Newbie Looking for Deck Building Help

[Gardevoirs_Senpai]

Hi all. I am Gardevoir_Senpai, and I come from the Yu-Gi-Oh TCG. And recently I've been wanting to start the pokemon tcg for awhile now, however I have no clue where to start. I've been looking into different decks and have found a Gengar EX deck, that attempts to abuse the gengar from phantom forces, and I was wondering what I should be running in it. Any help is appreciated! Thanks

 

[infernape1245]

Hi! And welcome to the game

If you're looking for a way to start the game but not spend too much on them try playing with Night March or Medicham PRC Ancient Trait (what I'm currently playing). Theyre relatively cheap and pretty good (Night March being the better one). But since your question was about a Gengar EX deck, please read on.

I'd like to give you an actual list but that would take too much time because in my view there are a few ways you can run a Gengar EX Deck. Instead I'll just give you a bunch of possible partners and cards that you can use; just to give you ideas on how you want to build your deck. I will also limit this to mostly XY-on cards; a highly likely XY-on rotation might set you back a little especially if you have cards from BW sets (just a note on the rotation, I heard from a friend that its XY-on in Japan)

But firstly, I believe that 3 Gengar EX is enough. it's the core of the deck after all. You would want to focus on its second attack which basically does what Donphan currently does, and that is hit and run (with the addition of being able to poison).

Second, supporter cards are your core. You can check out other lists on this forum and they'll tell you run 4 Sycamore, 4 N, 2 Lysandre, etc etc. Just take a look around and you'll get the idea.

Okay on to the list of cards

M Gengar EX.
- In my opinion I think you should only run one of this. It's not the main attacker of the deck, but it can copy the attacks of others and has higher HP. That's something to keep in mind. The only problem is that it's a mega; it does have a spirit link, but I wouldn't devote that much deck space for it.

Dragalge FLF
- Its ability prevents poisoned pokemon from retreating. Since you're already poisoning your opponent's pokemon, why not let them stay there. This might seem a little bit weaker now though because Virbank City Gym is most likely going to leave the format.

Trevenant XY
- This card is seeing much more play now that Roaring Skies is legal. Basically if its active your opponent can't play Item Cards. That is a powerful ability, combined with Dragalge, they can't switch out their active pokemon.

Robo Substitute
- This card gives your Gengar EX a shield. Basically its a wall and a very good wall. It is an item card but played like a 30HP pokemon and if its knocked out your opponent doesn't take a prize.

Dimension Valley
- This gives your Gengar EX a free first attack or 1 [C] energy less for its second. A must have in any (or most) Psychic Deck.

Mystery Energy
- This gives your Psychich Pokemon 2 less retreat cost. Trevenant has a horrible retreat cost of 3. If you attach another one you're basically retreating for free to attack again with Gengar. If not, you can always attach a regular Psychic Energy and attack with Trevenant Instead.

Muscle Band
- Pretty standard. It boosts your attacks and stops Head Ringers and such being placed onto your Gengars.


That's pretty much what I have right now. I hope this helps

 

[Gardevoirs_Senpai]

How exactly do Night March and Medicham decks operate? They sound rather appealing Not done too much research on cheaper decks so to be honest I think a I'd be better trying out one of those two to start with

 

[Gardevoirs_Senpai]

How exactly do Night March and Medicham decks operate? They sound rather appealing Not done too much research on cheaper decks so to be honest I think a I'd be better trying out one of those two

 

[infernape1245]

Night March works this way. 20x each Pokemon with the Night March attack in your discard pile. Essentially you get them there with battle compressor which searches for up to 3 cards in a deck and discards them. there are currently 3 pokemon with he Night March Attack, Joltik, Pumpkaboo and Lampent. You need 4 of each to do effective damage. Also you do not need the basic form of lampent.

Basically, if you have 9 Night March Pokemon in the discard pile thats 180 damage. enough to KO most pokemon EX

Medicham is a cheap 1 Prize Attacker. He needs two Fighting Energy to attack for 30 and is not affected by weakness and resistance. Second, he is a Fighting Type so Strong Energy can work with him (it gives plus 20 to a fighting Pokemon while providing Fighting Energy). Fighting Stadium is also useful with him because it only works with Fighting Pokemon and against EX pokemon. Next he can have a Muscle Band on him which gives him plus 20 more damage. You can also Tech in Machamp from Furious Fist which gives 20 more damage to fighting pokemon. AND Medicham can attack TWICE in one turn.

so let's add all damage assuming this situation.
You're facing an EX
[F][F] Yoga Kick (Medicham's attack) 30. +20 from Muscle Band +20 from 1 Strong Energy +20 from another Strong Energy +20 from Fighting Stadium + 20 from Machamp = 130 Damage. and you can attack twice so that gives you a grand total of 260 damage. That's more than enough to KO every single Pokemon in the Game including Wailord EX which has 250HP.

of course that's assuming that you are able to get that optimal situation.

Also be weary that Medicham has a weak 90HP so most pokemon can and will knock it out, especially Most EX Pokemon. That's why I also like playing with Focus Sash. It gives it more survivability.

These two decks are relatively cheap. at least for the pokemon line up. most of the time in Pokemon TCG Deck Building its the trainers and sometimes the special energy that will be a bit pricey. but these two are rather cheap anyway. here's another list of trainer cards that you will need.

Both
2 VS Seeker (I think every deck needs 2) - > gets any Supporter from the discard pile into your hand
2 Lysandre (I think every deck needs 2) - > switch out your opponent's active
4 Sycamore (every deck needs this)
3-4 Muscle Band

Night March
4 Battle Compressor
3-4 Dimension Valley

Medicham
3 Fighting Stadium
4 Strong Energy (not a trainer, but you need it nonetheless, lol)
2-4 Korrina (personally I like 3)

*Note: in my Medicham deck I teched in 2 Machamp (no pre evolutions) and 1 Maxie's Hidden Ball Trick (if it's the last card in your hand, you may use it. get ANY fighting pokemon from your discard pile and put it on your bench, even if its an evolved one. then draw 5 cards) so I use one Battle Compressor. It's a neat combo, I get rid of Maxie and Machamp and late game for extra damage if I only have VS Seeker in hand i get to Maxie's, a fresh hand of 5 and a machamp on the bench. It's happened 4 out of 9 games while play testing.

Hope this helps