Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Will Zekrom even be a threat? (HGSS-on)

M

Mazu

New Member
I've heard people talking about this awesome Zekrom and how it will obliterate everything with its T1 120 damage. But is this necessarily true? To pull that off you need Zekrom, Pachirisu, Shaymin and 3 energies (2 lightning) T1, which will be REALLY hard in that format. With no draw-trainers and only 1 turn for supporter (which most likely will be collector anyway) it's not that easy to get full set-up. And even if it's possible by T2 it'll only be possible to pull of a maximum of three times if you're extremely lucky.

So, what do you guys think? Did I miss anything, or will Zekrom perform as badly as I think it will?
 
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The Energies isn't too bad: Interviewer's can likely net you some, if you run enough energies, and it's generally most of the time you'll get one.

Like you stated, Collectors can get you Pach, Shaymin and Zekrom, so if you've got one but missing the other, you can usually cover bases.

The main issue looks more like it running out of steam early on, so if your opponent keeps laying down stuff, it's bound to get hit, and understandably you may be building up a benched Zekrom, but if you get that donk, and your opponent lasts it, there's tons of comeback cards, like Twins and Black Belt that can ruin Zekrom's day.

It looks more like a situation of maintaining the constant attack, which even with stuff like Potion, can be difficult against a deck built to last against it.

God forbid if your opponent techs in a Donphan, then everything gets shot to ****.
 
All your doing is making it sound hard to draw those cards. Which in reality it's not because your starting hand is 7 cards. Most of the pokemon you use will be basic and your running 4 Zekrom, 2-3 Pachurisu, and 2-3 Shaymin. Not too mention you will probably draw 1-2 energy your first draw. Also you have pokemon communication, interviewers questions, and either pont of professors juniper, and a lot of energy. So even if they play collector they will more than likely end up having the energy they need for a donk. Also if they don't get the job done turn 1, majority of the people will run seeker in the deck.
 
If you have a consistent list, you can pull it off T1 8 times out of 10.

And because the deck CAN manage 120 T1, then it must be a threat for most decks out there. Even though it may get a knockout in the mirror or VS Reshiram Emboar, 120 is still a LOT of damage to take T1.
 
For all the hustle and bustle about how bulky it is, realistically it has 90 hp. It will be good, but nothing format breaking. The fact that it is a basic, and that we have ways to power it up on a moments notice makes it dangerous not just as an archtype, but as a tech in certain decks.
 
Magnechu said:
I would just like to say that T1 120 is not really that much different from a T1 60
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i have many things to say, but i will start with this.

yes. 120 is COMPLETELY different than 60.
not EVERY basic pokemon in the entire game has 60 HP.... like zekrom.....
so this is just wrong.

anyway.

i think you have the idea just a little mixed up though. yes, the deck loves getting T1 120. its sweet and VERY easy to do. (i am studying abroad in japan right now, so i have been playing this deck for a while with the players here... trust me, its amazing)
however, the T1 isnt really all that important. with the format change, there arent many T1 attackers right now. therefore if you attach, play a supporter, and pass-- its OK. maybe you'll get your pachi on the next turn. maybe not. either way, something is going to die the instant you put your 3rd energy on him. and theres a large chance that they wont get a counter KO immediately the next turn (please dont misunderstand that sentence as me saying "THEY WILL NEVER REVENGE KO ZEKROM"... because it does happen) BUT on the 3rd turn, it is (in my experience so far) rare to see. therefore, your opening zekrom (on the slowest possible, 3-turn-energy-attachment game) will most likely KO 2 pokemon before he gets taken out
thats good.

by the time you've played through these 3 turns, you are guaranteed to have pachi/shaymin for your next zekrom.
 
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I'm telling you, tech in a Magnezone Prime line and the deck immediately develops a very strong late game with minimal reduction in early game speed.
 
Yes, Zekrom will make an impact. A nice t1-t2 one. Didn't you read my past thread? :/

it wasn't total hype you know!
 
I agree that 120 t1 isnt much different than 60, but its still >=60 t1 which is 95% a KO. Then its 60 on t2 without recoil, which based on the same logic is probably a KO (assuming you are 1st). If your opponent dropped energy on a starter (thinking you dont have the kill) thats nearly a wasted turn for them. Zekrom may be a threat but it will be checked by Donphan.
 
drop defenders on it. it wont be dieing anytime soon. also the deck is really quick. i played against someone with it online and it set up 3/5 t1 which is decently consistent to me.
 
Sorry guys, I was thinking it discarded two energies like Reshiram, but since that's not the case it might be a pretty hard match-up. It's an easy revenge KO for Donphan, Cinccino and everything else speed that can deal 90 damage though, so I think the deck will be countered by that.
 
Mazu said:
Sorry guys, I was thinking it discarded two energies like Reshiram, but since that's not the case it might be a pretty hard match-up. It's an easy revenge KO for Donphan, Cinccino and everything else speed that can deal 90 damage though, so I think the deck will be countered by that.
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You should probably actually read the card you're dissing before you decide to start a thread like this.
Just saying...
 
I made a mistake, it happens.

My point still stands though. Pulling off the T1 will be hard, and if Zekrom gets knocked out you'll have to do it all over again, which I don't think will be possible more than 2-3 times a game.
 
Imma thank this OP when I get off my iPod.

I have the exact same sentiments about Zekrom. Maybe a "consistent list" can get the T1 120 80% of the time. ...Then what? If this deck becomes remotely successful, people will all be running Bouffalant. Also, what do you do when they get set up and start killing your Zekroms consistently? It's not like you can pull that Pachi/Shaymin thing 5+ times, in all likelihood.

I can see it being halfway decent, but with the need to drop Collector T1 instead of Seeker, you've already given up your ability to donk two Pokemon. Zekrom will, at best, be a decent donk deck and a below average deck against anything it doesn't donk.
 
From what others have said, Zekrom is already a BDIF in Japan. To verbally trash it before it has seen much play here is very short-sighted.

There are two possible routes for T1 Speed Zekrom to take.

If Pokemon Collector is played in the deck, and is your T1 supporter, then you will also have to average at least 3 energy in the first 8 cards (37.5%), which would mean running at least 23 lightning energy or Energy Search.

If Pokemon Collector is not played in the deck, and either Juniper or PONT is your T1 supporter, then you should be able to manage on much less energy (perhaps 16), but it would be harder to play the 3 Pokemon in the required sequence (Zekrom, Pachirisu, Shaymin).

The deck could never possibly manage T1 120 on 80% of the time, but it won't need to.
 
Pikabruce said:
From what others have said, Zekrom is already a BDIF in Japan. To verbally trash it before it has seen much play here is very short-sighted.

There are two possible routes for T1 Speed Zekrom to take.

If Pokemon Collector is played in the deck, and is your T1 supporter, then you will also have to average at least 3 energy in the first 8 cards (37.5%), which would mean running at least 23 lightning energy or Energy Search.

If Pokemon Collector is not played in the deck, and either Juniper or PONT is your T1 supporter, then you should be able to manage on much less energy (perhaps 16), but it would be harder to play the 3 Pokemon in the required sequence (Zekrom, Pachirisu, Shaymin).

The deck could never possibly manage T1 120 on 80% of the time, but it won't need to.
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Jusr because it's a good deck in Japan doesn't mean it will be good here. LostGar anyone?
 
Japan isn't here. They have a lot of things work (again, LostGar) that just don't work here. They have a different format.
 
tehlizard said:
Jusr because it's a good deck in Japan doesn't mean it will be good here. LostGar anyone?
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Usually I would agree.

But Lostgar was successful in Japan because they had it in a DP-on format with Claydol.

With Zekrom, our format will be almost identical to Japan.

So it's success in Japan isn't as irrelevant as Lostgar's was.
 
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