So with the new Burning Shadows cards, and the rotation list out, I've been wracking my brain as to what kind of deck to make that would benefit my style of play. I saw Alolan Muk GX and I saw the potential to combo it with Salazzle, and with baby Alolan Muk (the psychic type version from Sun and Moon) I thought it would make the perfect anti-Darkrai deck. Then I noticed Darkrai GX's GX attack, and that then it all fell into place. So this was the type of deck I thought of.
Pokemon:
3 Alolan Grimer (from burning shadows)
2 Alolan Muk GX
1 Alolan Muk (Psychic type from Sun and Moon)
3 Salandit
3 Salazzle
3 Darkai GX
2 Tapu Lele GX
Trainer:
4 Professor Sycamore
4 Ultra Ball
4 Max Elixir
3 N
3 Choice Band
3 Float Stone
3 Devolution Spray
2 Field Blower
2 Guzma
1 Super Rod
1 Brigette
1 Rescue Stretcher
1 Acerola
Energy:
7 Darkness Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy
For those who don't know the abilities of some of the new cards from Burning Shadows:
Alolan Grimer: 80 HP
(Free) Division:
Search your deck for Alolan Grimer and put it onto your Bench. Then, shuffle your deck.
(DCE) Slippery Sludge:
Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Confused.
Alolan Muk GX: 220 HP
(D)(DCE) Chemical Breath: 10+
This attack does 70 more damage for each Special Condition affecting your opponent's Active Pokémon.
(D)(D)(DCE) Crunch: 120
Discard an Energy from your opponent's Active Pokémon.
(Free) Tri Hazard GX
Switch 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon. The new Active Pokémon is now Burned, Paralyzed, and Poisoned. (You can't use more than 1 GX attack in a game.)
Darkrai GX: 180 HP
Ability: Restoration
Once during your turn (before your attack), if this Pokémon is in your discard pile, you may put it onto your Bench. Then, attach a
Energy card from your discard pile to this Pokémon.
(D)(D)(C) Dark Cleave: 130
This attack's damage isn't affected by Resistance.
(D)(D)(C) Dead End GX
If your opponent's Active Pokémon is affected by a Special Condition, that Pokémon is Knocked Out. (You can't use more than 1 GX attack in a game.)
Acerola: Supporter
Put 1 of your Pokémon that has any damage counters on it and all cards attached to it into your hand.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Guzma: Supporter
Switch 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon. If you do, switch your Active Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Summary:
Okay, so this deck is built around special conditions caused by evolving Salandit to Salazzle. When it evolves, the opposing active Pokemon becomes poisoned and burned. With Alolan Muk GX's Chemical Breath combined with the two conditions, it's an automatic 150 attack; 180 with choice band. But also, I added Darkrai for a more speedier attacker. First off its Dark Cleave is unaffected by weakness or resistance, so cards like Gardevior GX will take the whole attack. Secondly, its GX attack is the real reason why I added it. Salazzle causing burn and poison, Darkrai GX's Dead End GX will automatically knock out any Pokemon which will come in handy for heavy hitting Pokemon like Gardevior GX or Metagross GX etc. Not to mention its restoration ability, that doesn't really require much explanation. Discard it with Ultra Ball or Sycamore etc. and it comes back to the field with an energy already attached. Devolution Spray is there to devolve Salazzle so you can revolve it next turn for the opposing Pokemon. I also called this the Anti-Darkrai deck because both EX and GX versions both have 180 HP so either Alolan Muk GX or Darkrai GX can give them a 1 hit knock out with the special conditions and choice band. Also, most Darkrai decks will more than likely run Marshadow GX for mirror matches and for colorless Pokemon, but with Psychic type, Alolan Muk's Power of Alchemy ability, all basic Pokemon in the hand field and discard lose their abilities. So, Marshadow GX, Darkrai GX, and Tapu Lele GX no longer have abilities while it's on the field. The main downside to it is that it also affects your field so if you plan to have it out, make sure your own Tapu Lele and Darkrai are already on the field.
So I think I will wrap up my first deck profile. I hope I explained everything, suggestions are always useful along with any questions you may have, and I hope you like it.
Pokemon:
3 Alolan Grimer (from burning shadows)
2 Alolan Muk GX
1 Alolan Muk (Psychic type from Sun and Moon)
3 Salandit
3 Salazzle
3 Darkai GX
2 Tapu Lele GX
Trainer:
4 Professor Sycamore
4 Ultra Ball
4 Max Elixir
3 N
3 Choice Band
3 Float Stone
3 Devolution Spray
2 Field Blower
2 Guzma
1 Super Rod
1 Brigette
1 Rescue Stretcher
1 Acerola
Energy:
7 Darkness Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy
For those who don't know the abilities of some of the new cards from Burning Shadows:
Alolan Grimer: 80 HP
(Free) Division:
Search your deck for Alolan Grimer and put it onto your Bench. Then, shuffle your deck.
(DCE) Slippery Sludge:
Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Confused.
Alolan Muk GX: 220 HP
(D)(DCE) Chemical Breath: 10+
This attack does 70 more damage for each Special Condition affecting your opponent's Active Pokémon.
(D)(D)(DCE) Crunch: 120
Discard an Energy from your opponent's Active Pokémon.
(Free) Tri Hazard GX
Switch 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon. The new Active Pokémon is now Burned, Paralyzed, and Poisoned. (You can't use more than 1 GX attack in a game.)
Darkrai GX: 180 HP
Ability: Restoration
Once during your turn (before your attack), if this Pokémon is in your discard pile, you may put it onto your Bench. Then, attach a
(D)(D)(C) Dark Cleave: 130
This attack's damage isn't affected by Resistance.
(D)(D)(C) Dead End GX
If your opponent's Active Pokémon is affected by a Special Condition, that Pokémon is Knocked Out. (You can't use more than 1 GX attack in a game.)
Acerola: Supporter
Put 1 of your Pokémon that has any damage counters on it and all cards attached to it into your hand.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Guzma: Supporter
Switch 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon. If you do, switch your Active Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Summary:
Okay, so this deck is built around special conditions caused by evolving Salandit to Salazzle. When it evolves, the opposing active Pokemon becomes poisoned and burned. With Alolan Muk GX's Chemical Breath combined with the two conditions, it's an automatic 150 attack; 180 with choice band. But also, I added Darkrai for a more speedier attacker. First off its Dark Cleave is unaffected by weakness or resistance, so cards like Gardevior GX will take the whole attack. Secondly, its GX attack is the real reason why I added it. Salazzle causing burn and poison, Darkrai GX's Dead End GX will automatically knock out any Pokemon which will come in handy for heavy hitting Pokemon like Gardevior GX or Metagross GX etc. Not to mention its restoration ability, that doesn't really require much explanation. Discard it with Ultra Ball or Sycamore etc. and it comes back to the field with an energy already attached. Devolution Spray is there to devolve Salazzle so you can revolve it next turn for the opposing Pokemon. I also called this the Anti-Darkrai deck because both EX and GX versions both have 180 HP so either Alolan Muk GX or Darkrai GX can give them a 1 hit knock out with the special conditions and choice band. Also, most Darkrai decks will more than likely run Marshadow GX for mirror matches and for colorless Pokemon, but with Psychic type, Alolan Muk's Power of Alchemy ability, all basic Pokemon in the hand field and discard lose their abilities. So, Marshadow GX, Darkrai GX, and Tapu Lele GX no longer have abilities while it's on the field. The main downside to it is that it also affects your field so if you plan to have it out, make sure your own Tapu Lele and Darkrai are already on the field.
So I think I will wrap up my first deck profile. I hope I explained everything, suggestions are always useful along with any questions you may have, and I hope you like it.
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