BW-on Darkrai and Laser

[The_Elemental_Dragon]

Some of you may recall that earlier I posted my Hydreigon Darkrai list for advice. After a lot of tweaking, I decided that running lasers over dragon would increase my speed. I have found that I have no real answer to Landorus or Klinklang. I could tech some stuff in, but then it would cut my speed. Here's the damage.

Pokemon

4 Darkrai EX
3 Sableye
1 Keldeo EX

T/S/S

4 Juniper
4 N
2 Bianca
3 Random Reciever

4 Dark Patch
4 Hypnotoxic Laser
4 Ultra Ball
3 Dark Claw
3 Energy Switch
3 Catcher
2 Potion
2 Virbank City Gym
1 Energy Search
1 Computer Search
1 Tool Scrapper

Energy

11 Dark


Set up Darkrai as fast as possible while using Sableye to abuse trainers. Darkrai is the main (only) offense in this deck, so getting a Night Spear going as soon as possible is very important.

 

[pnoodle5]

I run a very similar list to this one, and I'm not really sure why you're using potion and not Max Potion. Max Potion lets you set up key discard energy while providing prize denial, and it is so, so important to get those energy in the discard pile. I know it fights against Virbank, but not sure about the comparative merits here. One thing you might try to consider is a couple of Skyla, to make getting 1-of copies of cards easier. 3 Dark Claw might be a bit much, 2 might be more appropriate if you add the Skyla but that's your call.

As far as secondary attackers go, the best solution for the Darkrai mirror match is 1) Be faster or 2) Terrakion NVI. That's an option that I would play around with if you see lots of Darkrai in your area.

As far as anti-Sigilyph/Klinklang goes, the trick is to Catcher the Klinks and destroy them ASAP, as well as using Sableye with Dark Claw as a cheap attacker.

 

[The_Elemental_Dragon]

Made a few changes. Here is the new list:

Pokemon

4 Darkrai EX
3 Sableye
1 Keldeo EX

T/S/S

4 Juniper
4 N
3 Bianca
2 Skyla
1 Colress

4 Dark Patch
4 Hypnotoxic Laser
4 Ultra Ball
4 Energy Switch
3 Dark Claw
3 Catcher
2 Virbank City Gym
1 Max Potion
1 Computer Search
1 Tool Scrapper

Energy

11 Dark

 

[Demolithor]

Do you even take pokemons on the first 5 tries with this deck? i mean i have 11 basics on mine and still sometimes i get no pokemon at all. How do you do with only 8?

 

[The_Elemental_Dragon]

It works just fine. I usually don't mulligan that often. What do you run in your list?

 

[TuxedoBlack]

If you were to review the thread citing State tournament results, you'll see the same, few decks in the Top 8 - Top 4 across the larger torunaments. Of particular importance are the 2 decks that have great matchups against your deck: LMT and LMTG, aka "Big Basics." Landorus-Mewtwo-Tornadus and Landorus-Mewtwo-Tornadus (sometimes not used)-Garbodor are very tough matchups for your deck, especially when your opponent has a Landorus start. Big Basics decks setup a little easier (10-12 Poké vs. your 8) and they have excellent t1 attackers. So, the early game "math" is definitely on the LMT players side, as well as damage output. And when your LMTG opponent gets a Garbodor in play, your odds of winning decreases fast.

In my recent State tournaments' experience, the players running Darkrai-Sableye I feel have had more success when he/she ran Hammers along with 'Lasers and Virbank City Gym. Darkeye-Sableye with Hammers and Lasers are a fantastic combo. Just check out the tournament results.

 

[The_Elemental_Dragon]

I feel like that would hurt my consistency too much, but it is an interesting idea.

 

[pnoodle5]

I think it depends on how many bad matchups you face as to how many hammers (and what type) to run.

Hammers slow things down but slower decks like using max potion, and Darkrai works well with that even lacking Hydregion. If you see a whole lot of "Big Basics", then 3 Crushing and 3 Enhanced might be the way to go. Lots of Lugia makes Enhanced a good play, while mirror matches in abundance reduces the use of hammers, as does Rayquaza.

I myself am experimenting with hammers and find that in a meta where roughly half the decks are Goodstuff/big basics or darkrai, more enhanced ususally helps to stall Mewtwo and pals

 

[TuxedoBlack]

I feel like that would hurt my consistency too much, but it is an interesting idea.

Better to "hurt" (not that much IMHO) your consistency than "consistently" lose to the big basics decks. Check out the State tournaments' results. Lastly, Hammers will help you in any matchup.