Scizor P & Cobalion

[WatchingOwl]

Pokemon (21)
4x Skarmory
4x Scyther
4x Scizor Prime
4x Cobalion
2x Klink
1x Klang
2x Klinklang

Trainers (14)
4x Energy Search
4x Pokemon Communication
4x Pokemon Catcher
2x Rare Candy

Supporters (10)
4x Pokemon Collector
3x Professor Elms Training Method
2x Professor Juniper
1x Junk Arm

Energy (15)
4x Special Metal
11x Metal


Strategy

Skarmory is the hopeful starter, which is obvious, so that I can shuffle through the deck with its first attack and start attaching metal energys to my heavyweights. Scizor Prime is the primary focus here and the main attacker. In the event I cannot get a skarmory out early, I have energy search to help with energy acceleration along with Communication, Collector, and PETM to help keep my bench flooded and hopefully evolved. Juniper is there for hand rejuvenation, though i thought of trading this out for a couple of Oaks, to which I am unsure about. Pokemon Catcher is there with Junkarm to add a stalling factor. If I am a bind and trying to get one of my guys built, I can catcher one of their unevolved or energy lacking benchies for an easy prize or to bide my time. What has caught some of my opponents off guard was the addition of Cobalion to this deck. Granted I can not use sacred horn back to back but his first attack, Metal Horns, acts like a makeshift Catcher as well. Kilnklang is in there for metal redistribution (obvious choice).

Noted Problems

Fire. I know I have no counter to fire. Thats a given, however, I have tried water techs such as Beartic and the Oshawot line, but it did not seem right and I find it more of a challenge (and fun) to use a mono-colored deck.

The second is slow starts. Its rough. If I get off too a slow start I will lose the match. Possible thoughts on how I can speed it up slightly? I would like to keep this deck mono-steel if possible, no additional types added.

 

[ogeray]

if your going to limit yourself to only metal types, then there really not much to work with.
all metal types are weak against fire and theres no counter to that.
theres also no great metal starters other than skarmory thats metal. maybe mawile to help with drawing, but its not much.
smeargle's portrait can help in slow starts if your willing to add in a colorless type

 

[Stuart Hayden]

I don't see the point in limited yourself to a certain type. That's just being stubborn and setting yourself up for a loss.
With all the Rainbow, Rescue and DCE being ran in decks Scizor Prime is potentially a great card. But it needs support as well as a back up attacker. Neither which you have really outside of Skarmory.

 

[TheBigBOOMski]

Let me give my opinion starting with the pokemon selection. First, Skarmory is a good starter when you're running so much metal, however, I don't think you need 4. That's a bit much. Having 4 causes you to draw him more than you want. I think 3 would do the trick just fine.
Next, good work on the Scizor line. He's your main attacker and only a stage 1. I would have put 4 in, too.
Then we come to Cobalion. I'm not thoroughly impressed with this guy. Honestly, if you want Cobalion in there, I would wait for Noble Victories (Red Collection) Cobalion. Not only are his attacks better, but you can also put in full arts But even then, I don't know if he's a 4 of. You're main focus should be Scizor, Scizor, Scizor. I would move the Cobalion count to 3.
Lastly, I was going to ask which Klinklang you were running, then I realized it doesn't matter. Either one is a bad choice. I believe this deck's best chance is to hit as hard and fast as it can. Klinklang just slows this down. I say put him out.
Now, with 1 Skarmory, 1 Cobalion, and the 5 pokemon in the Klinklang line gone, that leaves you 7 spots open to put in some techs that, in my opinion, should help you with your fire weakness.
The only fire you're going to encounter will most likely come in the form of Reshiphlosion. Therefore, enemies number 1 and 2 are Reshiram and Typhlosion. To tech against this, I like a 2-2 line of Zoroark. He can Foul play (for 2 colorless, so you don't have to add an energy type) Reshiram's Blue Flare (for 120!) as well as Typhlosion's Flare Destroy (if needed).
Then, honestly, I'm a fan of Kyurem (also Noble Victories) in the last 3 spots, but until that comes out I say we keep the last 3 spots open to see how the Trainer/Supporter line shakes out... So here's the 18 pokemon I recommend:
4 Scyther
4 Scizor Prime
3 Skarmory
3 Cobalion
2 Zorua
2 Zoroark

I can give you my ideas on the rest of the deck, but I feel I may have taken up enough of your time with this part. I really like Scizor and I think with the popularity of Rainbow Energy and Double Colorless Energy He may be able to do some damage in the near future. Especially with Kyurem on the way... If you'd like the rest of my opinion, I can gladly give it to you.

 

[WatchingOwl]

I don't see the point in limited yourself to a certain type. That's just being stubborn and setting yourself up for a loss.
With all the Rainbow, Rescue and DCE being ran in decks Scizor Prime is potentially a great card. But it needs support as well as a back up attacker. Neither which you have really outside of Skarmory.

Everyone seems to be running around with multi-type decks (and I do understand why... to help cover weaknesses or work off combos), I thought it would be unique to try and make this work. Cobalion hits just as hard as Scizor P for three energy so he would be my back up attacker and granted his HP is low but the consistent switching I do with his first attack along with catcher could, theoretically, be enough to stall and/or take out the opponents weaklings before they can beef up.

I'm not thoroughly impressed with this guy. Honestly, if you want Cobalion in there, I would wait for Noble Victories (Red Collection) Cobalion.

I agree to the point that the red collection one is far superior so I guess my current Cobalion will be a temp place holder. Im hesitant on Zoroark though, again, different type but it would also mean me playing double colorless and that takes away from metal energys that would be needed for Scizor, wouldnt it?

 

[TheBigBOOMski]

...that takes away from metal energys that would be needed for Scizor, wouldnt it?

Yes, technically, but you would only need to put in 2 or 3. You can always attach a couple metal to him too... If you did the Zoroark, your energy could look like:

4 Special Metal
3 DCE
8 Metal

You'd technically have 12 metal energy, so you'd still be ok with this.

 

[Stuart Hayden]

The Cobalion coming out in Noble Victories is infinitely better than the EP one. I'd run the Scizor Line, 2-2 Zoroark Line and then 4 of the NV Cobalion when it comes out. Zoroark is one of the best tech cards out right now and it counters/helps out against a lot of deck types. You need to run it. ANY attack for 2 [C] is too good

Like I said, I'm not knocking the deck. But the tunnel vision of sticking with just metal seems like a waste of Scizor's Prime potential.
I'm not saying make it a colored splash deck. But you need to run cards that can fit in any kind of deck (Zekrom/Reshi/Zoroak) as back ups and tech while not having to change the deck style entirely (Zekrom/Reshi/Zoroark's best attacks require 2 [C]. You can still run all Metal and then DCE if desired)

A quick mock would be something like this


Pokemon (19)
1 Cleffa (Wall and you can shuffle hand in hopes of pulling more metal energy)
1 Reshiram
1 Zekrom
2 Skarmory
2 Cobalion
2-2 Zoroark
4-4 Scizor Prime (After Image Scyther)


T/S/S (24)
1 Flowershop Lady
2 Seeker (Bounce Poke's with Normal Energy back to your opponents hand. and you can bounce an almsot KO'ed poke back to yours)
2 Revive
2 Pokemon Communication
3 Interviews Question
3 Twins
3 Pokemon Collector (4 always seems like overkill to me)
4 Pokemon Catcher
4 Professor Oak's New Theory

Energy (17)
4 DCE
4 Metal (Special)
9 Metal

I'm sure it could use some work. But like I said. This is a skeleton mock up. I hope it helps.

 

[WatchingOwl]

Ok so I tried the adjustments noted above (both TheBigBOO and Stuart's (though I dont have seekers at the moment), unfortunately in making up for defense against fire, Im hitting metal energy lows. I have power up roughly two steel a match and that be that (where as with Klinklang BW, if one of my metal would be knocked out next turn, i could siphon off their metal energys onto another pokemon). Once they are in the discard pile, I have no means of getting them back. I can flood the bench well enough with Zoroark, Scizor, Skarm, and Cobalion but its the energy that is now killing me. Should I add energy retrieval somehow?

 

[Stuart Hayden]

You could drop the seeker's for Energy Retrieval. (And then replace them + the FSL for Super Rod when it comes out in the next set)

 

[GyaradosPrime]

i agree this deck will shine when NV comes out bu that shouldnt stop you from familiarizing yourself with the way scizor works with other cards. i would also think about steelix prime as a secondary attacker and a great wall. but if you are really stuck on metal iirc durant, while still metal, is a great card to swarm and although isnt the greatest tech, considering you need 4 to actually do well, it might find a place in your deck in the early game.

 

[Stuart Hayden]

Clian and Bisharp will help this deck out a lot too.
Cilan is a new supporter that lets you search your deck for three basic energy and put them into your hand

And Bisharp lets you retrieve Metal Energy from your discard and has an attack similar to Scizor Prime.

 

[parmcat]

marking this for later

 

[Slowbro]

Maybe you should try twins or tropical beach. Also, Cilan is coming out which is like 3 energy searches in one. Also, junk arm is a trainer, not a supporter.

 

[Stuart Hayden]

This kinda deck isn't really viable until Noble Victories unfortunately. But once NV comes out, there will be tons of support and techs you can use.