Help New Player - Deck Building and Rotation

[Spitzer]

Hey everyone so I'm just starting up the game and I had a few questions I figured I'd bundle together.

1. What is usually the general number of pokemon you want to use in a deck?

2. How many EX Pokemon tends to be a good number, and is it bad to only use EX Pokemon in a deck?

3. Are mill decks viable in this game? I saw Houndoom EX and immediately thought about a mill deck due to his first attack.

4. Based on the average rotation which sets are likely to rotate out next? I don't know what sets are the oldest right now. Also, are there any staples I should avoid picking up due to likely being rotated out soon?

Lastly, I know energies from old sets can be used, I assume in lf an item/support card has been printed in the current sets i can use an old printing of it?

Thanks in advance for answers

 

[mirdo]

1. Depends on the Deck. Usually you want to keep a tight core and don´t have to many diffrent. Most decks go with 8-12 total Pokemon i believe.

2. Usually Pokemon EX are a good choice as they have high HP and often pack a punch. Problem with them is that they cost 2 Prize Cards when dead and there are cards that specifically block EX. So EX are good. Only Ex can bring you in trouble if you don´t have another answer.

3. They kind of are. Especially against the "Gotta go thorugh my deck asap" meta we have. They ain´t that great but a couple of them work.
Houndoom EX and the Bunnelby found in Primal Clash are mostly used in those.
I myself also much appreciate the Avalugg found in steam siege.

4. No one knows what gonna be rotated out 100%.
Most likely are Primal Clash, Roaring Skies and Acient Origins.
The next in line are Breakthrough, Breakpoint, Fates Colide, Steam Siege and Evolutions.
Most believe everything starting with Breakthrough will stay for a bit.

5. If it has the same effect and name. I believe so yes.

 

[mordacazir]

1. Most of the meta decks play at least 12 pokemon, like gardevior, yveltal, vespiquen, volcanion and much more.
2. Most of the decks in the format consists mostly of EX's and some non-EX's to support and have a second attacker. It isn't smart to play without any non-EX though, because cards like regice can block them. The only way to defeat regice is by playing Pokemon Ranger. And regice is usually paired with vileplume, so you can't VS seeker for a second ranger. So if you only want to play EX pokemon, play 2 Pokemon Ranger.
3. I know a guy that plays a durant/houndoom mill deck. He finished second in a league cup. It isn't in the top tiers, but it's still a fun deck to play.
4. Probably it will be primal clash, roaring skies, ancients origins, BREAKtrough and BREAKpoint.
5. You're right. But it has to be the exact same text.