Help Thoughts on Beast Box

jpaulo.fh

jpaulo.fh

Aspiring Trainer
Member
So, I really like Beast Box, even though it's not well positioned right now, and is essentially a Buzzwole deck with a decent psychic attacker.
Have been using Pablo Meza's build:

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 14

* 1 Buzzwole FLI 77
* 3 Buzzwole-GX CIN 104
* 1 Kartana-GX CIN 106
* 1 Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX UPR 143
* 4 Poipole FLI 55
* 1 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 137
* 3 Naganadel-GX FLI 121

##Trainer Cards - 35

* 2 Professor Sycamore STS 114
* 1 Rescue Stretcher BUS 165
* 2 Acerola BUS 142
* 4 Beast Ring FLI 141
* 4 Ultra Ball SUM 161
* 3 Float Stone BKT 137
* 4 Cynthia UPR 148
* 4 Guzma BUS 143
* 3 Choice Band BUS 162
* 2 Field Blower GRI 163
* 3 N NVI 101
* 3 Ultra Space FLI 115

##Energy - 11

* 1 Beast Energy {*} FLI 117
* 10 Fighting Energy 6

Any advice to try to improve matchups, like swapping Buzzwoles for other UBs?
 
I've been experimenting with Beast Box since the lists from Japan emerged. I've tried working with a Pheromosa-GX version that's means to KO their Basic Pokemon on the first turn to add on a bunch of pressure. I didn't think it worked too well as it's mid-game is terribly weak and Pheromosa-GX's 170 makes it a bit of a "soft GX".

The big problem with Beast Box, especially the Buzzwole version in the current metagame, is that all your attackers can be downed by Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX in one hit.

The metal version (Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX), HAS to sacrifice 2 Pokemon or a GX in order to get Beast Ring shenanigans going and it sometimes has problems closing games (use the GX, then the 'discard 3' attack, and then what for the other 2 prizes?)

In post rotation, Dawn Wings will still be an issue, but Stakataka-GX provides a sort of '3rd' version that I think is pretty dang good (still working out some issues and techs).

However, that doesn't help your here and now.

I think the big problem with Ultra Beast decks in general is that there's not a whole lot of depth to them as they are all 'aggro, aggro, aggro'. It seems that the intention is to put as much pressure with early aggro efforts and keep that going while hoping the opponent can't get themselves out of the corner. For the rest of the rotation (at least until the next set is legal, IE: Worlds), I think the rest of the meta, with capable players, are too capable of bobbing-and-weaving their way around Beast Box.

Once rotation sets in, Beast Box will see better results.
 
While BuzzNaga with Elixirs and Beast Rings runs quite fast, Dawn Wings in Malamar and Parallel City can really ruin your day.

I personally prefer the metal version with 2 baby Dusk Manes and 2 Dusk Mane-GXes. I find this version a lot more flexible, as you have access to Sun's Eclipse (or whatever it is called) to take a KO on basically everything and you can even follow it up with a Meteor Tempest if Dusk Mane lives another turn. The baby Dusk Mane is helplful with chip damage, that way Naganadel can actually hit numbers without having to rely on Beast Energy, and it can also be a decent attacker against safeguarders (you need Beast Energy on it to OHKO a Hoopa which is a bit annoying though, and if they have FFB attached it is kind if a problem as I personally can't find space for Field Blower in the deck)

As for basic energy, I am actually playing a 8 metal/3 psychic split (and 1 Beast ofc) right now because it doesn't matter for Naga and that way you can even use Dawn Wing's GX attack if you need to.

I have to agree though that Ultra Beasts right now are a bit too simple as far as the playstyle is concerned, although I do believe that the metal version has a few intricacies.

Last, but not least, in the metal version even Kartana has acces to its GX attack which can actually help you close games. So yeah, I'm convinced that going forward, metal Beast Box will be the better variant, and with cards like N and Parallel City leaving the format the archetype might start doing better than it currently does. It also gets the new baby Celesteela which imo is pretty good.

One more thing to add: I think the deck needs 4 Ultra Space stadiums and also a second recovery card (I personally prefer 2 Super Rods) because you have to be able to recover at least once after getting hit with Parallel City.

PS: I also tried the Pheromosa version, but imo Naga and Pheromosa together just can't apply enough pressure and that variant also lacks a decent non-GX option. Then there is also the option of running Naga and Ultra-Necrozma with baby Dusk Mane, but at that point you're just better of playing Malamar/Necrozma imo.
 
Last edited:
I liked the idea of splitting the energy. Right now I'm trying a BuzzNaga version with elixirs, as you already mentioned, but I decreased the Naganadel line to a 3-3 (possibly a 3-2 on the future) and removed the Kartana so I could use Diancie. I had already lost matches because the damage dealt by Buzzwole wouldn't be enough.

It's essentially a BuzzRoc deck, but with Naganadels instead of Lycanrocs. It's obviously worse, as you lose an incredible GX (Dangerous Rogue) and an incredible ability (Bloodthirsty Eyes), but you improve your match against BuzzRoc. Plus, against regular Necrozma/Malamar, if you manage to keep up with the KOs on their Necrozmas using Naganadel, you can win (remember to Absorption Dawn Wings in the early game and Diancie helps to KO it with choice band).

This is what I'm using right now:

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 13

* 1 Buzzwole FLI 77
* 3 Buzzwole-GX CIN 57
* 1 Diancie {*} FLI 74
* 1 Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX UPR 143
* 3 Poipole FLI 55
* 1 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 137
* 3 Naganadel-GX FLI 56

##Trainer Cards - 34

* 3 N PR-BLW BW100
* 4 Ultra Ball PLB 90
* 4 Cynthia UPR 119
* 4 Guzma BUS 115
* 4 Max Elixir BKP 102
* 3 Float Stone PLF 99
* 3 Choice Band GRI 121
* 3 Ultra Space FLI 115
* 4 Beast Ring FLI 102
* 2 Professor Sycamore XY 122

##Energy - 13

* 1 Beast Energy {*} FLI 117
* 12 Fighting Energy 6

Total Cards - 60

****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******
 
I think if you want to focus that much on Buzzwole then BuzzRoc, as you yourself said, is a better choice, since Diancie boosts both Buzz and Lycanroc, but as long as Max Elixir is still in the format BuzzNaga isn't that bad either and Buzzwole can deal with 1 Dawn Wings but if the opponent can immediately power up another one it's usually bad news. (I believe Malamar lists usually run 2, plus there's also Mew.)

Here's the list of the Beast Box that I prefer at the moment:

2 Dusk Mane Necrozma PR-SM SM107
2 Dusk Mane Necrozma-GX
1 Kartana-GX
1 Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX
4 Poipole
3 Naganadel-GX
1 Tapu-Lele GX

3 Professor Sycamore
4 Ultra Ball
3 N
1 Acerola
2 Super Rod
4 Cynthia
2 Guzma
4 Choice Band
4 Float Stone
4 Ultra Space
3 Beast Ring

1 Beast Energy {*}
8 Metal Energy
3 Psychic Energy

I know that 2 Guzma is not ideal but honestly I often found that I draw into at times when what I'd really need is a draw supporter instead. (since this deck really can't afford to run Pokemon-based draw support so basically you need to have a draw supporter in your hand almost every turn) The metal/psychic energy split isn't something that's necessary, but since usually you only attach manually to Dusk Mane who only needs 1 metal to snipe and to Naga for whom it doesn't matter which energy you use it makes the deck a bit more flexible as Dawn Wings can also become more than just a Stand-in bot if needed. This way you can have a psychic attacker that itself isn't weak to psychic (which is not negligible in this meta) plus the GX attack can also be useful. I guess 4 Float Stones aren't necessary, so I suppose 1 can be cut, (maybe for but a 4th Beast Ring, although I'm little cautious with those because I don't want them to clunk up my hand in the first few turns) but with 4 copies I can usually find one when I need it.

Mill is a pretty bad MU though because of the reliance on Beast Ring to accelerate energy, but that's not a very popular archetype in Standard, and will be even less so after rotation. That's one instance where I think NagaBuzz is a better Beast Box, as you can KO Sylveon T1 if you hit all your Elixirs and baby Buzz can take care of Hoopa pretty easily.
 
Will definetely try the metal version as soon as I can buy some baby Dusk Manes.
Still waiting for the Stakatakas, as they can probably keep Naganadels alive against some Dawn Wings, as the ability is applied before weakness. 2 Stakatakas on the field would suffice, as it would hit for a 100, 200 with weakness and Naganadel has 210. Then the Max Potion/Acerola cycle starts. Also, it's metal typing, can still use baby Dusk Manes for sniping, Celesteelas and Dusk Manes GXs.
Almost forgot the future Blacephalon. I hope it's good enough, not just some binder fodder.
 
jpaulo.fh said:
Will definetely try the metal version as soon as I can buy some baby Dusk Manes.
Still waiting for the Stakatakas, as they can probably keep Naganadels alive against some Dawn Wings, as the ability is applied before weakness. 2 Stakatakas on the field would suffice, as it would hit for a 100, 200 with weakness and Naganadel has 210. Then the Max Potion/Acerola cycle starts. Also, it's metal typing, can still use baby Dusk Manes for sniping, Celesteelas and Dusk Manes GXs.
Almost forgot the future Blacephalon. I hope it's good enough, not just some binder fodder.
Click to expand...

Where did you rad that Stakataka’s ability works before weakness and resistance?
 
I was going to say, if Stakataka allows Naganadel to tank a Dawn Wings hit. Beast Box would be S-Tier material post rotation
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top