POKEMON - 19
4-3-4 Samurott
2-1-2 Feraligatr Prime
3 Smeargle
ENERGY - 14
10 Water Energy
4 Rescue Energy
T/S/S - 27
4 Switch
4 Pokemon Collector
4 Rare Candy
4 Pokemon Communication
3 Professor Oak's New Theory
2 Interviewer's Questions
2 Fisherman
2 Twins
2 Pokegear 3.0
Strategy:
Ideally, start with Smeargle and try to portrait something to help set up and get a Samurott and a Feraligatr benched. Then, tank with Samurott and use Feraligatr to put massive energy onto Samurott to hit hard. On a side note, starting with smeargle allows you to see their hand often, which gives you an idea of what their strategy will be.
Possible techs could be:
Magnezone - Draw engine of choice if you choose to make a more trainer heavy deck.
Noctowl - Decent stage 1 draw engine.
Dodrio - Bench sitter that allows free/low retreat for the entire deck with its Retreat Aid Pokebody.
Bouffalant - Splashable revenge killer that combos great with Black Belt to swing for up to 130 damage for 2 energy. (Just enough to OHKO a fresh Reshiram or Zekrom.)
Zoroark - Versatile tech that can counter many of the likely common threats with foul play, mirroring their own attacks back at them for just 2 energy.
Manaphy - Alternate lead able to refresh a bad hand for just 1 energy and the added plus of free retreat.
Donphan - Solid stage 1 tank that attacks for just 1 energy and covers the decks glaring weakness. It is also a counter to Zekrom and electric decks.
Reshiram - Great basic that functions both as an attacker and a lead. With a whopping 130 HP, it can act as a damage sponge while you set up and possibly even KO with a boosted Outrage for 2 Energy. Reshiram helps tremendously for the Serperior-Reuniclus match as well being able to Outrage OHKO virtually anything in the deck if it is hit with just 1 leaf storm.
Match-Ups:
Reshiram-Emboar-Ninetales: 70-30
This is a great match-up for this deck as your set up is often quicker than theirs. Try to get Gatr benched and a Samurott active ASAP and don't forget to prepare a benched one just in case. Because you have their weakness, it's pretty easy to get off to an early lead but don't get complacent! The deck does have great recovery and an amazing draw engine to back them where as you do not. Just play smart and play to your deck's strengths and you should come out on top, barring a really bad start of course.
Donphan-Machamp Prime: 60-40
I only played a few games against this one, but it's generally a harder match-up than you might think. Their deck is typically quicker and will get off to the early lead, but twins will help to alleviate this problem by allowing you the cards you need to finish your own set up. The biggest problem you'll face is Machamp and it's Pokepower Fighting Tag. Along with your lead being weak to their attackers. It will most likely be a close match-up, but you should be able to squeak out a win here. Remember that you can OHKO their Donphan, and do serious damage to their Machamps for just 3 energy. Try to get enough energy to OHKO their active Machamps if you can to avoid the tag and switch a heavily damaged Samurott if at all possible, as they have no way of sniping it once you're safely retreated to the bench.
Serperior-Reuniclus: 50-50
This is one of the most interesting match-ups I've come up against so far. The fate of this match is always close for me, but it seems to really come down to who can set up first. If you get a bad start you're doomed, but if you get set up before they can you can normally out tank them believe it or not. They typically can't hit you for more than 40 at a time, where as you have the ability to 2KO them or even go for the OHKO with enough energy. Most of their deck carries a resistance to yours, so a win here is highly reliant on how fast you can start taking prizes. try to KO their actives if you can BEFORE they fully evolve and you should be able to pull out the win. Again, it will be close and this will likely not be an easy match.
Zekrom Donk: 20-80
Not much to say here, except that this match-up is pretty much an autoloss. They set up twice as fast and hit your weakness. Your best bet is to pray to the Pokegods and if you don't get donked T1, try your best to use Feraligatr's Odd Grass Weakness to attack if you can get him out. He can actually OHKO Zekrom, assuming the Zekrom has already attacked once but unfortunately it won't help much. This deck is unbelievably quick and has phenomenal recovery. Autoloss is autoloss. :[
*I will keep updating this section as I play more against other popular decks such as speed Cinccino and Blastgatr.
Thanks to all that actually took the time to read this post, and if you have any questions or suggestions feel free to drop a comment!
4-3-4 Samurott
2-1-2 Feraligatr Prime
3 Smeargle
ENERGY - 14
10 Water Energy
4 Rescue Energy
T/S/S - 27
4 Switch
4 Pokemon Collector
4 Rare Candy
4 Pokemon Communication
3 Professor Oak's New Theory
2 Interviewer's Questions
2 Fisherman
2 Twins
2 Pokegear 3.0
Strategy:
Ideally, start with Smeargle and try to portrait something to help set up and get a Samurott and a Feraligatr benched. Then, tank with Samurott and use Feraligatr to put massive energy onto Samurott to hit hard. On a side note, starting with smeargle allows you to see their hand often, which gives you an idea of what their strategy will be.
Possible techs could be:
Magnezone - Draw engine of choice if you choose to make a more trainer heavy deck.
Noctowl - Decent stage 1 draw engine.
Dodrio - Bench sitter that allows free/low retreat for the entire deck with its Retreat Aid Pokebody.
Bouffalant - Splashable revenge killer that combos great with Black Belt to swing for up to 130 damage for 2 energy. (Just enough to OHKO a fresh Reshiram or Zekrom.)
Zoroark - Versatile tech that can counter many of the likely common threats with foul play, mirroring their own attacks back at them for just 2 energy.
Manaphy - Alternate lead able to refresh a bad hand for just 1 energy and the added plus of free retreat.
Donphan - Solid stage 1 tank that attacks for just 1 energy and covers the decks glaring weakness. It is also a counter to Zekrom and electric decks.
Reshiram - Great basic that functions both as an attacker and a lead. With a whopping 130 HP, it can act as a damage sponge while you set up and possibly even KO with a boosted Outrage for 2 Energy. Reshiram helps tremendously for the Serperior-Reuniclus match as well being able to Outrage OHKO virtually anything in the deck if it is hit with just 1 leaf storm.
Match-Ups:
Reshiram-Emboar-Ninetales: 70-30
This is a great match-up for this deck as your set up is often quicker than theirs. Try to get Gatr benched and a Samurott active ASAP and don't forget to prepare a benched one just in case. Because you have their weakness, it's pretty easy to get off to an early lead but don't get complacent! The deck does have great recovery and an amazing draw engine to back them where as you do not. Just play smart and play to your deck's strengths and you should come out on top, barring a really bad start of course.
Donphan-Machamp Prime: 60-40
I only played a few games against this one, but it's generally a harder match-up than you might think. Their deck is typically quicker and will get off to the early lead, but twins will help to alleviate this problem by allowing you the cards you need to finish your own set up. The biggest problem you'll face is Machamp and it's Pokepower Fighting Tag. Along with your lead being weak to their attackers. It will most likely be a close match-up, but you should be able to squeak out a win here. Remember that you can OHKO their Donphan, and do serious damage to their Machamps for just 3 energy. Try to get enough energy to OHKO their active Machamps if you can to avoid the tag and switch a heavily damaged Samurott if at all possible, as they have no way of sniping it once you're safely retreated to the bench.
Serperior-Reuniclus: 50-50
This is one of the most interesting match-ups I've come up against so far. The fate of this match is always close for me, but it seems to really come down to who can set up first. If you get a bad start you're doomed, but if you get set up before they can you can normally out tank them believe it or not. They typically can't hit you for more than 40 at a time, where as you have the ability to 2KO them or even go for the OHKO with enough energy. Most of their deck carries a resistance to yours, so a win here is highly reliant on how fast you can start taking prizes. try to KO their actives if you can BEFORE they fully evolve and you should be able to pull out the win. Again, it will be close and this will likely not be an easy match.
Zekrom Donk: 20-80
Not much to say here, except that this match-up is pretty much an autoloss. They set up twice as fast and hit your weakness. Your best bet is to pray to the Pokegods and if you don't get donked T1, try your best to use Feraligatr's Odd Grass Weakness to attack if you can get him out. He can actually OHKO Zekrom, assuming the Zekrom has already attacked once but unfortunately it won't help much. This deck is unbelievably quick and has phenomenal recovery. Autoloss is autoloss. :[
*I will keep updating this section as I play more against other popular decks such as speed Cinccino and Blastgatr.
Thanks to all that actually took the time to read this post, and if you have any questions or suggestions feel free to drop a comment!
Last edited:
