Lasers In Darkrai Variants

[DarkraiGuy]

Hey, so since i've been playing I've really only ran one main deck (making decks aren't free ) Anyways, I have came up with 4 variants that I enjoy playing, Hydregion, Garbodor, Victini, Zoroark.
The only problem i facing is deciding wether or not to put lasers in which decks. Is Laser a must for ANY Darkrai deck? Or only Garbodor? My old Hyregion list didn't have any so I wasn't really sure. I also don't know if i should add any to my Zoroark List? Thanks
*Lists will be posted if asked to do so*

 

[littywitty]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

Im glad someone posted about this issue. But in all honesty, the card can be a bummer to see in your opening hand. But essentially, the math work outs so Darkrai can take out 3 170 HP EX's in 3 shots, dark claw+laserbank is 140 and 30 to a 170 EX, then you do 140 to the 30 damaged EX and 30 to another 170 EX and then catcher up that pokemon, do 140 and 30 to the one with 140 on it from you first night spear for game. Now, for the issue on which variants to put it in and how many to put in, I would say Hydreigon doesnt need any, Garbador can have 3 since junk hunt is such a cause in that deck. Darkrai / Victini is a deck that Ive been testing a lot myself and its really is a matter of how consistent you want the deck to be, do you want a little more consistent list or one with that crucial last laser, 3 or 4 are both equally good numbers. Darkrai / Zoroark seems to be one that would either none or 4, I have no testing with the deck, so I cant give you my personal opinion on it. And I would also really want to see your Darkrai / Victini list! Hope it helped!

 

[SynxS1N]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

I agree in large part with litty. I'm not sure it's a necessity in certain darkrai variants but you cant argue with the power it adds, especially when it comes to the math litty mentioned. I've even just lasered a 180 EX to 170 and started that same math flow many times. Lasers are most effective in Darkrai / Garbodor because it shuts off Virizion's Verdant Wind and it Junk Hunts more often, but IMO laser has a solid place in any variant.

 

[TuxedoBlack]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

When you really think about it, there may be only a few decks in which Ht Lasers may not be useful, e.g., Blastoise-BKEX. Black Kyurem will just 1HKO any Poké in the game format.

Ht Lasers, as noted above, is very useful not only because of the "math," but it also may buy that needed turn when your opponent's can't wake up from the imposed sleep condition. Lastly, it can be Junk Hunt'ed. I've also found it very useful when I've played decks running Landorus EX. Great card to include in any Darkrai EX deck.

 

[DarkraiGuy]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

Im glad soneone posted about this issue. But in all honesty, the card can be a bummer to see in your opening hand. But essentially, the math work outs so darkrai can take out 3 170 HP EX's in 3 shots, dark claw+laserbank is 140 and 30 to a 170 EX, then you do 140 to the 30 damaged EX and 30 to another 170 EX and then catcher up that pokemon, do 140 and 30 to the one with 140 on it from you first night spear for game. Now, for the issue on which variants to put it in and how many to put in, I would say Hydreigon doesnt need any, Garbador can have 3 since junk hunt is such a cause in that deck. Darkrai/Victini is a deck that Ive been testing a lot myself and its really is a matter of how consistent you want the deck to be, do you want a little more consistent list or one with that crucial last laser, 3 or 4 are both equally good numbers. Darkrai/Zoroark seems to be one that would either none or 4, I have no testing with the deck, so I cant give you my personal opinion on it. And I would also really want to see your Darkrai/Victini list! Hope it helped!

Thanks! that was really helpful right there. And for The Victini I just decided to give it a try because I got 2 and victory piece in a trade. So I don't know how well I have it made.. I played Hydregion the longest and then Garbodor. Zoroark is the deck I am going to give a try this week, I have the Zoroarks coming in the mail ( both Zoroarks)

Victini List
Pokemon:
3-Darkrai EX
2-Victini EX
3-Sableye
1-Absol

Trainers:
1- Victory Piece
4- Juniper
4- N
2- Bianca
3- Skyla
2- Random Receiver
3-Dark Claw
3- Dark Patch
3- Ultra Ball
3- Catcher
2- Hammer
1- Scrapper
1- Switch
2- Virbank
4- Hypno Toxic Laser

Not sure what to do to improve this list. The real problem with Victini is that he can become a target on the bench with low HP and a 2 Prize bounty. But It is still fun in my opinion.

For Zoroark, I will run 3-3 line and am not sure which Zoroarks to run.. Searching the deck for any card is a good starter and then using an opposing Ex's attack on it before they have the energy to even use it themselves would come handy but I don't know if I should run the deck only using that Zoroark. My Zoroark Deck would be essentially this list minus Absols and Victini EX, unless I take out virbanks and lasers but currently I find them very useful

 

[littywitty]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

First off, I would like to see your energy count because that is what throws the deck on how you play it. I really like 2 Fire and8 Dark due to space. Turbo energize in itself is a great attack all by itself and the Victory Piece and Intensifying burn are just a lot of icing on the cake. I've tested with deck way too much, and I kind of like bouffalant and DCE in here but im not sure since it cut consistency a little. If you were to stick to just straight DV, here are the changes I would make:

-1 Sableye (this is actually the worst starter in the deck since it doesnt provide you with an attacker or victini. This is mostly used to score those hammers or that laser or catcher for game. I actually think 1 is a perfectly viable option.)
-2 Random Receiver (This deck is made to do damage after T1, not Junk Hunt, and the fact you run skyla in here weakens this card.)
-1 Bianca (Its a rather weak supporter but us the next best thing. At this point, you have 12 supporters, a little low but manageable. The cool thing about this Darkrai variant is that it doesn't beg for a supporter each turn and relies a little more on the field.)
-1 Tool Scrapper (This card is really unnessecary considering you run multiple switch which i will add to this to avoid garbador and use hamners to counter kyurem, all other tools arent worth it, this list is too tight.)

+1 Victini EX (this is your main starter and is key to start with for this decks success.)
+2 Energy Search (this card is key so you can get fire energy, this is why the fire energy aren't Prism Energy. You can also skyla for this card.)
+1 Ultra Ball (4 is a must in this deck for T1 Turbo Energize, Ive even considered putting in Poke Ball in here, its just that desperate for pokemon.)
+1 Switch (this card is super good at any time in this deck since it helps it go for the T1 Turbo Energize, helps against Garbador, and gets you out of laser. I would highly recommend putting this to 3 or even 4)

Hope it helped!

 

[blargh257]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

I myself use them. However, I'd say that if you feel like your consistency is off, cut them for more consistency cards.

 

[SynxS1N]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

Let me know how those work out, I'm maining Darkrai/Garbodor and I wouldnt mind testing something new

Really liked it, your hitting for 120 plus 20 dark claw and 30 laser banks but i put togehter Darkrai Garbodor for this tournament saturday. Only loss was to VerGen in practice today but that was the only meta i played

I'm not sure if you knew what I was asking. I am 100% into running lasers in darkrai/garb, I wanted to know how the other variants worked out for you. They sound like a lot of fun.

Good luck at the tournament,

Here's my Darkrai / Garbodor deck, maybe comparing list will help:

SynxS1N's Darkrai/Garbodor Deck

 

[DarkraiGuy]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

Really liked it, your hitting for 120 plus 20 dark claw and 30 laser banks but i put togehter Darkrai Garbodor for this tournament saturday. Only loss was to VerGen in practice today but that was the only meta i played

I'm not sure if you knew what I was asking. I am 100% into running lasers in darkrai/garb, I wanted to know how the other variants worked out for you. They sound like a lot of fun.

Good luck at the tournament,

Here's my Darkrai/Garbodor deck, maybe comparing list will help:

SynxS1N's Darkrai/Garbodor Deck

Thanks! and if you want ill post mine or put a link to the forum its in. And sorry about the Laser confusion my bad haha.
So for how much i like the variants,
Darkrai / Hydregion:
So much fun to play. Not too good in competitive play though, I have about a 50-50 ratio with this deck hydregion and candy takes up too much space in my opinion.
Darkrai / Zoroark:
Most damage any of the variants deal. 120 with 6 dark in play, + 20 dark claw + 30 laser bank, Only with 180 or an etiolate they'll survive. You attack with a non EX so you can loose 2 and a sableye and still be in Okay shape. I'm really considering this as a possible deck to run in a tournament. Not thinking tomorrow but who knows. as of now garbodor is the biggest variant but against tdk and VirGen I'm not sure how much a need it.
Darkrai / Victini:
Is okay, I need to tweak this one more so I can real get an idea.
Darkrai/ Garbodor:
I've played this a good amount, really like it on non-meta because you really have the upper hand. I only don't like using darkrai as my main and soul attacker. But this is still a really strong deck that I will be playing the most. that and Zoroark, in my opinion Zoroark is the second best, that or speed Darkrai which i am yet to attempt to try.

 

[SynxS1N]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai variants

I'm not sure if you knew what I was asking. I am 100% into running lasers in darkrai/garb, I wanted to know how the other variants worked out for you. They sound like a lot of fun.

Good luck at the tournament,

Here's my Darkrai/Garbodor deck, maybe comparing list will help:

SynxS1N's Darkrai/Garbodor Deck

Thanks! and if you want ill post mine or put a link to the forum its in. And sorry about the Laser confusion my bad haha.
So for how much i like the variants,
Darkrai/Hydregion: So much fun to play. Not too good in competitive play though, I have about a 50-50 ratio with this deck hydregion and candy takes up too much space in my opinion.
Darkrai/ Zoroark: Most damage any of the variants deal. 120 with 6 dark in play, + 20 dark claw + 30 laser bank, Only with 180 or an etiolate they'll survive. You attack with a non EX so you can loose 2 and a sableye and still be in Okay shape. I'm really considering this as a possible deck to run in a tournament. Not thinking tomorrow but who knows. as of now garbodor is the biggest variant but against tdk and VirGen I'm not sure how much a need it.
Darkrai/ Victini
Is okay, I need to tweak this one more so i can real get an idea
Darkrai/ Garbodor
I've played this a good amount, really like it on non meta because you really have the upper hand. I only don't like using darkrai as my main and soul attacker. But this is still a really strong deck that I will be playing the most. that and Zoroark, in my opinion Zoroark is the second best, that or speed Darkrai which i am yet to attempt to try

Awesome reply, thanks for the information. I believe Garb is the best variant for now as well. Speed Darkrai might see a solid comeback if we get an energy switch reprint (crossing my fingers lol). Thanks again.

 

[littywitty]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai Variants

Ive been playing around with DV and I found that using Prism / Blend is a lot more reliable than straight fire energy, also, I would consider also playing around with techs such as Cobalion EX, Tropius, Terrakion/Landorus EX, and I've even considered combee. If you change it to special energy, you might want to run Virizion EX, but that card is a little risky, this is more dependent on meta.

 

[9Tailz]

RE: Lasers In Dakrai Variants

I played around with Darkrai EX with both of the Zoroarks for a while and it worked pretty good. Zoroark NXD / BLW is fantastic against Black Kyurem EX and with a Laser or Dark Claw can KO Kyurem PLF in one attack. It's also decent against Genesect. You can't copy G-Booster, but you can deal enough damage before they KO Zoroark so Darkrai or another Zoroark can KO Genesect the next turn. Zoroark DEX OHKOs any 170 HP Pokemon with a Dark Claw and Laser with Virbank. If you've already sniped an EX with Darkrai, you can cut either one of those factors out. I haven't played with it recently, but maybe I'll give it another shot.