Revisiting an old Friend

Hey people,

I'd like to have some fun here. 

Don't yell at me for doing this, or tell me, this is not a viable deck anymore.

I just want to do this - because I can.

So, I will update my beloved Blastoise deck to the current set in Japan: Phantom Gate.

First I will tell you about the cards I can see in there, and why:

- VS Seeker:

Well, I hope this choice is pretty obvious for you. 

This works well with Battle Compressor, and other discarding mechanics. And also with the many one-of supporter counts will be playing in this deck. 

Being able to play more than 4 Juniper, or N is also a too tempting possibility, to not play this card.

- Xerosic

Mostly for the feared Seismitoad EX match-up, but it also helps agains any other deck, that uses Garbodor, or special energy. With VS Seeker in the deck, you can just discard this card early on, and get it back later, when you need it. But don't forget: There is no VS Seeker in a game against Seismitoad EX, so you might wait to play this until you have an actual good use of it, like when you KO a Seismitaod EX, and discard the DCE on the other one.

- Battle Compressor (yes, even that one)

I can not state enough, that this card just works great, if you are playing a high count of VS Seeker. In this deck it can also work as an indirect kind of energy search by putting some energy in your discard pile. Since we run one Lysandres Last Resort, we will, most of the time, not have to worry about decking out.

- Substitute Robot

Setting up can be a pain, if you don't have Tropical Beach available, and this little guy can buy you some turns. I don't know, how viable this will be, yet, but I am taking this card into consideration.

 

- Head Noiser

This card is going to make the VirGen match-up much more favorable.

If they can't Emerald Slash turn 2, and have to waste another energy-attachement on Virizion, it can only help you getting out your ol' Black Kyurem and start OHKOing your opponent's EXs.

- AZ

I've always been a great fan of Scoop Up Cyclone, and never played another ACE SPEC card in this deck. AZ will discard your energy, but can work as Max Potion, Switch, etc., you can even use it under item lock, and you can get it back with VS Seeker, and reuse it. This might be not worth wasting your supporter for the turn, but if I had some spare slots in my deck, I would add one copy of this.

- Lysandres Last Resort

Since there are so many cards in this deck, that require you to discard, this card might be a viable option to keep you from decking out. Playing Professer Juniper as often as possible will decimate your deck count pretty fast.

I was, as I said, trying to build a deck, that was able, to burn through it's resources quickly and steamroll the opponent

That is, what my list looks right now. 

I would just love to test it, but with no online page to test on with Phantom Gate cards, this might be hard.

Right now I am trying to build more decks, so I can test and improve those decks with friends here in Uni.

But, take a look yourself:

Pokémon

4-2-4 Blastoise

3 Black Kyurem EX

2 Keldeo EX

14

Trainer

4 Professor Juniper

3 N

4 Skyla

1 Xerosic

1 Colress

1 Lysandre

1 Lysandres Last Resort

2 Pokemon Fan Club

4 Superior Energy Retrieval

3 VS Seeker

4 Ultra Ball

2 Head Noiser

1 Computer Search

1 Startling Megaphone

1 Professors Letter

4 Rare Candy

1 Battle Compressor

37

Energy

2 Lightning Energy

7 Water Energy

9

So the main strategie would be to get your Blastoise out (of course), and then keep reusing your supporters with VS Seeker to mow through your deck.

On the way, kill everything with Black Kyurem EX's Black Ballista, and steamroll your opponent by dealing 200dmg every single turn.

I am not playing any stadium card at, all, because I don't think a counter-stadium is worth a spot in this really tight decklist.

Since this deck has to literaly explode on the first turns my ACE SPEC of choice is Computer Search, espacially, when you have so many one-of supporter you can search for.

I will have to try this deck out, but, if this will actually work out, I will consider playing this in a bigger tournament over the year, even with Seismitoad being present in the meta.

 

Match-ups:

VirGen:

Better, since you now have Head Noiser, but still not too favorable.

Strategy would be to get as many Squirtles out, as possible and attach Head Noiser to opponent's Virizion EX on the first turn. This will also keep them from attaching a Muscle band and one shotting your Blastoise. Then, just the same strategy as always, when playing against VirGen (which I did a lot this season):

Don't get your Keldeos down and take out the big Genesect EXs, before they have enough energy to G-Booster you. Take advantage of the price exchange, if they KO your Blastoises and Squirtles instead of your Black Kyurem EXs, and always have a back up. That would either be another Blastoise, or Black Kyurem EX load up on your bench.

Plasma:

With Head Noiser this is also a better match-up, than before, since they can't hit their OHKOs as easily without Muscle Band, and they have to take a turn more to attach energy. Strategie is, as before: Take out threats early! Deoxys EX and Thundurus EX are no real concern, since they can not deal enough damage to KO your Pokémon before you have taken all prices. So you better concentrate on Lugia EX. With BK EX, you have a reliable way to knock those out, and limit their options to return KOs.

Seismitoad/Garbodor:

With a possible turn 1 item lock this match-up, of course, is not really favorable. A good strategie would be saving your resources and attacking with Keldeo EX and probably wearing them down this way. If you are lucky, you can attach Head Noiser turn 1, or draw into your Xerosic to discard their DCE, or the tool on garbodor, depending, on what helps you more in that particular moment.

Pyroar:

You potentially got 4 Blastoise to attack their Pyroars with, which they can not knock out in one hit in return. I would count this as a more favorable match-up, than a bad one.

Fighting:

Dealing with this can be a problem, due to the early pressure, they can put on, and the time it takes you to set up, but once you got going, those Landorus EX and Lucario EX will be no hurdle for you. Especially due to Landorus EX's water weakness.

New Metal Decks:

Aegilash EX, which will probably get an annoyance for many other decks, will have a bad time against a deck, that doesn't use a single special energy. Dialga EX can, whith a Muscle Band OHKO your Keldeos EXs (170HP), but not your Black Kyurem EXs (180HP), and they will struggle putting enough energy on their pokemon, when you KO those every single turn.

At this point, I will not go over anymore other match-ups.

This is supposed to be a fun deck, for everyone, like me, who just enjoys playing Blastoise, and wants to have some nostalgic feeling with the spice of a new set. So, to all the people, that love their decks: Don't just stop playing them, because there is something out there, that counters it (Seismitoad EX), or because some cards rotated out (Tropical Beach, Level Ball, Heavy Ball,...)! Don't just neglect your precious decks! You can still have fun with them! Just go out there and play, and you will see.

I, for my case, will never forget my first season in the game when I played Blastoise/Keldeo, and in the end went nearly undefeated through the german national championship,  only loosing to the later champion (final stnading: 5-2-1, 14th).

With this deck by my side, I grew into the game, evolved and finally arrived, where I am now. Just like the deck itself.

I hope you enjoyed getting an insight on, what is still my favorite deck.

I really liked getting into this deck again and thinking about how to make it work.

Tell me, if you want to hear about somthing special in another article. I will take any kind of inspiration.

Greets from Japan,

Hannes (hanfffff)

P.S.: I updated my collection site after the booster draft yesterday.

Go check it out!