Donphan

[Professor Elm]

OK, looking at the new format, do you think Donphan has a chance?

I think it is very viable and annoying. Combined with Mr. Mime it can basically own Kingdra in all ways, and then use Gyarados with it to send up Gyarados as a wall and then be able to dish heavy damage when desired.

Rapid Spin has always been interesting, but I am not sure how to best utilize it.

Obviously Chatot and Mr. Mime. And Claydol can provide draw and Gyarados can be an alternate attacker for big damage.

 

[Prime]

40 damage is not a lot of damage, especially with 170HP lv.Xs out there (Rhyperior lv.X). I think you will find that 3-4 hitting Pokemon will become a big pain.

I'm not saying it won't work though.

 

[Professor Elm]

40 damage is not a lot of damage, especially with 170HP lv.Xs out there (Rhyperior lv.X). I think you will find that 3-4 hitting Pokemon will become a big pain.

I'm not saying it won't work though.

Yeah, but Rapid Spin is an extremely annoying mechanic. Combined with Mr. Mime to stop early damage and wreck on Kingdra, and Gyarados for a wall that can dish out heavy damage I think it could be good.

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of disruptive cards right now, so you may be right.

 

[Prime]

Against Kingdra, that might be decent. What about all the other decks?

 

[Professor Elm]

Against Kingdra, that might be decent. What about all the other decks?

With AMU the same applies, just stall with Mime and use Gyarados as an alternate attacker to get easy kos. but it's slightly harder with Azelf Lv. X. Just don't play too many energy down. And Mewtwo Lv. X can be teched in if needed since you have a lot of space.

Speed Spread is a bad matchup. Froslass wrecks on Donphan. Most spread decks do well though. Best bet in the matchup would be to lay down the Gyarados' early, and send up Mime so that it doesn't take the 40 from Froslass. Then let your Gyarados absorb damage for massive late game damage and high OHKO probabilities. It's a hard matchup but seemingly winnable.

Luxray seems like an OK matchup. Donphan dishes 70 for 2 which is nice, and Mime helps stall after they Shock Bolt.

I dunno what other decks will be popular.
I think it could be viable, but at the same time I see A LOT of cards being viable. I think this will be our first really fun format in a LONG time. BUT, there will be complaining about Claydol and how broken he is when he's really not. Claydol is actually the best thing to happen to this game in a long time. It makes so many things consistent and playable.

 

[Papi/Manny]

In a format with emp and GG, donphan has had some success over here. With AMU and kingdra? Rapid spin is a very potent attack and acts like a spread attack (with great disruption) for a late game hitter.

 

[Professor Elm]

In a format with emp and GG, donphan has had some success over here. With AMU and kingdra? Rapid spin is a very potent attack and acts like a spread attack (with great disruption) for a late game hitter.

Yeah, I tried Donphan this format but even with Dugtrio I couldn't win the Empoleon matchup, which is why I'm not playing it for the grinder.

Next format I think it could do really well though.