RayEels - Aint FlipTini Awesome?

[SMPGaming]

What's Good PokeGym?! I'm SMPGaming, a YouTuber who uploads Pokemon TCG Online matches among other things. I've been using this RayEels Deck on Pokemon TCG Online for a while now and since Boundaries Crossed is going to be out within the month, I figured I'd post this deck so it could be rated / improved to incorporate BC!

The Deck is fairly standard for RayEels, however, I placed myself a FlipTini in there to abuse Tynamo & Raikou's Paralysis chance. I found this works brilliantly & it's not surprising when the RayEels deck that won Regionals over here in the UK ran FlipTini.

Help me then improve the deck in preparation for Boundaries Crossed.

Think you guys can do that? OK, here is the deck:

Pokemon: 15
4 Tynamo NV 38
4 Eelektrik NV 40
3 Rayquaza EX DRX 85
1 Raikou EX DEX 38
1 Mewtwo EX ND 54
1 Rayquaza DR 128
1 Keldeo EX

Ideally when I use this deck, my preferred Pokemon to start with in the active position are either Tynamo, Raikou EX or Rayquaza (Mewtwo EX isn't as good for Leading with in this deck due to the lack of DCE). Normally I can pull myself a Victini with either a Level Ball or Ultraball on the 1st / 2nd turn. From there it's Eelektrik / Rayquaza EX time!

Trainers/Supporters/Stadiums: 32
4 Pokemon Catcher
2 Super Rod
2 Tool Scrapper
4 Ultra Ball
3 Level Ball
1 Computer Search
3 Switch
2 Random Receiver
4 Professor Juniper
3 N
2 Bianca
2 SkyArrow Bridge
These should be pretty self explanatory for this deck, however I'll go into a little detail. Pokemon Catcher is a necessity as I'll need to be grabbing Pokemon off the opponents bench to drag them into the active slot so that I can KO some of the cards who are threatening my deck. Super Rod is mainly for retrieving my Eels and any stray Fire Energy that find their way into the discard pile. Tool Scrapper is needed for any opposing deck that loves items like Eviolite and without it I'd be open to Garbodor locks. Ultra Ball helps to discard Electric energies for my Eels whilst Level Ball helps me to set those Eels up. I have several EX's on this list so Eviolite will help them become a bit more durable. Switch.. Just think what you need to do if an Eel gets catchered out. Random Reciever to work in conjunction with Juniper, N and Bianca. Skyarrow Bridge to get those free retreats for my EX's.

Energy: 13
8 Lightning Energy
5 Fire Energy
In terms of my Energy set up, I wanted a balance between Lightning & Fire, so that I could set up Rayquaza EX & Rayquaza DR 128 reliably. 4 Fire energy would be too much and 6 would be too frequent (I wouldn't be getting enough Electric Energy).

Changes Made:
-1 Eviolite
-1 N
-2 Eviolite
-1 Victini

+1 Random Reciever
+1 Super Rod
+1 Computer Search
+1 Keldeo EX
+1 Switch

*I've added and taken away several cards to get to this point, some of which have cancelled each other out.
For now, please help me improve this deck in preparation for boundries crossed.

So what are your thoughts?
Wins: 23 | Losses: 3

 

[TuxedoBlack]

My thoughts/comments are as follows:

1) Pre-Boundaries Crossed.
As noted, your decklist has most of what might be considered the "standards." I prefer not to play Eviolites since many players run Tool Scrappers. So, I've replaced my Eviolites with Plus Powers. Also, I've found that I really like playing 1 Bianca for each Ultra Ball in my deck. I've also had numerous occasions where 4 Ns hurt more than helped, especially late game when I'm ahead in prizes. So, I'd suggest you consider the following changes:

-1 Ultra Ball
-2 Eviolites
-1 N
-1 Skyarrow Bridge (1 has been sufficient for me; plus, you will just Dynamotor the L energy back onto the retreating Poké anyways)

+2 Bianca/Cheren (provides a Random Receiver alternative when you don't want to play a Professor Juniper (in hand) and discard other valuable resources)
+2 Plus Power
+1 Super Rod (or Energy Retrieval to get needed R energy from your discard pile FAST)

2) Post-Boundaries Crossed.
More Dragon-type Poké have been released to counter other dragon Poké. Also with this set, there are definitely at least 3 Poké of note that will impact decks this. Two of those Poké are Blastoise and Keldeo EX. Both of these Poké have G Weakness. Blastoise's Ability, Deluge, can just rain down as much W energy (from hand) as the player wants. Keldeo EX's Ability, Rush, provides a "switching" capability and its sole attack can do "unlimited" damage. So, I would suspect the paralysis tactic used in the past would be less effective going forward (obvious assumption is that you'll encounter "numerous" Blastoise-Keldeo EX decks or players running Keldeo EX as techs). A third Poké I believe you'll need to deal with is Landorus EX. This Poké will just terrorize Eels early and often.

So in preparation for upcoming tournaments, I'd suggest you consider the following changes:

-1 Rayquaza EX
-1 Victini

+2 Keldeo EX (to switch your own active Poké when needed and counter to Landorus EX)

Suggested Trainers remain as above. I plan to also alter my energy mix, but I want to playtest more before offering further comments about that (this will also impact the Poké too).

 

[SMPGaming]

My thoughts/comments are as follows:

1) Pre-Boundaries Crossed.
As noted, your decklist has most of what might be considered the "standards." I prefer not to play Eviolites since many players run Tool Scrappers. So, I've replaced my Eviolites with Plus Powers. Also, I've found that I really like playing 1 Bianca for each Ultra Ball in my deck. I've also had numerous occasions where 4 Ns hurt more than helped, especially late game when I'm ahead in prizes. So, I'd suggest you consider the following changes:

-1 Ultra Ball
-2 Eviolites
-1 N
-1 Skyarrow Bridge (1 has been sufficient for me; plus, you will just Dynamotor the L energy back onto the retreating Poké anyways)

+2 Bianca/Cheren (provides a Random Receiver alternative when you don't want to play a Professor Juniper (in hand) and discard other valuable resources)
+2 Plus Power
+1 Super Rod (or Energy Retrieval to get needed R energy from your discard pile FAST)

2) Post-Boundaries Crossed.
More Dragon-type Poké have been released to counter other dragon Poké. Also with this set, there are definitely at least 3 Poké of note that will impact decks this. Two of those Poké are Blastoise and Keldeo EX. Both of these Poké have G Weakness. Blastoise's Ability, Deluge, can just rain down as much W energy (from hand) as the player wants. Keldeo EX's Ability, Rush, provides a "switching" capability and its sole attack can do "unlimited" damage. So, I would suspect the paralysis tactic used in the past would be less effective going forward (obvious assumption is that you'll encounter "numerous" Blastoise-Keldeo EX decks or players running Keldeo EX as techs). A third Poké I believe you'll need to deal with is Landorus EX. This Poké will just terrorize Eels early and often.

So in preparation for upcoming tournaments, I'd suggest you consider the following changes:

-1 Rayquaza EX
-1 Victini

+2 Keldeo EX (to switch your own active Poké when needed and counter to Landorus EX)

Suggested Trainers remain as above. I plan to also alter my energy mix, but I want to playtest more before offering further comments about that (this will also impact the Poké too).

I like the idea of taking the Eviolites out and adding in a Super Rod however I'm unsure about the Plus Power. I'm thinking until Keldeo EX comes out on PTCGO I'll probably add another Switch.
In regards to Ultra Ball, I tend to run 4 to maximise the Energy Discard / Chance of doing so, allowing me to get energy into the Discard & Get EX's out quickly.
I may swap an N out for a Bianca though.
Oh and I use 2 Skyarrow Bridge on the basis that either 1 gets prized or it gets replaced by something else. (unlikely, but still)

In regards to Keldeo EX, I can see how his ability will be useful, but his attack will be mediocre at best as there are no water energies. He's like Ho-oh in some respects. However should I add that switch in for pre-BC, I'll take it out along with victini & rayquaza.

Something like:
Pre-BC
-2 Eviolite
-1 N

+1 Super Rod
+1 Switch
+1 Bianca

Post-BC
-1 Rayquaza EX
-1 Victini
-1 Switch

+2 Keldeo
+1 Electric Energy (until I can find something better to put in)

Thank you for your input!

 

[TuxedoBlack]

Understood. By the way, when do you expect the BC set to be released there (Europe?)?

Another thought behind the Keldeo EX is that I will encounter Landorus EXs here; so, I want to 1HKO them with Keldeo EX. But, I'm still working out the revised energy mix. More to follow.

On last post-BC comment: also consider adding 1 Computer Search (Dicard 2 cards from your hand (mandtatory requirement). Search your deck for a card and put it into your hand. shuffle your deck afterwards.) This can serve as your "5th Ultra Ball" in some respects, but superior in that you can get any card from your deck, not just Poké. This card is a very special, "Ace Spec" Trainer Item - you can only have 1 Ace Spec type card in your deck.

 

[SMPGaming]

Understood. By the way, when do you expect the BC set to be released there (Europe?)?

Another thought behind the Keldeo EX is that I will encounter Landorus EXs here; so, I want to 1HKO them with Keldeo EX. But, I'm still working out the revised energy mix. More to follow.

On last post-BC comment: also consider adding 1 Computer Search (Dicard 2 cards from your hand (mandtatory requirement). Search your deck for a card and put it into your hand. shuffle your deck afterwards.) This can serve as your "5th Ultra Ball" in some respects, but superior in that you can get any card from your deck, not just Poké. This card is a very special, "Ace Spec" Trainer Item - you can only have 1 Ace Spec type card in your deck.

I believe it's already out, I'm just waiting for it to pop out on PTCGO as that's where the deck is. As far as Ace Spec goes, it sounds good I could replace that Switch I was looking to remove.. If it weren't that it would have to be Tool Scrapper.

Any other suggestions?
Maybe replacing tool scrapper with something else? Energy Switch? A switch and a bianca?

 

[TuxedoBlack]

Any other suggestions? Maybe replacing tool scrapper with something else? Energy Switch? A switch and a bianca?

I'm not exactly sure now how many slots you might have open, but I will assume 2. In this case, I'd suggest trying (not in order of priority):

a) 2 DC energy. These will power-up Mewtwo EX or Keldeo EX without necessarily relying upon Dynamotored L energy. Also, these could be used to retreat a Catchered Eelektrik.

b) 2 Max Potion. Instant relief to a severely wounded Poké. Many times you'll just be able to Dynamotor the discarded L energy right back onto that healed Poké!

c.1) 2 Emolga (CfF). These would enhance your chances of a fast setup early game.
c.2) 2 Virizion (Double Draw). I really like this Poké as a starter too. In addition to its drawing capability, Leap Wallop can put some serious hurt onto Blastoise, Keldeo EX and Terakion. Of course, you'll also need to add either some G or Prism energy.

d) 1 Raikou EX and 1 Energy Retrieval. Raikou EX is just great! I also like ER just to sometimes get needed R energy from the discard pile.

 

[SMPGaming]

As good as Raikou EX is, you have to bare in mind he can only do 100 damage with 3 Electric Energy. I can put a Raikou EX in, but I don't think it'd be brilliant having 2. 2 DCE is certainly useful for Mewtwo and Keldeo, but thats two cards, both of which can be powered up with energy from Eels' ability The DCE's aren't brilliant for any of my other pokemon except for Eelektrik so they can retreat.

Max Potion could be worth while, as could Energy Switch. Not entirely sure on Energy Retrieval as I do already have Eels to do that for me.

Also, would it be worth swapping 1 Fire Energy for an Electric Energy?

 

[CrystalEyeMonster]

I wouldn't suggest the Fliptini at all. Keldeo is now in the format, so you are just going to be wasting turns while setting up. Darkrai is a fast deck, and Keldeo is too good to pass up in any deck.

 

[SMPGaming]

I wouldn't suggest the Fliptini at all. Keldeo is now in the format, so you are just going to be wasting turns while setting up. Darkrai is a fast deck, and Keldeo is too good to pass up in any deck.

Please read the whole thread before posting as you will clearly see FlipTini is not in the deck anymore..