Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

How to build a successful SP Pokemon Deck

Thanks serlersky about Aerodactyl. I removed it.

Since PokeBeach has revealed some Pulse to the Frontier scans, I added some to the article. Let me know what you think.
 
Here a few comments by me:

Bippa201 said:
Alakazam 4 Lv. X
Alakazam is a rather tricky attacker to work around. Just like in our games it can recover half of its HP. It also can heal itself by using its PokePower and completly heal it or anything else that is SP. It seems like a supporter and its attack only does 50 for 2, but the fact that it bypasses Resistance allows it do deal a constant 50 to everything.
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No, just don't attack with him. The power is awesome, but 50 damage for 2-3 energy on a Lv.X is absolutely nothing. It doesn't even abuse weakness. Alakazam4 Lv.X is a supporter and not a sweeper. Even Dialga G Lv.X would sweep a lot better.

Bippa201 said:
Spiritomb LA
Spiritomb is essential in spread decks, which is what Gallade's best talent is. You place one counter down, Gallade places more on it. It's super simple to pull off.

Spiritomb LA
The goal in Raichu, is to get counters on all of your opponents Pokemon. You get to do that with Spiritomb. Spiritomb places damage counters, Raichu punishes them.
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Please read Spiritombs PokéPower again. It does only put damage counters an Pokémon that already have one. So it's useless for Raichu, and your text about Gallade also doesn't fit exactly (but it can still support Gallade if you use the Lv.X power and then play Spiritomb).

Bippa201 said:
SP Radar
The Pokemon SP version of Bebe's Search. There is next to no difference between them. It lets you technically run 8 Bebes.
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You should mention how great this card is when combined with Cyrus. If you want a Pokémon instead of a Galactic Invention, take the SP Radar and search for any SP-Pokémon, in addition to your basic energy and supporter. ^^
btw there is a BIG difference between SP Radar and Bebe - SP Radar isn't a supporter.
 
Well, damage output for these bad boys is EXTREMELY LOW. I think SPs will not be that great. Anything that deals 100 damage just sweeps through SP decks.

You should mention the fact that Honchkrow G is the best starter with current SP Pokemon. Combos WAY TOO WELL with the SKuntank/Toxicroak Combo.
 
yoyofsho16 said:
Well, damage output for these bad boys is EXTREMELY LOW. I think SPs will not be that great. Anything that deals 100 damage just sweeps through SP decks.

You should mention the fact that Honchkrow G is the best starter with current SP Pokemon. Combos WAY TOO WELL with the SKuntank/Toxicroak Combo.
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i dont consider weavile as the best starter personally. i think honch is.

about your irst point: every heavy hitter uses powers and generally a high eneergy count to get to that kind of damage output, toise/catty and gigas being good examples of that. using disruption and (hopefully) supperior speed will help you to win the match ... same as how most low hp low damage output decks are.
 
Ardoptres said:
Since when is 70 for one on a basic bad?
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you mean toxicroak after poison right? cause weavile has a 3 energy attack that has a max outout of 70 without special darks, but obviously you can lower that to 2 with energy gain y'know.

yoyofshow: sorry i for some strange reason thought you said weavile is the best starter...opps
 
Okay, I was gone most of the day, so I'll try to comment on as much as I can.

yoyofsho16 said:
Well, damage output for these bad boys is EXTREMELY LOW. I think SPs will not be that great. Anything that deals 100 damage just sweeps through SP decks.

You should mention the fact that Honchkrow G is the best starter with current SP Pokemon. Combos WAY TOO WELL with the SKuntank/Toxicroak Combo.
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However, most of the 100 damage hitters require a large amount of energy (Regigigas, Empoleon MD, Leafeon Lv. X or example). By the time they do get enough energy, they will have taken a large amount of damage.

Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:

ShadowGuard said:
Here a few comments by me:


No, just don't attack with him. The power is awesome, but 50 damage for 2-3 energy on a Lv.X is absolutely nothing. It doesn't even abuse weakness. Alakazam4 Lv.X is a supporter and not a sweeper. Even Dialga G Lv.X would sweep a lot better.

Before I began writing this guide, I found an article on this site (I forget where) that said Alakazam is a major deck archetype in Japan. Why? I don't know, but that is why I put it on here.

Please read Spiritombs PokéPower again. It does only put damage counters an Pokémon that already have one. So it's useless for Raichu, and your text about Gallade also doesn't fit exactly (but it can still support Gallade if you use the Lv.X power and then play Spiritomb).

I know what Spiritombs Power does. It does support Raichu because of its attack that does offer some semi-spread. But if you spread to more benched with Spiritomb, Raichu will do more damage providing that you spread the damage to something that doesn't have any damage to it. Giratina is probably the superior card, but Spiritomb offers slightly faster results.

You should mention how great this card is when combined with Cyrus. If you want a Pokémon instead of a Galactic Invention, take the SP Radar and search for any SP-Pokémon, in addition to your basic energy and supporter. ^^
btw there is a BIG difference between SP Radar and Bebe - SP Radar isn't a supporter.

I know that the trainer/supporter classification is a big difference. SP Radar becomes really amazing when it comes, considering it comes with plenty more SP cards then Platinum.
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My comments in bold.
 
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Bippa201 said:
However, most of the 100 damage hitters require a large amount of energy (Regigigas, Empoleon MD, Leafeon Lv. X or example). By the time they do get enough energy, they will have taken a large amount of damage.
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Empoleon MD is no longer a threat, so I have no clue as to why it was mentioned here.

Gigas is EASY to set up and sets up pretty much as fast as SP decks do, plus heals whatever damage it takes from the turn or two it is behind.

Power Spray jams big hitters more than anything. If you drain their Power Spray, I think it's fine.

And what do these decks do after BET is released? I KNOW Flygon will be popular, I'm not too sure how Gallade X works around that.
 
Bippa201 said:
But if you spread to more benched with Spiritomb, Raichu will do more damage providing that you spread the damage to something that doesn't have any damage to it. Giratina is probably the superior card, but Spiritomb offers slightly faster results.
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[L][C] Lightning Chain: Does 30 damage plus an additional 10 damage times the number of your opponent's Benched Pokemon with any damage counters on them.

Still don't understand how Spiritomb could hep Raichu to do more damage. If the Pokémon has at least one damage counter, there's no need for Spiritomb, cause Raichu only counters the Pokémon that are damaged. If it doesn't have one, Spiritomb has no effect on it.


yoyofsho16 said:
And what do these decks do after BET is released? I KNOW Flygon will be popular, I'm not too sure how Gallade X works around that.
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Level up, power, Pokéturn, then bring another Gallade active, attach an energy and the Energy Gain you just took back and attack for spread. Next turn the same, this works as long as you have Pokéturns and your opponent doesn't OHKO you. With this strategy you'll never have Lv.X Gallade in play during your opponent's turn.
 
I removed the Spiritomb. You've finally persuaded me.

Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:

I sorted the 8 decks into tiers, let me know what you think.
 
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yoyofsho16 said:
Empoleon MD is no longer a threat, so I have no clue as to why it was mentioned here.

Gigas is EASY to set up and sets up pretty much as fast as SP decks do, plus heals whatever damage it takes from the turn or two it is behind.

Power Spray jams big hitters more than anything. If you drain their Power Spray, I think it's fine.

And what do these decks do after BET is released? I KNOW Flygon will be popular, I'm not too sure how Gallade X works around that.
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beating gigas is (from my personal theory) as follows:
1) roseanne and honch's command ASAP so you can power spray gigas's power
2) poison the gigas and hope he doesnt attach a basic energy
3) hit with houndoom a few times, and then retreat for something that can finish him off (not sure what, but you get the point)
4) abuse honch and crobat to take out everything else in their deck.
theres some ways right there. i do think the only thing missing for a g deck is a fighting type tbh...
 
Okay, Gallade is NOT High tier.

Do you know how well it's doing in Japan?

My opinion:

Top:

1. Gallade
2. Luxray

High

3. Infernape
4. Electivire

Middle

5. Alakazam
6. Drifblim

Bottom

7. Blaziken
8. Raichu
 
Okay, I had no idea of how well it was doing in Japan.

Its pretty official though that Raichu and Alakazam are near the bottom.
 
THESE ARE JUST GUESSES. DO NOT INSULT ME IF THEY ARE WRONG

vs Kingdra
Luxray 60-40 (With a Lake Boundary and 1 PlusPower you get a OHKO in a Kingdra)
Gallade 50-50 (You will have some difficulty, but most of the time you will do fine)
Infernape 30-70 (You will have a card time, you'll need constant support and a x2 Water Weakness is no help)
Raichu 70-30 (You'll be playing a slower Luxray build that OHKOs Kingdra with Lake Boundary/Lucario GL)
Alakazam 50-50 (You'll come so close if you move a 10HP Gyarados G with Damage Porter. Unown E helps)
Drifblim 30-70 (You'll be really slow)
Blaziken 35-65 (Pretty similar to Infernape, only faster.And if they aren't swarming you. You will probably win.)
Electivire 70-30 (Probably the best matchup, with Upper Energies you'll have fun. It will be slow however)

I'll post more later
 
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Raichu match up seems way off
With Lucario GL and 4 damaged Pokes on our opponents side of the field (Electrode G can do this for you/Gallade 4) you OHKO Kingdra. And those will be constant OHKO's most of the time, unless they don't bench anything, then you go to a support Pokemon.

Electivire is also too slow too keep up with Kingdra, annd will probably loose that match up.
Blaziken will win if Kingdra can not get constant swarms.

Edit:
Both Tier list are also bad.
Raichu has the ability to hit for up to 80 for 1 energy, T2 mind you.
Blaziken can hit for 30-120 T2, and has PokeTurn, Garchomp C Lv.X and switching out to save it.
Alakazam has complete control of your damage counters, and Turtwig can completely heal it self from one attack.
Electivire is terrible, you loose to anything with power spray, which will be in a lot of decks.
Drifblim has one attack, and it's pretty bad, you max out at 80 for 2 to anything, and have no other tricks coming from Drifblim.
Infernape is just terrible, the power is great, but the attack even with Heatran is a waste.

Though I hate them, I made a Tier list to show how I would list them.

Top
Gallade
Blaziken

High
Raichu
Alakazam
Luxray

Middle
Drifblim

Low
Electivire
Infernape
 
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