Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Deck Spotlight: SABELOCK - what is it?

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Rogue Archetype

Moderator <br> Contest Host
The STORMFRONT (SF) set introduced us to a Sabeleye that was, probably, intended to be a nifty little utility card; something that allowed you to play out of a jam when the cards just weren't seeming to draw into your hand.

Well, after the release of the the Platinum set, the new SP pokemon cards made it possible for people to get more creative with this card and, ultimately, Sabeleye went from being a 1st turn starting pokemon ("starter") to the star (and sometimes MAIN attacker!) of some deck builds.

Nowadays, there are several decks that use Sabeleye as the main part of their strategies:

  • Sabeleye Donk
  • Sabelock
  • Chenlock
  • .. and others...

The differences between these different variations is the Pokemon that are put into the deck to fight alongside Sabeleye and the overall strategy of the deck.

Decks built around --- S A B E L E Y E SF

Let's talk about it.

Tip: If you're going to discuss "techs", please try to define what a "tech" is for our new readers. Thanks!


Note: Anyone, old and new, may contribute to this discussion. Ask questions or answer them! This is how we build :smile:
 
Okay so guys, Honchkrow SV: staple, tech, or dumb?

Sorry, I'll contribute more fully when I'm not at work, but I do want to hear some other peoples' thoughts on this.
 
Honchkrow SV is definitly NOT a Tech in Sablelock, it actually is a staple, because it is what you need for some Match-Ups and the best example is Gyarados....
It was put in to be a tech, but in time it became standart.
@Nugget: Did you play against any Gyarados Deck with your Sablelock?
Is very hard to win without BDK....

Here you have an article about Sablelock: (why not link it in here, as it's a thread about it....)
http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=138951

In my opinion Sablelock's even better than LuxChomp, but the only problem is, that it is not the easiest deck to play what doesn't make it really popular.
 
Sablock is inferior to LuxChomp in that LuxChomp has more space for meta techs and has better VileGar and Gyarados matchups.
 
Hmh the Gyarados MatchUp is the same and the Vilegar MatchUp should also be somewhere at 60-40 for both....
The point with the Techs is true....
 
I can see Luxchomp having a better Gyarados matchup, but I don't have issues with Sablelock against Vilegar, so...
 
Yeah, Gyarados struggles more against Luxchomp. Honchkrow isn't that great in the match up, they can just fill their bench, or simply SSU/Seeker a Karp up, and replace it with another basic.
 
hmh I wouldn't say that the MU's is different, it should be somewhere at 60-40 for both, the only thing is, that Sablelock has more to do to win against Gyarados, LuxChomp simply has Luxray and Lucario....
 
hmh I wouldn't say that the MU's is different, it should be somewhere at 60-40 for both, the only thing is, that Sablelock has more to do to win against Gyarados, LuxChomp simply has Luxray and Lucario....

What more does sablelock have to do exactly? You're forgetting that luxchomp is the deck with way more options than sablelock.
 
Okay Luxchomp vs. Gyarados. Lucario GL is what saves you. That is if you can keep recycling energy for trash bolt. I was able to Dragon Rush early to get up in prizes, then finish off Gyarados with belts on them.
 
What is with people and using really bad font colors lately?

From my experience BDK is Sableye's only way to get any kind of strong late game. So... I regard it as being nearly staple.
 
What more does sablelock have to do exactly? You're forgetting that luxchomp is the deck with way more options than sablelock.

Did I write anything about the options?
No.
Sablelock has to do more, because it has to play more tricky than LuxChomp with all the Judges and Initiatives, LuxChomps best way to win is to Dragon Rush some Pokemons and kill the Gyarados with Luxray and Lucario....
 
Did I write anything about the options?
No.
Sablelock has to do more, because it has to play more tricky than LuxChomp with all the Judges and Initiatives, LuxChomps best way to win is to Dragon Rush some Pokemons and kill the Gyarados with Luxray and Lucario....

I think I misinterpreted what you posted before. I thought you meant that sablelock has more to do as in the have more they can do.
 
hmh I wouldn't say that the MU's is different, it should be somewhere at 60-40 for both, the only thing is, that Sablelock has more to do to win against Gyarados, LuxChomp simply has Luxray and Lucario....

You may have more counters, but then Luxray & Lucario GL are better than all of them put together.

I'd say Luxchomp goes about 65-35 to Gyarados, but it depends on the lists. That's from my experience anyways, and me and nnaann have tested a LOT. I'd say Sablock (if it DOES have the edge) would go 60-40 tops. Not much in it tbh.
 
You may have more counters, but then Luxray & Lucario GL are better than all of them put together.

I'd say Luxchomp goes about 65-35 to Gyarados, but it depends on the lists. That's from my experience anyways, and me and nnaann have tested a LOT. I'd say Sablock (if it DOES have the edge) would go 60-40 tops. Not much in it tbh.

Yes that's it, somewhere at 60-40, but it all depends on the list....
A good Gyarados player in a LuxChomp heavy Metagame may tech something against Luxray....
However that's the endless discussion of what is played and what not and totally pointless,
let us take the 65-35 and 60-40 MU, that's alright.^^
 
How are you going to win Gdos with Sablelock? If the Gdos doesn't play super stupid it should be in favor of Gdos easily. The only chance Sablelock has is too,

a. Dragon Rush 6 times in 7 or 8 turns.
b. Donk Gdos.
c. Disrupt them like crazy.

Those are doable, but hard.

Sablelock's VileGar matchup is so overated. Aside from the donk LuxChomp is way better against VileGar.

Honchkrow sv is really good, but nowhere near staple.

---------- Post added 01/24/2011 at 02:25 PM ----------

Has anyone tried to run the Smeargle version? Instead of playing
4 Sableye
4 SP. Dark
The Smeargle version uses
3 Smeargle
1 Sableye
1 Unown Q (If you didn't already use it)
1 Unown ud (With the DARK power)
1 SP. Dark
Saves you 1/2 spots, add's extra chances to donk, gives you more flexability, faster starts and less wasted cards in the mid/late-game.
 
How are you going to win Gdos with Sablelock? If the Gdos doesn't play super stupid it should be in favor of Gdos easily. The only chance Sablelock has is too,

a. Dragon Rush 6 times in 7 or 8 turns.
b. Donk Gdos.
c. Disrupt them like crazy.

Those are doable, but hard.

Sablelock's VileGar matchup is so overated. Aside from the donk LuxChomp is way better against VileGar.

Honchkrow sv is really good, but nowhere near staple.

---------- Post added 01/24/2011 at 02:25 PM ----------

Has anyone tried to run the Smeargle version? Instead of playing
4 Sableye
4 SP. Dark
The Smeargle version uses
3 Smeargle
1 Sableye
1 Unown Q (If you didn't already use it)
1 Unown ud (With the DARK power)
1 SP. Dark
Saves you 1/2 spots, add's extra chances to donk, gives you more flexability, faster starts and less wasted cards in the mid/late-game.

The Judges and Honchkrow SV are everything against Gyarados, and believe me they slow it down sooo much that you can get a decent prize lead, if you want a better description for the MU look at my article....

I've tried all Sablelock versions you can think about and believe me the Smeargle aka "Smearlock" is the most inconsistent, because it relys to much on the oppenent's starthand and they don't always start with what you expect them too.
Smearlock tends more to crappy starts than the normal Sablelock with 3-4 Sableyes and 0-1 Smeargles.

-Filipp.
 
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