Question about Dark types...

[ThePokeWombat1]

Hi, as a lover of the dark explorers set and what it has done to the format,I have a question about the set.

All but knowing that dark explorers is gone after the rotation, what affect does everyone think this will have on the play of dark type Pokemon like Darkrai and (It isn't as played but ) Zoroark. I think the loss of Dark patch and Dark Claw will damage the Dark Type quite a bit.


Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Normal guy]

Dark claw will be replaced by muscle band as for losing attackers we still have absol as a non EX dark type and anyways darkrai has been reprinted LTR. The biggest lose is the dark patch but with careful timing the pokemon can still get set-up for the big attacks. I feel dark types will need to update the list just a tad bit but will still be a big play.

 

[TuxedoBlack]

Since Yveltal and Yveltal EX were released, Darkrai EX is no longer the Dark Poké "star" in my decks.

Dark Patch will be missed, but will not have a significant impact on my decks after the anticipated rotation - fortunately Yveltal provides some energy attachment acceleration. As NormalGuy mentioned, Muscle Band easily replaced Dark Claw.

Bottom line for me is that Dark decks will remain strong (after the anticipated rotation) and will be a member of Tier 1, competitive decks, IMHO.

Interestingly enough, a Poké pal of mine won a League Challenge today with a Dark deck which included Zoroark. However, I don't think Zoroark will be missed at all post-rotation.

 

[Tagrineth]

Dark decks will still have strong pokemon, just no longer have broken exclusive Items.

 

[Pope]

Seeing as how Darkrai is not leaving the format anytime soon... Unless the rotation is going to drop Black and White completely... :chargrined:, Dark decks will continue to be a strong contender. (On a slightly off topic note, can someone clue me into the supposed rotation date and the format after rotation? My search-fu is weak...)

Yveltal both EX and non-EX are great and Muscle Band replaces Dark Claw, with added versatility in-case of interesting tech/change in the deck.

The biggest thing is that we lose Dark Patch, but I'm not too sure just how bad that really is. I guess it takes Darkrai builds from having potentially explosive starts back in line with others. That being said though, with the prevalence of Yveltal, Darkrai is becoming less of a monster and is starting to fill more of a support role, as Dark Cloak is still a very good ability.

When it comes to it, Yveltal EX is probably the best attacker Dark has going for it right now. The non-EX Yveltal is also very good and in most cases I have found, it is a superior Dark Patch anyway...

Dark decks will still have strong pokemon, just no longer have broken exclusive Items.

Strong I'd agree with. Broken? Less so. Don't get me wrong, Dark Patch and Dark Claw have both been very good, but I personally think broken is pushing it a bit... But that's just my $0.02.

 

[Tagrineth]

Dark Patch enables super explosive starts and means your board position is never lost (lost all your energy due to a clutch KO by your opponent? two dark patch, back in business! surprise!).

I personally feel like any Item-based energy acceleration breaks the game because of the ability to use multiple copies in the same turn. It's possible to launch up to a 6-cost attack turn 1 in a Plasma or Dark deck. Not realistic, but possible. 4-cost is actually somewhat realistic with Plasma decks though, and that's incredibly stupid.

In a metagame where we aren't even allowed to attack turn 1 going first, it's definitely not completely backwards that some decks are allowed access to their strongest attacks (3- and 4-cost attacks, at that) turn 1...


edit, small addendum: Yes I'm well aware that Fire decks will also have access to 4-cost attacks turn 1 with Blacksmith, but their mass-attach has a slightly harsher cost being from a Supporter instead of an Item. It means that the Fire deck has to give up advantage to gain momentum. Think of it like a StarCraft all-in, where you cut worker production in the hope that an early game attack will set your opponent back even farther, but if they stabilise you are behind because you let your income stagnate.