Wow, just wow. Seems like Whicker thinks he's on top of the World here. Is this seriously the best person you guys have to be explaining the format? Let's take a look at some of his ridiculous comments on Eggs/Raichu D:
Rai/Eggs of course gained Cessation Crystal, which will be huge, and the deck looks amazing heading into Cities. However, Arcanine and Bannette both outspeed it and have OHKO potential on most things, unlike Rai/Eggs. Also, looking a FEOD, I can definitely say that there will be a Queendom-like deck that will be able to OHKO anything that is sent up by Rai/Eggs, rendering Cessation Crystal next to useless. I see it being popular, but not necessarily good.
Ok, Arcanine and Banette outspeed it. So, you KO my castform and I send up a Raichu D with a Scramble and take 2 prizes vs your Banette ex. You're left with ....nothing. While I'm left with a Raichu with no energy and a full bench full of guys. I could just do the same thing again, or I can charge up another Raichu with DRE/X Energy, lay a Stone and OHKO you. If you decide to build up a bench instead of KOing something early, Eggs is just gonna set up multiple Raichus of which you have no answer for. As for Arcanine, it does 30 T2, big whoop. I could sac 3 guys just to KO one and still win the game. Why? Because I can Split Bomb/Zap your bench in addition to the active. So, when the first RK9 goes down, your other is already damaged and in Raichu range. You're nuts.
Overall, I'm still confused on why Rai/Eggs will be so good in this season. Cessastion Crystal doesn't save the deck... it still has TERRIBLE late game draws/dead cards and is very slow for a Stage 1 deck. If you like the idea of a fast hitting deck that has good damage potential... might as well look in the way of Bannette, because Rai/Eggs hasn't got anything on Bannette.
Cessation Crystal doesn't save the deck? Well obviously, there's nothing to be "saved". Since when does Eggs have a terrible late game? That's when it WINS its games! Slow? Have you heard of Scramble Energy?! Doesn't have anything on Banette? Really?
You couldn't be more wrong. Rai/Eggs is very slow and has very little OHKO abilities. Look at the format again, and tell me that Rai/Eggs is the best deck out there, it simply won't happen.
Well I'm looking and I think it is the best in the format. Can you name a deck other than a Scizor ex that has a good matchup with Eggs? It doesn't need OHKO's buddy, because it SETS UP KO's.
Have you even played against a Bannette? I'm unsure on why you are so set on even someone's ability to sac 2-3 pokes, especially with Reversals and ER2's constantly giving you options to slow them.
Because you're going to automatically hit all your ER2's, Reversals while consistantly putting out 2 Banette exs early. Which, that is what you HAVE to do vs Eggs or you're just going to get Raichu swarmed to death. ER2's aren't nearly as big as you think either, considering Raichu D just discards the Scramble. You don't "slow down" a card that can just lay Scramble and OHKO your Banette (learn to spell).
I think it's you that needs to take a deep look at Raichu/Eggs. There were barely any played at Worlds and the people who actually did play them took enormus bad beats. It wasn't because people "knew how" to play vs it that it didn't top cut. Now with it gaining Cessation Crystal, the addition of Copycat in FE as means to grab basically any card it wants out of a ton of cards, and a new sick, sick gym, plus the ability to go off vs anything with no admin in the format, not having to worry about its scrambles being admined away, Eggs has become the best deck. Don't even give me anything about these "new" Nidoqueen things either, please.
P.S. Kelly Clarkson sucks.