Keldeo EX / Blastoise / Black Kyurem EX

[Keldeo EX FTW]

Hello everyone! I'm currently working on a Keldeo deck for my first competitive year of TCG, and I just wanted an opinion on this deck. Although this deck has no Tropical Beach (I can't afford any) it has been quite consistent (generally sets up T2 or T3 latest).

I just wanted some opinions on my decklist here. I'd like to get as far as possible in tournaments, so basically treat this like a competitive deck, but Tropical Beach is banned.
Pokemon x18

• Keldeo EX x2
• Black Kyurem EX x3
• Squirtle x4
• Blastoise x4
• Voltorb x2
• Electrode x2
• Black Kyurem (Bounderies Crossed) x1

Trainers, Supporters, and Stadiums x30

• Professor Juniper x3
• Colress x3
• N x2
• Skyla x4
• Cilan x1
• Ultra Ball x4
• Level Ball x1
• Heavy Ball x1
• Superior Energy Retrieval x3
• Tool Scrapper x1
• Rare Candy x4
• Pokemon Center x2

Energy x12

• Water Energy x9
• Electric Energy x3

Remember, I can't afford any Beach, so please keep that out of your suggestions (I've already spent about $150 on this deck and most likely can't spend any more).

If you have any tips, it would be greatly appreciated if you post them. Feel free to comment on how you think the deck would do in a competitive environment.

Thank you for your time,

Keldeo EX FTW

Edited to meet the regulations set in the rules! ~Kecleon

 

[Luispipe8]

RE: Keldeo EX/ Blastoise/ Black Kyurem EX

Maybe you'd like to fit in a Wartortle, if you come across an Item Lock or prized Candies. So, I think:
-1 Skyla: I believe there is no need to play 4, it takes an unnecessary space and it takes your Supporter for the turn, so you can't play a Draw supporter then.
+1 Wartortle BCR

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

RE: Keldeo EX/ Blastoise/ Black Kyurem EX

Interesting suggestion there... I'll take it under advisement, but so far I have been able to set up pretty quickly (see above) and I think it can set up quickly enough to surpass that. I do see where you're going, especially with the Skyla thing.

Thank you for the suggestion,

Keldeo EX FTW

 

[TuxedoBlack]

I run Team Plasma decks (and Blastoise without Tropical Beach too) and Frozen City, like many other TP deck players. So, I'd suggest you include at least 1 Stadium. You'll need to at least neutralize any opponent's Stadium to not relinquish an advantage.

Secondly, I run 3 BKEX and 2 Keldeo EX. "Theoretically," I Catcher and 1HKO 3 opponent's EX Poke - game over. In your case, you may have some real difficulty in a mirror match, because if an opponent manages to KO your 2 BKEX first, then you'll need to over commit energy to one of your Keldeo EX for the final KO (an opponent's EX Poke) or you may possibly need to 2HKO the opponent's EX Poke. Consider the VirGen deck matchup in which your Keldeo EX will be prime targets.

Also, consider running the BC Black Kyurem, another dragon type that can inflict 100 damage, fits the energy scheme, and works well in a mirror match or counters Safeguard Poke like Sigilyph and Suicune,

Lastly, I also include at least 1 Exeggcute (Propogation) in all of my stage 2 decks (which are heavy laden with Trainers/Poke with discard requirements). Exeggcute is great discard fodder that can be reused again and again.

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

Those are some interestingly thought provoking suggestions. I do agree that running a stadium is a good idea and I actually might be able to get some tropical beach (note MIGHT). I prefer 3 Keldeo EX over the BK EX since with BK EX you'd have to draw into an SER each turn for most cases. Exeggcute has been brought up to me before, but since this deck doesn't have much trouble discarding cards, I find exeggcute to be just another space taken up and it also makes donking more probable (not much, but still).

Thank you for the suggestions, Keldeo EX FTW

---

*Le snip

All suggestions are appreciated! Feel free to make recommendations below!
PS. How do you bullet point and bold text?


Like this:

[b]Bang: awesome title[/b]
[list]
[*]bulletpoint
[/list]

Good try, though! I've edited your first post with the changes. Remember to do that when you update your Decklist! ~Kecleon

 

[OblivionDvdr]

If you want to run a stadium, but you can't get your hands on any beach, pokemon center is a good alternative (not an alternative to beach, but it works as a stadium).

 

[TuxedoBlack]

I prefer 3 Keldeo EX over the BK EX since with BK EX you'd have to draw into an SER each turn for most cases.

Understood, but I do not have that concern perhaps I either have the necessary SER or can get it with a Skyla. Timing (of the "shootout") is also important, and I try to "control" that as much as possible.

Just keep in mind that in a mirror match, you may be giving your opponent an advantage if she/he IS running 3 BKEXs. (Assuming one of your BKEX is not prized) In this case, you'll need to possibly 2HKO an opponent's 3rd BKEX - not great to leave a "wounded" BKEX in play...

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

I'll consider pokemon center if I can't get beach and the BK EX sounds nice. Thanks

 

[littywitty]

Personal thoughts on the new list:
-1 Professor Juniper (you tend to discard valuable resources with this card in exchange for consistency.)
-1 Water Energy (you run Cilan so the fact that you run so many energy just gets in the way of consistency and adding valuable techs.)
-1 Lightning Energy (^)

+1 Skyla (I find this card to be extremely useful on getting the T2 Blastoise and also helps when you face DarkGarb and you need the scrapper.)
+1 Ultra Ball (I find a 4-1-1 ball count to be the most efficient line to get the T2 Blastoise, pure consistency card)
+1 Jirachi EX/Exeggcute (one of these two will either grant you consistency and helps you get Cilan or the ability to pull off crazy plays making for explosive turns. I would prefer you use Exeggcute, and if you do I would ditch a regular retrieval for a superior.)

I would also suggest that you change your ace-spec to Computer
Search. 2 Tool Scrapper more than enough to put the DarkGarb matchup to 50-50 and Comp Search makes for a much more efficient early game than Dowsing Machine as well as a great late game card while Dowsing Machine is overall better, but only when you waste resources.

I might even consider you run a regular BK, this card sways the mirror and has a name in the Garchomp matchup but I wouldn't highly recommend it.

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

Good suggestions! I'll see if I can get a computer search, but I'll have to use Dowsing Machine for now. Plus, this deck is quite quick with obtaining cards, so it isn't necessary, but it is prefered. I guess they are pretty equal though. I have removed a water energy for a Skyla since 13 energy is plenty enough and it is a great number to have without killing consistency. Regular BK, Jirachi EX, and Exeggcute are neat techs, but take up space and therefore take some consistency. Jirachi EX has always been really iffy with me. It's ability takes up a spot on the playing field and can only be used once without the use of either Super Rod or Scoop Up Cyclone. Additionally, it can easily cost you the game or at least 2 prize cards if it has to go into play, as it is an easily KOed EX. Because of all this list tweaking and working around with Jirachi EX that might need a couple consistency cards, I think it is a passable option. I replaced a Cilan with a 3rd BK EX. Regarding the 4th Ultra Ball, 3-1-1 is already really consistent, and in most situations discarding cards quickly is never good. The 4th Skyla is now part of my list, and I hope to hear more from you guys soon!

Thank you,

Keldeo EX FTW

---

Not many changes here, but still updating it!

*Snip ~Kecleon

All suggestions are appreciated! Feel free to make recommendations below!

Also, you may make suggestions on cards I could remove for Tropical Beach since I might be getting some soon

---

Sorry I haven't been on in a while. I got surgery on my arm a couple days ago, so I've felt quite crappy. Also, how do you feel about pokemon catcher's reprint requiring a coin flip?
PS. Neat signature too, BTW!

 

[Jareth43]

Is there a reason to have more Squirtle than Blastoise?

 

[Cortel II]

Is there a reason to have more Squirtle than Blastoise?

The only reason I would run a 4-3 or 3-2 line would be to assure that I can keep at least 1 Squirtle in play since you only ever need 1 Blastoise in play.

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

Hello everyone. It has been quite some time since my last update, and I do apologize. Also, if I don't reply soon, it's because I, as usual, don't go on the internet very often, so please excuse my silence. Anyway, I have been doing a lot of editing and testing since my last update, so there are quite a few changes and I don't have that many tech ideas this time.

*Le snippity snip

Card Explanations:

• 2-2 Electrode line: Obviously, this is the biggest tech in the new list and is definitely the biggest tech one can take for Keldeo/ Blastoise/ Black Kyurem. I'll admit, at first, I didn't think it was a good idea, but after testing it a bit, I realized that the Ability Magnetic Draw is incredibly good, and I would consider it in any deck that relies on consistency. It also only has a one energy retreat cost in both of its stages, and due to the catcher nerf, most people don't run any in their deck, plus the only other potential switcher is escape rope, it won't take much damage aside from Frost Spear and Night Spear sniping damage (BTW, this is Electrode and Voltorb from Plasma Freeze). Basicly, this is a very strong and reliable replacement to Tropical Beach, which not only makes you end your turn, it can't be used multiple times in one turn. As a stadium, it is more easily discarded, and generally just sits on the field after turn 2 or 3, whereas Electrode gives consistent draw power throughout the entire game. I did consider bicycle, but Electrode is worth the extra space or two because it is just that good. In fact, a contender named Anthony Wilson placed Top 8 at a Regional Tournament using his Keldeo Blastoise deck that consisted of this same 2-2 line. It should also be noted that I will not be able to obtain any Tropical Beach whatsoever, so this is the best option I have.
  
• 2 Tool Scrapper: One of the few downsides to running Electrode is that because it's an ability, it is shut down by Garbodor, and, though I have not seen any play of it yet, it still poses a strong threat to any Keldeo Blastoise deck.
  
• 2 Pokemon Center: Since Electrode is not a stadium, something has to be there to get rid of any pesky Virbanks and Frozen City. Additionally, this can heal snipe damage from the infamous Night Spear and Frost Spear, both of which are pretty common right now.
  
• 4th Blastoise: This makes that ideal turn 2 Blastoise more likely and is pretty self explanatory.
  
• 3 Juniper, 3 Colress, 2 N, 4 Skyla, 1 Cilan : The whole hand renewal line has been drastically changed to fit the deck's new playing style. Fewer supporters are used to make room for Electrode, which makes up for the slightly lower hand refreshing card count. As for the switch with Colress and N, it is due to that I would be loading up my bench quickly with Electrode added to the mix, and with Plasma decks being quite popular right now, Colress could end up obtaining more cards than Juniper or N! Though I do like N, I find it somewhat situational, what with its best use in early game fetching you six cards and refreshing your opponents hand, or late game when you are behind a bit in prizes. The fourth Skyla and Cilan are pretty self explanatory, but just to clarify, the 4 Skyla is pretty much a given for all builds of this deck. Skyla helps you get that turn 2 Blastoise and, with Electrode in play, it isn't necessary to play a draw supporter each turn. Finally, the Cilan is to make up for the somewhat low energy count (I now run 12) and make some pretty game breaking plays with Black Ballista.
  
• 4-1-1 Ultra/Heavy/Level Ball: This is the best line of pokemon searchers I have come across for these three and it works quite well. I prefer only using one Heavy Ball and Level Ball since they are somewhat situational. Ultra Ball is the best Pokemon search card in almost all situations, especially while running Electrode since it just refreshes your hand anyway.
  
  Techs: Note that these aren't all techs I've considered, these are just the best ones I could think of and have access to:
• Mr. Mime (Plasma Freeze, Bench Barrier) This makes Electrode even harder to KO and is great against Darkrai and Plasma decks which are both common and menacing. Additionally, it helps fill up the bench so Colress is more effective. The only reason it isn't in my decklist is due to the struggle of how many tool scrappers to play. Plus, most of the cards in this deck are necessary for top performance without Beach. As far as I know, Garbodor hasn't seen that much play, so I'm leaning more toward the Mr. Mime tech, but we'll see.
  
• Black Kyurem (Boundaries Crossed, Flash Freeze): An alternate attacker to deal with any safegaurd pokemon. It is truly awful sending Blastoise up to attack and then have it knocked out on your opponent's turn. This tech would make it easier to break those walls. However, you need an Electric Energy for the attack and an Energy discard, but it also makes Garchomp match-ups more favorable as well as other decks with dragon types as their main attackers (mirror match, Rayboar, etc.).

Really, those are the best left after testing the others, so I'm basically done with my list. Feel free to comment with advice or an opinion on the list.

PS. Sorry for the long post. The list will be posted later. Thank you.

Almost! You gotta add the "

• " tags before and after the bulletpoints (Or "
• ", for short) and it will come up with the bullet points. Also, I don't think "Bang" is a tag. I've edited your OP with the changes. Again, don't post a new decklist every time you make a change, and instead edit your original post. Thanks! ~Kecleon

 

[helti]

This is quite interesting, I've never seen this before, and the exact reason is beach.

Spoiler

I would not call Tropical beach overrated because it is at the tip top excellence of overpowered, especially against decks that do not need draw,
or for situations where you can just empty yourself of cards, draw into new ones, and works exceptionally well early on when you're setting up for attacks before doing them

The drawing mechanic, It's not usual, maybe it works, maybe it won't, great thing is, it's always there as an ability, actually a perfect combination with the deluge ability as you can empty yourself of Pokemon, items and energies and draw into more.
But I'm crying at the lack of Keldeo Ex, how in the world will you stay consistent enough with 2 Black kyurem Ex and 2 Keldeo Ex. Now of course, you're on a budget, but 4 attackers, what if 1 or 2 of them are prized, and you don't get the chance to use the others? You're put in a position of horrible horrible doom.
Personally I'd take out the level and the heavy ball
-1 level ball
-1 heavy ball
+1 Suicune/Keldeo Ex
+1 Computer Search/Dowsing Machine (whichever is preferred)
Adding in at least one more attacker will make it more safe to say that you could have another attacker soon.
And every deck needs an Ace Spec, computer search lets you search out for what ever you need in your situation, and Dowsing machine allows you to potentially drop energies for retrieval, and then drop two cards for 1-4 energies if needed be, and it lets you grab something used in the past for a Dire situation.

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

Actually, I don't find Tropical Beach overrated (I can't believe I actually said that once) and I can't tell you how many times I wished I had a couple copies. I admit, it was quite dumb of me to think so originally. Unfortunately, I don't have the accessibility to Tropical Beach like other players do, so I'm sticking with Electrode. I was just pointing out the advantages Electrode has over it. I do agree that Tropical Beach is great for setting up, which is key in this deck, but it isn't much help after that. All I'm saying is that Electrode gives draw power throughout the game and also doesn't help the opponent, and I see it as the best replacement for beach if you can't get it for one reason or another. Also, I apologize that my decklist was cut from the already long post (for good reason). To clarify, I'm running a Dowsing Machine in my deck already and I run 3 Black Kyurem EX and 2 Keldeo EX. I prefer the 3 BKs due to their ability to OHKO everything in format, though that will change upon the release of Mega Evolutions, which, from what I've seen so far, aren't looking good. Therefore, I don't see a reason to remove level ball and heavy ball from the list as they make the deck more consistent. Level Ball is good for getting a Squirtle if needed or getting an Electrode more quickly, where as heavy ball easily pulls a Blastoise or Black Kyurem EX, the main attacker of this deck. Sorry for the mix up and I do thank you for your time!

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

Is it a good idea to run a 4th SER in this deck? If so, what would be a good card to remove to replace it?

 

[helti]

Is it a good idea to run a 4th SER in this deck? If so, what would be a good card to remove to replace it?

Honestly if you can fit it, yes, because having the extremely high draw of energies is fantastic, I'm now running an Rayboar deck, thanks to your idea I'm running electrode in it too, also I'm running 4 superior energy retrievals.
someone at my league is running blastoise/keldeo with Beach, and 4 superior, he constantly gets it, and constantly beats me because of it

 

[Keldeo EX FTW]

I totally agree, though I am having trouble deciding what to replace... Oh well, I'll figure it out eventually BTW, how is the Electrode thing working for you? I also run Emboar with 2-2 Electrode and it seems to work well. I like how you can take advantage of both beach and electrode in the same turn. Plus, you get to use the Electrode cards the turn you use them! So OP. Also, I just realized that, in theory, if you have 2 Electrode in play and you or an opponent has beach out, assuming you have a hand of 7 cards, you could go through those cards, magnetic draw for 4, use those cards, magnetic draw for the second electrode for another 4, use all those cards but a colress you obtained and use it with max benches on both sides for 10. Then, use all 10 of those cards and then use beach to go through a grand total of 32 cards in one turn (counting cards you obtain through beach). Anyways, I hope the new deck works well for you, and I wish you best of luck at all of your games. Unfortunately, I am unable to go to most tournaments, but I still enjoy the thrill of TCG competitive play anyways!

Keldeo EX FTW

 

[helti]

I totally agree, though I am having trouble deciding what to replace... Oh well, I'll figure it out eventually BTW, how is the Electrode thing working for you? I also run Emboar with 2-2 Electrode and it seems to work well. I like how you can take advantage of both beach and electrode in the same turn. Plus, you get to use the Electrode cards the turn you use them! So OP. Also, I just realized that, in theory, if you have 2 Electrode in play and you or an opponent has beach out, assuming you have a hand of 7 cards, you could go through those cards, magnetic draw for 4, use those cards, magnetic draw for the second electrode for another 4, use all those cards but a colress you obtained and use it with max benches on both sides for 10. Then, use all 10 of those cards and then use beach to go through a grand total of 32 cards in one turn (counting cards you obtain through beach). Anyways, I hope the new deck works well for you, and I wish you best of luck at all of your games. Unfortunately, I am unable to go to most tournaments, but I still enjoy the thrill of TCG competitive play anyways!

Keldeo EX FTW

It's working out great! Thanks!
Wish I could go to tournaments, don't have the time or money though!
Good luck with your deck!

 

[TuxedoBlack]

Is it a good idea to run a 4th SER in this deck? If so, what would be a good card to remove to replace it?

I personally run a 3/2 combo of SER and ER which I really like. There are times when I just need a "few" discarded energy (like L) and I don't/can't "pay" the 2 card cost for a SER.

Why no Exeggcute (Propagation) - can't fit it?

Relative to Electrode, I don't like it - I personally see it more as a liability than an asset. But, I really like it when my opponents run them and set 2 up on their benches...