Standard Super Turbo Darkrai

[21times]

Hey fellow Beach Bums - just wanted to share a list that I have had a TON of success with recently. I've gone 18 - 4 in my last 22 matches and 44 - 22 overall this month with it:

##Pokémon - 8

* 2 Shaymin-EX ROS 77
* 4 Darkrai-EX BKP 118
* 1 Trubbish BKP 56
* 1 Garbodor BKP 57

##Trainer Cards - 40

* 1 Energy Recycler AOR 72
* 2 Exp. Share NXD 87
* 2 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
* 2 Float Stone BKT 137
* 4 Max Elixir BKP 102
* 4 Puzzle of Time BKP 109
* 3 Random Receiver FAC 109
* 1 Town Map BKT 150
* 4 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
* 4 Ultra Ball ROS 93
* 4 VS Seeker ROS 110

* 1 Delinquent BKP 98
* 1 Lysandre FLF 104
* 3 Professor Birch's Observations PRC 134
* 4 Professor Sycamore STS 114

##Energy - 12

* 12 Darkness Energy EVO 97

I think the puzzles are key, when I can get them mid to late game after using a couple of Max Elixirs, I can sometimes get 9 or even 10 energy on the board.

I know it's not a perfectly balanced deck - I have no ranger, hex, or evolved non ex attacker, but I just haven't seen as much Jolteon EX or Regice lately.

If you're looking to try something a little different than the prototypical Turbo Darkrai decks, you might want to give this a shot.

 

[TuxedoBlack]

A few thoughts for your consideration:

• Any concerns with Zygarde match-ups? (1 Weakness Policy for a Random Receiver perhaps)
• Why no Reverse Valley to boost your D Pokémon damage output? I'd suggest replacing 2 Random Receiver and the Town Map with 3 RVs.
• I'd suggest replacing 1 Trainer's Mail (3 are quite sufficient, IMO) with an Olympia in order to provide a reusable switching card.
• Also, consider running 2 Professor Kukui (-2 Professor Birch) for extra damage output boost.

I hope your find these comments helpful.

 

[Noteman32]

I run Turbo Darkrai with 2 Yveltal(oblivion Wing) it's nice to get the energy out of your graveyard from a Sycamore or whatever reason. Umbreon GX would also be a nice addition but I haven't found a nice compromise for it yet. I would drop the Garbodor line unless you face a lot of Volcanion/Greninja or other ability heavy decks. Also, as stated above I would add reverse Valley. If you run Yveltal then there isn't a need for the energy recycler. Hope this helps.
my suggestion:

2 kukui
2 Yveltal OB WING
2-N
3-Reverse Valley

-1 trubbish
-1 Garbodor
-3 professor Birch
-1 Energy recycler
-3 random receiver

 

[21times]

My thanks for your suggestions Tux and Noteman. In an earlier version, I ran O wing. I also ran it a lot in the past with Yveltal EX. My biggest complaint with O wing is that it hits for so little damage. If it attached 2 energy like baby Volcanion it would be much more worth it, but it almost gives your opponent a free turn. 30 damage compared to damage in the mid or even high hundreds is basically like not attacking at all. I will say that having a non EX pokemon does give you the advantage of turning it into a 7 prize card game, but that pitiful 30 damage and only 1 attachment just don't make it worth it.

Kukui is a great idea, I've been using it with a Quad Tauros deck. The only downside is that if you pull it early in the game, it can really stunt your fluidity.

Reverse valley is a good idea too, maybe I should cut Delinquent for it. I find that when I finally get an opportunity to play Delinquent, my opponent usually has a fistfull of cards and it becomes minimally (or completely) ineffective. Plus, cutting Delinquent would increase my chances of pulling draw support with the receivers (see below). And, the stadium is an insta-play card, whereas Delinquent could potentially clog your hand. Yes, this is an excellent suggestion, I'm sold!

Sorry, but no way I'm cutting Garb with all of the pokemon with abilities running around. From Steam up to Feather Arrow to Search the Premises, Ultra Road, Queenly Majesty and oh yeah Irritating Pollen, if you're not running a deck built around abilities, you'd better be running a deck with Garb.

And I know the random receivers are controversial, but they do 3 HUGE things for me:

1) Provide me three additional chances to avoid dead drawing
2) Possibly give me an alternative to having to throw out a ton of good item cards with Sycamore
3) Help to thin the deck of supporters, making it just a little more likely to hit Elixirs in successive turns

Again, sorry, but the receivers aren't going, I've simply fallen in love with them. Same with the trainers mail. I used to hate trainers mail - my thinking was that every slot occupied by trainers mail was a slot that could be allocated to another valuable card. However, it helps so much with deck acceleration and gives you just a few more options. In this game, the more options you have, the more chances you have of putting yourself in a superior position.

If I were playing in real life, I would probably trade one of the float stones for Olympia. But I'd also probably run Ranger and Hex too. Bombing around on PTCGO is different than competing at Anaheim.

Thanks for the ideas and giving me things to think about!

 

[TuxedoBlack]

In an earlier version, I ran O wing. I also ran it a lot in the past with Yveltal EX. My biggest complaint with O wing is that it hits for so little damage. If it attached 2 energy like baby Volcanion it would be much more worth it, but it almost gives your opponent a free turn. 30 damage compared to damage in the mid or even high hundreds is basically like not attacking at all. I will say that having a non EX pokemon does give you the advantage of turning it into a 7 prize card game, but that pitiful 30 damage and only 1 attachment just don't make it worth it.

On the other hand, by not having a non-EX Pokémon attacker, an opponent could possibly "wall" you with a Safeguard Ability Pokémon (e.g., Carbink).

Kukui is a great idea, I've been using it with a Quad Tauros deck. The only downside is that if you pull it early in the game, it can really stunt your fluidity.!

Yeah, early game it's not so great; and it's more situational, but still handy if you have no other draw card.

Reverse valley is a good idea too, maybe I should cut Delinquent for it. I find that when I finally get an opportunity to play Delinquent, my opponent usually has a fistfull of cards and it becomes minimally (or completely) ineffective. Plus, cutting Delinquent would increase my chances of pulling draw support with the receivers (see below). And, the stadium is an insta-play card, whereas Delinquent could potentially clog your hand. Yes, this is an excellent suggestion, I'm sold!

Although Delinquent maybe more "situational," I've found it to be really great when you can remove critical cards from your opponent's hand or just remove my opponent's annoying Stadium. It will also give you an "edge" in a Stadium war too. I like so much that is is a staple in my decks now.

Sorry, but no way I'm cutting Garb with all of the pokemon with abilities running around.

I concur. I have an Expanded format Regional tournament coming up, and the decks there should be all over the board. But, many of the expected decks will rely upon Abilities; so, Garbotoxin would be a very strong play, IMO.

And I know the random receivers are controversial, but they do 3 HUGE things for me:

1) Provide me three additional chances to avoid dead drawing
2) Possibly give me an alternative to having to throw out a ton of good item cards with Sycamore
3) Help to thin the deck of supporters, making it just a little more likely to hit Elixirs in successive turns

Again, sorry, but the receivers aren't going, I've simply fallen in love with them. Same with the trainers mail.

Understand. But also consider that Item-locking is still popular.

 

[21times]

Oh believe me I know item lock is popular. I've been playing a ton of Lurantis Lock, I win 67% of the time and I only have 2 Shaymin. Like I said, if I were going to Anaheim, I'd definitely have a more balanced deck... but then again if I were going to Anaheim, I'd be playing Lurantis!

 

[BijutsuYoukai]

Tried out this list with Tuxedoman's adjustments, as well as a couple other simply for the reason I don't own Shaymins or really see myself being able to get any in the future. Deck thus far, albeit in one day of play, 22 wins out of 28. Still a small size, but doing better consistently than other decks I've played recently. The exact list for reference:

##Pokémon - 8

* 1 Dragonite-EX EVO 72
* 1 Zorua BKT 89
* 1 Zoroark BKT 91
* 1 Trubbish BKP 56
* 1 Garbodor BKP 57
* 3 Darkrai-EX BKP 74

##Trainer Cards - 40

* 1 Town Map BCR 136
* 1 Energy Recycler AOR 72
* 2 Exp. Share PRC 128
* 2 Float Stone BKT 137
* 2 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
* 3 Reverse Valley BKP 110
* 3 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
* 4 Puzzle of Time BKP 109
* 4 Max Elixir BKP 102
* 4 Ultra Ball SM 135
* 4 VS Seeker PHF 109

* 1 Lysandre FLF 90
* 1 Olympia GEN 66
* 1 Lillie SM 122
* 1 Delinquent BKP 98
* 2 Professor Kukui SM 128
* 4 Professor Sycamore BKP 107

##Energy - 12

* 12 Darkness Energy 7

Dragonite-EX is really only there to pick up Darkrai's until I can trade for my fourth one, especially since it plays awful with an online Garbodor. I'm actually getting ready to find something else to put in for the Delinquent actually, as it almost never matters and I haven't had a game yet where it did anything relevant.