I Double Theme Decks: Improving Through Double-Decking

[bullados]

If you're ever using an evolving Basic for their damaging attack, you're probably doing it wrong.

 

[Hyo888]

If you're ever using an evolving Basic for their damaging attack, you're probably doing it wrong.

i'm not using an evolving basic for it's damaging atack.i'm just saying that everything in this deck is stronger than shelmet and could be used in an emergency,while shelmet surely couldn't

 

[MegaVelocibot]

Lost Ark (Double Raiders)

Pokemon: 21
4 Cofagrigus
4 Yamask
2 Espeon
3 Umbreon
4 Eevee
4 Sableye

Trainers: 23
3 Dark Claw
2 Exp. Share
2 Eviolite
2 Rocky Helmet
4 Cheren
2 Professor Juniper
4 Energy Search
4 Pokémon Communication

Energy: 16
7 Darkness Energy
9 Psychic Energy

Still making a few changes here and there to the double-deck. Cofagrigus does not do its job as a primary attacker very well.

Tusken Trouble (Double Raiders)

Pokemon: 19
2 Krookodile
3 Krokorok
4 Sandile
4 Umbreon
4 Eevee
2 Sableye

Trainers: 24
4 Dark Claw
2 Exp. Share
2 Eviolite
2 Rocky Helmet
4 Cheren
2 Professor Juniper
4 Energy Search
4 Pokémon Communication

Energy: 17
17 Darkness Energy

A slower deck, but one that can put the Dark Claws to better use.

_________________

The Black Empoleons (Double Shadows)

Pokemon: 22
4 Zoroark
4 Zorua
2 Empoleon
3 Prinplup
4 Piplup
2 Glaceon
3 Eevee

Trainers: 20
4 Energy Search
4 Energy Retrieval
4 Pokémon Communication
4 Cheren
4 Cilan

Energy: 18
9 Darkness Energy
9 Water Energy

 

[MegaVelocibot]

Aku-Dile (Raiders + Shadows)

Pokemon: 23
1 Krookodile
2 Krokorok
3 Sandile
3 Sableye
1 Scrafty
2 Scraggy
2 Zoroark
4 Zorua
2 Umbreon
3 Eevee (84)

Trainers: 22
4 Cheren
2 Cilan
2 Dark Claw
2 Energy Retrieval
4 Energy Search
1 Eviolite
1 Exp. Share
4 Pokémon Communication
1 Professor Juniper
1 Rocky Helmet

Energy: 15
15 Darkness Energy

While not recommended over doubling a single theme deck, a useable-enough list can be put together by using the Darkness-type Pokemon from each theme deck.

 

[Hyo888]

4 Cofagrigus and 4 sableeyes are essential fopr a doble raider. just an opinion.

 

[Lucario12]

Slow Deck, the quad-theme deck idea is actually a pretty good concept. However, I would conisder cutting Eelktross as it just seems unnecessary. On another note, I'm thinking of posting a combo of Power and Dragon Speed once the list for the latter is released.

 

[MegaVelocibot]

DragonSpeed certainly lives up to its name in the double theme-deck. Multiple tests have shown this to be one of the most potent I have put together.

Terminal Velocity (Double-DragonSpeed)
Pokémon: 25
4 Garchomp
4 Gabite
4 Gible
2 Milotic
3 Feebas
4 Floatzel
4 Buizel

Trainers: 20
4 Cheren
2 Energy Retrieval
4 Energy Search
2 Energy Switch
2 Pokemon Communication
4 Potion
2 Rescue Scarf

Energy: 15
2 Blend Energy WLFM
9 Water Energy
4 Fighting Energy

Strategy:
The primary goal of this deck is to set up rapidly via deck-thinning. Usage of Gabite (to pull out Dragon-type Pokemon) and Energy Search (for basic Energy) are just the start. Milotic's attack allows you to draw three cards of your choice out of your deck for its attack. Pokemon Communication allows you to put a Pokemon drawn out (especially by Gabite) in favor of a different Pokemon from the deck.

Rescue Scarf only further benefits your resource recovery, forming a good combination with Energy Retrieval (to get back the basic Energy that Rescue Scarf does not). Energy Switch enhances your mobility of Energy, while Potion hopefully keeps your Pokemon alive long enough to use every ounce of your Pokemon's performance.

Beyond the Basics:
The one weakness that may stress out more experienced players would be the inclusion of only four draw Supporters (Cheren), but the deck-thinning attributes of this deck partially make up for this. Changes to this deck from the baseline would favor cards like:

• Bianca and possibly N help enhance the deck's draw-power (the latter to be used only after using up the cards you've searched out).
• Super Rod makes for a useful addition, especially if your deck thins out much more than you'd prefer.
• Switch allows for retreating without losing your one-per-turn Energy attachment, forming a decent combination with Energy Switch to power up a new attacker. Still, the 0-1 Retreat Costs paid by this deck are not too detrimental.

The Pokemon in this deck rely primarily on Water Energy; if you wish to shift the favor of the deck further in their balance rather than the Energy listed, that is more than understandable.

With Floatzel functioning as an intermediate to powering-up Garchomp as an attacker, one might prefer to use the holo and incredibly-good Garchomp to replace this deck's Garchomp. If so, add more of the appropriate Blend Energy. You could add further to the Fighting Energy at the cost of removing Water Energy, and by extension what most of the Pokemon other than Garchomp need to do what they are in this deck for.

 

[Lucario12]

MegaVelocibot, I have to say this is a very well thought out thread. I especially like how in depth the strategy behind Terminal Velocity is, as well as a few others. It's great that a solid deck can be made by something as simple as doubling a theme deck. Well done. On another note, I posted a double theme deck of DragonSpeed and Shadows called Dragons of the Shadows on the Deck Help page. If any of you guys wants to let me know what you think of it, that would be great.

 

[bullados]

Dayum!!! I knew that doubling that thing would be fast, but that's simply insane!!!

For that, if I could get another Milotic and 4 of the *other* Chomp, then it'd be competitive. That Milotic, while a bit slow, really ups the consistency, and IMO should be the first thing you search out and attack with.

But that thing looks like it could give some people a scare with its speed and consistency.

 

[homeofmew]

If I remember right theme decks can be somewhat decent, mist of Infernacatty was able to be theme decked. Uxie donk was 90% promos and uncommons.

In this format the Theme Deck with Sableye isn't a bad one to pick up if one can get a few Darkrai later.

 

[MegaVelocibot]

DragonSnarl players, don't think I've forgotten about you! The double theme deck should be up by the end of the week.

MegaVelocibot, I have to say this is a very well thought out thread. I especially like how in depth the strategy behind Terminal Velocity is, as well as a few others. It's great that a solid deck can be made by something as simple as doubling a theme deck. Well done. On another note, I posted a double theme deck of DragonSpeed and Shadows called Dragons of the Shadows on the Deck Help page. If any of you guys wants to let me know what you think of it, that would be great.

I create strategies as deep as the cards in the theme deck allow me to. Sometimes, they work very well together. Sometimes, I do the best I can with them. Sometimes, I wonder why they were put to a theme deck at all. Nonetheless, thank you for your compliments. I try my best I to make the decks as understandable and good for those just starting out with them.

Dayum!!! I knew that doubling that thing would be fast, but that's simply insane!!!

For that, if I could get another Milotic and 4 of the *other* Chomp, then it'd be competitive. That Milotic, while a bit slow, really ups the consistency, and IMO should be the first thing you search out and attack with.

But that thing looks like it could give some people a scare with its speed and consistency.

It also helps that Feebas has Dual Ball chances of drawing extra cards for you as its attack. As it stands, if the other Garchomp as was previously enticed (and put on the back of the box art too, last I checked!) to be in the theme deck were still in here, I would recommend double-DragonSpeed until they rotated out of production to any new player.

If I remember right theme decks can be somewhat decent, mist of Infernacatty was able to be theme decked. Uxie donk was 90% promos and uncommons.

In this format the Theme Deck with Sableye isn't a bad one to pick up if one can get a few Darkrai later.

Indeed, Raiders is very useful, not only for the Sableye, but also for all the Pokemon Tools and Supporters it provides.

So I am new and still learning how to build decks, Last week I bought Explosive Edge deck with the 2 Reshirams and liked it a lot. However I knew once I saw it i wanted to do the Garchomp Altaria deck. However, until I can get the cards I need for it, I was wondering if I could get some tweak suggestions for Dragon Speed, I have explosive edge so I can work from those, also i added 2 double colorless, 2 switch, and 2 energy search, all from my old gen 1 cards to my explosive edge deck lol. But any suggestions about what can be changed around until I can get my other garchomps, swablus. altarias and other things, would be really appreciated.

Pokémon: 10
1 Milotic
2 Feebas
2 Floatzel
2 Buizel
1 Persian
2 Meowth

Trainers: 21
2 Cheren
3 Cilan
2 Heavy Ball
2 Energy Retrieval
4 Energy Search
3 Pokémon Communication
1 Skyarrow Bridge
1 Energy Switch
2 Potion
1 Rescue Scarf

Energy: 9
9 Water Energy

This should be the "skeleton" of the list I would suggest. After these 40 cards, pick two of the three following modifications to make to it.

2 Garchomp
3 Gabite
4 Gible
1 Blend Energy WLFM
3 Fighting Energy
-3 Water Energy

1 Reshiram
1 Reshiram
2 Arcanine
2 Growlithe
6 Fire Energy
-2 Water Energy

1 Walrein
2 Sealeo
2 Spheal
2 Basculin
3 Water Energy

 

[MegaVelocibot]

I'm not too happy with either of these lists, but I have done the best I can with them. Still working out basic strategies, but thought I would post what I've got so far.

---

Dark Rush (Double-DragonSnarl)
Pokémon: 25
4 Hydreigon
4 Zweilous
4 Deino
2 Houndoom
3 Houndour
4 Skuntank
4 Stunky

Trainers: 20
4 Cheren
2 Cilan
2 Energy Retrieval
4 Energy Search
2 Giant Cape
4 Pokemon Communication
2 Rescue Scarf

Energy: 15
2 Blend Energy GRPD
3 Psychic Energy
10 Darkness Energy

_________________

Regression (Double-DragonSnarl)
Pokémon: 22
2 Gothitelle
4 Gothorita
4 Gothita
2 Golurk
4 Golett
2 Houndoom
4 Houndour

Trainers: 20
4 Cheren
2 Cilan
2 Energy Retrieval
4 Energy Search
2 Giant Cape
4 Pokemon Communication
2 Rescue Scarf

Energy: 18
2 Blend Energy GRPD
12 Psychic Energy
4 Darkness Energy

 

[bullados]

I REALLY like Skuntank for beginner decks. For one energy, that's an impressive attack.

If you're trying out the Hydreigon, I was thinking more along the lines of an even split of energy. Basically, replacing the Houndoom with Golurk. I know that Golurk's kinda slow. But Zweilous speeds that up considerably. And 130HP is 130HP. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to get the Darks into the Discard. No Juniper, no Ultra Ball, no nothing. It kinda sucks...

 

[MegaVelocibot]

I REALLY like Skuntank for beginner decks. For one energy, that's an impressive attack.

If you're trying out the Hydreigon, I was thinking more along the lines of an even split of energy. Basically, replacing the Houndoom with Golurk. I know that Golurk's kinda slow. But Zweilous speeds that up considerably. And 130HP is 130HP. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to get the Darks into the Discard. No Juniper, no Ultra Ball, no nothing. It kinda sucks...

That it is.

On that note, the main thing is that Golurk sort of works as a revenge-attacker, but it requires so much set-up, for what can sometimes be so little reward... that is, within the confines of the double-deck.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

New to the forum. Call me a Dad who likes to participate in his kids lives. Just one question on your deck builds. Why not use Prism and Double colorless energy in the deck build?

 

[espeon200]

New to the forum. Call me a Dad who likes to participate in his kids lives. Just one question on your deck builds. Why not use Prism and Double colorless energy in the deck build?

The challenge is that the decks can only contain the cards released in the theme decks. :smile:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

The challenge is that the decks can only contain the cards released in the theme decks. :smile:

Thank you. Sorry

 

[MegaVelocibot]

New to the forum. Call me a Dad who likes to participate in his kids lives. Just one question on your deck builds. Why not use Prism and Double colorless energy in the deck build?

The challenge is that the decks can only contain the cards released in the theme decks. :smile:

Thank you. Sorry

Indeed. I would absolutely love to use cards like those in the theme decks, but until they are released in that manner (see Blend Energy variants in the new Theme Decks), it isn't an option. That isn't to say that it isn't an option for you, the player. These decks are simply guidelines, as to what I think the best combination of those 120 cards are. You are more than welcome to, and encouraged to, expand and develop upon these decks.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Made a Ball lighting and a fiery explosion for my son and daughter with a few booster mods and they love them. Thank you so much for this thread.

 

[MegaVelocibot]

As a heads up, I've considered offering a few suggestions that could be made to improve some of the theme decks with the EX promo cards that have recently come out. However, as the tins include only "one" card that is in there for certain, rather than the sixty of the theme decks, attempts to keep these decks on a budget level of under $60 MSRP might prove difficult. (A primary point of the thread is relatively inexpensive improvements, for convenience of store access over just buying singles to make a budget deck.) Would people still be interested?

Made a Ball lighting and a fiery explosion for my son and daughter with a few booster mods and they love them. Thank you so much for this thread.

Always glad to be of assistance.