Otaku
Active Member
The following is a completely untested, hypothetical deck using the translations from the latest Japanese set. I do hope to test it, but I do not know how long it will be before I can. Cards that are not yet out in English are marked with an asterisk(*), with translations below the list.
Pokemon x 20
3 Amoongus (BW: Next Destinies 009/099)
4 Ditto*
3 Eelektrik (BW: Noble Victories 040/101)
3 Foongus (BW: Next Destinies 008/099)
2 Raticate*
2 Rattata*
3 Tynamo (BW: Noble Victories 038/101)
Trainers x 30
2 Cilan
4 Devolution Spray*
3 Level Ball
4 N
3 Pokemon Catcher
4 Professor Juniper
4 Rescue Scarf*
2 Super Rod
4 Ultra Ball
Energy Cards x 10
3 Double Colorless Energy
7 Lightning Energy
Translations adapted from Pokebeach.com.
Strategy: The goal of the deck is to use a combination of Sporprise and Superfang to rapidly OHKO whatever target is most desirable each turn. Ideally, this deck wins by it's seventh turn if the opponent runs nothing worth two Prizes, less accordingly. Eelektrik is included because the deck needs to constantly recycle its Energy, and Superfang itself requires three Energy to work.
Pokemon
As stated in the overall strategy, Amoongus needs to be hitting the field each turn, to trigger it's Ability, Sporprise. This will Confuse and Poison the Defending Pokemon, though the main concern is the Poison.
Dittto is quite important to the deck; all of the Basic Pokemon used have less than 70 HP. Ditto, via its "Transform" Ability can become any Basic Pokemon I have available to attach to it. If Ditto was in play before the turn began, this "status" carries over and whatever it is Transformed into can Evolve! This will allow me to not only buffer the HP on the other Basic Pokemon, but have a variable candidate to Evolve, as well as receive benefits like Energy attachments before I have to decide exactly what it will really be.
Eelektrik, as stated, is purely for Energy acceleration; the hoops I'd have to jump through to use other types (or the risk of relying on four Double Colorless Energy) didn't seem worth it. I am open to alternative suggestions, however.
Foongus is needed to Evolve, but if I am stuck opening with it and choose to attack, the colorless Energy requiring attack has the same effect as a Poke Ball, which is better than nothing in a bad situation.
Raticate is the main weapon of choice, and it may seem odd I only run two of it. It is risky since once may be Prized, but the deck is geared to "recycle" them as they are KOed. With 60 HP, it wasn't worth trying to bulk up (despite two cards out in Japan that would have each added 20 HP).
Rattata is here only to Evolve. It is the only legal Rattata, and its 30 HP is a real problem for the deck. At least the attack, while not damaging at all, is cheap and could Paralyze, giving a slight chance of survival.
Tynamo is there just for Eelektrik, of course, but I went with this version since it could Paralyze, again giving a slight chance of survival.
Trainers
Cilan seemed to be the most efficient method to get the literal 3 minimum Lightning Energy I'll need to attack with.
Devolution Spray is a must to utilize Sporprise. Long time players note that the effect has been revised so that if works like the later Hyper Potion.
Level Ball can grab anything in the deck.
N will be the only shuffle-and-draw Supporter at that time, and hopefully the deck contents are such that one can play out most of one's hand before using it. If the set-up ends up being slow, it can help catch-up since an opponent with a small hand will find it even harder to replace what is lost.
Pokemon Catcher is needed to ensure one is taking out the most crucial Pokemon. While this will usually be whatever is attacking, sometimes you need to take out a Bench-sitter to really matter... which is pretty obvious. How badly you can lose if your opponent just sends up Basic Pokemon with a single Energy to pick a Raticate is why the deck runs so many.
Professor Juniper is a bit scary to run since it discards your whole hand, but it is the best raw draw power in the coming format. Part of why I am running so many "Ball" cards is that they are safer to toss if necessary.
Rescue Scarf will likely be vital, bouncing Raticate, Rattata, and if it was used, Ditto back to hand as Raticate is KOed. Ideally I'll have another Ditto already in play so I can Transform into Rattata then immediately Evolve into Raticate, and finally have just enough room on the Bench to play that Ditto back down.
Super Rod may seem high at two, but I expect something in the deck to be KOed each turn, I expect to have to toss stuff I don't want to, and so I need a method of getting the Pokemon (and any "extra" Energy) back into the deck.
Ultra Ball may seem redundant with Level Ball, but since I am running Eelektrik I do want to discard some Energy and this is the only choice. Additionally, I do need a lot of ways to fetch Pokemon, so it may not be overkill.
Energy
Double Colorless Energy helps when Eelektrik isn't ready to go. If I could make room, I'd run a fourth.
Lightning Energy is obvious since that is all Eelektrik works with. I almost wish I had more, since I didn't have room for Switch and thus I can't Retreat, Dynamotor, and then Switch to get a Raticate back into attack position.
Pokemon x 20
3 Amoongus (BW: Next Destinies 009/099)
4 Ditto*
3 Eelektrik (BW: Noble Victories 040/101)
3 Foongus (BW: Next Destinies 008/099)
2 Raticate*
2 Rattata*
3 Tynamo (BW: Noble Victories 038/101)
Trainers x 30
2 Cilan
4 Devolution Spray*
3 Level Ball
4 N
3 Pokemon Catcher
4 Professor Juniper
4 Rescue Scarf*
2 Super Rod
4 Ultra Ball
Energy Cards x 10
3 Double Colorless Energy
7 Lightning Energy
Text Spoilers of unreleased cards said:Name: Ditto
Category: Pokemon
Type: :colorless:
Stage: Basic HP: 70
Ability: Transform
During your turn, you may play a Basic Pokemon from your hand onto this Pokemon. This Pokemon is treated as that Basic Pokemon. (Any cards, damage counters, conditions, and effects on this Pokemon are transferred to the Basic Pokemon.)
Weakness: :fighting: x2
Resistance: none
Retreat: :colorless:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Raticate
Category: Pokemon
Type: :colorless:
Stage: 1 (Evolves from Rattata)
HP: 60
Attack#1:
colorless Gnaw Off
Discard a Pokemon Tool attached to the Defending Pokemon.
Attack#2:
colorless::colorless::colorless Super Fang
Place damage counters on the Defending Pokemon until it has 10 HP left.
Weakness: :fighting: x2
Resistance: None
Retreat: :colorless:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Rattata
Category: Pokemon
Type: Colorless – HP30
Stage: Basic
HP: 30
Attack:
colorless Paralyzing Gaze
Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
Weakness: :fighting: x2
Resistance: None
Retreat: :colorless:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Devolution Spray
Category: Trainer
Type: Item
Text:
Choose one of your Evolved Pokemon, then remove the top evolution card from that Pokemon. Return that Evolution card to your hand. (The Devolved Pokemon cannot evolve this turn.)
You can use any number of Trainer cards during your turn.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Rescue Scarf
Category: Trainer
Type: Item
Sub-Type: Pokemon Tool
Text:
Attach a Pokemon Tool to one of your Pokemon to use it. You can only attach 1 card to 1 Pokemon, and it remains attached.
If the Pokemon that this card is attached to is Knocked Out by damage from an attack, put that Pokemon back into your hand. (Discard all cards attached to that Pokemon.)
You can use any number of Goods cards during your turn.
Translations adapted from Pokebeach.com.
Strategy: The goal of the deck is to use a combination of Sporprise and Superfang to rapidly OHKO whatever target is most desirable each turn. Ideally, this deck wins by it's seventh turn if the opponent runs nothing worth two Prizes, less accordingly. Eelektrik is included because the deck needs to constantly recycle its Energy, and Superfang itself requires three Energy to work.
Pokemon
As stated in the overall strategy, Amoongus needs to be hitting the field each turn, to trigger it's Ability, Sporprise. This will Confuse and Poison the Defending Pokemon, though the main concern is the Poison.
Dittto is quite important to the deck; all of the Basic Pokemon used have less than 70 HP. Ditto, via its "Transform" Ability can become any Basic Pokemon I have available to attach to it. If Ditto was in play before the turn began, this "status" carries over and whatever it is Transformed into can Evolve! This will allow me to not only buffer the HP on the other Basic Pokemon, but have a variable candidate to Evolve, as well as receive benefits like Energy attachments before I have to decide exactly what it will really be.
Eelektrik, as stated, is purely for Energy acceleration; the hoops I'd have to jump through to use other types (or the risk of relying on four Double Colorless Energy) didn't seem worth it. I am open to alternative suggestions, however.
Foongus is needed to Evolve, but if I am stuck opening with it and choose to attack, the colorless Energy requiring attack has the same effect as a Poke Ball, which is better than nothing in a bad situation.
Raticate is the main weapon of choice, and it may seem odd I only run two of it. It is risky since once may be Prized, but the deck is geared to "recycle" them as they are KOed. With 60 HP, it wasn't worth trying to bulk up (despite two cards out in Japan that would have each added 20 HP).
Rattata is here only to Evolve. It is the only legal Rattata, and its 30 HP is a real problem for the deck. At least the attack, while not damaging at all, is cheap and could Paralyze, giving a slight chance of survival.
Tynamo is there just for Eelektrik, of course, but I went with this version since it could Paralyze, again giving a slight chance of survival.
Trainers
Cilan seemed to be the most efficient method to get the literal 3 minimum Lightning Energy I'll need to attack with.
Devolution Spray is a must to utilize Sporprise. Long time players note that the effect has been revised so that if works like the later Hyper Potion.
Level Ball can grab anything in the deck.
N will be the only shuffle-and-draw Supporter at that time, and hopefully the deck contents are such that one can play out most of one's hand before using it. If the set-up ends up being slow, it can help catch-up since an opponent with a small hand will find it even harder to replace what is lost.
Pokemon Catcher is needed to ensure one is taking out the most crucial Pokemon. While this will usually be whatever is attacking, sometimes you need to take out a Bench-sitter to really matter... which is pretty obvious. How badly you can lose if your opponent just sends up Basic Pokemon with a single Energy to pick a Raticate is why the deck runs so many.
Professor Juniper is a bit scary to run since it discards your whole hand, but it is the best raw draw power in the coming format. Part of why I am running so many "Ball" cards is that they are safer to toss if necessary.
Rescue Scarf will likely be vital, bouncing Raticate, Rattata, and if it was used, Ditto back to hand as Raticate is KOed. Ideally I'll have another Ditto already in play so I can Transform into Rattata then immediately Evolve into Raticate, and finally have just enough room on the Bench to play that Ditto back down.
Super Rod may seem high at two, but I expect something in the deck to be KOed each turn, I expect to have to toss stuff I don't want to, and so I need a method of getting the Pokemon (and any "extra" Energy) back into the deck.
Ultra Ball may seem redundant with Level Ball, but since I am running Eelektrik I do want to discard some Energy and this is the only choice. Additionally, I do need a lot of ways to fetch Pokemon, so it may not be overkill.
Energy
Double Colorless Energy helps when Eelektrik isn't ready to go. If I could make room, I'd run a fourth.
Lightning Energy is obvious since that is all Eelektrik works with. I almost wish I had more, since I didn't have room for Switch and thus I can't Retreat, Dynamotor, and then Switch to get a Raticate back into attack position.