New to Pokemon

[daftkenny]

Hi everyone! I recently learned, and am still learning, how to play the Pokemon TCG and so far enjoying learning everything about it. Im just practicing matches with Pokemon TCGO but am currently only using the stock cards (ie. basic red, blue, green and yellow). Thats what brings me here now, Im here to ask everyone what is a good deck to start with, both online and in real life (I am fully aware that I may need to buy several decks and go trial and error from there. And I also know that it is currently BW-ON so I apologize if I say anything incorrect.).

Well, lets kick things off. A couple days ago, I was talking to some peopel online and they was recommended to start with Zekrom/Elektrik. Dont get me wrong the deck is pretty amazing and all, but it from the recorded games i've seem, once the Elektrik is catchered out and getting KO'd for one hit, it seems like you chances of winning the game are slowly decreasing with every lost Elektrik.

I also hear alot of good things about Hydreigon/Darkrai and Garchomp/Altaria decks and their variants (ie. straight darkrai/sableye)

A deck that i've also seen is Mewtwo and Gardevior. I, personally, really like Gardevior as a pokemon, but as a card, it seems a little iffy for the similar reasons as Elektrik (Kirlia getting knocked out before it evolves to Gardevior).

Other suggestions are most welcomed as these are the decks I've only seen/heard about that are consistent and/or successful. Also, im bad at deciding what I need and dont need so I appreciate all the help given

I hope I can get along with you all ! Thanks

 

[Blui]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

I'd start with a very easy, consistent deck, like straight Garchomp. Garchomp is very consistent ans is very easy to pilot, plus its cheap and very good, but it isn't as hard hitting as Darkrai/Hydreigon.
Use a pokemon line of
4 Garchomp (dragonblade)
4 Gabite (Dragon Call)
4 Gible (Sand Attack)
3 Emolga (Call for Family)
2 Stunfisk (Muddy Water & Rumble)
1 Mewtwo EX
All the pokemon are from Dragons Exalted except Mewtwo EX, but that can be obtained via tin promo.And they are all rather common, except Garchomp which is a holo rare.

You will need 8-10 Fighting Energy, but they are very easily obtained, and 4 Blend Energy WFLM which are in Dragons Exalted and 2 Double Colorless Energy, which are in Next Destinies.

The trainer line is a little harder, the basic line could cost over $50.
The musts are
3 Professor Juniper (Draw power)
3 Cheren (more draw power)
3 N (disruption)
(All of those supporters are in Dark Explorers, how convenient! That's just skeleton, I run 4 of each)
2 Random Receiver (adds to consistency, also in DE)
3 Pokemon Catcher (this is the hard one, it was short printed and is worth $10 despite it being an Uncommon, but it hands down the most important card in the deck,run 4 if possible. These are in Emerging Powers.)
4 Level Ball (4 is a must, they are in Next Destinies, searches out over 50% of the basics in the deck)
2 Switch (these are in Black and White, even though Garchomp has a low retreat of 1, it really helps in those times of need, in the end I only ran one, but 2 is better if you need to fill a spot)
2 Super Rod (You'll be discarding a lot of cards with Garchomp and this allows you to get a lot of them back, Noble Victories/Dragon Vault)
3 Rare Candy (nothing better than a T2 Garchomp)

If you take all that then you have a list with 57-59 Cards, I'd use the extra spots for 1 more of each supporter. And then drop a Switch for the 4th Catcher, but then you'd be spending quite a bit.

Also, I'd stay off PTCGO and move to PlayTCG. PlayTCG lets you get the cards straight up for no cost. And the interface is a lot less buggy, but a little bit more time consuming (but no menu screens, thank goodness.) . All you have to do is play here
Register and build decks here
www.bebessearch.com/
And then play them here
www.playtcg.me

The accounts link so you don't have to sign up twice

And welcome to Pokebeach! Hope you have lots of fun here!

 

[DNA]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

I might as well chime in here.

Having personally played Zekrom/Eelektrik, I can safely say that it is one of the easiest decks to play with, maybe about as easy as Garchomp/Altaria. However, you have correctly assessed the deck's single weakness: Eelektrik getting Catchered. This basically necessitates that the deck must run at least 3 Switch, and a couple DCE as well to help. (DCE also comboes well with other possible partners in the deck, particularly the EXs used: Zekrom, Mewtwo, Tornadus, and Raikou.)
Garchomp's weakness of getting the Altaria Catchered is pretty similar, but unlike Eelektrik, Altaria is usually easier to get out of the active spot, either by retreat or by knockout. It's easier to do either to Altaria, and harder to do either to Eelektrik. Nonetheless, the two decks actually play quite similarly: get out a couple Gabite ASAP, which you can use to get some Altaria - or get out a couple Eelektrik ASAP, which you can use to fuel future attacks (in this format, Eelektrik LOVES Ultra Ball and Juniper discarding {L} Energy).

Hydreigon/Darkrai is a very strong deck, playing well in early, mid, and late games, but it is incredibly skill-based, and the builds usually have very little wiggle room to accomodate counter-techs (for example, Shaymin EX and Hydreigon's attack is its only real defense against Terrakion, who otherwise bulldozes this deck). I suppose you could start out with it as a deck, but it's pretty pricy and almost every move you make needs to be carefully thought out. A very good friend of mine mains Hydreigon/Darkrai and I can tell that, although quite powerful, it is tricky to use.

Some people play straight Eels with Mewtwo EX. I dunno if that's the best idea, but it's possible, since Eels helps anything that uses just {L} or {C} to attack.

Terrakion is also a pretty big thing in this format, largely because it's good against so many things (like Darkrai, who is all too common). Expect to see plenty of those as well as have a response to them. It's frequently paired with Garbodor, who will shut down all abilities while having a tool attached, so that will make Tool Scrapper a necessity if you use a deck that relies heavily on abilities (and many do).

...and I'm sure the rest of Beach's players would love to add on to what was just said, so I'll step back and let them speak

 

[irondragon12]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

I'm just going to say right now: I think Garchomp/Altaria is a really bad deck. Garchomp is your only attacker and if they Catcher in your Gabites and kill them you are MORE screwed than Eels is because not only does Gabite act as your fetch tool, but also your primary(and generally only) attacker in the deck. What's left after that, Stunfisk? Stunfisk is great and all but he's just not going to win you matches, it's not going to happen, even Darkrai decks who can't retreat vs Stunfisk will be able to kill you at some point generally. It also doesn't really help that what is probably the current most powerful deck in the format(RayEels) stomps all over this deck because Quaza only needs two electric energies to knock out your Garchomp no matter what with little to no consequences where you have to have TWO Altaria's out just to get a kill with something that isn't consequential(Dragonblade kills sure, but discarding the top two SUCKS). There are a lot of decks out there that have a lot more options than this deck and are more powerful. HOWEVER, talking purely in terms of how easy this deck is to use, sure I'll agree to that and say that for that only this deck is a good starting point. Don't expect to be able to go to a Battle Roads and top 8 with the deck though.

Darkrai/Hydreigon- Yeah this deck is a bit harder to use and is generally for those with some kind of experience but starting out with it could get you on a really good footing if you really learn how to use it well. This deck has a RIDICULOUS amount of options, every single Pokemon in this deck is good. Even when Hydreigon is gone it won't necessarily mean the end because Darkrai lets your Pokemon retreat for free, Sableye can grab Dark Patch which can then get back energies for you, and usually Mewtwo EX is also used due to his synergy with Hydreigon and overall utility as an attacker. Top 3 deck in the format easily, fun to play, great deck. Problems tend to be that unless you're throwing a lot of energy on Mewtwo to attack, at which point they may bring out their own Mewtwo to revenge kill, your damage tends to cap out at 90 from Darkrai. This isn't bad by any means but when you have RayEX walking around OHKOing everything and Zekroms hitting for 120 or more, it tends to matter.

Another deck I might recommend however...

Empoleon/Terrakion- A deck that has great consistency and power. You can almost always get Empoleon out by T2 with the right build, you don't need much energy to attack, you have multiple powerful attackers, and Empoleon's ability is great. Downsides are that Empoleon is dependent on amount of Pokemon out for how powerful his attack will be, Terrakion needs 3 energy to consistently hit 90 which is more difficult in this deck, and late game you might suffer when your opponent doesnt have many Pokemon left for Empoleon to do a lot. The good thing however is that in this deck, just like most other evolution decks, redundancy is often key. The more Empoleons the better usually, therefore you'll be filling your own bench rather easily. Most strategies also need a lot of things on the bench to work effectively as you usually have to have a very card specific hand to just place something on the board and go straight for a kill without taking time to be able to put energy on them, etc so you'll always know what your opponent is doing in some way and be able to maximize off of Empoleon's attack.

Oh and welcome to PokeBeach sir.

 

[Gistica]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

Play Rayeels or Darkrai/Hydreigon. Both really good decks but on the expensive side.

 

[daftkenny]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

Thanks for replying everyone

I'm just going to say right now: I think Garchomp/Altaria is a really bad deck.

Darkrai/Hydreigon- Yeah this deck is a bit harder to use and is generally for those with some kind of experience but starting out with it could get you on a really good footing if you really learn how to use it well.

Another deck I might recommend however...

Empoleon/Terrakion- A deck that has great consistency and power.

Oh and welcome to PokeBeach sir.

You're right about the Garchomp/Altaria I think; too easily catchered. As for Darkrai/Hydreigon, I;d be great to start with but I think cost would be kind of a set back for me. I mean, dont get me wrong, its a great deck and all, but I just wasnt too sure if It was a good choice for just getting into the TCG. And this is the first i've heard of Empoleon/Terrakion. I've heard of Empoleon/Accelgor (I think) and that build doesnt look half bad. And thank you

I might as well chime in here.

Having personally played Zekrom/Eelektrik, I can safely say that it is one of the easiest decks to play with

Hydreigon/Darkrai is a very strong deck, playing well in early, mid, and late games, but it is incredibly skill-based

Terrakion is also a pretty big thing in this format

Definalty right about Zekrom/Elektrik. From what I've seen, its a rather basic set up to have. Evolve Tynamo --> get Elektriks into play --> get {L} into the discard via supporters/trainers --> Dynamotor attach to Zekrom. But yeah, the Elektrik/Tynamo get catchered up to easily. Was definately considering this deck from the beginning and still am. Seems like a good place to start. Terrakion seems to be a major component of everyone's decks now; just to counter mewtwo(s) and darkrai(s) (I think).

I'd start with a very easy, consistent deck, like straight Garchomp. Garchomp is very consistent ans is very easy to pilot, plus its cheap and very good, but it isn't as hard hitting as Darkrai/Hydreigon.

Also, I'd stay off PTCGO and move to PlayTCG

And welcome to Pokebeach! Hope you have lots of fun here!

Straight Garchomp as in just Dragon Speed theme deck? If so, I was looking at buying this seeing as its rather cheap and it seems like a good building block if you want to expand the deck. And I'll make a note of trying out PlayTCG. Thank you kindly, I hope so too

Play Rayeels or Darkrai/Hydreigon. Both really good decks but on the expensive side.

Yeah. Cost was the only bad thing about the w/ the two decks. I kinda wanted to start basic and not spend too much money but I will definitely keep these in mind if I do decide go further with Pokemon TCG.

 

[Blui]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

Straight Garchomp as in just Dragon Speed theme deck? If so, I was looking at buying this seeing as its rather cheap and it seems like a good building block if you want to expand the deck. And I'll make a note of trying out PlayTCG. Thank you kindly, I hope so too

It's straight Garchomp, it doesn't use the theme deck version, you'll have to buy the single or lots of DRE boosters.
Everyone is right, Gartaria is terrible, but if you get a straight Garchomp list that's good enough, you can beat the hardest decks that are piloted by experienced players with hardly any effort (sources: I did this at league vs, Mewtwo/Eels, Ray/Eels, Darkrai/Hydreigon, Lions, Klinklang EX)

 

[daftkenny]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

It's straight Garchomp, it doesn't use the theme deck version, you'll have to buy the single or lots of DRE boosters.
Everyone is right, Gartaria is terrible, but if you get a straight Garchomp list that's good enough, you can beat the hardest decks that are piloted by experienced players with hardly any effort (sources: I did this at league vs, Mewtwo/Eels, Ray/Eels, Darkrai/Hydreigon, Lions, Klinklang EX)

Oh I see. I might have a look into it then. Haha, oh wow, respect Oh and one more thing, did you run straight Garchomp as 4-2-4?

 

[Blui]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

No, it is a lot more consistent as a 4-4-4 line, but you could drop it to 4-3-4. 4-4-4 is more consistent because you need to hit Gabite T2, and with 4 Level Ball and all the draw support that should be rather easy.

 

[irondragon12]

RE: I must be new to Pokemon

I hate the part where you summarized what I said better than I could have even wanted to LOL. I'm so bad at summaries of decks x_x. But yeah usually the best thing you can do is if you have a friend who plays Pokemon and has extra cards try and see if you could borrow some from them just to test things out. If they don't have extra you can ask to playtest their deck or something of the sort as well.