Expanded Sceptile EX! A fun deck to play in expanded

[1ronhead]

So pairing Sceptile EX with Ariados is not really a new idea, but I add some new stuff to the deck. I would not say this is a super competitive deck in the format, but it is definitely a fun deck to play if you get bored with your other "normal" deck. Also, it turns out to run pretty well during my testings. So, give me your feedbacks and suggestions about this.

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 13

* 2 Shaymin-EX ROS 77
* 3 Sceptile-EX AOR 84
* 3 Spinarak AOR 5
* 3 Ariados AOR 6
* 1 Virizion-EX PLB 96
* 1 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 137

##Trainer Cards - 37

* 3 Professor Sycamore STS 114
* 1 Computer Search BCR 137
* 3 N FCO 105
* 2 Hypnotoxic Laser PLS 123
* 1 Skyla BKP 122
* 3 Virbank City Gym PLS 126
* 2 Level Ball AOR 76
* 1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
* 4 Ultra Ball SUM 161
* 2 Float Stone BKT 137
* 4 VS Seeker ROS 110
* 1 Guzma BUS 143
* 3 Choice Band BUS 162
* 1 Field Blower GRI 163
* 1 Lysandre FLF 104
* 3 Max Elixir BKP 102
* 2 Trainers' Mail AOR 100

##Energy - 10

* 10 Grass Energy GRI 167

Total Cards - 60

****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******

 

[1ronhead]

Another card I had in my mind was Professor Kukui, which can raise your damage output from 190 to 210 (enough to OHKO a lot of pokemons), but I'm still not sure about that.

 

[FrostBiter12]

Another card I had in my mind was Professor Kukui, which can raise your damage output from 190 to 210 (enough to OHKO a lot of pokemons), but I'm still not sure about that.

Definitely! I've been playing this for a while now and it does work if you get the right set up going. I do play a copy of Prof. Kukui and I've been debating Iris, but the Prof. works well enough. I'd suggest playing some Seviper from BUS to up the damage. So maybe:

-2: Trainers' Mail: Even though it is needed for the acceleration, Trevanant would crush the high Item count since it is so powerful right now.
-2: Level Ball: The only card your playing this for is Ariados/Spinarak, and I've drawn into them quite often with Shaymin EX, Supporter, Ultra Ball, etc.
-1 Spinarak: Two is enough since it is Expanded.
-1 Ariados: Same as Spinarak.
-1 N: Just for Colress (to provide options late game instead on N)

+3 Seviper: With two Seviper and Virbank City, Unseen Claw is doing 180 without Choice Band. Poison is everything in this deck.
+1 Rescue Stretcher: Retreival is needed in case you prize cards like Sceptile EX.
+1 Prof. Kukui: Extra damage against Gardevoir GX, Metagross GX, etc.
+1 Hypnotoxic Laser: Just in case of a Golisopod GX matchup (due to Ariados use on everything but Grass types)
+1 Colress: Mentioned above

I'd like to find room for a second Field Blower due to Garbodor's popularity in Expanded. Here is my list if your interested (I focus more on poison output). Hope this helps and that you enjoy Sceptile EX. Let me know what you think, thanks!

 

[Laurier_Ex]

I hope a lot of people play the deck so i can own them with Comfey.

 

[TuxedoBlack]

A few thoughts for your consideration:

• A 3-3 Ariados line seems excessive; a 2-2 line would be better, IMO.
• Why no Sunny Day Lurantis to provide your Sceptile EXs damage boost output?
• Hex Maniac seems inconsistent with the deck and not really needed; so, this should be replaced, IMO.
• Ariados' Poisonous Nest and H Lasers seem redundant. So, the Lasers should be replaced, IMO.
• Sceptile EX only has 170 HP which is an "easy" target to hit. Why not also include a few Fighting Fury Belts too?
• Why run Ultra Ball when most of deck's Pokémon are just Basics (and you're not depending upon drawing cards from your discard)? Although the U Balls can "thin-out" your deck to help you hit the Max Elixirs, but the 10 count on your G energy seems "low" (to hit 3 of 4 Max Elixirs 90% of the time - my personal objective). Thoughts?

Any concerns about trying (?) to counter Volcanion decks or do you just accept the auto-loss (IMO)?

 

[1ronhead]

A few thoughts for your consideration:

• A 3-3 Ariados line seems excessive; a 2-2 line would be better, IMO.
• Why no Sunny Day Lurantis to provide your Sceptile EXs damage boost output?
• Hex Maniac seems inconsistent with the deck and not really needed; so, this should be replaced, IMO.
• Ariados' Poisonous Nest and H Lasers seem redundant. So, the Lasers should be replaced, IMO.
• Sceptile EX only has 170 HP which is an "easy" target to hit. Why not also include a few Fighting Fury Belts too?
• Why run Ultra Ball when most of deck's Pokémon are just Basics (and you're not depending upon drawing cards from your discard)? Although the U Balls can "thin-out" your deck to help you hit the Max Elixirs, but the 10 count on your G energy seems "low" (to hit 3 of 4 Max Elixirs 90% of the time - my personal objective). Thoughts?

Any concerns about trying (?) to counter Volcanion decks or do you just accept the auto-loss (IMO)?

• You guys are probably right that a 3-3 line is probably too heavy, but I am just thinking if you prize either a spinarak or an ariados, it is just easy for your opponent to target the arados and disrupt your whole strategy.
• About Lurantis, I just feel there would not be enough bench space for it, but it could be good, and I will probably test it out.
• I changed the hex to kukui. Hex is not as good as kukui in this deck.
• Lasers let you poison your opponent against garbotoxin and grass pokemons. Also, it is a good first turn item too.
• If you run belt over choice band, you can only hit for 170, which is not enough to ohko most of the gx and ex. Sceptile surly is an easy target, but it is fairly easy for you to pull off a second turn or even first turn attack, so the prize trade is kind of okay.
• The reason I run ultra ball is that when you have shaymin in your deck, ultra ball is just good to help you draw cards and thin your deck. Also, you can't get ariados with a nest ball.

Thank you for your suggestions!

 

[1ronhead]

I hope a lot of people play the deck so i can own them with Comfey.

That is definitely rippp.

 

[1ronhead]

Definitely! I've been playing this for a while now and it does work if you get the right set up going. I do play a copy of Prof. Kukui and I've been debating Iris, but the Prof. works well enough. I'd suggest playing some Seviper from BUS to up the damage. So maybe:

-2: Trainers' Mail: Even though it is needed for the acceleration, Trevanant would crush the high Item count since it is so powerful right now.
-2: Level Ball: The only card your playing this for is Ariados/Spinarak, and I've drawn into them quite often with Shaymin EX, Supporter, Ultra Ball, etc.
-1 Spinarak: Two is enough since it is Expanded.
-1 Ariados: Same as Spinarak.
-1 N: Just for Colress (to provide options late game instead on N)

+3 Seviper: With two Seviper and Virbank City, Unseen Claw is doing 180 without Choice Band. Poison is everything in this deck.
+1 Rescue Stretcher: Retreival is needed in case you prize cards like Sceptile EX.
+1 Prof. Kukui: Extra damage against Gardevoir GX, Metagross GX, etc.
+1 Hypnotoxic Laser: Just in case of a Golisopod GX matchup (due to Ariados use on everything but Grass types)
+1 Colress: Mentioned above

I'd like to find room for a second Field Blower due to Garbodor's popularity in Expanded. Here is my list if your interested (I focus more on poison output). Hope this helps and that you enjoy Sceptile EX. Let me know what you think, thanks!

Good list! The only thing I am considering is that if there is any bench space for a lot of sevipers. Also, I feel the 190 damage output is enough for most of the times.