New player, need some help

[Gyousa]

Hi, I'm new to pokemon tcg and I don't have many cards or really know what I should be trying to get or build a deck with?

 

I have 500 tokens and I'm not sure which deck I should buy. my friend said something about codes as well, if anyone knows any?

 

thanks

[XK920XK]

I personally think you should take that 500 coins and get relentless flames theme deck.

 

codes can be obtained through irl packs.

[Gyousa]

I personally think you should take that 500 coins and get relentless flames theme deck.

 

codes can be obtained through irl packs.

thanks

 

why relentless flame if you dont mind me asking? what makes it so good vs the other decks?

[Otakutron]

Hi, I'm new to pokemon tcg and I don't have many cards or really know what I should be trying to get or build a deck with?

 

I have 500 tokens and I'm not sure which deck I should buy. my friend said something about codes as well, if anyone knows any?

 

thanks

 

Are you wanting something to build a Standard Format deck from or to use in the Theme Format?

 

I encourage new players focus on the Theme Format, where players use Theme Decks against each other; not only does it help you learn the game, but you can still earn the same rewards you would playing games in the Standard Format, and the tournaments (under Events in the game) for the Theme Format have a slightly lower entry fee (though also slightly lower rewards, IIRC).  For that, there is a disagreement over whether Blazing Volcano or Relentless Flame is better.  I say Blazing Volcano because it has multiple strong attackers, and a good distribution - at least for Theme Decks - between Basic, Stage 1, and Stage 2 Pokémon, as well as between Pokémon, Trainers and Energy cards.  I do not recomment Relentles Flame as I find it less reliable, as it is features two different Stage 2 lines (something tricky even in the Standard Format), and one of the cards meant to aid its reliability is one of those Stage 2 Pokémon.

 

If you do want to rush to the Standard Format, you can build an extreme budget deck, one which isn't verygood, buy buying two of the Mach Strike deck and combining the 30 best cards from each copy of Mach Strike.  I've heard talk that can be done with Relentless Flame as well, but I've not seen it done.

 

TL;DR: Go with Blazing Volcano.

[Gyousa]

Are you wanting something to build a Standard Format deck from or to use in the Theme Format?

 

I encourage new players focus on the Theme Format, where players use Theme Decks against each other; not only does it help you learn the game, but you can still earn the same rewards you would playing games in the Standard Format, and the tournaments (under Events in the game) for the Theme Format have a slightly lower entry fee (though also slightly lower rewards, IIRC).  For that, there is a disagreement over whether Blazing Volcano or Relentless Flame is better.  I say Blazing Volcano because it has multiple strong attackers, and a good distribution - at least for Theme Decks - between Basic, Stage 1, and Stage 2 Pokémon, as well as between Pokémon, Trainers and Energy cards.  I do not recomment Relentles Flame as I find it less reliable, as it is features two different Stage 2 lines (something tricky even in the Standard Format), and one of the cards meant to aid its reliability is one of those Stage 2 Pokémon.

 

If you do want to rush to the Standard Format, you can build an extreme budget deck, one which isn't verygood, buy buying two of the Mach Strike deck and combining the 30 best cards from each copy of Mach Strike.  I've heard talk that can be done with Relentless Flame as well, but I've not seen it done.

 

TL;DR: Go with Blazing Volcano.

Thank you very much for this informative post

I have noticed there is a lot of suggestions for fire type decks for new players

 

Do you think it would be clever to get a water type deck to have an advantage over them, if there are lots of players like me picking up fire decks?

 

And yes, I am focusing on theme mode for now as I don't have cards

[XK920XK]

 

 

thanks

 

 

 

why relentless flame if you dont mind me asking? what makes it so good vs the other deck

its got basically 6 draw supporters and 2 more if you count kukui. its just a nice set of trainers to get you unstuck compared to other decks. Also, it has 4 pokemons that can attack for decent damage

Edited February 20, 2019 by XK920XK

[RobRatt]

You need to recognize that Theme Decks aren't constructed to play totally consistent.  In all of them, there are too many Energy, and barely enough Pokémon evolution lines.  There is also a high degree of luck involved.  With any of them, you can "brick" or discover an essential card is in your Prizes, especially early game.  Don't expect to automatically win 90% of your games, no matter which one you've chosen  They're fun, but don't assume that the other person is a better player if you lose.  It comes with the territory.

You won't be making bad choices with any of the most recent ones (the top 10 in the game's Shop).  They're all pretty good, once you master the play style of each one.  Any of them can win a tournament.  It depends mostly on how knowledgeable you are with your own deck, knowing when to build the necessary evolutions, and when to be aggressive,  If you're too daring early in the game, it can backfire in Events (tournaments) because those players will usually "tough it out" and can make a comeback.

As a beginner, with only 500 Tokens, you'll have much better luck with Relentless Flame.  It almost plays itself.  If your essential Pokémon aren't Prized, and you get even one Nidoqueen evolved, it's usually "game over" because Charizard doesn't need Energy attachments unless it's a mammoth Stage 2 you're attacking.  And I wouldn't think of playing the Water decks, just because it's Fire.  It mows right through Empoleon and Swampert decks, more often than not.  A fully-powered Nidoqueen takes care of that problem.  It's kind of weird, but the biggest concern with Weakness is the Electric decks.  Because Relentless Flame's early strategy is to draw, draw, draw with that ugly little bird, the Ampharos deck and the Manectric in Leaf Charge can be terrible Turn 2 and 3, before you've fully evolved your attackers.

As mentioned above, it's got really good Supporters.  This will help you with custom decks too.

Edited February 20, 2019 by RobRatt

[Otakutron]

Thank you very much for this informative post

I have noticed there is a lot of suggestions for fire type decks for new players

 

Do you think it would be clever to get a water type deck to have an advantage over them, if there are lots of players like me picking up fire decks?

 

And yes, I am focusing on theme mode for now as I don't have cards

 

You can try but the available Water decks aren't quite as good as Blazing Volcano and because it seems to be a debate between Blazing Volcano and Relentless Flame, not only are people already running heavy on Water decks... but people like me are running Leaf Fury quite successfully (Leaf Fury is [G]/[L]).

 

I always recommend focusing on Theme Format at first anyway; just seems like folks are friendlier, and if you're able to put in the grind, it shouldn't take too terribly long to save up for a budget Standard deck.  Plus, experienced players who can play competitive Standard, Expanded, and even Legacy Format decks still sometimes favor Theme because we're lazy and don't want to have to worry about the latest TecH.

 

I also recommend investing your first few thousand Tokens on Theme Decks.  Anything that is less than one year old should be at least decent.

[SandaledOtter]

Thank you very much for this informative post

I have noticed there is a lot of suggestions for fire type decks for new players

 

Do you think it would be clever to get a water type deck to have an advantage over them, if there are lots of players like me picking up fire decks?

 

And yes, I am focusing on theme mode for now as I don't have cards

Those two fire type decks are recommended specifically, because they are among the best theme decks available right now.

 

When Sun&Moon was released, the people putting together the theme decks started making them MUCH better, and they easily beat almost any of the XY or B&W decks. The specific decks recommended have changed as more have come out, with each set's decks beating the last for the most part.

 

It's just chance that right now the fire decks are on top. Well, chance, and fire is usually pretty straight-forward to play.

 

Of course, if you know what you're doing you have a pretty good shot at beating fire with water, and water with grass (as Otakutron indicated), so you can follow the trends and play to beat whatever you're seeing the most of.

[Gyousa]

Thank you all so much for your advice and suggestions, I got the Entei deck and am currently on a 7 win streak, hoping to make it even longer tomorrow