Standard Primal Gachomp (Primal Groudon/Garchomp)

[Peter Torres]

Pokemon: 18
3 Groudon EX
3 Primal Groudon
3 Gible
2 Gabite
3 Garchomp
4 Talonflame

Trainer/Supporter/Stadium: 33
4 Professor Sycamore
2 N
1 Lysandre
1 Skyla
1 Olympia
3 Vs Seeker
3 Trainer's Mail
2 Groudon Spirit Link
2 Rare Candy
3 Ultra Ball
2 Level Ball
1 Switch
1 Escape Rope
1 Super Rod
2 Scorched Earth
2 Parallel City

Energy: 11
7 Fighting Energy
4 Strong Energy


Strategy: Not too familiar when it comes to pairing cards, but I need some assistance on what needs to be added. I know CARBINK can replace garchomp, but I've tried that variant many times with the same results. There are a lot of weak points with carbink/groudon because if you are up against a rainbow deck or greninja deck, you essentially have already lost as the EX ability lock has no effect on any of those decks. Garchomp seems like a great alternative, with ability to turbo boost groudon in a pinch and ability to knock out most EX's with 2 energies, it seems like a great card. Please comment on what I should and Should not get rid of.

 

[Sonkyhaner]

both charging up the garchomp AND the 4 energy grouedon is pretty impossible without max elixirs. so i would think that that would be a neccessity. and in addition i feel that wobbafett would work great in that deck. it shuts down abilities for opponent and you(but you have no shaymin) if you are going to use shaymin (i reccombend it) that would not work. i would think that either wobbafeet or shaymins would be great here they both do their own thing. 1 speeds you up. the other one shuts opponent down. and a think honestly that running a 3-2-3 or even a 2-2-2 line of garchomp is enough here. he is not the main attacker. only there for energy accerleration and stall. talonflame could allso work. i would allmost say that you would have better chances going 3 grouedon 1 shaymin and 4 talonflame. and running with that instead. talonflame helps you set up. you have more deck space for energy accerleration you could even run 1-2 carbink if you wanted to. bot honestly it is not reccomended with a talonflame build.

Hope my rambeling makes any sense to you

 

[TuxedoBlack]

@Peter Torres I've played Garchomp deck variations, as well as against Rainbow Road and Greninja decks. Is your main intent to build a solid, Groudon-Garchmp deck OR a Fighting deck, featuring P Groudon EX an Garchomp that primarily has counter(s) to Rainbow Road and Greninja decks? My feedback would possibly be affected by your answer to that question...

 

[Peter Torres]

I would rather have a deck mainly consisting of Primal Groudon as the main focus of the deck. As explained before, I have run many many variants or primal groudon to the point that is has frustrated me sick trying to figure out what to pair with primal groudon. Initially, having a straight wobbuffet/primal groudon deck sounds pretty nice, but you have no secondary attackers. Once you got a damaged groudon, the only other option is to retreat and hope that you can start up a second or third primal.

Garchomp sounded like the answer to the deck, but the more i play tested the deck, the more emphasis there was just trying to load up garchomp and not enough emphasis was made on groudon.

@Sonkyhaner The immediate issue running talon flame, groudon is if that off chance i can't start off with talonflame, the entire deck collapses because you have no other options in the deck but to quickly set up groudon as fast as possible.

Carbink/groudon/wobb sounds like a great deck as it essentially counters most decks, but on the off chance the deck is up against a rainbow road deck, your hopes and dreams shatter in an instance as nothing in the deck is affected by any of your main attackers (except your wobb which shuts down shay-bae).

@TuxedoBlack Id greatly appreciate input into the deck. after practicing this exact build, the deck is already posing problems so I'm not gonna run it with garchomp.

 

[professor layton]

You have basically ruined the purpose of garchomp. not only are garchomp and groudon completely different in terms of fighting style, you're having close to no chance to power up groudon and garchomp.

Garchomp works with other 0 retreat, low energy pokemon. it simply will not be as efficient if it is with a pokemon as hefty as groudon.

 

[TuxedoBlack]

You have basically ruined the purpose of garchomp. not only are garchomp and groudon completely different in terms of fighting style, you're having close to no chance to power up groudon and garchomp.

Garchomp works with other 0 retreat, low energy pokemon. it simply will not be as efficient if it is with a pokemon as hefty as groudon.

Are your comments based upon your own playing experience? Examples or more reason(s) to help substantiate your comments please. I ask because I've run Garchomp very successfully with a variety of 1, 2 and 3-retreat cost Pokémon (e.g., Carbink, Lucario EX and Landorus EX, respectively). As needed, Garchomp served as the energy attachment-acceleration engine to power-up the Lucario EX and/or Landorus EX. So, Garchomp can work in a variety of situations.

@Peter Torres -
When I build decks, after identifying the core Pokémon needed to execute the deck strategy, I also assess what "support" is also needed. For example, in your deck's case, running a 4-2-4 Garchomp line implies running a minimum of 2 Rare Candy to facilitate the line's setup. But, without Korrina, Skyla (which is not currently included) can now be used to search and get needed Trainers; but unlike Korrina, you will get 1 less card. Not having Korrina became my biggest deterrent to running P Groudon EX with Garchomp till I found STS Talonflame which became my "best," pseudo "Korrina."

Following are a few suggested deck changes for your consideration:

-1 Garchomp
-1 Gible
-1 Pokémon Ranger - not critical IMO
-1 Ultra Ball

+4 Talonflame - "best," pseudo "Korrina" - can expedite your setup, as well as inflict some minor damage

-1 Hex Maniac
+1 Skyla - to get needed Trainer

-1 Switch
+1 Olympia - Switching plus some healing capability

-2 Scorched Earth
+2 Parallel City - definitely disrupts M Rayquaza EX and Rainbow Force deck players by limiting their damage output (a minimum of 2 Parallel City works best, IMO)​

I hope you find these comments helpful.

 

[Peter Torres]

@TuxedoBlack Thanks for the assistance. I know garchomp is a pokemon that has a lot of play in this new rotation. On paper the deck seems great, but ill have to play test it. When i play test, i first undergo testing against myself to see if i can properly set up. If by turn 3-4 comes and I can't set up a garchomp or a powered up primal or garchomp, I essentially just pick out cards I don't need. I know mega turbo helped out my groudons a lot, not so much max elixirs though as it only works for basic pokemon and if i bench a groudon ex, i try to primal evolve as fast as possible to avoid a lysander. Thanks for the input. ill be testing it in the days to come