Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Darkrai EX

At the end of the day all you have left is your dignity, nobody take it from you, but you can sure give it away.
 
To be fair, you had the same opportunities to pre-buy as everyone else and you have the same odds of pulling one from a booster as anyone else.

Well, fair to Nintendo, not for someone wanting to play what should be one of the more reasonable hobbies to afford. When it gets crazy high like so many "successful" TCGs, suddenly you have enough invested to try and become a tournament level video game player.:rolleyes:

Then?
I am not american and I can't order from that site. The shipping cost are too high.
The point isn't T&T. Is that the game have became more expensive since the EX-cards was released.
End of the question. We can't do anything. My previous post wanted to be only a think.

If you want to became a videogame player, do it. I can't do it because here aren't many tournaments and I don't really like Evs and pro breeding.

Bye :wink:
 
Then?
I am not american and I can't order from that site. The shipping cost are too high.
The point isn't T&T. Is that the game have became more expensive since the EX-cards was released.
End of the question. We can't do anything. My previous post wanted to be only a think.

If you want to became a videogame player, do it. I can't do it because here aren't many tournaments and I don't really like Evs and pro breeding.

Bye :wink:

Your post wanted to get me to think about something I've been thinking about for over 10 years; my post was to get you to advance your own thinking. :wink:

I do not like the current rarity schemes. I am fine with providing higher rarities to entice collectors, but would simply make them alternate art cards of things no harder to pull from a booster than a normal rare. Of course, I am not in charge and perhaps that simply doesn't work.

You can't afford a card that is in the brand new boosters. You said you do not live in America. If boosters are hard to come by in your country, then isn't Pokemon already a "rich man's" game there? If boosters aren't priced significantly higher than in the U.S. or abnormally rare, then like I said, you've got the same chance of pulling a Raikou each booster as anyone else has.

If you can't pull it, you will have to trade for it. The good news is that the same rarity scheme we dislike means a lot of cards that aren't popular in decks are still in demand because of rarity. You should at least try to trade for Raikou; probably cost several useful rare cards or collectible rare cards to get a copy, but if it is that important for your deck (and the cards traded away weren't overpaid for) you should still be able to afford it.

You also should get better at anticipating costs and finding "trading buddies". I don't know where you live. Shipping can get pretty expensive, but TCG cards, even in hard protectors, are small and light. How much does it cost to ship from T&T to you? Have you tried to find a friend in the US that could get the initial card and ship it to you (at your own cost still): you might be able to find a less expensive shipping option that way.

Even if you can't... given the pattern established by Pokemon EX, if you really need a Pokemon EX for your deck and it is already being talked about, it is probably worth paying that shipping and handling if you snag an early pre-sale. I mean, how much were you willing to pay for Raikou EX? If you had to spend $10 on a copy and $10 to ship it, you're still getting a decent deal (and that is just based on my own personal dislike of spending more than $20 on a card).

The video game comment was me balancing out my own observation: technically anyone can get any card with trading and/or some luck. Still, if the secondary market gets too high, a lot of players could turn to other hobbies. I cited video games (in general, not just Pokemon). Several hobbies would suffice.
 
All i was strictly saying was that if you are going to complain about the price you might have to try a different method and at this point that is almost impossible b/c of trollandtoad preorders(which is in large part due to us hyping cards etc.)
also i think another thing that it comes down to is at this point t&t has a near "monopoly" of the pre order market so it would be nice to have another competitor which in theory would lower the price, idk how significantly, but it would be nice to have.
 
Japans meta also indicated that Lostgar, Tyranitar, and Reshi_________ w/ Cobalion would be good here. I personally don't take Japans Meta into account, it's much different than ours. Aside from that, Dark Pokemon should do fine.
Posted with Mobile style...

Lostgar and Tyranitar would have done well here, too, if we hadn't had a MD-on format. But this card is overhyped anyway. When it comes out, Rayquaza will be to. That's just the direction that the game is going in. T&T is just using a pricing algorithm, so essentiantialy we're the ones setting the prices (and then complaining that we set them too high.)
 
^
that's what i've heard as well, the price b/4 Dragon Blast/Blade was pretty high but then Rayquaza took over the format-
so the solution to making a broken card is making a more broken card, nice.
 
I have a couple Pokemon friends in Japan. They've been playing with Rayquaza EX in the format since mid-March. It's not overhype.

Nobodies hyping Rayquaza yet. ;) The good news for Rayquaza is that it's possible that we'll get him as a tin promo. It doesn't matter though. Rayquaza will be overhyped, because hype sells cards. Nintendo recognizes this, and they're making the most of it. As Otaku said, price is (naturally) associated with value. To a point, a high price will result in more sales, and a higher profit for each sale. Mewtwo EX has proven that this. So even if Rayquaza decks become BDIF, Rayquaza itself will likely be overhyped.
 
Last edited:
Buy low, sell high. The very core of commodities trading. And make no mistakes, Pokemon is an entertainment commodity. If you don't like it, move to a Communist country where everyone gets the same exact Pokemon to play with. Basically, 'fair is not a factor' :lol: While I think the current rarity scheme is bogus, I still get cards. Granted, I've been forced to do some creative accounting to keep 3 viable decks, but I have managed to do it. If you are dedicated to playing top $ cards,you find a way to make it work. Beg for bulk, trade from collectors who don't play, trade from little kids who don't even care to recognize that there is writing on the cards for a reason. I'm not saying you flat rip them off, but to someone like that, 25 $2 cards are more appreciated than 1 $50 one. Do what it takes if you intend to compete. If acquiring specific cards based on rarity and availability is too difficult to do, then I suggest switching to a game such as 'Anachronism' or something else that has fixed rarity.

I just want to be clear; I hate paying too much for cards as much as the next player. Especially staple trainers as I have to get 12 at a time. But I recognize that if someone is willing to outspend me, then they will end up with the spoils. I can be bitter, or get my hustle on. One leads to ingenuity, one to nothing positive. I'll take hustle any day.

Also, Darkrai is WAY overhyped. Tornadus and Groudon will make a bigger impact on the meta.

Posted with Mobile style...
 
Last edited:
I think we can all agree that singles sales are often pretty pricey relative to what we are actually buying, hence the dissatisfaction with rarities. I mean, I fully recognize the expenses incurred by the TCG: games don't design themselves! Then there are costs like logistics and marketing to factor in. However underneath it all are fantastically low manufacturing costs. That is why TCGs are "big business": in the end they are inexpensive to produce!

It really is unfortunate they are falling into the "lotto" rarity system where as long as you're not unlucky, you'll at least even out for expenses. I think this game is best when it is more accessible, and the "YGO" approach tends to fail pretty hard at that. I mean you know it is bad when the only reason your game is accessible is because you release "good" cards at high, high rarities, and the secondary market prices then rise to the point you can make more money providing "more common" reprints of said cards.
 
If we complain enough to TCPi, They might balance out the price inflation by including the said cards in promotional tins or blisters
 
Also, as for my earlier comments in the thread, I'd like to acknowledge I was pretty darn incorrect regarding my evaluation of the strength of Darkrai. It's definitely better than I gave it credit for.
 
I love Darkrai EX with Shiftry tricks and a Sableye start. It has worked for me so far, especially if I flip 50/50.
Posted with Mobile style...
 
I bought one pack, and was lucky enough to pull Darkrai EX! But it does look overhyped to me. I can see it's nice as a tech, but the question is, is it really worth the price? I'm thinking I should sell it.
 
I wouldn't actually consider it good TecH, unless you happen to already be running a deck built on Darkness Energy. =P Player's tend to play fast and loose with the definition of "TecH" but it's supposed to refer to the "technical" advantage you get running one (two max) copies of a card to help in key match-ups, even though the rest of the time running those two cards is no help or may even slightly hurt your deck. It becomes worth it when, after all is said and done, it is still raising your win percentage.

They also used it almost exclusively for Trainers/Energy. A basic Pokemon, even one sitting on the Bench and being used for an Ability, isn't really TecH by the original definition. By the more modern definition, it can be if it is included but only used in key match-ups and doesn't require any other changes to your deck.
 
That's actually what I was trying to say. Darkrai EX feels a lot like "tech" in a Darkness Deck, as the main reason you'd use it is to just sit on your bench, as a way of providing your other Pokemon with free retreat. The attack is nice, but it seems like something you'd only use occasionally, as it requires 3 energy; the damage output is more easily achieved by other Pokemon for less energy.
 
I feel it deserves mores credit as a legit card than a tech. It has damage spread, easy anergy accel, and beastly HP.
Posted with Mobile style...
 
That's actually what I was trying to say. Darkrai EX feels a lot like "tech" in a Darkness Deck, as the main reason you'd use it is to just sit on your bench, as a way of providing your other Pokemon with free retreat. The attack is nice, but it seems like something you'd only use occasionally, as it requires 3 energy; the damage output is more easily achieved by other Pokemon for less energy.

I know a lot of people classify it that way; simply put I disagree. :thumb:

Still, at least now I understand what you were saying.

I disagree because Darkrai EX, while it may look underpowered for a Pokemon EX, really isn't. It is still likely to 2HKO a Pokemon EX, which is in line with most of the Pokemon EX for that much Energy. Darkrai EX not only has no other drawbacks built into its attacks, but scores some Bench damage.

While Darkrai EX might encounter Eviolite, it's also the only Pokemon EX that can use Dark Claw. This gives it the option of going aggressive and making sure it scores a 2HKO on another Pokemon EX while going through an Eviolite, or using Eviolite itself and needing a third turn most of the time to KO an opposing Pokemon EX, but at the same time lasting that third turn.

Either way you're getting Bench damage elsewhere; a lot of the other Pokemon EX can hit harder, but it's all on the Defending Pokemon an thus usually overkill.
 
Darkrai EX is the main attacker in what will probably be the first or second winningest deck at Spring Battle Roads. Sure, it's a tech in Zoroark/Weavile, but you can also used it as the main attacker.
 
Back
Top