BigChuck01
Member
Article Name: What to expect/not expect at US Nats
Author: BigChuck01
Date: June25, 2007
Current Format: DX-DP
Howdy guys. I've been kinda idle on the Pokegym as of late due to work restraints, so I'm gunna make up for it in one big article: My analysis of what's going to be played/not played at Nats! Here are the top 5 decks to can expect to see, in order from most popular to least:
1. Infernape/Delcatty
Unquestionably the best deck in the format at the moment. This thing has won every single Battle Road in the US, Europe, and even Khazikstan! RR - 90 on a non-ex is insanely broken, and has almost no counter. Water Pokemon are terrible, stage 2s like Flygon and Salamance that can "withstand it" are easily outsped, and countered by Delcatty ex (colorless weakness), and the "fast" decks have low HP Pokemon that just get OHKOed and immediately lose. So many decks are unplayable now due to this thing. This will undoubtedly be the most popular deck at nats, and for good reason: it's the best.
2. R-gon
I think this is gunna be slightly more popular than Metanite, although it's close. Flygon can get a lucky fast setup and be able to hold off Infernape, but usually it's just gunna fail to open with a Castform and just get outsped. I hear people run Charms to help the matchup (Mew + Charm = 100), but theres no way theres room for that in a stage 2 deck that uses the Castform engine. It's just gunna be clunky. It has a lot of other good matchups too, but I worry about it dealing with things that do 150. Never was a fan of this deck, but I'm smart enough to understand it's solid, and so are other people. Expect a decent amount of it.
3. Metanite
The only truely consistant stage 2 Castform based deck. It takes a hit from Infernape, but can donk any deck pretty much with a fast setup. Metanites cool cause it never really has any BAD matchups. It doesnt have many good matchups though, which kinda sucks. Metanites always a safe play at any tourney, including nats, where it will be played.
4. Absolutions
Kinda took off during regionals, but another deck that had to settle down due to Infernape. Any deck with Lickitung is going to have a nice edge over Metanite and Flygon, which is huge. I think a big part of this decks strength was its surprise factor, but now that everyone knows about it, people will have adequate playtesting against it, and do a bit better vs it. Still, should be played.
5. Shiftry
Best deck in the format IMO, before Infernape came along, that is. Takes a loss to anything that has solid fighting or grass, but beats everything else. IMO the 2nd best deck in the format, but not a lot of people have faith in it, so it'll be played a lil less.
And now, for the top 5 decks that are going to go MIA:
1. Delta
Yea, this deck got bad fast. I'm not sure if I can name a deck that it has an advantage over anymore. Any chance it had was finished off by Infernape, which OHKOS the deck for a DRE.
2. Banette
Another deck that took a big hit from the metagame shift. Absolutions and Shiftry put it in the grave, and Infernape piled on the dirt. RIP, Banette
.3. Flariados
Too many decks just crush this thing now. Infernape OHKOs for a DRE and has free retreat. Metanite resists. Flygon has infinite HP and switch cards. Too hard to donk wins these days.
4. Steelix Varients
Infernape makes Steelix tough to play. 160 for ONE energy is just too big of a problem to deal with. Nobodys gunna have the (cursed)stones to play this at Nats.
5. Super Stantler
Yea, I doubt this deck was ever good in the first place. Regardless, Stantler and Scizor or w/e it runs are just torn up by Infernape. If you run this, you'll be hitting the side events by round 4.
So yea, obviously make sure you play Infernape at Nats. I'd say "Play Infernape or something that beats it", but I don't think anything does :-D.
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