Standard Mystical Fire (Entei / Delphox)

[Greg]

So this is a pretty standard deck, yet I am surprised that I have not seen this combo yet. It is a wonderful match. The super quick startup, and the extra draw support from Delphox works very well! Unlike octillery draw support, Delphox can actually put out a healthy amount of damage if need be. Lots of things can be changed in this deck to suit your needs, although I have found this setup to be the best working out of the configurations I have tried. Feel free to leave comments/suggestions, and let me know how the deck worked for you!

Pokemon: 13

• 4 Entei (AO15)
• 3 Fennekin (XY24)
• 2 Braixen (BT26)
• 2 Delphox (XY26)
• 2 Shaymin-EX (RS106)

Trainers/Supporters/Stadiums: 34

• 4 Blacksmith (FF88)
• 2 Professor Sycamore
• 2 Lysandre (FF104)
• 1 Professor Birch's Observatioins (PC159)
• 1 Pokemon Fan Club (FF106)
• 1 Skyla (BP122)
• 4 Ultra Ball
• 3 VS Seeker
• 3 Trainers' Mail
• 2 Battle Compressor
• 2 Rare Candy
• 1 Professor's Letter
• 1 Switch
• 1 Super Rod
• 2 Fighting Fury Belt
• 2 Scorched Earth

Energies: 13

• 3 Double Colorless
• 10 Fire energy

Strategy:

Like Mentioned, there are a lot of changes that can be made. It really comes down to preference.
I'm not a huge fan of fighting fury belt (there is nothing wrong with it, just people tend to use it improperly). It would be an understatement to say it's anything less than amazing in an Entei deck. Although this deck will work with any pokemon tools you choose (more or less).. so pick which ones suit you best!
Typically you want heavy discard with an Entei deck, this is a no-no if you are running with Delphox. Keep it to a minimum. At the same time, make sure there is enough discarding to get the party started. In particular, I would leave the Sycamores to a maximum of 2. (another Card that I think is heavily abused)

Tips~
-This deck has adequate draw support without Delphox on the bench. Try to get her on the bench fast, but don't let her take priority over setting up an Entei.

-Remember, Delphox is more than a pretty face. Don't be afraid to let her smack a few pokemon around

-Consider Replacing 2 Fighting fury belts with 2 Muscle bands, so Delphox has a tool to use.

Everything else is pretty basic.
Raikou and Suicune decks coming soon

For people that don't feel like reading:

 

[asdjklghty]

Fan Club and Skyla are too slow for the deck. Replace them with 1 more Trainers' Mail. Lack of Acro Bike also hurts this deck a lot since it has to be fast. I can see the earliest you can get Delphox out is T3 because of the clash of Supporters with Rare Candy. You're better off removing the Delphox line. I don't see how drawing until you have 6 is useful if you can't set up Entei quickly.

Remove a Switch for another VS Seeker.

Silent Lab is useless against Garbodor since it only works on Basics.

I would suggest fitting in a Parallel City for getting rid of Shaymin on your bench.

2 Assault Vest will be good since it reduces damage everytime against Special Energy users.

A Druddigon is necessary if you want to play this deck slow.

 

[Greg]

Fan Club and Skyla are too slow for the deck. Replace them with 1 more Trainers' Mail. Lack of Acro Bike also hurts this deck a lot since it has to be fast. I can see the earliest you can get Delphox out is T3 because of the clash of Supporters with Rare Candy. You're better off removing the Delphox line. I don't see how drawing until you have 6 is useful if you can't set up Entei quickly.

Remove a Switch for another VS Seeker.

Silent Lab is useless against Garbodor since it only works on Basics.

I would suggest fitting in a Parallel City for getting rid of Shaymin on your bench.

2 Assault Vest will be good since it reduces damage everytime against Special Energy users.

A Druddigon is necessary if you want to play this deck slow.

Yeah I went ahead and fixed that, I always forget silent lab is just for basics.

Its not quite as fast as a standard entei deck, but it has more sustainability and is alot more aggresive than a standard entei deck mid-late game. Delphox isnt something you seek out to set up (unless you happen to have the card in your hand and no other options). Set up Entei like normal, and it that process you should have delphox around turn 3 or just wait until you have a good entei loaded up, then go set up delphox. Delphox allows you to still use blacksmith/lysandre and still have draw support to keep items etc coming at a steady pace. People don't expect you to use her either and she can put out nice damage.
All of these are good suggestions in theory, and I appreciate you taking the time to comment, but the jest of what you are saying is make it a copy paste entei deck. Which is kinda defeating the purpose of trying something new =/

I will probably sub fan club, as I rarely use it.

 

[asdjklghty]

Yeah I went ahead and fixed that, I always forget silent lab is just for basics.

Its not quite as fast as a standard entei deck, but it has more sustainability and is alot more aggresive than a standard entei deck mid-late game. Delphox isnt something you seek out to set up (unless you happen to have the card in your hand and no other options). Set up Entei like normal, and it that process you should have delphox around turn 3 or just wait until you have a good entei loaded up, then go set up delphox. Delphox allows you to still use blacksmith/lysandre and still have draw support to keep items etc coming at a steady pace. People don't expect you to use her either and she can put out nice damage.
All of these are good suggestions in theory, and I appreciate you taking the time to comment, but the jest of what you are saying is make it a copy paste entei deck. Which is kinda defeating the purpose of trying something new =/

I will probably sub fan club, as I rarely use it.

Entei is pretty aggressive until it gets setup. You're bound to discard parts of the Delphox puzzle in the process if you hold it in your hand or deck too long. Mid-late game isn't a problem. I'm still able to setup some Entei or use Druddigon's Revenge for 90-110 damage and finish it off with Entei. I run 1 copy of the non-Ancient Trait one and Combat Blaze can hit hard late game it does 20+20 for each of my opponent's Benched Pokemon. The math with Druddigon and Entei works out.

This isn't Expanded. Judge is mediocre compared to N.

 

[Greg]

Entei is pretty aggressive until it gets setup. You're bound to discard parts of the Delphox puzzle in the process if you hold it in your hand or deck too long. Mid-late game isn't a problem. I'm still able to setup some Entei or use Druddigon's Revenge for 90-110 damage and finish it off with Entei. I run 1 copy of the non-Ancient Trait one and Combat Blaze can hit hard late game it does 20+20 for each of my opponent's Benched Pokemon. The math with Druddigon and Entei works out.

This isn't Expanded. Judge is mediocre compared to N.

No not really, Discarding isnt generally an issue. Delphox is there, and if I do, I have super rod.
Judge isnt in this deck?

 

[asdjklghty]

No not really, Discarding isnt generally an issue. Delphox is there, and if I do, I have super rod.
Judge isnt in this deck?

It's a 1-of and generally won't be used early game. I don't see why you have to recover mid-late game with Mystical Fire. And I see only 2 Rare Candy. Consistency and space are issues here. Even in Standard, unless you can stream Evolutions quickly, Stage 2s need to be evolved quickly. Even my Seismitoad/Empoleon deck can sometimes struggle with KOs because even with 4 Rare Candy and a 4-2-4 line of Empoleon, I still have to discard parts of the line, even Super Rod. So, with 2 Rare Candy in your list, I really don't see how this will be viable.

 

[LightningCloud224]

It's a 1-of and generally won't be used early game. I don't see why you have to recover mid-late game with Mystical Fire. And I see only 2 Rare Candy. Consistency and space are issues here. Even in Standard, unless you can stream Evolutions quickly, Stage 2s need to be evolved quickly. Even my Seismitoad/Empoleon deck can sometimes struggle with KOs because even with 4 Rare Candy and a 4-2-4 line of Empoleon, I still have to discard parts of the line, even Super Rod. So, with 2 Rare Candy in your list, I really don't see how this will be viable.

Delphox is an interesting attacker with utility but does require a lot of deck space which might be worth it for the draw support. For steady attacking, have you considered the upcoming Flareon-EX?

My suggestions are:
-1 Birch
-1 Fan Club (Ultra Ball should be sufficient and it doesn't grab evolution cards)
-1 Fire Energy

+1 VS Seeker
+1 Scorched Earth
+1 Double Colorless Energy

 

[Gunther Spindler]

If you want to run 3 Fennekin, you should also run 1 or 2 Float Stones, because more than half of times you will be starting with it or Shaymin, missing the T1 attack. Also only a playset of Fighting Fury Belt without Muscle Band or Eco Arm means that you would only be able at MAX setup 2 Enteis with double Fighting Fury Belt, if none of them are prized or gets discarted. And although Garbodor is not so common it used to be, its getting popularity again as BKT and BKP bringed more important pokemons with abilitys (like Octilery, Magnezone, Zoroark, Gallade and others), so it's Megaphone...

 

[Greg]

It's a 1-of and generally won't be used early game. I don't see why you have to recover mid-late game with Mystical Fire. And I see only 2 Rare Candy. Consistency and space are issues here. Even in Standard, unless you can stream Evolutions quickly, Stage 2s need to be evolved quickly. Even my Seismitoad/Empoleon deck can sometimes struggle with KOs because even with 4 Rare Candy and a 4-2-4 line of Empoleon, I still have to discard parts of the line, even Super Rod. So, with 2 Rare Candy in your list, I really don't see how this will be viable.

Its totally is viable, Theres around 80ish plays, and Im at 60ish wins, this isn't supposed to be a copy paste entei deck! Delphox allows a consistent draw support, and the ability to use blacksmith/lysandre. Discarding her has not been an issue. This deck still runs as a typical Entei deck, more or less.. Even with her completely out of the game (which has not happened, but can) Its still and entei deck and its not like im completely defenseless. I think your looking at this like I absolutely have to win in turn 1. Whats wrong with a mid-late game win?

Delphox is an interesting attacker with utility but does require a lot of deck space which might be worth it for the draw support. For steady attacking, have you considered the upcoming Flareon-EX?

My suggestions are:
-1 Birch
-1 Fan Club (Ultra Ball should be sufficient and it doesn't grab evolution cards)
-1 Fire Energy

+1 VS Seeker
+1 Scorched Earth
+1 Double Colorless Energy

I actually did all of this, except for the +vs seeker. I haven't had any issues with 3. I would probably go +1 trainers mail over another vs seeker though.
I need to update the op.

I have been looking at the flareon! I'm definitely going to try it at the very least.

If you want to run 3 Fennekin, you should also run 1 or 2 Float Stones, because more than half of times you will be starting with it or Shaymin, missing the T1 attack. Also only a playset of Fighting Fury Belt without Muscle Band or Eco Arm means that you would only be able at MAX setup 2 Enteis with double Fighting Fury Belt, if none of them are prized or gets discarted. And although Garbodor is not so common it used to be, its getting popularity again as BKT and BKP bringed more important pokemons with abilitys (like Octilery, Magnezone, Zoroark, Gallade and others), so it's Megaphone...

Its not so bad if I start with fennekin, but shaymin is an annoyance. A necessary evil. I've considered adding in floats. The switch is usually enough, but not always.

Thanks for comments everyone!

 

[asdjklghty]

Its totally is viable, Theres around 80ish plays, and Im at 60ish wins, this isn't supposed to be a copy paste entei deck! Delphox allows a consistent draw support, and the ability to use blacksmith/lysandre. Discarding her has not been an issue. This deck still runs as a typical Entei deck, more or less.. Even with her completely out of the game (which has not happened, but can) Its still and entei deck and its not like im completely defenseless. I think your looking at this like I absolutely have to win in turn 1. Whats wrong with a mid-late game win?

Unless you're against PTCGO noobs, I don't see how this can win consistently. Your list is, no offence, half-butted because of the room for Delphox. So even with her out of the equation, I don't see how 2 Battle Compressor, 3 Trainers' Mail and 3 VS Seeker with no Acro Bike can make this viable. That's the problem which is you're trying to do 2 things at once.

 

[LightningCloud224]

Unless you're against PTCGO noobs, I don't see how this can win consistently. Your list is, no offence, half-butted because of the room for Delphox. So even with her out of the equation, I don't see how 2 Battle Compressor, 3 Trainers' Mail and 3 VS Seeker with no Acro Bike can make this viable. That's the problem which is you're trying to do 2 things at once.

It took me a bit to grasp this myself, but this is not a speed entei deck, it is a steadfast entei with delphox support. The goal is different. It is not a top tier strategy, but I'm sure it works well.

I don't usually bother with acro bike, it's pretty easy to get through the deck with my 3 battle compressor and achieve the right level of speed to combat top-tier opponents. It is also a bit of liability against the item lock and mill decks with are very popular right now. I actually find it is easier to maintain a constant stream of attackers if you have better control of your discards.

I'm looking forward to the suicune deck.

 

[Greg]

It took me a bit to grasp this myself, but this is not a speed entei deck, it is a steadfast entei with delphox support. The goal is different. It is not a top tier strategy, but I'm sure it works well.

I don't usually bother with acro bike, it's pretty easy to get through the deck with my 3 battle compressor and achieve the right level of speed to combat top-tier opponents. It is also a bit of liability against the item lock and mill decks with are very popular right now. I actually find it is easier to maintain a constant stream of attackers if you have better control of your discards.

I'm looking forward to the suicune deck.

Exactly, could not explain it better myself. Everyone knows the regular entei formula, I have a deck like this, and there would be no point in posting it =/
Im love-hate with acro bike myself. Theres no way I could run it in this deck, as it would be to much of a liability.

Delphox offers an accelerated draw, which makes up for any missing discard items generally. Like I've said many times, shes also not just draw support. its not octillery. Shes an endless shaymin that can put out the hurt. Whats not to like? I think the confusion is based on what everyone thinks an Entei deck is supposed to be. There are no laws saying Entei has to be played a certain way, or even to say that the standard deck is the best way to play Entei.

I'm guessing im going to have to post a video....

Suicune is still in testing as I think it can be better, its actually doing very well though. Ill post it asap