Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Donphan counter

I tried Yanmega as a Donphan counter. I feel like it's sub par as such.

First in order to use Yanmega well you have to tweak other parts of your deck as well, adding additional cards like Copycat, Judge, and such. Those aren't horrible cards by any means, but they aren't going to be the best play in everything.

Similarly I think that folks underestimate how easy it is for Donphan to either get 3 energy in play or to pull out Ruin of Alph to get rid of resistance. Either of those things totally kills the Donphan vs Yanmega math.
 
vanderbilt_grad said:
I tried Yanmega as a Donphan counter. I feel like it's sub par as such.

First in order to use Yanmega well you have to tweak other parts of your deck as well, adding additional cards like Copycat, Judge, and such. Those aren't horrible cards by any means, but they aren't going to be the best play in everything.

Similarly I think that folks underestimate how easy it is for Donphan to either get 3 energy in play or to pull out Ruin of Alph to get rid of resistance. Either of those things totally kills the Donphan vs Yanmega math.
Click to expand...

Ruins of Alph would definitely pose a problem... I'm really not sure how much play it will see, though. Depends on how popular Yanmega gets, I guess. xD

In any case, I intend to run Yanmega Prime in certain decks that I think would really benefit from it anyway, and that it wouldn't really disturb much. Cinccino comes to mind. I'm also considering running - get this - Yanmega in Donphan builds. A 2-2 Yanmega line gives you, among other things...
• Sniping
• A tremendous advantage in the mirror match
• A decently powerful secondary attacker
•*An attacking staller while you set up a Donphan or two
•*A free retreater

I actually see Yanmega as an emerging powerhouse tech in other Stage 1 decks, and I know I'm not alone in this. Zekrom and Magnezone ruin its day, but that's what Donphan is for.
 
Wailord.

Not splashable tech, and haters gonna hate, so,

Yanmega.

I wonder if anyone misunderstood a splashable tech as a water type pokemon.
 
Beartic, if it comes out in the next set.

I think there won´t be any problem with counting Donphan next season. Too many usable :water: Pokémon.
 
I'd definitely take Donphan seriously. It took second place at the BR I went to today. (Of course, I was playing it, but...)

I have to say, I went up against a Zoroark/Cinccino deck... and I kinda felt bad how badly I murdered him. Zekrom, too. Just because a card isn't played that much is no reason to ignore a weakness. Donphan is much more playable by itself than Machamp, and takes up a lot less deck space. Yes, it does need a partner to cover its weakness. But so does everything. :p

I'm just glad most people have stopped suggesting Lanturn Prime. IMO if the Beartic comes out next set, that will be the one card Donphan will not like. So for the few months in between I'd suggest something like Glaceon MD, then switch to Beartic when we go HGSS-on.
 
I took Donphan to 2 battleroads and a first place and a second place.

At the moment there is no splashable counter that is good. Gyarados murders it, but is its own deck. If you make Donphan properly you can even get to about 50/50 with Vilegar. And of course, awesome SP match-up.

Next season you're right, there are options, but it's not going to be as good :(
 
I think you meant to say "Donphan is a Counter". But Phanpy is also a counter. A few Earthquakes and Phanpy can "Flail" OHKO Umbreon.
 
I've been researching this a bit for my own benefit and figured I share my results here. My conditions were that it had to be HS-on, had to at least 2HKO Donphan, able to be set up in 2 turns (that is no stage 2's and nothing with an energy cost of 3 or more unless 2 of them were colorless).

Risky Tier
Lanturn Prime - Capable of 1HKO, however Donphan can 1HKO it right back so it's just a prize swap
Red Gyarados - Fighting Resistance, Sky High HP and attack has a cost of [C] but to ensure the 2HKO you have to flip at least one heads.

Underwhelming Tier
Azumarill HS- Stage 1 with a [W][W] attack that is a 2HKO, HP is low and requires 4 spots in a non-water deck just to run a 1-1 line, only use if you're desperate.
Gyarados HS - Same benefits as the other 'Dos, Huge HP, fighting resistance, difference is that this is a reliable 2HKO, downside is that it costs [W][C][C].
Umbreon UD - For one dark energy it stops Donphan in it's tracks. Disadvantage is that it will hit for 10 and is pretty much useless once Catcher comes out, which is a shame because I love this card.

Great Tier
Alomomala BW - Basic, and can go the 1HKO or 2HKO route depending on your energies, needs 3 water to secure the 1HKO but the fact that it's a basic and can use any energy type makes it the most splashable IMO.
Swanna BW - Anyway you cut this cake it's a 2HKO, good thing about it is the fighting resistance as well as the fact that you can attack the first turn with only one energy and grab the second energy next turn, will be lethal for Donphan once Catcher hits.

Beartic will be a decent Donphan tech when it comes out too.
 
thisguy said:
I've been researching this a bit for my own benefit and figured I share my results here. My conditions were that it had to be HS-on, had to at least 2HKO Donphan, able to be set up in 2 turns (that is no stage 2's and nothing with an energy cost of 3 or more unless 2 of them were colorless).

Risky Tier
Lanturn Prime - Capable of 1HKO, however Donphan can 1HKO it right back so it's just a prize swap
Red Gyarados - Fighting Resistance, Sky High HP and attack has a cost of [C] but to ensure the 2HKO you have to flip at least one heads.

Underwhelming Tier
Azumarill HS- Stage 1 with a [W][W] attack that is a 2HKO, HP is low and requires 4 spots in a non-water deck just to run a 1-1 line, only use if you're desperate.
Gyarados HS - Same benefits as the other 'Dos, Huge HP, fighting resistance, difference is that this is a reliable 2HKO, downside is that it costs [W][C][C].
Umbreon UD - For one dark energy it stops Donphan in it's tracks. Disadvantage is that it will hit for 10 and is pretty much useless once Catcher comes out, which is a shame because I love this card.

Great Tier
Alomomala BW - Basic, and can go the 1HKO or 2HKO route depending on your energies, needs 3 water to secure the 1HKO but the fact that it's a basic and can use any energy type makes it the most splashable IMO.
Swanna BW - Anyway you cut this cake it's a 2HKO, good thing about it is the fighting resistance as well as the fact that you can attack the first turn with only one energy and grab the second energy next turn, will be lethal for Donphan once Catcher hits.

Beartic will be a decent Donphan tech when it comes out too.
Click to expand...


Sounds about right.
 
Porii Sames said:
SOmething just occurred to me...

Crobat Prime possibly? I mean, yeah, S2 tech, but...maybe?
Click to expand...

crobat prime is actually not a bad counter to donphan, but you have to consider it is a stage 2. Of course, you could always RC, but what if your deck does not consist of stage 2's? You wouldn't want to clunk up your deck by putting candies in just for crobat.

a lost zoned crobat is nice if mew prime is involved, since it is faster and crobat and mew run off the same energy. Throw out a mew when donphan sets up and use lost link to severe poison it. sure it can KO you with EQ, but it will be KO'ed itself if it cannot switch out by the end of your next turn - leaving you to see off again or snipe with crobat prime's other attack - skill dive - for 30.

Of course, you could really do a number on your opponent and use mew + severe poison + defender to really mess them over, but it's up to your deck space.
 
Alomomala and Swanna are both bad counters. I'll explain why. Take a look at the decks that need to run this. Zekrom and Cinccino. Cinccino has an easier time with them but Zekrom could not run Alomomala because it would need 3 water or 3 rainbow energy just to OHKO Donphan and after placing 3 rainbow energy Donphann can kill with pluspower, both of which hurts the decks energy flow.

Cinccino can run the water energy a be fine but Kingdra Prime is just so much better.
 
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