Partner for Donphan

[Redsteal]

Hey everyone I need some opinions on a Partner for Donphan I just got a play set of Donphan prime for 20 bucks Yay!!! and well now I need to figure out who to partner him with. I am looking for someone to use late game because we all know donphan runs out of steam late game so that cuts on Yanmega and I know there is Machamp Prime but a girl in my poke group is playing donchamp so I dont want to run the same deck as her so any ideas at all? I thought about using the ability samurott because he has a ability like donphan and his attack is all colorless, any other pokemon you can think off? and thanks in advance guys

[AyameHikaru]

Zoroark is a good partner to increase your attacking options. Manectric helps a lot, but it's not the best attacker. Luxray is a good partner, but if you run it, run Lucario GL, too, so you can oneshot Gyarados.

[Mazu]

Ok, so you need something that still has steam late-game, preferably takes advantage of/heals your bench, preferably takes advantage of fighting energy.. which leaves you at Machamp. Seriously, Machamp really is your best alternative. If you want to use a deck with Donphan and make it really good then DonChamp is your best alternative.

..but since I hate to tell people exactly what to play, I'll give you some other options.

- Donphan/Serperior
It might sound odd, but Serperior heals your bench and Donphan really needs that. When facing stuff like ReshiBoar you do not want those 20+ damage on your revenge KO Donphan. Also, if you can find a way to bring Flygon RR into the new format that would be awesome, otherwise I would advice you to look for something like it to use in combination with Donphan/Serperior.

- Yanmega/Donphan
Yes, I know you blew this off at the very beginning of your post, which I think was a bad decision. Yanmega/Donphan is an awesome deck, and it barely loses to two of the best decks in the format; MagneBoar and ReshiBoar. Every time I play them I lose by on prize, and would have won if I had another turn to attack. If you think a little bit forward and add Max Restore/Pokemon Catcher to this deck, I think it will reach tier 1 status. I have not tested with Max Restore/Pokemon Catcher yet, but I will once we know which set they will be released in, and I think those cards will make the deck complete.

[Redsteal]

God I wish I could bring in Flygon and yes I know I dissed Yanmega its cause I played it and I just does not work for me, I dont know why but I just dont like how it feels when I play it and, IO would so play it with Machamp, but I cant, someones already playing it in my poke group team thing >.> ( im going to see if i can make her play something else) and I have tested it with Serperior and its nice, just it just dosent seem to have that kick that I need, or I just have the wrong build)

[toffeefi]

I would say Machamp is arguably one of the better if not best partners. Donphan helps Machamp set-up "Champ Buster". Machamp also allows Donphan a "free" retreat. :D

[Mazu]

Originally Posted by Redsteal

God I wish I could bring in Flygon and yes I know I dissed Yanmega its cause I played it and I just does not work for me, I dont know why but I just dont like how it feels when I play it and, IO would so play it with Machamp, but I cant, someones already playing it in my poke group team thing >.> ( im going to see if i can make her play something else) and I have tested it with Serperior and its nice, just it just dosent seem to have that kick that I need, or I just have the wrong build)

Donphan/Yanmega must be built as a toolbox deck, with lots of trainers and maximum speed. Imo. that is the best build, and I have had some success with it.

[Redsteal]

Well I might give it another try, I just need to know how to build it right cause I was probably not playing it right lol, whats the build you play? And im just worried that It might not stand up against what is in my meta, Its Donchamp, Lots of Reshiboar. lost gar and a couple of really annoying Muk Decks

[Mazu]

Originally Posted by Redsteal

Well I might give it another try, I just need to know how to build it right cause I was probably not playing it right lol, whats the build you play? And im just worried that It might not stand up against what is in my meta, Its Donchamp, Lots of Reshiboar. lost gar and a couple of really annoying Muk Decks

I believe this is the list I am playing, though it might be outdated:


Pokemon: 17

3 Yanma TM
3 Yanmega Prime TM

4 Phanpy HS
4 Donphan HS

1 Smeargle UD

1 Chansey HS
1 Blissey Prime

TSS: 35

4 Judge
1 FSL
4 Copycat
4 Dual Ball
2 Collector
4 Pokemon Communication
2 Juniper
2 Pokegear
4 Pluspower
2 Junk Arm
1 Switch
3 Victory Medal
2 Seeker

Energy: 8

6 Fighting energy
2 Rescue

It is very good, though I feel that it will not reach tier 1 status until Catcher and Max Restore is released. If you are very skilled and use the right techs you might be able to beat the decks in your meta, but you will just have to try out some different counters.

[Redsteal]

Originally Posted by Mazu

I believe this is the list I am playing, though it might be outdated:


Pokemon: 17

3 Yanma TM
3 Yanmega Prime TM

4 Phanpy HS
4 Donphan HS

1 Smeargle UD

1 Chansey HS
1 Blissey Prime

TSS: 35

4 Judge
1 FSL
4 Copycat
4 Dual Ball
2 Collector
4 Pokemon Communication
2 Juniper
2 Pokegear
4 Pluspower
2 Junk Arm
1 Switch
3 Victory Medal
2 Seeker

Energy: 8

6 Fighting energy
2 Rescue

It is very good, though I feel that it will not reach tier 1 status until Catcher and Max Restore is released. If you are very skilled and use the right techs you might be able to beat the decks in your meta, but you will just have to try out some different counters.

I am diggin this list, so different from what i played.....and so much better, i never thought to use Blissey at all and i have no Victory medals gahh i wish I did, ive never been to a battle roads lol I guess ill play more Juniper and whats with the random Smergal.? If i can ask

[Mazu]

Originally Posted by Redsteal

I am diggin this list, so different from what i played.....and so much better, i never thought to use Blissey at all and i have no Victory medals gahh i wish I did, ive never been to a battle roads lol I guess ill play more Juniper and whats with the random Smergal.? If i can ask

Include Max Restore if you can, it is SO much better than Blissey. Victory Medal is nice, but not really needed. It can be replaced by something else like Research Record or whatever. Smergle is just a test, I find it useful if I have to stall a round anyway, but it can be taken out for pretty much anything you find more useful. Remember that the list is still at like alpa-beta level, and very far from complete.

[Redsteal]

Thanks :) I think though Im going to try out the Donphan Amphoros deck and donchamp, then it with Yanmega

[Redsteal]

So I have tweaked your list a lot and I have to say I love this deck so much!!!!!!

[Mazu]

Originally Posted by Redsteal

So I have tweaked your list a lot and I have to say I love this deck so much!!!!!!

I am glad that you like it. The deck probably needs a lot of tweaking as it is an early list and has a lot of room for personal touch. I would like to wait until we get the second BW set before I work more on it though, as I will not play HS-on in any tournaments until it comes out, and it will give the deck a lot more power.

[Redsteal]

Originally Posted by Mazu

I am glad that you like it. The deck probably needs a lot of tweaking as it is an early list and has a lot of room for personal touch. I would like to wait until we get the second BW set before I work more on it though, as I will not play HS-on in any tournaments until it comes out, and it will give the deck a lot more power.

I feel you on that, I cant wait for the mole to come out so I can have a quick and powerful Umbreon counter, and the new stadium thats going to come out and recycle and of course Cather!!!! God Im going to love that card so much

[Mazu]

Originally Posted by Redsteal

I feel you on that, I cant wait for the mole to come out so I can have a quick and powerful Umbreon counter, and the new stadium thats going to come out and recycle and of course Cather!!!! God Im going to love that card so much

Actually you do not need an Umbreon counter, not with Pokémon Catcher around at least. You can just Catcher benched Pokémon for easy prizes (you will probably survive taking 10 damage each turn) or Catcher something with high retreat, then next round Catcher Umbreon for the OHKO. Umbreon will be too easy to play around with Pokémon Catcher in the format, thus less people will play it, and you do not need a counter for it at all.

[Nintendan]

@redsteal The new stadium is pretty much going to make life harder for DonChamp.
Though when Catcher comes out it won't be too bad. I dunno what to play, but it's def going to include Donphan. What do you guys think? DonChamp? DonPerior? I dunno. I really wanted to play DonChamp but the Stadium is kinda pushing me away from it.

Edit: ninja'd!

Anyway, Mazu I'm amazed I didn't think of that even though I thought of Bright Looking it away and D-rushing it with a Crobat Drop. But yes, Umbreon is a lot less of a threat right now. I think Donphan will enjoy this format. A lot.

[chriscobi634]

Ursaring Prime? It benefits from being damaged, different type, can hit for 120 for CCCC. I know it seems a lot but it can actually be really cheap if you managed to get 2 DCE on one, even DCE + FF isn't all that bad.

It can OHKO RDL, but other than that I don't know what else it could help vs. in the format. You already have to run switch for Donphan, so it's high retreat cost is eh. It has good HP, essentially 100 if you want to abuse it's body. It's weakness to fighting isn't very good, as you would lose to other Donphans.

The question is now one you have to answer. You don't want to use the regular partners for Donphan, and want a heavy hitter. This is probably your best bet under those specifications, but is it a good play? Probably not, but that's not for me to decide, it's your decision.

[Redsteal]

Originally Posted by Nintendan

@redsteal The new stadium is pretty much going to make life harder for DonChamp.
Though when Catcher comes out it won't be too bad. I dunno what to play, but it's def going to include Donphan. What do you guys think? DonChamp? DonPerior? I dunno. I really wanted to play DonChamp but the Stadium is kinda pushing me away from it.

Edit: ninja'd!

Anyway, Mazu I'm amazed I didn't think of that even though I thought of Bright Looking it away and D-rushing it with a Crobat Drop. But yes, Umbreon is a lot less of a threat right now. I think Donphan will enjoy this format. A lot.

I have actually made my build and im not going to play donchamp, Im playing Donmega and its so fun and consistent which is the big thing that I was worried about but after about 10 hours of play testing i have found a build that I love!! and that stadium is going to be great for me in case i need to heal anything from using donphans first attack. And I played a Donchamp deck and its kinda a pain but its very winnable

---------- Post added 05/30/2011 at 07:01 PM ----------

Originally Posted by chriscobi634

Ursaring Prime? It benefits from being damaged, different type, can hit for 120 for CCCC. I know it seems a lot but it can actually be really cheap if you managed to get 2 DCE on one, even DCE + FF isn't all that bad.

It can OHKO RDL, but other than that I don't know what else it could help vs. in the format. You already have to run switch for Donphan, so it's high retreat cost is eh. It has good HP, essentially 100 if you want to abuse it's body. It's weakness to fighting isn't very good, as you would lose to other Donphans.

The question is now one you have to answer. You don't want to use the regular partners for Donphan, and want a heavy hitter. This is probably your best bet under those specifications, but is it a good play? Probably not, but that's not for me to decide, it's your decision.

God I want to play Ursaring Prime but It just doesnt cut it in this format to me, I played donphan ursaring and I would kill one thing with Ursaring and then it would die and then I would send up donphan and about 2 to 6 turns later it would die lol and no one in my area has a RDL thank god