Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

[NXD-On] Empire + Leafeon

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Scizor Master CLR

New Member
Hello again! This deck started out as a Kindgra/Empoleon deck. I ended up switching their roles so Empoleon would be the main attacker with Kingdra's damage spread would take multiple KOs. Now with Mr. Mime popping up all the time I decided to remove the 2-2 Kingdra line I was running and replaced it with a 2-2 Dusknoir line. It worked fine for the most part but I had a really hard time with Blastoise and Plasma so I added a 2-2 Leafeon PLF line (which also helps against Darkrai mid-late game!) and a Sawk PLB for Thundrus EX and Absol. Here's my deck list as of today:

Pokemon: 21
4 Piplup (DEX)
2 Prinplup (DEX)
4 Empoleon (DEX)

2 Duskull (BCR)
2 Dusknoir (BCR)

2 Eevee (PLF)
2 Leafeon (PLF)

1 Exeggcute (PLF)
2 Sawk (PLB)

Trainers: 32
4 Skyla
4 N
3 Professor Juniper
1 Colress

4 Rare Candy
2 Max Potion
3 Silver Bangle
3 Level Ball
3 Ultra Ball
2 Switch
1 Tool Scrapper
1 Super Rod

1 Dowsing Machine

Energy: 7
7 Water Energy
Click to expand...

Plasma and Darkrai are now running rampant in my area so I decided to add another Sawk to the deck to help. Super Roding the single Sawk after it was KOed is not fast enough for my taste so I added another one. The deck had a record of 15-6 before I added the extra Sawk, removed one Colress in favor of another N and removed a Water Energy in favor of another Skyla. I now have to see how I do with 7 energies instead of 8 and see how that goes. Thoughts? :D
 
I do not run Sawk at all in my deck version, but I do run 1 Mr. Mime and 1 Terrakion (1HKOs Darkrai EXs or Thundurus EXs) which I've found to be very, very useful.
 
TuxedoBlack said:
I do not run Sawk at all in my deck version, but I do run 1 Mr. Mime and 1 Terrakion (1HKOs Darkrai EXs or Thundurus EXs) which I've found to be very, very useful.
Click to expand...

I'm going to try that approach. I went to a League Challenge on Sunday and there was Plasma EVERYWHERE. Out of 39 players there were only 2 of us running Empoleon with me being the only one running Dusknoir with it. Everyone else ran Plasma, VirGen and Darkrai/Hydreigon. I managed to finish 9th with a 4-2-0 score.

Round 1: BYE (1-0-0)

Round 2: Plasma
This was against one of y friends. His Thundurus EX ate my Piplups during the first game. Second game went a little better until He brought Thundurus EX out. I KO his Thundy EX and he sets up another one. My Sawk + Bangle gets KOed and my second one was prized. =\ 1-1-0

Round 3: Exploud/Meloetta EX

This was an interesting deck but way too slow without energy acceleration. It was easy to sweep with Empoleon + Bangle. 2-1-0

Round 4: Wailord/Rock Guard
I have no idea what this deck was all about but it was an easy win. 3-1-0

Round 5: Blastoise/Keldeo EX/Black Kyurem EX

He had a flawless set up and did 4 Black Ballista in a row. His deck started crawling after that. Empoleon and Dusknoir helped me KO his Blastoise and BK EX and my Leafeon + Bangle KOed his 2 Keldeos. 4-1-0

Round 6: Plasma
Another friend of mine. I started with all Piplups and he with Thundy EX. Both games ended in less than 8 turns. LOL
Click to expand...


I think I did great for a first timer and the deck still has a lot of potential. I just need a good way to deal with Thundy EX. I want to try Terrakion but I being forced to run Blend Energy is not very appealing to me in this deck. Maybe like this?

-2 Sawk PLB
-2 Water Energy

+1 Terrakion NVI/LTR
+3 Blend Energy WLMF
 
Big props to you on your tournament results as a "first timer;" you did quite well.

Now, I better understand why you ran 2 Sawk since there was a significant number of Team Plasma deck players. I suspect most of those TP deck players did not have more than 3 Deoxys EXs benched; so, your Empoleons were usually 2HKOd. If that was the case, then your Max Potions are very helpful. Maybe 1 Sawk and 1 Terrakion may be a better F Poké option?

I've also found that I need to run 2 Super Rods since most of the basic Poké are quite fragile. I also run 3 basic F energy and no Blend. The F energy can be retrieved by Super Rod and if my opponent does run Crushing Hammer (some do here), then he/she has a 50-50 chance of discarding it.

Like you, I ran 3 Level Balls for awhile, but found myself behind since those Piplups are easily 1HKOd. Try removing all 3 Level Balls and replaced them with the 100 HP, Colorless Kangaskhan that has a Call for Family attack (for C energy cost). Although this Poké has a 2 energy retreat cost, I've found it to really help with setup consistency. It also won't be easily donked either.

By the way, did those TP deck players also play Frozen City Stadium? If so, then you may want to consider adding 1-2 Stadiums just to counter FC Stadium. Those 2 damage counters placed on any of your attackers will place them into 1HKO range by several TP Poké.
 
Last edited:
RichD said:
Well if Plasma is the problem you could go the defensive route and tech in Silver Mirrors.
Click to expand...
As a Kyurem-Deoxys-Thundurus player, I feel Silver Mirrors offer no (or temporary, at best) protection since many/most Team Plasma decks run multiple Tool Scrappers. The SMs would just be Scrappered away before the defending Poké is still attacked/KOd.
 
TuxedoBlack said:
Big props to you on your tournament results as a "first timer;" you did quite well.

Now, I better understand why you ran 2 Sawk since there was a significant number of Team Plasma deck players. I suspect most of those TP deck players did not have more than 3 Deoxys EXs benched; so, your Empoleons were usually 2HKOd. If that was the case, then your Max Potions are very helpful. Maybe 1 Sawk and 1 Terrakion may be a better F Poké option?

I've also found that I need to run 2 Super Rods since most of the basic Poké are quite fragile. I also run 3 basic F energy and no Blend. The F energy can be retrieved by Super Rod and if my opponent does run Crushing Hammer (some do here), then he/she has a 50-50 chance of discarding it.

Like you, I ran 3 Level Balls for awhile, but found myself behind since those Piplups are easily 1HKOd. Try removing all 3 Level Balls and replaced them with the 100 HP, Colorless Kangaskhan that has a Call for Family attack (for C energy cost). Although this Poké has a 2 energy retreat cost, I've found it to really help with setup consistency. It also won't be easily donked either.

By the way, did those TP deck players also play Frozen City Stadium? If so, then you may want to consider adding 1-2 Stadiums just to counter FC Stadium. Those 2 damage counters placed on any of your attackers will place them into 1HKO range by several TP Poké.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I'm going to try running 1 Sawk and 1 Terrakion with a couple of basic fighting energy. Refuse to give up on this deck because of one card.

I really liked using Kangaskhan for a good setup before the rule changes. After the changes the deck felt like it took too long to set up, especially if I had to go first. I removed the Kangaskhan in favor of the Level Balls and the change in speed was very noticeable. My Pokémon count is high enough as it is. If only Pokémon Communication were still legal. =\

I ran into Frozen City a couple of times but they weren't much of a problem compared to big bad Thundy EX. lol

RichD said:
Well if Plasma is the problem you could go the defensive route and tech in Silver Mirrors.
Click to expand...

I tried them and they rarely worked. They would just get scrappered away. :/
 
Last edited:
I agree with the assessment of temporary at best for Silver Mirror but with Scizor Master running a Max Potion setup, stretching things for just one more turn is sometimes all you need.

On a more practical note, before Leafeon became a thing, I was testing a version that ran Cobalion and Terrakion with Blend energies and energy switch. Plasma isn't very popular in my area and Blastoise is so I stopped tinkering with it and went the Leafeon route. The consistency was OK but enhanced hammer really ruined your day.
 
RichD said:
I agree with the assessment of temporary at best for Silver Mirror but with Scizor Master running a Max Potion setup, stretching things for just one more turn is sometimes all you need.

On a more practical note, before Leafeon became a thing, I was testing a version that ran Cobalion and Terrakion with Blend energies and energy switch. Plasma isn't very popular in my area and Blastoise is so I stopped tinkering with it and went the Leafeon route. The consistency was OK but enhanced hammer really ruined your day.
Click to expand...

I tried the Terrakion + Blend Energy approach for a few days after the LC and those Enhanced Hammers had me wanting to flip the table over. I never got the chance to attack with Terrakion because of them. I'll try testing Terrakion/Sawl/Basic Fighting Energy this coming week. Here's yet another update to my deck list:

Pokémon: 21
4 Piplup (DEX)
2 Prinplup (DEX)
4 Empoleon (DEX)

2 Duskull (BCR)
2 Dusknoir (BCR)

2 Eevee (PLF)
2 Leafeon (PLF)

1 Exeggcute (PLF)
1 Terrakion (NVI)
1 Sawk (PLB)

Trainers: 32
4 Skyla
4 N
2 Professor Juniper
2 Colress

4 Rare Candy
2 Max Potion
2 Silver Bangle
2 Level Ball
3 Ultra Ball
2 Switch
1 Tool Scrapper
2 Super Rod
1 Energy Search

1 Dowsing Machine

Energy: 7
5 Water Energy
2 Fighting Energy
Click to expand...

I added an Energy search in case I find myself in a situation where I need a Fighting Energy. It also adds bit of consistency in case I find myself without energy (Skyla -> Energy Search). It hasn't happened often but it has happened.

I removed a Level Ball in favor of a Super Rod because I keep finding myself Super Roding to alleviate the effect of early discards via Juniper and then needing that 3rd Leafeon or 5th Empoleon during the late game to help me out of a tight situation.



I really hope I can get this deck to stand a chance against Thundurus EX. There's a CC 2 weeks from now and I really want to compete with this deck because I have fun with it! If I can't get it to work I'll be using my Plasma deck. I need to have a chance at Top 8 to somehow justify the travel expenses. lol
 
I too run 1 Energy Search. But, I also run 6 W and 3 F energy. I found this combo provided access to needed energy more consistently.

I also like running 2 Super Rods since the basic poke in this deck are so "fragile" and easily KOd.
 
I keep having a hard time playing against Thundy EX. I now manage to put up a good fight but I still lose by a prize or two. :/

I'm just going to accept it's a bad match-up and focus on other aspects of the deck. Hopefully I won't run into many of them at next weekend's Cities Championship. lol
 
Plasma is a real bummer, but what was nice is being able to bring up a Deoxys or something else not named Thundurus, attack, then either spread damage to Thundurus for a later KO, or bring up Thundurus next turn (unless they bring it up on their own), then bringing damage to it and KOing it.

Empoleon can thankfully survive a Raiden Knuckle a high percentage of the time.

It's how I handled my matchup, and he constantly had Thundurus and Lugia wanting to come after me loaded. This was without Sawk, Terrakion, or any other favorable matchup vs Plasma.. so I will be adjusting the decklist after the most recent City.


Although plasma really isn't all over the place right now, I'm contemplating a Silver Mirror for the late lol.
 
I realize this post is kinda late-ish, but I'be been looking into this deck for a tourney I would like to go to and a friend of mine says the area runs mostly VirGen.. Any advice for running against them?
 
I've tweaked my Empoleon deck again to include Landorus EX instead of Terrakion. Lando is a much better attacker and can also snipe an opponent's unprotected (i.e., no Mr. Mime) benched Poké. In the case of starting against an opponent's Thundurus EX, Lando handles that Poké with no issues. Of course, Thundy's Poké pal, Kyurem (PF), can frighten Lando, but that risk can be mitigated by either Leafeon or Empoleon.

IMHO, Empoleon has no good counter to a Team Plasma deck's Lugia EX. In fact, that Poké is the key in winning the Empoleon matchup, IMHO.
 
Last edited:
castre said:
I realize this post is kinda late-ish, but I'be been looking into this deck for a tourney I would like to go to and a friend of mine says the area runs mostly VirGen.. Any advice for running against them?
Click to expand...

I still haven't had the chance to face a good VirGen deck. My guess is that the best way to deal with that matchup is to get them Bangles on Empoleon out ASAP, have a Leafeon ready (or flareon if you tech one) and spread as much damage as you can before Genesect EX starts rampaging. I honestly have no clue.
 
I second the Flareon Tech if you expect many VirGen and maybe a second Tool Scrapper to get rid of G-Booster. Unfortunately, VirGen is just a tough match-up for Empoleon. Use the usual strategy and hope for the best.
 
castre said:
I realize this post is kinda late-ish, but I'be been looking into this deck for a tourney I would like to go to and a friend of mine says the area runs mostly VirGen.. Any advice for running against them?
Click to expand...
Two thoughts:

  • Leafeon can be your primary counter. Bangles help a lot too. Both of these ideas have been mentioned, but I just want to emphasize the point.
  • "Tanking" your Empoleons with Max Potions frustrates the VirGen deck players too. Since, they must G Booster the Empoleon to 1HKO the Empoloen. But by that time, you should have lots of damage counters in play to KO the primary threats.
 
Yes, remember Empoleon isn't grass weak.

Also know that if each side has at least 3 Benched Pokemon, Empoleon is 2HKOing all their Pokemon with a Bangle.

It's not a favorable matchup, but it's also not a horribly lost one. There will be small chances in there.



I want to tech in 1 silver mirror in mine.. but there is honestly like... no room for it.
 
Mirror's almost not worth the tech in though, cuz it usually gets scrapper'd.

And I think it's actually do-able now that I think about it. Both Leafeon and Flareon have potentials to OHKO Genesect. Not quite too easily, but damage spread from Dusknoir can make it happen.
 
Hi there,

Here is my go on Empoleon. I accept suggestions, maybe fit in a terrakion (retaliate) or sawk PLB to counter plasma/darkai ex or flareon plasma to counter virgen deck.

Pokémon: 20

4 Piplup DEX
2 Prinplup DEX
4 Empoleon DEX
2 Eevee PLF
2 Leafeon PLF
2 Duskull BCR
1 Dusknoir BCR
1 Exeggcute PLF
1 Mr Mime PLF
1 Spiritomb LTR

S/S/I: 33

1 Tropical Beach
4 N
4 Juniper
1 Colress
3 Skyla
4 Ultra ball
3 Level ball
2 Super rod
4 Rare Candy
2 Scape rope
1 Giant cape
1 Silver bangle
1 Tool scrapper
1 Town map
1 Energy search

Energy: 7

7 Water
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top