Alt. Format Future Standard: Buzzwole GX

[momand]

I think a question that some people have in mind at the moment is: will Buzzwole retain its place in Standard after Max Elixir and Strong Energy rotate? The answer: I'm honestly not sure. I honestly don't think that it will have the ability to continue its speedy set up power losing Sycamore, Octillery, Strong Energy and Max Elixir, but I don't think that Lycanroc should continue to be the primary partner for Buzzwole GX. I think that Zoroark should.

Losing Octillery and Sycamore, a 4-4 line of Zoroark GX would easily help its speed problem, and allow easy access to Beast Ring at a given moment. It's very hard to wiff a card you need with 3-4 Trades going on in one turn.

So, here's a prototype list:
3x Buzzwole GX
4x Zorua
4x Zoroark GX
2x Tapu Lele GX
1x Diancie (*)
1x Buzzwole FLI
1x Deoxys ATK CES

4x Cynthia
4x Guzma
2x Copycat
2x Judge
2x Pokemon Fan Club

4x Ultra Ball
4x Beast Ring
4x Choice Band
2x Field Blower
2x Switch
1x Rescue Stretcher

3x DCE
9x Fighting Energy
1x Beast Energy (*)

Spoiler: Old list: 5/24/18

3x Buzzwole GX
4x Zorua
4x Zoroark GX
2x Tapu Lele GX
1x Diancie (*)
1x Sudowoodo GRI
1x Buzzwole FLI

4x Cynthia
4x Guzma
3x Copycat
2x Judge
2x Pokemon Fan Club

4x Ultra Ball
4x Beast Ring
4x Choice Band
2x Field Blower
2x Rescue Stretcher

4x DCE
8x Fighting Energy
1x Beast Energy (*)

 

[gumball51321]

This is pretty close to what I had in mind for a post rotation deck. Although I would still play 9 Fighting to have more assurance on having Energy for Beast Rings.
There isn't much need for Sudowoodo, since Roadblock doesn't really hinder anything in particular, but Switch will be a necessity. No Float Stone means that you're stuck with a bad starter until you manually retreat or you get knocked out. I also don't think 2 Field Blower is great, but then again, you play 0 stadiums. With 4 Zoros, 9 draw supporters(yes, I'm counting Judge) is a lot, so I would drop Sudowoodo, and either a Copycat or Field Blower for 2 Switch(Escape Rope can work too, it comes down to preference) and a DCE for a 9th Fighting. You really only want Zoroark for support, and because DCE doesn't work on any of your Fighting attackers, 3 should be super plenty.

Other than that small nitpicky stuff, it's a great list. But seriously, play Switch.

 

[momand]

This is pretty close to what I had in mind for a post rotation deck. Although I would still play 9 Fighting to have more assurance on having Energy for Beast Rings.
There isn't much need for Sudowoodo, since Roadblock doesn't really hinder anything in particular, but Switch will be a necessity. No Float Stone means that you're stuck with a bad starter until you manually retreat or you get knocked out. I also don't think 2 Field Blower is great, but then again, you play 0 stadiums. With 4 Zoros, 9 draw supporters(yes, I'm counting Judge) is a lot, so I would drop Sudowoodo, and either a Copycat or Field Blower for 2 Switch(Escape Rope can work too, it comes down to preference) and a DCE for a 9th Fighting. You really only want Zoroark for support, and because DCE doesn't work on any of your Fighting attackers, 3 should be super plenty.

Other than that small nitpicky stuff, it's a great list. But seriously, play Switch.

Great idea!
-1 Copycat
-1 Sudowoodo
-1 DCE
+2 Switch
+1 Fighting

 

[momand]

With the new printing of Deoxys ATK in CES, I have decided to cut a Rescue Stretcher for it in case Buzzwole continues to be big (has the same first attack as Mewtwo EVO)

 

[Merovingian]

Buzzwole does lose several key bits that currently make it effective. Post rotation, it can still hit good numbers, but the only way it's going to OHKO anything in the 210+ HP range is through Prism Stars.

The loss of Max Elixir, Strong Energy, and Float Stone REALLY hurt the decks ability to put on the early game pressure its known for. You're left manually powering one up, or using one as a sacrifical lamb for Beast Ring.

This is the first version of post rotation Buzzwole I have seen that pairs up with Zoroark (another deck that gets knocked into Tier 2 range).

It could be good. It's a bit hard to tell without testing, but the meta is going to be saturated with Malamar and Dawn Wings Necrozma. So it both hurts and helps you at the same time.

 

[gumball51321]

Buzzwole does lose several key bits that currently make it effective. Post rotation, it can still hit good numbers, but the only way it's going to OHKO anything in the 210+ HP range is through Prism Stars.

The loss of Max Elixir, Strong Energy, and Float Stone REALLY hurt the decks ability to put on the early game pressure its known for. You're left manually powering one up, or using one as a sacrifical lamb for Beast Ring.

This is the first version of post rotation Buzzwole I have seen that pairs up with Zoroark (another deck that gets knocked into Tier 2 range).

It could be good. It's a bit hard to tell without testing, but the meta is going to be saturated with Malamar and Dawn Wings Necrozma. So it both hurts and helps you at the same time.

Adding onto this, I see 0 reason why Malamar isn't the undisputed BDIF post rotation. It loses less than just about anything else.

 

[Merovingian]

Adding onto this, I see 0 reason why Malamar isn't the undisputed BDIF post rotation. It loses less than just about anything else.

If we are talking about what decks lose the least for rotation, that deck would be VikaBulu. They only lose Heavy Ball and Skyla. Can't remember what they are doing to alleviate Heavy Ball, but they replace Skyla with Volkner.

The deck MIGHT use Rayquaza-GX, not sure yet. But the deck is essentially going to look and function the same post rotation. Problem is that Malamar does what it does, but more consistenly. I'm not sure what positives VikaBulu has over Malamar, but I can see VikaBulu at the lower end of Tier 1. Upper end of Tier 2.

But Naganadel Box absolutely dumpsters VikaBulu (in theory)

 

[gumball51321]

If we are talking about what decks lose the least for rotation, that deck would be VikaBulu. They only lose Heavy Ball and Skyla. Can't remember what they are doing to alleviate Heavy Ball, but they replace Skyla with Volkner.

The deck MIGHT use Rayquaza-GX, not sure yet. But the deck is essentially going to look and function the same post rotation. Problem is that Malamar does what it does, but more consistenly. I'm not sure what positives VikaBulu has over Malamar, but I can see VikaBulu at the lower end of Tier 1. Upper end of Tier 2.

But Naganadel Box absolutely dumpsters VikaBulu (in theory)

Nah, Bulu sets up attackers way too fast to lose to Naganadel, especially when everything in that deck can be OHKOd by a Banded Bulu. Even with Stakataka, you can 2HKO without blowing 3 Energy. I actually forgot about Bulu. I'm gonna pick those up before rotation.

 

[Merovingian]

Nah, Bulu sets up attackers way too fast to lose to Naganadel, especially when everything in that deck can be OHKOd by a Banded Bulu. Even with Stakataka, you can 2HKO without blowing 3 Energy. I actually forgot about Bulu. I'm gonna pick those up before rotation.

I don't know, I've been tinkering with Naganadel / Stakataka for the last several days and I have a version thats doing 120 on turn 2 with really good consistency. While Naganadel doesn't sport the best offensive numbers, it banks on the fact that you're going to have to 2 or 3HKO in return--except I have a lot more recovery options than other decks in the meta, so don't expect damage to stick.

The only thing thats hanging it up is Dawn Wings Necrozma. I figure I'm going to have to see how it'll play out because I figure if I lean on Stakataka as an attacker for Dawn Wings, it might work since Assembly GX is actually pretty good for hitting key numbers.

I think people are sleeping on it.