Standard Toxapex, Finally good?

[seb9011]

Considering the online game isn't exactly "full of competitive play," I often find myself diving into funny brews. A while back I found myself playing Accelgor/Trevennant. This deck proved competitive, but was also fairly goofy in that accelgor, while good, is a very unique card and has had people brewing with it since its release. Players have added vespiqueen and Wobb instead of the trev line, and some have even added Sand Slammer flygon!



Once I read Toxapex GX, I knew he could act similarly to the accelgor deck. Toxapex provides the poison damage, which because of the effect, can knock out nearly any pokemon in two "between turn" steps (right after attacking, and the opponent passing back). The problem was making sure the defending pokemon couldn't retreat or do much at all. This would ensure that you get a knockout on almost anything. Immediatly Raichu stood out to me. Being able to evolve a Raichu to paralyze the opposing pokemon ensured that Toxapex could get the knock out! Be sure to scroll down to see my reasons for some of the stranger cards on the list (such as wishful baton). Here is my list:



Pokemon:

2 Tapu Lele

4 Pikachu

4 Raichu

4 Mareanie

3 Toxapex GX (considering the 4th)



Trainers:

3 Devolution Spray

2 Field Blower

1 Rescue Stretcher

3 Super Scoop up (considering the 4th)

2 Trainer's Mail

4 Ultra Ball

4 VS seeker

2 Acerola

1 Brigette

1 Guzma

3 N

4 Professor Sycamore

4 Wishful Baton



Energy:

9 Psychic







Card Explanations:



The 4-4 Raichu line is entirely necessary. I’ve tested the 3-3 line but found that sometime you don’t always get the sprays or scoop ups. Plus considering you need 2 Pikachu on bench at all times for spray to work, 4 copies is needed.



Devolution Spray: This card allows you to get you Raichu’s ability off multiple times without running 24 copies of Raichu. However, you cannot evolve the same Pikachu you sprayed, so you will need a second Pikachu on bench at all times. That being said, the spray isn’t always too useful. Drawing it early game, such as the opening hand, can be a pain. Such reasons are why I chose to only run 3. In fact, if I were to add the 4 Scoop, I would likely cut another spray; 2 seems reasonable.



Super Scoop Up: I don’t like coin flip cards. Period. I did find myself running crushing hammer in some decks, but only ones that could recur it (puzzle of time or Sableye). However, in this deck the Scoop acts out multiple purposes: it can bounce back our Raichu or out Tapu Lele. Much better than normal. While currently the list only runs 3, I’ve been considering adding the 4th because of the amazing benefits of rolling heads.



The last card I feel really needs explanation is the Wishful Baton play set. I think we can all agree this deck is slow. Really slow. Raichu luckily is a natural way for us to slow our opponent which allows us time to charge Toxapex, and is why I feel Toxapex shines here. However, charging up 1 Toxapex takes a lot of time, and charging a second before the first one gets knocked out is nearly impossible. Wishful Baton lets us have a second Toxapex ready as soon as the first is knocked out. If you decide to try this deck, be sure you include the baton on your first go.



If requested I can upload a post rotation list at a later date.



Please leave recommendations and comments! Also, if you decide to test this, please let me know what you think! Thanks!

 

[Mhunter93]

Toxapex-GX have a few issues in the current meta, first Garbodor. Being weak to Garbodor is a sin in the current meta, post rotation might bring new hope.
Second problem is energies, Toxapex needs 3 psychic energies to use both his GX move and his poison. It means Toxapex needs max elixir making the first problem even bigger. Your build doesn't use max elixir and I don't think you need it, using Raichu to stall while Toxapex loads is a great idea, Toxapex first attack deals great damage so it can take down weak foes and damage bigger foes while they are paralyzed.
Lately I have been running 2 copies of chaos tower in decks that don't need an specific stadium, given the fact that status conditions are abundant (yet not so popular) in the current meta this could affect Toxapex as chaos tower blocks the poison. Also decks that run stage 1 or 2 pokemon might simply evolve out of the paralysis, this could greatly affect how Raichu plays on this deck, also it could be counter by chaos tower meaning the same card can deal with your pokemon but not with both of them at the same time.
Guzma is also a problem as it will be on every deck and will allow to switch out of the especial conditions or to cancel the effect of Toxapex-GX GX attack.
I haven't seen how this deck plays, but a fair recommendation would be to remove one raichu from burning shadows and add one from generations, although this would mean that you will have one less raichu to use the ability, this will give you an attacker in case you can't load a Toxapex, also it gives you a 0 retreat cost pokemon that could be used in order to switch back to Toxapex after using Guzma.
Last thing is you have no cards for retreat, no float stones, no switch, no escape ropes only 1 Guzma meaning that if your oponent brings a raichu out you would be trapped until you have time to load the raichu or play Guzma.