Steve Lewis
New Member
Maybe I'm in the wrong place, but I don't see a lot of questions about decks here? Or the sub-forums don't have post since 2014? Am I missing something? And sure, decks are personal and competitive things, so maybe people just don't want to ask about them explicitly? Or is there somewhere else to be asking, sorry?
Anyway, we've put together a Xerneas Break/Giratina deck for the 2016-2017 season. The idea is mainly to use Geomancy early to extract energy from the deck and power up the bench, along with Max Elixir to also power up the bench (on either Xerneas or Giratina). Dragon Energy on Giratina lets it benefit from Fairy Garden with a free retreat if necessary.
4 Xerneas
3 Xerneas Break
2 Giratina
2 Shaymin EX
1 Mr Mime (ability protects the bench from damage)
10 Fairy
4 Dragon Double
3 Max Elixir
4 VS Seeker
2 Exp. Share (intended for Xerneas, but can be used on others if it makes sense -- such as a Shaymin just to keep the energy play to benefit Xerneas Break later)
2 Fighting Fury Belt (intended for Giratina, can help others in a pinch but becomes dead tool if Xerneas evolves to Break form)
1 Super Rod (in case had to ultra ball or sycamore too much energy)
4 Trainers' Mail
4 Ultra Ball
1 Tierno (intended for small late game draw, if N doesn't fit the situation)
1 Giovanni's Scheme (second late game draw if needed, or a 1-turn Muscle Band if needed)
1 Team Flare Grunt
1 Ninja Boy (in case started with Shaymin or something not desired)
1 Lysandre
3 Prof Sycamore
2 N
4 Fairy Garden
We were thinking to remove one card to fit a Hydreigon EX. The contenders are:
- replace 1 Xerneas (do a 3/3 line instead of 4/3, less chance of having or starting with a Xerneas)
- replace 1 fairy energy (9 count instead of 10, less effectiveness for Max Elixir draw)
- replace Team Flare Grunt (maybe a reasonable choice, but this deck needs to stall 1 or 2 turns to get setup and this card can help that sometimes)
- replace Mr Mime (with Shaymins in play, bench protection can be helpful) [ some people play Klefki instead for Wonder Lock ]
- replace 1 Shaymin EX (1 instead of 2; this might be ok, but another reason for Hydreigon is also just to have another starter and avoid the mulligan)
Hydreigon is kind of like a 3rd Giratina, in that it is somewhere to hang dragon energy on if we can't get a 'tina setup. And Hydreigon EX Shred can attack things like Regice that EX's normally can't. Plus it's ability lets itself or Giratina retreat for just 1 energy instead of 3 (so if the stadium war is lost, and Xerneas Break would do more damage, if 2x Dragon energies are on either dragon when active, they can retreat losing just 1 instead of both -- keeping some damage up for Xerneas Break).
All that said, maybe Hydreigon EX still isn't a good fit for the deck and instead an extra Supporter or Super Rod instead? We felt 4 Max Elixir was too much, since by mid-game the basic energy should be drawn out anyway. And speaking of Super Rod, we were thinking of ditching Ninja Boy for the 2nd Super Rod? Another thought is to just go with a full 3rd Giratina instead of Hydreigon EX (just as insurance in case of just 2 being prized)?
Suggestions on refinement welcomed!
Steve
Anyway, we've put together a Xerneas Break/Giratina deck for the 2016-2017 season. The idea is mainly to use Geomancy early to extract energy from the deck and power up the bench, along with Max Elixir to also power up the bench (on either Xerneas or Giratina). Dragon Energy on Giratina lets it benefit from Fairy Garden with a free retreat if necessary.
4 Xerneas
3 Xerneas Break
2 Giratina
2 Shaymin EX
1 Mr Mime (ability protects the bench from damage)
10 Fairy
4 Dragon Double
3 Max Elixir
4 VS Seeker
2 Exp. Share (intended for Xerneas, but can be used on others if it makes sense -- such as a Shaymin just to keep the energy play to benefit Xerneas Break later)
2 Fighting Fury Belt (intended for Giratina, can help others in a pinch but becomes dead tool if Xerneas evolves to Break form)
1 Super Rod (in case had to ultra ball or sycamore too much energy)
4 Trainers' Mail
4 Ultra Ball
1 Tierno (intended for small late game draw, if N doesn't fit the situation)
1 Giovanni's Scheme (second late game draw if needed, or a 1-turn Muscle Band if needed)
1 Team Flare Grunt
1 Ninja Boy (in case started with Shaymin or something not desired)
1 Lysandre
3 Prof Sycamore
2 N
4 Fairy Garden
We were thinking to remove one card to fit a Hydreigon EX. The contenders are:
- replace 1 Xerneas (do a 3/3 line instead of 4/3, less chance of having or starting with a Xerneas)
- replace 1 fairy energy (9 count instead of 10, less effectiveness for Max Elixir draw)
- replace Team Flare Grunt (maybe a reasonable choice, but this deck needs to stall 1 or 2 turns to get setup and this card can help that sometimes)
- replace Mr Mime (with Shaymins in play, bench protection can be helpful) [ some people play Klefki instead for Wonder Lock ]
- replace 1 Shaymin EX (1 instead of 2; this might be ok, but another reason for Hydreigon is also just to have another starter and avoid the mulligan)
Hydreigon is kind of like a 3rd Giratina, in that it is somewhere to hang dragon energy on if we can't get a 'tina setup. And Hydreigon EX Shred can attack things like Regice that EX's normally can't. Plus it's ability lets itself or Giratina retreat for just 1 energy instead of 3 (so if the stadium war is lost, and Xerneas Break would do more damage, if 2x Dragon energies are on either dragon when active, they can retreat losing just 1 instead of both -- keeping some damage up for Xerneas Break).
All that said, maybe Hydreigon EX still isn't a good fit for the deck and instead an extra Supporter or Super Rod instead? We felt 4 Max Elixir was too much, since by mid-game the basic energy should be drawn out anyway. And speaking of Super Rod, we were thinking of ditching Ninja Boy for the 2nd Super Rod? Another thought is to just go with a full 3rd Giratina instead of Hydreigon EX (just as insurance in case of just 2 being prized)?
Suggestions on refinement welcomed!
Steve
If it works for you, keep it, but I would prefer the second Shaymin for two reasons. Shaymin can help you draw and (in a pinch) you can bounce back energy to power up another Xerneas or whatever if you are otherwise running low.