Move Over “BrokenVoir” — Decidueye-GX / Zoroark-GX in Standard
Decidueye-GX is a captivating card. Feather Arrow is unprecedented when paired with a powerful Pokemon that can crank out OHKOs like Zoroark-GX. Supplemental damage is always amazing against evolution decks as well since it allows you to set up Knock Outs with Espeon-EX much more easily. Recently I played in a weekend of League Cups, the first event didn’t go so well for me. For the second, I wanted to find a deck that I thought would be fun, and obviously strong. I saw Daniel Altavilla post a video on YouTube with his deck list for the deck, so I put it together at the last second and let it ride.
Tournament Report
12/3/2017
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Decidueye-GX / Espeon-EX / Mewtwo / Tapu Koko / Tapu Lele-GX / Zoroark-GX (Standard)
- Round 1 versus Golisopod-GX / Tapu Koko / Tapu Lele-GX / Zoroark / Zoroark-GX 1/0/0
- Round 2 versus Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX / Octillery / Tapu Lele-GX 2/0/0
- Round 3 versus Tapu Bulu-GX / Tapu Koko / Tapu Lele-GX / Vikavolt / Zoroark-GX 3/0/0
- Round 4 versus Greninja BREAK / Starmie / Tapu Fini-GX / Tapu Lele-GX 4/0/0
- Round 5 Intentional Draw 4/0/1
- Round 6 versus Ho-Oh-GX / Salazzle-GX / Tapu Lele-GX / Volcanion / Volcanion-EX 5/0/1
- Top 8 versus Buzzwole-GX / Lycanroc-GX / Tapu Lele-GX / Zoroark BREAK / Zoroark-GX 2/1; 6/0/1
- Top 4 versus Tapu Bulu-GX / Tapu Koko / Tapu Lele-GX / Vikavolt / Zoroark-GX 2/0; 7/0/1
- Top 2 versus Alolan Vulpix / Gallade / Gardevoir-GX / Octillery / Tapu Lele-GX 2/0; 8/0/1
8/0/1
1st Place
I ended up blitzing through my swiss rounds in dominant fashion and even through top cut. While a League Cup isn’t something to write home about, playing the deck felt awesome for so many reasons. I think just about everyone wrote off Decidueye-GX decks when Forest of Giant Plants was ushered out of the Standard format (the Expanded format, too) and were reluctant to try the deck with a Rare Candy-focus. While I may have caved in this event to play a deck that I’d barely used, I am extremely happy that I did.
Going into Memphis, Tennessee Regionals, this deck is my top choice. Zoroark-GX in the Expanded format can be tamed with Sudowoodo and its Roadblock, but Decidueye-GX is almost unstoppable. Feather Arrow sets up Knock Outs against higher-HP Pokemon and against the most popular deck right now, Gardevoir-GX, you have a great matchup. The sky’s the limit for this deck, so it’s a perfect time for me to let the owl loose again… Decidueye-GX, I choose you!
The (Altavilla) List
¿Qué?
Four Rowlet, Three Dartrix and Four Decidueye-GX
This count is perfect. Four Rowlet as a base is optimal so that prizing isn’t an issue and it gives you leeway if one is Knocked Out early or started with. This deck can be clunky; I am aware. With that, you want to mitigate that nuisance as much as possible. With three Dartrix, you won’t be relying on Rare Candy as much as you would in say, Gardevoir-GX, if you’re playing only two Kirlia. Decidueye-GX is a great attacker, but it’s not your main attacker. You don’t need to have an all-out focus on it. Speaking of Decidueye-GX, four is the way to go. With four Rowlet, you have the option to get all four out, however unlikely that may be. I have gotten three out at once and that remains my record to this day. I like having multiple copies to make them more expendable, like Rowlet, as well.
Three Zorua and Two Zoroark-GX
This count seems thin, but it’s optimal. Three Zorua is a nice base to give you more Pokemon to fill your Bench up with for Riotous Beating and it gives you a slightly higher chance of starting with it or drawing into it early without having to use a Brigette to fetch multiples. Zoroark-GX is your main attacker, but I have never used more than two in a game, even with Rescue Stretcher and other recovery options. Riotous Beating is so dominant once you get it smacking for 150 damage with a Choice Band and along with Feather Arrow drops, you’ll be taking OHKOs quickly. Aside from that, there is a special healing card this deck plays to keep Zoroark-GX kicking for longer than it would otherwise.
This concludes the public portion of this article.
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