Finally got to try out my Luxray GL LV.X with Honchkrow G idea the past few days against Jeremy and Quaziko. Here is my current list, though it is not the list I used in the games I will provide detail about.
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Pokemon-17 |
Trainers-30 |
Energy-13 |
A few notes about the list…I had originally used 2 Honchkrow G, but discovered that I really did not need more than 1. I took 1 out for Drifblim FB SV for a few games, but I just found it way too difficult to use effectively. My theory was that late game I would be able to put “Flash Impact” damage from Luxray onto it (up to 90 damage) and then drop Technical Machine G on to hit anything in play for 90, but it would always get sniped by something before I could actually attack with it.
I decided to put Quagsire GL RR in after testing with Quaziko tonight. My bench was getting filled to capacity with the recoil damage from “Flash Impact”. It was the only attack I used pretty much the whole game, every game, and it left all my Pokemon severely weakened by the time I promoted any of them to the active position. If I had a Quagsire in the deck, I could have just let it absorb damage the whole game and my Pokemon would have been much stronger and less vulnerable to easy knock outs.
The strategy of the deck really depends on what you are playing against. If your opponent is using 3/3 Claydol, Broken Time-Space, and Cynthia’s Feelings, then pretty much forget about targeting Claydol unless it is VERY early in the game and you think they may not have the resources to recover. Focus on attacking Uxies, Crobat G’s, and any basics for easy prizes. Do not try to knock out every Claydol your opponent gets in play…it won’t happen! You will waste too many resources trying to do this and your opponent will just plop a new Claydol down every time you do KO one.
However, if your opponent does not play a super heavy Claydol or Cynthia’s Feelings (aka most SP decks), go for the Claydol early. This will hinder their draw power (check out this article for more detail on the subject) and you should be able to get ahead and stay ahead for the remainder of the game.
I like the Aaron’s Collection, Night Maintenance, AND Premier Ball all in the deck because Luxray GL LV.X is really your only attacker, so you need multiple ways to keep it going.
3 Crobat G has also been very money so far. I just like knowing I have that many copies in the deck to get the extra damage you need for the all important pushover prizes.
Anyways, here is some detail about the games I played using the deck:
I first used it against Jeremy’s Dusknoir with Honchkrow SV variant. His deck was honestly too slow and clunky to compete in the current format. It was a cool idea, but it just never got going in any of the games we played.
Game 1 I took out a Baltoy and Claydol by turn 3 with Luxray and proceeded to Power Spray him for a few turns. He was never able to recover and I won handily.
Game 2 I decided that targeting his Claydols was too risky of a strategy (I was rather fortunate in game 1), so I focused solely on Dusknoirs and Uxies. As soon as Jeremy put an energy on any Pokemon, I gusted it up and attacked it. There was just no way he could catch up on energy drops without Double Rainbow or Scramble Energy available anymore. I won again with ease.
Game 3 was more of the same, I attacked whatever Jeremy tried power up and there was no way he could respond.
In all, Dusknoir with Honchkrow SV is just too sluggish of a concept to use at the moment. I did however feel that my deck performed the way I wanted it to. It was quick and drew easy prizes the whole game.
Tonight I played a few games versus Quaziko’s Kingdra deck. I went 1-2, though I feel I should finished with 2 wins. The main problem was that “Flash Impact” was hitting my benched Pokemon for damage, as well Kingdra’s “Dragon Pump”, so I was giving up extremely easy prizes to him. After those games I realized that Quagsire GL Rising Rivals probably would have bailed me out big time.
My strategy may have also been off a bit in the first 2 games we played. I lost both of those trying to target his Claydols early thinking I would be able to swing momentum in my favor right of the bat, but he responded with Uxies, Cynthia’s Feelings, and Claydols via Broken Time-Space the following turns.
I should have just focused on attacking anything BUT the Claydols. I now know it is almost never worth the risk to aim at Claydol early against a deck like that.
I still think this list can be slightly better. It is late right now so I can’t think of anything good to add. I was thinking that one more tech Pokemon or maybe a couple stadiums would be good. Give me some ideas! :)
