Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Clash of Legends - HGSS-ON

Nice article overall.

But here some comments:

I don't think Fisherman can be considered a tier 1 supporter. Energy Retrieval is so much better since it doesn't cost a supporter per turn. I expect all of the supporters you listed in tier 2 to be played a lot more often than Fisherman.

With Call Energy and Warp Energy gone, and Rescue Energy extremely weakened, I also don't see Energy Exchanger as a tier 1 item. Its use is very limited right now, but it may become more interesting if we get new special energy.

ShuckleLVX said:
I have to ask why (In the Lost Remover section), you question the popularity of Special Energy in a format with DCE?
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Reshiram, Zekrom, Lostgar, Yanmega, Donphan, Magnezone and many other decks expected to be meta don't use DCE.
 
I commend your predictions for the upcoming format, but I have to disagree with your listing for best cards in format. From what I have analyzed almost anything in the upcoming format is playable, there will no longer be a set meta, it's anyone's game really. Yes, those cards have an exceptional chance at being spectacular techs or decks themselves, but almost anything can be considered playable with the correct supporter and trainer list. I have discontinued playing MD-On format for the simple fact that I want to get ahead of the curve for next season. I am a seasoned player and I tested the Yanmega/Donphan styled deck, and I almost lost to a child's Samurott Starter Deck (Yes the weakness did give him a heads up, but that is beside the point.). I was extremely surprised because I thought that my deck was going to be busted, but without all this absurd acceleration it literally goes back to the old days of waiting a turn for evolutions. Almost any Pokemon has a chance to be a formidable opponent. Rogue decks are now possible. I agree with your conclusion though, people will find ways. Other than that, great article!
 
Mad props for putting your opinion out there. However, I am going to have to disagree with several things.

1) Fisherman is definitely not tier one. Only one main deck is going to rely on it, and even in that deck it is the secondary recovery card.

2) Energy Exchanger is not tier one, IMO. Few decks will run enough of them to matter.

3) Switch will be big in the next format, possibly even tier one big.

4) PlusPower is going to be a STAPLE in many decks. It should easily be tier one.

5) Marowak is interesting, but flippy cards do not make great techs. If you hit double tails once and miss the return KO, you are in big trouble.

6) Smeargle is not going to be the best starter in the format, at least not how the trainer lines are currently projected to be. Professor Juniper and Judge will keep Smeargle at bay. It is very risky to play first turn.

7) Stantler and Minun do the exact same thing, and in stage two decks they will be better starters than Smeargle.

8) I used to hate on Cleffa big time, but after trying it out, it is going to be an excellent starter for several decks. With Cleffa you can easily access 20-25ish cards from your deck in the first 2/3 turns. That is huge. It should be on the list.

9) Zoroark is good, but it is too easily OHKO'd by too many things.

10) Where is Blastoise? It could easily be the best sniper in the format. It also has great support in both Feraligatr and Floatzel. Not to mention that it directly destroys two of many people's predicted tier one decks.

11) I do not think that tier one is going to be just Reshiram and Zekrom decks. There will be many viable decks. Because we lose the massive draw power of the previous format, many decks will require very tight lists and have little room for techs (not to mention that by in large the tech options are worse this coming format). You have ReshiBoar that is very consistent and has decent match-ups across most of the board. BUT, Blastoise and Samurott destroy Reshiram decks. BUT, Zekrom and Magnezone destroy those decks. BUT, Donphan and Machamp destroy those decks. BUT, Blastoise and Samurott destroy Donphan. Then there is Typhlosion Prime that is solid in his own right. Oh and LostGar can put up a solid fight against any of them. You see where this is heading. Yes, fire has the best support with Emboar, Typhlosion, Shuckle, and Ninetales, but it is not broken and cannot answer everything.


@ StormFront: There are many good water attackers that can do damage this format. Many people are predicting that Donphan and Reshiram based decks will see a lot of play, well then so will the water decks. Water has its own starter, Mantine. It also has two different forms of energy acceleration, Feraligatr Prime and Floatzel. It also has good attackers, Blastoise (the best sniper), Golduck (30+10 for each water energy), Wailord (one of the better tanking options and has a solid attack in its own right), Samurott (another great tanker, and does 70+10 for each water energy), and Alomomola (a 100hp basic that does 40+10 for each water energy).

Water might or might not be a good choice for the next meta, but do not discount it yet. It has solid potential. If Beatric get printed by next season, it could be a great type to play. Yes it gets owned by Zekrom and Magnezone (although if Blastoise gets set up first, the Magnezone match up is not terrible. also, the Zekrom match up is not complete destruction, every time the Zekrom play fails to pick up Pachirisu or Shaymin it is a prize for Blastoise), but it owns many other high tier decks.
 
Another card some may be overlooking is Manaphy from UL. I agree Cleffa can be better if you stay asleep, but Manaphy has Free Retreat, 30 more HP and yes I know it costs, but the cost is C to attack with. Some are overlooking interesting cards. Not a bad read overall!
 
Just an idea, you should make an article about all the common cards in decks you didnt mention and what they are good with such as Shaymin, Pachirisu, Serperior, Kingdra (highly underrated) and the Legends. By the way most of the people upset should know that not all these cards work good with anything, they still need a good combo.
 
ajhawk said:
Mad props for putting your opinion out there. However, I am going to have to disagree with several things.

1) Fisherman is definitely not tier one. Only one main deck is going to rely on it, and even in that deck it is the secondary recovery card.

2) Energy Exchanger is not tier one, IMO. Few decks will run enough of them to matter.

3) Switch will be big in the next format, possibly even tier one big.

4) PlusPower is going to be a STAPLE in many decks. It should easily be tier one.

5) Marowak is interesting, but flippy cards do not make great techs. If you hit double tails once and miss the return KO, you are in big trouble.

6) Smeargle is not going to be the best starter in the format, at least not how the trainer lines are currently projected to be. Professor Juniper and Judge will keep Smeargle at bay. It is very risky to play first turn.

7) Stantler and Minun do the exact same thing, and in stage two decks they will be better starters than Smeargle.

8) I used to hate on Cleffa big time, but after trying it out, it is going to be an excellent starter for several decks. With Cleffa you can easily access 20-25ish cards from your deck in the first 2/3 turns. That is huge. It should be on the list.

9) Zoroark is good, but it is too easily OHKO'd by too many things.

10) Where is Blastoise? It could easily be the best sniper in the format. It also has great support in both Feraligatr and Floatzel. Not to mention that it directly destroys two of many people's predicted tier one decks.

11) I do not think that tier one is going to be just Reshiram and Zekrom decks. There will be many viable decks. Because we lose the massive draw power of the previous format, many decks will require very tight lists and have little room for techs (not to mention that by in large the tech options are worse this coming format). You have ReshiBoar that is very consistent and has decent match-ups across most of the board. BUT, Blastoise and Samurott destroy Reshiram decks. BUT, Zekrom and Magnezone destroy those decks. BUT, Donphan and Machamp destroy those decks. BUT, Blastoise and Samurott destroy Donphan. Then there is Typhlosion Prime that is solid in his own right. Oh and LostGar can put up a solid fight against any of them. You see where this is heading. Yes, fire has the best support with Emboar, Typhlosion, Shuckle, and Ninetales, but it is not broken and cannot answer everything.


@ StormFront: There are many good water attackers that can do damage this format. Many people are predicting that Donphan and Reshiram based decks will see a lot of play, well then so will the water decks. Water has its own starter, Mantine. It also has two different forms of energy acceleration, Feraligatr Prime and Floatzel. It also has good attackers, Blastoise (the best sniper), Golduck (30+10 for each water energy), Wailord (one of the better tanking options and has a solid attack in its own right), Samurott (another great tanker, and does 70+10 for each water energy), and Alomomola (a 100hp basic that does 40+10 for each water energy).

Water might or might not be a good choice for the next meta, but do not discount it yet. It has solid potential. If Beatric get printed by next season, it could be a great type to play. Yes it gets owned by Zekrom and Magnezone (although if Blastoise gets set up first, the Magnezone match up is not terrible. also, the Zekrom match up is not complete destruction, every time the Zekrom play fails to pick up Pachirisu or Shaymin it is a prize for Blastoise), but it owns many other high tier decks.
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so what you are saying is smeargle is not good in the next format?
 
I do think you got it right in a lot of areas, but I disagree with a lot of your tier 1 tier 2 trainer placement. For the most part you got the top ten best pokemon right, Id only change the order. Good article.
 
Well I haven't done a ton of testing with the new format yet, but from what I have experienced, Smeargle helps a lot less than before. Especially on the first turn. Now that you have the ability to play trainers and supporters on the first turn it is a little more likely to whiff on hitting a supporter. There is always the chance of hitting a judge as well, just like current format. Whats even worse is we no longer have unown q for a convenient retreat and now there is a second supporter to dread finding all alone in your opponents hand. Hmm, I wonder what card that is? I'll give you a hint it starts with Professor and ends with Juniper.

These are just my opinions and I am in no way saying I am a genius etc. but I think some people have been getting a little to excited about how much more useful smeargle will be in this new format.
 
So, while we are on tier 1s and stuff... I agree that Cleffa will be a tier 1 starter, but 1 question will it be god for Z/P/S?
 
Wouldn't Mr Mime be a nice partner for Smeargle?

Trick Reveal to see if your opponent has a juicy hand. If they don't, oh well. If they do, Portrait away!
 
Hippowdon SaveSand said:
Wouldn't Mr Mime be a nice partner for Smeargle?

Trick Reveal to see if your opponent has a juicy hand. If they don't, oh well. If they do, Portrait away!
Click to expand...

That's a gimmicky combination, though. It's two Pokemon for the first turn, and I say 'first turn' because there's a good chance it'll get KO'd on the next one or the third one anyhow. There's nothing wrong with it, I say, but with lists going to be as tight as they are, it might not be worth putting into two Pokemon for a first turn start trick.
 
Heartgold-ZPS doesn't want/need a starter, its starter is Zekrom, that's the whole goal of the deck, i think people are overthinking the deck.
Also Mr.Mime/Smeargle, you are wasting deck spaces IMO, Mr. Mime is cool but just seems like overkill, i could see decks w/ bench space using it though.
Also Smearlge and Cleffa IMO are by far the best starters. Stantler and Manaphy i'd say would be the next tier.
 
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