Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

The Current Direction of the Game

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I think the SP Trainers in and of themselves are forcing playings to pick up more and more SP decks. There's other decks, yeah, but the metagame is pretty much driven by SP decks. Listed in order of diminishing numbers, it's pretty much a bunch of SP, some SP counters, a few SP counter counters, and very few tried-and-true archetypes. I think rogue decks creeping up on the metagame are getting even less oppurtunities.

I can understand some of the SP cards, but things like PokeTurn and SP Radar I really can't get over. I mean, those cards could have worked for ANY Pokemon, but they just beef up SPs even more.
 
Shen said:
I think the SP Trainers in and of themselves are forcing playings to pick up more and more SP decks. There's other decks, yeah, but the metagame is pretty much driven by SP decks. Listed in order of diminishing numbers, it's pretty much a bunch of SP, some SP counters, a few SP counter counters, and very few tried-and-true archetypes. I think rogue decks creeping up on the metagame are getting even less oppurtunities.
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It's not really FORCING you to run SP Pokemon. It is a new mechanic for the game, and it is very well supported, which is how it should be. If cards like Poke Turn and Energy Gain didn't exist, people would complain about how the new sets were full of unplayable Basics with X2 Weakness and overcosted attacks.

There's a lot of variety in SP decks themselves anyway, and that will only increase when new sets are released. Just lumping them all together as 'SP decks' makes it sound like everyone is playing more or less the same list, which isn't true.

I can understand some of the SP cards, but things like PokeTurn and SP Radar I really can't get over. I mean, those cards could have worked for ANY Pokemon, but they just beef up SPs even more.
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I dunno, I'm REALLY glad that SP Radar isn't playable in a Machamp deck.
 
It's great to see so many players sharing their opinion of the current format, but would it be possible for thread-starters to search for a thread that pertains to this subject and post in that, instead of making another? This isn't meant to be rude, and I obviously have no say in the matter, but it seems like there's been an over abundance of these threads lately, and it'd be great to see one or two catch-all threads for the subject matter.

Anyway, I think SP decks are the present and the future, but there are a few viable options. Machamp, Flygon, etc. I definitely agree that there's been too much focus on SP cards as of late, and I'm hoping that they work out the kinks in the next few sets, and SPs eventually become another game mechanic, instead of a near game breaking play like they are now.

One thing I worry about that I haven't seen brought up a lot is the consistency/value of these cards after SPs are cycled out. With the illegality of sets after a certain point, and how fast this game, and TCGs in general move, maybe it won't be a huge deal, but I'm afraid of investing a good amount of money in SP-speciifc cards, only not to be able to use them a year later because there's a new trend and SPs aren't being made anymore.

I guess all of this means there needs to be a balance. It's important to the game, sure, and it's proven that it works, but it doesn't need to be the be all end all. Hopefully within the next year we'll see some leveling out.
 
Delta was over-supported too. Go read Holon's Castform and tell me it didn't basically force you to run at least Delta basics to get full benefit of the card. Go on. It's in EX: Holon Phantoms. Go do it now if you haven't.

Yeah they're supporting the SP mechanic. OH DARN. At least it's not like Yugioh where they make a new mechanic for a set, then never use it again. Oh wait but this game is becoming more like Yugioh amirite?

Frankly also the SP pokemon need the support. Most of them are absolute crap... the energy costs are all way too high and the damage values too low. The few exceptions require a lot of setup to run optimally - Toxicroak G is horrible without Skuntank G AND a Stadium down, for example, and Stadiums are still unsearchable... and that's the "best" SP deck, if I'm not mistaken. They're forced to run more than twice as many stadium cards as your average deck, which will then end up being dead draws once they draw one of them.

But in any case, this is no different from past mechanics. If it wasn't supported we'd have people complaining that SP pokemon are awful and don't have enough support to function, by the way. Which would you prefer?
 
Tagrineth said:
Delta was over-supported too. Go read Holon's Castform and tell me it didn't basically force you to run at least Delta basics to get full benefit of the card. Go on. It's in EX: Holon Phantoms. Go do it now if you haven't.

Yeah they're supporting the SP mechanic. OH DARN. At least it's not like Yugioh where they make a new mechanic for a set, then never use it again. Oh wait but this game is becoming more like Yugioh amirite?

Frankly also the SP pokemon need the support. Most of them are absolute crap... the energy costs are all way too high and the damage values too low. The few exceptions require a lot of setup to run optimally - Toxicroak G is horrible without Skuntank G AND a Stadium down, for example, and Stadiums are still unsearchable... and that's the "best" SP deck, if I'm not mistaken. They're forced to run more than twice as many stadium cards as your average deck, which will then end up being dead draws once they draw one of them.

But in any case, this is no different from past mechanics. If it wasn't supported we'd have people complaining that SP pokemon are awful and don't have enough support to function, by the way. Which would you prefer?
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You are very mistaken. Legos is a nightmare compared to Toxitank.
 
IMO, the game is not turning into YGO. There's always been archetypes, and there always will be.

And with the SP thought, at least there is many different kinds of SP you can use.
 
Has anyone noticed about using evolved pokemon people use rare candy in their decks? Also Claydol, Uxie are always in decks as well? I actually like the SP pokemon just because it adds to the game. (Pretty much like the EX's) That and they give those who don't have too much money to still get into the game and actually do things. (Think about it, 1 card instead of 3 or 2). It usually always seems like it's an experiment. The set with Acreus (sp wrong) will make the game even more interesting. I'm sure you can win with other cards but since some cards are more popular then others, they get no love. If people don't like SP's well you have 5 other sets that don't have them with platinum 1 not having too many. I think it adds an edge to it. What's the problem with mixing the two? o_O Or are people too one sided?
 
I thnk SPs would have been fine if it had been confined to Galactic Pokemon only. That would be like the rocket and Aqua and Magma all having their own special engines and Pokemon, but by expanding the range to all these Pokemon kinda defeats to purpose of evolutions all together.


Also please note that the game continues to get quicker and quicker.


First we have Azelf, Uxie and Claydol to speed up getting out cards
Then we get donk decks, T1 decks
Now we remove evolutions from the equations.

How fast will games be?
 
ApachePrime said:
You are very mistaken. Legos is a nightmare compared to Toxitank.
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That must go in my sig... lol

Legos is nasty to deal with and I've played on both sides, with and against it. I have a feeling that Legos is only the first of several very fast, disruptive SP decks that we will see in the coming sets.

As for being broken, now that we have some good fire pokemon to balance out dialga, the fromat is really looking great.
 
Fools, they will always come up with more SP Pokemon.

With Heart Gold and Soul Silver, you will see something like Houndoom R, or Dewgong GL. I guarantee it.

The game however, is moving towards Yu-gi-oh with their sadistic box distribution. 9 Lv. X with only 2 or 3 good ones is almost like that 1 Dark Armed in those 12 secret rares that no one wants. It might not be near it yet, but we all knew where that took YGO- Rising secondary market prices that nearly killed it.

Seriously, would it kill them to reprint Uxies? And don't even bring up "That will affect their sales." Since that is a load of bull, almost every where I go, LA packs are sold out.

I have said before in different places and I'll say it again, people need to get access to best cards in the game in order for the game to improve. If the game is full of power trips that costs $100 for a playset, people are not going to bother with it.

And yes, I know people would tell me- "But Clear, this does not mean that will become better!" The answer to that question is- it depends, if everyone gets access to these cards easier, we can really see who is the better player, instead of who has more cash to throw around. It's up to the player to improve accordingly to their own pace, and whether the player wants to win or not, is up to them.

If the game is suppose to be fun, it should leave all players with equal possibilities, this mean no more Machamp because it means all Basic that is not Toxicroak G sucks. And no more sadistic pack distribution because everyone deserves an equal chance.

Another thing is the prize support, I don't care if it is free; if the prizes are crap, it is a piece of crap no matter how it is sugarcoated. And I am sure people are willing to pay $5 for a premier event, because I've been to YGO Regionals ran by Upper Deck, those kids' parents have little problems dropping $25 (Read: Burning it) just to get whooped and tossed all over.

That is what I see the problem is with this game right now.

EDIT: Oh and I dare people that says "Machamp is not that hard to deal with" to say the same thing after Unown G is gone in a few short months.
 
Clear said:
Fools, they will always come up with more SP Pokemon.

With Heart Gold and Soul Silver, you will see something like Houndoom R, or Dewgong GL. I guarantee it.

The game however, is moving towards Yu-gi-oh with their sadistic box distribution. 9 Lv. X with only 2 or 3 good ones is almost like that 1 Dark Armed in those 12 secret rares that no one wants. It might not be near it yet, but we all knew where that took YGO- Rising secondary market prices that nearly killed it.

Seriously, would it kill them to reprint Uxies? And don't even bring up "That will affect their sales." Since that is a load of bull, almost every where I go, LA packs are sold out.

I have said before in different places and I'll say it again, people need to get access to best cards in the game in order for the game to improve. If the game is full of power trips that costs $100 for a playset, people are not going to bother with it.

And yes, I know people would tell me- "But Clear, this does not mean that will become better!" The answer to that question is- it depends, if everyone gets access to these cards easier, we can really see who is the better player, instead of who has more cash to throw around. It's up to the player to improve accordingly to their own pace, and whether the player wants to win or not, is up to them.

If the game is suppose to be fun, it should leave all players with equal possibilities, this mean no more Machamp because it means all Basic that is not Toxicroak G sucks. And no more sadistic pack distribution because everyone deserves an equal chance.

Another thing is the prize support, I don't care if it is free; if the prizes are crap, it is a piece of crap no matter how it is sugarcoated. And I am sure people are willing to pay $5 for a premier event, because I've been to YGO Regionals ran by Upper Deck, those kids' parents have little problems dropping $25 (Read: Burning it) just to get whooped and tossed all over.

That is what I see the problem is with this game right now.

EDIT: Oh and I dare people that says "Machamp is not that hard to deal with" to say the same thing after Unown G is gone in a few short months.
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Machamp is not that hard to deal with.
BTW want some Cheese with your Whine?
 
Clear - this game still isn't becoming "like yugioh" in distribution. Two Lv. X per box out of a possible 9 isn't as bad as EX:Legend Maker was, with 7 pokemon-ex and three Star pokemon vying for those two slots per box. EX:Unseen Forces had 16 possible cards filling a three-per-box slot.

They just plain do that from time to time... I'm sure part of the lack of Lv. X is because of the two Rotom per box though, which is a little irritating but oh well, maybe Rotom will turn out to be an awesome rogue.. i dunno

And yeah, it's possible we'll see more Pokemon-SP.. but I doubt we'll see any more printed after this season. I'm betting our next set will be the last SP related set, since it wouldn't make sense to cross over a rotation point and cut off half the SP support... but, then again, having said that, Delta Species rotated out before Holon Phantoms did. Still, there were four Delta sets, I doubt there will be more than 3-4 sets with a focus on SP.
 
After today's battle road, at least imo, the list of useful X in this set is actually... 2. Hippowdon and Luxray. Flygon is just simply too slow for its own good, and will get smashed faster than you can say Rare Candy by faster things like Beedrill and Gengar. If you use something else with Flygon, it might be ok, but it needs energy accleration.

Oh, and if they want us to "buy American", they need to take charge into their quality control better; those "Pikachu bomb" boxes is just unacceptable.

Absoltrainer said:
Machamp is not that hard to deal with.
BTW want some Cheese with your Whine?
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My response is in my last post:

EDIT: Oh and I dare people that says "Machamp is not that hard to deal with" to say the same thing after Unown G is gone in a few short months.
Click to expand...
 
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I love SP pokemon. I feel that is how the game should be played to begin with. Think about this; when you are battling someone on your DS and a fight begins, do you start out with growlithe or caterpie each battle? No. You start with Arcanine or Butterfree. Why should the card game force players to start at the very bottom and climb to the top every game? SP pokemon are awesome because I can just drop a Houndoom or Lucario wouldn't having to get the Riolu or Houndour out first.

If everything was SP, there might not be as many 1st turn donks as decks could run more basics overall.
 
Unfortunately, Arceus did not think of that when it gave Machamp Take Out.

What kind of god creates a bring that can kill its creator in one shot?
 
^A god that isn't very intelligent. I hope to dear God that Unown G (or a similar card) comes out soon. With Machamps roaming around, I don't think it will be a fun year next year without Unown G (unless they ban Machamp).
 
I seem to remember people complaining about DX-on, even though it was probably the most diverse format we've ever seen.

I, for one, am enjoying playing and building in this format. It's a good challenge for me to build something that's both fast and consistent. Normally, I can get away with being one or the other. This is a good time to be building, IMO.
 
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