Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta

thood

thood

Konohagakure Shinobi
Member
Hello all
Tonight I am posting about a card that I feel has been obscured lately.
This card is none other than Dragonite EX
This card has an amazing ability that works especially well in this format, being able to potentially fully charge up with energy and attack all on the turn you slap it down. You can't say that about too many cards right now. The main problem I, and probably many others see with Dragonite EX is it's awkward energy requirements coupled with sub-par damage. Most people spotted these two flaws and just wrote the card off, but evidently some players were able to look past this, and develop a deck centered around Dragonite EX. By utilizing Altaria's Fight Song ability and Muslce Band, Dragonite is able to hit for 120, and 160 if you discard an energy. Notice that this is only with one Altaria on the bench; by adding a second you hit the magic 180. This gets rid of the damage issue, but what about set up? Here are some viable ways I've seen people set up Dragonite EX. The most popular is to use Virizion EX and Emerald Slash. While Virizion can get the job done, and it is coupled with a great ability, I don't find this to be the best way to use Dragonite. I find that using Charizard EX's Stoke attack, paired with Fliptini or even Trick Coin is much better. Assuming you can get a Turn 1 Stoke, you can easily attack with Dragonite EX the following turn for at least 120 by discarding, 140 if it has a muscle band, and an additional 20 for each altaria you have on the bench. That said, Dragonite EX is a very viable card this format, and I'm hoping that by reading this you can all be aware of this and be prepared. Any further discussion is much appreciated!

Thood



EDIT: To better promote conversation, I'll pose a couple of questions. First off, what are the most popular versions of Dragonite EX deck; what do you think the best way to play Dragonite EX is? What are some hard counters to Dragonite EX based decks; which decks need to be prepared for Dragonite decks?
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

I have noticed some people try Emolga-EX. Honestly, when you have a Pokemon that can absorb Energy and switch in, there are a lot of choices. For anyone that doesn't have the money to afford Virizion-EX, I think that Shaymin-EX is an excellent choice.
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

Shaymin EX is way too frail for a starter. I'd do Stoke Charizard before I do Shaymin.

If I were to play Dragonite, I might mess around with it in Virizion / Genesect. Some players are already thinking of putting Manectric in Genesect, so it would already be playing the right Energy types. After you Emerald Slash to Genesect, you could play Dragonite down with a Lightning Energy and be ready to attack if you can't get G Booster or if your opponent has a non-EX Pokemon because Dragonite has a better chance to OHKO those than Megalo Cannon.
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

I've seen someone use Virizon/Dragonite/Emolga deck before and it has surprised. The bad thing is that it doesn't hit hard enough given the energy costs. Yveltal hits for 80 already with 3 on you plus whatever the opponent has. Mewtwo already hits 60 plus whatever the opponent has. All other EXs with 3 Energy costs already hits harder than Dragonite with some benefit like hitting the bench or instantly KOing something with discarding all the energy. Hitting 120 plus removing an energy is a bit harder to stomach really.
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

With this I feel Mega Manectric EX is perfect for Dragonite. It takes the same type energy (electric) as Dragonite EX so you don't need to worry about using rainbow energy in your deck. Just use Battle Compressor to get the right energy in the discard pile to then attach to Dragonite EX turn 2. First Dragonite EX, bench it to get the energy on the first one. Then take advantage of Bust In, Super Scoop up, and Scoop Up Cyclone.
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

I've been running it with Virizion ex for acceleration, and Dual Brains Magnezone allowing me to Skyla for AZ and play it in one turn. It is also my way of hitting Suicune/Pyroar/Sigiylph. Altaria is too slow for me - I just muscle band for two hit KO's. With the return of VS seeker one of supporter techs can be wonderful in this deck.

Just how I'm doing it. Would love to hear your thoughts.
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

Because I hate coin flips (Super Scoop Up), I think AZ is is a must in this deck. Given that AZ is a Supporter and draw power is essential (and basically Supporter specific), I think Tropius PLB is a nice addition here, who allows you to draw until you have 6 cards for one energy. He also works nicely as your Safeguard response.

Hopefully this isn't against the rules because I'm not posting a full deck list...but I think a good line of Pokemon would be: 4 Dragonite, 3 Virizion, 2-2 M Manectric, 2 Tropius, and maybe a Kyurem who hits your worst matchups' weaknesses (Fighting and Fire, who are both generally weak to water).
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

I agree AZ is definitely a card that belongs in this deck but I think that sometimes loosing that energy is too much. Maybe if you played it with something like superior energy retrieval or possibly switch it out for something like Cassius this deck could have some serious potential. I played it for awhile and i definitely agree with the Virizion but I think you could get away with playing 2.
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

The point behind AZ is that you pick up your other Dragonite without the Energy and with all the damage so that if your Active Dragonite has enough damage counters on it, you can lay him back down and use Bust In to move the Energy from your Active Dragonite to a new Dragonite. I.e., you shouldn't be discarding any Energy with AZ. Maybe Muscle Bands but not Energy.
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

thedemonbarber said:
Any thoughts on dual brains magnezone?
Click to expand...

I don't think it works very well with Dragonite. Plasma Magnezone works best in decks that use Supporters for effects other than Drawing cards. Xerosic, Flare Grunt, Iris, Lysandre, and Center Lady are the best uses for Plasma Magnezone, and I feel the best combinations are with...

1) Pokemon that can Discard Energy with their attacks (Thundurus EX, Mega Lucario EX, Furfrou XY, Drifblim PLB)

2) Pokemon that can shut off your opponent's card usage (Seismitoad EX, Trevenant,)
 
RE: Dragonite EX Busting Into the Meta!

I use it not only for draw supporters. I use it to skyla for AZ
Additionally, I run one off disruption techs (lysandre's and what not) with a bunch of vs seekers. With VS seekers, I also run a lysandre's trump card, which allows me to discard energy easily and recycle my comp search.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top