Returning Player Looking for Budget Decks for 2017

[Philby2809]

Hello everyone, I'm trying to get back into the game after many years, and have decided to build and deck to play at my local league. My budget is about 50$-70$. I'm not looking for a super competitive deck straight away, just something fun and functional. I probably won't be buying any Shaymins or VS Seekers any time soon, so I have already settled on a basic deck engine consisting of:
Professor Sycamore
Shauna
Ultra Ball
N
Lysandre
Trainer's Mail
Fisherman
Super Rod
...and possibly other Supporters. The only thing is, I have been out of the loop for many years and don't really know what works and what doesnt Pokemon-wise. I had a look through the sets and these are the cards that I'm considering:
Volcarona, Talonflame BREAK, Pyroar, Toxicroak + Ariados, Serperior, Delphox, Regirock EX and some others.

Could I fit 1-2 EXs within the budget? Should I just get what I like and experiment or maybe do a bit more research for something more consistent or tried out?

Thanks for reading, all feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[TuxedoBlack]

Hi and welcome back to Pokemon TCG.

Note that a card rotation is pending very soon. As of September 1st, only Primal Clash on are legal for Standard format game play. Expanded format legal sets have not yet been formally announced for the coming 2016-2017 season, but I suspect many of your cards will be legal for that particular game format play. So, you need to understand what game format is being played at your local league and build such decks.

Next, I would suggest considering a set of different "core" Pokemon to incorporate into different decks using the cards you have. For example, you could start with Talonflame (STS) since it is Colorless and can fit in many decks easily. However, you will want 4 copies to maximize your chances of starting with it. So, review all of your Standard game format cards and start grouping core sets of Pokemon. Then re-post those core groups or even those Pokemon you might like the most. Suggestions can then be offered for various deck lists.

 

[Otaku]

Expanded format legal sets have not yet been formally announced for the coming 2016-2017 season, but I suspect many of your cards will be legal for that particular game format play.

The same formal announcement for the 2016-2017 Standard Format also contained the announcement for Expanded; see here. The Expanded Format (which is probably a new concept for @Philby2809) will be all Black & White and later expansions plus all BW and XY Black Star Promos, except Lysandre's Trump Card and Shiftry (BW: Next Destinies 72/99) as they have been and will remained banned (...which is also probably news to Philby2809.

Sooo... hi Philby2809, and welcome back. While you were away, the term "Modified Format" has basically been abandoned for "Standard Format", which I think was technically another official name for it even while most of us were calling it "Modified". As usual, this format consists of approximately the last one to three years worth of releases, with sets being added after they are released and become legal for Organized Play, and sets being cut once per year, usually a little after the World Championships. Expanded is a second official format for sanctioned, constructed play; so far nothing has ever rotated out of Expanded, but this will only be its third year. Announcements are worded so that it could possible see rotation in the future. Some tournaments will use Standard, some will use Expanded, and I think some will use both (two day events).

With getting started, you might consider a product called a "Battle Arena Decks". These are meant so that new/returning players can have a leg to stand on in Expanded. In terms of capability, they are above and beyond the Theme Decks which launch with each set, but definitely below the level of a true, competitive deck. I believe the MSRP is $29.99. The oldest one still Expanded legal (I believe this concept was used years ago before being dropped and revived) is Xerneas Vs Yveltal. If you find this at a bargain price, go ahead and pick it up as it does contain a few useful cards. If you Google for it you can get the deck contents; it has a few good cards and a few decent cards. I mostly mention it so that you know it exists. Next is Mewtwo Vs Darkrai, and it contains several useful cards at a bargain price... except people know that so unless you luck out and find one sitting forgotten on a retailer's shelf, you'll have to pay more than the MSRP, which undermines most of the point. September 21st is Keldeo Vs Rayquaza, and again it should have some useful staples and near staples, plus some strong but more deck specific cards as well. In each case I believe the decks are balanced against their partners, so they are also a decent learning tool.

 

[Philby2809]

Thanks for the lengthy replies, I appreciate it!


For starters, I will probably concentrate on decks with cards that won't rotate out of Standard for at least a year - I have already decided to order a bunch of staple Supporters (+ the September Battle Arena Decks for VS Seekers etc). The only problem, as I have said, is the actual deck-building. I have a few ideas in mind (e.g. Volcanion STS + Pyroar STS, Serperior FAC + Ariados AOR., Talonflame STS + Infernape STS. + Typhlosion BKT... ), but not really sure if I should just get those and see what happens, or spend more time searching for different core Pokemon. My goal is to build 2-3 (1?) beginner decks that would share at least a portion of the cards, and then move on to independent deckbuildling/experimenting when new expansions roll out.

 

[Otaku]

...or spend more time searching for different core Pokemon

Could you explain this a bit?

Other than Shaymin-EX (XY: Roaring Skies 77/108, 106/108) most Pokémon belong to just a few decks (usually variants of a theme). A few are exceptions, but even then they aren't general use so much as already working with the existing theme so go ahead and use them, or so strong they will eventually become the theme. If you get a Battle Arena Deck kit, you'll have two beginner-ish Expanded decks that are supposed to be reasonably balanced against each other. With your budget, I would use one of those as the basis. If you need a Standard deck as well, just find one that has enough overlap to keep it within your gaming budget.

 

[Philby2809]

I see that it's a bit convoluted now, sorry.

Anyway, the only play group around me plays Standard only, and it's pretty much my only chance to play. I have nothing against Expanded, I would probably prefer it. Given that that play group consists of only 10-15 people once a week, building a Standard deck may not be even worth it.

 

[Otaku]

I see that it's a bit convoluted now, sorry.

Anyway, the only play group around me plays Standard only, and it's pretty much my only chance to play. I have nothing against Expanded, I would probably prefer it. Given that that play group consists of only 10-15 people once a week, building a Standard deck may not be even worth it.

Depends on the people I suppose; if they are particularly friendly and/or skilled that isn't a bad crowd. I was quite happy being a big fish in a small pond (but not the big fish even XD) in a League that maybe 10 to 20 in semi-regular attendance, with the bottom half being miscellaneous juniors and the rest somewhat evenly split between Seniors and Masters division players. Of course it helped that my friends were among those Masters division players, that I sometimes enjoyed teaching younger players how to get better, etc.

How concerned are you about playing IRL? If you're buying real product anyway, you'll get redemption codes for the PTCGO. Might help make the overall experience worthwhile.

 

[baboon159]

You could build some pretty good decks with 50-70. The important thing is to ensure that you have sufficient trainer cards. General idea behind a deck is usually 15 Pokemon 30 trainers and 15 energy. Usually I end up with around 10 energy 17 Pokemon and 33 trainers. Since you aren't going to get a Shaymin with that budget I would recommend getting an Octillery or two. These are around $10-$12 and are meant for draw power.

There are some decent typhlosion/inferape on YouTube. These decks tend to be energy heavy around 20 and without ex Pokemon. I think you would be hard pressed to spend $50 on this deck.

EDIT:

I forgot about VS Seeker this card is a little expensive it is sitting around $13 right now. The VS Seeker is on the edge of rotation, but I have noticed that you will generally see trainer cards again. I would probably try to slowly acquire these through trade or ebay (I got all my VS Seekers for $8 or less through ebay)

Cards you will want to have a playset of Professor Sycamore, Professor Birch, Shauna, Tierno, Wally, Ultra Ball, Trainers Mail, and VS Seeker. Depending on the deck Level Ball, Rare Candy(if you are evolving pokemon), Bursting Balloon(maybe if you are building a slower deck), and Double Colorless Energy.

You will probably want 1-2 of most of the other supporter cards like Lysander, Pokemon Ranger, Ninja Boy, Giovanne's Scheme, Fisherman, Teamates, Ace Trainer, N, Delinquent, Hex Maniac, and Judge.

Item Cards you will definitely want 1-2 of are Float Stone, Escape Rope(maybe), Fighting Fury Belt(only if your deck revolves around basic pokemon) and Super Rod. Beyond those item cards it is really just dependent on the deck.

Yveltal with the Oblivion Wing attack is only $1 and is great if wanting to play a darkness deck
Yveltal EX is $3.60ish and had a Promo just released XY150ish I think
Zoroark is around $8.50 you will probably want 2 of this card with the stand in ability. He has a great combo with Float Stone and has a double colorless attack so he can fit in any deck. With Captivating Pokepuff you can also make his attack hit harder.

This is a quick decently cheap deck I made yesterday. I wanting to increase my silent lab count to 3, but I haven't decided where I am going to pull from.

Pokemon - 17
Total price
3 Nidoran♂ $0.27
1 Nidorino $0.11
3 Nidoking $0.48
3 Nidoran♀ $0.39
1 Nidorina $0.08
3 Nidoqueen $1.27
2 Remaraid $0.40
1 Octillery $12.48


Trainer Cards - 34

4 VS Seeker $51.80 Would find alternative to this
1 Lysandre $0.39
1 Super Rod $1.85
4 Level Ball $1.80
1 Escape Rope $0.29
1 Teammates $0.32
2 Silent Lab $0.40
1 Giovanni's Scheme $0.22
4 Professor Sycamore $3
4 Rare Candy $2.72
1 Pokémon Ranger $0.38
4 Ultra Ball $1.88
3 Trainer’s Mail $17.56
3 Bursting Balloon $0.75

Energy- 9

9 Psychic Energy $2.52


Total Cards - 60 Total Cost September 4th 2016 on TCGplayer is 101.36 if you exclude the VS Seeker 49.56

 

[bbninjas]

I forgot about VS Seeker this card is a little expensive it is sitting around $13 right now. The VS Seeker is on the edge of rotation, but I have noticed that you will generally see trainer cards again. I would probably try to slowly acquire these through trade or ebay (I got all my VS Seekers for $8 or less through ebay)

Just an amendment; VS Seeker got reprinted in Roaring Skies and as such will be format-legal for the 2017 Standard Format.

 

[Otaku]

Just an amendment; VS Seeker got reprinted in Roaring Skies and as such will be format-legal for the 2017 Standard Format.

Are older copies legal under the previous printings rule? Prior to being reprinted in XY: Phantom Forces it was legal long before the term "Item" was a thing; as such I don't recall if a player may use older copies as if they had the current wording (possibly with a current copy outside of the deck as reference) or anything like that. I see that older copies still go for a similar price, so I am thinking "yes", unless people have goofed and are just buying them anyway. =P

Wow though that really does make the new Keldeo Vs Rayquaza Battle Arena Deck the way to go; basically buy two VS Seeker and the PTCGO codes to redeem them online, get the rest of the decks for free. XP

 

[baboon159]

Just an amendment; VS Seeker got reprinted in Roaring Skies and as such will be format-legal for the 2017 Standard Format.

That is why I said $13 the one that was printed in Roaring Skies was a Secret Rare and cost somewhere around $25

Are older copies legal under the previous printings rule? Prior to being reprinted in XY: Phantom Forces it was legal long before the term "Item" was a thing; as such I don't recall if a player may use older copies as if they had the current wording (possibly with a current copy outside of the deck as reference) or anything like that. I see that older copies still go for a similar price, so I am thinking "yes", unless people have goofed and are just buying them anyway. =P

Wow though that really does make the new Keldeo Vs Rayquaza Battle Arena Deck the way to go; basically buy two VS Seeker and the PTCGO codes to redeem them online, get the rest of the decks for free. XP

All Cards that are reprinted their previous printing is legal as long as it has the same effects/attack/hp. Some cards require a print out of the current meaning, which is something you see because they just changed a mechanic since gen1.

 

[Glaceon24]

I believe Greninja is a budget deck that is pretty good, and you won't get walloped by people in tournaments. The most expensive card in that deck is VS Seeker, which you can get away with 3, running you 30$. You also need Trainers' Mail, which are around 6$ a piece, so 4 will run you around 24$. The rest of the cards in the deck don't cost too much, and after around 70$, you'll have an okay competitive deck around greninja.