of which there are 4 (Dimension Valley), as well as your 2 Field Blowers.
  2. Against Garbotoxin, you also have 2 Field Blowers and 2 Stealthy Hoods to help.

Guzma & Hala can assist in finding these Stadiums and Tools easier.

ADP Dark

I think the best and most effective way to play Turbo Dark now is with ADP-GX. The card gives the deck a big boost, making you do +30 damage and take an extra Prize card when taking KOs. That to me warrants the use of ADP-GX in Turbo Dark.

The List

Pokémon (13)

2 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX

2 Greninja & Zoroark-GX

2 Darkrai-GX

1 Darkrai-EX LTR

1 Sneasel UPR

1 Weavile-GX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Dedenne-GX

1 Mew FCO

Trainer (34)

3 Professor Sycamore

2 Guzma

2 Guzma & Hala

1 N

 

4 Dark Patch

4 VS Seeker

3 Battle Compressor

3 Tag Call

3 Ultra Ball

2 Max Elixir

1 Field Blower

 

2 Float Stone

 

1 Computer Search

 

3 Sky Field

Energy (13)

10 Darkness Energy

3 Double Dragon Energy

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 13

* 2 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 220
* 2 Greninja & Zoroark-GX UNB 222
* 2 Darkrai-GX BUS 88
* 1 Darkrai-EX LTR 88
* 1 Sneasel UPR 73
* 1 Weavile-GX UNM 132
* 2 Shaymin-EX ROS 106
* 1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 1 Mew FCO 29

##Trainer Cards - 34

* 3 Professor Sycamore STS 114
* 2 Guzma BUS 143
* 2 Guzma & Hala CEC 229
* 1 N FCO 105
* 4 VS Seeker ROS 110
* 4 Dark Patch DEX 93
* 3 Ultra Ball SUM 161
* 3 Tag Call CEC 270
* 3 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
* 2 Float Stone BKT 137
* 2 Max Elixir BKP 102
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Computer Search BCR 137
* 3 Sky Field ROS 89

##Energy - 13

* 10 Darkness Energy Energy 7
* 3 Double Dragon Energy ROS 97

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=78959 ******

Card Choices

2 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX

This list can get a turn 1 ADP-GX attacking with ease. That is usually what you want to start off with. Use Altered Creation-GX on the first turn then go from there. You can even use its first attack, Ultimate Ray, to take Prizes and accelerate more Energy onto the board. (Note that Pokémon Ranger can be troublesome as it will negate Altered Creation-GX.)

2 Greninja & Zoroark-GX

The main attacker of the deck when not using ADP-GX. Not much else to say other than start using Dark Pulse to take big KOs when needed. Remember: A single Double Dragon Energy counts as +40 damage for Dark Pulse—just don’t forget that it only works on Dragon-types and cannot be moved with Weavile-GX.

2 Darkrai-GX

Its Ability, Restoration, is great for putting Energy into play to fuel Dark Pulse.

1-1 Weavile-GX

In the deck for a few reasons:

  1. It’s your only out to Vileplume BUS.
  2. You can move basic Darkness Energy around as often as you like.
  3. If you use Altered Creation-GX, then Weavile-GX can 1HKO both Vileplume BUS and Vileplume AOR—while taking 2 Prizes at a time—which is cool.

1 Mew FCO

Mew gives the deck a 1-Prize attacker that can 1HKO a Mewtwo & Mew-GX with ease should they not have Jirachi-GX in play. Mew is also needed for wall cards such as Hoopa SLG and Keldeo-GX. And you can use Mew to take down a Lucario-GX. (However, Lucario-GX or any other Fighting-based decks will still be a problem.)

2 Guzma & Hala, 3 Tag Call

I’d like to try and fit the 4th copy of Tag Call because it’s really what you want on turn 1. Tag Call nets you 4 cards for 1 and guarantees a turn 1 Altered Creation-GX. This is because Tag Call can get you both an ADP-GX and a Guzma & Hala, which can then get you a Float Stone to retreat to ADP-GX and the Double Dragon Energy needed to attack.

Potential Inclusions

Alex Schemanske’s list plays all of these cards and they all are great options.

Mega Sableye & Tyranitar-GX

Greedy Crush does 210 damage, which enough to take out relevant EX/Pokémon-GX such as Zoroark-GX in one blow while taking an extra Prize card. I don’t see it fitting in this build because we have Altered Creation-GX anyway to help us get extra Prize cards.

Guzzlord CEC

I like this card. It’s another non-GX/EX attacker that can take extra Prize cards on anything it KOs, like low-HP Pokémon. If you combine Red Banquet with Altered Creation-GX then you can take even more Prize cards. The more I think about this card in conjunction with ADP-GX the more I like it, so I may actually try and fit it in.

Great Catcher

Having an option besides Guzma to take a Bench KO would be nice, though space is tight so I’m not sure if my list can fit it in without hurting consistency.

Hypnotoxic Laser

If I were not playing ADP-GX and relying on Altered Creation-GX then I would be playing a few copies of Hypnotoxic Laser so that Dead End-GX would be viable.

Conclusion

That will conclude this article on Mew Box and ADP Dark. Both decks are powerful and I can see either one winning Dallas. Right now I think I’m leaning toward Mew Box because it can stand up against any matchup.

If you see me in Dallas, feel free to stop by and say hello. It’ll be interesting to see who and what deck ends up winning the first major event in Expanded with Cosmic Eclipse added into the mix.

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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Reader Interactions

4 replies

  1. Harrison Burch

    Love the write up! My locals have a ton of gardeon and I have been using Alex’s list. I wanted to try ADP variant but in a gardeon meta do you think I should stick with Alex’s for the dark cleave and laser or can your ADP variant win gardeon consistently as well?

    • Jose Marrero  → Harrison

      Well Gardeon plays Wonder Energy so Dead End GX doesn’t work on them anyway. My advice is to test both variants against Gardeon and see which seems more viable against them.

      • Harrison Burch  → Jose

        Thank you! Yes, they did. I was just typically able to outspeed and take out one before they attached it. My opponent may have over extended though and if someone played more conservatively I could have a more difficult time.

  2. Alfredo Manzanares

    How does your reshirom list fare against mew3?

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