Primal Clash is soon to be out. How it will affect our current meta? Especially Yveltal. And what decks will see some play? I know it's early to call. 
How will Primal Clash Affect the Metagame?
- Thread starter RedGyarados
- Start date
There's no better time to discuss how big a set will be than right before you buy $200 worth of cards in it.
YveltalEX is probably going to find some way to power through everything, as usual. SharpedoEX could be a cool tech, but DarkraiEX mostly does the same job better. The only problems I could see coming up are Primal Groudon getting set up and GardevoirEX decks being so speedy. Leafeon PLF seems like a decent tech for both of those, but we'll see.
Obviously GardevoirEX is going to be played - it's like the new Fairy Yveltal. Bronzong is a thing but I honestly don't think that Metal will be able to keep up the pace with Gardevoir.
The Primal cards can be good once people start figuring out the perfect way to set them up, so that the game is heavily swung in their favor or even won. Kyogre is good because you can use Blastoise and Max Potion, but Groudon can get rid of the Grass Weakness for sure. These cards are just going to take a lot of testing.
The Ancient Trait cards do have potential and can win games with a good build and a little luck, but they really don't have much synergy with other cards. Take Kingdra for example. It's been hyped a little because it can OHKO EX Pokemon and possibly get set up in 2-3 turns, but once your first couple Kingdra are knocked out, then you've got an empty board with 2 Prizes left and your opponent drops an N. Kingdra is good, but not game-breaking enough to justify it being Stage 2.
YveltalEX is probably going to find some way to power through everything, as usual. SharpedoEX could be a cool tech, but DarkraiEX mostly does the same job better. The only problems I could see coming up are Primal Groudon getting set up and GardevoirEX decks being so speedy. Leafeon PLF seems like a decent tech for both of those, but we'll see.
Obviously GardevoirEX is going to be played - it's like the new Fairy Yveltal. Bronzong is a thing but I honestly don't think that Metal will be able to keep up the pace with Gardevoir.
The Primal cards can be good once people start figuring out the perfect way to set them up, so that the game is heavily swung in their favor or even won. Kyogre is good because you can use Blastoise and Max Potion, but Groudon can get rid of the Grass Weakness for sure. These cards are just going to take a lot of testing.
The Ancient Trait cards do have potential and can win games with a good build and a little luck, but they really don't have much synergy with other cards. Take Kingdra for example. It's been hyped a little because it can OHKO EX Pokemon and possibly get set up in 2-3 turns, but once your first couple Kingdra are knocked out, then you've got an empty board with 2 Prizes left and your opponent drops an N. Kingdra is good, but not game-breaking enough to justify it being Stage 2.
I have to agree on what you said about Gardevoir. I think fairy will rise this time. Plus with the new special energy. And they have Aromatise right now. And about Groudon, I think it's better than Kyogre because of Korina and the rest of the fighhting supports. The only problem is energy acceleration. M- Manectric EX anyone?
I think I will save my money for now before I start to build my Yveltal deck and wait for Primal Clash.
I think I will save my money for now before I start to build my Yveltal deck and wait for Primal Clash.
I can't imagine straight fairy (or fairly straight fairy) not becoming a really strong archetype.
M-Gardevoir is just too good and goes too well with the rest of fairy. For people who run fairy and aromatisse already, it's just an automatic inclusion for that 2-2 slot where the mega usually goes. Much as I love M-Manectric the better weakness and the fact you don't need that rainbow energy, that's going to swing it. And then there will be a bunch of people just wanting to take advantage of the card.
I think the steel weakness is not a huge issue. Better to have steel as a weakness than fighting. Right now steel is just not an amazing type, and it doesn't look like the new set will change that. Compared to other top decks, it's probably one of the best weaknesses to have. Yveltal has electricity, which is everywhere. Donphan has water, which is going to be everywhere. Toad has grass, which is the type of one of the top three decks in the format. Manectric has fighting, which is the type of one of the top two decks. Probably only VirGen has as good or better weakness.
Everything else is a bit speculative, but a few things seem possible or even likely
- We're going to see quite a bit more water because of dive ball and rough seas which ought to hurt Donphan
- Stadium wars. There's going to be a lot more stadium wars
- Supporters other than N, Sycamore etc are creeping into the game, and I think that will continue.
One thing I am really hoping for is a new fire archetype. I don't know if the new stadium and Camerupt will be enough... it doesn't seem super-likely, but who knows?
M-Gardevoir is just too good and goes too well with the rest of fairy. For people who run fairy and aromatisse already, it's just an automatic inclusion for that 2-2 slot where the mega usually goes. Much as I love M-Manectric the better weakness and the fact you don't need that rainbow energy, that's going to swing it. And then there will be a bunch of people just wanting to take advantage of the card.
I think the steel weakness is not a huge issue. Better to have steel as a weakness than fighting. Right now steel is just not an amazing type, and it doesn't look like the new set will change that. Compared to other top decks, it's probably one of the best weaknesses to have. Yveltal has electricity, which is everywhere. Donphan has water, which is going to be everywhere. Toad has grass, which is the type of one of the top three decks in the format. Manectric has fighting, which is the type of one of the top two decks. Probably only VirGen has as good or better weakness.
Everything else is a bit speculative, but a few things seem possible or even likely
- We're going to see quite a bit more water because of dive ball and rough seas which ought to hurt Donphan
- Stadium wars. There's going to be a lot more stadium wars
- Supporters other than N, Sycamore etc are creeping into the game, and I think that will continue.
One thing I am really hoping for is a new fire archetype. I don't know if the new stadium and Camerupt will be enough... it doesn't seem super-likely, but who knows?
You guys come up with things I never thought of. I'm really excited for Prof Birch. My friend just started playing the TCG and it's been hard for him to get all the staples like N, Skyla, or Colress. I'll miss them, but I'll be kind of glad to see them go, so new players can really start fresh.
I'm really excited for Prof Birch. My friend just started playing the TCG and it's been hard for him to get all the staples like N, Skyla, or Colress. I'll miss them, but I'll be kind of glad to see them go, so new players can really start fresh.