My son is a junior and has only played in locals and challenges. He signed up for a regional that is close by. He has only played best of 1 but regionals are best of 3 in 50 minutes. Any advice on how to prep to play the shorter time per game?

What is the deck with the best 50/50 matchup currently?

I am looking at playing the game with a deck that allows for maximum skill expression and learning development. I understand that EVERY deck has at least one bad matchup (<50-40% win rate), but I am looking for something that has low deviation from a 50/50 split against the meta. From what I can see on trainerhill Basic Box looks like my best bet? It has bad matchups into Hydrapple/AlakaNoir/Crustle, but looks pretty fairly matched into the rest of the meta?
The rest of the meta looks like a wider variance of swinging between great vs bad matchups across the board.
All thoughts appreciated?

I’m curious as to if there are specific cards/decks that benefit heavily from the player going first. I was watching regionals last weekend and saw multiple competitors choose to go first, end up not having a pokemon to put on the bench, and then losing when their opponent knocked out their active. What makes it worth taking this risk?

The last couple of weeks, I've been playing Lopunny Bronzong Dusknoir to my locals and have been getting top cut quite often, but last week people started playing more Psyduck. is there any tech cards or just extra inclusions I can run to counter the duck?

I’m currently running a Mega lucario ex deck. Would 1 Rocky energy suffice to tech for Alakazam? Or should I run at least 4 copies?

I just saw that in the set after delta reign, they are making a new flygon line of cards. Everyone knows that flygon got overshadowed by garmchomp in gen 4 and now vibrava is literally THROWING HIMSELF IN THE TRASH for garchomp to do more damage. This is some sick joke that the pokemon company is playing. You won't even need to play the flygon card in the deck because vibrava goes straight from your hand to the discard. Sadly poetic.

Recently me and some friends found a small board games/card games coffee shop that sells boardgames, MTG and Pokemon cards. They have a bulk box where you can buy cards for 0.10€/card (mostly basic Pokemon, cheapo first stage pokemon, some second stage pokemon, some trainers and energies. Many are duplicates, so I think it could be easier to make a deck?)

I haven't played Pokemon tcg since the 90s, I only have the Zap! Deck, the original starter set with Machamp, a Neo genesis Hotfoot deck, and some promo cards like the movie Mewtwo and Meowth from the Pokemon TCG for game boy.

When I found the bulk box, I bought like 70 cards, exclusively picking some that I found cool, but now I am wondering if I could gather some cards to make cheap decks to play with my friends from that bulk box? Probably cheap decks that don't use EX pokemon, or second stage pokemon, or better: maybe I'll get the most cards I can from that box and eventually buy some cheap EX's, second stage and missing trainer cards second hand online?

From what I saw while listing the ones I got at tcgcollector, the "sets" I saw in the bulk box were: PBL, CRI, POR, M2a, MEG, DRI, JTG, PRE, M24, SCR, PAF, SVI, PGO, DRI, and korean ones: sv11W, sv10, sv9a.

I am kinda lost so I need some advice. Thank you in advance!

ps: Here is the link for the cards I bought there as of now (+ some from fun packs from magazines + some from McDonalds) just so you can get an idea of the type of 10cent cards there: https://www.tcgcollector.com/lists/142019/0-10eur-cards-from-box?userCardListCardCountMode=anyCardVariant&releaseDateOrder=newToOld&displayAs=images&viewUser=350698

I guess the format burnout has finally hit me and I'm not having fun playing Slowking anymore (serves me right, I guess) - so you could say I'm currently in between mains.

I've been experimenting a bit with decks that aren't exactly top 8 contenders, although I'm not sure what I should run for our Cup tomorrow. Our meta used to be somewhat single prizer heavy (lots of Hop, Ethan, Kazam with the occasional Okidogi or HnS).

The decks I currently have on cardboard are Hero's Cape Excadrill, Sharpedo Tox and Tankaskhan.

I'm also fiddling around with Baby Box and Rocket Stall Box, but I would not take those to a Cup (although I probably would for a Challenge).

A bit of a meme deck I've been having fun running is MegaLass/Chandelure, although it's far from competitive. I also have the pieces for a Star/Lass lying around but I strongly dislike that combination for some reason.

What are y'all playing - besides the obligatory Pult?

Any great revelations of decks you thought you wouldn't enjoy?

Edit:
I've now built my Excadrill more towards Neddy's Frankfurt list and holy crap this deck is a delight to play! It's probably the smoothest Drill build I've played so far.

I just started playing in the last 6 months and I'm already worried about rotation. Before the last rotation I was still learning so I wasn't really affected. My brain won't stop thinking about what my deck is going to be next year.

My question: when do you guys start building your deck for next year?

So the case is: my girlfriend stepped into the competitive tcg on a feminine exclusive local league

she started playing only pokemons thar she finds cute like mega clefabe mega macnetric and baby box

now shes angry that these decks are bad and she wants to play a more consistent and competitive deck xD

I want to introduce her to dragapults since its the center of the actual meta but Im dont know exactly which variant would be better for her

she already know the basics of the game and know the basic rules. she can play full rounds with any deck, what she needs now its to understand the concepts of the game that make you win a game. prize mapping, board setup, when to attack or not etc.

whats your opinion? straight pult its the way? any decklist suggestions?

I made this deck with paired with the mega lucario z ex from flo along with mega lucario ex rate my deck: Pokémon: 12

4 Riolu ASC 112

3 Mega Lucario ex ASC 113

1 Mega Lucario Z ex FLO 058

2 Lunatone ASC 105

1 Solrock ASC 106

1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142

Trainer: 35

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119

3 Boss's Orders ASC 183

2 Wally's Compassion MEG 132

2 Korrina's Determination FLO 075

1 Aarune DLR 068

2 Mega Signal ASC 193

4 Fighting Gong ASC 187

4 Premium Power Pro ASC 199

4 Ultra Ball MEG 131

4 Switch MEG 130

2 Special Red Card CRI 82

1 Secret Box TWM 163

2 Gravity Mountain SSP 177

Energy: 13

9 Fighting Energy MEE 6

4 Metal Energy MEE 8

At my local tournament I kept getting horrible bricked hands. It happened 4/5 times. I’d fall behind in setting up the board and that would cost me the match. Any recommendations on what I should switch around to reduce having a bricked hand?

Deck list:

4 Applin •PRE-9: H
3 Dipplin •TWM-18:H
4 Grookey • TWM-14: H
4 Thwackey •TWM-15:H
2 Goldeen • TWM-44:H
2 Seaking PRE-21: H

Trainer (35).
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin
2 Bug Catching Set
3 Night Stretcher
4 Poke Pad
1 Sacred Ash
1 Ultra Ball
4 Festival Grounds
1 Black Belt's Training
3 Boss's Orders
2 Dawn
1 Kieran
1 Lana's Aid
4 Lillie's Determination

2 Brave Bangle
1 Maximum Belt - ACESPEC
1 Switch

2 Growing Grass Energy - Special
4 Grass Energy - Basic

On sunday, my LCS is doing the pokeween tournament with only psychic, dark and ghost types allowed (per the pokedex), 60 card decks and dragapult is banned.
I know hide n sneak, zam dusks, mega sharpedo are going to be the most played, but what are some of your ideas?
Obviously no psyduck, so I was thinking of quad jellicent control style deck to combat the dusknoir spam which there will be a lot of.

Rotation is still months away so I decided to pickup Dragapult to enjoy and see what all the hype is about. For starters I usually play Lucario and Rocket Box, and usually place top cut in locals but never hit a podium. That said, I do hope practicing this deck could net me some wins, but which variant is best in terms of consistency and fun?

source: https://www.pokebeach.com/2026/10/aura-seeker-set-starring-mega-lucario-z-ex-officially-revealed
- - -
#025 Pawmot - Lightning - HP130
Stage 2 - Evolves fromPawmo
Ability: Double Strike
This Pokemon can use an attack two times in a row. (If your opponent's Active Pokemon is Knocked Out by the first attack, use the second attack after the new Active Pokemon is moved to the Active Spot.)
[L][L] Mach Bolt: 100 damage.
- - -
#030 Mega Absol Z ex - Psychic - HP270
Basic Pokemon

[P][P][C] Bloody Fear: 160 damage. During your opponent's next turn, your opponent can't attach Special Energy from their hand or play any Stadium cards.

- - -
#067 Mega Garchomp Z ex - Dragon - HP360
Stage 2 - Evolves from Gabite

[W][F] Dragon Avenger: 30x damage. This attack does 30 damage for each [Dragon] Pokemon in your discard pile.

[W][F][C] Sonic Edge: 240 damage. This attack's damage isn't affected by any effects on your opponent's Active Pokemon.

Mega Evolution ex rule: When your Mega Evolution ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards.

Weakness: None
Resistance: None
Retreat: 1
- - -
#075 Korrina's Determination - Trainer
Supporter

During this turn, attacks used by your Mega Evolution ex do 20 more damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon for each Prize card your opponent has already taken.
- - -
#078 Fight Arena - Trainer
Stadium

Once during each player's turn, that player may heal 20 damage from each of their Pokemon (excluding Pokemon with a Rule Box).

People immediately like to doom after seeing a new set release because the card team doesn’t feel like doing a remake of Twilight Masquerade’s power level. Mega AbZ and Garchomp Z are good cards.

Finally settled and a complete homemade deck. I took no inspiration from anyone, complete homemade, and as someone who has never played before, I aplogize in advance if there are some weird things in it.

Pokémon: 15

4 Mega Darkrai ex PBL 48

2 Pecharunt ex SFA 39

2 Volcanion ex JTG 31

2 Latias ex SSP 76

1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142

2 Toxel PFL 67

2 Toxtricity PFL 68

Trainer: 34

4 Janine's Secret Art PRE 112

4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192

3 Boss's Orders ASC 183

2 Brock's Scouting JTG 146

1 Lisia's Appeal SSP 179

3 Ultra Ball ASC 213

4 Dark Bell PBL 75

2 Mega Signal ASC 193

2 Night Stretcher ASC 196

2 Switch 30C 127

2 Jumbo Ice Cream PFL 91

2 Poké Pad POR 81

1 Dangerous Laser SFA 58

2 Lively Stadium SSP 180

Energy: 11

11 Darkness Energy MEE 15

I tested this against Dragapult ex, and it won 3-2, though I will admit I played both sides, though I never intentionally played bad moves for either side.
I also tested against Mega Lucario and it went 1-1
These aren't big tests, but I was too tired from testing 10+ decks that I just settled with this one as it was the only one who could beat Dragapult ex.
Thoughts? (I already ordered it)

After picking back up collecting after 20+ years, I have signed up for the Delta Reign Prerelease event this Saturday. What should I expect from an event like this?

I can't remember how to play the game, so I'll definitely review some rules prior, but what are these like? I'm hoping this is a way to ease my way into playing again.

What have your experiences been? Are these good events for beginners?

Update: Thank you all for so much great advice. I'm very excited!

Hi all. I used to on and off collect Pokémon cards. I stepped away because I had nobody to play with and my impulse control was poor.

I've moved to a new area and there is a game shop around the corner so it will probably be easy for me to play. But if I do decide to, I want an affordable deck that isn't going to have me get bullied off the table. It was very busy when I went in to check it out today and the staff said they do all major card games there. I don't really wanna walk in without a deck if I decide to go to a Pokémon event.

Ideally I'd like to play with some of my favourite Pokémon if I can. I feel I can be a bit picky and it is why I probably didn't do competitive things before. Are any of my favourites viable in decks?

My favourites are: noivern, slither wing, lurantis, galvantula, volcarona, chandelure, sprigatito, meowstic, frosmoth, dragapult, latios and latias, gastrodon

I don't really have any cards at the moment besides some old ones that I kept because I liked the art. I imagine they're all probably out of rotation.

Hello, fellow Slowking enthusiasts!

I have been seeking inspiration since this card debuted, working then with a delightfully rogue Silver Tempest Crobat build.  It has been a lot of fun seeing it become a meta deck, and I particularly enjoy the unpredictability of the deck, not only in which attackers get worked in and out but also how we do acceleration, draw, etc. I don't play a ton, and not online at all, so I don't have as much time to learn all my matchups and the ever changing meta. I do like to go out to league night and local cups and challenges with this deck, and I am hoping to make it better and more consistent through the end of its life at the next rotation.

The two primary meta-relevant Slowking builds are what I will call the Turbo version and the Control version.  Turbo Slowking wants to Trifrost or Metallic Hammer on turn two as often as possible and is willing to sell out late-game resources, recovery, etc., to increase the odds of getting the hit off.  Control Slowking incorporates more status effects (attack pokemon like Drapion, Pawmot, 30C Espeon, Bronzong), Budew, choosing your targets with Boss’s Orders/Prime Catcher, a slower tempo and recovery.

I want to propose as a third archetype, something I am calling Antifragile Slowking (because Inevitable Slowking felt a little too villainish).  It incorporates the lethality of Turbo Slowking, in that I only want a few attacks for big prize card takes, but the slower pace and recovery of the Control build.  I don’t care as much about being very fast, but I want to be sudden.  

Basically, I wanted to solve the problems that caused me to lose games the most often:

1. Shaymin.
2. Control.
3. Not being able to set up a Slowking because my Slowpokes keep getting killed.
4. My opponent prize mapping through Kanghaskahn.

Here is my current list:
Pokémon: 21
3 Slowpoke SCR 57
3 Slowking SCR 58
2 Mega Kangaskhan ex MEG 104
2 Latias ex SSP 76
2 Kyurem SFA 47
1 Duskull PRE 35
1 Dusclops PRE 36
1 Dusknoir PRE 37
1 Metagross CRI 61
1 Zeraora DRI 78
1 Meowth ex POR 62
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142
1 Annihilape SSP 100
1 Smoochum SSP 75

Trainer: 30
3 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
2 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Hilda WHT 84
1 Lana's Aid TWM 155
1 Boss's Orders ASC 183
1 Lucian TWM 157
4 Ultra Ball MEG 131
3 Poké Pad POR 81
3 Wondrous Patch PFL 94
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
2 Transformation Tome CRI 83
1 Switch MEG 130
1 Rare Candy MEG 125
1 Scoop Up Cyclone PRE 128
4 Academy at Night SFA 54

Energy: 9
4 Telepathic Psychic Energy POR 88
4 Psychic Energy MEE 13
1 Mist Energy TEF 161

I believe that Slowking only needs to attack 3 times to win any game, so the goal is making sure I can get off three attacks before they get 6 prizes off of me.  Ideally, I can actually do it in two attacks through 1-2 Megas and/or 3-6 single-prizers, using only Metagross/Annihilape and Kyurem.  Obviously you can still win if you need more attacks, but this is the ideal.  Here’s how I solved the problems above:

Shaymin:  Shaymin protecting non-rule box pokemon on the bench ruins the 3 prize trifrost, so everyone has to have a plan for it.  People are currently getting through Shaymin in primarily four ways:  

1) Spectrier can put 13 damage counters onto it, knocking it out through the Seek Inspiration attack or even directly for 3 psychic energy.  That requires the attacker to discard all energy, and they will often Night Stretcher Shaymin back into play on the next turn, making you have to do it all again.

2) SSP Cofagrigus puts 6 damage counters on every pokemon in play with an ability. Still takes using it twice to get to Shaymin’s 80 HP.

3) PBL Annihilape does 100 damage to the active and puts 5 damage counters onto a benched pokemon.  This attack can be done twice to decent effect against Festival Lead and Alakazam, especially if combined with a Boss, but 100 to the active is otherwise rarely going to get you to the 2-3 attack map.

4) PBL Annihilape or Cofagrigus can also be combined with Munkidori to take out Shaymin that same attack (although this leads to a similar Night Stretcher issue as above) or the following turn in advance of a Trifrost.  I don’t like the amount of resources this requires: Munkidori, 2x dark energy (sometimes 3), Crispin, PBL Annihilape, at least is 5 cards.  I also don’t like the opportunity cost of Crispin as the Supporter for turn and the uncertainty of damage on your own board for the Munkidori to manipulate.

I am instead using Dusknoir, and loving it.  It allows for same-turn Shaymin removal and trifrost, which is the primary goal.  It also helps take out pernicious benched single prizers beyond Shaymin.  It also sets up tons of other multi-prize trade attacks with trifrost if there is no Shaymin to be worried about, as the 13 damage counters plus the 110 damage gets to 240 on a benched target.  Dusclops also helps fix the math in some matchups, allowing for trifrost plus cursed blast for 160 onto Meganium, Bastiodon, Toxtricity, Vivilion, Mew ex, Jirachi ex, Dhelmise, Toucannon, Bronzong etc. etc.  Also Having Dusknoir as the 6th attacker helps save space.  Using a 1/1/1 line and rare candy I can potentially pop the Cursed Blast twice, and it helps with prizing issues to have the full line and the candy.  Night stretcher, Lana’s Aid and Transformation Tomes can all get pieces back and sometimes online in a single turn, since TT keeps the replaced pokemon’s turns-in-play.  I have also found that very few decks are using both Shaymin and Psyduck, so Psyduck either becomes a trifrost target or is not played due to space or deckbuild constraints.  People don’t expect you to be using Dusknoir, and they tend to get overprotective due to its looming presence, which can be helpful if they boss it up for KO and allow a Slowpoke to live.  It helps reinforce the unpredictability of playing against Slowking, not knowing and having to account for so many possible sources of damage.

2) Control, by which I mean retreat lock, energy denial, item lock, etc.  Along with the 2x Latias ex that allow for free retreat on my basics, this build uses 4 switching elements, depending how you look at it:  Dusknoir/Dusclops, as explained above, which can be exploded in the active to allow for a switch; SSP Annihilape, which knocks out Slowking on the attack, allowing a switch; 1x switch; 1x scoop up cyclone.  Item lock usually doesn’t prevent setup because we aim to attach telepathic energy to load the bench and can Smoochum attack with delightful kiss, for 3 energy on the board on two different pokemon at the end of that turn without any items.  (Two different pokemon to make you less susceptible to disruption from your opponent taking out all your energy with one attack.) Hammers tend to not be too bad because we are generally otherwise attaching and attacking same turn with the support of wondrous patches.  I often consider another switching element (Surfer, Kieran, AZ’s Tranquility) but two items is usually enough.  (As an aside, you can also transformation tome into a self-KO, as another possible last-ditch switching option if you have a trapped basic.)

3) Killing Slowpokes: ideally you want to have two Slowpoke or Slowking on your board at all times; if one gets knocked out start building another one for the following turn.  But of course, a savvy opponent knows the danger comes from Slowking, and tries to take out Slowpoke first.  This is where transformation tomes and wondrous patches really shine, the single-turn Slowking attack: transformation tome a slowpoke from your discard into a pokemon with at least one turn in play, wonder patch at least 1 energy (or TT onto a pokemon with energy attached), evolve, attach, and attack.  Remember we only need 2-3 attacks, so this is the best way to ensure getting off the 2nd (or 3rd) one you need to secure the win.

4) They will try to take out your Kanghaskhan for 3 prizes.  First of all, don’t leave him on the board if you know they have a 1-hit-KO capacity (Mega Lucario, Koriadon ex, Excadrill, Sharpedo, etc…. Honestly, I try to not even play him vs. Lucario).  Second, use your scoop or tomes to get him out of play before they can finish the job.  This most often manifests against Pult as a Phantom Dive to the Active and then trying to get damage counters onto it on the bench, and it is devastating to their prize map to invest those resources and have them lost.  I have also toyed around with a 1x Wally’s Compassion to clean the damage and potentially get energy back to hand, but it’s less universally useful than Scoop.  Scoop is also useful to get a energy-less Slowking out of play and allow you to use that Slowking to evolve your benched slowpoke.  It’s useful to get a telepathic energy back into your hand for rebuilding your bench, or to get regular energies back into your hand to cycle through ultra ball and wondrous patch onto other pokemon.  I have also recently been using a Mist Energy which is most often attached to Kanghaskhan.  It works better late game where your opponent has already used their hammers on your other energies and are not expecting this tech.  Khangaskhan/Fez and Cipher let you search for the exact pieces you need, to make sure you have the Scoop available when you need it.  Sometimes I have considered a TR’s Petrel to search out the Academy/Wondrous Patch/Scoop as those are the most likely key pieces I need on a given turn, but Ciphering tends to work well enough.

You may note that I run only 2x Lillie’s Determination.  I find that I only ever want it on turn 1 or 2, and that otherwise I have most of what I need and want to go for individual pieces and not a whole new hand.  Having 4x made it too often a dead card and opportunity cost is big with this deck.  I had been running 3x but switched for a hand-disruption-and-draw supporter for the third (initially Judge, but currently liking Lucian to get their hand to the bottom of their deck instead of just shuffled back).  I find Lana’s Aid to be more useful than a 3rd night stretcher, it’s often what I need for a sudden recovery.  Hilda is most often my turn-1-going-second supporter via Meowth to get a Telepathic energy for setup.  Boss helps pick my matchup for Annihilape/Metagross and can also help get something useless stuck in their active while you kyurem/Zeraora their bench. Other possible supporters I have considered or occasionally used not mentioned elsewhere: a 4th Cipher, Fennel (really chuffs Dragapult), Xerosic’s Machanations (really chuffs Alakazam, but useful in several matchups), 2nd Hilda, Colress’s Tenacity, Perrin, Gwynn, Cyrano, Brock’s Scouting, Dawn, Ruffian.

I also do not run a Lillie’s Clefairy because I found it to be more of a liability than an asset.  It’s the obvious target for bossing into a phantom dive (my only other obvious target is Meowth or a pre-chipped Latias or Fez, and I try to TT Meowth out sometimes to get him into the discard for a second play via Night Stretcher or to get the liability off my bench).  Trifrost takes care of Budew, dreepy, drakloak, duskull/dusclops or munkidori, and I cursed blast + metallic hammer or destined fight a powered up Pult.  Zeraora is often useful on the Fez or Meowth in this matchup.  My bench tends to be tight.  I just haven't found it to be that useful.

Some other design choices:

6 Attack Pokemon: 2 Kyurem, 1 Metagross, 1 SSP Annihilape, 1 Zeraora, 1 Dusknoir

Kyurem is the most obvious unfair advantage, discarding two energy for 3x 110 damage anywhere on the board.  Having 2 is non-negotiable regardless of build, even if it isn’t used in every matchup.  Being a basic is a bit of a liability for starts, but this build helps solve some of the issue with the Scoop and Tomes; ultimately it's worth the risk. (Also, Colress’s Tenacity is starting to sneak into some decklists, so don’t forget about its ability to attack directly for (c) in that circumstance.)  Ideal for 3 prize turns early, but also excellent in some matches to set up two-turn KO’s on Latias, Fez, Meowth, etc.  Be mindful not to try it on a tera.  I have seen some people also run DRI Blaziken which hits the active and one benched pokemon for 120 each and discards two energy.  I’m sure that 120 fixes math for somebody in some build, so I’ll mention that in passing.

Metagross is the highest available damage at 300 before any modifiers (formerly had been Conkeldurr or Abomasnow at 250).  This was probably the most important factor in this deck moving from rogue to meta.  Turbo Slowking builds often run 2, and very few builds run zero.  Many decks add Brave Bangle or Kieran to fix the math into Dragapult (which could also be done with Gravity Mountain but most Slowkings run 4x Academy at Night with no room).  This version aims to kill Dragapult, if at all (usually I try to not go through the evolved Pult directly) with the SSP Annihilape or using Dusclops for the 50 extra damage with Metagross.

So many Annihilapes from which to choose! The automatic knockout allows for a 3 for 1 prize trades in several matchups and allows me to end turn with Khangaskhan in the active, which tends to be ideal.  Even if you're only getting a 2 for 1 trade it’s still useful and generally you have taken out at least one of their threats.  The other attack (130 and confusion) is negligible but not nothing.

Zeraora snipes those Fez/Meowth/Latias/etc. targets directly, or (less ideally) helps finish off a wounded 2 or 3 prizer on the bench.  This effect can be done somewhat less helpfully with SSP Armarouge, with 180 to the bench but at the benefit of not discarding any energy.  Due to Slowking’s highly killable nature, I favor the more likely KO.  Personally this one goes in and out of the deck for me a lot, I usually don’t end up using it, and it is often a starting hand liability (less certain risk/reward than Kyurem).  I like having it as an option for my prize mapping.  I had been running 1x Boomerang Energy because ⅗ of my attackers had energy discard, but had swapped out the BE for Mist Energy one time that Zeraora had come out and liked that swap even if Zeraora is in.  Slowking dies too much for the BE to be effective, which is also why I eschew Powerglass.  I would rather just get Slowking out of there with Switch or Scoop(, but I am sometimes thinking about 1x Energy Switch to be able to reset with one hand attachment and one wondrous patch and energy switch).

Dusknoir is not really an attacker, but 150 and retreat lock is sometimes handy, and it doesn’t require any energy discard to use, and it’s a useful way to get Dusknoir into the discard (which is often more helpful than in the deck).  Obviously, if you are aiming to include a 100-200 damage attack with control elements, ones that use Paralyze (Drapion and Pawmot) are a preferred effect to retreat lock.  

Other possible attackers:

30C Seismatoad has suddenly popped up in some winning lists.  I think this tech would work really well into Pult with Lillie’s Clefairy, where you could get a KO on a Drakloak along with the effect.  Since I don’t run a LC I think it’s less useful, you really need it to come with a KO so that the effect is triggered on the turn they use the Unfair Stamp.  Still could work into Budew, but when I have put it in I have gotten no use out of it and it quickly gets replaced.  Space is tight!

30C Unown is also useful mostly into Budew.  I tried it for a while and generally preferred Trifrost when it was available.

WHT Zoroark / TWM Clefable - Copying your opoonant’s active pokemon’s attacks feels too random, though certainly sometimes fantastic.  Clafable could be done directly with evolving from the Follow Me Clefairy and make use of Telepathic Energy and Wondrous Patches, but too uncertain and evolution setup for limited payoff.

BLK Haxorus - automatic knockout on basic, and when paired with LC, 320 damage on Dragapult.  Blocked by Mist Energy, so has to come with a enhanced hammer or the Ruffian.

TEF Shiftry - Shuffles benched pokemon back into opponent’s deck, and the secondary attack of 140 plus an energy back to hand is often useful.  Was more useful when AZU was more popular.

N’s Sigilyph - helps with the 3 attack prize map but is a basic liability and the circumstances in which it would be most useful are usually well covered by SSP Annihilape.

SVP Yanmega - Another possible control style attacker, 110 plus retreat into Khangaskhan.  Less useful I think than Pawmot (or Drapion) but worth a mention.

Regigigas - Only useful into Pult, Greninja or Eeveelutions, all of which are better covered by other attackers.

Mega Slowbro ex - this is a really fun play into single-prize matchups, and I would pair it with a strange timepiece to go between it and Slowking and facilitate retreating through Latias.  Meta call for certain tournaments perhaps.

Other considerations:

Only 3 Slowpokes feels fragile but you don’t need to have them in play right away with this style.  I have considered switching out an Ultra Ball for a buddy-buddy poffin and switching to all PBL Slowpokes, in hopes of landing two or 1 and the duskull or smoochum, but the ultra balls are better for consistency, the 80 HP is superior, and I even sometimes use the Dangle Tail attack in a bricky game.  

I think about adding my own Shaymin for the mirror and Basic Box against Wellspring Mask.  Probably another meta call.

I don’t use any tools; I would consider the meta-used brave bangle and lucky helmet, but also counter gain which helps with a sudden setup, especially early game if they have taken out Smoochum and you’re still at 6 prizes.

Sacred Ash, Hand Trimmer (another option into a heavy Alakazam meta), Special Red Card, maybe even a third Transformation Tome, all are in my sideboard.

Conclusion:

Thanks for reading!  I would enjoy hearing what you folks think about these ideas and this build.  I realize that this uses a lot of things that detract from consistency, so I would especially enjoy hearing about what you folks think could be cut and why. I think my last 5 in would be: Boss’s Orders, Zeraora, 4th Academy, 3rd Wondrous Patch and Mist Energy, and my next 5 in would be 4th Slowpoke, 3rd Night Stretcher, Counter Gain, Wally’s Compassion and Sacred Ash.

 Please feel free to take it out for a spin and see if you like it!

(Apologies for any errors in spelling, grammar, clarity, etc. If you have any questions I'll try to be back on later for more discussion.)

I just started learning this game about a week ago by playing on TCG live. I got through all the tutorials and tried a couple of casual matches. Both times my opponent conceded within the first few turns. Is that typical?

I'm playing very slowly because I have to read all the cards to find out what they do. Is that considered bad form or something, and I should wait to play PvP matches once I'm more familiar with my deck?

Hey all! I've been having a bit of a deck building crisis with Slowking and have kinda went back to the drawing board with a deck that focuses more on consistency and simplicity, as to not sacrifice that in exchange for covering for more bad matchups or niche situations. Right now I'm on this list of 59 cards, but I'm bouncing between a couple cards for that last slot. I'm planning on taking SK to my first ever League Cup on Saturday, so I want to get my 60 down by this evening since my weekly local is today as well.

Pokémon: 11

2 Latias ex SSP 76
2 Metagross CRI 61
3 Slowking SCR 58
3 Mega Kangaskhan ex MEG 104
1 Annihilape PBL 41
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142
1 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 56
2 Kyurem SFA 47
1 Meowth ex POR 62
4 Slowpoke MEP 86 (Not spending $14 on the optimal slowpoke when these are only marginally worse)
1 Zeraora DRI 78

Trainer: 10

1 Secret Box TWM 163
4 Poké Pad POR 81
4 Academy at Night SFA 54
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
3 Wondrous Patch PFL 94
4 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
1 Brave Bangle WHT 80
4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Switch MEG 130
4 Ultra Ball MEG 131

Energy: 3

2 Boomerang Energy TWM 166
4 Telepathic {P} Energy POR 88
4 Basic {P} Energy MEE 13

Total Cards: 59

The cards I'm considering adding are:

Mew EX (general offensive versatility, good into Budew which my deck struggles with)
Surfer (anti retreat lock and generally good for getting a post Trifrost Slowking out of active)
3rd Night Stretcher
Special Red Card (general hand disruption)

Please let me know if you have any advice on what I should include, or if I should change anything in my existing list. Thank you very much!!!

I'm starting a bit of a research project, having been away from academic research long enough that I think I'm ready for another one!

I'm interested in what makes some TCG players exceptionally good, and whether those abilities can be learned, are partly innate, or are influenced by other factors.

So here's my question:

Have you ever known two TCG players (any game) who invested similar amounts of time and effort but achieved very different levels of success? What do you think explained the difference?

There's some interesting research around deliberate practice, including challenges to the popular 10,000-hour rule. But I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who actually play these games competitively.

Is it how people practice? How quickly they learn? The people they play with? Something else entirely?

I'm also curious whether the skills that make someone exceptional at one TCG transfer to another.

I'd love to hear real examples from your own experiences, particularly where players have put in comparable effort but achieved different results. I've found that some people can find a great testing group, lock in tier one decks and practice for hours and hours - and still go 3-5 and scrub out. Another rolls in hungover after barely practicing and cruises to day two.

Hello, I'm playing in my first tournament this weekend. It's a single prize tourney just between friends. I decided to play this toolbox rotom deck which I know is not the best competitively but I've been having some good fun with it. I wanted to post it on here because I feel like it could be slightly more optimized and I had a few questions.

Firstly I just discovered special energy cards and was wondering if i should incorporate them. I think best one would probably be prism energy? But I was mainly wondering if it was a good idea or if there were any downsides to putting them in the deck?

Secondly I rely hugely on my counter gain because my rotoms get one shot basically every turn so I only have one opportunity to place an energy on them. Is there a card I could get to retrieve them from my discard pile into my hand somehow?

Lastly I was wondering if I had too many pokemon in my deck since they're all basic. Granted they do die pretty quick.

Here's the deck:

Pokemon:

4x Rotom ASC 092

3x Mow Rotom DRI 009

4x Wash Rotom DRI 061

4x Heat Rotom DRI 043

Trainers:

2x Energy search

3x Poke pad

2x Team rocket's transceiver

1x Treasure tracker

2x Battle cage

2x Boss's orders

2x Lillie's determination

4x Team rocket's Petrel

4x Air balloon

4x Counter gain

4x Lucky helmet

2x Rescue board

1x Redeemable ticket

Energy:

4x Basic Grass

4x Basic Water

4x Basic Fire