After several iterations of refinement, as well as some real battle-testing at a recent LC tournament, following is the current version of my Seismitoad-Garbodor-Manectric deck:
Pokémon (12)
First of all, I wanted to continue leveraging a great Poké like Seismitoad EX, but I felt that with the increased Raichu (XY) and Manectric EX play, Yveltal EX could not serve as solid partner for my Toads (even with Shadow Circle). So, Manectric EX was selected and paired with Toad for several reasons:
In addition, with the established popularity of Seismitoad EX decks and the growing popularity of P Groudon EX decks, I also decided to incorporate another favorite Grass Poké Leafeon (PLF) whose Energy Crush attack (for a measly C energy cost) can inflict 20X damage for each energy my opponent has in play. This Leafeon, as you suspect, terrorizes not only G-weak Poké like Seismitoad EXs, but also any other deck that may stockpile energy (e.g., P Groudon EX, FairyBox, M Gardordor EX, etc.). So, this Poke serves as another non-EX secondary or third attacker.
Instead of the former 2-2 Garbodor line, I decided to reduce this to a 1-1 line where in those match-ups, limiting (don't really think I can successfully "eliminate" Ability use throughout an entire game) Ability use is important.
The deck strategy is the simple "punch - counter punch" type utilizing Quaking Punch to initially "slow down" my opponent's setup and applying the necessary alternate attacker(s) when needed to win the match.
Lastly, given the ban of LTC, I've found (at least thus far):
Pokémon (12)
- 3 Seismitoad EX
- 2 Manectric EX
- 2 Leafeon (PLF)
- 2 Eevee
- 1 Garbodor
- 1 Trubbish
- 1 Kyurem (PLF)
- 2 Colress
- 1 Computer Search
- 1 Energy Retrieval
- 2 Energy Switch
- 2 Float Stone
- 2 Lysandre
- 4 Muscle Band
- 4 N
- 1 Pokémon Fan Club
- 4 Professor Juniper
- 1 Professor Letter
- 1 Repeat Ball
- 3 Rough Seas
- 1 Sacred Ash
- 2 Switch
- 2 Ultra Ball
- 2 VS Seeker
- 4 Double Colorless Energy
- 3 Lightning Energy
- 6 Water Energy
First of all, I wanted to continue leveraging a great Poké like Seismitoad EX, but I felt that with the increased Raichu (XY) and Manectric EX play, Yveltal EX could not serve as solid partner for my Toads (even with Shadow Circle). So, Manectric EX was selected and paired with Toad for several reasons:
- Provides a "hard" (i.e., 1HKO capability) counter to certain popular Poké in the meta.
- Has decent HP and a cheap Retreat Cost.
- Its Weakness is covered by other Poké in the deck.
- Stadium provides healing to both L and W Poké.
- Has 2 very good attacks (20-20 damage and 60+ damage) for very reasonable respective energy costs ( C and LC respectively).
- Its first attack hits both opponent's active and benched Poké, and
- Its second attack's damage output can be boosted to 2x if opponent's Poke has an attached Tool (not that I would ever deliberately attach my Head Ringer to my opponent's defending Poké in order to inflict 110 damage... lol)
- Along with the removal of the Yveltal EX component, I also decided to replace the Ht Lasers too given the increased play of Trevenant and other Toad deck variants.
In addition, with the established popularity of Seismitoad EX decks and the growing popularity of P Groudon EX decks, I also decided to incorporate another favorite Grass Poké Leafeon (PLF) whose Energy Crush attack (for a measly C energy cost) can inflict 20X damage for each energy my opponent has in play. This Leafeon, as you suspect, terrorizes not only G-weak Poké like Seismitoad EXs, but also any other deck that may stockpile energy (e.g., P Groudon EX, FairyBox, M Gardordor EX, etc.). So, this Poke serves as another non-EX secondary or third attacker.
Instead of the former 2-2 Garbodor line, I decided to reduce this to a 1-1 line where in those match-ups, limiting (don't really think I can successfully "eliminate" Ability use throughout an entire game) Ability use is important.
The deck strategy is the simple "punch - counter punch" type utilizing Quaking Punch to initially "slow down" my opponent's setup and applying the necessary alternate attacker(s) when needed to win the match.
Lastly, given the ban of LTC, I've found (at least thus far):
- Sacred Ash was the initial "knee-jerk" replacement for LTC,
- Extra Basic energy was needed, and
- An Energy Retrieval was incorporated to recover and re-use discarded Basic energy.
- The Garbodor line may need to resume its original 2-2 line in order to be more consistent in those match-ups where opponents are relying upon Abilities.
- Want to incorporate 2 Enhanced Hammers - now that LTC can no longer be used
- Dowsing Machine may be a better ACE Spec now that LTC is banned?
- Still wondering if M Manectric EX should be incorporated. Thus far, I have not yet found enough justification to use it.
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