Hello everyone! I have a city marathon coming up soon and wanted some feedback on my list. Feel free to test this list and please let me know how it works for you and any changes that you test. Also, comment any suggestions/thoughts/criticisms you have. Here is the list so far:
Pokemon: (16)
Strategy:
The strategy is self explanatory for the most part. Set up aromatisse and use its ability to move energy around your board as you wish, setting up various attackers that counter respective decks of the meta, and heal with max potion not losing energy in the process--not to mention free retreat. There are several other pokemon that I am trying to fit in the list such as Seismitoad EX, Aegislash EX, Yveltal EX, and perhaps Virizion EX. However, this list is especially tight with a higher number of supporters and spirit links, which I am still testing. The reason that I have a higher number of supporters and a lower number of items is a way that Im trying to add consistency as well as an easier seismitoad match-up that normally causes issues. The strategy shifts for each match-up in what you bench and how you play. Here are a few examples:
Pyroar/Attackers
Traditionally, the mega for this deck has been Kangaskhan EX / Mega Kangaskhan EX as a Pyroar counter, as well as an all around good attacker. I am electing Manectric and its mega for a couple of reasons. the ability not to end one's turn mega evolving is great. Its typing helps to deal with Yveltal/Yveltal EX, Lugia EX, and the like, while giving great damage to any pokemon that has a tool attached. Also, since the mega's attack hits for 110, I don't have to worry about whether too attach a muscle band or a spirit link. This is still one of the harder match ups that I'd like to fit in a Seismitoad EX or two to slow down--or extra VS Seeker to act as extra Lysandre. Aegislash can also be problematic for Pyroar depending on their basic energy count vs. their DCE count.
Yveltal EX Variants
This is one match in particular Manectric is quite exceptional in. I don't even have to set up the mega, as Assault Laser is a threat to Yveltal EX with or without a tool attached. As for the mega, it is also useful to attach fairy energy back from the discard to advance your game-state even further--especially if you just OHKO'd an opposing Yveltal EX with several energy attached. Thus, it would cut your opponent's energy supply and increase your own. Suicune is also a great attacker, and can be devastating depending on the Yveltal Variant. Garbodor can be problematic, but isn't an auto-loss by any means. Aegislash EX is also a great way to slow down the speed of the opponents KOs barring Lysandre. Forcing them to use only basic energy cuts down the overall damage output into the 2HKO or better range, and in that case, max potion is a great ally. This is the primary match-up in which the Keldeo EX vs. Virizion EX decision matters. Virizion can block Hypnotic laser, but is limited. If my active has a Rainbow Energy attached and they Lysandre or Enhanced hammer, then Virizion isn't doing too much justice. Keldeo EX can Rush In and wake up the active Pokemon if its asleep--assuming its not knocked out--and then retreat for free off of Fairy Garden. Both are affected by Garbodor, but Keldeo can still dish out decent damage with Rainbow energy Attached, while still being able to hit Aegislash EX with only Fairy Energy Attached
Donphan/Walls/Robo Sub
Both Kangaskhan and Manectric are weak to fighting, so neither is particularly strong against Donphan, but there are various attackers that are able to OHKO opposing Donphan--Suicune, Keldeo, Charizard, Mewtwo, and Xerneas. In this match-up, being able to max potion in between spinning turns allows my attackers to have longevity to better counter the deck. Aegislash is also quite great as they have to 2HKO it at best requiring a Silver Bangle and Fighting Stadium. With 4x Fairy Garden and a Dowsing, the stadium war is usually in my favor.
Virizion/Genesect
Suicune and Charizard are helpful in this match up. G-Booster can cause issues for any deck, but in the cases where you can max potion off some damage, it can limit the amount of prizes that they can take without a OHKO. This is dependent on which player is able to set up first and get steam going. Red Signal can be an issue as well, so it is important to keep the extra energy on your bench spread out--attached to the most appropriate targets in case your lone Aromatisse gets KO'd, so that you don't lose it all to a single Lysandre/Red Signal. Its important to do this in each game, but particularly in this one because their main attacker has a built in Lysandre.
Bronzong/Attackers
This match is made better by the presence of Charizard, mainly to deal with Aegislash EX, and Suicune as well. Manectric is unique here in the respect of the overlooked resistance to steel. I actually have played this match-up a ton the other way around and the one charizard gave me such a difficult time as I couldn't OHKO it, the next turn it would get healed and KO another one of my pokemon. Dialga variants also don't care to oppose an Aegislash EX due to the higher count of DCE.
Aromatisse/Attackers
The mirror match is quite odd actually, as both players are teching against the meta, and are using various different attackers. In my list, Suicune may seem to be great for the mirror, but it is quite fragile upon the realization that Xerneas (XY) can OHKO it with Rainbow Spear. The absolute, best card in here for the mirror match is Aegislash EX. It forces them to not use their Rainbow Energy to attack, thus limiting the attackers they can use. The only Way the mirror match can OHKO it is for an opposing Mewtwo EX to attack with 7 energy attached--6 with a Muscle Band. In either case, Fairy decks usually play around 6-7 basic Fairy Energy, so its unlikely that they would have all of them in play and wish to OHKO Aegislash EX, unless its for the last two prizes. Otherwise, I could return KO with my own Mewtwo EX, or Charizard EX & Muscle Band with Combustion Blast. A trade that is quite alright with me.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think.
Pokemon: (16)
3x Spritzee (FLF)
2x Aromatisse (XY)
2x Xerneas (XY)
1x Charizard EX (Combustion Blast)
1x Mewtwo EX
1x Suicune
1x Keldeo EX OR 1x Virizion EX
1x Aegislash EX
2x Manectric EX
2x M Manectric EX
3x Max Potion
2x Muscle Band
2x Ultra Ball
2x VS Seeker
2x Manectric Spirit Link
1x Surprise Megaphone
1x Dowsing Machine
4x Pokemon Fan Club
3x Professor Sycamore
4x N
3x Colress
2x Lysandre
4x Fairy Garden
4x Rainbow Energy
7x Fairy Energy
Strategy:
The strategy is self explanatory for the most part. Set up aromatisse and use its ability to move energy around your board as you wish, setting up various attackers that counter respective decks of the meta, and heal with max potion not losing energy in the process--not to mention free retreat. There are several other pokemon that I am trying to fit in the list such as Seismitoad EX, Aegislash EX, Yveltal EX, and perhaps Virizion EX. However, this list is especially tight with a higher number of supporters and spirit links, which I am still testing. The reason that I have a higher number of supporters and a lower number of items is a way that Im trying to add consistency as well as an easier seismitoad match-up that normally causes issues. The strategy shifts for each match-up in what you bench and how you play. Here are a few examples:
Pyroar/Attackers
Traditionally, the mega for this deck has been Kangaskhan EX / Mega Kangaskhan EX as a Pyroar counter, as well as an all around good attacker. I am electing Manectric and its mega for a couple of reasons. the ability not to end one's turn mega evolving is great. Its typing helps to deal with Yveltal/Yveltal EX, Lugia EX, and the like, while giving great damage to any pokemon that has a tool attached. Also, since the mega's attack hits for 110, I don't have to worry about whether too attach a muscle band or a spirit link. This is still one of the harder match ups that I'd like to fit in a Seismitoad EX or two to slow down--or extra VS Seeker to act as extra Lysandre. Aegislash can also be problematic for Pyroar depending on their basic energy count vs. their DCE count.
Yveltal EX Variants
This is one match in particular Manectric is quite exceptional in. I don't even have to set up the mega, as Assault Laser is a threat to Yveltal EX with or without a tool attached. As for the mega, it is also useful to attach fairy energy back from the discard to advance your game-state even further--especially if you just OHKO'd an opposing Yveltal EX with several energy attached. Thus, it would cut your opponent's energy supply and increase your own. Suicune is also a great attacker, and can be devastating depending on the Yveltal Variant. Garbodor can be problematic, but isn't an auto-loss by any means. Aegislash EX is also a great way to slow down the speed of the opponents KOs barring Lysandre. Forcing them to use only basic energy cuts down the overall damage output into the 2HKO or better range, and in that case, max potion is a great ally. This is the primary match-up in which the Keldeo EX vs. Virizion EX decision matters. Virizion can block Hypnotic laser, but is limited. If my active has a Rainbow Energy attached and they Lysandre or Enhanced hammer, then Virizion isn't doing too much justice. Keldeo EX can Rush In and wake up the active Pokemon if its asleep--assuming its not knocked out--and then retreat for free off of Fairy Garden. Both are affected by Garbodor, but Keldeo can still dish out decent damage with Rainbow energy Attached, while still being able to hit Aegislash EX with only Fairy Energy Attached
Donphan/Walls/Robo Sub
Both Kangaskhan and Manectric are weak to fighting, so neither is particularly strong against Donphan, but there are various attackers that are able to OHKO opposing Donphan--Suicune, Keldeo, Charizard, Mewtwo, and Xerneas. In this match-up, being able to max potion in between spinning turns allows my attackers to have longevity to better counter the deck. Aegislash is also quite great as they have to 2HKO it at best requiring a Silver Bangle and Fighting Stadium. With 4x Fairy Garden and a Dowsing, the stadium war is usually in my favor.
Virizion/Genesect
Suicune and Charizard are helpful in this match up. G-Booster can cause issues for any deck, but in the cases where you can max potion off some damage, it can limit the amount of prizes that they can take without a OHKO. This is dependent on which player is able to set up first and get steam going. Red Signal can be an issue as well, so it is important to keep the extra energy on your bench spread out--attached to the most appropriate targets in case your lone Aromatisse gets KO'd, so that you don't lose it all to a single Lysandre/Red Signal. Its important to do this in each game, but particularly in this one because their main attacker has a built in Lysandre.
Bronzong/Attackers
This match is made better by the presence of Charizard, mainly to deal with Aegislash EX, and Suicune as well. Manectric is unique here in the respect of the overlooked resistance to steel. I actually have played this match-up a ton the other way around and the one charizard gave me such a difficult time as I couldn't OHKO it, the next turn it would get healed and KO another one of my pokemon. Dialga variants also don't care to oppose an Aegislash EX due to the higher count of DCE.
Aromatisse/Attackers
The mirror match is quite odd actually, as both players are teching against the meta, and are using various different attackers. In my list, Suicune may seem to be great for the mirror, but it is quite fragile upon the realization that Xerneas (XY) can OHKO it with Rainbow Spear. The absolute, best card in here for the mirror match is Aegislash EX. It forces them to not use their Rainbow Energy to attack, thus limiting the attackers they can use. The only Way the mirror match can OHKO it is for an opposing Mewtwo EX to attack with 7 energy attached--6 with a Muscle Band. In either case, Fairy decks usually play around 6-7 basic Fairy Energy, so its unlikely that they would have all of them in play and wish to OHKO Aegislash EX, unless its for the last two prizes. Otherwise, I could return KO with my own Mewtwo EX, or Charizard EX & Muscle Band with Combustion Blast. A trade that is quite alright with me.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think.
I just took my variant to a LC yesterday, it did well, 2-1, but playing against a steel deck with 3 aegislash revealed my heavy reliance on rainbow energy. I am swapping up my attackers to include aegislash and Mewtwo again. I ended up winning on that game bc they could never OHKO my charizard--3 max potions and a dowsing machine later, my charizard took out the 3rd aegislash for the win. However it was luck on my part bc he didn't see one of his 2 muscle band left in the deck off of a Colress for 10 that charizard didn't get KOd, hence my concern for other attackers that don't require rainbow to attack. Also, my Keldeo was prized that game. I did like the 3rd spritzee, but the 3rd aromatisse may be something that could be cut. Manectric definitely own vs the yveltal/seismitoad deck. Lost to donphan bc I couldn't hit a second rainbow for combustion blast. Sad moment, but great day so no complaints here. 