Straight Darkrai in the BCR-FUF Format

[thood]

Hey guys!

So, the matter at hand here is how is Darkrai EX going to perform in the new format. Darkrai is still my favorite deck, despite the losses it suffered this rotation. Most people have switched over to Yveltal EX, which seems to be a better attacker than Darkrai, and most people are using Yveltal EX as the main attacker, while Darkrai is more of a bench sitter, used for his ability and maybe a Night Spear here or there....
I want to see if it's possible to make a Straight Darkrai EX deck, with Darkrai being the main attacker of the deck. Obviously with Dark Patch gone, Darkrai is the slowest it has ever been, and without Sableye, Darkrai decks are forced to run higher counts of certain cards since they cannot simply Junk Hunt them back anymore. This makes it tough for Darkrai to reclaim it's former Tier 1 glory, but I think it might be possible. Most people switched to Yveltal EX since it can start attacking faster, plus let's face it, X-Ball is an awesome attack. I think that people got over-hyped for Yveltal EX's attack, and since release people have just automatically assumed X-Ball > Night Spear. I believe that to not always be the case. Night Spear does a consistent 90 to the active, and 30 to the bench for 3 energy. That's pretty solid. In-fact, last format, some considered it "broken." Plus, Yveltal EX's damage, while it can hit harder than a Night Spear sometimes, it can also be manipulated by the enemy. The opponent can switch out to an energy-less Pokemon, and all the sudden Yveltal is hitting a lot less hard. Darkrai still hits for 90 and 30 to the bench though. Also, when you lost a Yveltal EX with 4-5 energy on it, it's a MUCH bigger deal now, since that's a lot of energy wiped off the board, and without Dark Patch, you can't get it back it 2-3 turns anymore. Losing a Darkrai should result in only a loss of 3 energy tops. I believe that both cards have their merits, and I think that people need to stop underestimating Darkrai. So after reading this, I'd like to head some good cards to help Darkrai perform in this format. Also, I'd like to see some good techs that one could toss in to possibly swing a matchup.
Anyways, thanks for reading!

Thood out!

 

[Auride]

Darkrai is not worth playing in this format on its own. It fighting weakness is simply too detrimental. Do you want to get Hammerhead'ed for a OHKO, plus 30 damage to something on your bench?

Yveltal-EX is better than Darkrai primarily because it can take knockouts much more easily than Darkrai. It can also respond to knockouts much more easily since it's attack only requires 2 energy to use (which is often all you need if your opponent's attacker is already damaged). And lastly, it has a fighting resistance, which is all too valuable in this format.

That said, without dark patch, both are just too slow. They lack the support that made them so strong in past formats. Darkrai was broken not just because its attack was good (and it still is really good), but because it was fast (especially compared to the archetypes of the time). Now it's lackluster.

Any hope for Darkrai-EX is this format (besides just running a weakened version of last years Darkrai/Yveltal/Garbodor list) lies with Aromatisse, which can at least grant Darkrai some of its old spontaneity). The new Hydreigon from Phantom Gate might have potential, but that's yet to be seen.

 

[thood]

That said, without dark patch, both are just too slow.

I think that Energy Switch can help remedy this a little. I can see a Turn 1 Oblivion Wing, attaching to a benched Darkrai, then next turn, switching to Darkrai, Energy Switch to Darkrai, then attach, and go Night Spear T2, although, you are going second....
The Landorus Matchup is going to be brutal, but you can tech in a Mewtwo EX to help deal with Lucario EX, plus you can counter their Fighting Stadium with your own Virbank or even Frozen City. I might also consider running Crushing Hammer (SO PISSED THAT ENHANCED HAMMER WAS NOT REPRINTED!) to help slow down their Fighting decks, since there is no way for them to "accelerate" energy. The Fighting decks seem to use a "psuedo-acceleration" in which they are able to hit harder with less energy (if that makes since.. lol). But being able to discard a Strong Energy Turn 1 is HUGE, since now they only have 3 more (there is no reliable way to get them back). I think with proper decks, Darkrai has a chance, but Darkrai decks will need to take a different route than what they are accustomed to.

 

[Machamp The Champion]

I honestly don't think Darkrai is that great in this format. 3 Energy is a lot to get on a Darkrai, even with Energy Switch and Oblivion Wing. It's especially hard to set a second one up after your first one dies, and most decks in the format can easily 2HKO Darkrai with little effort. Night Spear is a good attack, but it's just too hard to set up. Yveltal EX can be set up with DCE, and Y Cyclone can help conserve your Energy even further. If you're playing smart, you should never have 4-5 Energies on an Yveltal, unless it's safe, or you absolutely have to.

Yveltal also, as previously mentioned, has a much better weakness and resistance. You could tech for Fighting with Mewtwo and Seismitoad/Kyurem EX in the Darkrai version, but those require DCE, and if you're running DCE why don't you just play Yveltal? Mr. Mime is also getting more popular with Landorus EX running around. I just can't think of many reasons why Darkrai would be better than Yveltal. Darkrai's not bad to attack with in Yveltal decks (depending on the match up), but a deck focused around Darkrai doesn't seem all that strong.

 

[Mr.Muffin]

@Machamp the Champion Yveltal is 1 dark 2 colorless for Y Cyclone that means it takes you two turns to set up. Which is still better than Darkrai's 3 turns normally.

Darkrai is a good tech in Dark or Yveltal Decks, but it has lost the same thing the other decks lost. Support. Dark was a good deck because of how much good support it got. With Dark Patch I could attach multiple energy very quickly plus with Sableye you can do it multiple times. Now you are attaching it at a normal rate. This may sound alright, but you're Yveltal is becoming a worst Mewtwo EX(Typing and DCE friendly), and your Darkrai is a slower Landy EX with higher base damage, but no fighting support.

 

[TuxedoBlack]

Although Darkrai EX is still a great Poké in its own right, as noted above and recognized by most players, Darkrai EX's can no longer succeed in the primary attack role due to lack of support, as well as: Fighting Stadium, Hawlucha, Landorus EX, Lucario EX, and Strong energy... Each of these F Poké can just now inflict an insane amount of damage for 1-2 F/S energy. For the players I've seen running Yveltal-Darkrai decks, they are also running 2-3 Shadow Circle Stadiums for needed 1x damage vs. 2x when playing against F deck players.

 

[thood]

Unfortunately, I think you're all right. In my deck, I have gone from 2 Darkrai, 2 Yveltal, to 1 Darkrai 3 Yveltal. Darkrai's ability is amazing in my deck, but Yveltal can attack so much sooner, and I just discovered that Y Cyclone is awesome. It's really sad that my favorite EX has lost so much power from the loss of 2 cards....