Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Format history, and current comparisons.

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Nice article, Steven.

I think back to Blaziken - you either played Blaziken or you played against Blaziken. I hated that time for this game. And I was glad when Magma slapped everyone in the face for a wake-up call.

I've never gotten much joy out of playing an archetype. And my record shows it! But, for me, some of these years were just so stagnant - Gatr, Rocklock, LBS. I appreciate that people liked playing them, but there was just something about these deck that just didn't cause the right synapses in my brain to trigger. There was just no fun in them for me.

With that being said, I really like the format right now. So many good things out there. It really reminds me of 2 years ago when Jimmy Ballard's Empoleon rose up a Nats. I kind of expect to see something similar.
 
When mentioning Metal-Chancey, I remember Metal-Rocket's Zapdos, reducing the damage it takes to nothing.
 
Great post, Steve. A journey through the years of our game... it's a shame I didn't really get into competitive play until Nintendo took over in 2003. I started playing casually with friends and at league in 2001 right before they announced that they were going to make (the first) modified format, Rocket-on, since they weren't happy how the game of Pokémon had become "Trainermon." I only played in 2 tournaments before Nintendo, STS qualifier at Florida Mall in 2001, and some tourney at Knights of Columbus in 2002.

In my early days, Gatr was definitely BDIF and seemed nearly untouchable... I ran a Crobat deck for a very long time (still one of my favorite cards), but very seldom managed to beat Brent's Gatr deck (rarely hit the 3/4 heads I needed on Cross Attack) with it. The card that best countered Gatr for me was the evil Slowking, since the deck depended on Misty's Wrath, Secret Mission, and Trash Exchange to keep going.

I really miss these old cards... it's such a shame that no one plays unlimited. I'd love to play in an unlimited tournament, or a tournement with an "old format", such as Rocket-Neo4.

Other good decks I remember from the good ol' days:
  • Rain Dance (my first ever deck and probably my favorite deck of all time)
  • Steelix + anything (with 4 Metals, 110 HP, and Gold Berries, it was such a beast back then... HATED IT)
  • Big Fire a.k.a. Entei/Cargo
  • Rocket's Zapdos
  • Dark Gengar / Misdreavus (SOOO FUN!)

I remember how early last format was almost like a game of Rock/Paper/Scissors with GG/Banette/Magmortar. GG beat Magmortar but lost to Banette, while Magmortar beat Banette... crazy.

As far as this format goes, I think Flygon can be a contender as well.
 
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bullados said:
Really? My G8rs never had any problems with the Grass decks of that format. In general, they were just too darn slow to do anything against my consistent turn 3 setup.

Big Fire, OTOH, that was a FAST deck that dealt a crapton load of damage very fast and really threw me for a loop back then. Started with the Blaine's RK9, and moved to EnCargo. BIG decks at their time, and both very fast and very powerful. RK9 was a guaranteed turn 2 120 damage, and could sustain that for 3 out of the first 5 turns (not that they generally needed it). Entei was a speed demon by attaching lotsa energy really quickly, and Magcargo used those energy to deal modular damage upwards of 120, enough to OHKO a G8r the moment it came up...
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This sounds more correct. I don't remember Crobat being a true threat to anything. Big Fire, as described, on the other hand, gave G8r problems.

In 2004, Gardevoir being a counter to Blaziken was asking a lot from Gardevoir. We really didn't see a true counter until Magma at Worlds.
 
Good report Steve. Seems like we have been at this so long and then I see how much we have missed. I was telling Carson today how you are just on another level when it comes to this game and how much I learn from you and your Dad every time I get with you....even for a few minutes.

One question though. Do you not see Flygon making an impact at Nats? Or GGW?
 
Good read kid !

Since YOU are who I test with I couldn't agree more. A format for the masses, but not for the pros.

Also, one thing you didn't touch on was your opening hand. I have NEVER seen a format where your opening 7 cards determined the outcome of more games then I do now. You play 4 candies, so do I. You get to go 2nd. You have a rare candy, I don't. You win.

All those hours of testing so I can get 1 turn. And it's happened more this year then I can ever remember( at least in the Nintendo era).Ask Jim Roll how many times he has beaten me in 1 turn this year LOL At least 6, maybe 7 games. Just silly!

BTW, thanks for the props Mr. Florida State Champ ;)



I hate the format. And dp - on doesn't change my mind on this either.At least we still have unown g!!

I play because I love to play- test with Steve, Aaron. Good friends like Keith, Jim ,Mozzy, Spurlock,Richard, SO many others I could go on and on!!

But I have never seen a more frustrating format ( from a skilled players view anyways) then this one.

I talked to Jimmy a couple days ago, and even he is having such a hard time finding something new that's good enough to be played at Nationals- and he prides himself on that and is one of the best at it!

Match-ups WILL determine who wins nats., who goes to worlds.

This might be good for #'s , but it makes preparing for something as important as US Nationals
even more difficult then it already is.
 
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The more playable, competitive decks there are, the better the format.

To me, anyway.

I appreciate the write-up though. Very informative.
 
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Shadowcard/Bullados: I have to disagree with both of you, and this is coming from someone who played it for a year and won an STS with it. There was nothing that beat Gatr consistently besides Gatr. Crobat was the closest, not blaines arcanine. But that's what this thread is for, players opinions on the current and past formats.

Jim: I appreciate the comments, I can't tell you how much. Over the past 2 years I've got to watch you mature as a player. And I know it's stupid for a 20 year old kid to tell a 45 year old man how he's matured, but that's what pokemon is lol. It's finally paying dividends and i'm so happy to see it. On topic, I don't see Flygon doing much at nats, It's too slow, and this is a speed format. GGW is a deck I haven't really played with, but I think it's problem with good SP decks (Infernape, mainly) will be it's main problem. replying to your PM now


Snipe: yeah, i'll find some time to edit the opening 7 cards into the first post. You're right, it's a giant part of this format unlike alot of the past ones.
 
Nice article Steve. I will disagree a bit though bc I like seeing more than 1 big deck in a season. Sure, you could work on a "sure" counter to that deck. I like diversity bc I like seeing many different decks. Of course, judging lets one see many decs, but do you know how boring it was last year watching GG...GG.....GG.....GG. I heard of many players playing 7/8 rds ag'st GG at Nats. A few decks would love that, bit most would hate it.

Of course, on the flip side, if we just had SP pokes and decks, it may be interesting to see what mixes ppl would put in. Just about anyone could play a "fav" in their deck bc so many would be "4 corners" type decks. Something I have talked to your Dad about.

All I knowis......., I love this game and the people I have met and grown to have like a 2nd family. No one can change that. Cannot wait to see my FL friends in a few weeks, along with many others across this country!

Keith
 
Dialga G might be the closet thing we have to BDIF. If your deck can't beat Dialga Tank then you might as well kiss your top cut chances good buy. Hopefully it'll be Top 64 again. If not then 1 donk and 1 bad match and it's pretty much over.

Dialga Tank gained some Rivals that are slowly Rising in BRs. Is it a coincidence that R stands for Fire?

I know I have my counter to the Metagame, only real thing I fear is a well played Mewtwo Lv. X.

The format greatly improved with RR release. Yeah, none of us competitive players like the donk factor but it seems to have gone don a bit in BRs. It's like the 06-07 season. A lot of varity in decks but with a much bigger luck factor.
 
I have only been playing for a couple of years, but from reading this very good article, one thing strikes me.

In the past, a deck would be dominant for more or less a whole format. Last year GG was dominant from the release of SW to Worlds. All that changed were the techs and the draw engine (Claydol replacing Furret, Absol disappearing).

This format the top deck changes with every set that's released:

Autumn BR - Kingdra, some AMU
Cities - Dusknoir varients
States - Dialga G tank, some Palkia G/Mesprit, Gengar

Now RR is released, who knows?

Kingdra has picked up wins all year, but wasn't dominant after Autumn BRs. I guess this is why they don't need to do a rotation: each new set seems to shift the format dramatically.
 
My biggest problem with this format is the lack of recovery. Let's take a look at a few of the things replaced here this season:

Steven's Advice - Volkner's Philosophy
Copycat - Cynthia's Feelings
Scramble Energy - Upper Energy

Notice anything? The replacements are far worse. When you have a format full of a bunch of broken, low-costing attacks with poor recovery, what exactly does one expect to happen? A lot of games will be decided by your opening 7 cards, as Steve and John have mentioned in this thread.

What's funny is, it would seem like the game designers tried to speed the game up by making broken and energy efficient attacks on Basic Pokemon. But this isn't the case. When you add in cards like Poketurn, Palkia G Lv.X, Nidoqueen; things that deny your opponents prizes, you are going to have an even slower and drawn-out game.

SP mirror is seriously so time consuming. A lot of people (myself included) thought games were bad last year, especially GG mirror, because there was so much searching involved. There's even more now. It's worse.

With U.S. Nationals looming, the biggest event in the World by attendance, I expect many games to go to time, and expect the top cut to have very little matches going to a game 3. It's pretty much impossible with SP mirror.

It may sound like we're complaining about this, and well we are. The truth is, there are a lot of great players still doing well this season, just like any other. Deckbuilding is still key this format, but the emphasis on your opening 7 cards right now (and throughout this season) has allowed serveral people to make up for mediocre lists.

Just my two cents.
 
Scizor said:
My biggest problem with this format is the lack of recovery. Let's take a look at a few of the things replaced here this season:

Steven's Advice - Volkner's Philosophy
Copycat - Cynthia's Feelings
Scramble Energy - Upper Energy

Notice anything? The replacements are far worse. When you have a format full of a bunch of broken, low-costing attacks with poor recovery, what exactly does one expect to happen? A lot of games will be decided by your opening 7 cards, as Steve and John have mentioned in this thread.
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Far worse...or far more balanced? I say balanced, because Scramble energy could be setup multiple ways and provided 3 of every energy. Upper has almost as many ways of setting it up, but it won't full pay for every attack, and won't work for some attacks that require 2 colored energy and one colorless energy. It's much more balanced than Scramble and Double Rainbow was.

Steven's Advice was probably the most potent draw card the game has ever seen other than Professor Oak. As long as your hand was 6 or below, you could draw 6 more cards. Hands of 11-12 cards were not uncommon with Steven's Advice in the format.

I'd say that Copycat is better than Cynthia's Feelings but not by a long shot, not by as big of a margin as the other two comparisons are. Copycat, if played this format, would be netting the player an average of 6 cards since everyone would be filling their hand to 6 with Claydol every turn. Cynthia normally will net you a brand new hand slightly lower than that, but if used at the right time, can net you a hand slightly higher than that. Of course, in a format with Steven's Advice and 11-12 card hands, Copycat was just as good as Steven's Advice itself, maybe even better.
 
In the good old years.. 2001-03 was Entei/cargo & Kingdra BDIF i dont exacly in which seson it was but they had there times
 
Scizor said:
SP mirror is seriously so time consuming. A lot of people (myself included) thought games were bad last year, especially GG mirror, because there was so much searching involved. There's even more now. It's worse.
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Both of those are nothing compared to Beedrill. It is totally common to get all 4 Beedrill out in one turn, or at least 3.

Brokent Time Space to Claydol. Great Ball for Weedle. Roseanne for another Weedle. Evolve to Kakuna. Luxury for Beedrill. Cosmic Power. Lay down Weedle. Poke Radar. Fail. Dual Poke Drawer. Use Flutter Wings for other Flutter Wings Beedrill. Flutter Wings for GE Beedrill. Use SSU, fail. Another, heads, pick up Claydol, lay it back down. Cosmic Power again. Poke Radar, get Kakuna. Evolve, evolve. Band Attack for 120.

Beedrill has the longest turns of any deck I have ever played. Some of that is just crazy, I might have to shuffle my deck or search it like 10 times on turn 2.
 
Prime said:
Far worse...or far more balanced? I say balanced, because Scramble energy could be setup multiple ways and provided 3 of every energy. Upper has almost as many ways of setting it up, but it won't full pay for every attack, and won't work for some attacks that require 2 colored energy and one colorless energy. It's much more balanced than Scramble and Double Rainbow was.

Steven's Advice was probably the most potent draw card the game has ever seen other than Professor Oak. As long as your hand was 6 or below, you could draw 6 more cards. Hands of 11-12 cards were not uncommon with Steven's Advice in the format.

I'd say that Copycat is better than Cynthia's Feelings but not by a long shot, not by as big of a margin as the other two comparisons are. Copycat, if played this format, would be netting the player an average of 6 cards since everyone would be filling their hand to 6 with Claydol every turn. Cynthia normally will net you a brand new hand slightly lower than that, but if used at the right time, can net you a hand slightly higher than that. Of course, in a format with Steven's Advice and 11-12 card hands, Copycat was just as good as Steven's Advice itself, maybe even better.
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Easy to refute your points with one sentence: The attacks are unablanced now and the recovery should be unbalanced.
 
Prime said:
Far worse...or far more balanced? I say balanced, because Scramble energy could be setup multiple ways and provided 3 of every energy. Upper has almost as many ways of setting it up, but it won't full pay for every attack, and won't work for some attacks that require 2 colored energy and one colorless energy. It's much more balanced than Scramble and Double Rainbow was.

Steven's Advice was probably the most potent draw card the game has ever seen other than Professor Oak. As long as your hand was 6 or below, you could draw 6 more cards. Hands of 11-12 cards were not uncommon with Steven's Advice in the format.

I'd say that Copycat is better than Cynthia's Feelings but not by a long shot, not by as big of a margin as the other two comparisons are. Copycat, if played this format, would be netting the player an average of 6 cards since everyone would be filling their hand to 6 with Claydol every turn. Cynthia normally will net you a brand new hand slightly lower than that, but if used at the right time, can net you a hand slightly higher than that. Of course, in a format with Steven's Advice and 11-12 card hands, Copycat was just as good as Steven's Advice itself, maybe even better.
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The most POTENT draw card modified has ever seen was scientist Matt. Especially since it was played during a time where hand disruption was- with the exception of vaporeon ex- non existant . Players easily drew 10 plus cards every time they would play the card- it was nuts!

Factor in the 4 transceivers you would be playing and scientist wins hands down.

Also , I agree with Chad's post- the attacks today are too unbalanced!!
 
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