Expanded Porygon Z Plasma (Tornadus EX / Thundurus EX / Porygon Z)

[banberry]

This is my first post here so I hope I got the writing format right. Let me know if it doesn't look right.
After getting back into Pokemon after a hiatus I started to construct a deck that I found was fun which is the Plasma porygon Z deck for expanded. Its rather clunky and definitely not high tier but I suppose its my pick for now so Im looking for help to optimize it with new cards and the upcoming format.

After posting on different forums like the Competitive play one and getting various great responses I am at my 3rd draft. Here it is

Pokemon (15):

• 3 Porygon PLB
• 1 Porygon2 PLB
• 3 Porygon-Z PLB
• 2 Tornadus EX PLF
• 2 Thundurus EX
• 2 PalkiaEX
• 1 Lugia EX
• 1 Genesect EX

Trainers/Supporters/Stadiums (33):

• 3 Professor Juniper
• 2 N
• 1 Lysandre
• 1 Hex Maniac
• 2 Colress
• 2 Shadow Triad
• 4 Colress Machine
• 3 Team Plasma Ball
• 2 Ultra Ball
• 3 Rare Candy
• 3 Max Potion
• 3 VS Seeker
• 2 Switch
• 2 Frozen City

Energy (12):

• 4 Plasma Energy
• 4 Double Colorless Energy
• 4 Prism Energy

Strategy:

Before going into each card and choice as well as questions Ill go over the strategy briefly.
The idea is to turbo into a Porygon Z and as many Plasma energies with colress machines and begin moving them around for various Pokemon effects. Putting them on big attackers like Tornadus/Lugia and then healing them for 'free' with Max Potion etc.

Now my main dilemma is the Pokemon Line Up and specific numbers for each. Before I had run 1-2 Dialga and have taken them out for 2 Palkia to test. I honestly don't know which is better in my opinion, perhaps 1 of each would be better. As for Tornadus I feel he is important enough to go to 3 but perhaps that is too cloggy. Finally is Lugia and Genesect. Lugia and Genesect are power cards in their own ways so Im inclined to run more of them, but for various reasons Im refraining from more than 1 of each. Lugia's effect to discard a Plasma energy I feel could be crippling so for that reason I think it might be effective to see only one a game. Likewise for Genesect I feel his main function is to stay on the bench for his catcher-esque effect and come in once in a while to attack.
Should Suicune/Snorlax be included for Palkia to strafe into?

Other options I thought of were Articuno and Deoxys. I was reluctant to run deoxys as I would have to run 3-4 and I don't have the space in deck nor on bench. I'd also have to run muscle bands to go for a risky OHKO. Grinding the game with max potions for strong 2HKOs seems smarter.

The next bundle of problems is the Trainer Line Up. Lysandre and Hex Maniac are there for item lock and the upcoming Vileplume/Giratina problems. Frozen City seems so good Id want to run 3 but are mainly there to deal with other stadiums. I'm not familiar with stadiums so maybe someone who is can chime in on a good number.

The main questions here are some problems that came up in testing. My pokemon often got stuck in active and I had no way to get them out so I considered either Switch or Floatstone. Currently Im trying switch and would like more copies, perhaps even Floatstone and a Keldeo.
Other questions are regarding AZ, Battle Compressor, Pokemon Fan Club, Muscle Band.
I'd like to add in 1 Battle Compressor to get to my 1-ofs faster and to get myself out of lock situations when I need to. Pokemon Fan club seems like a faster ultra ball. As for AZ and muscle band, those were simply cards recommended to me and Im not sure what to make of them.

Finally, although this deck won't be able to compete with them, what are some solutions to Mega pokemon and enhanced hammer? I feel those are the biggest weaknesses of this deck.


n extra question would be how well does this deck compare to Speed Lugia and TDK? I figured those two were more combo decks that went for a high risk high reward strategy with aggressive playstyle and were easy to break and fragile.
Happy Discussing!

 

[Kecleon-X]

You should consider running Snorlax (PLS) and Dialga EX (PLB). Dialga is actually hilarious when you know you opponent can't do much, and you can fill on about four Plasma Energy and being to mill their deck. It was actually really good when I played it, but that was before Ray and Groudon, so I'm not sure how it would do in this format. Snorlax is a beast, especially in decks with Porygon. Absurd OHKOs with Snorlax have helped me through many games, and I almost wanted more of them. Plus, you can just drop it down with a DCE and blow your opponent away before they knew what hit them thanks to Porygon.

I might drop the Palkia for this. They don't do enough damage, and there's nothing you can really switch into other than perhaps Snorlax if you put him in. Here're the changes I'd make:

-2 Palkia EX

+1 Snorlax

+1 Dialga EX


As a side note, I wouldn't run the Articuno. Sure, you have Prism Energy, but you can't really move them around. You'd have to take at least two turns with him to set him up with a few Plasma (and presumably Porygon) in play. Also, I might try to run Shaymin EX by taking out something of your choice along with Sky Field instead of Frozen City. This deck fills its bench quick, as I've noticed, and you're going to find that Sky Field is a very nice card to have. Alternatively, I might try either Silent Lab or Plasma Frigate for things like Thundurus or Tornadus.

 

[banberry]

You should consider running Snorlax (PLS) and Dialga EX (PLB). Dialga is actually hilarious when you know you opponent can't do much, and you can fill on about four Plasma Energy and being to mill their deck. It was actually really good when I played it, but that was before Ray and Groudon, so I'm not sure how it would do in this format. Snorlax is a beast, especially in decks with Porygon. Absurd OHKOs with Snorlax have helped me through many games, and I almost wanted more of them. Plus, you can just drop it down with a DCE and blow your opponent away before they knew what hit them thanks to Porygon.

I might drop the Palkia for this. They don't do enough damage, and there's nothing you can really switch into other than perhaps Snorlax if you put him in. Here're the changes I'd make:

-2 Palkia EX

+1 Snorlax

+1 Dialga EX


As a side note, I wouldn't run the Articuno. Sure, you have Prism Energy, but you can't really move them around. You'd have to take at least two turns with him to set him up with a few Plasma (and presumably Porygon) in play. Also, I might try to run Shaymin EX by taking out something of your choice along with Sky Field instead of Frozen City. This deck fills its bench quick, as I've noticed, and you're going to find that Sky Field is a very nice card to have. Alternatively, I might try either Silent Lab or Plasma Frigate for things like Thundurus or Tornadus.

Im somewhat reluctant on Dialga at the moment as when it goes off its hilarious but at best its a 4 energy 90 damage attack that usually mills for 2-3 cards. As for Snorlax it seems pretty strong. Would it be a good idea to increase the number of Tornadus/Lugia/Genesect?

 

[Kecleon-X]

Yeah, so take that for what you will. There was RayBoar back then as one of the most popular decks, and I managed to wade through an entire tournament with Dialga OHKOing Ray and discarding their Superiors. XD But yeah, this is a different format, but one could be pretty clutch when your opponent is getting down to their final cards in-deck.

I don't think increasing Genesect is a good idea. If you increase to two, you're going to start with him a lot more. One is fine. I can't really speak to the rest, but do keep in mind that you discard one of the four Energy you get to move with Lugia.

Although, I did just have a thought -- the Lugia does help your Night March matchup pretty well, but is easily OHKO'd by Joltik. You might want to invest in Plasma Frigate just anyway in order to make it slightly more difficult for the Starch March to get the KO. I don't know, it's all up to you on what you want to run, and what you see at the event if you want to bump up those counts.

 

[banberry]

Yeah, so take that for what you will. There was RayBoar back then as one of the most popular decks, and I managed to wade through an entire tournament with Dialga OHKOing Ray and discarding their Superiors. XD But yeah, this is a different format, but one could be pretty clutch when your opponent is getting down to their final cards in-deck.

I don't think increasing Genesect is a good idea. If you increase to two, you're going to start with him a lot more. One is fine. I can't really speak to the rest, but do keep in mind that you discard one of the four Energy you get to move with Lugia.

Although, I did just have a thought -- the Lugia does help your Night March matchup pretty well, but is easily OHKO'd by Joltik. You might want to invest in Plasma Frigate just anyway in order to make it slightly more difficult for the Starch March to get the KO. I don't know, it's all up to you on what you want to run, and what you see at the event if you want to bump up those counts.

Wow thats kinda funny, Id love to hit all their superiors : ( Do you find Palkia subpar? I think the problem is most Plasma pokemon are subpar compared to the new stuff so its hard to find a good main attacker. Is it unwise to run 3 Tornadus and make it the main attacker/focus? I think you're right on the dollar for genesect and frigate. Ill test out the frigate in place of Frozen city since my pokemon are so fragile this meta. Is 3 the right number of stadiums or is 2 perfect?
My final dilemma is switch and floatstone. Id like to run at least 3 switch and maybe some floatstone but Im not sure which is better. I think floatstone is reserved for keldeo but is 2 switch too little?

Thanks again for your input, its helped the deck alot

 

[Kecleon-X]

Yeah, I find him sub-par as an attacker in this deck. Plus, there's no Pokemon to switch into. But that's all to your discretion -- it's your deck, after all. As to the Tornadus, I find that he's good as a spontaneous "I dropped him from my hand this turn!" attacker instead of a main. I mean, he takes four Energy and most all of your Plasma Energy to use effectively.

Three Stadiums is usually the right number -- most decks that aren't based around a certain stadium (i.e. Rayquaza w/ Sky Field) play three stadiums.

In my list, I ran two Float Stone with no Switch. With this, I might play three Float Stone or maybe two and one switch. Typically, Float Stone is a good thing to put on Porygon, I find. He's often the target of a Catcher/Lysandre/"Ambiguous Gusting Effect" and I find that he's good to keep retreating, especially when you've suffered a KO.

 

[banberry]

Yeah, I find him sub-par as an attacker in this deck. Plus, there's no Pokemon to switch into. But that's all to your discretion -- it's your deck, after all. As to the Tornadus, I find that he's good as a spontaneous "I dropped him from my hand this turn!" attacker instead of a main. I mean, he takes four Energy and most all of your Plasma Energy to use effectively.

Three Stadiums is usually the right number -- most decks that aren't based around a certain stadium (i.e. Rayquaza w/ Sky Field) play three stadiums.

In my list, I ran two Float Stone with no Switch. With this, I might play three Float Stone or maybe two and one switch. Typically, Float Stone is a good thing to put on Porygon, I find. He's often the target of a Catcher/Lysandre/"Ambiguous Gusting Effect" and I find that he's good to keep retreating, especially when you've suffered a KO.

Hmm I think Im going to take out both Palkias out all together. Although thats an extremely small pokemon count. What trainers could be cut for the switch and float?

 

[Kecleon-X]

Why not fill those spots in with Snorlax, Dialga and Tornadus?

Hm. As for the Float Stone, I think that you could perhaps cut one Switch and a Max Potion for the Float Stone. Of course, it's whatever you want to do.

 

[banberry]

Why not fill those spots in with Snorlax, Dialga and Tornadus?

Hm. As for the Float Stone, I think that you could perhaps cut one Switch and a Max Potion for the Float Stone. Of course, it's whatever you want to do.

That sounds like a pretty good number on the Float stone. And I may run 3 Tornadus but like you said maybe its more of a spontaneous card. As for Dialga it hasnt been much better than Pakia in testing and Snorlax doesn't seem to do too much. Am I piloting the deck incorrectly?