Machamp/Excadrill looking to improve.

[Defz3r0]

Hi everyone!

I posted this deck, along with the questions, over on Pokegym as well, so if it looks familiar I apologize. But I'm still getting a feel for both websites and thought it would be appropriate.

I'll preface by saying the intention of this thread is to start with this current decklist and improve upon it progressively, as right now its compiled almost entirely of cards I've got laying around (no singles purchases specficially for it).

Since starting the game, in my short time, I've come to like using Excadrill quite a bit. His major attack requires 3 Fighting, which seems a bit restrictive, but this deck being a full Fighting deck, I feel that its a bit more manageable. Secondly, I happened to pull a Machamp Prime and as I've always liked Machamp, I'd like to keep him or possibly another iteration in here.

Onwards to the list!

Pokemon (22)
3-2-2 Machop/choke/champ (Machamp Prime x1, Machamp 26 x1)
3-2-1 Roggenrola/Boldore/Gigalith (All EP)
3-2 Drillbur/Excadrill (Starter Excadrill, EP?)
2-2 Minc/Cinccino (BW-EP, respectively)

Trainers (24)
Cheren x3
Professor Juniper x2
Twins x2
IQ x2
PETM x2
Energy Search x3
PlusPower x2
Energy Retrieval x2
Pokemon Communication x4
Switch x2

Energy (14)
Fighting Energy x14

Fairly straightforward strategy in mind. Starting ideally with either Drillbur or Minccino. Cinccino can either buy me time by forcing my opponent to switch into an unprepared Pokemon, or allow for a quick KO the next turn by using Switch (or Retreating) and letting one of the bigger threats handle their new active. I tried to keep the Evolution lines to a minimum. My immediate questions are:

1) Is Cinccino worth keeping with the previous strategy in mind?
2) How can I best utilize Machamp Prime?
3) Should I consider adding a second type to make up for type weaknesses/bad matchups?


Thanks in advance, and I hope this grows into a solid Fighting deck!

 

[evil_elf]

great potential!you should play a 3-2-3 line of machamp.Add in one more machamp prime,one more excadrill,a zoroak for reshiram matchups,and one mor cinccino line.
for the t/s/s/ line take out energy retrieval and iq for more junipers,oaks, twins,or sages.collectors and pokemon catchers and rare candies are a must.hope this helps

 

[Defz3r0]

Thanks for the tips!

I picked up two packs on a whim today of HS Triumphant and luckily pulled another Machamp! (RH too, sadly not Prime)

So, I dumped the Cinc/Minc line and added another Machop and the Machamp. Bringing that line to 4-2-4. I figure the extra Machop could be fed into Pokemon Communication.

With the last two spots, I threw in two Audinos (EP). The idea is that I can feed energy into Audino for the extra coin flips and when I get Machamp Prime, all the energy can swap to him and an injured Audino will buff up Champ Buster.

I also swapped out an Energy Search for another Switch. I'm not entirely sure if that was a good idea. The altered decklist looks something like this:

Pokemon (22)
4-2-3 Machop/choke/champ (Machamp Prime x1, Machamp 26 x2)
3-2-1 Roggenrola/Boldore/Gigalith (All EP)
3-2 Drillbur/Excadrill (Starter Excadrill, EP?)
2 Audino (EP)

Trainers (24)
Cheren x3
Professor Juniper x2
Twins x2
IQ x2
PETM x2
Energy Search x2
PlusPower x2
Energy Retrieval x2
Pokemon Communication x4
Switch x3

Energy (14)
Fighting Energy x14

 

[Emperor]

This deck would probably be alot more consistent if you focused your lines. Gilgalith and Excadril don't really help Machamp prime in any way apart from just being back-up attackers and both are just energy guzzlers. If it were me playing this deck, this is how i'd go about playing it (this is just a skeleton list)

3-2-3 Machamp Prime
3 Landorus
1 Zekrom
1 Cleffa

3 Pokemon Collector (searches out 3 basic pokemon)
3 Prof Oak's New Theory (refreshes your hand)
4 Sage's Training OR Engineer's Adjustment (draw supporter)
4 Pokemon Communication
3 Junk Arm (retrieves discarded trainers)
3 Rare Candy
2 Max Potion

12 {F}
2 {C}{C} (Double Colorless Energy)

Landorus and Machamp Prime already have nice synergy together as Landorus helps to boost Machamp Prime's damage output by damaging your own bench (which you already know) so basing a deck around this concept wouldn't be bad. Zekrom can take advantage of Gaia Hammer: boosting Outrage's damage and it can hit Yanmega Prime (a counter to this deck) for weakness. Cleffa is nice incase you have a bad hand.

Sage's Training / Engineer's Adjustment and Junk Arm are you main ways to get {R} energy into your discard pile so you can use Abundant Harvest and potentially set up a T2 Landorus.

Now ideally you'd want to have at least 3 Machamp Prime so be able to use it effectively by continuosly switching out Machamp Prime's via fighting tag and use Max Potion to fully heal benched Machamp primes. This may seem counter-productive as you'd want damage counters on all your benched pokemon, but being able to keep your pokemon alive through this method is too good an opportunity to pass up.

 

[Defz3r0]

I had forgotten I put this thread up. Thanks for the advice, Empoleon, I really like using cards with synergy like that (But who doesnt, right?). When Noble Victories drops for full release, ill be sure to snap up a few Landrorus' early.

Recently, Ive been trying to build up my pool of available Trainers and netted two Pokemon Collectors, so thats helpful. I dont have access to any Rare Candies at the moment, or DCEs and I've only been lucky enough to get one Junk Arm so far. Everything else that you mentioned, I have. But instead of Sage's or Engineers, I currently use Cheren. I can see the advantage of both of your sugguestions though and I think I like Sages better.

I don't currently have a Cleffa either, but Ive been keeping an eye out for one at a good price, or that a friend might have, as it seems that ALOT of competitive players run it, and I can see why.

After a few test games, since I've only got one Machamp Prime, I'm finding the HS Machamp more reliable and have favored using him instead. If I went that route I could clearly see the necessity of dropping other energy hogs like Giga and Excadrill.