Standard Golisopod GX/Zoroark GX

[HouchinsDJ]

Looking for feedback on this Golisopod GX/Zoroark GX deck that I just put together! I'm thinking about removing a Wimpod for a Tapu Fini GX. Also not sure if a 3-3 split for Choice Band and Float Stone is optimal.

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 20

* 4 Zorua SLG 52
* 2 Zoroark BKT 91
* 2 Zoroark-GX SLG 53
* 4 Wimpod BUS 16
* 3 Golisopod-GX BUS 17
* 2 Tapu Koko PR-SM SM30
* 3 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 137

##Trainer Cards - 29

* 4 Professor Sycamore BKP 107
* 4 N NVI 92
* 3 Guzma BUS 115
* 3 Acerola BUS 112
* 1 Brigette BKT 161
* 4 Ultra Ball SUM 135
* 2 Field Blower GRI 125
* 2 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 3 Choice Band GRI 121
* 3 Float Stone BKT 137

##Energy - 11

* 4 Double Colorless Energy SLG 69
* 4 Rainbow Energy SUM 137
* 3 Grass Energy 1

Total Cards - 60

****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******

 

[Draskk]

I'm not sure why you need Rainbow Energy, is it for Zoroark's GX attack? Also, I would suggest a Mallow for the synergy with Trade. Here's the list I run:
http://www.pokebeach.com/forums/threads/golisopod-gx-zoroark-gx.144167/

 

[HouchinsDJ]

I'm not sure why you need Rainbow Energy, is it for Zoroark's GX attack? Also, I would suggest a Mallow for the synergy with Trade. Here's the list I run:
http://www.pokebeach.com/forums/threads/golisopod-gx-zoroark-gx.144167/

I run Rainbow Energy for two reasons. It gives me the option of using Trickster GX and it allows me to be more maneuverable with Acerola. To use a relevant example, there's games where I have an active Golisopod with a Grass Energy attached that used First Impression last turn and I have no DCE in my hand to use Armor Press or Crossing Cut. With a Rainbow Energy and a Acerola in my hand, I can attach the Rainbow Energy, use Acerola, and promote a benched Golisopod (as long as the benched Golisopod already has an Energy attached to it, of course). That's just one example, but the whole point of the deck is to be constantly switching your Pokémon around and Acerola is huge in helping you do that, as well as returning valuable resources to your hand and denying your opponent prize cards. Sometimes you don't have any damage on your active and you need to use Acerola so that's where Rainbow Energy comes in. Rarely does the 10 damage make a difference.

I thought about Mallow, but unless I can fit at least two in, I find it to be a very situational card. During the mid- to late-game, I'm usually going to want to use Guzma or Acerola because my board is set up and I need to focus on moving my Golisopod around. If I draw Mallow early game and I don't have Zoroark GX set up then it's useless. I feel like it's a card where the conditions have to be just right for it to be effective, and if I'm only running one then it's consistency is questionable. With that said, I do understand it can be a clutch card at the right time. I'm not going to add it at the moment, but maybe I'll add two in after some playtesting.

 

[HouchinsDJ]

So after a bit more playtesting online, I've noticed that the Gardevoir matchup is not good. Golisopod/Garbodor is much better against Gardevoir. The biggest reason is because Gallade can easily OHKO your Zoroark GXs, giving your opponent two quick prizes. Even Gardevoir can stack enough energy in a single turn to OHKO your Zoroark, and if you can't respond by knocking out that Gardevoir next turn, it'll take out your Golisopod. I really want the deck to work, but at this point I'm not sure it's the optimal list.

 

[Duo]

That's the exact same issue I ran into with Alolan Ninetales GX/Zoroark GX as well. As soon as Zoroark GX fell to a Gallade, I lost my draw consistency and my consistent damage, and I was forced to discard 2 on Blizzard Edge to KO a Gallade and it was allll down hill from there. I even Tapu Fini'd a Gardevoir with 4 energy and choice band, but then Gardevoir (this is playing against myself btw) just used Sycamore and dug back into the energy I just shuffled back into the deck and got a counter OHKO on Tapu Fini.

The thing with Gardevoir is that it has that unlimited ceiling on damage and it has AMAZING recovery speed with Secret Spring. As soon as a Gardevoir hits the field, they could just DCE, secret spring, choice band, and that's 120 damage established in one turn without considering opponent energy at all.

Something I've come to notice with the Pokemon TCG is that being faster isn't better in most situations. Even though I got 2 early KOs on Remoraid to deny Octillery and Ralts to deny 1 Gardevoir, Gardevoir still managed to recover in the grind game and still set up Octillery by just walling with Leles and Gardevoir, taking a tactical KO on the biggest threat (Zoroark), and then building something up while letting damage fall onto Pokemon that can't get OHKO'd.

Golisopod/Zoroark GX needs to be hitting weakness in order to be effective, which is the only reason why Lycanroc GX/Zoroark GX sees success in Japan, and right now there are no meta popular decks that are weak to either of them, and the most popular deck resists Zoroark GX.

Right now I think there are 4 rules of a successful meta deck.

1. 2 shot KOs with Garbotoxin with OHKOs in some match ups.
2. OHKO potential against any match up with neutral damage (Gardevoir GX, Ho-Oh/Volcanion with steam up when not facing grass or metal for near auto wins)
3. The ability to have early game plays and late game plays.
4. Spread damage that finishes with Espeon EX.

3 is where I think Golisopod GX/Zoroark GX struggles. Alolan Ninetales GX/Zoroark GX also struggles here because if you made the wrong decisions with Blizzard Edge and damage distribution early game, then you don't win in the late game. It has one strategy and no ability to contest with late game build ups.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your list. Only thing I would suggest is trying -1 rainbow for +1 Choice Band. Also I hope I don't sound like I'm dumpstering this list. I just don't think it'll fit the current meta.

 

[FrostBiter12]

Why don't you try fitting in a Hoopa from Shining Legends? You play the rainbow energy so it wouldn't be to hard to fit in. There is also that Magearna promo from the Volcanion/Magearna lunchboxes (weird right?) that does 20x the amount of different types of pokemon on your bench. With the Golosipod, Zoroark, Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini, and Tapu Lele, that hits 260 with a choice band. Not to mention the Shining Jirachi as well. There are a few more (Kartana GX) that release soon too; maybe some of these will help.

Edit: I forgot the Magearna said your opponent's pokemon. Whoops! It could still work, maybe, but it isn't as powerful. Sorry about that!