Unlimited The Truth: Old School (Base Set - Team Rocket)

[Alazor]

The Truth: Old School (Base Set - Team Rocket)​

Intro (Not as important, you can skip this!):
Mama always said to tell the Truth and she was right. Alakazam is too smart with an IQ of 5000 to be tricked. And doesn't that stink? Dark Vileplume will make sure of that, Dark Vileplume means you're grounded. No supporters, no trainers, no tools, no stadiums (except your room). You pet your pet Tentacool goodnight and fall asleep to the sound of a singing Jigglypuff. You wake up at the pokemon center with some Chansey there and some Doduo that ran away from Imakuni.

Total 27 Pokemon

# Name Set
2 Alakazam Base Set
2 Kadabra Base Set
3 Abra Team Rocket
2 Dark Vileplume Team Rocket
1 Dark Gloom Team Rocket
3 Oddish Team Rocket
3 Wigglytuff Jungle
3 Jigglypuff Jungle
2 Dodrio Jungle
2 Doduo Base Set
2 Chansey Base Set
1 Mr.Mime Jungle
1 Tentacool Fossil
​

Total 18 Trainers

# Name Set

4 Computer Search Base Set
3 Professor Oak Base Set
3 Pokemon Breeder Base Set
3 Pokemon Trader Base Set
2 Challenge! Team Rocket
1 Bill Base Set
2 Item Finder Base Set
​

Total 15 Energy

8 Psychic Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy
3 Full Heal Energy
​

Grand Total 60

Strategy:

Either beat down/stall with Wigglytuff and Chansey early game while you set up your Dark Vileplume and Alakazam. Wigglytuff's sleep condition ensures that your opponent can't attack once in a while, while you hit for 60. That is if they themselves don't play Full Heal energy. Keep on hitting with Wigglytuff the rest of the game. If you notice that you have one prize left and need the extra damage, you can hit with Dodrio for Rage for 70 or if Chansey has the energy, then for 80. Challenge! is there in case you can trick the opponent into setting up Wigglytuff quick.

Evolve Dark Vileplume early if you need to, if you think you can manage to get Dark Gloom and Dodrio benched and Dark Vileplume active. Confuse Dark Vileplume with Dark Gloom's Pokemon Power: Pollen Stench, this will then shut down Dark Vileplume's Pokemon Power: Hayfever, which will allow you to play trainers and evolve Abra into Alakazam. Play Full Heal Energy on Dark Vileplume afterward, and then retreat (or play Switch).

If you are losing somehow and need a way to set back up, send up Mr.Mime and heal up to 20 damage using Tentacool's Cowardice Pokemon Power.

Additions:

I have thought of tinkering with Psyduck (Fossil) and Gust of Wind against Muk (Fossil) or 2 Mewtwo (Movie Promo). Either of those 2 spots could replace Mr.Mime and Tentacool.

 

[Regis_Neo]

I'd consider those movie Mewtwo, they were great back in the day and can self-setup and sweep if you find yourself low on Energy (and as you run no Energy Retrieval and Dark Vileplume, you have a finite supply). I generally dislike the Doduo/Dodrio, it doesn't really lower Retreat Costs that much and you can just go with like Switch over it, though I guess with the Dark Vileplume it's not as practical either to run Switch. Honestly I'd probably go more aggro and opt for Muk over Dark Vileplume and focus more on beatdown with Wigglytuff, that would also let you run more Trainers too.

Be careful of Bill as well, dunno how you or your friends are ruling it, but right now under normal Unlimited rules it would be classified as a Supporter as it was reprinted (unfortunately) as one and as such is ruled as one. So unless you and your buds or whoever are going strictly by the old card text and such and Bill is treated as a Trainer, might want to consider another card.

 

[TRAINER HEZ]

I wouldn't take out Mr.Mime in a deck with damage swap... except for Muk and Goop Gas Attack (which your Vileplume blocks) it can take on any Pokemon turn after turn. I was looking for a Pokemon with a Gust of wind attack in the types you use but all I found was Victreebel (Jungle) with Lure, probably not good :/

If you're into Unlimited formats, have a look at my sig. It's an Unlimited variant that's growing in popularity and the variety of decks you can build (and win with) is huge! Vileplume lock is a good deck here too, though you'd probably want to run the Undaunted one instead / as well. And of course, Jungle Mr.Mime is still a pest -____-''

 

[Alazor]

Wow, so many replies! I appreciate all the effort. This is more of a deck that I was thinking about for a while and am proxying for fun.

I'd consider those movie Mewtwo, they were great back in the day and can self-setup and sweep if you find yourself low on Energy (and as you run no Energy Retrieval and Dark Vileplume, you have a finite supply). I generally dislike the Doduo/Dodrio, it doesn't really lower Retreat Costs that much and you can just go with like Switch over it, though I guess with the Dark Vileplume it's not as practical either to run Switch. Honestly I'd probably go more aggro and opt for Muk over Dark Vileplume and focus more on beatdown with Wigglytuff, that would also let you run more Trainers too.

Be careful of Bill as well, dunno how you or your friends are ruling it, but right now under normal Unlimited rules it would be classified as a Supporter as it was reprinted (unfortunately) as one and as such is ruled as one. So unless you and your buds or whoever are going strictly by the old card text and such and Bill is treated as a Trainer, might want to consider another card.

Yeah, I have noticed that it's hard to get the energy for some games. I think Mewtwo (Movie Promo) or Gastly (Fossil) will work. I'm playing by the "old" rules.

Aerodactyl does nothing for confusion damage, whereas Abra knocks itself out. 2 cards mulligans, retreat as many times as you want.

To me Dodrio and Mewtwo are comparable, but Mewtwo is more flexible since Mewtwo is a basic and I can fit in more then for set up. I could then add 2 Mewtwo (Movie Promo) and a Full Heal Energy. And more trainers.

I wouldn't take out Mr.Mime in a deck with damage swap... except for Muk and Goop Gas Attack (which your Vileplume blocks) it can take on any Pokemon turn after turn. I was looking for a Pokemon with a Gust of wind attack in the types you use but all I found was Victreebel (Jungle) with Lure, probably not good :/

If you're into Unlimited formats, have a look at my sig. It's an Unlimited variant that's growing in popularity and the variety of decks you can build (and win with) is huge! Vileplume lock is a good deck here too, though you'd probably want to run the Undaunted one instead / as well. And of course, Jungle Mr.Mime is still a pest -____-''

I think teching in Gust of Wind would be a better idea, since you could Gust up Muk (your only real threat) and use Lullaby with Wigglytuff. They won't be able to switch out if you still have Dark Vileplume benched and Muk will have Toxic Gas shut down and would be asleep.

I am going to focus on this format for now. I'm scared of posting 1-of decklists for these types of formats. I end up being off some. It does provide variety though from the looks of it.

For now:

-2-2 Dodrio
-1 Kadabra
+1 Full Heal Energy
+2 Mewtwo (Movie Promo)
+1 Professor Oak
+1 Gust of Wind
-1-1 Wigglytuff
+2 Bill

All the fixes listed right above have helped improve this deck tremendously. Taking out the Dodrio will help against Pichu (Neo Genesis) if you want to take this deck further in the format. The Mewtwo's energy acceleration, taking out the stage 1's, extra draw Professor Oak made this run smoother. This is also the same format for the 2nd Japanese Pokemon TCG Gameboy game that was never released in English. This went 1-1 against current modified decks in league. The one win was due to decking.

 

[Alazor]

List Update

Updated list:

Total 22 Pokemon

# Name Set

2 Alakazam Base Set
1 Kadabra Base Set
3 Abra Team Rocket
2 Dark Vileplume Team Rocket
1 Dark Gloom Team Rocket
2 Oddish Team Rocket
2 Wigglytuff Jungle
2 Jigglypuff Jungle
1 Psyduck Fossil
2 Mewtwo Movie Promo
2 Chansey Base Set
1 Mr.Mime Jungle
1 Tentacool Fossil

Total 23 Trainers

# Name Set

4 Computer Search Base Set
4 Professor Oak Base Set
3 Pokemon Breeder Base Set
3 Pokemon Trader Base Set
2 Challenge! Team Rocket
3 Bill Base Set
2 Item Finder Base Set
1 Gust of Wind Base Set
1 Switch Base Set

Total 15 Energy

# Name

7 Psychic Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy
4 Full Heal Energy
​

Explanations below:

Psyduck makes trainer lock possible a turn earlier for 1 Psychic Energy after using Switch on your active. This also helps if my opponent gets out Muk (Fossil). The earliest that an OHKO (One-Hit-Knock-Out) on an Abra or an Oddish followed by a Gust of Wind happens generally turn 1-2. Psyduck (Fossil) and Switch (Base Set) should help counter that.

Psyduck means:​

1) You will be able to attack more often first turn.
2) You do not need Dark Vileplume (Team Rocket) out as quickly when Psyduck attacks.
3) Oddish or Abra will not get Gust of Winded when Psyduck is active and uses its Headache attack.
4) You can still play trainer cards while maintaining trainer lock using Psyduck's Headache attack (Stops my opponent's trainers such as: Lass, Professor Oak, Bill, Energy Removal, Super Energy Removal, Pluspower, Switch, Computer Search, Item Finder) vs. Dark Vileplume's Hayfever Pokemon Power, which is shut down by Muk (Fossil) or Special Conditions.

More Bill, Professor Oak mean:​

1) Able to set up quicker than opponent and stop trainers earlier that way.

Switch and Gust of Wind mean:​

1) Board control: Attaching energy to retreat if you have the wrong active first turn is not needed when you have a Switch (Base Set). Gust of Wind yields free prizes.

Full Heal Energy means:​

1) I can remove status conditions and turn Pokemon Powers back on (if Dark Vileplume is active for example).

I am playing 3 Abra (Team Rocket) and 1 Psyduck (Fossil), because:​

1) Alakazam needs to come out before Dark Vileplume.
2) Psyduck is still relatively easy to get out with a Pokemon Trader, Psychic Energy, and a Switch even with 1 Psyduck in the deck.