I've been playing this game for 9 years, and over the course of that time I've seen many formats come and go, however none have been like the current day format (DP-RR).
There has always been a dominate deck, and good hard counter to it.
1998-1999 Haymaker was the deck, Sponge was the "counter"
1999 Wigglytuff was the deck
2000 Sneasel/Anything was the deck - WOTC Banning sneasel was the counter
2000-2001: Gatr was the deck, Crobat was the counter.
2002-2003: umbreon/espeon/slowking was the deck, anything with igglybuff was a counter.
2003: The Abyss year with no OP
2004: Blaziken/RayEX was BDIF, Gardevoir and Magma were counters.
2005: Rocklock was BDIF, Medicham was the counter
2006: LBS ruled, Mewtric was the best counter. Delta was a good counter too.
2007: Metanite ruled all year. Speed Spread was best counter.
2008: Gardevoir/Gallade was clear BDIF. Empoleon was best counter.
2009: There is no BDIF, matchups play the most important part in winning a tournament.
This list is very accurate. But notice the comparisons. Every year there has been one deck. "one deck to rule them all".(+1 for getting the reference). With one deck, there is a counter. That equates to a healthy, more skill based format.
In this current format (DP-RR) there are a few pros and cons. The cons: literally 5+ decks that will all see play at nationals.
1)GeChamp
2)Gengar/Nidoqueen
3)SP Variants
4)Beedrill
5)Kingdra
6)Speed Machamp
7)Random deck with Machamp tech.
Machamp is a great card, and has been gaining in popularity since the release of SP Pokemon.
1)GeChamp. GeChamp has a good SP matchup, but a worse Beedrill and Kingdra matchups. Even some SP decks can succeed with the ability to get around Fainting Spell flips.
2) Gengar/Nidoqueen. Gengar and Queen go together perfect. Nidoqueen's Body makes it a pain to get around fainting spell and almost impossible without having Dialga G LVX in play. Without the Machamp it has a bad SP game though.
3) SP variant. Depending on what you play the matchups can sway a little bit, but for the most part are pretty much the same. A fast machamp gives SP fits, and can sway the game easily. If you get around Machamp SP decks have the best matchups possible, and usually win vs most decks.
4) Beedrill. Beedrill is this years infernape so to speak. It got released right around battle roads and is taking them by storm. Will it win Nationals? Not a chance. While it's matchups vs most of the format are good, without amazing luck to avoid it's poor games it won't even make cut.
5) Kingdra Kingdra saw a ton of play earlier in the year, but it lost steam as the season went on. It's still very good, vs just about everything, but running into Nidoqueen is like slamming your head against the wall. The pros of kingdra are the techs you can run it in.
6) Speed Machamp Speed Machamp is flukey and lucky. It will see play, but unless you have a very good tech this deck gets very weak mid to end game.
7) Random deck with Machamp Tech See #6.
So, that's what this format is. You play deck X, you beat decks A,B,C and lose to decks D,and E. Alot of games will be won or lost by Fainting Spell, and I bet at LEAST 150 games at nationals in masters will be won on turn 1.
Another big problem with this format is the dependency on your opening 7 cards. Sure, this has become a trend as of late with last year's t2 Gallade DRE, but it has never been like this. I "win" the coin toss and go first. I attach and pass with my 1 basic as you candy a machamp and win. That's a problem.
The pros of the format? It's easy. There isn't much skill required to win games in this format. That makes it easier for new players. I bet attendance is up alot. It's alot easier to teach a new player Machamp as opposed to G&G or Metanite.
I don't like the format, but more attendance is good for the game.
Am I saying it's easy to win a tournament in this format? Not at all, I'm saying it's easier to win games. A tournament win is still an accomplishment.
This is my view of the current format, but rather than just complaining about it I'd like to offer my opinion of how to fix it.
Next years format could be: DP-ON , or GE-ON. It has to be one of those 2. Why? Unown G. Unless we get a reprint of Unown G, every SP deck becomes unplayable because Machamp for 1 energy KOs your whole deck. I wanted to throw this out there, and get everyone's opinions.
But for now, I'm not going to worry about next year. Nationals is in 2 weeks, and this format is wild!
As much as I'd like to say a rogue deck can win nationals, I think the format is too wide open for that. Literally ANYONE can win if they are fortunate enough to draw the right matchups.
I hope everyone enjoys the read and I'd love to hear opinions.
There has always been a dominate deck, and good hard counter to it.
1998-1999 Haymaker was the deck, Sponge was the "counter"
1999 Wigglytuff was the deck
2000 Sneasel/Anything was the deck - WOTC Banning sneasel was the counter
2000-2001: Gatr was the deck, Crobat was the counter.
2002-2003: umbreon/espeon/slowking was the deck, anything with igglybuff was a counter.
2003: The Abyss year with no OP
2004: Blaziken/RayEX was BDIF, Gardevoir and Magma were counters.
2005: Rocklock was BDIF, Medicham was the counter
2006: LBS ruled, Mewtric was the best counter. Delta was a good counter too.
2007: Metanite ruled all year. Speed Spread was best counter.
2008: Gardevoir/Gallade was clear BDIF. Empoleon was best counter.
2009: There is no BDIF, matchups play the most important part in winning a tournament.
This list is very accurate. But notice the comparisons. Every year there has been one deck. "one deck to rule them all".(+1 for getting the reference). With one deck, there is a counter. That equates to a healthy, more skill based format.
In this current format (DP-RR) there are a few pros and cons. The cons: literally 5+ decks that will all see play at nationals.
1)GeChamp
2)Gengar/Nidoqueen
3)SP Variants
4)Beedrill
5)Kingdra
6)Speed Machamp
7)Random deck with Machamp tech.
Machamp is a great card, and has been gaining in popularity since the release of SP Pokemon.
1)GeChamp. GeChamp has a good SP matchup, but a worse Beedrill and Kingdra matchups. Even some SP decks can succeed with the ability to get around Fainting Spell flips.
2) Gengar/Nidoqueen. Gengar and Queen go together perfect. Nidoqueen's Body makes it a pain to get around fainting spell and almost impossible without having Dialga G LVX in play. Without the Machamp it has a bad SP game though.
3) SP variant. Depending on what you play the matchups can sway a little bit, but for the most part are pretty much the same. A fast machamp gives SP fits, and can sway the game easily. If you get around Machamp SP decks have the best matchups possible, and usually win vs most decks.
4) Beedrill. Beedrill is this years infernape so to speak. It got released right around battle roads and is taking them by storm. Will it win Nationals? Not a chance. While it's matchups vs most of the format are good, without amazing luck to avoid it's poor games it won't even make cut.
5) Kingdra Kingdra saw a ton of play earlier in the year, but it lost steam as the season went on. It's still very good, vs just about everything, but running into Nidoqueen is like slamming your head against the wall. The pros of kingdra are the techs you can run it in.
6) Speed Machamp Speed Machamp is flukey and lucky. It will see play, but unless you have a very good tech this deck gets very weak mid to end game.
7) Random deck with Machamp Tech See #6.
So, that's what this format is. You play deck X, you beat decks A,B,C and lose to decks D,and E. Alot of games will be won or lost by Fainting Spell, and I bet at LEAST 150 games at nationals in masters will be won on turn 1.
Another big problem with this format is the dependency on your opening 7 cards. Sure, this has become a trend as of late with last year's t2 Gallade DRE, but it has never been like this. I "win" the coin toss and go first. I attach and pass with my 1 basic as you candy a machamp and win. That's a problem.
The pros of the format? It's easy. There isn't much skill required to win games in this format. That makes it easier for new players. I bet attendance is up alot. It's alot easier to teach a new player Machamp as opposed to G&G or Metanite.
I don't like the format, but more attendance is good for the game.
Am I saying it's easy to win a tournament in this format? Not at all, I'm saying it's easier to win games. A tournament win is still an accomplishment.
This is my view of the current format, but rather than just complaining about it I'd like to offer my opinion of how to fix it.
Next years format could be: DP-ON , or GE-ON. It has to be one of those 2. Why? Unown G. Unless we get a reprint of Unown G, every SP deck becomes unplayable because Machamp for 1 energy KOs your whole deck. I wanted to throw this out there, and get everyone's opinions.
But for now, I'm not going to worry about next year. Nationals is in 2 weeks, and this format is wild!
As much as I'd like to say a rogue deck can win nationals, I think the format is too wide open for that. Literally ANYONE can win if they are fortunate enough to draw the right matchups.
I hope everyone enjoys the read and I'd love to hear opinions.
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