RE: "Top of the Format" Entering Part 2. People please come and help find the Metagame.
That is what I was saying above. Machamp is great, because it does very well early game compared to a few decks such Tyranitar, Hurricane, Magnezone, and Dusknoir (to some extent, because it can get early spreads going). But, it also has the power to keep on going all through Mid game and with fancy footwork, all the way untill a Win or a Loss. Most Machamp Players will keep two energy on a Machamp, and save the third energy for the Machamp that will become the Lv.X. If you already set up said 3 Machamps, energy can go all over the place. I personally haven't used RegiStark yet (though I plan to try it), but I do play Stark, and it is very easy to hit with Hurricane Punch every turn.
I think there is no debate that these three cards will be in the Top 5 of the Metagame:
-Machamp
-Gengar
-Dusknoir
All three have speed, can do well early game through late game, and all have components of the deck that make you have to play carefully and always be on guard. These cards also have had the most discussion, and they will be played. Can we agree on this?
As for the other two decks, I personally would say that there are several contenders for the spot. They include:
-Magnezone
-Tyranitar
-Hurricane
-Raichu
-Regigigas
-Heatran Varients
-Chermin Varients
-Kingdra
All thouse decks have possibility. The problem with most of them (being Magnezone, Tyranitar, Hurricane, Raichu, Regigigas, and Heatran) is that they require set up.
Magnezone needs you to get out 2 Zones at the least (whatever varient you play, you need 2 Zone), one being a Lv.X. The plus side is that because of the various techs you play, you can get around Heatran Varients.
T-Tar needs to get some tech set up (usually Alakazam) and get a good flow of Dark Energies into the discard pile, and Level Up a Darkrai (all of this is do-able by T3/4, but it will take a starter, a T2 Claydol, and some good draws). Weakness to fighting is not great because of Machamp, but this card is resistant to Psychic (which will probably be played the most in the new Metagame, along with Grass) and the Ghost pokemon of the Metagame are weak to T-Tar.
Hurricane can attack T2, but it does not allow you enough time to thin your deck, and you may not be able to get the Water Energy to score early KOs. Weakness to Electric is no biggy, since Raichu doesn't hit the OHKO unless it uses it's attack for 100. Sniping off your techs can hurt, but it's low HP is it's down fall, and Feraligatr can easily dispose of Raichu quickly.
Raichu does have a 0 energy attack, but for 30 and can't use it next turn? Your not going to live on that, I can tell you. You need 3 Energy for 3 of it's 4 attacks (the other attack being the 0 energy attack) and for some of it's attacks you need to have certain cards in your hand. Weakness to fighting bites, but the fact that you can snipe for 80 is good, but the fact that Raichu has low HP and high energy costs could hurt in the end.
Regigigas can be easy to set up because all it will take is a few Early Call/Roseanne, but it may hurt you to continually Sacrafice pokemon so Regigigas can attack. Machamp also gives this deck some major problems with OHKOs, and Gengar can be hard matchup.
Heatran is a good card if you can set it up. But the thing is, it isn't the main attacker, meaning you have to make Heatran active so you can get to the Lv.X, and then get him back to the bench. It can be done inbetween your opponent KOing your pokemon, but you have to go a little heavy on the Warp Point/Switch. After you set up Heatran Lv.X, you have to also set up your main attacker. Like T-Tar, this can be done early game, but requires some very fancy footwork. The only water in sight next Metagame is Hurricane and Kingdra, but Empoleon might decide to make a scene in Tier 2. Water weakness does hurt though, especially since the Water pokemon will have an easier time with KOs.
Cherim is great because it just sits on the bench. It is easy to activate, and it is also easy to set up your main attacker, since most pokemon that use Cherim are pokemon with 1-2 Energy attacks (Scizor, Butterfree, Cradily, Vespiqueen, +more) and most cards used with Cherim are set up by T2. This card has the speed component, but my only fear is that it won't be able to hold up Late game, since a lot of decks this format can take a beating. Fire weakness is something to worry about, but your speed is what keeps you going.
Kingdra losses some of it's spotlight with the appearance of the new cards, but it does not lose it's greatness. Bronzong is a new tech to play with, and there may be a few cards that could prove to be interesting techs. High HP is great, and Kingdra has the same issues with Raichu that Hurricane does, that is, problems with sniping off techs, but avoiding the OHKO on your active. Gengar does not do as well with Kingdra, because even if Fainting Spell strikes a Kingdra or two, the speed in which Kingdra can regenerate makes it walk all over Gengar. Dusknoir might give you some problems with the fact that there will be a lot of energy on your pokemon and Dusknoir can prevent damage done to itself from pokemon 2 or less energy, but it can be played around.
What I think will happen is that T-Tar will make into Top 5, because like with Banette last season, it was a counter to the Metagame but also a viable deck to play. There are several variations to playing it giving it a suprise factor if your opponent doesn't know you what variation you are using, and it can hold it's own against cards that it wasn't there to counter. It seems with the decks this Metagame you either are a speed killer, or a set up killer. Starters are going to see more play in the new Metagame because a lot of decks need the help setting up. T-Tar does use Starter (in some variatons), but it also has good speed and consistancy.
Because now there are two Speed Decks (Gengar, Machamp) and two decks that benefit from set up but don't need it win (Dusknoir, T-Tar), that means one balanced deck will most likely make it in. I think Cherim varients will be played a lot, because it has Speed, Consistancy, can use Starters (probably Sableye or Pachi), and can do well in battle. Shaymin Lv.X always helps out the grass decks, but right now we don't have it. I think Butterfree and Vespiqueen will be the prefered choice, but there will always be Cradily, Scizor (a card that does better with Shaymin Lv.X, as Butterfree), and perhaps even Magmortar (probably not very much).
I think these two slots are open for debate, but seriously: Dusknoir, Machamp, and Gengar will be in Top 5. No matter how much you talk about "what-if" situations, they will be there. T-Tar will probably be there too because it does very well agaisnt Gengar and Dusknoir, but also against the rest of the Metagame.
On a small side note, here are some techs I think could see great play:
-Omastar
Devolves Gengar so that you can KO without the risk of being KOd.
-Electivire Lv.X [only in already electric decks]
Gets rid of Dusknoir Lv.X Stadium and you become immune for a turn.
- Xatu/Health Energy
Helps keep Heatran Lv.X and Magnezone Lv.X in check.
- Bastiodon
Saves you from Snipes, which from T-Tar, can really wear down on your techs/pokemon that havne't evolved yet.
- Mr. Mime
This card will save you from Sableye. It needs Unown G to be safe from Machamp and Gengar though.
- Unown G
So many effects of attacks in this new Metagame. Machamp, Gengar, Dusknoir, Magnezone, Cherim (varients that can inflict special conditions), and Heatran (varients that can inflict Burn).
Anyone care to debate/add?
