Steelix/Scizor deck feedback wanted 2012

Pokemon:
4 onyx UL (no ability, no rock energy )-3 steelix prime
1-steelix UL
3 scyther (colorless energy, 60hp)-3 scizor UD
3-3 cherrim UL
3 skarmory UD
2 druddigon NV
2 cobalion NV

Trainers/Supporters:
2 potion
3 pokemon comm
3 greatball
1 heavyball
2 poke collector
2 bianca
2 engineers adj
4 interviewers questions

Energy:
8 metal
2 DCE
4 sp metal

Future adjustments:
3 scizors for scizor prime
1 heavyball and 1 greatball for 2 rocky helmets

Deck plan:
-use skarmory to get sp metal on scizor for early game
-druddigon with rocky helmet for stalling
-have steelix prime on bench with one DCE ready to replace scizor
-energy stream and interviewers to add/retrieve sp metals for steelix
-load bench with cherrim
-use cobalion/scizor to counter mewtwo Ex decks aswell as give as fighting chance vs fire decks

It took a while to complete and i understand the increase in fire competitive decks but this deck can go toe to toe with most decks aswell as it is less mainstream (which i prefer more indy strategy decks) than fire/electric and mewtwo decks. Lots of fun to use and very versatile.

I can see you're new to the game. Which is cool. More the merrier.

AND I like steel. But running strictly steel is very difficult in this format. Fire will ruin you no matter what you do. We don't have an effective fire counter either. So I will try to point out all the flaws in your deck and hopefully it will be able to last a little longer.

1) Too many Steelix P. Steelix P takes too many resources and EN Stream is just not worth it as it will only be doing 30. Sure you can get SP metal and DCE but that's it. Don't get me wrong, he's a viable tank.

2) I really recommend KlinKlang BW. It can move all metal energies around as its ability. That way, you're not worried if your pokemon as insufficient energy since you all share. 2-1-2 should be good.

3) Instead of Druddigon, you can try Tornadus as it moves basic energy back to your bench. + its retreat cost is 1 so it's not so bad. Add 1 Cleffa to give you a hand refresher. It can also work as a staller. You can also try Regigigas EX as it can take major hits.

4) You need Professor Oak's New Theory (PONT) and/or N's. Using Bianca and Engineer's Adjustments as draw support is not consistent. I say replace those with PONT and N. You can also try Professor Juniper and Sage's Training since you have more freedom of tossing energy since you can retrieve it back with Steelix P. Also, get rid of Interviewer's Questions. Even with all those energy in hand, what are you gonna do with it besides attaching it 1 per turn?

5) You need catchers, switches, and junk arms. Also, if you're adding Klinklang, then rare candies. AND upgrade the potion to max potion. As you remember, Klinklang can move energy around so using max potion on Steelix P is really simple. Other resources such as catchers help you stall, switches help you get out of tight situations (as most of your pokemon are likely to be fat), and junk arms work to toss energy and/or anything else not needed to get you back those switches, catchers, etc. etc.

6) Add Pokemon Center stadiums as they'll heal your pokemon every turn. This is mostly to counter Skyarrow Bridge as most decks will run a lot of basics (while you can't since it's mostly evolutions). Once you're done using Pokemon Center, you can try to break it with Gaia Crush so they can't use the stadium.

Hopefully I helped enough. Fire will be your MAIN weakness and it's not going to get any easier as Reshiram EX comes out and revives Emboar decks.

i'm glad we have some new people. i would look at these 2 articles for help with deck-building. the second article is for refining your deck building.
Deck Building 101 - What the Theme Decks do Wrong
Vyse's Razor and Deck Building Concepts

anyways, here's some tips. clarify how many of each type of onix, steelix, scizor, etc. for example, you have a 4-3 line of steelixes (steelix? steeli? what's the plural of steelix?) does that mean that you have 2-2 prime/normal or 1-3 prime/normal, etc? you also need a form of energy acceleration. i'm not going to tell you that any deck that doesn't have energy acceleration is bad (look at the truth), but there are very few that are competitive. another thing is that freakmasta is entirely correct. at states, this deck will be eaten alive. i'm sorry, but reshi ex+emboar and tyram ex are both extremely competitive decks and are fast. they will set up quicker than you'll be able to, and there's also the whole weakness thing going against you. this just isn't the best deck, but congrats at the attempt to make this deck happen. if you do well, be proud that you built a good rouge deck.

I used a Tangrowth lvl X deck in provincials last year missed top cut by one win (tied with a bunch of other ppl). I have always been drawn towards heal/tanking decks as with Tangrowth SF and lvl X could do 140 with expert belt to anything with less hp then it, which was lots at the time (had 160 hp) and the lvl X card could heal 40 hp per turn. I have used this steelix/scizor format at my league and it holds its own, even against the occasional fire decks. I know that the fast reshi decks are gaining popularity, but I have been using this deck (or a slight variation) since the hgss cut last year. The increase of fire decks is a major blow, as I have already collected and stratagized with this deck for at least half a year. Other than this deck, I have blastgatr, but was having speed issues with it (as they are both stage 2 and steelix/scizor are stage 1). I appreciate the help, but I had no idea of ex cards and the super fast fire decks would ever be an issue until the next dynasties series arrived. I really don't want to switch to another deck given the time spent with this one, so if there is anyway to avoid this it would be nice.

just a quick question, why is bianca a "no-no"? Isn't almost the same as uxie from LA?

These forums were not really all that helpful. I have been playing cards for almost two years and i know these concepts, which my deck is following. If reshi decks were not around this deck would still be very competitive, unless I am missing something obvious. I thank you for the help but from the last few posts, it makes this deck seem pointless and "rookie material". The common competitive decks right now are hard to collect cards for, as everyone is keeping them and you gotta make due with what you have, right? I was hoping for more variety in pokemon tcg with the end to overpowered cards (pokemon sp's), but it doesn't appear that will happen (sigh). I enjoy a good home-made strategy for decks that require creative thinking rather then what an internet site says is competitive or not. I wouldn't find a textbook copy deck that satisfying to win with.

A good deck needs to reflect the person that put in the time, effort and strategy to make it possible.

red shark is out of date

edmonton, alberta, canada
with sage's its three cards every time I would be discarding, which is rather high imo

I will try PONT since I already have a bunch of them and don't have worry about discarding a lot.
think I will go with 3- PONT and 3- engineers for now and see how it is looking after a few trials. thanks again for good advice and something that i overlooked. Def need a bit more draw power

I have a full Blastgatr that is play ready, yet as with most decks could probably use some good advice on techs/trainers. I will put it up on another forum if your interested (which I hope, as it is a little unrefined). Not giving up quite yet with a steel deck, just making sure i have another option as a well tuned blastgatr deck can'b be singled down to a type weakness (as feraligatr has grass weakness).


@rumple k I don't own any juniper but I removed a engineer and one PONT for 2 sage's. Now testing

Blastgatr forum now up!

wow I added PONT and N (2 of each). Made such difference. kept each turn presenting something useful.

Would a SteelixGatr deck work? A small chance of T2 Gaia Crush.

How would emboar be any difference than feraligatr? Isn't it the same except for fire?

ok thanks. still not sure how a steelboar deck would work.

Thanks for clarifying guys.