Standard Need Some Help with Metagross-GX

[Rensje]

Hi guys! Name's Rensje, a longtime fan of online card games such as Hearthstone, Hex and more recently Faeria who came to the Pokémon TCG with the desire to finally start collecting and playing something physical. A few months ago I jumped in with the release of the Sun & Moon set, figuring that was as good a starting point as any.

I'm based in Holland and competitive Pokémon isn't really a thing in my area, but I managed to find a couple of avid players and they help me practice and get better at the game. However, none of them are very good at a facet of the game that I really enjoy: deck building.

My first deck was Solgaleo-GX with Drampa-GX, Tapu Lele-GX and Rayquaza, a deck which I really enjoy. However, I'm not so sure it's going to do very well in a tournament setting and that is something I would really like to get my feet wet with. So I decided on something a little more commonly accepted: Metagross-GX.

I'm new to the game of course, and the fact that a new set is just now releasing and that several older sets are currently rotating out of the standard metagame complicates things a little for me. I've come up with a list with the help of some friends and some online resources, but in testing I find that something just doesn't gel yet. I don't quite get the draw power I was expecting and energy always seems to be an issue in the early game.

Some of these cards are only proxies at the moment, I want to be sure I'm happy with the list before I start purchasing expensive cards.

Here's what I came up with. Any and all suggestions are most welcome!

Pokémon: 14

• 1 Alolan Vulpix GRI
• 4 Beldum GRI
• 2 Metang GRI
• 4 Metagross-GX GRI
• 2 Tapu Lele-GX GRI
• 1 Necrozma-GX BUS

Trainers/Supporters: 34

• 4 Professor Sycamore BKP
• 4 N FAC
• 3 Guzma BUS
• 2 Professor Kukui SUM
• 2 Sophocles BUS
• 1 Brigette BKT
• 1 Skyla BKT

• 4 Rare Candy SUM
• 4 Ultra Ball SUM
• 4 Choice Band GRI
• 2 Field Blower GRI
• 2 Max Potion GRI
• 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI

Energy: 12

• 8 Steel Energy SUM
• 4 Psychic Energy SUM

 

[jessalakasam]

I would reccomend:
-1 Necrozma GX
-2 Psychic energy
-1 Rare Candy
-1 Choice Band
+2 Metal Energy
+1 Karen/ Stretcher
+1 Metang
+1 Max Potion

 

[Adi]

Here is my decklist.

Pokemon: 18

4 Beldum
3 Metang
4 Metagross GX
2 Alolan Vulpix
1 Alolan Ninetales
2 Tapu Lele GX
1 Necrozma GX
1 Magearna EX

Trainers: 31

Items
4 Ultra Ball
4 Rare Candy
3 Choice Band
3 Max Potion
1 Rescue Stretcher
2 Field Blower

Supporter
4 Professor Sycamore
4 N
1 Bridgette
2 Guzma
1 Skyla

Stadium
2 Altar of the Sunne

Energy: 11

8 Metal Energy
3 Psychic Energy

I've used proxys and tested this against the top decks for the new format, and I found it did very well. I hope this helps.

 

[hunter.exe]

I like you're ideas for the deck but somethings i would like to recommend are maybe adding a Drampa GX or Two. They can really help out with hitting big numbers if you have your damaged metagross. Retreating and energy wont be a problem because of Metagross' ability attaching from the discard. Maybe even Tech in a Magerna Ex which prevents effects of attacks done to your pokemon who have steel energy attached which can help against things such as Jolteon Ex and Glaceon Ex along with some Status conditions. I also feel like Sophecles is Redundent because you do have Sycamore and N. Maybe replace them with 1 Karen and an Acerola which can help in touch conditions.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I like you're ideas for the deck but somethings i would like to recommend are maybe adding a Drampa GX or Two. They can really help out with hitting big numbers if you have your damaged metagross. Retreating and energy wont be a problem because of Metagross' ability attaching from the discard. Maybe even Tech in a Magerna Ex which prevents effects of attacks done to your pokemon who have steel energy attached which can help against things such as Jolteon Ex and Glaceon Ex along with some Status conditions. I also feel like Sophecles is Redundent because you do have Sycamore and N. Maybe replace them with 1 Karen and an Acerola which can help in touch conditions.

Magearna doesn't help against Glaceon and Jolteon because Crystal Ray and Flash Ray apply to Glaceon and Jolteon themselves, respectively. Magearna only protects Pokemon with Steel energy from opposing effects that would affect them.

 

[Rensje]

I would reccomend:
-1 Necrozma GX
-2 Psychic energy
-1 Rare Candy
-1 Choice Band
+2 Metal Energy
+1 Karen/ Stretcher
+1 Metang
+1 Max Potion

I wonder, is there a particular reason you would add an extra Metang over a Rare Candy? Also, what's the motivation behind removing Necrozma-GX, a card that has excellent synergy with Metagross-GX? Is it for the sake of consistency or do you think it's just not that good of a card?

2 Alolan Vulpix
1 Alolan Ninetales

Stadium
2 Altar of the Sunne

I too have been toying with the idea of adding a baby Alolan Ninetales from BUS to this deck, on the basis that it can hold the fort until you have at least one Metagross-GX all powered up. My problem with this card is I can't use its only attack in this deck, and that its difficult to switch out without Float Stone. You have to discard energy to do it, which you can't get back until you get that Metagross down. If you're not drawing energy early it could be a tough sell.

How are you liking Altar of the Sunne? Do you find it necessary at all?

I also feel like Sophecles is Redundent because you do have Sycamore and N. Maybe replace them with 1 Karen and an Acerola which can help in touch conditions.

The reason I included Sophocles is because you can use it to discard energy which can then be accelerated by Metagross-GX's ability. There aren't all that many cards that let you discard, and the ones that do (like Sycamore) might force you to discard everything. I like the synergy and I feel that it definitely has a place in the deck.

Karen seems like a fun inclusion, but I feel that Super Rod might be a better option as it does not use up a Supporter play. Acerola doesn't seem that great in a deck where you might prefer discarding cards over pulling them back to your hand. It also does not make much sense in combination with Max Potion.

 

[jessalakasam]

I wonder, is there a particular reason you would add an extra Metang over a Rare Candy? Also, what's the motivation behind removing Necrozma-GX, a card that has excellent synergy with Metagross-GX? Is it for the sake of consistency or do you think it's just not that good of a card?

For Metang It's easier to set up as you just need Metang instead of needing BOTH Candy and Gross. As far as Necrozma goes the big downside is a Psychic weakness meaning Trashalanche'll easily OHKO you

 

[Rensje]

For Metang It's easier to set up as you just need Metang instead of needing BOTH Candy and Gross. As far as Necrozma goes the big downside is a Psychic weakness meaning Trashalanche'll easily OHKO you

I made this change and played a couple of games today; won all of them, and the deck seemed to flow a little bit better! Thanks for the tip.

I'm also thinking of dropping Alolan Vulpix GRI and Necrozma-GX BUS and replacing them with two Tapu Koko Promo. I find that I'm just out of knockout range with Metagross-GX a lot of the time, but spreading some damage around with Tapu Koko's Flying Flip move might make getting those KO's a little easier. Of course, this would require dropping the Psychic Energy for some DCEs. Thoughts?

 

[jessalakasam]

I made this change and played a couple of games today; won all of them, and the deck seemed to flow a little bit better! Thanks for the tip.

I'm also thinking of dropping Alolan Vulpix GRI and Necrozma-GX BUS and replacing them with two Tapu Koko Promo. I find that I'm just out of knockout range with Metagross-GX a lot of the time, but spreading some damage around with Tapu Koko's Flying Flip move might make getting those KO's a little easier. Of course, this would require dropping the Psychic Energy for some DCEs. Thoughts?

I'd keep Vulpix probably replace Necrozma with Koko though

 

[Rensje]

I'd keep Vulpix probably replace Necrozma with Koko though

Yeah, I think it could be a great addition and turn out to be an integral part of the deck's strategy. Maybe I'll drop the number of total Energy in the deck by one so I can incorporate two of the card, just to make sure I don't prize the one copy I run. I'll have to run some more tests to see if the deck will still flow after the changes.

Thanks for the feedback, you've been a real help!

 

[21times]

Yeah a lot of people are hyping up Pokemon out of BUS that are Psychic weak and IMO pretty much unplayable. I do kind of like Necrozma though and as an ancillary piece in the Metagross deck, you just don't play him out if you're up against Garb.

 

[Kietharr]

I'll add to the Koko recommendation, the thing is absolutely invaluable. I used to have to Kukui to hit 200 and it was so much less reliable than just getting Koko out.

Koko is doubly useful with Guzma in the next set, you can Guzma to it then switch back to Metagross for free, it helps keep energy on your field before you get to the point where you have 3 metagross and basically free retreat and attack every turn. Also helps when you get garbotoxin'd and don't have a blower ready.