Yesterday, my friends and I decided that we needed to establish the best card in the Modified format. We gathered 32 of our favorites, scrambled them, and pitted them against each other. Here are our results:
ROUND 1:
GAME 1: Luxray GL LV.X vs. Cynthia’s Feelings
A fairly easy pick. Cynthia’s Feelings does provide incredible draw power when it really counts, but Luxray GL LV.X has been one of the top cards this year for its revolutionary gusting ability. WINNER: Luxray GL LV.X
GAME 2: SP Radar vs. Dialga G LV.X
Wow, a very very difficult pick was made here. Search for any SP Pokemon, or block all non-SP bodies. The vote was 5-4 in favor of SP Radar. WINNER: SP Radar
GAME 3: Rare Candy vs. Bronzong G
The decision was almost immediate, in favor of Rare Candy. This card always has been a crucial staple and anlawys will be, as great as Galactic Switch is. WINNER: Rare Candy
GAME 4: Aaron’s Collection vs. Spiritomb (Arceus)
An easy victory for the ghost. Aaron’s collection is nice for getting SPs back, but it barely belongs in the top 32. Spiritomb is still a dominant force today, easily the best starter out there. WINNER: Spiritomb
GAME 5: Cyrus’s Conspiracy vs.Unown G (Great Encounters)
This one sparked a huge argument. Cyrus is a staple, and made SP decks as playable as they are today. Unown G however, has been revolutionary, being the best tool around for a very long time. After a heated debate, one card was left standing. WINNER: Cyrus’s Conspiracy
GAME 6: Gengar (Stormfront) vs. Uxie (Legends Awakened)
Two big names in the TCG world. Gengar is still a very threatening deck; Uxie is a draw engine and donker. Ultimately, Uxie won due to its versatility and re-usability. WINNER: Uxie
GAME 7: Moonlight Stadium vs. Poke Turn
Not a very difficult decision. While Moonlight Stadium gives free retreat, which is always wanted, Poke Turn is at the center of all SP decks along with Cyrus, for its ability to make SPs reusable. WINNER: Poke Turn
GAME 8: Power Spray vs. Azelf (Legends Awakened)
An interesting debate, but a short one. Azelf is beginning to fade as a tech, and Power Spray is huge with SP decks in their prime. WINNER: Power Spray
GAME 9: Energy Gain vs. Kingdra (Legends Awakened)
A very intense debate surrounded this matchup. Ultimately though, while Kingdra was incredible in its time, it has faded mostly, and Energy Gain is still a key card in SP decks.
GAME 10: Bebe’s Search vs. Claydol (Great Encounters)
Wow, two staples of most decks, facing off! Claydol was the obvious decision, though. Refreshing your hand in the middle of a turn is just incredible, as great as it is that Bebe gives you any Pokemon. WINNER: Claydol
GAME 11: Galactic HQ vs. Garchomp C LV.X
Relatively easy. Galactic HQ is great against Flygon and Gengar, but SP Decks rule, and a full heal on all SPs, just fantastic from Garchomp C LV.X. WINNER: Garchomp C LV.X
GAME 12: Expert Belt vs. Conductive Quarry
Not even close. Conductive Quarry only appears in Dialga / Garchomp these days, while Expert Belt is still finding new uses in many different decks played today. WINNER: Expert Belt
GAME 13: Snowpoint Temple vs. Broken Time-Space
This is a very epic face-off. The two best Stadiums. The SP Stadium vs. the Stage 2 Stadium. In the end, it was Broken Time-Space, because of its ability to allow evolving decks to speed up significantly. WINNER: Broken Time-Space
GAME 14: Luxury Ball vs. Dialga G
A hard decision to make, but really not too difficult when you think about it. Dialga G does significantly block your opponent, but in a format that revolves around speed, getting whatever Pokemon you like whenever you like is just too crucial. WINNER: Luxury Ball
GAME 15: Roseanne’s Research vs. Toxicroak G Promo
Pretty darn easy. Roseanne has been the best supporter in many decks for a long time now, and while Promocroak has found its way into many SP decks, Roseanne is essential in every deck. WINNER: Roseanne’s Research
GAME 16: Relicanth (Supreme Victors) vs. Crobat G
A very quick decision. Relicanth is good for a strong snipe or two, but when he’s a couple HP off, who ya gonna call? Crobat G. WINNER: Crobat G
ROUND 2:
GAME 17: Luxray GL LV.X vs. SP Radar
Pretty much a unanimous decision. Considering that SP Radars were primarily used on this guy and Crobat G. Luxray was a large part of the reason that SP decks are playable. WINNER: Luxray GL LV.X
GAME 18: Rare Candy vs. Spiritomb
A painfully difficult decision. Rare candy is THE card in all Stage 2 decks, but Spiritomb won’t allow you to play Rare Candy, and thus will crush Stage 2 decks. WINNER: Spiritomb
GAME 19: Cyrus’s Conspiracy vs. Uxie
Another toughie. The centerfold of SP decks taking on the draw engine used in most SPs. Uxie once again pulled through because of its usefulness in EVERY SINGLE DECK, except Scizor decks. WINNER: Uxie
GAME 20: Poke Turn vs. Power Spray
Oh no! Your opponent just Power Sprayed your Crobat G, which was going to add the last damage counter to your opponent’s Claydol! What can you do? Poke Turn. WINNER: Poke Turn
GAME 21: Energy Gain vs. Claydol
One of the only easy decisions in Round 2. Drawing up to six cards is simply fantastic, as great as two Energies in one turn is. WINNER: Claydol
GAME 22: Garchomp C LV.X vs. Expert Belt
I was pushing for Expert Belt on this one, but Garchomp was the victor. I understand though, because a full heal on every single SP is just too good to pass up, and it comes at little risk, unlike Expert Belt. WINNER: Garchomp C LV.X
GAME 23: Broken Time-Space vs. Luxury Ball
A nail-biter. Both of these cards became essential in every Stage 2 deck. However, the speed provided by BTS is nearly unmatched anywhere else in a Stage 2 build, including Luxury Ball. WINNER: Broken Time-Space
GAME 24: Roseanne’s Research vs. Crobat G
A fairly easy choice, considering that Crobat G was probably sought more with Roseanne than any other Pokemon, especially with a hand full of Poke Turns. WINNER: Crobat G
ROUND 3:
GAME 25: Luxray GL LV.X vs. Spiritomb
Two great cards, but one clearly better, considering that the easiest way to get rid of a Spiritomb that was stopping you from playing Trainers was to use Bright Look. WINNER: Luxray GL LV.X
GAME 26: Uxie vs. Poke Turn
A terribly difficult one on which to agree. Poke Turn, however, was used best in large quantities, which are very difficult to obtain without a fantastic draw engine, like Uxie. WINNER: Uxie
GAME 27: Claydol vs. Garchomp C LV.X
This one was somewhat easy, because Claydol is such an efficient draw engine, and is almost impossible to leave out of your deck, Claydol belongs in almost every deck. WINNER: Claydol
GAME 28: Broken Time-Space vs. Crobat G
Pretty simple. No matter how fast you build up your Stage 2 monster, the fast-attacking SP Pokemon will get close enough for Crobat G to bring it down. WINNER: Crobat G
SEMIFINALS:
GAME 29: Luxray GL LV.X vs. Uxie
This one caused a great deal of commotion. When everything is taken into account though, Luxray is only good if you have him right when you need him. And it takes a fantastic draw engine to make this possible. WINNER: Uxie
GAME 30: Claydol vs. Crobat G
The tension in the air was incredible. This was a very very difficult decision. Crobat won in the end, with this reasoning: everybody is trying to snipe to hit Claydol. Cards like Garchomp C LV.X, Relicanth, and Crobat G as well are bringing it down. However, with enough Crobats, nothing can stop you. WINNER: Crobat G
FINALS:
The argument to end all arguments. The argument used to guide Crobat to victory in the semis does not apply to Uxie, because of Psychic Restore being able to remove the damage counters. We eventually decided to look at the place each card had in a Shuppet deck. Uxie provided an alternative donker and a draw engine. Crobat provided a way to knock out even the strongest beasts. In the end, when all was said and done and the dust had cleared, there was only one true champion. WINNER: Crobat G
















