Standard Updated Decidueye/Luxray

[Chicken Nugget Master]

I've updated the Decidueye/Luxray list I posted a week before this update, and I believe I have improved it significantly. And call me crazy, but I believe with more testing and changes in the future this might be a competitively viable deck. Emphasis on the might. Anyway, the list.


4 Shinx
4 Luxio
2 Luxray
4 Rowlet
2 Dartrix
4 Decidueye GX
2 Tapu Lele GX

4 Ultra Ball
4 Evosoda
4 Rare Candy
2 Float Stone
2 Field Blower

4 N
4 Cynthia
2 Brigette
2 Skyla

4 Counter Energy
5 Grass Energy
1 Super Boost Energy

I've decided to only play 2 Luxray and no Shining Celebi as,
A: There is no space
B: Buzzwole will rip through Luxio so it'll be hard to get more than 2 Luxray down
C: Luxio is more for early game disruption and to slow the opponent down, once a deck gets set up there isn't much need to block items

Please suggest any changes that can be made as I am very much looking for improvements right now. I just cannot let the concept of taking OHKOs anyway on the field die as it is too good to overlook. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[RedSuinit]

So, is your win condition to slow the opponent down using the item lock, then take a big KO using Feather Arrow damage combined with Luxrays 150 damage snipe attack?

 

[Chicken Nugget Master]

Yes, probably should have made that clearer. Similar to Decidueye/Vileplume, but I adapted it to work in standard. Stall and chip, then when the moment arises, take a huge snipe KO on a GX such as Tapu Lele (your prime target, due to its 170hp all you need is 1 feather arrow and a volt bolt). Keep doing this until you're down to 2 prizes, then attach your super boost energy (or use your Oricorio) so you can use volt bolt regardless of whether you're behind on prizes or not to take your final 2 prizes and win the game that way. It might work different ways against different decks, but experimenting is all part of the experience.

 

[Eltyr]

Before speaking about the deck, where do you expect to play the deck?
I mean, local game store non-competitively or do you expect it to play a few League Cups?

 

[Chicken Nugget Master]

I will probably PTCGO test it first, then if it does do well, I might bring it to a league cup or two. I don't expect it to be a huge noticeable deck, but it is a nice rogue option in case I ever get bored of my other decks and fancy a change of pace.

 

[HouchinsDJ]

I'm still just not sold on this archetype. Having to rely on two Stage 2 Pokémon sounds clunky and inconsistent, no matter how many consistency cards you add.

With that said... Oricorio and 1 Psychic Energy take away from your consistency. What's the Psychic Energy for? Oricorio's attacks are colorless. Tapu Lele's GX attack? I'd rather play Rainbow Energy so Decidueye-GX and Luxray can utilize it if needed. Both cards just seem out of place. I'm a firm believer that if you're going to play Decidueye-GX you need to run four copies. One of the main strategies of this deck is setting up as many Decidueye-GX as possible and running four maximizes your chances.

I'd recommend a 3-3 split of Rare Candy and Evosoda since both are equally important.

I don't think Luxray Break is really needed. This deck already has a lot going on.

On paper, I think this deck's overall strategy makes sense but I'm skeptical on it's actual performance.

 

[Chicken Nugget Master]

Thanks for the advice, I'd completely forgotten Oricorio's attacks were Colorless. Rainbow Energy would make more sense, but since Luxio's attack is Colorless and Luxray only needs Counter and Colorless, the only thing going for Psychic Energy is Lele, which isn't worth putting in a rainbow energy for. 4 Decidueye is definitely the better option and worth making space for and adding a 5th Grass Energy, as hollow hunt is definitely our gx attack of choice. I was unsure of double stage 2 decks, but I think this one is worth trying regardless. I'll amend the list to fit in 4 Decidueye and the other changes.

 

[Ecko9i6]

I think you're missing the big picture here and that is the fact that Stage 2's take too long to set up on their own. The reason why Decidueye is in the current meta is because it is being paired with Zoroark GX. This allows you to constantly burn through cards you don't need in order to find either DCE, Rare candy, Choice bands, Guzma, etc. Your deck will take entirely too long to set up and you will be knocked out before you get any traction.

I think Luxio will definitely see play along with Shining Celebi, but it won't be a deck that aims to take knockouts. It seems to me that it will be more a deck that focuses on denying your opponent's resources while shutting down items.