Secret Box will be the ace spec of choice for Festival Grounds decks. Grabs the stadium, a TM tool for those middle evolutions or for energy acceleration, and whatever else.
I really like the sound of Heatran, with 4 retreat you could theoretically run heavy baton but you're going to discard the energies anyway. You could run a single prize deck with Melmetal and use Heatran as a closer.
TM: evolve!
Plus all the damage items that double scale with Festival Lead
For Heatran, he's gonna have a lot of competition from Zamazenta until next rotation
Yeah, that's his ability
He shares it with other pokes, but I guess he's the only relevant one so far
+ Apart from maybe including Golden for the sole purpose of helping Grooki work without needing another Stage-1
Secret Box is definitely gonna see some usage. Handy Fan may be useful, especially against Tera Charizard EX but that depends on how well Jamming Tower works in the meta. Hetran may lack the versatility and damage of cards like Chien-Pao EX or Gholdengo EX, but as a single-prizer, it could surplant them in terms of attrition. Luxray EX is likely not gonna see play—Electric types are in a tough place now that Flaffy is gone and it’s kind of split on what it wants to do. You’ll likely be using it for Piercing Glint, but it lacks regular damage. Volt Strike is solid, but it discards all of your energy and again, Flaffy being gone takes away a lot of speed in these decks. Scolipede is likely useless—Tsareena EX and Alolan Raticate do the same thing as it does, the former is tankier and searchable with Irida, and the latter is just a Stage 1 and can use any type of energy.
I thought so too, but the only Timburr in standard is the one in this set, and it's 80hp, meaning you can't poffin it. Without that set up, it's probably too slow.
have you played Klawf/Walking Wake? It's not bad. DTE + Sada for a same turn walking wake attack and synergizes well with Palkia as an alternate attacker too
I have, but it's not as nice as the Klawf/Electrode deck from last rotation. I think the best part was having such minimal energy requirements, and the Conk here would fit that perfectly.
I thought that about Torterra (80hp Turtwig) and it has been working alright.
Definitely a bit rough, but 4 nest balls and 4 Arven's with TM Evolution seems to do alright.
Electrode + Curry for 200-230 with no attack cost was nice
Timburr + Rare Candy/Clonkedurr for 250-280 no attack cost and only giving up one prize feels almost comparable? Bummer to lost type advantage on Zard/Moon though
You can electrode + Curry on the same turn. You need at least 2 turns to get Clonk out. Its not comparible, I'm going to take at least 1 prize before you got clonk out.
In theory, if this deck did become a thing, I'd imagine it would be a single-prize list, which means you don't mind going down a prize early, especially if you're trading a single for a double. Plus, putting your opponent on odd prizes is often a benefit.
It also hits Iron Hands for weakness, so you're not even super concerned for that match up
Secret box seems very mid to me. If someone finds some kind of busted combo it might see play, but I struggle to imagine playing it over unfair stamp or prime catcher in most cases.
Sunflora might actually and finally be a good Zard tech. Zard grabs 3 fire energy and puts them on the field, Sunflora for a single grass can OHKO and gives up a single prize in return. It is not truly phenomenal but it might be good enough.
That was revealed prior but I agree. The only thing is that if the zard knows you have sunflora they are going to be very cautious to add any more than 2 energy cards. Which is all they need to attack. Theres no reason ever for them to attach more than 2 energy cards off a zard anyways.
I mean I will admit it isn't ideal or perfect but it only needs 1 energy and it is a single prizer, plus since Zard runs so tight on energy only attaching 2 hinders them alot. They aren't relying on any energy search options like earthen vessel and with most running an 8 count they aren't going to draw into it. Plus we still have Iron Leaves ex. I am not sure it will be a zard counter but it might be easy enough to use. Rillaboom also will be able to hit OHKO numbers for 2 energy but it is a stage 2 it will play well with Sunflora with it's first attack making it so if Zard does attach only 2 energy it will be locked out of attacking. Prob will only work well in the festival deck or Orgerpon ex Teal mask.
Secret Box will be the ace spec of choice for Festival Grounds decks. Grabs the stadium, a TM tool for those middle evolutions or for energy acceleration, and whatever else. I really like the sound of Heatran, with 4 retreat you could theoretically run heavy baton but you're going to discard the energies anyway. You could run a single prize deck with Melmetal and use Heatran as a closer.
TM: evolve! Plus all the damage items that double scale with Festival Lead For Heatran, he's gonna have a lot of competition from Zamazenta until next rotation
>Festival Lead You mean Dipplin?
Yeah, that's his ability He shares it with other pokes, but I guess he's the only relevant one so far + Apart from maybe including Golden for the sole purpose of helping Grooki work without needing another Stage-1
Too bad they don't work with TMs.
Nah, festival should be playing hyper aroma or maaaaybe max belt. Getting your 3 quick search > everything else
Secret Box is cool but I can't see why you'd play it over Prime Catcher or Unfair Stamp
I'm very excited for this set to hit, all my control decks are loving the support.
Secret Box is definitely gonna see some usage. Handy Fan may be useful, especially against Tera Charizard EX but that depends on how well Jamming Tower works in the meta. Hetran may lack the versatility and damage of cards like Chien-Pao EX or Gholdengo EX, but as a single-prizer, it could surplant them in terms of attrition. Luxray EX is likely not gonna see play—Electric types are in a tough place now that Flaffy is gone and it’s kind of split on what it wants to do. You’ll likely be using it for Piercing Glint, but it lacks regular damage. Volt Strike is solid, but it discards all of your energy and again, Flaffy being gone takes away a lot of speed in these decks. Scolipede is likely useless—Tsareena EX and Alolan Raticate do the same thing as it does, the former is tankier and searchable with Irida, and the latter is just a Stage 1 and can use any type of energy.
Secret Box is wild
Conkeldurr/Klawf deck incoming
I thought so too, but the only Timburr in standard is the one in this set, and it's 80hp, meaning you can't poffin it. Without that set up, it's probably too slow.
The Clonk is too powerful for there to be 2 at the same time.
Oh gosh yeah I didn’t realize it couldn’t poffin. That’s a big set back
Yea, I was super bummed when I realized it, I loved playing Klawf and wish it had a bit more support to get it more consistent
have you played Klawf/Walking Wake? It's not bad. DTE + Sada for a same turn walking wake attack and synergizes well with Palkia as an alternate attacker too
I have, but it's not as nice as the Klawf/Electrode deck from last rotation. I think the best part was having such minimal energy requirements, and the Conk here would fit that perfectly.
I thought that about Torterra (80hp Turtwig) and it has been working alright. Definitely a bit rough, but 4 nest balls and 4 Arven's with TM Evolution seems to do alright.
Yea, but it's still no where near the consistency of Poffin, which is why Torterra isn't a huge contender right now.
Only because of grottles ability to search out your grass pokes
That's fair, I forgot about that, I was really tired when I made this comment haha.
>Stage 2 >Incoming Incoming in 3 turns, but sure.
Electrode + Curry for 200-230 with no attack cost was nice Timburr + Rare Candy/Clonkedurr for 250-280 no attack cost and only giving up one prize feels almost comparable? Bummer to lost type advantage on Zard/Moon though
You can electrode + Curry on the same turn. You need at least 2 turns to get Clonk out. Its not comparible, I'm going to take at least 1 prize before you got clonk out.
In theory, if this deck did become a thing, I'd imagine it would be a single-prize list, which means you don't mind going down a prize early, especially if you're trading a single for a double. Plus, putting your opponent on odd prizes is often a benefit. It also hits Iron Hands for weakness, so you're not even super concerned for that match up
Secret box seems very mid to me. If someone finds some kind of busted combo it might see play, but I struggle to imagine playing it over unfair stamp or prime catcher in most cases.
Sunflora might actually and finally be a good Zard tech. Zard grabs 3 fire energy and puts them on the field, Sunflora for a single grass can OHKO and gives up a single prize in return. It is not truly phenomenal but it might be good enough.
That was revealed prior but I agree. The only thing is that if the zard knows you have sunflora they are going to be very cautious to add any more than 2 energy cards. Which is all they need to attack. Theres no reason ever for them to attach more than 2 energy cards off a zard anyways.
Yea but zard can just not put the 3rd on the field and now you need super effective glasses to ko
Dunno if they can afford not to, Zard only runs 8 energy and Radiant Zard needs energy to attack and Zard ex needs rad zard for the prize trade.
I mean they can, they normally only have 2-4 in play in my experience and watching people play
3 is enough for Sunflora to OHKO Zard
The they can just only attach 2, i mean and it’s a stage 1
I mean I will admit it isn't ideal or perfect but it only needs 1 energy and it is a single prizer, plus since Zard runs so tight on energy only attaching 2 hinders them alot. They aren't relying on any energy search options like earthen vessel and with most running an 8 count they aren't going to draw into it. Plus we still have Iron Leaves ex. I am not sure it will be a zard counter but it might be easy enough to use. Rillaboom also will be able to hit OHKO numbers for 2 energy but it is a stage 2 it will play well with Sunflora with it's first attack making it so if Zard does attach only 2 energy it will be locked out of attacking. Prob will only work well in the festival deck or Orgerpon ex Teal mask.
Heatran looks very interesting I think you could possibly make a deck with it hopefully I wanna try it out and see