Standard Buluvolt Advice

[Ayzic]

Hi all, I'm very new to these forums and quite new to the Pokemon TCG in general. I saw a deck that interested me, and figured I would try to play it online first before buying the physical cards. Here is the ideal list:

POKEMON (16):
3 Grubbin (SM)
1 Charjabug (SM)
3 Vikavolt (SM28)
1 Vikavolt GX (GR)
2 Tapu Lele GX (GR)
3 Tapu Bulu GX (SM32)
1 Tapu Koko (SM31)
1 Remoraid (BKT)
1 Octillery (BKT)

TRAINERS (31):
1 Brock's Grit (EVO)
1 Skyla (BKP)
4 Rare Candy (SM)
3 Professor Sycamore (BKP)
1 Super Rod (BKT)
1 Switch (SM)
1 Brigette (BKT)
2 Energy Recycler (GR)
2 Field Blower (GR)
2 Guzma (BS)
1 Fighting Fury Belt (BKP)
4 Ultra Ball (SM)
4 N (FAC)
2 Choice Band (GR)
2 Float Stone (BKT)

ENERGY (13):
8 Grass Energy
5 Lightning Energy


I am very fond of this list as it contains two of my favorite SuMo mons, Tapu Bulu and Vikavolt. The only issue I have with this list is the fact that Tapu Lele GX is either expensive or hard to come by in both the digital world and physical world. I would like to take some ideas and suggestions as to what can replace these Leles until I get my hands on a few, as well as any other suggestions to try and make the deck better.

So far I have tried removing both Tapu Lele in exchange for an extra Brigette and Guzma, but have yet had the time to play test thoroughly. Any suggestions at all would be appreciated, thank you all for your time.

 

[Adi]

I actually really like your list because I also experimented with Octillery and found it very useful. Here is my current list which has done very well at my locals and on PTCGO.

Pokemon: 14

3 Grubbin
1 Charjabug
3 Vikavolt(I think a 3-1-3 Vikavolt line is pretty standard.)
2 Tapu Lele GX
3 Tapu Bulu GX(This is also how many Bulu's most lists run.)
1 Remoraid
1 Octillery(I think this helps the consistency of the deck a lot.)

Trainers: 35

Items
3 Choice Band
3 Field Blower(3 is never a bad thing, and helps the Garbodor ability lock.)
4 Ultra Ball
1 Heavy Ball(This card has made getting out Vikavolt's so much easier, and really helps the consistency.)
4 Rare Candy(As you can tell I want a consistent list and 4 has helped me get Vikavolt out more often.)
2 Energy Recycler(I prefer 2 Energy Recycler and a Super Rod to 1 Energy Recycler and a Brock's Grit even if it is 1 more card.
2 Float Stone
1 Super Rod

Supporters
1 Brigette(This deck runs way smoother with a Brigette.)
3 Guzma(I think most decks need 3 Guzma in the new format.)
4 N
4 Professor Sycamore

Stadium
3 Aether Paradise Conservation(Helps get Bulu out of 180 range.)

Energy: 11

7 Grass Energy
4 Lighting Energy

I tried to make a consistent list which works every time, and this list has done me the best so far. I hope this helps.

 

[AlolanNinetalesFan]

All in all, I really like this list. Although mabye take out 1 Grass energy and add an extra Fighting Fury Belt. Hope this helps!

 

[Ayzic]

Thanks for the suggestions. I really like the idea of having an Aether Paradise stadium card. I completely forgot about stadiums when using this deck!

 

[Adi]

I would say there are some cards you don't need in my opinion.

-1Vikavolt GX
-1 Tapu Koko
-1 Switch
-1 FFB

I would suggest my list, but we all have different preferences and play styles. I would definitely drop the cards I suggested you drop though. There are a couple other changes I would suggest, but these are the "I don't think you need really" cards. I hope this helps.

 

[lukas2aces]

Hm, I considered a Remoraid - Octillery line as well, thought I would get frustrated about the extra bench space I will miss, because basically I want to have place for:

1 Tapu Koko
2 Grubbin (in case 1 gets Guzma's / KO'ed)
2 Tapu Bulu GX
1 or 2 Tapu Lele GX

And since there are 6 spots (including active), I'm already missing a spot sometimes for Lele GX - Guzma for example. So I'm really interested whether this Octillery line will help me of frustrate me.

However, I do struggle every now and then with almost no hand and I agree it would help consistency a lot, so I did decide to start playtesting with a 1-1 line.

 

[Adi]

I have heard of other people who like running Tapu Koko promo in their Bulu deck, but I don't really think it is worth it. There is one matchup where that is useful against and that is Gardevoir GX. Don't get me wrong that is a popular deck, but at that point I would just tell you to run a Kukui. One of they keys to beating Gardevoir for you is to Nature's Judgement, and discard all the energies. Then if you have a Aether Paradise out they need 7 energies to OHKO you. It's not impossible, but it can be difficult. I hope this helps.

 

[lukas2aces]

It's true, but there are more decks like that... I also use it as Alolan Ninetales (non GX) counter. I also run this as free retreat Pokemon when I Guzma but didn't want to switch myself, or when I need to choose a Pokemon after I took an KO but want to see what card I will draw first. I also use it against Metagross (2 Flying Flips on Beldums, then Nature's Judgement + Choice Band). IMO it gives you many more possibilities. But I'll have to see whether a Tapu Koko and Remoraid-Octillery will work or is too much (at least too much bench space).

And indeed, I would like to have a chance against Gardevoir GX, and 1 Flying Flip could really help there, especially if your opponent has multiple Ralts benched.

 

[Adi]

I could see you running 1, but it comes down to how much bench space you have. Because you want 2 Bulus, 2 Vikavolt's, and 1 spot for Lele. If you decide to run them both I would instead only try to get out 1 Vikavolt. Most of the time you should be able to find a Grass Energy.

 

[Shining Goodra]

In my experience you want Oranguru over Octillery. As well, running more copies of Brigette or fan club helps consistency when it comes to getting Grubbins on bench, you don't want to prize your lone Brigette.

 

[lukas2aces]

Oranguru might be interesting as well, since it can OHKO Alolan Ninetales as well if needed. I have however never seen an Oranguru in a Bulu / Vikavolt list. This is also the first time I see Remoraid/Octillery. I will test it to see if it worth the deck and bench space.

Intesting side note: if a Gardevoir player needs to go 'all the way' to kill a Bulu and has 7 energy, you can OHKO a Gardevoir with Oranguru's attack and a Choice Band.

More than 1 Brigette I wouldn't run, because if it is prized (1/10 chance), most of the times a few N's / Sycamores do the trick for me as well, a second Brigette would feel like a 'dead card' 9 of 10 games for me... Okay, the chance you get in in the first hand will increase as well (no Lele needed), but still.

 

[Adi]

Oranguru is a good counter to Gardevoir, but it's ability is not very good. It's only decent if you have like 1 prize card because they can N down. At best you can draw a card each turn. Hypothetically you could use cards like Ultra Ball to drop your hand down, but it is still hard to get it down to 2.