Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

I Double Theme Decks: Improving Through Double-Decking

Thanks for that bit of advice. Inadvertently, it reminded me that I never posted the other double-deck.

Pokémon: 21
4 Eevee PLF 90
2 Espeon PLF 48
4 Leafeon PLF 11
4 Grimer PLF 45
2 Muk PLF 46
3 Yamask PLF 55
2 Cofagrigus PLF 57

Trainers: 24
4 Pokémon Communication BW 99
4 Energy Search BC 128
4 Energy Retrieval BW 92
4 Team Plasma Ball PLF 105
2 Shadow Triad PLF 102
2 Team Plasma Grunt PLS 125
2 Superior Energy Retrieval PLF 103
2 Potion BC 132

EnergyL 15
11 Psychic Energy
4 Grass Energy

EDIT: Never did get to making a strategy for this. I honestly had more difficulty finding things worth using together between the components available.
 
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keldo kyrum combo

On the double turbo deck, any advice on adding in both kyurem (plasma) and keldeo ex would offer decent blue combo and different weaknesses
 
I can't tell if that's a statement or a question. While Keldeo-EX can be found in tins, and has been mentioned in another post, Kyurem (Team Plasma) cannot.
 
Question - clarification

I know i cant afford a competition deck, but trying to build/evolve a local shop deck... Sorry I didn't post clearly... (And thank you for getting back with me) - I won my first game with the double deck...and am seeking advice on modifying the double frost ray deck more (Already added the eevee evolutions)

Wanted to add heavier hitter.. I was thinking of Kyurem 31/116 from plasma freeze and/or keldeo bw61. Originally I was gonna ad Kyurem but then thought about the metal weakness... And thought about the keldeo... Would you recommend one or both as a modification...would two of each be more versatile? and would you leave out the voltorb and electrode to add them in.... They would most likely be bought as singles...
 
This is very good for players who want to know how to better their decks. I gues it's like yugioh, buy multiple Starter decks of the same kind and throw it together the best way possible. Never though about doing this in pokemon before. Either way man good job for posting this! It's gonna help alota people'
 
Bearicane (Double Solar-Strike)
Pokémon: 20
4 Squirtle
4 Wartortle
2 Blastoise
4 Teddiursa
4 Ursaring
2 Suicune

Trainers: 24
4 Professor Juniper
4 Cheren
4 Reversal Trigger
2 Pokémon Catcher
4 Energy Search
4 Energy Retrieval
2 Ultra Ball

Energy: 16
16 Water

Strategy: You know what's less friendly than an angry bear? A angry, soaking-wet bear. Included in the simple, efficient, powerful Pokémon featured in this double theme deck are Blastoise, which provides Energy acceleration and a secondary attacker, and Ursaring, as a primary attacker. Suicune assists with taking down Pokémon-EX. Save Reversal Triggers for your Ursarings, or discard them with Ultra Ball to set up quicker. Energy Search thins your deck in addition to providing Energy for Blastoise to Deluge onto your Pokémon. Energy Retrieval picks back any Energy lost from Knocked Out Pokémon, Retreat Costs, or discarded as a result of Trainers. Maximum Juniper and Cheren help to even further accelerate Energy acquisition and evolution. Arguably the strongest double theme deck by far, the only changes I would make to the Trainer selection would include more Ultra Balls and Pokemon Catcher, in addition to Rare Candies for Blastoise, additional Blastoise copies (multiple Wartortle can be exchanged for multiple Blastoise if Rare Candy is added), and perhaps a Super Rod for Pokémon that end up in the discard pile.
 
I'd find some way to combine Solar-Strike with Ice Shock. Just for the BBP attacker in Kyurem and the Retrievals. 2 Solar Strike, 2 Ice Shock, and 3 Keldeo Tins turns into a semi-competitive deck.
 
bullados said:
I'd find some way to combine Solar-Strike with Ice Shock. Just for the BBP attacker in Kyurem and the Retrievals. 2 Solar Strike, 2 Ice Shock, and 3 Keldeo Tins turns into a semi-competitive deck.
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While I hate to sound contrary to the point of my very own thread, I feel it might be more cost-effective to just buy the remaining singles at that point, ignoring the Keldeo-EX.
 
This is very helpful for new players. Could you update the first post to include links to the newer decks? Thanks so much.
 
webjefita said:
This is very helpful for new players. Could you update the first post to include links to the newer decks? Thanks so much.
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I usually do update the first post for them. I'm trying my best to figure out some way of salvaging the 'sect double-deck; once that is done, the Blast double-decks will be added.

___________

Pokémon: 22
2 Genesect
2 Genesect
4 Tropius
3 Porygon2
3 Porygon
4 Kangaskhan
2 Drifblim
2 Drifloon

Trainers: 24
4 Switch
4 Potion
4 Caitlin
4 Cheren
4 Energy Search
4 Energy Retrieval

Energy: 14
14 Grass Energy

Strategy: Well, this could've gone better. Genesect doesn't have any partners worth searching out, other than itself and Tropius. Use Porygon2 to stall, and Drifblim if you come across any Team Plasma decks.
 
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MegaVelocibot said:
I usually do update the first post for them. I'm trying my best to figure out some way of salvaging the 'sect double-deck; once that is done, the Blast double-decks will be added.
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There's a lot of stuff in there that I like individually. It's just tough to try and pull it all together, as nothing really combos well. Here's the stuff I really like out of there...

Genesect (BBP, search)
Tropius (BBP, draw)
Golurk (DCE for 60 with 130 HP?)
Drifblim (Plasma counter)
Kangaskhan (BBP, search)

There's a lot of *meh* and not a lot of *great* in there.
 
I think I made decent list. While it may not be good, its the best I can come up with.

Caitlin's Anti-Plasma Force

Pokemon- 22
2x Golurk
4x Golett
2x Drifblim
4x Drifloon
3x Musharna
3x Munna
4x Kangaskhan

Trainers- 22
4x Switch
3x Energy Search
4x Caitlin
4x Cheren
3x Energy Retrieval
4x Potion

Energy- 16
16x Psychic

Simply put, you're not going to be using any of the Grass Pokemon in this starter deck. 4 Switch are required for this deck as Kangaskhan and Musharna need it to switch out of bad scenarios.

Golurk is your main attacker in the deck (hopefully) as it has some decent attacks for the cost.

Drifblim is a back-up attacker and acts as a Anti-Plasma card.

Musharna is used for draw power while having a decent attack.

Kangaskhan is mainly used for Call For Family to help get you set up.

The trainers are pretty much what you're forced to use in that lineup for good consistency. Although, you can drop a Potion for something else.

This is a mono-Psychic deck which I think is the best you can make with 2 Mind Wipe Theme decks.

Mewtwo EX will greatly help this deck out as its a Psychic-type (so it fits the theme) and it covers Blastoise/Keldeo with its X-Ball attack.

Darkrai EX + Blend GRPD is a great combo as this deck has Pokemon with really high Retreat Cost. If you go down this route, Keldeo EX will do well in here as well.

Other than that, there's not really much you can do with the Mind Wipe Theme deck.
 
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Most people at my league play actual competitive decks, because they want to practice for tournaments. This is why I will never tell new players to buy theme decks, because they are awful value. It's just not fun when you don't stand a ghost of a chance against the rest. Instead, I'll borrow them a real deck or recommend them to buy a box and trade away the money cards for playables, or just buy singles as a cheaper option. That's the quickest way to learn what kind of deck you like. The EX tins are also excellent options, especially the Keldeo EX and the upcoming Deoxys EX ones. So basically every other option besides theme decks is a better way to spend your Pokemoney.

But whatever works for you, I guess. If your league is full of casual players, you can probably get away with recommending Simisear.dec.

I'll throw in an honorable mention to the DEX Zoroark deck, which is almost playable. Just buying 2 of them will not create anything close to a real deck, but it's a start. Empoleon/Dusknoir/Lasers is a nice budget option right now.
 
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I had someone who had actually come across this thread come to my League today. It was fun to go against the Espeon/Leafeon double-deck.
Stealth said:
Most people at my league play actual competititve decks, because they want to practice for tournaments. This is why I will never tell new players to buy theme decks, because they are awful value. It's just not fun when you don't stand a ghost of a chance against the rest. Instead, I'll borrow them a real deck or recommend them to buy a box and trade away the money cards for playables, or just buy singles as a cheaper option. That's the quickest way to learn what kind of deck you like. The EX tins are also excellent options, especially the Keldeo EX and the upcoming Deoxys EX ones. So basically every other option besides theme decks is a better way to spend your Pokemoney.

But whatever works for you, I guess. If your league is full of casual players, you can probably get away with recommending Simisear.dec.

I'll throw in an honorable mention to the DEX Zoroark deck, which is almost playable. Just buying 2 of them will not create anything close to a real deck, but it's a start. Empoleon/Dusknoir/Lasers is a nice budget option right now.
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Alright. So, your recommendation for the people this thread is targeted to, the ones who only buy in-store product, no singles, no online items... is to just buy booster packs instead of the theme decks to build a deck? And that's a low budget enough thing to do?
 
Stealth said:
Most people at my league play actual competitive decks, because they want to practice for tournaments. This is why I will never tell new players to buy theme decks, because they are awful value. It's just not fun when you don't stand a ghost of a chance against the rest. Instead, I'll borrow them a real deck or recommend them to buy a box and trade away the money cards for playables, or just buy singles as a cheaper option. That's the quickest way to learn what kind of deck you like. The EX tins are also excellent options, especially the Keldeo EX and the upcoming Deoxys EX ones. So basically every other option besides theme decks is a better way to spend your Pokemoney.

But whatever works for you, I guess. If your league is full of casual players, you can probably get away with recommending Simisear.dec.

I'll throw in an honorable mention to the DEX Zoroark deck, which is almost playable. Just buying 2 of them will not create anything close to a real deck, but it's a start. Empoleon/Dusknoir/Lasers is a nice budget option right now.
Click to expand...

Wow. Really? You're in a thread about DOUBLING theme decks to help make a semi-competitive deck and you're thrashing a thread that's been around for 2 years with Guru points telling others to go against this? Wow. You're really not good with budget players that don't like buying singles. I am a semi-budget player myself and I still try to get the theme decks from every set because of some of the staple cards in each deck and in all honesty, I like this idea of doubling a theme deck to make a better deck over just buying 20,000 booster packs just to get 1 card and they never get it. I wouldn't want to. So, can we please not have a post like this again for the sake of this thread?
 
MegaVelocibot said:
I had someone who had actually come across this thread come to my League today. It was fun to go against the Espeon/Leafeon double-deck.

Alright. So, your recommendation for the people this thread is targeted to, the ones who only buy in-store product, no singles, no online items... is to just buy booster packs instead of the theme decks to build a deck? And that's a low budget enough thing to do?
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No, I never said buying packs, I said buying boxes or tins. Packs are unreliable and cost more than a box, relatively speaking. Buying a single box and trading away the money cards will net you a large part of a reasonably competitive deck. Buying multiple theme decks will not and will eventually cost the same, while you're left with very little tradable cards. I'm not saying either approach is better, but buying theme decks is definitely not money-efficient, whatever your budget is.

To be fair, I think this thread is quite interesting because it will teach people basic deckbuilding skills, at least a little bit. I just don't want anyone to think that they can invest 30$ (or whatever 2 theme decks cost) and end up with a competitive deck, because that will only lead to disappointment.
 
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I intend to, once I have a decklist to work off of.
EDIT: which I do now, which I will.

Pokémon: 12
4 Genesect
4 Tropius
4 Kangaskhan

Trainers: 34
2 Tool Scrapper
4 Switch
2 Energy Retrieval
4 Pokémon Catcher
2 Silver Bangle
2 Silver Mirror
4 Ultra Ball
1 Cilan
1 Cheren
4 N
4 Skyla
4 Professor Juniper

Energy: 14
11 Grass
3 Psychic

Strategy: I'm going to be honest, the first thing I thought of was the simplest, perhaps too simple. I'm just not accustomed to having so many usuable Trainers in a deck to work with.

The deck's greatest shortcoming is that it lacks a strong, Energy-efficient attacker that is not situational. Tropius can hit hard for two Energy, presuming there is much fielded by your opponent. Genesect manages, at best, a base 100 damage followed by 30 damage on alternating turns, and Kangaskhan manages an average of 40 damage with highly flip-dependent damage.
 
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