Politoed666
New Member
So, I'm calling this deck LuxTrode. I spent a few hours on Friday playing around with various Luxray GL combinations before finally deciding to go with Luxray GL/Electrode SW for League on Saturday. After winning every game I played, including a nice one against Ben Moscow's World-caliber Dialga G/Palkia G deck, I figured it would be worth it to post it on the Gym for some constructive criticism and for others to see it.
Note that I also tried Luxray/Kingdra, and that didn't work out so well. The reason I settled on LuxTrode is fairly simple... They're both the same type, first off. This makes things infinitely easier, since all the energies needed to attack are searchable, and I don't have to worry about not being able to draw into the right type of energy if I need to attack with Luxray. Secondly, the combination of being able to bring up the opponent's Claydol and OHKO it while still being able to hit for big damage the next turn is absolutely HUGE. Additionally, both cards have free retreat, making it much easier to switch Pokémon around and level up Luxray GL. The list of reasons why LuxTrode is a good combination really goes on and on, but without further ado, let's get to the decklist, strategy, and matchups.
Decklist
2x Luxray GL Lv.X
2x Luxray GL
4x Electrode SW
4x Voltorb SW
2x Claydol GE
2x Baltoy GE
1x Crobat G
1x Uxie LA
2x Unown G
3x Roseanne's Research
3x Bebe's Search
2x Cyrus's Conspiracy
4x Dusk Ball
2x Poké Radar
1x SP Radar
1x Energy Gain
3x Poké Turn
1x Luxury Ball
2x PlusPower
2x Switch
2x Night Maintenance
1x Warp Point
3x Broken Time-Space
4x Call Energy
5x Lightning Energy
Strategy
LuxTrode functions similarly to LuxApe in some ways, and very differently in others. Both decks function well to kill the opponent's draw by forcing up Claydol and OHKOing it. At the same time, LuxTrode does not have access to SP Radar to set up more quickly with Electrodes, but it DOES have the ability to recover very quickly from a KO through Night Maintenance, Broken Time-Space, and most of all, Electrode's Energy Shift Poké Power.
The basic outline of the strategy is really very simple; bring up the opponent's drawing support with Luxray GL Lv.X, kill it with Electrode the cripple the opponent's recovery options, and sweep with Electrode and Luxray GL when necessary. Although consistency is frankly a problem once in awhile, if LuxTrode can stay alive until the lategame, it opens up many options. For instance, if Poké Turns can be conserved and both basic Luxray GLs are on the field with the X in the hand, Energy Gain and a single energy can break the game. Poké Turn, bring up the other Luxray, bench the first, Level Up, Energy Gain, attach, hit for sixty... every turn. It's better than it sounds, and easier to do.
Matchups
Dialga G/Palkia G - This matchup is in LuxTrode's favor. Because the opponent has low HP and Luxtrode is not especially dependent on bench space, DGPG is a fairly easy matchup. A lesser point is that the deck has weakness on Palkia G.
DLP - For the same reasons as Legos, this matchup is in LuxTrode's favor. Being able to OHKO the deck's attacking basics, combined with Crobat G and PlusPowers to OHKO Dialga G Lv.X or Luxray GL Lv.X really tips the game. Yes, Luxray can help DLP out here, but it also slows the deck down, which hurts it.
Palkia Lock - As I found out the other day, being power locked even for several turns does not hurt LuxTrode that much, partly due to Call Energy and partly due to the fact that, as soon as the power lock breaks, LuxTrode will rip the game open. Weakness on Palkia G also helps tremendously.
Mother Gengar - Gengar is a tougher matchup than SP variants, but still not as tough as one might think. Although LuxTrode uses a fair number of powers, the real key here is KOing Gengar's drawing support and rendering both Nidoqueen and Fainting Spell useless through OHKOing Gengars with Electrode + PlusPower or Crobat G. It's all in how the matchup is played, here.
Dark Flygon - Resistance plus the possible use of the SW Flygon makes this an extremely difficult matchup. No real way to win here except KOing the opponent's Claydol(s) and chipping away with Luxray and/or Electrode when needed.
LuxApe - The big one. This match could really go either way, but I would say it is slightly in LuxTrode's favor since Electrode requires fewer energies to attack than LuxApe does. Then again, LuxApe is able to utilize Power Spray and SP Radar without fail, which can tip the match. It really all depends on which is able to set up more successfully and which can KO the opposition's drawing support first.
Machamp - The only deck that's pretty much autoloss. Weakness + high HP + KOing basics makes this unwinnable.
Blastcatty - This has been debated high and low, but top cutting at Illinois states with it has shown me that it really will always be a force to be reckoned with, for anyone brave enough to play it. In any case, here it's pretty much autowin for LuxTrode due to weakness and easy OHKOs.
Kingdra - Again, the ability to OHKO Kingdras with Electrodes early, take out drawing support, and sweep with Luxray GL late in the game makes this an extremely easy matchup.
Speedrill - The ability to take out Clayol is huge here, since it makes it harder for them to recover from a KO. PlusPowers and Crobat G are a godsend here, since it puts Beedrills in OHKO range. Winnable for LuxTrode.
I can include more matchups upon request. Please give me your thoughts.
Note that I also tried Luxray/Kingdra, and that didn't work out so well. The reason I settled on LuxTrode is fairly simple... They're both the same type, first off. This makes things infinitely easier, since all the energies needed to attack are searchable, and I don't have to worry about not being able to draw into the right type of energy if I need to attack with Luxray. Secondly, the combination of being able to bring up the opponent's Claydol and OHKO it while still being able to hit for big damage the next turn is absolutely HUGE. Additionally, both cards have free retreat, making it much easier to switch Pokémon around and level up Luxray GL. The list of reasons why LuxTrode is a good combination really goes on and on, but without further ado, let's get to the decklist, strategy, and matchups.
Decklist
2x Luxray GL Lv.X
2x Luxray GL
4x Electrode SW
4x Voltorb SW
2x Claydol GE
2x Baltoy GE
1x Crobat G
1x Uxie LA
2x Unown G
3x Roseanne's Research
3x Bebe's Search
2x Cyrus's Conspiracy
4x Dusk Ball
2x Poké Radar
1x SP Radar
1x Energy Gain
3x Poké Turn
1x Luxury Ball
2x PlusPower
2x Switch
2x Night Maintenance
1x Warp Point
3x Broken Time-Space
4x Call Energy
5x Lightning Energy
Strategy
LuxTrode functions similarly to LuxApe in some ways, and very differently in others. Both decks function well to kill the opponent's draw by forcing up Claydol and OHKOing it. At the same time, LuxTrode does not have access to SP Radar to set up more quickly with Electrodes, but it DOES have the ability to recover very quickly from a KO through Night Maintenance, Broken Time-Space, and most of all, Electrode's Energy Shift Poké Power.
The basic outline of the strategy is really very simple; bring up the opponent's drawing support with Luxray GL Lv.X, kill it with Electrode the cripple the opponent's recovery options, and sweep with Electrode and Luxray GL when necessary. Although consistency is frankly a problem once in awhile, if LuxTrode can stay alive until the lategame, it opens up many options. For instance, if Poké Turns can be conserved and both basic Luxray GLs are on the field with the X in the hand, Energy Gain and a single energy can break the game. Poké Turn, bring up the other Luxray, bench the first, Level Up, Energy Gain, attach, hit for sixty... every turn. It's better than it sounds, and easier to do.
Matchups
Dialga G/Palkia G - This matchup is in LuxTrode's favor. Because the opponent has low HP and Luxtrode is not especially dependent on bench space, DGPG is a fairly easy matchup. A lesser point is that the deck has weakness on Palkia G.
DLP - For the same reasons as Legos, this matchup is in LuxTrode's favor. Being able to OHKO the deck's attacking basics, combined with Crobat G and PlusPowers to OHKO Dialga G Lv.X or Luxray GL Lv.X really tips the game. Yes, Luxray can help DLP out here, but it also slows the deck down, which hurts it.
Palkia Lock - As I found out the other day, being power locked even for several turns does not hurt LuxTrode that much, partly due to Call Energy and partly due to the fact that, as soon as the power lock breaks, LuxTrode will rip the game open. Weakness on Palkia G also helps tremendously.
Mother Gengar - Gengar is a tougher matchup than SP variants, but still not as tough as one might think. Although LuxTrode uses a fair number of powers, the real key here is KOing Gengar's drawing support and rendering both Nidoqueen and Fainting Spell useless through OHKOing Gengars with Electrode + PlusPower or Crobat G. It's all in how the matchup is played, here.
Dark Flygon - Resistance plus the possible use of the SW Flygon makes this an extremely difficult matchup. No real way to win here except KOing the opponent's Claydol(s) and chipping away with Luxray and/or Electrode when needed.
LuxApe - The big one. This match could really go either way, but I would say it is slightly in LuxTrode's favor since Electrode requires fewer energies to attack than LuxApe does. Then again, LuxApe is able to utilize Power Spray and SP Radar without fail, which can tip the match. It really all depends on which is able to set up more successfully and which can KO the opposition's drawing support first.
Machamp - The only deck that's pretty much autoloss. Weakness + high HP + KOing basics makes this unwinnable.
Blastcatty - This has been debated high and low, but top cutting at Illinois states with it has shown me that it really will always be a force to be reckoned with, for anyone brave enough to play it. In any case, here it's pretty much autowin for LuxTrode due to weakness and easy OHKOs.
Kingdra - Again, the ability to OHKO Kingdras with Electrodes early, take out drawing support, and sweep with Luxray GL late in the game makes this an extremely easy matchup.
Speedrill - The ability to take out Clayol is huge here, since it makes it harder for them to recover from a KO. PlusPowers and Crobat G are a godsend here, since it puts Beedrills in OHKO range. Winnable for LuxTrode.
I can include more matchups upon request. Please give me your thoughts.
