I took what I thought was 15 of the best lists I could find from the results of the LAIC 2019-2020 to show how cheap or expensive these decks were or if someone were to try it out at their locals, looking for something new to try or even for a new player looking for a deck to invest in for the new format. Not all the decks were available to the public so I had to look for some alternatives for some of these decks and having fifteen different choices should give people plenty of options to try for their own games. Some great, some possibly not so but that's the fun of testing decks out right?
Along with the deck lists and the prices for the deck (card prices taken from Troll and Toad on 20th November 2019), I'll add the CPs earned from the event, best results, how the community ranked the deck going into the event and how it did in the previous format.
Reshiram & Charizard-GX - Turbo Version
| Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Ability | ||||
| Robin Schulz - 1st - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Jirachi | TEU | 4 | $ 11.99 | $ 47.96 |
| Dedenne-GX | UNB | 3 | $ 32.99 | $ 98.97 |
| Vulpix | TEU | 2 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.98 |
| Ninetales | TEU | 2 | $ 1.95 | $ 3.90 |
| Reshiram & Charizard-GX | UNB | 1 | $ 14.03 | $ 14.03 |
| Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX | COE | 1 | $ 4.96 | $ 4.96 |
| Heatran-GX | UNM | 1 | $ 2.99 | $ 2.99 |
| Victini Prism | DRM | 1 | $ 4.49 | $ 4.49 |
| Turtonator | DRM | 1 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.99 |
| Ditto Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 6.49 | $ 6.49 |
| Zebstrika | LOT | 1 | $ 0.37 | $ 0.37 |
| 18 | $ 186.13 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Welder | UNB | 4 | $ 0.64 | $ 2.56 |
| Cherish Ball | UNM | 4 | $ 1.45 | $ 5.80 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Switch | CES | 4 | $ 0.38 | $ 1.52 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Pal Pad | UPR | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Fiery Flint | DRM | 1 | $ 1.28 | $ 1.28 |
| Giant Hearth | UNM | 3 | $ 1.43 | $ 4.29 |
| Heat Factory | LOT | 1 | $ 1.06 | $ 1.06 |
| 24 | $ 17.91 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Fire Energy | 18 | $ - | ||
| 18 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 204.04 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 1st
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 6 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 12th
UPR to HIF Rank: 2nd - 7,489 CP
The old favourite showed up once again and finally got it's first big win, with a previous best of 2nd place at the Melbourne SPE. The deck may still retain it's "hot-or-cold" nature of having it matches depend on drawing Welders but when it runs hot, it still has the potential to beat just about anything.
Mewtwo & Mew-GX Toolbox
| Mewtwo & Mew-GX | ||||
| Bryan de Vries - 2nd - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Jirachi | TEU | 4 | $ 11.99 | $ 47.96 |
| Dedenne-GX | UNB | 3 | $ 32.99 | $ 98.97 |
| Mewtwo & Mew-GX | UNM | 3 | $ 13.98 | $ 41.94 |
| Reshiram & Charizard-GX | UNB | 1 | $ 14.03 | $ 14.03 |
| Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX | COE | 1 | $ 4.96 | $ 4.96 |
| Espeon & Deoxys-GX | UNM | 1 | $ 6.39 | $ 6.39 |
| Charizard-GX | HIF | 1 | $ 5.49 | $ 5.49 |
| Magcargo-GX | LOT | 1 | $ 3.96 | $ 3.96 |
| Solgaleo-GX | PR | 1 | $ 27.99 | $ 27.99 |
| Naganadel-GX | UNM | 1 | $ 3.28 | $ 3.28 |
| Greninja-GX | DET | 1 | $ 10.48 | $ 10.48 |
| Marshadow | UNB | 1 | $ 0.88 | $ 0.88 |
| 19 | $ 266.33 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Welder | UNB | 4 | $ 0.64 | $ 2.56 |
| Guzma & Hala | COE | 1 | $ 1.49 | $ 1.49 |
| Mallow & Lana | COE | 1 | $ 1.49 | $ 1.49 |
| Cynthia & Caitlin | COE | 1 | $ 3.29 | $ 3.29 |
| Cherish Ball | UNM | 4 | $ 1.45 | $ 5.80 |
| Tag Call | COE | 3 | $ 2.49 | $ 7.47 |
| Great Catcher | COE | 2 | $ 1.19 | $ 2.38 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Switch | CES | 2 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.76 |
| Mysterious Treasure | FLI | 1 | $ 0.89 | $ 0.89 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Stealty Hood | UNB | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Giant Hearth | UNB | 3 | $ 1.43 | $ 4.29 |
| Viridian Forest | TEU | 1 | $ 0.42 | $ 0.42 |
| 27 | $ 31.64 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Fire Energy | 8 | $ - | ||
| Psychic Energy | 2 | $ - | ||
| Weakness Guard Energy | UNM | 2 | $ 0.37 | $ 0.74 |
| Water Energy | 1 | $ - | ||
| Rainbow Energy | CES | 1 | $ 0.33 | $ 0.33 |
| 14 | $ 1.07 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 299.04 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 2nd
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 17 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 4th
UPR to HIF Rank: 3rd - 6,697 CP
Fears of a Mewtwo & Mew-GX disappearance due to the new Mimikyu have been greatly exaggerated. It saw the equal most number of play in day 2 at LAIC and for a good reason, the deck still has all it's tools to take on just about any deck in the format. It still has the best ability in the game, when it's not shut down.
Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX with Abilities
| Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX/Ability | ||||
| Giovanni Peragallo - 3rd - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX | CEC | 2 | $ 9.97 | $ 19.94 |
| Jirachi | TEU | 4 | $ 11.99 | $ 47.96 |
| Dedenne-GX | UNB | 2 | $ 32.99 | $ 65.98 |
| Keldeo-GX | UNM | 2 | $ 11.99 | $ 23.98 |
| Lucario & Melmetal-GX | UNB | 1 | $ 4.49 | $ 4.49 |
| Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX | CEC | 1 | $ 4.96 | $ 4.96 |
| Blitzle | LOT | 1 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.24 |
| Zebstrika | LOT | 1 | $ 0.37 | $ 0.37 |
| Phione | CEC | 1 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.39 |
| Drampa | CEC | 1 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.22 |
| 16 | $ 168.53 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Cynthia | UPR | 4 | $ 0.39 | $ 1.56 |
| Cynthia & Caitlin | CEC | 3 | $ 3.29 | $ 9.87 |
| Mallow & Lana | CEC | 2 | $ 1.49 | $ 2.98 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Switch | CES | 3 | $ 0.38 | $ 1.14 |
| Tag Call | CEC | 2 | $ 2.49 | $ 4.98 |
| Choice Helmet | LOT | 2 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.92 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Great Catcher | CEC | 2 | $ 1.19 | $ 2.38 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Choatic Swell | CEC | 4 | $ 0.75 | $ 3.00 |
| 29 | $ 28.23 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Metal Energy | 7 | $ - | ||
| Water Energy | 8 | $ - | ||
| 15 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 196.76 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 3rd
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 17 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 2nd
UPR to HIF Rank: New Deck
The shiny new toy out of Cosmic Eclipse. With an amazing GX, there was no way ADP would have gone ignored even if it did in the first week or so. Paired with the powerful Keldeo-GX, it can be a very oppressive opponent to deal with, especially for single-prize decks with no quick answer to ADP.
Blacephalon-GX/Naganadel
| Blacephalon-GX/Naganadel | ||||
| Lucas Gusso - 4th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Blacephalon-GX | LOT | 4 | $ 10.99 | $ 43.96 |
| Poipole | FLI | 4 | $ 1.48 | $ 5.92 |
| Naganadel | LOT | 3 | $ 4.21 | $ 12.63 |
| Naganadel-GX | FLI | 1 | $ 4.25 | $ 4.25 |
| Naganadel-GX | UNM | 2 | $ 3.28 | $ 6.56 |
| Blacephalon | CEC | 1 | $ 1.79 | $ 1.79 |
| Dedenne-GX | UNB | 1 | $ 32.99 | $ 32.99 |
| 16 | $ 108.10 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Welder | UNB | 4 | $ 0.64 | $ 2.56 |
| Cynthia | UPR | 4 | $ 0.39 | $ 1.56 |
| Mallow & Lana | CEC | 2 | $ 1.49 | $ 2.98 |
| Beast Ring | FLI | 4 | $ 1.09 | $ 4.36 |
| Mysterious Treasure | FLI | 4 | $ 0.89 | $ 3.56 |
| PokeGear 3.0 | UNB | 2 | $ 0.85 | $ 1.70 |
| Cherish Ball | UNM | 2 | $ 1.45 | $ 2.90 |
| Great Catcher | COE | 2 | $ 1.19 | $ 2.38 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Ultra Space | FLI | 2 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.98 |
| Heat Factory Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 1.06 | $ 1.06 |
| 28 | $ 24.24 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Fire Energy | 14 | $ - | ||
| Psychic Energy | 1 | $ - | ||
| Beast Energy Prism | FLI | 1 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.93 |
| 16 | $ 0.93 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 133.27 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 4th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 2 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 9th
UPR to HIF Rank: 5th - 3,425 CP
Perhaps the go-to deck for many players, Blacephalon-GX has always seen success ever since it's release. It has managed to cope with the many changes in format it's gone through and come out still as strong as ever. Although it may not have gotten much from the latest set, it still does have many new Tag Teams to take advantage of.
Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius
| Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX | ||||
| Igor Costa - 14th Place - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX | COE | 3 | $ 6.99 | $ 20.97 |
| Misdreavus | UNB | 4 | $ 0.32 | $ 1.28 |
| Mismagius | UNB | 4 | $ 0.38 | $ 1.52 |
| 11 | $ 23.77 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Cynthia & Caitlin | COE | 3 | $ 3.29 | $ 9.87 |
| Bill's Analysis | HIF | 3 | $ 1.29 | $ 3.87 |
| Lt Surge's Strategy | UNB | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Mallow & Lana | COE | 2 | $ 1.49 | $ 2.98 |
| Ultra Forest Kartenvoy | UNB | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Order Pad | UPR | 4 | $ 0.66 | $ 2.64 |
| Dusk Stone | UNB | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Mysterious Treasure | FLI | 4 | $ 0.89 | $ 3.56 |
| Tag Call | COE | 4 | $ 1.99 | $ 7.96 |
| Beast Ring | FLI | 4 | $ 1.09 | $ 4.36 |
| Great Catcher | COE | 3 | $ 1.19 | $ 3.57 |
| Beast Bringer | UNB | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Acro Bike | CES | 2 | $ 0.85 | $ 1.70 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Energy Recycler | FLI | 1 | $ 0.25 | $ 0.25 |
| 41 | $ 42.96 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Psychic Energy | 4 | $ - | ||
| Dark Energy | 4 | $ - | ||
| 8 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 66.73 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 14th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 2 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: None
UPR to HIF Rank: New Deck
Of the three Dragon Tag Team Pokemon cards to come out of Cosmic Eclipse, perhaps this was the least expected to have any showing yet it did, and with two of the best players in the game to boot as well. It will see more play just for the players this deck was associated with. It has a different style of play compared to the other top decks which may interest other players.
Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX with Green's Exploration
| Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX/Greens | ||||
| Victor Vieira - 7th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX | CEC | 4 | $ 9.97 | $ 39.88 |
| Cryogonal | UNM | 2 | $ 0.21 | $ 0.42 |
| Lucario & Melmetal-GX | UNB | 1 | $ 4.49 | $ 4.49 |
| Drampa | CEC | 1 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.22 |
| 8 | $ 45.01 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Green's Exploration | UNB | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Cynthia & Caitlin | CEC | 4 | $ 3.29 | $ 13.16 |
| Mallow & Lana | CEC | 2 | $ 1.49 | $ 2.98 |
| Guzma & Hala | CEC | 1 | $ 1.49 | $ 1.49 |
| Channeler | UNM | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Tag Call | CEC | 4 | $ 2.49 | $ 9.96 |
| Custom Catcher | LOT | 4 | $ 6.28 | $ 25.12 |
| Switch | CES | 2 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.76 |
| PokeGear 3.0 | UNB | 4 | $ 0.85 | $ 3.40 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 3 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.60 |
| Great Potion | UNM | 2 | $ 1.13 | $ 2.26 |
| Energy Spinner | UNB | 2 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.48 |
| Choice Helmet | LOT | 1 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.46 |
| Great Catcher | COE | 1 | $ 1.19 | $ 1.19 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Chaotic Swell | CEC | 2 | $ 0.75 | $ 1.50 |
| Power Plant | UNB | 2 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.98 |
| 40 | $ 65.54 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Metal Energy | 5 | $ - | ||
| Water Energy | 5 | $ - | ||
| Unit Energy GRW | UPR | 1 | $ 0.48 | $ 0.48 |
| Unit Energy LPM | UPR | 1 | $ 0.37 | $ 0.37 |
| 12 | $ 0.85 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 111.40 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 7th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 7 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: None
UPR to HIF Rank: New Deck
Yup ADP again but not the version we'd thought we'd see. A card this good was bound to see many different interpreation and in the case of 7 players in day 2 of LAIC, they went with the slower build with Greens. With the likes of Cryogonal and LucMetal to help stall time, it does help ADP to charge up and hit when the time is right.
Doll Stall
| Doll Stall | ||||
| Ondrej Skubal - 8th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Jirachi | TEU | 4 | $ 11.99 | $ 47.96 |
| Flabebe | FLI | 4 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.92 |
| Florges | FLI | 4 | $ 2.98 | $ 11.92 |
| Munchlax | UNM | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Mew | UNB | 2 | $ 0.88 | $ 1.76 |
| Spiritomb | UNB | 1 | $ 0.77 | $ 0.77 |
| Latios-GX | UNM | 1 | $ 2.99 | $ 2.99 |
| 18 | $ 66.72 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Steven's Resolve | CES | 4 | $ 2.14 | $ 8.56 |
| Professor Elm's Lecture | LOT | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Lusamine | UPR | 3 | $ 0.26 | $ 0.78 |
| Bellelba & Brycen-Man | COE | 2 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.98 |
| Faba | LOT | 1 | $ 0.31 | $ 0.31 |
| Tate & Liza | CES | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Lillie's Poke Doll | COE | 4 | $ 2.00 | $ 8.00 |
| PokeGear 3.0 | UNB | 4 | $ 0.85 | $ 3.40 |
| Acro Bike | CES | 4 | $ 0.85 | $ 3.40 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 3 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.60 |
| Stealthy Hood | UNB | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Rare Candy | CES | 3 | $ 0.66 | $ 1.98 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Sky Pillar | CES | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| 41 | $ 30.61 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Rainbow Energy | CES | 1 | 0.49 | $ 0.49 |
| 1 | $ 0.49 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 97.82 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 5th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 3 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 6th
UPR to HIF Rank: New Deck
Easily my most hated deck I've played against in a long time. You just don't win. Either they mess up, miss something, or you will have your time wasted by this time. Really nothing else for me to say here.
Blacephalon UNB/Pidgeotto
| Blacephalon UNB/Pidgeotto | ||||
| Manuel Jorach - 9th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Blacephalon | UNB | 4 | $ 0.26 | $ 1.04 |
| Pidgey | TEU | 4 | $ 0.69 | $ 2.76 |
| Pidgeotto | TEU | 4 | $ 0.79 | $ 3.16 |
| Jirachi | TEU | 3 | $ 11.99 | $ 35.97 |
| Victini Prism | DRM | 1 | $ 4.49 | $ 4.49 |
| 16 | $ 47.42 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Welder | UNB | 4 | $ 0.64 | $ 2.56 |
| Professor Elm's Lecture | LOT | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Fire Crystal | UNB | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| PokeGear 3.0 | UNB | 4 | $ 0.85 | $ 3.40 |
| Fiery Flint | DRM | 3 | $ 1.28 | $ 3.84 |
| Lillie's Poke Doll | COE | 3 | $ 2.00 | $ 6.00 |
| Great Catcher | COE | 2 | $ 1.19 | $ 2.38 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Ultra Space | FLI | 3 | $ 0.49 | $ 1.47 |
| Heat Factory Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 1.06 | $ 1.06 |
| 30 | $ 22.71 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Fire Energy | 14 | $ - | ||
| 14 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 70.13 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 9th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 4 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 15th
UPR to HIF Rank: 20th - 150 CP
Blacephalon UNB is too good of a card to be ignored. People have tried to make it work by itself in a Greens version, a Turbo build ala TurboZard but perhaps the best build for it was with Pidgeotto. Air Mail helps to find all the pieces for a huge KO every turn if possible. The deck does tend to have horrid starts for time to time, leaving it suspectible to a Turn 1 donk.
Gardevoir & Sylveon-GX
| Gardevoir & Sylveon-GX | ||||
| Claudio Ferla - 13th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Gardevoir & Sylveon-GX | UNB | 4 | $ 9.99 | $ 39.96 |
| Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX | CEC | 1 | $ 4.96 | $ 4.96 |
| Omastar | TEU | 1 | $ 0.45 | $ 0.45 |
| 6 | $ 45.37 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Green's Exploration | UNB | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Coach Trainer | UNM | 3 | $ 0.95 | $ 2.85 |
| Cynthia & Caitlin | CEC | 3 | $ 3.29 | $ 9.87 |
| Mallow & Lana | CEC | 2 | $ 1.49 | $ 2.98 |
| Faba | LOT | 1 | $ 0.31 | $ 0.31 |
| Custom Catcher | LOT | 4 | $ 6.28 | $ 25.12 |
| PokeGear 3.0 | UNB | 4 | $ 0.85 | $ 3.40 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Tag Call | COE | 3 | $ 2.49 | $ 7.47 |
| Switch | CES | 3 | $ 0.38 | $ 1.14 |
| Energy Spinner | UNB | 2 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.48 |
| Tag Switch | UNM | 2 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.92 |
| Unitendified Fossil | CEC | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Rare Candy | CES | 1 | $ 0.66 | $ 0.66 |
| Great Catcher | CEC | 1 | $ 1.19 | $ 1.19 |
| Island Challenge Amulet | CEC | 1 | $ 0.48 | $ 0.48 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Choice Helmet | LOT | 1 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.46 |
| Power Plant | UNB | 4 | $ 0.49 | $ 1.96 |
| 45 | $ 61.29 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Fairy Energy | 8 | $ - | ||
| Weakness Guard Energy | UNM | 1 | 0.37 | $ 0.37 |
| 9 | $ 0.37 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 107.03 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 13th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 4 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 3rd
UPR to HIF Rank: 7th - 3,170 CP
Some still view this deck as potentially the best deck with the amount of help it has reciewed from the new set, let alone the new Dragon typing Tag Teams for it to take advantage of. It tends to have one mindset in games but it does make it's gameplan work most of the time.
Reshiram & Charizard-GX - Green's Version
| Charizard & Braixen-GX | ||||
| Daniel Abramovici - 23rd - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Charizard & Braixen-GX | CEC | 2 | $ 6.98 | $ 13.96 |
| Reshiram & Charizard-GX | UNB | 1 | $ 14.03 | $ 14.03 |
| Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX | CEC | 1 | $ 4.96 | $ 4.96 |
| Volcanion | UNB | 4 | $ 4.22 | $ 16.88 |
| Omastar | TEU | 1 | $ 0.45 | $ 0.45 |
| 9 | $ 50.28 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Green's Exploration | UNB | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Welder | UNB | 4 | $ 0.64 | $ 2.56 |
| Cynthia & Caitlin | CEC | 2 | $ 3.29 | $ 6.58 |
| Mallow & Lana | CEC | 1 | $ 1.49 | $ 1.49 |
| Faba | LOT | 1 | $ 0.31 | $ 0.31 |
| Custom Catcher | LOT | 4 | $ 6.28 | $ 25.12 |
| PokeGear 3.0 | UNB | 4 | $ 0.85 | $ 3.40 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 3 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.60 |
| Tag Call | CEC | 2 | $ 2.49 | $ 4.98 |
| Switch | CES | 2 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.76 |
| Fire Crystal | UNB | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Fierly Flint | DRM | 1 | $ 1.28 | $ 1.28 |
| Choice Helmet | LOT | 1 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.46 |
| Energy Spinner | UNB | 1 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.24 |
| Unitendified Fossil | CEC | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Rare Candy | CES | 1 | $ 0.66 | $ 0.66 |
| Great Catcher | CEC | 1 | $ 1.19 | $ 1.19 |
| Power Plant | UNB | 3 | $ 0.49 | $ 1.47 |
| Heat Factory Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 1.06 | $ 1.06 |
| 39 | $ 53.56 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Fire Energy | 12 | $ - | ||
| 12 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 103.84 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 23rd
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 2 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 8th
UPR to HIF Rank: 6th - 3,414 CP
The new GreenZard version sees a new attacker but with the same game plan in mind mostly. 180 damage and searching for 3 cards is too good of an option not to ignore. A well timed Reset Stamp still beats this deck. The lack of healing option does surprise me a bit, as Brilliant Flare would work well with it.
Quagsire/Silvally-GX
| Quagsire/Silvally-GX | ||||
| Stephane Ivanoff - 28th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Wooper | UNB | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Quagsire | DRM | 3 | $ 0.41 | $ 1.23 |
| Ditto PS | LOT | 1 | $ 6.49 | $ 6.49 |
| Type Null | UNM | 4 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.92 |
| Silvally-GX | CEC | 3 | $ 11.28 | $ 33.84 |
| Silvally-GX | UPR | 1 | $ 2.99 | $ 2.99 |
| Keldeo-GX | UNM | 2 | $ 11.99 | $ 23.98 |
| Blastoise & Piplup-GX | CEC | 2 | $ 6.99 | $ 13.98 |
| Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX | CEC | 1 | $ 4.96 | $ 4.96 |
| Mew | UNB | 1 | $ 0.88 | $ 0.88 |
| Marshadow | UNB | 1 | $ 0.88 | $ 0.88 |
| 21 | $ 90.55 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Professor Oak's Setup | CEC | 4 | $ 0.31 | $ 1.24 |
| Cynthia | UPR | 3 | $ 0.39 | $ 1.17 |
| Red & Blue | CEC | 3 | $ 1.49 | $ 4.47 |
| Mallow & Lana | CEC | 2 | $ 1.49 | $ 2.98 |
| Cynthia & Caitlin | CEC | 1 | $ 3.29 | $ 3.29 |
| Tag Call | CEC | 4 | $ 2.49 | $ 9.96 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Acro Bike | CES | 2 | $ 0.85 | $ 1.70 |
| Great Catcher | CEC | 2 | $ 1.19 | $ 2.38 |
| Choatic Swell | CEC | 3 | $ - | |
| 28 | $ 27.99 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Water Energy | 11 | $ - | ||
| 11 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 118.54 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 28th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 1 player
HeyFonte Community Rank: 14th
UPR to HIF Rank: 9th - 1,740CP
QuagNag still lives but perhaps Quagsire has a new partner to help it's cause in Silvally-GX. Paired with the new Blastoise & Piplup, some might have a hard time dealing with this Tag Team and it's ability to heal some of it's attackers. Fire decks are still a thing, so it has that going for it if it can match up with their aggression.
Malamar with Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX
| Malamar | ||||
| Renato Christian - 37th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Inkay | FLI | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Malamar | FLI | 4 | $ 0.69 | $ 2.76 |
| Jirachi | TEU | 3 | $ 11.99 | $ 35.97 |
| Giratina | LOT | 2 | $ 2.97 | $ 5.94 |
| Latios-GX | UNM | 1 | $ 2.99 | $ 2.99 |
| Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX | PR | 1 | $ 11.99 | $ 11.99 |
| Mimikyu | PR | 1 | $ 0.47 | $ 0.47 |
| Mimikyu | CEC | 1 | $ 0.51 | $ 0.51 |
| Mew | UNB | 1 | $ 0.88 | $ 0.88 |
| Blacephalon | CEC | 1 | $ 1.79 | $ 1.79 |
| 19 | $ 64.10 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Lillie | UPR | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Cynthia | UPR | 4 | $ 0.39 | $ 1.56 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Mysterious Treasure | FLI | 4 | $ 0.89 | $ 3.56 |
| Spell Tag | LOT | 3 | $ 0.83 | $ 2.49 |
| Switch | CES | 3 | $ 0.38 | $ 1.14 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Great Catcher | CEC | 1 | $ 1.19 | $ 1.19 |
| Lana's Finishing Rod | CEC | 1 | $ 0.48 | $ 0.48 |
| Viridian Forest | TEU | 3 | $ 0.42 | $ 1.26 |
| Shrine of Punishment | CES | 2 | $ 4.99 | $ 9.98 |
| 33 | $ 24.06 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Psychic Energy | 7 | $ - | ||
| Recycle Energy | UNM | 1 | 0.22 | $ 0.22 |
| $ - | ||||
| 8 | $ 0.22 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 88.38 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 25th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 4 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 5th
UPR to HIF Rank: 4th - 4,308 CP
The safest call for most players wil be Malamar. A tried-and-tested deck that has adapted to all the format changes it's been a part of, it should still thrive in this format. The arrival of ADP might scare some away fom playing Malamar. Expect it to find a way to be a strong contender in the months to come, be it with the Spell Tag version or perhaps with a Tag Team partner.
Charizard
| Charizard | ||||
| Andre Pimenta - 73rd - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Charmander | TEU | 4 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.88 |
| Charmeleon | HIF | 1 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.22 |
| Charizard | TEU | 4 | $ 1.76 | $ 7.04 |
| Jirachi | TEU | 3 | $ 11.99 | $ 35.97 |
| Mew | UNB | 1 | $ 0.88 | $ 0.88 |
| Heatran-GX | UNM | 1 | $ 2.99 | $ 2.99 |
| Hoopa | UNM | 1 | $ 0.98 | $ 0.98 |
| Ditto Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 6.49 | $ 6.49 |
| Ninetales | TEU | 1 | $ 1.95 | $ 1.95 |
| Salandit | UNM | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Salazzle | UNB | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| 19 | $ 57.80 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Welder | UNB | 4 | $ 0.64 | $ 2.56 |
| Professor Oak's Setup | CEC | 3 | $ 0.31 | $ 0.93 |
| Rosa | CEC | 2 | $ 4.30 | $ 8.60 |
| Cynthia & Caitlin | CEC | 1 | $ 1.46 | $ 1.46 |
| Tate & Liza | CES | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Brock's Grit | HIF | 1 | $ 0.25 | $ 0.25 |
| Rare Candy | CES | 4 | $ 0.66 | $ 2.64 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 3 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.60 |
| Switch | CES | 2 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.76 |
| Fiery Flint | DRM | 2 | $ 1.28 | $ 2.56 |
| Fire Crystal | UNB | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Great Catcher | CEC | 1 | $ 1.19 | $ 1.19 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 1 | $ 2.29 | $ 2.29 |
| Energy Recycler | FLI | 1 | $ 0.25 | $ 0.25 |
| Heat Factory Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 1.06 | $ 1.06 |
| 29 | $ 25.75 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Fire Energy | 12 | $ - | ||
| 12 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 83.55 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 73rd
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 1 player
HeyFonte Community Rank: None
UPR to HIF Rank: 36th - 25CP
My personal favourite deck of all time. The fact that someone in Brazil agreed with me that this is perhaps the time for Charizard TEU to take the fight to the big Tag Team boys and beat them. It may struggle to set-up but once you do, it's not hard to get 5 energies onto Charizard in one turn, which does 280 damage, knocking out almost any attacker in the game right now. It's one hit-KO potential might poke some interest in others to give this Stage 2 deck a try.
Oranguru/Pidgeotto Control
| Oranguru/Pidgeotto Control | ||||
| Patricia Walsh - 27th - LAIC | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Pidgey | TEU | 1 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 |
| Pidgey | TEU | 3 | $ 0.69 | $ 2.07 |
| Pidgeotto | TEU | 4 | $ 0.79 | $ 3.16 |
| Oranguru | UPR | 4 | $ 0.45 | $ 1.80 |
| Ditto Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 6.49 | $ 6.49 |
| Slowking | LOT | 1 | $ 0.36 | $ 0.36 |
| Articuno-GX | CES | 2 | $ 6.99 | $ 13.98 |
| Girafarig | LOT | 1 | $ 0.67 | $ 0.67 |
| 17 | $ 29.32 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Professor Elm's Lecture | LOT | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Hapu | UNM | 2 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.48 |
| Lt Surge's Strategy | UNB | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Tate & Liza | CES | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Mars | UPR | 2 | $ 0.99 | $ 1.98 |
| Jessie & James | HIF | 1 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.74 |
| Pokemon Fan Club | UPR | 1 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.24 |
| Misty & Lorelei | CEC | 1 | $ 0.36 | $ 0.36 |
| Rosa | CEC | 1 | $ 4.30 | $ 4.30 |
| Bellebel & Brycen Man | CEC | 1 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.49 |
| Faba | LOT | 1 | $ 0.31 | $ 0.31 |
| PokeGear 3.0 | UNB | 4 | $ 0.85 | $ 3.40 |
| Acro Bike | CES | 3 | $ 0.85 | $ 2.55 |
| Custom Catcher | LOT | 3 | $ 6.28 | $ 18.84 |
| Crushing Hammer | UPR | 3 | $ 0.28 | $ 0.84 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Chip Chip Ice-Axe | UNB | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Pal Pad | UPR | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Power Plant | UNB | 2 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.98 |
| 38 | $ 38.11 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Water Energy | 4 | $ - | ||
| Recycle Energy | UNM | 1 | 0.22 | $ 0.22 |
| $ - | ||||
| 5 | $ 0.22 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 67.65 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 10th
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 7 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 1st
UPR to HIF Rank: 8th - 1,893 CP
Some how this damn deck got even better. The arrival of the god awful Bellebel & Brycen Man speeds up it's win con, which had always been to lock your opponent into a game state where they cannot play the game. How "exciting".
Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
| Pikachu & Zekrom-GX | ||||
| Ramon Duarte - 2nd - LAIC League Cup | ||||
| Card | Set | Qty | Price | Total Cost |
| POKEMON | ||||
| Jirachi | TEU | 4 | $ 11.99 | $ 47.96 |
| Dedenne-GX | UNB | 3 | $ 32.99 | $ 98.97 |
| Pikachu & Zekrom-GX | TEU | 2 | $ 8.99 | $ 17.98 |
| Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX | UNM | 1 | $ 4.74 | $ 4.74 |
| Zeraora-GX | LOT | 1 | $ 16.98 | $ 16.98 |
| Zapdos | TEU | 1 | $ 1.07 | $ 1.07 |
| Tapu Koko Prism | TEU | 1 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.74 |
| Marshadow | UNB | 2 | $ 0.88 | $ 1.76 |
| 15 | $ 190.20 | |||
| TRAINER | ||||
| Volkner | UPR | 4 | $ 0.92 | $ 3.68 |
| Judge | FLI | 4 | $ 0.39 | $ 1.56 |
| Electropower | LOT | 4 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.92 |
| Electromagnetic Radar | UNB | 4 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.80 |
| Switch | CES | 3 | $ 0.38 | $ 1.14 |
| Pokemon Communication | TEU | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Energy Switch | CES | 2 | $ 0.34 | $ 0.68 |
| Reset Stamp | UNM | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Great Catcher | CEC | 2 | $ 1.19 | $ 2.38 |
| Escape Board | UPR | 2 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.40 |
| Stadium Nav | UNM | 1 | $ 0.20 | $ 0.20 |
| Tag Switch | UNM | 1 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.46 |
| Choice Helmet | LOT | 1 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.46 |
| Power Plant | UNB | 2 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.98 |
| Thunder Mountain Prism | LOT | 1 | $ 0.47 | $ 0.47 |
| 35 | $ 14.93 | |||
| ENERGY | ||||
| Lighting Energy | 10 | $ - | ||
| 10 | $ - | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | $ 205.13 | ||
LAIC Day 2 Best Result: 43rd
LAIC Day 2 Placements: 3 players
HeyFonte Community Rank: 10th
UPR to HIF Rank: 1st - 9,803 CP
The old favourite of the previous format. Sadly the deck gains a lot of bad match-ups in the new set which might make some of it's hardcore players move on to another deck, likely ADP as it has a similar style of ttack to Full Blitz but more flexible in terms of attaching energies. With the right build, PikaRom should still be a deck to keep an eye out for.
Deck Prices Comparison:
- Mewtwo & Mew-GX - $299.04
- Pikachu & Zekrom-GX - $205.13
- Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Abilities - $204.04
- Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX/Abilities - $196.76
- Blacephalon-GX/Naganadel - $133.27
- Quagsire/Silvally-GX - $118.54
- Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX/Greens - $111.40
- Gardevoir & Sylveon-GX - $107.03
- Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Greens - $103.84
- Doll Stall - $97.82
- Malamar - $88.38
- Charizard - $83.55
- Blacephalon UNB/Pidgeotto - $70.13
- Oranguru/Pidgeotto Control - $67.65
- Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius - $66.73
Tech Cards/Trainer Cards that saw a lot of play
(in terms of the decks posted on this list)
Pokemon Techs
- Jirachi - 7 Decks (3.57 Avg)
- Dedenne-GX - 5 Decks (2.4 Avg)
- Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX - 4 Decks (1 Avg)
- Ditto Prism - 4 Decks (1 Avg)
- Mew - 4 Decks (1 Avg)
To no-ones surprise, Jirachi has seen play in more than half the deck in this list, it continues to be the best way to search out important Trainer cards in the game, be it early game or mid way through or for the game winning deciding card. Mega Lopunny & Jigglypuff-GX seeing a lot of play shows how good it truly is and it being a colourless attacker, it has seen play in all different kinds of decks.
The rise of LoPuff has meant a fall in Dedenne-GX in decks, only seen play in 5 of those decks, most of them cutting their numbers of Dedenne count as well. Ditto Prism is still too important for Stage 1 decks for it to see play and Mew continues to safeguard benches in all kinds of decks.
The rise of LoPuff has meant a fall in Dedenne-GX in decks, only seen play in 5 of those decks, most of them cutting their numbers of Dedenne count as well. Ditto Prism is still too important for Stage 1 decks for it to see play and Mew continues to safeguard benches in all kinds of decks.
Trainer Cards
- Great Catcher - 12 Decks (1.67 Avg)
- Reset Stamp - 10 Decks (2.2 Avg)
- Switch - 9 Decks (2.67 Avg)
- Escape Board - 8 Decks (1.75 Avg)
- Pokemon Communication - 8 Decks (2.75 Avg)
- Mallow & Lana - 8 Decks (1.75 Avg)
- Cynthia & Caitlin - 8 Decks (2.25 Avg)
- PokeGear 3.0 - 7 Decks (3.71 Avg)
- Tag Call - 6 Decks (3 Avg)
- Welder - 6 Decks (4 Avg)
Possibly the best card out of Cosmic Eclipse, it's no wonder Great Catcher was played by all but 3 decks (two of which were stall decks and the other has Ninetales for it's gusting effects). Reset Stamp has found it's way into more decks this time around, with Turbo style decks the only one not to use it. The fact that Switch, Escape Board AND Mallow & Lana are in the top 6 used Trainer cards just shows how important switching effects are in the game right now.
Same can be said for searching effects. Poke Comm and Tag Call have been the more prominent search options and has seen more play than Mysterious Treasure or Cherish Ball, the latter having been replaced by Tag Call in Tag Team centric decks. Draw options cannot be discounted with the likes of Cynthia & Caitling, Welder and in some sense, PokeGear 3.0, rounding out the top 10. It does show how strong Fire decks are in the game right now that 6 of the top 15 decks are using Welder.
In some ways, the data shows that the perfect deck should include the following:
- 3-4 Jirachi
- 2 Dedenne-GX
- 1-2 Great Catcher
- 2 Reset Stamp
- 2-3 Switch
- 1-2 Escape Board
- 2-3 Pokemon Communication
- 1-2 Mallow & Lana
- 2 Cynthia & Caitlin
- 3-4 PokeGear 3.0
- 3 Tag Call if you're playing Tag Teams
- 4 Welder if you're using Fire Energies
If you can somehow put all that into a deck, you might be on to a winner. It will cost you a good $174.84 to pick up everything from the above list.
But if you are one of those stall/control players, everything I've said would have meant nothing as their deck counts are some of the reason these cards appear to be seen in lesser decks then they really should be in.
It is still the time for exploring and building decks and now that we've seen the meta at LAIC, it might be a good time to build a deck to counter these decks that are bound to show up at your League Cups/League Challenges/Local Games. Thanks for reading and have fun playing!
But if you are one of those stall/control players, everything I've said would have meant nothing as their deck counts are some of the reason these cards appear to be seen in lesser decks then they really should be in.
It is still the time for exploring and building decks and now that we've seen the meta at LAIC, it might be a good time to build a deck to counter these decks that are bound to show up at your League Cups/League Challenges/Local Games. Thanks for reading and have fun playing!
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