Best BW Expansion for New Player Interested in Expanded Format

[Turtleatlaw]

Hello! I recently got into Pokemon TCG, and have been steadily building a nice collection of cards from the standard format (basically everything X&Y and beyond at the time of writing this). From browsing the articles and forums here on Pokebeach, I've become interested in trying things out in the Expanded format. What are the best / most important expansion sets in the BW area that I should look into? Are there any expansions that simply weren't great and aren't worth the effort /money?

Also, my understanding is that Plasma decks were the staple from that format. Are there particular Pokemon or trainer cards from the plasma expansions that are "must haves"? Anything similar to Shaymin-Ex or some other Break / EX cards from the current format that I should know about?

 

[homeofmew]

if you want the chepest decks I suggest Nightmarch or Sableye. Both do play Shaymin but see Shaymin ex (Ros) as an investment.

Sableye runs the following

x4 Sableye DRX
x2 Bunnelby (Rototiller)
x2 Shaymin
X4 Puzzle of time
x4 Crushing hammer
x3 Enhanced hammer
X1 Life Dew
-bunches of disruption like team flare grunt, and deliquent-
Virbank, Hypo Laser, or another gym like Aqua's Hideout
Xx Dark Energy

Idea: Disrupt, deck out oppoent

Night March
x4 Joltic (nightmarch)
x4 lampent Nightmarch
X4 pumpkaboo (nightmarch)
x3 Shaymin

4 Battle compressor
4 vs seeker
4 trainers mail
4 ultra ball
2 sycamore
2 team mates
1 Lysandre
x3 Aco Bike
x3 Dimension Valley
- other card ideas - megaphone, buddy buddy rescue, escape rope

x4 DCE

Idea, discard nightmarchers (lampent first)
and nightmarch for a ton of damage

 

[Turtleatlaw]

Super helpful! Thanks!

I've played Nightmarch before, and while it does consistently win matches, I didn't like the playstyle all that much.

I really like your tips about the Sableye deck. Are there any other similar decks?

 

[homeofmew]

you mentioned plasma, but I have not seen it much in competitive expanded play.
You can get the parts for cheap since all the major parts (except palkia ex) where made into promos.

Yvetal is something else that is normally played
Yvetal ex was made into a tin (twice actually with the shiney version that just came out)
making the promo version pretty affordable to get.

Skeleton list

3 Yvetal (Oblivion Wing) (XY)
2-3 Yvetal Ex
1 Gallade (KFT 84)
1 Archeops (NVI 67)
2 Shaymin ex RoS
1 Darkrai ex (also came in a tin)

2 Maxie Hidden Balltrick
4 Battle Compressor
4 Vs Seeker
4 Ultra Ball
1 Computer search
- Other cards to think about- Lysandre, Parellel City, Muscle Band, Acro Bike

Xx Dark
4 DCE

Idea: Compress Gallade and Archeops, use Maxies to lock evolution decks with archeops or get gallade out and use it's ability to manipulate the top 5 cards of your deck.

 

[Turtleatlaw]

you mentioned plasma, but I have not seen it much in competitive expanded play.
You can get the parts for cheap since all the major parts (except palkia ex) where made into promos.

Yvetal is something else that is normally played
Yvetal ex was made into a tin (twice actually with the shiney version that just came out)
making the promo version pretty affordable to get.

Skeleton list

3 Yvetal (Oblivion Wing) (XY)
2-3 Yvetal Ex
1 Gallade (KFT 84)
1 Archeops (NVI 67)
2 Shaymin ex RoS
1 Darkrai ex (also came in a tin)

2 Maxie Hidden Balltrick
4 Battle Compressor
4 Vs Seeker
4 Ultra Ball
1 Computer search
- Other cards to think about- Lysandre, Parellel City, Muscle Band, Acro Bike

Xx Dark
4 DCE

Idea: Compress Gallade and Archeops, use Maxies to lock evolution decks with archeops or get gallade out and use it's ability to manipulate the top 5 cards of your deck.

Super helpful! Thanks so much!