Ultra Prizm looks like a very interesting set, and I think the main one prize pokemon coming out from this set is Garchomp, which for one fighting energy and two colorless does 100 + 100 if you play a Cynthia during the turn. Cynthia has you suffle your hand into your deck and draw six, or for any veterans out there a reprint of Professor Oak's New Theory. This is great, as it means you have to play a supporter that you would play anyway to hit for 230 with a choice band. There are some problems but here is the general list I came up with
This is just the must play list, I will talk about techs later.
Pokémon-17
4 Gible - I think the correct play is the new one which has the ability which allows free retreat if a fighting energy is attached. However if we use the breakpoint one we can utilize brooklet hill, but with Brigette it may not be useful.
2 Gabite- Playing the new one is the only option, as it has an attack for one fighting energy which allows you to search your deck for a garchomp and evolve.
4 Garchomp- The main attacker, you need four copies
2 Riolu- To evole into Lucario
2 Lucario- There is a new one that has the ability if you have a stage 2 in play you get to search your deck for any card you want. This is the main draw engine, basically a computer search a turn.
2 Tapu Lele- It is just needed.
1 Alolan Vulpix- Search out for evolution lines
Energy- 10
6 Fighting Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy
Trainers-28
4 Cynthia (You have to play it to hit for the extra 100)
2 Sycamore (See N)
2 N (For when you don't want to play Cynthia)
2 Guzma or Pokémon Catcher (Bench Control)
2 Pal Pad (Recycle Cynthia) I think we are getting a reprint, correct me if I am wrong.
4 Ultra Ball (Search Pokémon)
4 Rare Candy (Skip Gabite)
4 Puzzle of Time (Recovery)
1 Field Blower (BPT Garb)
1 Rescue Stretcher (Pokémon Recovery)
3 Choice Band (Allows for OHKO's on GX's)
1 Float Stone (Lucario)
Other Cards and Different Versions:
Guzma vs Pokémon Catcher:
The main problem with Garchomp is that you have to play Cynthia every turn, meaning you cannot play Guzma and hit for 200 damage. I know Pokémon Catcher relies on a coin flip, but with puzzle of time for recovery, I would mostly only have to hit 50% of my flips. If there is space and play Catcher, I might play 3-4, but there might not also be space. Give me your thoughts on this, IMO I think Guzma is more consistent, but Pokémon Catcher might land just enough flips so that if you play 3-4 during a game if you Puzzle for it, you can put the Garchomp player in the drivers seat.
Breakpoint Garchomp:
For anyone that doesn't know here are the attacks
For one fighting- 60, attach an energy from your discard pile to one of your Pokémon. This can be Special Energy
For two fighting 80, plus 80 if the defending Pokémon is an EX.
Attack One: This is great for energy acceleration, Mainly in the late game when you miss an attachment because if you miss an attachment, it really hurts. This might also set up a not Cynthia KO on say a Buzzwold GX, Hit for 60 + 30 with choice band for 90, they retreat, and you Guzma and KO with the Prizm Chomp. This could be very good, and I intend to test this out.
Attack Two: In this format, this seems pretty bad. Besides Volcanion who plays EXs. I mean this, I cannot think of another competitive deck that plays these old, outdated, non-competitive cards. However, Volcanion never seems to go away, and with a choice band we are knocking it out, as long as it does not play Fighting Fury Belt. We also have the ability to hit 110 with a choice band, and because this Garchomp is a fighting type, we can hit for weakness and take OHKOs on Pokemon like Zoroark GX and Silvaly GX, which will only see an increase in play as more memories are released. This also allows you to play Guzma, adding more consistency. However if we want to go for this attack I would add a 7th fighting energy just to make sure we have enough.
Tapu Koko Promo: Leafeon GX is being release in this set, and the GX attack allows you to search out a stage 1 for all your evolving basics. This is spectacular is everyway shape in form. I would think Zoroark GX would make a good partner and go for two hit KO's, however there is an even better partner I have missed early on, Decidueye. It is entirely possible for the Leafeon/Decidueye player to have 4 Decidueyes in play turn 2 if they go second. This is going to see some play, and the problem with the matchup is that Decidueye has 240 HP, putting it out of choice banded range of Garchomp. With one flying flip, Decidueye becomes less of a threat, and the matchup goes from 25-75 for Decidueye into I think a 50-50 based on consistency and heart of the cards. This also helps in the Zoroark Gx/Goliopod GX matchup, putting both in range of just playing a Cynthia, not choice band that would otherwise be required.
Exp. Share: Energy is a struggle with the deck, and if you miss a attachment in the mid to late game, you will have problems. This tool might be a one off that helps conserve energy. The issue is that I cannot Choice Band a Exp. Shared Garchomp, meaning wthe damage is limited to 200, huge but not huge enough.
So that's what I have so far, I don't think I have thought of all the techs so if you have any, let me know. Also, please tell me what I should include or drop, mainly on the Guzma v Catcher debate or on the techs I have mentioned. Fell free to rip this list to shreds, just be somewhat nice about it.
This is just the must play list, I will talk about techs later.
Pokémon-17
4 Gible - I think the correct play is the new one which has the ability which allows free retreat if a fighting energy is attached. However if we use the breakpoint one we can utilize brooklet hill, but with Brigette it may not be useful.
2 Gabite- Playing the new one is the only option, as it has an attack for one fighting energy which allows you to search your deck for a garchomp and evolve.
4 Garchomp- The main attacker, you need four copies
2 Riolu- To evole into Lucario
2 Lucario- There is a new one that has the ability if you have a stage 2 in play you get to search your deck for any card you want. This is the main draw engine, basically a computer search a turn.
2 Tapu Lele- It is just needed.
1 Alolan Vulpix- Search out for evolution lines
Energy- 10
6 Fighting Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy
Trainers-28
4 Cynthia (You have to play it to hit for the extra 100)
2 Sycamore (See N)
2 N (For when you don't want to play Cynthia)
2 Guzma or Pokémon Catcher (Bench Control)
2 Pal Pad (Recycle Cynthia) I think we are getting a reprint, correct me if I am wrong.
4 Ultra Ball (Search Pokémon)
4 Rare Candy (Skip Gabite)
4 Puzzle of Time (Recovery)
1 Field Blower (BPT Garb)
1 Rescue Stretcher (Pokémon Recovery)
3 Choice Band (Allows for OHKO's on GX's)
1 Float Stone (Lucario)
Other Cards and Different Versions:
Guzma vs Pokémon Catcher:
The main problem with Garchomp is that you have to play Cynthia every turn, meaning you cannot play Guzma and hit for 200 damage. I know Pokémon Catcher relies on a coin flip, but with puzzle of time for recovery, I would mostly only have to hit 50% of my flips. If there is space and play Catcher, I might play 3-4, but there might not also be space. Give me your thoughts on this, IMO I think Guzma is more consistent, but Pokémon Catcher might land just enough flips so that if you play 3-4 during a game if you Puzzle for it, you can put the Garchomp player in the drivers seat.
Breakpoint Garchomp:
For anyone that doesn't know here are the attacks
For one fighting- 60, attach an energy from your discard pile to one of your Pokémon. This can be Special Energy
For two fighting 80, plus 80 if the defending Pokémon is an EX.
Attack One: This is great for energy acceleration, Mainly in the late game when you miss an attachment because if you miss an attachment, it really hurts. This might also set up a not Cynthia KO on say a Buzzwold GX, Hit for 60 + 30 with choice band for 90, they retreat, and you Guzma and KO with the Prizm Chomp. This could be very good, and I intend to test this out.
Attack Two: In this format, this seems pretty bad. Besides Volcanion who plays EXs. I mean this, I cannot think of another competitive deck that plays these old, outdated, non-competitive cards. However, Volcanion never seems to go away, and with a choice band we are knocking it out, as long as it does not play Fighting Fury Belt. We also have the ability to hit 110 with a choice band, and because this Garchomp is a fighting type, we can hit for weakness and take OHKOs on Pokemon like Zoroark GX and Silvaly GX, which will only see an increase in play as more memories are released. This also allows you to play Guzma, adding more consistency. However if we want to go for this attack I would add a 7th fighting energy just to make sure we have enough.
Tapu Koko Promo: Leafeon GX is being release in this set, and the GX attack allows you to search out a stage 1 for all your evolving basics. This is spectacular is everyway shape in form. I would think Zoroark GX would make a good partner and go for two hit KO's, however there is an even better partner I have missed early on, Decidueye. It is entirely possible for the Leafeon/Decidueye player to have 4 Decidueyes in play turn 2 if they go second. This is going to see some play, and the problem with the matchup is that Decidueye has 240 HP, putting it out of choice banded range of Garchomp. With one flying flip, Decidueye becomes less of a threat, and the matchup goes from 25-75 for Decidueye into I think a 50-50 based on consistency and heart of the cards. This also helps in the Zoroark Gx/Goliopod GX matchup, putting both in range of just playing a Cynthia, not choice band that would otherwise be required.
Exp. Share: Energy is a struggle with the deck, and if you miss a attachment in the mid to late game, you will have problems. This tool might be a one off that helps conserve energy. The issue is that I cannot Choice Band a Exp. Shared Garchomp, meaning wthe damage is limited to 200, huge but not huge enough.
So that's what I have so far, I don't think I have thought of all the techs so if you have any, let me know. Also, please tell me what I should include or drop, mainly on the Guzma v Catcher debate or on the techs I have mentioned. Fell free to rip this list to shreds, just be somewhat nice about it.
