City Championships are right around the corner, and everyone is looking for ways to improve their deck with cards from the Triumphant set. I predict the Trainers, Supporters, and Special Energy cards will have the greatest impact on deck construction because they all have game changing effects usable to some capacity in any deck.
However, this article will focus on Celebi Prime and how it can exploit one of the most effective strategies in the TCG: attacking any Pokemon in play. This concept can be refined into a deck capable of sniping for 80 damage for 6 consecutive turns.
Among the advantages are putting your opponent on a 6 turn clock, eliminating potential threats before they evolve or level up, and reducing the chance of losing on time. Arceus/Celebi/Garchomp C has good match-ups across a majority of the field and the shear unexpectedness of the deck will cause opponents to make misplays. Here is the list I currently use. It is subject to change over time with testing and personal preference.
|
Pokemon – 20
4-2 Arceus LV.X* |
T/S/S – 26
4 Pokemon Collector |
Energy – 14 |
*AR5 for the basic, any LV.X.
Garchomp C + LV.X
The most efficient attacker in the deck. Its inclusion allows utilization of the Cyrus engine. Energy Gain makes Garchomp C incredibly fast and versatile in its attack cost, while 4 Premier Ball guarantee it will constantly return to the field. Warp Energy and Poke Turn allow Celebi Prime to become active and retreat in the same turn, which is fundamental if Garchomp C LV.X survives after attacking, on account of the text restricting consecutive Dragon Rushes.
Crobat G is vital for adding that last 10-20 damage to knock out Pokemon like Uxie LV.X, Regice, and Dragonite FB. 3-1 is better than 2-2 because you want at least 2 Garchomp C in play at all times in case one of them gets sniped. Azelf’s exclusion is based on the fact that bench space becomes very limited and there is another basic that has the same attack without even needing to level up!
Colorless Arceus (AR5) + LV.X
Until now it has been relegated to purely Arceus decks, but this underrated card has much higher potential. For the same cost as Garchomp C LV.X, Arceus can snipe any Pokemon for 80 damage at the expense of sending all Energy attached to it to the Lost Zone. The LV.X adds 40 HP and eliminates weakness, possibly allowing Arceus to survive another turn by avoiding a revenge knock out. Any Arceus LV.X will work – there are no other Arceus types in the deck and neither Meteor Blast nor Psychic Bolt can be used with the Energy provided.
However, if you decide to put a different Arceus type (Darkness to counter Gengar, for example), the one with the Omniscient Poke-Body is required to use Sky Spear while leveled up from the different type. Because of the attack’s downside, you never want more than 3 Energy attached to Arceus, and preferably save the Double Colorless Energies for it, too.
Celebi Prime
The Pokemon that allows this deck to attack on consecutive turns. Celebi Prime provides an extra Energy attachment every time it’s active, as long as there is a Grass Energy in your hand. With 6 Grass Energy and Cyrus’s Conspiracy to search for them, this should be the case every turn. Furthermore, Forest Breath can be used multiple times if more than one Celebi Prime are in play if a new one becomes active, hence the inclusion of 4 Warp Point and 4 Warp Energy. Unown Q should be attached to it for free retreat, sparing the need to have a Warp Point in your hand every time your active Pokemon is knocked out.
Celebi Prime is the ideal starter for the deck, giving you the potential for 2 Energy attachments before your opponent even has any Energy in play. Going second, there is a substantial donk probability, with Arceus hitting for enough damage to knock out most basics.
Don’t bother attempting to include Psychic Energy for Time Circle. No self-respecting player would fall victim to this mediocre stalling tactic, as every deck can avoid the effect with Uxie. Forest Breath is where the true power of the card lies.
Techs
This section will be short because the base list leaves almost no room for options.
While this deck has overall good SP match-ups capable of effectively eliminating Garchomp C, Machamp is one of its counters, as it knocks out every Pokemon for 1 Energy. To counter it, I recommend changing Uxie to 3-1 and adding Lucario GL. With Premier Ball consistently recovering the LV.X and Celebi Prime reducing reliance on having Double Colorless Energy in your hand, the game can turn from very unfavorable to relatively easy.
Another Pokemon to consider is Darkness Arceus. If you’re behind on prizes and include Darkness Energy in the deck, Prize Count will knock out Gengar in one hit. If you choose not to include Darkness Energy, the Omniscient Arceus LV.X can use Sky Spear while leveled up from Darkness Arceus to also get the OHKO, as mentioned earlier. Vileplume is very destructive to this deck and any opportunity to snipe it while it’s still an Oddish or Gloom should be met with haste. Otherwise, your speed advantage is not only negated but backfires with Poltergeist preying on the deck’s large Trainer count.
Other cards for consideration, whether they help match-ups or increase consistency are Energy Exchanger, Junk Arm, SP Radar, Power Spray, and Dialga G LV.X.
With 8 Special Energy, having Energy Exchanger to search for the one most needed can be quite beneficial. Junk Arm allows a decrease in some individual Trainer counts, or gives you the option of having more than 4 of some particular Trainers in any game. SP Radar and Power Spray complete the spectrum of SP Trainers available to SP decks and hybrid decks like this one.
Dialga G LV.X is a counter to Vileplume, as well as several other threatening Poke-Bodies like Red Armor, Catastrophe, and Lost Link. With so many switching cards, the Retreat Cost isn’t a problem. However, searching for the LV.X is. Be sure to include 1 to 2 Bebe’s Search if including this tech specifically against Vileplume. Don’t make the mistake of leaving it on the bench against Gengar/Vileplume to get Leveled Down. Play all your Trainers while it’s active, then Poke Turn it.
Celebi Prime has been an overlooked card and I hope this article has brought a new perspective on its true potential.
Pingback: 2010-11-19 Links « Bremerton Pokemon Leagues