Some Good Eggs

Preliminary Expanded Decklists ×4 and Mew3/Fire Box + Green’s Blowns for Standard

Hello again readers, I’m back with you for my final words before both OCIC 🇦🇺 and Collinsville 🇺🇸, so I’ll do my best to give my thoughts on what I’m planning for both formats today. I haven’t been able to put much time into Expanded, but I have a few lists that I’ve done some preliminary testing with. Standard is a lot easier for me to talk about because of how much time I’ve put into it over the last month or so.

Expanded

The biggest things to happen in Expanded with the release of SSH are easily

  1. the emergence of Zacian as an archetype and
  2. the turn 1 no Supporter rule.

Both of these things have had a decent impact on the format, and made some of the old archetypes much better and some much worse. In my initial breakdown of SSH I mentioned some of the cards that got better, so check that out for that info.

EggLet

I believe that I may have initially overvalued EggLet in this format though. I initially thought the card, and the deck, would be incredibly good, but after thinking about it some more I’ve come to revise that thought. I only thought about the benefits of going second, and not the drawbacks that the deck inevitably faces when going first. In my initial testing, a list built like the successful ones in Dallas failed to find a 2nd Basic Pokémon when going first far too often, and ended up losing before even playing the game.

Pokémon (17)

4 Oddish UNB 5

3 Gloom UNB

1 Gloom BUS

2 Vileplume AOR

2 Vileplume BUS

4 Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor-GX

1 Shuckle-GX

Trainer (35)

4 AZ

4 Steven’s Resolve

3 Brigette

3 Faba

2 Cynthia & Caitlin

2 Guzma

1 Brock’s Grit

1 Professor Sycamore

1 Steven

 

4 Net Ball

3 Pokégear 3.0

2 Quick Ball

 

1 Computer Search

 

4 Power Plant

Energy (8)

8 G

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 17

* 4 Oddish UNB 5
* 3 Gloom UNB 7
* 1 Gloom BUS 5
* 2 Vileplume AOR 3
* 2 Vileplume BUS 6
* 4 Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor-GX UNM 1
* 1 Shuckle-GX LOT 215

##Trainer Cards - 35

* 1 Professor Sycamore STS 114
* 1 Computer Search BCR 137
* 2 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
* 4 Steven’s Resolve CES 165
* 2 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 3 Brigette BKT 134
* 3 Pokégear 3.0 UNB 233
* 1 Steven ROS 90
* 3 Faba LOT 208
* 4 Net Ball LOT 187
* 4 Power Plant UNB 183
* 2 Guzma BUS 143
* 4 AZ PHF 91
* 1 Brock’s Grit TEU 135

##Energy - 8

* 8 G Energy GEN 75

Total Cards - 60

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As you can see, this is by far the most Item-heavy EggLet list ever, and that is solely done in order to survive the first turn if you go first. I’ve included 6 Ball cards in order to find a 2nd Basic often enough, but they are also good on the second turn to find an Energy to retreat with (Net Ball) or just an Oddish when you don’t have Brigette. I think that an Item-heavy build or one with a lot more Basic Pokémon, similar to Grant’s list, are the only ways forward with EggLet.

TrevNoir/MimiGar

However, I don’t think that I underestimated how good MimiGar is going to be in Expanded. I believe that Pablo was the first player outside of Japan to see success with the card in Expanded, and that was before the rule change. His list can easily afford to not play a Supporter on the first turn, and when going second, Horror House-GX is even more oppressive than it already was. The deck didn’t really gain any cards from SSH aside from Quick Ball, but that’s not an issue.

Pokémon (16)

2 Feebas DRM

2 Milotic FLF

1 Alolan Grimer UNM

1 Alolan Muk SUM

4 Shaymin-EX ROS

2 Gengar & Mimikyu-GX

2 Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX

1 Dedenne-GX

1 Ditto p

Trainer (38)

2 Ace Trainer

1 Guzma

1 Mallow & Lana

1 N

1 Professor Sycamore

 

4 Battle Compressor

4 Ultra Ball

4 VS Seeker

3 Quick Ball

3 Trainers’ Mail

2 Pokémon Communication

1 Counter Catcher

1 Field Blower

 

3 Float Stone

2 Weakness Policy

 

1 Computer Search

 

4 Sky Field

Energy (6)

6 P

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 16

* 2 Feebas DRM 28
* 2 Milotic FLF 23
* 1 Alolan Grimer UNM 127
* 1 Alolan Muk SUM 58
* 4 Shaymin-EX ROS 106
* 2 Gengar & Mimikyu-GX TEU 165
* 2 Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX PR-SM 217
* 1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 1 Ditto p LOT 154

##Trainer Cards - 38

* 2 Ace Trainer AOR 69
* 1 N FCO 105
* 1 Professor Sycamore STS 114
* 1 Guzma BUS 143
* 1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
* 4 VS Seeker ROS 110
* 4 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
* 4 Ultra Ball SLG 68
* 2 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
* 3 Trainers’ Mail ROS 92
* 3 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Counter Catcher CIN 120
* 1 Computer Search BCR 137
* 3 Float Stone PLF 99
* 2 Weakness Policy BUS 126
* 4 Sky Field ROS 89

##Energy - 6

* 6 P Energy Energy 5

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=79504 ******

One card that might sneak its way into the list is a Zacian V, because of its Tropical Beach-like function. I haven’t done much testing with the deck, but I feel like an even better turn 1 when going first couldn’t be a bad thing. Currently this is one of my favorite choices for Collinsville. I think that I would likely make Day 2 with the deck, but past that I don’t know its potential.

Turbo Dark

This was my favorite deck leading up to Dallas 🇺🇸, and it’s one of the few decks that really doesn’t care if it goes first or second anymore. Dark is also one of the decks that is easily able to attack for real damage on its first turn, so it can come out swinging against a lot of decks. Also consider that if Dark went second, its opponent hasn’t even gotten to play a Supporter yet. It also gained a few neat cards in SSH to make it slightly less clunky. For instance, one cool combo that has emerged is that of Oranguru SSH and Max Elixir (or Ether if you’re really adventurous), which allows you to stack an Energy on top of your deck to accelerate.

Pokémon (15)

1 Sneasel UPR

1 Weavile-GX

2 Darkrai-GX

2 Dedenne-GX

2 Greninja & Zoroark-GX

2 Shaymin-EX ROS

1 Darkrai-EX LTR

1 Guzzlord CEC

1 Mew FCO

1 Oranguru SSH

1 Sudowoodo GRI

Trainer (33)

2 Professor Sycamore

1 Colress

1 Guzma

1 N

 

4 Dark Patch

4 Max Elixir

4 Ultra Ball

4 VS Seeker

3 Battle Compressor

2 Hypnotoxic Laser

1 Field Blower

1 Great Catcher

1 Quick Ball

 

1 Dowsing Machine

 

3 Sky Field

Energy (12)

12 D

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 15

* 1 Sneasel UPR 73
* 1 Weavile-GX UNM 132
* 2 Darkrai-GX BUS 88
* 2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 2 Greninja & Zoroark-GX UNB 107
* 2 Shaymin-EX ROS 106
* 1 Darkrai-EX LTR 88
* 1 Guzzlord CEC 136
* 1 Mew FCO 29
* 1 Oranguru SSH 148
* 1 Sudowoodo GRI 66

##Trainer Cards - 33

* 2 Professor Sycamore STS 114
* 1 N FCO 105
* 3 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
* 1 Colress PLS 135
* 1 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 4 Ultra Ball SUM 161
* 4 Max Elixir BKP 102
* 4 VS Seeker ROS 110
* 1 Guzma BUS 143
* 3 Sky Field ROS 89
* 4 Dark Patch DEX 93
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Great Catcher CEC 192
* 2 Hypnotoxic Laser PLS 123
* 1 Dowsing Machine PLS 128

##Energy - 12

* 12 D Energy Energy 7

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=79504 ******

I did include the Oranguru in the list, not only because of the Elixir scheme, but you can also finally put a VS Seeker or other relevant card back into your deck before a Dedechange or Professor Sycamore. It’s also a small consistency boost in that it allows you to see 2 cards from the top of your deck every turn. I also added another Dedenne-GX and a Quick Ball in order to find draw support easier on your first turn.

You’ll notice I finally cut the SableTar package. I did this for a few reasons, the first of which is that Shock Lock might not even be viable anymore. The second of which is that it doesn’t take an extra Prize card off of a Zacian V.

Regirock/Dolls

I’m thoroughly unconvinced that this deck is at all viable now, but sources tell me I might be wrong, so I’ve updated the list for SSH. I think that the addition of Galarian Zigzagoon SSH and Pokémon V in general to the format are enough to totally cripple the deck, but it’s possible that it’s viable.

Pokémon (8)

3 Sableye DEX

2 Regirock XY49

1 Entei CEC

1 Hoopa SLG

1 Sudowoodo BKP

Trainer (42)

4 Green’s Exploration

1 Cynthia

1 Faba

1 Lysandre

1 Mallow & Lana

1 N

1 Team Rocket’s Handiwork

1 Teammates

 

4 VS Seeker

3 Last Chance Potion

3 Lillie’s Poké Doll

2 Nest Ball

2 Quick Ball

1 Energy Loto

1 Escape Rope

1 Potion

1 Rescue Stretcher

1 Robo Substitute

1 Special Charge

1 Switch

 

4 Focus Sash

 

1 Computer Search

 

3 Tropical Beach

2 Silent Lab

Energy (10)

4 Prism

4 Strong

2 Counter

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 8

* 3 Sableye DEX 62
* 2 Regirock PR-XY 49
* 1 Entei CEC 23
* 1 Hoopa SLG 55
* 1 Sudowoodo BKP 67

##Trainer Cards - 42

* 4 Green's Exploration UNB 175
* 1 N FCO 105
* 2 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 1 Cynthia UPR 119
* 1 Team Rocket’s Handiwork FCO 124
* 1 Lysandre AOR 78
* 1 Faba LOT 208
* 4 VS Seeker ROS 110
* 3 Last Chance Potion CES 135
* 2 Nest Ball SUM 158
* 3 Lillie’s Poké Doll CEC 197
* 1 Energy Loto GRI 122
* 1 Switch SSH 183
* 1 Escape Rope BUS 114
* 1 Potion BLW 100
* 1 Rescue Stretcher BUS 165
* 1 Special Charge STS 105
* 1 Robo Substitute Team Flare Gear PHF 102
* 1 Computer Search BCR 137
* 4 Focus Sash FFI 91
* 3 Tropical Beach PR-BLW 50
* 2 Silent Lab PRC 140
* 1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
* 1 Teammates PRC 141

##Energy - 10

* 4 Strong Energy FCO 115
* 4 Prism Energy NXD 93
* 2 Counter Energy CIN 122

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=79504 ******

I made a few of the changes that I talked about in my Regirock article, and I think the list might be as good as it’s going to get. It probably still beats the things it used to, but now it has more bad matchups in EggLet, Zacian, and any other Item lock decks.

Standard

Now that I’ve talked about a format that I currently wish wasn’t relevant immediately after OCIC, I suppose I’ll spend the second half of today on Standard. Aside from Mill, nothing has stood out to me as incredibly good. We’ve had a few small non-sanctioned events with SSH cards, and those results point to Zacian/ADP, Mill, and Mew3 variants as the leaders of the format so far.

Mew3/Fire Box

Pokémon (20)

2 Vulpix SSH

2 Ninetales TEU

1 Magcargo-GX

1 Ditto p

4 Jirachi SM161

3 Dedenne-GX

2 Mewtwo & Mew-GX

1 Charizard & Braixen-GX

1 Charizard-GX HIF

1 Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX

1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX

1 Victini p

Trainer (24)

4 Welder

 

4 Quick Ball

3 Switch

2 Cherish Ball

2 Reset Stamp

1 Evolution Incense

1 Pal Pad

1 Pokémon Communication

 

2 Escape Board

 

3 Giant Hearth

1 Heat Factory p

Energy (16)

16 R

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 20

* 2 Vulpix SSH 22
* 2 Ninetales TEU 16
* 1 Magcargo-GX LOT 44
* 1 Ditto p LOT 154
* 4 Jirachi PR-SM 161
* 3 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 2 Mewtwo & Mew-GX PR-SM 191
* 1 Charizard & Braixen-GX CEC 251
* 1 Charizard-GX HIF 9
* 1 Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX CEC 226
* 1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX UNB 217
* 1 Victini p DRM 7

##Trainer Cards - 24

* 1 Heat Factory p LOT 178
* 2 Cherish Ball UNM 191
* 2 Escape Board UPR 167
* 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
* 3 Giant Hearth UNM 197
* 3 Switch SUM 160
* 4 Welder UNB 189
* 2 Reset Stamp UNM 206
* 4 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 1 Pal Pad FLF 92
* 1 Pokémon Communication

##Energy - 16

* 16 R Energy SMEnergy 2

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=79504 ******

Something similar to this did decently well at LAIC this year, and then dropped off the map. With Mill having such a large target on its back, and rightfully so, I’m incredibly scared to even touch it (i.e., Mill) again. That doesn’t mean I won’t, but in the meantime, I want a deck that can beat it and not lose to everything else. Thus, the revisitation of this build of Mewtwo.

Card Choices

2-2 Ninetales TEU

In a format full of mediocregust effects, Ninetales is a breath of fresh air. The entire reason that this deck can even beat Mill is because it cangust Wobbuffet LOT and attack with Victini p to put any number of Energy back into the deck.

2 Mewtwo & Mew-GX

It’s still a Mewtwo deck, but we only play 2 copies of Mewtwo & Mew-GX. This is because almost every other Pokémon in the deck is technically able to attack without being copied. Mewtwo is more here because it provides versatility in a deck that otherwise is straightforward and linear.

1-of almost every Charizard-GX card

Charizard-GX HIF, ReshiZard-GX, and BraixZard-GX are all very good cards. They’re all here because of their high damage output or broken attack that searches 3 cards. There’s no reason not to play them.

4 Quick Ball

Finally, ReshiZard gets good Pokémon search back. This makes the deck so much more consistent than it used to be, and that makes it much better overall.

Potential Inclusions

1 Oranguru SSH

Sick of discarding those precious Welders? Me too. Yet, I haven’t been able to find space for Oranguru in the deck. Unfortunately, Bench space comes at a premium in a deck with 3 Dedenne-GX as its draw engine.

1 Solgaleo-GX SM104

I really want the 2-Energy attacker, but space constraints and a somewhat twisted reasoning of “If you haven’t found Welder by turn 2, you’re losing anyway” have stopped me.

Lysandre Labs

I’ll probably end up cutting a Hearth for a Labs once I see how other lists develop, but right now I value pure consistency.

1 Stealthy Hood

So Mill catches on and starts to play Stealthy Hood in order to counter Ninetales? Cool. Time to play your own Stealthy Hood for Victini p. Sounds fun right?

Matchups

I’m going to briefly go over favorables and unfavorables today, because the strategy with this deck is incredibly easy and pretty universal. You need to:

  1. draw Welders,
  2. play Welders,
  3. do lots of damage,
  4. potentially recycle Energy with Victini p, and
  5. win.

Favorable

  • Mill
  • Ability ReshiZard
  • Zacian/ADP
  • Misc. decks like Morpeko V, LucaMetal/ADP, and Galarian Obstagoon

~Even

  • Mew3/Welder
  • Mew3/Malamar
  • PikaRom

Unfavorable

Green’s Blacephalon

Pokémon (6)

4 Blacephalon UNB

1 Blacephalon-GX

1 Victini p

Trainer (39)

4 Green’s Exploration

4 Welder

 

4 Acro Bike

4 Custom Catcher

4 Fiery Flint

4 Fire Crystal

4 Pokégear 3.0

2 Beast Ring

2 Quick Ball

1 Switch

 

3 Lucky Egg

 

3 Ultra Space

Energy (15)

15 R

 

Copy List

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

##Pokémon - 6

* 4 Blacephalon UNB 32
* 1 Blacephalon-GX LOT 219
* 1 Victini p DRM 7

##Trainer Cards - 39

* 1 Switch
* 2 Beast Ring FLI 102
* 4 Pokégear 3.0 SSH 174
* 4 Fiery Flint DRM 60
* 4 Welder UNB 189
* 2 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 4 Fire Crystal UNB 173
* 3 Lucky Egg SSH 167
* 4 Green's Exploration UNB 175
* 4 Custom Catcher LOT 171
* 3 Ultra Space FLI 115
* 4 Acro Bike CES 123

##Energy - 15

* 15 R Energy SMEnergy 2

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=79504 ******

I hate this deck with a passion. Seriously. But when it draws well, it’s good. I’m going to call it the EggLet of Standard. When it works, it works really well. But when it decides to do nothing, you’re going to be done really fast. It also doesn’t beat Mill. But if everyone else beats Mill, then maybe I can counter the counters. This is also the first seriously built deck that has ever taken less than three lines on my PTCGO decklist, so there’s that.

Card Choices

2 Beast Ring

Who needs Welder? This feels self-explanatory. Green’s + Beast Rings = No need for Welder that turn.

2 Quick Ball

Sometimes your opponent plays Chaotic Swell on their first turn. And that means you can’t use Ultra Space to find another Pokémon. Which then leads to you losing by getting Benched. Thus, Quick Balls are a (I’m sorry) quick inclusion into the deck.

1 Switch

I’ve seen people play Kartana UNB or Pheromosa FLI as a pivot card, but I prefer having a Switch instead. Once something is stuck Active, it’s the only way outside of a Welder to move that Pokémon.

3 Lucky Egg

No more losing to a late-game Reset Stamp, well, until they play Lysandre Labs or just Catcher around the Lucky Egg, but that’s beside the point. When you stick a Lucky Egg, it’s game-changing.

Potential Inclusions

Great Catcher or Pokémon Catcher

This is honestly the only thing I would even consider changing in the deck. Sometimes Custom Catchers feel terrible; other times, they feel amazing. And flipping tails on Pokémon Catcher is brutal.

Matchups

This is going to look somewhat misleading. The deck isn’t that consistent, and thus loses games it really shouldn’t. The chart will make it look better than it is.

Favorable

  • Mew3 variants
  • Ability ReshiZard
  • Zacian/ADP

~Even

  • Other Blacephalon variants
  • PikaRom
  • Frosmoth (?)

Unfavorable

  • Mill
  • Galarian Obstagoon

Final Thoughts

Instead of the usual focus on one deck, I decided to go over a lot of different things today. This was in part because I have limited knowledge (in the case of Expanded), or because I haven’t seen lists for many Standard decks yet.

I’m incredibly excited to go back to Australia for my third consecutive year, and I hope I’m able to pull a decent finish this year. I’ll see a few of you over the next three weekends, and good luck to everyone in whatever events you’re playing in.

As always, feel free to message me with any questions that you might have about anything related to Pokémon. I also offer coaching! Either email me (alex.schemanske@gmail.com) or PM me if interested.

Until the next one.


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Reader Interactions

3 replies

  1. Harrison Burch

    Love the variety and inclusion of so many card choices, thoughts and decks! Thank you!
    With the trevnoir deck, do you always want to be going second? When I go first I’m a bit lost as to the game plan.. it seems just set up as much as you can and forgo the gengar piece?

    • Alex Schemanske  → Harrison

      When going first with trevnoir, it’s best if you can avoid horror house, but ultimately it comes down to how well you draw on your first turn. If you can t2 trevnoir, ignore horror house.

  2. Kallor

    Great article! Do you think Air Balloon would be better than switch in the blowns deck?

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