Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

raikou will have a bigger impact than mewtwo

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Austino said:
Have you heard of this pokemon called "eelektrik"? Just curious, you know....cause it's one of the most played cards right now in that EelZone deck you might have heard of. He puts energy onto raikou without needing a special energy that is maxed at 4 in the deck, or a tool that decreases attack cost.

I also didn't know if you knew about that huge HP RaikoEX had.

Or the fact that you can run 4, not 1 or 2...

...oh, and he does 100 snipe.
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I would prefer that you keep the condescension to a minimum. I don't spawn opinions out of dark space like some sort of Elder God.

Yes, I have heard of Eelektrik. I know the deck amount limitations of Garchomp's line. I know the large HP that Raikou EX has, as well as his snipe.

It's a state of power creep, of course, so I'd be arguing an uphill battle against Raikou EX. But my argument is within the context of their formats. Raikou, I argue, will never be as good as Garchomp was, and I stand by that statement vehemently. Of course it's a state of power creep, so obviously Raikou will out-muscle Garchomp.

But assuming a viable creep, I'd still choose Garchomp solely because he not only is an incredibly versatile attacker, but he's capable of healing away damage entirely in a single fell swoop. Healing Breath created far more problems than Dragon Rush did, up to the point that entire decks (DialgaChomp) focused on exploiting that Power.

I think Raikou's a great card, yeah. But to say it's better than Garchomp is a bit too far. I don't think Raikou will take the format in the way that Garchomp did.
 
jjkkl said:
I would prefer that you keep the condescension to a minimum. I don't spawn opinions out of dark space like some sort of Elder God.

Yes, I have heard of Eelektrik. I know the deck amount limitations of Garchomp's line. I know the large HP that Raikou EX has, as well as his snipe.

It's a state of power creep, of course, so I'd be arguing an uphill battle against Raikou EX. But my argument is within the context of their formats. Raikou, I argue, will never be as good as Garchomp was, and I stand by that statement vehemently. Of course it's a state of power creep, so obviously Raikou will out-muscle Garchomp.

But assuming a viable creep, I'd still choose Garchomp solely because he not only is an incredibly versatile attacker, but he's capable of healing away damage entirely in a single fell swoop. Healing Breath created far more problems than Dragon Rush did, up to the point that entire decks (DialgaChomp) focused on exploiting that Power.

I think Raikou's a great card, yeah. But to say it's better than Garchomp is a bit too far. I don't think Raikou will take the format in the way that Garchomp did.
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Garchomp didn't take the format though. SP took the format, and garchomp was merely one of the pokemon involved. The SP engine is what made Garchomp C the card that it was.

Raikou EX is a card that requires MUCH less to be as great. Including NOT having to level up to be useful or rely on special energy + pokemon tools.
 
Snipe has always been important in any format. (See LBS, and LuxChomp) but the only reason the those two did as well as they did is because they combined the Pros of Mewtwo and Raikou. The took any energy (or Holon energy in Steelix's case) and were able to function in a great number of decks, not just their own. That's not to say Raikou EX won't do well, it will likely change the format, but it won't be as played as Mewtwo due to its required energy cost.

That's how I view it anyway.
 
Austino said:
Garchomp didn't take the format though. SP took the format, and garchomp was merely one of the pokemon involved. The SP engine is what made Garchomp C the card that it was.

Raikou EX is a card that requires MUCH less to be as great. Including NOT having to level up to be useful or rely on special energy + pokemon tools.
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I think we're going to have to agree to disagree, since I don't find setting up Eelektrik, discarding energy to accelerate and so on and so forth to be any easier than setting up Garchomp.
 
Here, I will agree with jjkkl. I understand that Raikou IS a good card, but Eelektrik attaches to bench, making it a little more awkward to pull off back-to-back snipes. Garchomp just needs another DCE and a PokéTurn.
Also, IMO, the whole 100 is more than 80 arguement doesn't mean an awful lot since they were both used in different formats. Garchomp could 1-shot enemy SPs and a lot of other's like Stage 1's and so on, while Raikou can kill Eelektrik and other Stage 1's.
 
Personally, I think Raikou is the sickest EX we have thus far. One thing we have learned in wake of the Luxchomp format is this: the ability to gust, snipe, and heal is a sick combo. One of the parts of the argument that is being left out is the gust and heal part; Catcher > Luxray and Max Potion > Healing breath. Either way you go, both decks have a potential T2 snipe for a KO, but which can be better sustained? Raikou, easily. Assuming you play the mirror (which was so huge in the Garchomp war), Garchomp had to hit a DCE to snipe. Missed one drop, its not nearly as effective. With Skyarrow bridge and the third energy not having to be electric, its easier to sustain Raikou snipes. And, Raikou will destroy the truth, probably making it not even playable anymore. Terrakion won't be a great counter because it (generally speaking) has to be in play 1 turn before, meaning they can target Terrakion and just not take the KO, rendering it useless. The only real draw back we are talking about here the two prizes it gives up, but not much can OHKO it, nothing can REALLY effectively since Donphan takes 3 turns to power up and Raikou can 2HKO Donphan and both can play Max Potions.

So, really, its pretty pointless to argue as to which is better, but, what the heck, I'm game for pointless conversation: they both have the same tools and abilities, one has higher HP AND does more damage while safely avoiding being OHKO'ed (for now) and the Garchomp war was a OHKO exchange....I'm gonna give Raikou the upper hand, not a little bit, quite a bit.

And, yes, I do realize that Terrakion can be powered up in one turn as a tech in a Raikou/Ell deck and never sit on the bench. But, if that is the case, both players in a mirror will be playing Terrakion and it become a moot point.
 
Oh dear, I had forgotten that he completely ignores Max Potion's cost. I may have underestimated him.
 
@chrataxe Terrakion is a trouble, but he can't OHKO a Eviolited Raikou EX without any PPowers. Raikou can just heal that off with Max Potion.
 
Right now I'm running Zekrom EX/Zekrom/Eel with three Mewtwo, when Raikou comes out I will probably bring the Mewtwo count down to one. I'm excited for this card.
 
Electrode said:
Right now I'm running Zekrom EX/Zekrom/Eel with three Mewtwo, when Raikou comes out I will probably bring the Mewtwo count down to one. I'm excited for this card.
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I'm already considering dropping my count down to one for ZEelZ, just isn't that useful when you have an easy way to KO EXs easily. I'm not even sure if I'll play that many Raikou, since Zapdos a lot of early KOs, for less problems, and less risk.
 
TheRolesWePlay said:
I'm already considering dropping my count down to one for ZEelZ, just isn't that useful when you have an easy way to KO EXs easily. I'm not even sure if I'll play that many Raikou, since Zapdos a lot of early KOs, for less problems, and less risk.
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I have two Zapdos right now. I'll probably test having one Raikou, and then two, and see how it compares to not having any.
 
Hi

Because of Pokemon Catcher

Raikou EX/Eelektrik is like same as LuxChomp were, but 100 isn´t different as 80 dmg

80 dmg for Garchomp C Lv.X was better, because now we have so much HP:s on Basics
Like Uxie LA, Azelf LA, Luxray GL, Garchomp C, Crobat G

All these were HPs less than 80, now we have Zekrom, Reshiram and EXs which has more HPs than 100
But we have Max Potion which sounds great with Raikou EX, because it discards all own energies for attack

If you don´t play DCEs in Raikou EX/Eelektrik, you don´t need Mewtwo EX in it If you don´t want keep tech Mewtwo in it, like we know Mewtwo always OHKOs another Mewtwos

I think I´m gonna try Raikou EX/Eelektrik deck, when I know do we get it in Next Set after Next Destinies
Raikou needs somethink else attacker in it, because it´s too slow to get started in his own... Like Thundurus is great pantner, it´s faster startter than Raikou

Raikou has free Retreat with Skyarrow Bridge, which is incredible with this HIGH HP like EXs has
Most EXs has 3 or 4 Retreat Cost like we know

3 Max Potions
4 Junk Arms
4 Pokemon Catchers

From this I will start to build this deck
 
I agree with a lot of what magneels said. I just hope raikou doesn't start off at 60+ like mewtwo :/

Luxchomp had a lot going for it. SP Engine, self healing, oneshot basics
but
Raikou has a lot going for it as well. High hp, eel acceleration, free retreat with skyarrow bridge, pokemon catcher.

while in different formats, the concept will remain much the same. I don't think Raikou will be as dominant because they will print more cards to compete with it to balance the game. But this will be a very good basis for a deck.
 
I'll offer my two cents, with the warning that it is me, and if you don't know me I am basically watching from the sidelines, plus while I've been with the English release of Pokemon since the beginning, I've had multiple hiatuses and my last one meant I missed almost all of the SP format.

Still, my experience has taught me never to underestimate subgroups within cards. Pokemon SP had so many options going for it. Head to head, Raikou is bigger, hits harder, is a Basic, and can be run at four per deck if desired; the only downside is the two Prize penalty with the anticipated card pool. Garchomp was a Level-Up card (a pseudo-Stage 1 that shares slots with the Basic is "levels up" from), smaller, and didn't hit as hard, but it enjoyed all the SP tricks. Yeah that meant it was vulnerable to some counters that don't currently exist for Pokemon EX, but the whole package that was Pokemon SP and the formats they were available in means I don't expect Raikou EX to have the same impact.

Having just seen this card (I've been a bit distracted by life ;) ) my first impression is that this will be played and function as a dangerous sniper, but anything more is pure conjecture. Formats where past snipers have been potent didn't have Pokemon Catcher. Similar cards? Sure, but not something as good as Pokemon Catcher. Head to head Raikou EX is better, but factoring in everything Garchomp LvX had more going for it, such as more promising sniping targets to OHKO.

Raikou EX will be at least a signature TecH card for Eelektrik decks. Slam into Trainer denial? Laugh and snipe the Bench they want to protect. Raikou EX isn't the only sniper, though, and Zapdos has three things going for it:

1) Not a Pokemon EX (120 HP is still good and it won't cost you two Prizes)
2) Hits only for 50 but doesn't shed all its :lightning: Energy and can make use of DCE for a first turn snipe!
3) If you "have" to hit an Active Pokemon hard, Zapdos has at least a shot at it. A "bad" big attack can still be a good thing.
4) Fighting Resistance instead of Weakness; very important for a deck that is almost all Fighting Weak.

Zapdos is not better than Raikou EX, but I think its features make the two a pair: Raikou needs that good set-up to do more than stall. Neither can attack first turn without help, but with just a single :lightning: and a Double Colorless Energy Zapdos is ready to snipe second turn. Raikou needs yet another turn and after attacking under such circumstances may shed all its energy if you don't have an off-type Energy attached to cover the :colorless: cost of its attack.

If we want to see a general Big Bad Basic Pokemon sniper, it will be Zapdos: most such decks already make use of Double Colorless Energy and Prism Energy (at least if that's out yet - like I said I've been busy and sounds like I missed the Pre-releases the way people talk). It isn't happy to require two special Energy, but for a 120 HP basic that snipes for 50 points of damage and can make a big desperation attack before being KOed for one extra Energy of any Type, it is just fine.

tl;dr: With what we know right now, I assume Mewtwo EX will be the more common "big Pokemon EX attacker" whether on or off-type for the deck, the other big Basic attackers will still be around and swinging, and Zapdos is the splashed in TecH sniper. For actual :lightning: decks, Raikou EX will at least be in as a TecH copy, bumping a Zapdos. Could be more than that, though.
 
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