What are your "MUST HAVE" cards?

[Clueless in Seattle]

I'd like to try my hand at deck building, but don't have many cards to work with (except for a bunch of really old cards). So, if I were able to scrape up the cash to order a batch of cards from an online dealer, what cards would you recommend for a basic set of MUST HAVES for deck building.

I'm on a limited income so the cheaper the better, but please don't let price limit your suggestions if you think a card really is a "must have."

[baby mario]

If we are just talking about staple cards that can be used in most decks . . .

Absolute Must Haves

4x Roseanne's Reasearch
4x Bebe's Search
2x Night Maintenance
1x Luxury Ball

Very Nice to Have

2x Warp Point
4x Rare Candy
4x Broken Time-Space
2x Cynthia's Feelings
4x A good draw Supporter (Volkner's Philosophy, Felicities Drawing, or Professor Oak's Visit)

Needed for Tournament Decks

2x Baltoy GE
2x Claydol GE
2x Uxie LA
1x Azelf LA
2x Unown G

After that it gets more specific according to what kind of deck you want to make.

[Riq]

If we are just talking about staple cards that can be used in most decks . . .

Absolute Must Haves

4x Roseanne's Reasearch
4x Bebe's Search
2x Night Maintenance
1x Luxury Ball

Very Nice to Have

2x Warp Point
4x Rare Candy
4x Broken Time-Space
2x Cynthia's Feelings
4x A good draw Supporter (Volkner's Philosophy, Felicities Drawing, or Professor Oak's Visit)

Needed for Tournament Decks

2x Baltoy GE
2x Claydol GE
2x Uxie LA
1x Azelf LA
2x Unown G

After that it gets more specific according to what kind of deck you want to make.

he nailed it =P, except the 4x BTS, thats mainly only in beedrill decks, but beedrill is a fairly easy and cheap deck to build!

[Clueless in Seattle]

Thanks baby mario!

That's exactly what I was looking for!

Very well done!

[ragingphantom]

If we are just talking about staple cards that can be used in most decks . . .

Absolute Must Haves

4x Roseanne's Reasearch
4x Bebe's Search
2x Night Maintenance
1x Luxury Ball

Very Nice to Have

2x Warp Point
4x Rare Candy
4x Broken Time-Space
2x Cynthia's Feelings
4x A good draw Supporter (Volkner's Philosophy, Felicities Drawing, or Professor Oak's Visit)

Needed for Tournament Decks

2x Baltoy GE
2x Claydol GE
2x Uxie LA
1x Azelf LA
2x Unown G

After that it gets more specific according to what kind of deck you want to make.

you also forgot energies under "Very Nice to Have"
also porygon2 GE if you want to get through your supporters quickly.
but yeah baby mario nailed them.

[MrMeches]

These are great for Building decks... but are we going for S2 decks or are we doing SP decks?? The list drastically changes!

[baby mario]

he nailed it =P, except the 4x BTS, thats mainly only in beedrill decks, but beedrill is a fairly easy and cheap deck to build!

I put B T-S in cos it's the most useful general Stadium. More or less all Stage 2 decks can use it (Kingdra, Flygon, Gengar. Machamp) and it doesn't hurt Stage 1 decks either.

These are great for Building decks... but are we going for S2 decks or are we doing SP decks?? The list drastically changes!

That's very true. I avoided the whole SP area cos SP decks are not the cheapest and the OP is on a budget.

[Riq]

cuz im bored ill list SP stuff too =P

MUST HAVES:
4x energy gain
4x roseannes
4x Poke Turn
4x SP radar
2-3x Uxie
1x Uxie Lv. X (depends on play style)
4x Cyrus's
2-3x Unown G!!
and other supporting SP supporters

[tehmoe]

and it doesn't hurt Stage 1 decks either.



eeveeluytions is now based on BTS lol

[i like burdn of a day]

4 Call energy are also good to have. along with Unown Q, Unown R, and 4 Poke Drawer +s

[Alazor]

Nidoqueen (Rising Rivals) and Dusknoir (Diamond and Pearl) are very common techs in stage 2's.

[Box of Fail]

MUST HAVE POKEMON:
x2 Baltoy GE (.50 each)
x2 Claydol GE ($15)
x2 Uxie LA ($24)
x2 Unown G ($2)
x1 Azelf LA ($3)

MUST HAVE TRAINERS/ SUPPORTERS/ STADIUMS:
x3 Bebe's Search ($1)
x2 Roseanne's Research ($1.50)
x1 Luxury Ball (.50)
x4 Rare Candy ($1)
x2 Night Maintenance (.50)

MUST HAVE ENERGY:
x9-14 of whichever basic energy type you are using (you can buy these in theme decks, 1 comes in each POP pack)
x4 Call Energy ($3)

COMMONLY USED POKEMON:
Nidoqueen RR ($2)
Crobat G PL ($1)
Uxie LV.X LA ($34)

COMMONLY USED T/S/S:
Volkner's Philosophy (.50)
Felicity's Drawing (.50)
Professor Oak's Visit (.50)
Team Galactic's Invention G-105 Poke Turn ($1)
PlusPower (.25)
Broken Time-Space (.50)
Looker's Investigation (.50)
Super Scoop Up (.25)
Level Max (.50)
Premier Ball (.50)
Warp Point (.50)

COMMONLY USED ENERGY:
Upper Energy ($1)

[hueglin]

I like Professor Rowan as a supporter also.

[Shen]

@Box of Fail: Woah, where are you getting your Roseanne's Research? O_o

Just like to point out these numbers are flexible... I've played SP Based decks with no Claydol and non-SP with no Azelf and only 1 Uxie. All depends on the deck.

I also find it funny how many people choose to max on Roseanne's Research / Bebe's Search before throwing another Luxury Ball in. In decks relying on consistency in the first couple turns of the game, I've played up to 3.

Tastes are going to very from player to player. There's no harm in seeing what other people play, but you'll get a variety of answers... I believe the only thing seperating the top players is the way they think, and thus their decks are built differently. So many people play accordingly with what works for them ;)

Box of Fail hit most Trainers commonly found in decks. The only thing I'd really contribute to his list is Switch. Its use is dying out, but sometimes it gets the job done better than Warp Point.

[gallade]

MUST HAVE POKEMON:
x2 Baltoy GE (.50 each)
x2 Claydol GE ($15)
x2 Uxie LA ($24)
x2 Unown G ($2)
x1 Azelf LA ($3)

MUST HAVE TRAINERS/ SUPPORTERS/ STADIUMS:
x3 Bebe's Search ($1)
x2 Roseanne's Research ($1.50)
x1 Luxury Ball (.50)
x4 Rare Candy ($1)
x2 Night Maintenance (.50)

MUST HAVE ENERGY:
x9-14 of whichever basic energy type you are using (you can buy these in theme decks, 1 comes in each POP pack)
x4 Call Energy ($3)

COMMONLY USED POKEMON:
Nidoqueen RR ($2)
Crobat G PL ($1)
Uxie LV.X LA ($34)

COMMONLY USED T/S/S:
Volkner's Philosophy (.50)
Felicity's Drawing (.50)
Professor Oak's Visit (.50)
Team Galactic's Invention G-105 Poke Turn ($1)
PlusPower (.25)
Broken Time-Space (.50)
Looker's Investigation (.50)
Super Scoop Up (.25)
Level Max (.50)
Premier Ball (.50)
Warp Point (.50)

COMMONLY USED ENERGY:
Upper Energy ($1)

you and baby mario nailed it

[DrewDioxin]

riq, you missed power spray for sp...

[Jjrsportsfan]

Bebe's Search, Roseanne's Research, I use 3-5 Potions in all my decks because I like to keep my pokemon fresh, broken time space stadium card, multiple energy, and miasma valley stadium putting two damage counters on every new benched pokemon!

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

I also use togepi in secerets wonders with the find a friend attack, It let's u draw out any pokemon in your deck, also I use tm 1's evoluter.

[Deoxys Cool Form]

I use 3-5 Potions

Um...........................................

A: Pokehealer + is alot better than potion as it does the same on it's own but heals 10 and heals all spec conditions. And when you play two at the same time 80 daamge and all spec conditons are gone. Two are better than four potions.

B: I think you meant 3-4 potions lol.

[baby mario]

I also use togepi in secerets wonders with the find a friend attack, It let's u draw out any pokemon in your deck, also I use tm 1's evoluter.

You should take a look at Pachirisu from Great Encounters :wink:

[Politoed666]

The basics:
2x Claydol GE
2x Baltoy GE
2x Uxie LA
2x Unown G
4x Roseanne's Research
4x Bebe's Search
4x Rare Candy
4x Broken Time-Space
2x Warp Point
1x Luxury Ball
2x Night Maintenance
1x Azelf LA
2x Volkner's Philosophy

That's what I'd say get first. If you really want to add speed, there are a number of inexpensive drawing and searching trainers I'd suggest investing in after you buy "the basics."

4x Pokédex HANDY910is
4x Pokédrawer+
4x Great Ball
4x Quick Ball

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Those cards should cover the basic structure of most traditionally built decks, and at the very least make you a competitive player.

[Alazor]

Chatot (Majestic Dawn)
Furret (Secret Wonders)

[Rogue Archetype]

Lucario GL ?
Pachirisu GE?

My own quirky stuff that I end up putting in EVERY DECK...

Warp Energy
Dusk Ball
Super Scoop Up

______ by the way _______

This is , kind of , a poll. But, we're trying to help with the built in "WHY" of limited budget and must seek specific cards.

We need to put a "WHY" by cards to de-poll-ize this thread.

Like this...

Lucario GL = 1 in each of your decks will allow you to DOUBLE your opponents weakness if possible. This could lead to a game-saving 1 shot knock out of your opponents giant!

Super Scoop Up = it's a flip, but it gets the active up and out of the way if you don't have a warp point or switch. THe most OBVIOUS reason you'd use this card is to pull up a damaged pokemon and, therefore, waste your opponents attacks.

Dusk Ball = adds speed to the deck. It gives you 7 cards to choose from. If you can't find something in there you need, your build may be to varied.

[GengarPwns]

Pokedex handy910is?

[Squidwina]

I would suggest getting 4 Pokedex Handy. They're cheap and they're simple and they work in most any deck. They are definitely a good choice for a beginner deck builder because they're not situational.

[amphy#1]

For SPdecks you should always have Skunktank G, Toxicroak G, and Lucario GL. Trainers/ supporters: 4 Cyrus, 4 PokeTurn, 4 Power Spray, Energy Gain.

[Clueless in Seattle]

We need to put a "WHY" by cards to de-poll-ize this thread.



Thanks Rogue Archetype!

The kind of info you put into your examples would be really helpful to me, since I don't seem to have much aptitude for figuring out how these cards work on my own :redface:

So, if any of you who have already posted are still following this thread, I'd sure be grateful if you would take a minute or two more to add the WHYS to your original posts, like Rogue Archetype did in his examples:

Lucario GL = 1 in each of your decks will allow you to DOUBLE your opponents weakness if possible. This could lead to a game-saving 1 shot knock out of your opponents giant!

Super Scoop Up = it's a flip, but it gets the active up and out of the way if you don't have a warp point or switch. THe most OBVIOUS reason you'd use this card is to pull up a damaged pokemon and, therefore, waste your opponents attacks.

Dusk Ball = adds speed to the deck. It gives you 7 cards to choose from. If you can't find something in there you need, your build may be to varied.

[Ignatious]

If we are just talking about staple cards that can be used in most decks . . .

Absolute Must Haves

4x Roseanne's Reasearch
4x Bebe's Search
2x Night Maintenance
1x Luxury Ball

Very Nice to Have

2x Warp Point
4x Rare Candy
4x Broken Time-Space
2x Cynthia's Feelings
4x A good draw Supporter (Volkner's Philosophy, Felicities Drawing, or Professor Oak's Visit)

Needed for Tournament Decks

2x Baltoy GE
2x Claydol GE
2x Uxie LA
1x Azelf LA
2x Unown G

After that it gets more specific according to what kind of deck you want to make.

Go by this list, except add 4 Call Energy to the "Needed for Tournament Decks".

[Slickilicky]

I'd definatly say Uxies LA are must haves in a tournament deck, because when you play them down, you draw cards until you have 7 cards in your hand. Claydols GE are key in many decks out there by every turn putting up to 2 cards under your deck and drawing up to 6. Some decks have both Uxies and Claydols while others just have either Claydols or Uxies. But I'd definatly say that most decks out there have either one of them.

[Magnechu]

Uh, a lot of people have given their own (mediocre) lists IMO. The first one I saw was pretty good. Here's really the bare minimum in (most) decks right now:

4 Roseanne's Research
4 Bebe's Search
1 Luxury Ball
2 Baltoy
2 Claydol
1 Uxie
1 Azelf
2 Unown G
1 Night Maintenance

Other cards I would strongly suggest in a lot of decks:
1 Chatot
2 Cynthia's Feelings
4 Call Energy

For SP decks, the obvious 4 Cyrus/4 Energy Gain/4 Power Spray/4 Poketurn.
Stage 2 decks require 4 Rare Candy and 4 Broken Time Space.