Standard Ho-Oh EX / Smeargle

[Primadoxx]

ive been playing this deck for a while now, including my favorite Legendary. I've been feeling that it's not the best it can be and I am looking for a little help..

Pokémon:

• 3 Ho-oh EX (BreakPoint)
• 2 Smergle (BreakThrough)
• 2 Shaymin EX (Roaring Skies)
• 1-1 Altaria (Roaring Skies)

Trainers/Supporters/Stadiums:

• 1 Switch
• 1 Energy Switch
• 2 Battle Compressor
• 3 VS Seeker
• 3 Fighting Fury Belt
• 3 Trainers Mail
• 3 Ultra Ball
• 4 Puzzle Of Time
• 4 Max Elixir

• 4 Professor Sycamore
• 2 Winona
• 2 Lysandre
• 2 N
• 1 AZ
• 1 Skyla

Energy:

• 4 Water Energy
• 4 Grass Energy
• 4 Lighting Energy
• 3 Fire Energy

Strategy:

I'm hoping some of you can help me make this deck better thanks! - Nikk

 

[BOONANA12]

I found this version of the deck from a video by DarkIntegralGaming. It's a pretty good Ho-oh Deck, I would say.

4 Ho-Oh-EX BKP 92
1 Smeargle BKT 123
3 Scatterbug XY 15
3 Spewpa BKT 14
3 Vivillon BKT 15
2 Remoraid BKT 32
2 Octillery BKT 33

Trainer Cards - 30

3 Professor Birch's Observations PRC 159
1 Skyla BKP 122
4 Ultra Ball PLB 90
1 Super Rod BKT 149
3 Shauna PHF 104
1 Escape Rope PRC 127
1 Town Map BKT 150
3 Forest of Giant Plants AOR 74
3 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
1 Float Stone PLF 99
1 Pokémon Center Lady FLF 105
1 VS Seeker ROS 110
2 Lysandre FLF 104
3 Professor Sycamore PHF 101
2 Level Ball NXD 89

Energy - 12

3 Grass Energy XY 132
3 Water Energy BLW 107
3 Fire Energy XY 133
3 Lightning Energy XY 135

 

[Yog]

Ho-oh needs more than anything else, energy acceleration. I've had the most success with a line of M-Manectric, but other alternatives include Vivillion as mentioned above, or Parasect, or possibly promo Sableye.

Here is my own build for comparison;

Spoiler

 

[solaranuss]

I used to use Vivillon in my Ho-Oh deck but found that it took too long for it to be worth it for energy acceleration (which just so happens to be one of the biggest hurdles to a functional Ho-Oh deck. . My current setup (although expanded) is as follows:

Pokemon (15)
2 Ho-Oh EX BKP
2 Larvesta AO 16/98
2 Volcarona AO 17/98. The Volcarona is here as an easier to set up and good alternative to Vivillon, solar birth can get you a Ho-Oh onto the bench half set up.

2 Doduo BKT 115/162
2 Dodrio GEN 56/83. Dodrio is here so your retreat cost is practically zero, super useful for retreating Regigigas and Arceus w/o losing energy and makes interplay between the two Ho-Ohs terrifying because you can switch between the two for free allowing one to heal on the bench.

1 Smeargle BKT 123/162 For the obvious reason of potentially needing to switch out the energies for Ho-Oh.

These next four exist to counter those pesky Jolteon EX's, Regice, and in expanded Sigilyph and Suicune:

1 Arceus XY116 - pretty beefy attack and sometimes good for weakness match ups
1 Dedenne FF 34/111 - 1 energy to absolutely destroy Pokemon like Lugia EX and Yveltal EX due to weakness and can get a significant amount of damage on Mewtwo EX and even MMewtwo EX
1 Regigigas PHF 86/119 - his first move allows you to stall in case you're initial setup doesn't go quite as planned
1 Lugia FC 78/124 - great for taking down EX's and can withstand a hit or two due to its Pressure ability

Total Trainers (29)

Supporters (14)
2 Tierno BKP 107/119
1 Shauna FAC 111/124
1 Professor Birch's Observations PRC 134/160
1 Caitlin PLB 78/101
1 Professor Sycamore SS 114/114
1 Giovanni's Scheme BKT 138/162
1 Steven ROS 90/108
1 Skyla BKT 148/162
1 Winona ROS 96/108
1 Pokemon Fan Club GEN 69/83
1 Pokemon Ranger SS 113/114
1 Hex Maniac AO 75/98
1 Ninja Boy SS 103/114

Items (15)
2 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99/122
2 Professor's Letter BKT 146/162
2 Max Elixir BKP 102/122
2 Energy Retrieval PRC 126/160
1 Energy Recycler AO 72/98
1 Energy Switch FF 89/111
1 Scramble Switch PLS 129/135
1 Switch PRC 163/160
1 VS Seeker PHF 109/119
1 Super Rod BKT 149/162
1 Great Ball BKP 100/122

Trainers here were selected primarily for energy acceleration, retrieval in case of discard, and moving energy to your active attacker. Ninja boy is perhaps the most exciting because plays involving say Arceus or Regigigas they can be removed for a Ho-Oh in your deck and either by using smeargles ability or energy switch you can have a fully prepped Ho-Oh that can heal damage from the previous Pokemon immediately.

Energy (16)
4 Fire GEN 76/83
4 Grass GEN 75/83
4 Lightning GEN 78/83
4 Water GEN 77/83

I chose to have an equal number of all energies because my only Pokemon that I want to focus on having attack is Ho-Oh so the priority on energy is to ensure he has some breathing room considering the hassle it already is to set him up. My other Pokemon that attack use colorless energy allowing me to really pay attention to how I distribute and guarantee the energy placement is how I need it to be.

 

[Yog]

With the new Grass Larvesta in STS, if you are going to go the Solar Birth route like @solaranuss mentioned, there is always the possibility of a T1 Solar Birth if you go second and get a FoGP down, and the right cards to follow. Ho-oh can be attacking by turn 2 in theory.