Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Ampharos/Hammers strategy

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PokePharos

Member
I've returned to pokemon after a near 4 year break. I am trying to work on strategies that aren't in the meta so my opponents won't know what I'm running. I find this a viable tactic. Here is a strategy I've come up with. Sorry if this tactic has come up already.

Ampharos
Enhanced Hammer
Crushing Hammer


Now it's a simple strategy, but each hammer is not only slowing your opponent down, but potentially an added 30 damage! Not to mention Ampharos VS Keldeo EX is kind of hilarious.
It's a little slow to get Ampharos out and about, but Ampharos is my favorite pokemon and I would love be able to use it! I can't think of a better way to abuse the ability on Ampharos.

Let me know what you think?
 
I feel like with everyone running energy acceleration, there is something to ampharos, it needs a big attacker to finish off pokemon who are left, maybe tangrowth from bc? oh no no even better, accelgor! Deck and cover and the put amph out, not a bad idea, paralyze the oponent, then make it so anything they attach hurts them, ultimate anti keldeo deck lol
 
Hey canderson! Thanks for the reply. How would you suggest getting Ampharos's big butt off of the active spot? :( that's the only problem I can think of. Sounds like a good strategy though!
 
Two possible ways:

1) Switch. This is probably the easier of the two ways. Just Skyla/Computer Search for one when you need it. The end-game becomes a bit rough once you run out of switches, though. This is where Electrobullet comes in. That 20 additional damage can be put on a benched Keldeo, which needs to to drop 5 energy to knock you out in one attack. 5x30 + 20 = 170. That Keldeo is knocked out before it can attack. If they only attach 4, you knock it out next turn with another Electrobullet.

2) Darkrai + Dark Energy. You just need to attach one Dark to Mareep or Ampharos and you can get him out for free. You'll be attaching DCE to Accelgor, so you don't really have to worry about 1 early turn of not attaching. I haven't run an Accelgor deck, so this might not be true, but it is worth a shot.
 
Well with Skyla I can go straight for the Switch and skip over the computer Search will be nice. I'm considering both options right now. It's tough to decide because they both have their pros and cons
 
I ran accelgor b4 but I never thought of running him this way, i think it will b unexpected especially with ditto, turn 2 surprise lol
 
PokePharos, if you played four years ago, you're used to a game in which strategy played an important role, and a time when there was a such thing as a viable rogue deck. Pokémon is no longer that game.

The only important things in this format are your ability to attack T1 (T2 at the very latest) and your ability to draw well. Ampharos cannot attack T2 and it is less consistent and powerful than, say, Darkrai-EX.
 
canderson. I'm glad you like the idea haha. I think it could work!

Politoad666. Yes strategy back then was very important and that's why I was good at the game. It was easy for me to string my plans together and make great plays. Lately when I do that it ends up failing. Turn 1 60 damage from Landorus EX hurt, then to have my Flaafy catchered ... makes me a little sick.
I see through a lot of the top tier cards. I don't mind them, but I feel like most of them are HIGHLY overrated. For instance a Marowak can 1 shot darkrai, and yanmega does excellent against Keldeo Ex and Empoleon. These 2 cards can work in the same deck with good results. Nobody uses them, not sure why. It works! (most of the time).

That being said, this deck has potential. I know the game has changed. Yes Pokemon Catcher destroys it and so does Landorus and Terrakion. And all those cards are in the meta. It's worth a try though.

<3 you Ampharos!!!
 
Worth a try coincides with worth of play. It is a fun league deck idea, but in real tournaments it will just fold to nearly anything. It can easily be countered, catcher smiles at you. Top it off with just minimal skill it takes to win against this deck, you must also try and get lucky. So here is the lineup.
1) You have to hope you aren't playing someone with relative skill
2) You must hope catcher can't be used.
3) You must flip heads atleast EVERYTIME.
4) You have to make it a viable attacker, or combo it with dusknoir which 2 state 2's will be hard, given the luck the deck needs with crushing hammer just level out the playing field for your setup.

All of those factors doesn't mean the deck can't be fun, that it can't win a game or two. What it does mean odds are not in your favor to do well with this deck at any tournament. Maybe with the release of newer cards and the decline of the current meta your deck will shine, until then...it is elague or bust.

Either way, post a list in deck help and we can fix it for you, and make the deck a fairly fun league deck.

-Nathan W
 
canderson, I was thinking about the use of darkrai. This gives ampharos free retreat for when I need to bring up a sableye and get some hammers back. Most decks only run around 10 energies. I can use that to my advantage.

Vegeta ss4, Catcher ruins most decks. Every deck fears a catcher + knock out. Not just this deck. I don't need heads every time unless they're attacking for 1 energy. Being able to catcher 4 times equates to 4 energies they can attach without taking damage and lets Ampharos live to see the active spot another turn. They're probably going to knock out a sableye with these attacks leaving my ampharos alive and potentially my darkrai (if that's the route I choose to take).

I will post a list when I get more suggestions. I've been getting a lot of feed back saying "Catcher destroys this deck" which does not help me get ideas for what to run in the deck. I would like some suggestions on what to run with my Ampharos and would appreciate some further input.

Thanks.
 
I ran Ampharos in a City Championship, essentially as a straight Ampharos (of course using Double Colorless Energy), and my problem was that throughout this tournament, I either got donked, my Mareep and Flaaffy got Catchered and KO'd (I think over the six battles, I suffered at least 10 cheap KOs in this way), and I ran into no Keldeo decks. Unfortunately, it does seem like it's an auto-loss against Landorus and Darkrai, due to Weakness and Dark Patch.

It is very difficult to play, as you really need an army of Amphy turn-two in order for the Ability to be used effectively.
 
Thanks Noah121 for the reply. I recently tested the deck on PLAYTCG with no luck. I've dealt with 6 losses so far and I cannot seem to even get a lucky win. With your results and mine this deck does not seem to have enough potential in the current meta. Maybe in the future there will be other cards that will support the lovable Ampharos, maybe..
 
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