Not sure if this counts as the right forum for this topic. If it isn't, feel free to move it.
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All right, we all know how to win a game, right? We either take all 6 prizes or try and clear the opponent's field, or if possible deck the opponent. Most decks try to go for the first one, and don't usually try for the second unless they're lucky and/or run a few Seeker.
But I'm here to talk about the gimmick win decks that have entered TCG in our recent future: Lostgar and Durant.
I'll give a quick run-down of both.
I'll mention Durant first, since it's a deck that's more recent history and people are more familiar with. As most of you are aware, Durant is pretty much entirely a mill deck - try to keep 4 Durant on the field at all times, using cards like Revive and Dual Ball etc to keep them in play, and Crushing Hammer/Lost Remover and Pokemon Catcher for disruption. For a single {M} Energy, Durant summons his friends, and each one will Devour 1 card from your deck with each attack. With 4 Durant having their fill each time, it adds up, and optimally, a Durant can, optimally, mill a deck out in 9 turns. This means you need to kill those ants FAST or have a way to stop them appearing.
Now for Lostgar. People who joined TCG more recently probably don't know what that is, so here's how it works. You use Gengar Prime's Hurl into Darkness effect to check your opponent's hand, and for each {P} Energy on Gengar, you can choose 1 Pokemon there and remove it from play (send to the Lost Zone) - once there, they never return. Or, if you want, you can use Cursed Drop to put 4 damage counters a turn on your opponent's field - with the intent that, if Gengar is Active upon a knockout, that knocked-out Pokemon is removed from play, plus all its evolution stages. (This, ironically, gives Gengar a favorable matchup against Durant. Think about it.) After that, once you have removed from play 6 of your opponent's Pokemon, you can use the Stadium card Lost World and say "I win". No prizes, no clearing the field - just get rid of 6 and play the Stadium.
Clearly, both of those decks do not win through standard means.
So I ask you as players...what do you think of these decks? Do you think it's right to win via these gimmick win conditions? Or are they something to be looked down upon and you should just go for the 6-prizes route? And if you like the gimmicks, which ones do you like? (I've met people who love Durant and hate Gengar, and who hate Durant and love Gengar, in terms of win conditions. I personally like both; I have run Gengar myself but I've yet to use Durant.)
Discuss!
~~~~~
All right, we all know how to win a game, right? We either take all 6 prizes or try and clear the opponent's field, or if possible deck the opponent. Most decks try to go for the first one, and don't usually try for the second unless they're lucky and/or run a few Seeker.
But I'm here to talk about the gimmick win decks that have entered TCG in our recent future: Lostgar and Durant.
I'll give a quick run-down of both.
I'll mention Durant first, since it's a deck that's more recent history and people are more familiar with. As most of you are aware, Durant is pretty much entirely a mill deck - try to keep 4 Durant on the field at all times, using cards like Revive and Dual Ball etc to keep them in play, and Crushing Hammer/Lost Remover and Pokemon Catcher for disruption. For a single {M} Energy, Durant summons his friends, and each one will Devour 1 card from your deck with each attack. With 4 Durant having their fill each time, it adds up, and optimally, a Durant can, optimally, mill a deck out in 9 turns. This means you need to kill those ants FAST or have a way to stop them appearing.
Now for Lostgar. People who joined TCG more recently probably don't know what that is, so here's how it works. You use Gengar Prime's Hurl into Darkness effect to check your opponent's hand, and for each {P} Energy on Gengar, you can choose 1 Pokemon there and remove it from play (send to the Lost Zone) - once there, they never return. Or, if you want, you can use Cursed Drop to put 4 damage counters a turn on your opponent's field - with the intent that, if Gengar is Active upon a knockout, that knocked-out Pokemon is removed from play, plus all its evolution stages. (This, ironically, gives Gengar a favorable matchup against Durant. Think about it.) After that, once you have removed from play 6 of your opponent's Pokemon, you can use the Stadium card Lost World and say "I win". No prizes, no clearing the field - just get rid of 6 and play the Stadium.
Clearly, both of those decks do not win through standard means.
So I ask you as players...what do you think of these decks? Do you think it's right to win via these gimmick win conditions? Or are they something to be looked down upon and you should just go for the 6-prizes route? And if you like the gimmicks, which ones do you like? (I've met people who love Durant and hate Gengar, and who hate Durant and love Gengar, in terms of win conditions. I personally like both; I have run Gengar myself but I've yet to use Durant.)
Discuss!
