Standard Solgaleo-GX Post-Rotation

[Rensje]

Hi guys! Name's Rensje, new to the Pokémon TCG and eager to learn from more experienced players and deck builders online and in my local community. I posted a topic earlier asking for help to improve my Metagross-GX list, but my heart truly lies with this Solgaleo-GX deck. I don't think it's actually very viable competitively and I don't really care, I just love playing it locally against friends.

That said, I had to make some changes to the original list I picked up from The Charizard Lounge to keep it suitable for standard play after the rotation. VS Seeker in particular will be missed, but I also had to get rid of Level Ball and Lysandre.

Those last two were easily replaced by Nest Ball and the upcoming Guzma, which is fantastic with Solgaleo-GX's Ultra Road ability, but VS Seeker is not so easily replaced. I ultimately settled on Puzzle of Time, which is not a practical or consistent card at all, but it's certainly satisfying to pull off!

The final list ended up looking like this, and I'm very curious to hear what you guys would change!

Pokémon: 15

• 4 Cosmog SUM
• 2 Cosmoem SUM
• 3 Solgaleo-GX SUM
• 1 Solgaleo GRI
• 2 Tapu Lele GRI
• 1 Drampa-GX GRI
• 2 Rayquaza GRI

Trainers/Supporters: 33

• 4 Rare Candy SUM
• 4 Puzzle of Time BKP
• 3 Ultra Ball SUM
• 2 Heavy Ball BKT
• 1 Nest Ball SUM
• 2 Choice Band GRI
• 2 Field Blower GRI
• 1 Super Rod BKT

• 3 Professor Sycamore BKP
• 3 N FAC
• 2 Hala GRI
• 2 Skyla BKT
• 2 Guzma BUS
• 1 Acerola BUS
• 1 Brigette BKT

Energy: 12

• 8 Steel Energy
• 4 Double Colorless Energy

Strategy:

The idea of the deck is to get 3 knockouts on opposing GX-Pokémon by using Solgaleo-GX's Sol Burst GX attack as early as possible to set up a few Sunstreel Strikes. Its ability Ultra Road allows us to switch Pokémon in and out of the active spot as the need arises. Rayquaza can be used to accelerate energy back to Solgaleo-GX from the discard pile, allowing it to use its attack again even if most energy has been discarded.

Damage on the bench is very likely when switching Pokémon back and forth, which makes Drampa-GX a logical inclusion. It works best against non-GX attackers in tandem with baby Solgaleo, because unlike Solgaleo-GX neither needs to discard energy to attack. Drampa also provides a bit of disruption. Tapu Lele-GX comes into its own against Psychic decks and individual Pokémon with a Psychic weakness.

Ideally, you would start with 1 or 2 Cosmog on turn 1, then play Brigette for another Cosmog, a Rayquaza and a Drampa-GX. Turn 2: Rare Candy into Solgaleo-GX, use its Sol Burst GX move for energy acceleration. Turn 3 and beyond: start taking knockouts against GX-Pokémon for double prizes and keep Solgaleo-GX powered up with Rayquaza.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Just saying, Tapu Lele GX doesn't hit anything for weakness. Your Steel Pokemon can handle Psychic decks fine because they resist Psychic.

 

[Rensje]

Just saying, Tapu Lele GX doesn't hit anything for weakness. Your Steel Pokemon can handle Psychic decks fine because they resist Psychic.

Doesn't it?

While it's true that a fully-powered Solgaleo-GX can indeed deal with anything, its attack comes at a cost. Wasting it on a single prize opponent seems like a bad play, and often is. I find that Tapu Lele-GX can really come in handy in certain situations. For a single DCE it can one-hit KO the likes of Garbodor, Espeon-GX and plenty of other Psychic types that see play. It's also not weak to Fire, or anything else for that matter. I mainly included it for the Wonder Tag ability, but have since learned not to underestimate its usefulness as a combatant.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Doesn't it?

While it's true that a fully-powered Solgaleo-GX can indeed deal with anything, its attack comes at a cost. Wasting it on a single prize opponent seems like a bad play, and often is. I find that Tapu Lele-GX can really come in handy in certain situations. For a single DCE it can one-hit KO the likes of Garbodor, Espeon-GX and plenty of other Psychic types that see play. It's also not weak to Fire, or anything else for that matter. I mainly included it for the Wonder Tag ability, but have since learned not to underestimate its usefulness as a combatant.

Energy Drive doesn't hit for weakness. It says so on the card. An opposing Garbodor usually only has a single Psychic energy attached for Trashalanche (it very rarely has a DCE of its own to use Acid Spray with). A Lele with a DCE and a Garbodor with one Psychic energy equates to only 60 damage total.

This attack does 20 damage times the amount of Energy attached to both Active Pokémon. This damage isn't affected by Weakness or Resistance.

Emphasis on the bolded part.

As I said before, this deck has a good Psychic matchup because of the Psychic resistance. Another thing to add is that as long as you manage your items carefully and use them only when necessary, you should be fine against Garbodor.

 

[Rensje]

Energy Drive doesn't hit for weakness. It says so on the card. An opposing Garbodor usually only has a single Psychic energy attached for Trashalanche (it very rarely has a DCE of its own to use Acid Spray with). A Lele with a DCE and a Garbodor with one Psychic energy equates to only 60 damage total.

Emphasis on the bolded part.

As I said before, this deck has a good Psychic matchup because of the Psychic resistance. Another thing to add is that as long as you manage your items carefully and use them only when necessary, you should be fine against Garbodor.

Goodness me, you are right! I've been reading it wrong the entire time! Well, that's a bummer. I mean, it's still a good inclusion because of the ability, but knowing this it's going to change the way I play the deck. Thanks for pointing this out to me, I can't believe I missed that!

 

[RisingRaichuu]

Instead of Puzzle of Time, I would add in more supporters, eg. -4 Puzzle of Time, +1 Professor Sycamore, +1 N, +1 Guzma, +1 Tech supporter.