Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Empoleon Revisited--Did I Finally Get it Right?

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jconti2818

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Empoleon Revisited

Two of the best players in my NJ league (Brian and Alex) helped me improve my Empoleon deck since my Palkia version tanked at Regionals and even in regular league was just not working (Thanks for the help men!). Here is an amalgam of their versions with a few of my own favorite’s thrown in:

Pokemon: 21

4 Piplup
3 Prinplup
3 Empoleon (MD)
1 Empoleon (DP)
2 Baltoy
2 Claydol
2 Pacharisu
1 Tauros (CG)
1 Mudkip (CG)
1 Swampert (GE)
1 Suicune

Trainers: 22

4 Bebes
3 Roseanne’s Research
4 Rare Candies
2 Warp Point
1 Night Maintenance
2 Windstorm
3 Castaway
2 Copycat
1 Strength Charm

Energy: 17

12 Water
3 Scramble
2 DRE

Here is the strategy: get Empoleon out as quickly as possible (hopefully fall behind so I can use my Scrambles); have Mudkip build up energy on your bench and then level him up to Swampert at the right moment; use Suicune as my Pokemon version of TSD (just pray you don’t get him as your only starter): Claydol for draw power: and besides the set up of Tauros, have Tauros as a spare Windstorm for an unwanted Stadium (Crystal Beach) plus have enough basics to fully power up MD Empoleon’s attack. My hope is that with the addition of Claydol that this will be faster than my previous Empoleon versions.

Now the forum questions:

1. Is this the best combination of Empoleon versions?
2. As always, I think games are won or lost with the trainer engine—any suggestions for improvement?
3. Is Suicune worth a slot since the Empoleon line would be the one I would most care about retrieving from the discard pile?
4. Is the 1-1 Mudkip/Swampert the best “tech” (other suggestions that people have given me include the Omastar line, Mareep-Ampharos, Dusknoir, and my own personal favorite Mantyke/Mantine to give Empoleon free retreat)?


Suggestions and comments please. Thanks.

Jconti2818

P.S. If Jason A. is reading, I have to admit he was right—I started field testing this on Sunday and it is better without the Empoleon Lv. X!
 
switch the suicune for another pachi and the 1-0-1 swampert for a 1-0-1 omastar MD. THEN YOU WILL GET IT RIGHT!!!
 
Jason,

Under consideration. Don't I at least get credit (as an adult especially) for admitting I was wrong about Empoleon Lv. X

John
 
Its late game. They call time. It's tied in prizes. You have empoleon with the energy to attack but not kill. You put The level X on and ripp Claydol right off the bench for the win. Empoleon Lv. X is a great card.
 
I love Empoleon Lv. X for exactly that reason. But all the little whipper snappers in the senior division keep busting me because they say that it slows down my deck too much. Comments and experiences from any other Empoleon Level X fans.
 
jconti2818 said:
I love Empoleon Lv. X for exactly that reason. But all the little whipper snappers in the senior division keep busting me because they say that it slows down my deck too much. Comments and experiences from any other Empoleon Level X fans.
Click to expand...

Slows it down how?
 
Because you have 1 fewer Empoleon so it makes it a little harder to evolve into Empoleon (lesser likelihood that you will have it in your hand, more problems if 1 or 2 Empoleon is prized.
 
Pokemon: 21

4 Piplup
3 Prinplup
3 Empoleon (MD)
1 Empoleon (DP)
2 Baltoy
2 Claydol
2 Pacharisu
1 Tauros (CG)
1 Mudkip (CG)
1 Swampert (GE)
1 Suicune

Trainers: 23

4 Bebes
3 Roseanne’s Research
4 Rare Candies
2 Warp Point
1 Night Maintenance
2 Windstorm
2 Castaway
4 team galatics wager
1 Strength Charm

Energy: 16

12 Water
3 Scramble
1 DRE

What up?
 
jconti2818 said:
Jason,

Under consideration. Don't I at least get credit (as an adult especially) for admitting I was wrong about Empoleon Lv. X

John
Click to expand...

Well, Empo Lv.X might be a bit better now because

Omastar Ancient Spiral, TGW, win the wager, supreme command them to 1, they will probably scoop at that point.

I suggest you still take out swampert though
 
Dear Brian and Jason,

Thanks for the suggestions:

1. So, I guess TGW can sort of act like a Copycat because with Claydol even if you don't win, you can get 6 new cards.

2. I'm still can't decide the best tech--I'm thinking of trying Omastar, but I read last night that if I had a Holon WP + Water Energy on my Mudkip, that the only way you could have killed it would have been if I were forced to Warp Point it to active. If I did use Omastar, would you 1-1-1 or 1-0-1 (ie, is the new Omanyte any good).

3. Any worth to adding a Holon Mentor (suggested as a tech in another Empoleon deck post but I wasn't sure how)?

4. Any value to adding Holon WP (eg, 10 Water, 2 Holon WP, 1 DRE, 3 Scramble)

Thanks as always for the help.

John

P.S. So Jason, after all the dissing I took for Empoleon Lv. X, now you want me to put it back in?

See you guys at the prerelease.
 
Last edited:
In reviewing the cards for tomorrow, I keep thinking about the better Phione. Would Phione be a better Pokemon in this deck than Suicune? Opinions from forum members on this or my previous post welcome.

See my fellow Time Warpers tomorrow at the MD prerelease!

John
 
jconti2818 said:
In reviewing the cards for tomorrow, I keep thinking about the better Phione. Would Phione be a better Pokemon in this deck than Suicune? Opinions from forum members on this or my previous post welcome.

See my fellow Time Warpers tomorrow at the MD prerelease!

John
Click to expand...

phione would indeed be better, cya at teh pre-release in like 1 hour.
 
I agree that the deck plays much better with Call Energy and Phione but I still think I need either a clever tech (e.g., Omastar) or a heavy hitter (e.g. Swampert) to accompany Empoleon. What do the others think?
 
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