New Here; Need Some Advice

[VRainbow]

Ok, so I've been playing the PTCG for a long time, but haven't really been playing competitively until I got this game. Apparently I don't know how to make a good deck, because a lot of "noobs guides to building decks" articles online go against what I've been doing. So I'm wondering if some people here could give me tips on how to create a competitively successful deck, as well as what not to do. Note that I don't really have an unlimited amount of cards like it seems everyone else does, and not a single Shaymin EX

[Deja_Entendu]

Best advice: Look at the theme decks and do the opposite of what they do. Good luck!

 

 

P.S. Don't fall into the Night March pit. You are better and stronger than that.

[VRainbow]

Night march?

Also, lol I always knew theme decks were awful, glad someone confirmed it.

[Deja_Entendu]

Night march?

Also, lol I always knew theme decks were awful, glad someone confirmed it.

 

haha. night march is a cheap deck for cheap people who like cheap things and being cheap.

[chickenman2015]

Imo these are good core cards for each format, you don't have to run all of them in 1 deck, just have all these cards on hand incase you make a deck in said format. Anyway here they are:

 

Standard:

 

2-4 Shaymin-EX or a 2-2 Octillery line

3-4 Prof Birch

2-4 Prof Sycamore

3-4 VS Seeker

3-4 Ultra Ball

2 Switch

1-2 Lysandre

 

Expanded:

 

2-4 Shaymin-EX or a 2-2 Octillery Line

3-4 N

2-4 Prof Juniper or Prof Sycamore

1-2 Colress

3-4 VS Seeker

1 Computer Search or Dowsing Machine

3-4 VS Seeker

3-4 Ultra Ball

1-2 Switch

1-2 Lysandre

 

Unlimited:

 

2-4 Shaymin-EX

2-4 Baltoy(AO 32/39), promo Celebi, or promo Sableye

3-4 Prof Oak

2-4 Prof Juniper or Prof Sycamore

1-2 Lysandre's Trump Card

2-4 VS seeker

1 Computer Search

2-4 Junk Arm

1-2 Lysandre

2-4 Ultra ball

1-2 Dual Ball

 

If I missed anything let me know, but that is a good start if you wanna make competitive decks.

 

And I agree that theme decks are complete trash and night march while cheap, is cancer and I hate it.

[Deja_Entendu]

Imo these are good core cards for each format, you don't have to run all of them in 1 deck, just have all these cards on hand incase you make a deck in said format. Anyway here they are:

 

Standard:

 

2-4 Shaymin-EX or a 2-2 Octillery line

3-4 Prof Birch

2-4 Prof Sycamore

3-4 VS Seeker

3-4 Ultra Ball

2 Switch

1-2 Lysandre

 

Expanded:

 

2-4 Shaymin-EX or a 2-2 Octillery Line

3-4 N

2-4 Prof Juniper or Prof Sycamore

1-2 Colress

3-4 VS Seeker

1 Computer Search or Dowsing Machine

3-4 VS Seeker

3-4 Ultra Ball

1-2 Switch

1-2 Lysandre

 

Unlimited:

 

2-4 Shaymin-EX

2-4 Baltoy(AO 32/39), promo Celebi, or promo Sableye

3-4 Prof Oak

2-4 Prof Juniper or Prof Sycamore

1-2 Lysandre's Trump Card

2-4 VS seeker

1 Computer Search

2-4 Junk Arm

1-2 Lysandre

2-4 Ultra ball

1-2 Dual Ball

 

If I missed anything let me know, but that is a good start if you wanna make competitive decks.

 

And I agree that theme decks are complete trash and night march while cheap, is cancer and I hate it.

Good lists.

[Felidae_]

haha. night march is a cheap deck for cheap people who like cheap things and being cheap.

Way to start introducing people to the competitive world.

 

“Don't play this deck, it's cheap. Don't play that one either, it's lame. Oh and don't even think about playing that one.”

 

As a general tip I'd suggest that you start by posting one or two of your decks here, so we can actually have a look at them, as it is fairly difficult to help in in terms of deck building (i.e. what to avoid / what to focus on) if we don't have a basis to work on in the first place.

 

Otherwise I'd also advice you to check some decks from recent tournaments, just to get a feel how Pokemon / Trainer / Supporter / Energy are divided in the top decks. While you don't have to copy such deck-lists card by card it should be noted that it's usually better to start by leeching on the experience of veterans, instead of coming up with your own creation, at least if you really want to start playing more “serious”. Creativity shouldn't be stifled, but we need to learn how to crawl, before we can run .

This weekend the Winter Regional Championship from St. Louis will be streamed, so you might want to check out a couple of games there, as the stream will usually feature good commentary, a look at decks between the rounds and so forth.

Infos about the stream can be found here: http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/winter-regional-championships-2016/stream-information/

 

Other site that are worth checking out include http://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/ , 60cards, the charizardlongue, 6prizes, pokebeach and many more, where you'll find articles and discussions around the meta game, the top decks and the game in general.

[chickenman2015]

As a general tip I'd suggest that you start by posting one or two of your decks here, so we can actually have a look at them, as it is fairly difficult to help in in terms of deck building (i.e. what to avoid / what to focus on) if we don't have a basis to work on in the first place.

Good idea!

 

This deck is probably my only favorite standard deck. It is quite good and fairly easy to get Darkrai set up on turn 1.

 

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

 

Pokémon - 9

 

3 Shaymin-EX ROS 106

3 Darkrai-EX BKP 118

2 Malamar-EX PHF 115

1 Jirachi PR-XY XY67

 

Trainer Cards - 38

 

4 Ultra Ball PLF 122

2 Energy Switch ROS 109

3 Professor Birch's Observations PRC 159

1 Hex Maniac AOR 75

3 Switch PRC 163

3 Shadow Circle XY 126

2 Acro Bike PRC 122

3 Professor Sycamore XY 122

1 Skyla BCR 149

4 VS Seeker ROS 110

3 Muscle Band XY 121

1 Judge UL 78

4 Max Elixir BKP 102

4 Trainers' Mail AOR 100

 

Energy - 13

 

4 Double Colorless Energy HS 103

9 Darkness Energy CL 94

 

Total Cards - 60

 

****** Deck List Generated by Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******

[VRainbow]

First, I would like to clarify I'm oly going to be compeditive in the online game, not IRL. Ok, here are 2 decks I have made so far online, they are the ones that have won the most games for me.

Pokémon:

• Eevee x 3 FF (am I doing the expansion letters right? Also, when should I not do expansion letters? lol)
• Sylveon x 2 FF
• Tornadus x 2 FF
• Rayquaza EX x1 XY69 promo
• M Rayquaza EX x1 AO
• Spritzee x1 XY
• Aromatisse x1 XY
• Xerneas x3 XY
• Xerneas EX x1 XY

Trainers:

• Energy Recycler x1
• Energy Retrieval x3
• Evosoda x3
• Great Ball x1
• Professors Letter x2
• Trick Shovel x1
• Ultra Ball x2
• Pokémon Center Lady x3
• Teammates x1
• Trevor x2
• Fairy Garden x2
• Healing Scarf x1
• Rayquaza Spirit Link x1

Energies:

• Double Colorless x3
• Fairy x20

And my second.

Pokémon:

• Regigigas x1 XY-PF
• Tornadus x1 FF
• Bronzor x2 XY-PF
• Bronzong x1 XY-PF
• Metagross EX x1 XY34 promo
• M Metagross EX x1 XY35 promo
• Scizor EX x1 BP
• Articuno x2 RS
• Lapras x1 BP
• Palkia x2 XY75 promo

Trainers:

• Dive Ball x3
• Evosoda x2
• Potion x3
• Professors Letter x3
• Super Potion x2
• Ultra Ball x3
• Archies Ace In The Hole x2
• Tierno x2
• Trevor x2
• Xerosic x1
• Reverse Valley x1
• EXP Share x2

Energies:

• Shield x1
• Splash x1
• Metal x7
• Water x11

Is there a faster way to put up the cards? Typing this took forever

Feel free to criticize, that's why I put them here! Thanks for all your help! I'll make a checklist of the cards to look out for! 

[pokemasterTz]

First, I would like to clarify I'm oly going to be compeditive in the online game, not IRL. Ok, here are 2 decks I have made so far online, they are the ones that have won the most games for me.

Pokémon:

• Eevee x 3 FF (am I doing the expansion letters right? Also, when should I not do expansion letters? lol)
• Sylveon x 2 FF
• Tornadus x 2 FF
• Rayquaza EX x1 XY69 promo
• M Rayquaza EX x1 AO
• Spritzee x1 XY
• Aromatisse x1 XY
• Xerneas x3 XY
• Xerneas EX x1 XY

Trainers:

• Energy Recycler x1
• Energy Retrieval x3
• Evosoda x3
• Great Ball x1
• Professors Letter x2
• Trick Shovel x1
• Ultra Ball x2
• Pokémon Center Lady x3
• Teammates x1
• Trevor x2
• Fairy Garden x2
• Healing Scarf x1
• Rayquaza Spirit Link x1

Energies:

• Double Colorless x3
• Fairy x20

And my second.

Pokémon:

• Regigigas x1 XY-PF
• Tornadus x1 FF
• Bronzor x2 XY-PF
• Bronzong x1 XY-PF
• Metagross EX x1 XY34 promo
• M Metagross EX x1 XY35 promo
• Scizor EX x1 BP
• Articuno x2 RS
• Lapras x1 BP
• Palkia x2 XY75 promo

Trainers:

• Dive Ball x3
• Evosoda x2
• Potion x3
• Professors Letter x3
• Super Potion x2
• Ultra Ball x3
• Archies Ace In The Hole x2
• Tierno x2
• Trevor x2
• Xerosic x1
• Reverse Valley x1
• EXP Share x2

Energies:

• Shield x1
• Splash x1
• Metal x7
• Water x11

Is there a faster way to put up the cards? Typing this took forever

Feel free to criticize, that's why I put them here! Thanks for all your help! I'll make a checklist of the cards to look out for! 

Yes, there is a faster way, you can export lists from the deck manager! Also, I made a guide for newer players, linked in my signature. There is detailed advice there, and it addresses a few common mistakes. Hope it helps!