Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Why I Love Mario

I was liking the Rampados/lucario idea but like mentioned the Fossil E. probably got in the way of consistency. Mario is a deck you would give a junior or senior player who just started playing. The reason why lucario is so good is because a good psychic pokemon has yet to be made that is good against the rest of the metagame as well. duskqueen, are you serious, Stage 2 decks are almost don't exist right now. The reason why Empoleon good is because you could almost run a deck with just the prinplup as the main attacker, the reason why Meganium D is good cause of it's power and how well it's attack counters the metagame. Other then that GL to Stage 2 decks.

The Mario hate still exist because of that, it's probably one of the simplest decks that has ever been in the metagame. Don't get me wrong I love Lucario, I have been trying to find the best sidekick for it, and blissey is probably the best. But I don't like the lack of syngery in that, it's just the 2 best pokemon cards in the game right now. So I went Lucario by itself, and it takes guts to play only 4 basics in your deck (the kricketune is different because of CFF) then 4 wager and be good at wager. It fits my style of play with the bench hitting so that's another thing.

So yeah, this thread is too much of a joke. It's basically KingGengar wanting to announce even more that he made top 16 with it at nats. How many of those games did you win on T1 with Wild Kick or Machop and + power (that's the only reason you played 4, because the 4 weren't really needed, like in Infernape last year, people played 4 candy just hoping to get that T1 or T2 Candy, Ape, DRE, GG)? I personally hate the Riolu, i'm hoping they make another riolu/lucario before this one gets rotated out. Anything would be better then that Riolu, I'm not saying I wouldn't take the T1 win, but it's so cheap to play a deck hoping do get that, which you (KG) announced like 3 times in your points. It's like you don't trust your playing skills to actually win some legit matches.
 
KingGengar said:
I've seen some decks wondering why TRUK is so popular and what it is, so I figure this is the correct forum to answer questions about why MARIO is so popular and what it is, and I'll do it by listing what I love about the deck.

(1) Overall agreed, but you aren't necessarily "dominant" thanks to Lucario...You become dominant if your opponent has a bad hand. Blissey gives it ****.
(2) Nonfactor...Castform isn't nearly as legit a starter as it used to be.
(3) Agreed
(4) Lol, nonfactor
(5) Irrelevant
(6) nonfactor
(7) Interesting point, but a weak argument for Mario.
(8) Agreed wholeheartidly!
(9) Revenge is a great attack, but it only works well if you can follow through next turn with Dynamic Punch. F for 20 on a stage two is kinda gimpy.
(10) See #9.
(11) Lol
(12) Lol.
(13) Lol.
(14) Agreed! Both attacks are great for an in-between stage pokemon.
(15) Stance is amazing, but Warp Point embarrasses it.
(16) ...Only it's also a Level X.
(17) It is DEFINITELY not flexible enough. An upcoming article should help to persuade otherwise, but Wager is such a pain to this deck it's not even funny.
(18) Matthew Lambou.
(19) Mario people have no SOULS!
(20) Congratulations :)
(21) Word

Cheers: not as good a TV show as Fraiser
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Also, TRUK isn't a deck: it's a series of decks!
 
Again, all you Mario haters.....please list YOUR Nats results as you rag on this "non-deck". You are the same people that rag on the quicktune players (trying to get a T2 donk), yet many of you play a Blissey deck of one version or another. Anyone can pick up a Blissey deck and play it!!!! Talk about a "simplistic" deck!! At least with Mario, if you dont donk them early, there is strategy to be used to play it correctly. That being said, we play blissey too. It is simply the BDIF right now.

Keith
 
Chris: Givin' ya the benefit of the doubt that you're not hatin' but acknowledging certain things I love about Mario. But... how many times did I T1 someone at Nats? None! I did a T2, and that was against the mirror match! The reason for 4 Riolu is not whatcha think. The Wild Kick T1 donk is a bonus. The *real* reason I play 4 Riolu and 3 Machop is that I want Riolu to either be KO'd so I can have Revenge, or else I want Lucario sniping ASAP and then Lucario Lv.X out soon after. But that's strategy. I'm talkin' 'bout love. BTW, give ya credit for going naked Lucario. And yes, you're right - once a good Psychic Pokemon comes along, Mario is gonna have troubles. I thought Crobat would be it, but no. Maybe the new Banette will give it trouble.

Cyrus: Hey, man, thanks for joining in the fun. I don't even mind the "no soul" thing 'cause I understand it now. Mythic. Cool. Agree about Revenge being gimpy when Machamp gets stuck with 1 energy. I agree somewhat on TGW. Sometimes I win!! Flexible Trainer Engine? Not on certain aspects, but then again only T2 decks can use Quick Ball efficiently. Hamana and Oak's Visit will lift every deck and Mario is no exception.

Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:

Keith: Blissey is definitely a monstrous thingy, but there are a few cards which can go up against it, IMO. I like Exeggutor MT, Gyarados MT, Lucario. Maybe I'll build a deck around it :lol:
 
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If we're going to go "OMG T16 Nats, list your decks", then we should also note the Marios that DIDN'T make the cut. FS can probably tell you about his bad experience with the deck.....I mean I'd hope he realizes he didn't make a very good choice by now. I'm sure there's others, too. And let's not act like T16 Nationals is some amazing, World Class performance by a Top 5 deck. It's not. It's hard to call much legitimate about an event that had players with a 7-2 record miss the cut. Let's not forget that KingGengar did lose to Fulop's Spread. Last I checked, his deck had a lot of fighting weak guys in it. Yes, he ran Mew ex, but it has 90 HP and should be no problem for Mario to handle. That is, if the deck didn't fold to a Vaporeon ex shuffle and draw to 4. I mean, yeah it's a different format, you COULD say, but since you mentioned the last one, I had to point out how this can be viewed as a fluke, while other decks such as Speed Spread, Banette variants, a lot of Flygons, Metanite and possibly a few other decks consistently placed throughout events.

It's hard to measure this year, either. We just have Battle Roads. A lot of good players are sitting them out or haven't got into the flow of the new format. The ones that have, though, agree that Mario isn't that good. We're talking about THIS FORMAT now. The ones that actually have all those Blissey decks and what ever variants, know that they all are a favorite vs Mario. The Seniors World Champion even ran Mario at a Battle Road (and has won a few, too) and even commented on how inconsistent it was. It wasn't the deck that won him the Battle Road, it's the fact that he's just an amazing player.
 
Chad, I think you can stop taking him seriously now. After all, even some players who won with it now think it sucks anyway. Just ask the champ.
 
^...and with those two comments, I return.

In response to #20 (I t16'd nationals), I still say "congratulations": you played very well to get there. However, one good showing at one high-level event =/=deck legitimacy. Zapdos was one of the worst archetypes of all time, yet it made the FINAL FOUR (with all due respect to Mr. Durso, whom is also a great player) at the 2005 U.S. Nationals!

If Zapdos can top four a competitive event, then anything can. Mario may be easily considered an underrated deck, but it is certainly not a "proven" concept, either.
 
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If we're going to go "OMG T16 Nats, list your decks", then we should also note the Marios that DIDN'T make the cut.
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Why? What difference does it make who *didn't* make the cut (385 players)? BTW, there were TWO Mario players in Masters T16 Nationals, which is another think I love (shout out to Emmanuel!). All you're trying to say is that there were a bunch of Mario's played at Nationals, which is true (and flattering!). Some of my friends played Mario, and did well (6-3 records), but didn't make the cut. Last I checked, 6-3 at Nats is a good showing. Sorry if you can't walk away with a good feeling from that.

FS can probably tell you about his bad experience with the deck.....I mean I'd hope he realizes he didn't make a very good choice by now. I'm sure there's others, too.
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So, let me get this straight. A bad experience with a deck means... what? Does anybody really believe that Mr Flaming_Spinach played Mario at Nationals without playtesting first, and having some degree of success and confidence? I talked with him at Nationals. He's a smart young man, and he wouldn't go blindly into Nationals with a deck that he didn't like. Certainly, he didn't *love* it afterwards, but to say he "didn't make a good choice" implies more about his decision-making skills than his matchups. I think what you're saying about F_S, and everyone else who played Mario, is deplorable. I'm sure there are plenty of people who weren't happy with their gameplay, but then there were plenty who were thrilled. Ask Andrew Choong.

And let's not act like T16 Nationals is some amazing, World Class performance by a Top 5 deck. It's not.
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Wow. I can't stop thinking.. wow. You have the worst attitude I've ever encountered. "Let's not act like T16 Nationals is amazing..." No, you're right. Let's bash every deck that didn't make T4. Metanite. RaiEggs. Mew-Trick. (sarcasm)

It's hard to call much legitimate about an event that had players with a 7-2 record miss the cut.
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Again, the worst attitude ever. It makes it *more* legitimate that some 7-2 players didn't make the cut. It made the top cut that much more exclusive. I was there when the cut was posted. Some of the best players in Pokemon didn't get to T32. That is not "unfair." But it does hurt them, so I apologize for opening those wounds, if I have. If there is someone who doesn't know this, you make top cut by your record, and the tie-breaker is based on a percentage number indicating how well your opponent's played. Since I played top players almost all day, I had a great percentage. You don't make top cut at Nationals by playing at table 82 in the final round!

Let's not forget that KingGengar did lose to Fulop's Spread. Last I checked, his deck had a lot of fighting weak guys in it. Yes, he ran Mew ex, but it has 90 HP and should be no problem for Mario to handle. That is, if the deck didn't fold to a Vaporeon ex shuffle and draw to 4.
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First, opinion time. Chris Fulop is a terrific player, and classy guy. There was never a word from him about, "Oh, you're playing that deck that sucks." He never took me for granted, and played his heart out. Now, facts. The first game, he beat me with Holon's Voltorb by paralyzing until he could get reset. I'm sure Chris would agree that that was a "skin of the teeth" win for him, especially since it was a fully-powered Machamp that was being paralyzed! Oh, the pain, the pain... The second game, I won, and not easily either. In fact, I came from behind in that game and won by taking two prizes at the end to force a sudden death. The third game, sudden death (meaning you get to take 1 prize to win), he started Mew EX, and I Riolu, and I had a *killer* hand (meaning I would have a great chance to win in a 6-prize game). I might've had a chance to win, but I misplayed. I wanted to play Castaway for the Cessation, but for some reason I played Celio to get Lucario, which doesn't help on T1, which means my mind had finally given out. Chris won that game next turn, with Mew and Jolteon*, hitting Super Scoop Up for the donk. I *love* the way that he played Speed Spread. And I believe that he respected Mario and my playing thereafter, if not before. And, BTW, Vaporeon EX shuffle actually *helped* me every time Chris used it! It's one of those things about Mario, that I most of the time *want* you to play Team Galactic Wager so I can get rid of my junk!

I mean, yeah it's a different format, you COULD say, but since you mentioned the last one, I had to point out how this can be viewed as a fluke, while other decks such as Speed Spread, Banette variants, a lot of Flygons, Metanite and possibly a few other decks consistently placed throughout events.
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You do realize, as does everyone, that Mario was the result of the set released just before Battle Roads Spring. Meaning it *couldn't* appear in any previous events! Yet, for an unknown deck, it took 4 Battle Roads then. The only decks that Mario ever had trouble with were Flygon d EX, which was becoming a rarity (I faced two at Nationals, and beat it once), and Banette (autoloss, my other loss at Nationals).

It's hard to measure this year, either. We just have Battle Roads.
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It's quite hateful to twist the facts in order to further your opinion. The *fact* is that Mario has had increasingly-respectable showings since inception. In Autumn Battle Roads, no less than 34 first-place wins. I think Blissey is the only deck to have more wins.

A lot of good players are sitting them out or haven't got into the flow of the new format. The ones that have, though, agree that Mario isn't that good.
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Was there a convention? First of all, "a lot of the good players" also came to Battle Roads, and I know this is a fact because I see their records at op.pokemon. Second, I saw *plenty* of Mario being played, and by good players. All you have done is insult every player who played Mario. Your idea that people who play Mario are not good players, and that Mario is not a deck, is some of the worst hatemongering ever. It doesn't matter that it's "only a deck." I know that. I have perspective. Why, I wonder, do *you* not see that it is "only a deck?" What's wrong with you that you need to "inform" people that they are on the losing team by playing Mario? If you don't like the deck, play something else. I play other decks. Played Krickets at Battle Roads, and i like it. Gave it to my daughter to play and she came in first and got her Victory Medal. Played Megachamp and came in T4 at a big event in Asheville. Lost to Megagatr.

We're talking about THIS FORMAT now. The ones that actually have all those Blissey decks and what ever variants, know that they all are a favorite vs Mario.
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Not really. In playtesting Blissey with Holon FF, Mario is about 50-50 over a period of 20 games. Sure, I don't have "the list" so I didn't play a "real" Blissey. Whatever. The edge of a better Trainer list, or better luck, is going to help everybody. When I make lists, they are equal in power since I made them according to my own skills, so the matchup percentage is accurate, all things being equal. Listen, it's not always about picking the most "winningest" deck in the universe. I happen to dislike Metanite very much even though it's terrific in the right hands. MY personal opinion of a deck doesn't mean it's not good.

You know, I remember playing Mew-Trick for a long time, and at Nationals the year before. Everyone said it "sucked." Except for a few people who really liked it. Almost every game I ever played against LBS was like an autowin for me (I don't know how). Nationals I went 5-4 with it (just awful luck, not even matchups, just horrible opening hands). And yet, the World Champion Masters deck for 2006 was Mew-Trick! Amazing.

The Seniors World Champion even ran Mario at a Battle Road (and has won a few, too) and even commented on how inconsistent it was.
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That's funny. My friend, Erik, played Mario and won a Battle Roads with it and commented on how "efficient" it is. However, he also stated that the deck isn't his cup of tea, personally speaking. So, every person who has had a bad experience will chalk it up to the deck, and vice versa. Here is a bit of Poke-info for you: some decks don't like some people. Yes, it's that mystical. If you don't have luck with a winning deck like Mario, it means you were cut out to play something else. Or maybe you had a bad day. It doesn't mean other people can't *love* the deck. Even if it's "inconsistent." I've had LOUSY days with Mario, and still love playing it.

If Zapdos can top four a competitive event, then anything can. Mario may be easily considered an underrated deck, but it is certainly not a "proven" concept, either.
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Cyrus, I respect you more, but disagree. First, Zapdos was an excellent concept, and fearsome. Second, you know as well as I do that not "anything" can T4 a top event. Third, Mario is proven to win. But, I agree that if you disagree, then the least you can say is "underrated." Thanks for being cool.


*** I'm just high on the deck. My question is still the same from the Blissey thread: why are the mods allowing bashing? Why is Pokegym allowing hate? Perhaps the people in charge of policing threads are content to let this continue.

I say this: if you allow Mario-hate to spread, it will take over like a plague. The people who insist on going around saying how bad Mario is will then run rampant throughout Pokegym, spreading their bad attitude into other threads like anarchy in the streets. And moderators, you have only yourselves to blame.
 
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For the comment on how did people do at nats...


Me: T32 w/lucariolutions, metanite topdecked all his windstorms off vaporeon :D(still a good player though)

My brother: T32 as well, Empoleon/Lucario. I think he got T2'd by ape twice.

Nick K: Lucariolutions again, went 8-1 in swiss and made T16. If he had played the flareon ex I told him to, he would have had a much better chance.

So its not like I have no idea what I am talking about. For my first BR I used mario. I played EVERYTHING in 4's for max consistancy with over 9 draw cards. I didn't get one good start, and went 2-2. One was a mirror-match and the other was vs a seniors kid who was new to the game. In all those games, I think I found LUCARIO to be an amazing card, truely great. I didn't use machamp once :[
 
moza: you are well-respected, and have always been cool. Congrats on top cut Nats, if I haven't said it.

I noticed that when you played Mario, one of your losses was to Mario, so Mario won that game regardless :p

The 4-of-everything is not something I would recommend, but I'm not criticizing.


I went 2-2 with Mario in one of my BR also. And one of my losses was to a newbie with Claydol EX. It just happens.
 
Theres the point againt about the inconsistency. You said it yourself.

Mario simply doesn't have as good of a chance at X-0ing an event as Lucario/Blissey, or last format, Metanite, Metalix etc.

When I go to an event, I don't expect to "win if I have a good day"
I expect to win when I have an average or sometimes slightly below average day, and X-0 if I have a good day, sometimes X-0 even on an average day. I choose my decks accordingly. I see Mario as needing a "good day" to win, meaning I'd rather choose another deck to play since I don't have the luck to ever get "good days".
 
I like Mario because

1) It's energy efficient. You can always do something for 1 or 2 energy and never have to depend on DRE or Scramble though they both can help.

2) It's weakness isn't a big issue right now. Simply not much Psychic in the format.

3) It's fast. This is partly due to #1, but the fact that both basics used in the deck do good damage ASAP as well.

4) You have options. You can spread damage or go for the heavy hitting. You can choose between versions of Machamp and have the ability to drop Lucario level X at strategic points of the game.

5) Both Lucario and Machamp are cool. End of story.

6) It’s a strong choice against much of the metagame right now.


Mario isn’t my favorite deck, but I do have lots of fun with it. I use Mario extensively in testing against other decks and nearly always enjoy doing so. I didn’t get an opportunity to run it in BRs this season ... but that’s because my son liked the deck so much that he wanted to run it himself.

I get quite a kick out of the "not a deck" comments here on the Gym. It’s a lot of fun to beat people with something that’s not even a deck.
 
eagle: "Inconsistency" is too much water in the pudding. You're talking about having a bad day. Congrats if you found your dream deck or trainer engine, where you never do poorly. BTW, a T2 deck (Blissey) is *supposed* to do better than a Stage 2 deck on setting up. It's only natural. But it's a testament to Mario that it sets up well anyway. And you can't ignore the 34 Mario BR wins. If you do, then you must ignore all the Blissey wins as well.

vandy: well-said. It's all about doing what you love to do.
 
Actually I lost to an eggs MT deck and duskqueen, I beat the mario mirror :D

ty though, and just every other mario list I tried (yours too) was horribly inconsistant. Maybe my luck just sucks a lot. oh well.
 
I'm trying to remember correctly. I don't believe KG got a single T1 or T2 KO during Nationals at all. So, yeah, you can't just say he won because he got all T1/T2 GGs with Riolu.

oops...didn't see the second page.
 
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The 34 BR wins are simply because of so many people playing the deck (hundreds to thousands? mostly because theres a list easily accesable for netdeckers) in random areas. What is not considered is the even greater number of people going 0-X or 1-X with Mario. You flip a coin that many times, youre bound to get some streaks of heads.

Some decks like Ramen TRUK only had a handful of people know the dominant list, and they won the tournaments they attended. I don't think anyone playing a good Ramen TRUK ever finished with equal losses and wins or worse ever this year. The deck won every single tournament it played in except one 2nd and one 2-1 drop. And you can't group it together with other Blissey decks, as evidenced by some of the posts, people on Pokegym have no clue how to build a dominant Blissey deck.
 
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