Professor Sycamore
Active Member
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why a deck is named in a certain manner? Have you built a deck and you’re still looking for a good name that will catch on? Well, This article is for you. Through the seasons of playing Pokemon, I’ve seen a whole lot of decks come in and out of rotation. And a lot of the common ones have had some good names that seemed to have stuck. Most of these names stuck because they have followed the rules of naming a Pokemon deck. Rules to naming a Pokemon deck?! Preposterous! Yes, despite there not being a written law, a good number of decks have been following this partner all throughout the EX series. This article is going to show you the different common ways that people have named their decks. There is one more note before reading this. This goes by the rules that have been made by the Pokemon Community. These don’t necessary follow the guidelines used for the Official Pokemon Starter and World Championship decks.
Rules for naming decks
There are some things that you have to look at when you're naming your deck. One thing is what does your deck do? As you saw, a lot of decks have what they do in the deck name. Another is what are the primary cards? What are the main attackers/auxiliary cards in the deck. The cards that combo together. What are the special Techs for the deck? Sometimes the deck changes in name because of the techs. Case in point the different Gengar decks, from Speedgar, Vilegar, Lostgar, to Cursegar. While this is important there are certain cards that don't go into the deck name. For one, the common staples. What's the difference between a staple and a tech? A staple are the common cards that are in about 90% of decks to keep them consistent. I.E., Uxie, Bebe's Search, Claydol(last season). A tech is a card or cards that are used in only a few decks to help solidify the deck or protect it. It's also a card to support the deck itself, E.I., Zangoose PT, Vileplume UD, Ninetales HS, Relicanth SV, Technical Machine TS-2, Toxicroak G DP41, Crobat G PT, etc.
Types of deck names
I’m going to begin with the type of deck names out there. Seeing the different types of ways that people name their deck will help in naming them. Each type of naming comes in handy depending on what type of deck you have. Please note: Deck names that are marked by a * are decks that I created.
1. Direct Naming
This type is basically just naming it after your primary Pokemon. They are usually your primary attacker(s), or the primary attack and it’s main supporter. When it uses two pokemon in the direct naming it's usually because the two pokemon doesn't sound right together. (I.E. Scizrim).
Examples:
Donphan*,
Scizor/Cherrim.
Metagross/Steelix.
Inferape/Delcatty,
Muk EX.
Medicham EX.
Special Cases
One type of popular naming that I would let fall into the Direct Naming category is the Variant variety. Variant decks tend to have the same attackers, but go about in different ways. The main attackers are usually the same, but the techs are completely different.
Examples:
Swampert Variants,
Gardevoir Variants,
Abomasnow Variants*,
Gyarados Variants,
Flygon EX Variants
2. Abbreviating/Acronyms:
This style of naming is usually used when there are three main attackers/supporters for the deck. This is the best way to name a deck with three key Pokemon. Letter order of this style is actually a semantic process, meaning whatever sounds better when you say it.
Examples:
BLG,
LBS,
ZRE.
SAM*
3. Dual Compounding:
This is the most popular way of naming decks. It is where you take the names of the primary Pokemon. There are rules when it comes to compounding. The first syllable is usually the first syllable or syllables of one Pokemon. The second part is usually the last syllable or syllables of the other pokemon.
Example:
Dragtrode,
Flariados,
Metanite,
Luxchomp,
Maggron*
Vilegar
4. Single Compounding:
This type of naming is quite similar to the Dual Compounding. The difference is that the deck is surrounding around a single Pokemon. It's being combined with a word that is generally a description of what the deck does.
Examples:
Palkia Lock,
Sablelock,
Speedrill,
Dark Flygon,
Shuppet Donk.
5. Derivational:
These are some of the most creative names that we've seen. Derivational names of decks are those names that takes something in real life and is applied to the deck name. This may include some Pokemon Jargon or something that deals with entertainment. This style really shows the creativity of the world of Pokemon.
Examples:
Monarchy
Please note that Monarchy Decks are decks that use Nidoking and Nidoqueen as the main attackers
Absolution,
Magma,
Lady Gaga,
Hurricane.
Legos,
Rabies.
Skittles,
Helix.
Cover 2 Defense*,
Conclusion
Now that you've read this, it shouldn't be a problem to name your deck. It usually comes naturally, but one more thing to realize about naming your deck is whether or not it sound correctly to the ears. As in why is it Luxchomp and not Gar-Ray? What's better, GenPlume or Vilegar? Why is it BLG and not LGB or GLB? It's all about how it sounds. Is it catchy? Does roll off the lips easier? There can be some interesting combinations of names when you get the Pokemon that work together. I.E., my nephew cam up with the deck name Champion from Garchomp/Empoleon (forming Chompeon, which sounds like champion)
Thanks for reading the article.
Special Thanks
Cyrus
Milan P.
P.S.: Just for a little fun, how about you come up with some deck names that would be epic to have.
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why a deck is named in a certain manner? Have you built a deck and you’re still looking for a good name that will catch on? Well, This article is for you. Through the seasons of playing Pokemon, I’ve seen a whole lot of decks come in and out of rotation. And a lot of the common ones have had some good names that seemed to have stuck. Most of these names stuck because they have followed the rules of naming a Pokemon deck. Rules to naming a Pokemon deck?! Preposterous! Yes, despite there not being a written law, a good number of decks have been following this partner all throughout the EX series. This article is going to show you the different common ways that people have named their decks. There is one more note before reading this. This goes by the rules that have been made by the Pokemon Community. These don’t necessary follow the guidelines used for the Official Pokemon Starter and World Championship decks.
Rules for naming decks
There are some things that you have to look at when you're naming your deck. One thing is what does your deck do? As you saw, a lot of decks have what they do in the deck name. Another is what are the primary cards? What are the main attackers/auxiliary cards in the deck. The cards that combo together. What are the special Techs for the deck? Sometimes the deck changes in name because of the techs. Case in point the different Gengar decks, from Speedgar, Vilegar, Lostgar, to Cursegar. While this is important there are certain cards that don't go into the deck name. For one, the common staples. What's the difference between a staple and a tech? A staple are the common cards that are in about 90% of decks to keep them consistent. I.E., Uxie, Bebe's Search, Claydol(last season). A tech is a card or cards that are used in only a few decks to help solidify the deck or protect it. It's also a card to support the deck itself, E.I., Zangoose PT, Vileplume UD, Ninetales HS, Relicanth SV, Technical Machine TS-2, Toxicroak G DP41, Crobat G PT, etc.
Types of deck names
I’m going to begin with the type of deck names out there. Seeing the different types of ways that people name their deck will help in naming them. Each type of naming comes in handy depending on what type of deck you have. Please note: Deck names that are marked by a * are decks that I created.
1. Direct Naming
This type is basically just naming it after your primary Pokemon. They are usually your primary attacker(s), or the primary attack and it’s main supporter. When it uses two pokemon in the direct naming it's usually because the two pokemon doesn't sound right together. (I.E. Scizrim).
Examples:
Donphan*,
Scizor/Cherrim.
Metagross/Steelix.
Inferape/Delcatty,
Muk EX.
Medicham EX.
Special Cases
One type of popular naming that I would let fall into the Direct Naming category is the Variant variety. Variant decks tend to have the same attackers, but go about in different ways. The main attackers are usually the same, but the techs are completely different.
Examples:
Swampert Variants,
Gardevoir Variants,
Abomasnow Variants*,
Gyarados Variants,
Flygon EX Variants
2. Abbreviating/Acronyms:
This style of naming is usually used when there are three main attackers/supporters for the deck. This is the best way to name a deck with three key Pokemon. Letter order of this style is actually a semantic process, meaning whatever sounds better when you say it.
Examples:
BLG,
LBS,
ZRE.
SAM*
3. Dual Compounding:
This is the most popular way of naming decks. It is where you take the names of the primary Pokemon. There are rules when it comes to compounding. The first syllable is usually the first syllable or syllables of one Pokemon. The second part is usually the last syllable or syllables of the other pokemon.
Example:
Dragtrode,
Flariados,
Metanite,
Luxchomp,
Maggron*
Vilegar
4. Single Compounding:
This type of naming is quite similar to the Dual Compounding. The difference is that the deck is surrounding around a single Pokemon. It's being combined with a word that is generally a description of what the deck does.
Examples:
Palkia Lock,
Sablelock,
Speedrill,
Dark Flygon,
Shuppet Donk.
5. Derivational:
These are some of the most creative names that we've seen. Derivational names of decks are those names that takes something in real life and is applied to the deck name. This may include some Pokemon Jargon or something that deals with entertainment. This style really shows the creativity of the world of Pokemon.
Examples:
Monarchy
Please note that Monarchy Decks are decks that use Nidoking and Nidoqueen as the main attackers
Absolution,
Magma,
Lady Gaga,
Hurricane.
Legos,
Rabies.
Skittles,
Helix.
Cover 2 Defense*,
Conclusion
Now that you've read this, it shouldn't be a problem to name your deck. It usually comes naturally, but one more thing to realize about naming your deck is whether or not it sound correctly to the ears. As in why is it Luxchomp and not Gar-Ray? What's better, GenPlume or Vilegar? Why is it BLG and not LGB or GLB? It's all about how it sounds. Is it catchy? Does roll off the lips easier? There can be some interesting combinations of names when you get the Pokemon that work together. I.E., my nephew cam up with the deck name Champion from Garchomp/Empoleon (forming Chompeon, which sounds like champion)
Thanks for reading the article.
Special Thanks
Cyrus
Milan P.
P.S.: Just for a little fun, how about you come up with some deck names that would be epic to have.
Last edited:
dark::colorless:20)