Help Deck Building Advice for a Young Newbie

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PokeDad924

Aspiring Trainer
Member
Hey all,

My kid has been playing Pokemon for almost a year now, and wants to go from playing against myself and his cousin to people at local events. Any ideas what might be a good starting point for a beginner? The main goal is a fun deck that isn't too expensive and is semi competitive. He has done of the building blocks for a Volcanion EX deck (two Ex's and three babies, and he's trying to collect the remainder of SS anyway, and loves Volcanion EX), but I'm not sure how well that will work when float stone rotates. What are your thoughts?
 
Next season's rotation and all of the actual SM3 cards (actual English card translations) have not yet been officially announced. So, I'd suggest waiting in the meantime till the official cards information is available and just utilize current Standard format cards. To that end, there are some Volcanion EX deck variations posted in the Deck Garage Forum you might find of interest. Those deck lists could provide some deck ideas.

For the time being, Volcanion EX deck tech cards, like Float Stone, Escape Rope, and/or Olympia, may not survive the rotation nor get reprinted in a future set. However, consider building your Volcanion EX deck list with current cards and submit that list to the Deck Garage Forum for review and further feedback comments. As you receive feedback, make appropriate revisions to the deck and use proxies for the cards you don't have (or may not want to get at the moment). When the next season's rotation and the actual SM3 cards information are formally announced/released, further adjustments can then be made to the deck.

In regards to a potential deck skeleton, I currently use the following Pokemon in my Volcanion EX deck:

1 Shaymin EX (most likely will be replaced by Oranguru)
1 Tapu Lele GX
3 Turtonator GX
3 Volcanion EX
3 Volcanion ​

Other cards (most are Fire and Colorless Pokemon with Fire and/or Colorless energy attacks) that could possibly work in this deck post-rotation too include:

Drampa GX
Incineroar GX
Lurantis (G Pokemon promo - to provide damage output boost for R Pokemon)
Salazzle
Tapu Koko (non-GX)​

I hope you find these comments helpful.
 
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I suggest you also look at the trainers/supporters that you include with your deck.
I know kids get a little focused on the pokemon and attackers, but games are won and lost based on how well the supporters/trainers are put together.
similar with energy count.
 
The next format will most likely [98%] be BKT-on. This leaves float stone in play.
Also, Olympia is in Generations, so there's no way that she's rotating.
Volcanion will be a top deck next format.
 
PokeDad924 said:
Hey all,

My kid has been playing Pokemon for almost a year now, and wants to go from playing against myself and his cousin to people at local events. Any ideas what might be a good starting point for a beginner? The main goal is a fun deck that isn't too expensive and is semi competitive. He has done of the building blocks for a Volcanion EX deck (two Ex's and three babies, and he's trying to collect the remainder of SS anyway, and loves Volcanion EX), but I'm not sure how well that will work when float stone rotates. What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...
Rotation will likely be BKT-on leaving float stone in, Guzma is going to be popular as in lysandre is rotating. And escape rope is getting a reprint as a secret rare in burning shadows. Volcanion EX also has a very good partner in Turtonator GX. So as far as I know, Volcanion will be a very strong deck after rotation
 
Thank you all so very much for the responses. The more I read about it, the more I think you all may be right about BKT and on staying in. That bodes well for Volcanion. Fortunately, we already have two Volcanion EXs, so a picking up a 3rd won't be too costly (and he wants to collect all STS, so that helps him out). Turtonator shouldn't be all that bad, either. However, I think I'll put a hold on Shaymin and Tapu Lele GX, as those ate a good chunk of change. Would Octillery be a good budget draw power?
 
Oranguru wouldn't be bad for draw as part of the goal of this deck is to be able to discard energy for additional attack. intentionally playing down your hand and being able to draw even one or two cards can be huge.

Depending on your local area, expanded may be a big enough reason to invest in the necessary cards that may get rotated out. if your local area is mostly standard, I would wait to invest until rotation is announced.
 
Well, it looks like the rotation is BKT on after all. So, now I'm go8ng to start gett8ng those cards. I put together a Volcanion deck in PCTGO, and while fun, it's rather complicated. I based it on a list in Charizard Lounge. My son likes it, but he keeps throwing out Volcanion-ex and Turtonator -gx. So, we need to work on strategy a bit :p
 
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