So in Japan, Garchomp is seeing some play, and is being praised as a counter to RayEels, much like Terrakion is to Zekeels. So the question for those of us who are going to be playing RayEels is this: How to get around this deck that is built to beat you? You can't tech in something with resistance, like Tornadus for Terrakion, beacause as of now no cards that resist {DRG} have been printed (that i know of). So you're left with a few options:
Raikou Ex: This is what I think will be the best counter for Garchomp. since Garchomp decks need Altaria to score OHKOs and Gabite to stream garchomps, you can easily put down a raikou EX, dyanmotor, retreat, and snipe off an altaria. not only can they no longer KO your Rayquaza EX, They can't KO your raikou, so It's free to switch to the bench to charge again while Rayquaza kills their chomp. They can't kill quaza, so you retreat and kill their other altaria. then you just sweep with Rayquaza EX
Rayquaza (Dragon Selection): This card simply evens the prize race. It OHKOs and gets OHKOd, just like its EX version. However, unlike the EX version, it doesn't give up 2 prizes whenever it gets KOd. It's also basic, and therefore a little easier to get out than Garchomp.
Tornadus EX: This is praised right now as the counter to Terrakion, and it's possible that it could fill the same role next format. It has incredible speed, being able to get large amounts of damage turn 1 and continue to put pressure on the opponent throughout the game. This is especially effective against evolution-based ecks, as you can mow down their basics at the beginning of the game to have a large lead that they have o come back from. It also isn't weak to {DRG}, which is always a plus.
Zekrom: This card is still a major threat in today's metagame, and could very well continue to be one in tomorrow's. It works on the same principal as normal rayquaza, however, it trades off power for speed. It's much easier to set up than Rayquaza, but it only deals 120 to a garchomp on the first hit, and Garchomp can OHKO it back due to its own recoil damage. With an Eviolite, however, this all changes. You can easily take a hit from a garchomp and hit them back for a bunch of damage with Outrage.
I can't think of anything else that would really work here. If anyone else has any ideas, post them and I'll put them here. I'll be running RayEels next format, especially with the release of the tins with Rayquaza EX in them, so I need a way to get around all the players at my league who will play Garchomp because it fits their playstyle so well.
Raikou Ex: This is what I think will be the best counter for Garchomp. since Garchomp decks need Altaria to score OHKOs and Gabite to stream garchomps, you can easily put down a raikou EX, dyanmotor, retreat, and snipe off an altaria. not only can they no longer KO your Rayquaza EX, They can't KO your raikou, so It's free to switch to the bench to charge again while Rayquaza kills their chomp. They can't kill quaza, so you retreat and kill their other altaria. then you just sweep with Rayquaza EX
Rayquaza (Dragon Selection): This card simply evens the prize race. It OHKOs and gets OHKOd, just like its EX version. However, unlike the EX version, it doesn't give up 2 prizes whenever it gets KOd. It's also basic, and therefore a little easier to get out than Garchomp.
Tornadus EX: This is praised right now as the counter to Terrakion, and it's possible that it could fill the same role next format. It has incredible speed, being able to get large amounts of damage turn 1 and continue to put pressure on the opponent throughout the game. This is especially effective against evolution-based ecks, as you can mow down their basics at the beginning of the game to have a large lead that they have o come back from. It also isn't weak to {DRG}, which is always a plus.
Zekrom: This card is still a major threat in today's metagame, and could very well continue to be one in tomorrow's. It works on the same principal as normal rayquaza, however, it trades off power for speed. It's much easier to set up than Rayquaza, but it only deals 120 to a garchomp on the first hit, and Garchomp can OHKO it back due to its own recoil damage. With an Eviolite, however, this all changes. You can easily take a hit from a garchomp and hit them back for a bunch of damage with Outrage.
I can't think of anything else that would really work here. If anyone else has any ideas, post them and I'll put them here. I'll be running RayEels next format, especially with the release of the tins with Rayquaza EX in them, so I need a way to get around all the players at my league who will play Garchomp because it fits their playstyle so well.
