meta game questions

tigel

Aspiring Trainer
Member
Hello, my name is Josh and I've played magic the gathering for years. I haven't played pokemon since the first set up to team rocket. I recently got back into it after some of my buddies pulled me in.

The few weeks I've been researching decks, reading articles on national events etc, I've come to some realizations/questions that I'd like to be answered if possible! Opinions welcome!

First off, I understand what cards are "legal" in tournament play, as in the sets, but I know in magic there's rotations of sets that will eventually be illegal. When does this happen, and what sets will be going away?

I've noticed the majority of decks are all lvl.x, prime, and general "ultra rare" based. All coming from two sets (which I forget the names of). After looking at Black and White cards coming out, I just don't understand how those "ultra rares" are SO good and even with a new set decks wont be touched for the most part. Why were those sets (with the ultra rares) released when it really makes the metagame unbalanced? As in, clearly those cards are incredible (scizor, mew, machamp, etc) and anything else really just doesn't come close to being able to beat it, especially from newer sets released after those. Magic is sort of that way as well which I relate everything I've found to that. However, there's some decks that don't run (insert flavor of the month decks here) and can do a fairly good job at winning. With pokemon I really don't see a way to beat a mew lost zone deck, unless you run a different prime/lvl.x deck. Is this how it's always been in past set rotations?

My deck I've thought about making for example is a bench harass, heal deck (grass). In my group of friends I haven't lost, it's extremely powerful. Despite my newly arrival to pokemon I felt I understood it enough to put together this deck. It consists of The new serperior (from starter deck), yanmega's (the 0 energy ability one) and ninjasks (the 1 energy one). However, when I think how It would compete vs a prime/lvl.x deck I don't get it. I just assume every round they hit for 150+ on average so even if I have very well synergy in my deck, it wont matter because all my pokemon would be KO in one shot. Making my no retreat cost switching in and out healing worthless. My point is, is the metagame really all mew decks or decks that actives hit for around 100+ by turn 2 (sometimes 1)? It just seems like if I want to be competitive I HAVE to go with these ultras from a few sets back and there's absolutely NO alternative to compete.

I'm also curious why the newest set black and white really doesn't seem like it's worth much, again comparing to these prime/lvl.x cards. Why is this? is this a new base set, and expansions of this set will have new ultras?

That's all for now, I'm sure I'll have more soon Thanks in advance.
 
well to answer the question: Yes, meta decks ALL contain Ultra rare cards. (Lv.X, Primes, Legends) and the reason is, good cards get the ultra-rare treatment.

there will always be tier 1 decks, which with the new rotation will most likely be donphan, mew, etc. all of which can set up fast and hit hard.

the good new is, there is going to be a new rotation, itll be sets from HGSS and onwards. that being said, the most damage a pokemon can do by itself is 150 (machamp prime) and 120 (all the other heavy hitting pokemon). that means, alot of pokemon wont be getting 1hit Ko'ed and the format will slow down a bit.

of course not everyone will be playing top tier meta decks competitively all the time. There will be times when its about fun and making good rouge decks that show alot of synergy.

As for the ultra-rare problem, BW kinda fixed that as there are no more ultra-rare cards like Primes and Lv.X's. (not counting Full Art(FA) alternatives to zekrom and reshiram)

However, the Holo's in BW are quite good and they add a great variety of flavor to the game. (mostly support instead of main attacker)
 
Hey, lots of meta doesn't need Ultra-Rares. Jumpluff, Vilepluff, Charizard, Gyarados, VileGar (without Gengar LV.X), just to name a few.

Mew will probably not be Tier 1. There's nothing to use it with after Rhyperior goes away... I'm guessing Tier 1 will probably be Jumpluff, maybe Donphan, and possibly LostGar if it makes a comeback due to the new format.

There MIGHT be a new rotation to HGSS-on in July. Rotations are typically once a year, and on average rotate 4 sets out (although there have been some different or skipped rotations).

Meta decks often win large tournaments, but it is very fun to play rogue, and they do do well sometimes (depending on how good of a deck you build :p). Keep in mind, rogue decks can still be widely used.
 
Thanks you two for your advice and help. I'm excited to be able to put my deck building skills to the test. I just felt so limited when seeing the metagame from a distance.
 
well, with the new rotation comes a whole new meta. its up to you to invent the new meta

btw... mew goes with gengar. mewgar
 
Mew doesn't have enough recovery to go with Gengar. Only Rescue Energy and FSL, and Rescue's not searchable. Straight Gengar works much better, especially after rotation.
 
well, im just saying mewgar because thats the best deck in japan, and thier format is hgss onwards, just like ours is soon to be
 
Soon to be or sooner to be, but MewGar looses to MewGar. So I agree with Scizorlicious in saying that Straight Lostgar will have winz
 
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