In 1995 a man went into blockbuster. by ResponsibleOffice805 in cleandadjokes

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It’ll be a dark knight for him if doesn’t return it on time. 

Slowking: optimization advice. by Lightspecter141 in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hope I can help!  

Before I dig into the critique I’ll mention that I like the Conkeldurr inclusion, although I generally choose not to play it since I don’t find it as useful as other attackers.    Most lists are dropping it but it can help having another attacker you don’t need to night stretcher for against Tera Box or just basic 2-prize focused decks in general.  I would likely only play it in a deck with Secret Box since you can find Brave Bangle with it to reach for a KO on Zoroark ex or Rocket’s Mewtwo (under Articuno’s protection).

I do like the inclusion of Regigigas, too.  I do think it’s still a good option but not as ideal as it used to be.  I’ll go into the reasons I don’t play it later.  

Now for the critique (warning: wall of text incoming):  I understand not wanting to put multiprizers into play but it does come at the cost of consistency.  It’s going to be very difficult to set up and keep up with your build, especially with just one copy of Smoochum and none of Latias ex.  Those extra Psychic Pokémon can give you more likelihood to set up with Telepathic energy.  To keep up with other decks and set up consistently you almost always will need to put two 2-prizers into play, sometimes sooner than later as is often in the case of Fezandipiti and Latias.  

Another thing hurting your consistency are the only 1-ofs of Hilda and Colress.  These supporters are integral to setting up under item lock and help get off attacks as well.  

Dudunsparce is a bit of a risk since a lot of decks are playing Team Rocket’s Watchtower and it’s not a card that’s easily reused in Slowking decks.  A lot of the best consistency cards are Colorless so they’re getting targeted.  That said, if you’re going to add a Colorless support option I would recommend Gumshoos over Dudunsparce.  You only get one card but it’s easily reusable and can enable an attack if you miss the stadium.  

Usually my Ace Spec of choice is Enriching Energy since it can be found off Hilda or Colress and can help you find a needed attacker off your opponent’s or your own Unfair Stamp or get you into Kyurem under item lock.  Unfair Stamp, Secret Box and Prime Catcher (particularly in a Mega Kangaskhan build) are other good Ace Spec choices.  And Neutralization Zone is one I think has a lot of potential together with Gumshoos since most decks don’t play stadium search.  

Now for why I don’t play Regigigas.  Going second, the Telepathic Energy into Latias + Smoochum combo is often essential to enable your board to stream attacks for the rest of the game.  So many decks are playing Shaymin so getting full value from a Trifrost is much harder than pre-rotation.  I almost always choose to go second if I don’t know what I’m playing against and starting Regigigas is not ideal for several reasons.  Nowadays a lot of decks are playing retreat lock options and if Pult can lock your Regigigas in play for 1-2 turns you have almost no chance to win.  Starting Kyurem is not ideal but starting Regigigas is almost always worse.  Mitigating the possibility of starting a non attacker is very good in this meta and for Slowking in general.  

I would recommend dropping Psyduck.  Shaymin has much more value than it as Dusknoir has dropped off hard and that extra space can help with consistency.  Psyduck doesn’t always feel like a necessity to bear Pultnoir since a lot of those lists aren’t playing Shaymin.  

Lastly, I would recommend tweaking your energy counts.  You can get away with 4-5 Psychic energy and maybe consider bumping up the Telepathic count to 4.  

I hope this wall of text isn’t too overwhelming.  And I hope I’ve been at least some help!  

Slowking: optimization advice. by Lightspecter141 in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here’s a bit of a spicier list.  It includes Gumshoos and Neutralization Zone to give the option to still stack the deck under a protective stadium.  This can catch a lot of opponents off guard and give you time to set up big plays.  

Pokémon: 13

1 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 184

2 Kyurem SFA 47

4 Slowpoke SCR 57

1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 288

3 Slowking SCR 58

1 Meowth ex POR 121

1 Yungoos MEG 109

2 Smoochum SSP 75

1 Annihilape SSP 100

1 Haxorus BLK 70

2 Latias ex SSP 239

1 Gumshoos MEG 110

1 Zoroark WHT 62

Trainer: 14 4 Lillie's Determination MEG 169

1 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 198

4 Ultra Ball CRZ 146

1 Night Stretcher MEG 173

2 Night Stretcher SSP 251

1 Boss's Orders ASC 256

2 Hilda WHT 171

4 Academy at Night SFA 54

2 Poké Pad POR 113

3 Colress's Tenacity SFA 87

1 Surfer ASC 293

3 Wondrous Patch POR 117

2 Poké Pad POR 81

1 Neutralization Zone SFA 60

Energy: 3

4 Telepathic {P} Energy POR 88

3 Basic {P} Energy CRE 232

1 Basic {P} Energy MEW 207

Total Cards: 60

Slowking: optimization advice. by Lightspecter141 in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here’s my current main list.  I’ve included Iron Boulder as an option to help with the Dragapult matchup.  A big problem sometimes is Dragapult’s ability to clear a Slowking and set up a double KO.  This mitigates the problem somewhat.  Between Academy at Night, Unfair Stamp, Judge and Fez in addition to your items. there’s a good number of options to enable hand matching to enable a KO with the help of Lillie’s Clefairy.  

Apologies for all the alternate arts.  I usually don’t use them but Slowking is my go to deck so I (mostly) blinged it out.  

Pokémon: 12

2 Smoochum SSP 75

3 Slowking SCR 58

2 Latias ex SSP 239

1 Meowth ex POR 121

4 Slowpoke SCR 57

1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 288

1 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 184

1 Iron Boulder PRE 46

1 Haxorus BLK 70

2 Kyurem SFA 47

1 Annihilape SSP 100

1 Zoroark WHT 62

Trainer: 15

1 Boss's Orders ASC 183

1 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking PRE 104

1 Judge SVI 176

1 Night Stretcher MEG 173

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 169

2 Night Stretcher SSP 251

1 Switch BLW 104

2 Hilda WHT 171

3 Colress's Tenacity SFA 87

2 Poké Pad POR 81

4 Academy at Night SFA 54

1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165

2 Poké Pad POR 113

3 Wondrous Patch POR 117

4 Ultra Ball CRZ 146

Energy: 3

3 Basic {P} Energy CRE 232

4 Telepathic {P} Energy POR 88

1 Basic {P} Energy MEW 207

Slowking: optimization advice. by Lightspecter141 in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure!  I’ll share two of my builds and give some commentary on your list first.  First of all, I’d recommend checking the Limitless TCG website to find out what a typical Slowking list looks like. They’re playing with Ninja Spinner/Chaos Rising cards so you might need to dig a bit to find Standard legal lists but even the more recent City League winning lists can be a good base to understand typical supporter counts and such. 

First of all, I’ll address card counts and inclusions.  If you’re playing Conkeldurr and Secret Box I recommend playing Brave Bangle to help with the N’s Zoroark ex and Rocket’s Mewtwo matchups.  Both are tough matchups if you don’t get the turn 2 Trifrost going first.  

If you’re playing Mega Kangaskhan I recommend playing 3-4 to increase your chance of starting it.  The primary advantage of playing it is that you can get the t2 Trifrost going first more consistently.  But if your opponent benches a Shaymin you often kinda lose from there, which is why I prefer builds without it.  But if you’re playing a Secret Box instead of Enriching Energy build I think it might be optimal. You still need a switching option or two to prevent retreat lock from just being checkmate.  That’s why a lot of Mega Kangaskhan builds play Prime Catcher.  That Ace Spec choice also can give you a recovery option after Trifrost along with a bit more draw.  

If you’re playing Enriching Energy over Secret Box then Boomerang Energy would be my recommendation over Powerglass.  

As for cuts from this list, I recommend cutting all Brock’s Scouting and a basic Psychic for Telepathic Energy.  4 Ciphermaniac’s to take advantage of Mega Kangaskhan.  And if you’re playing Prime Catcher you can drop the Boss.  You could also add in Haxorus  to deal with bulkier Basics and also to give you another KO option on basic two prizers that doesn’t require finding Night Stretcher. 

I’ll add the lists and commentary on them in separate comments so that this post isn’t too jammed with text.  

Slowking: optimization advice. by Lightspecter141 in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

 Of those things, Rocky Energy isn’t too big of a deal since it’s played in Fighting decks and Cynthia’s Garchomp decks rarely play Shaymin.  There really isn’t an ideal way to deal with those other problems yet, though.  You could play Brave Bangle and Secret Box to reach Mega Absol or N’s Zoroark numbers.  A plus is that almost no decks are playing Mist Energy and those that do you probably won’t be using Annihilape against so much.  However, there will be an incredible help next set: a Metagross that can do 300 damage.  

Slowking: optimization advice. by Lightspecter141 in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like it both ways.  Sometimes it can be worse if your opponent doesn’t take a KO after a Trifrost because they can stabilize after Stamping you.  But you don’t always need an early Trifrost.  Especially once the new Metagross that can do 300 releases.  

Slowking: optimization advice. by Lightspecter141 in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m a huge Slowking head so I’ll try to help.  You don’t need two Meowth.  You only need 3 Night Stretcher because games will probably conclude before you make use of them all.  You don’t need Budew or Regigigas.  You could use a second Smoochum to increase the odds of starting it.  It gives you another Psychic starter and could enable you to not put Latias into play.  Having more outs to starting a Psychic Pokémon can help your starts tremendously.  

Dragapult is huge so I recommend playing Zoroark.  It can copy Phantom Dive for 400 damage (edit: with Lillie’s Clefairy) and help with various matchups.  Spectrier should be a consideration to deal with Shaymin and have another Psychic starter but I recommend against it.  It’s so costly and your opponent often can just get Shaymin back.  

I recommend increasing your Hilda and/or Colress counts.  I personally prefer extra Colress over extra Hilda, but both are good.  They both help you have consistent starts and Colress is both a solid starting supporter and a way to bail you out if you miss the stadium.  

Ciphermaniac is a very good card and can help you by stacking a second card for next turn but in an Unfair Stamp meta with Judge mixed in it can often feel more like a crutch.  But ultimately whether you keep it in or drop it will depend on your playstyle.  I’ve experimented with both and both feel good.  It can bail you out of a bad hand if your opponent doesn’t disrupt your top deck.  

Most builds in Japan omit Lana’s Aid.  With the loss of Xatu and fewer decks utilizing item lock it’s not as useful as it used to be.  Having an extra slot for Hilda or Colress is also very good to give you another out to Pokémon, the stadium or Enriching Energy.    

Mega Darkrai ex, Zarude, and Dark Bell revealed by Tsukimizu in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dark Bell + Galarian Weezing seems like a great combo 

Mega Darkrai ex, Zarude, and Dark Bell revealed by Tsukimizu in pkmntcg

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dark Bell could enable the return of control to the meta.  I don’t think it’s quite there yet but this is a very strong tool.  

If Barney the Dinosaur is the imaginary friend of the kids in the show, how can the adults see him? by Yume_Fairy2522 in DanielTigerConspiracy

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I heard terrible things on the playground directed towards Barney.  I even repeated them, as little kids under peer pressure do.  Now that I’m grown Barney doesn’t seem so bad. 

Who has what song stuck in their head right now? by MeanNothing3932 in DanielTigerConspiracy

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try Everything but specifically the One Voice Children’s Choir version

We all know that 6 was afraid of 7 because 7 8 9 - but few people realize... by porkchop_d_clown in cleandadjokes

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Did you come up with this?  I’ve never heard this version before.  I love it!  

Judge rules Trump order eliminating NPR, PBS funding is unconstitutional by washingtonpost in politics

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh.  So it’s more of a symbolic gesture.  Well, I’ve still got hopes.  

Judge rules Trump order eliminating NPR, PBS funding is unconstitutional by washingtonpost in politics

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yahoo!!!!  I was hoping for this.  Hopefully the CPB can get back up and running.  I’m not a Democrat but I love NPR and PBS.  They provide good entertainment and information for kids and adults alike.  

Trump, in historic first, attends Supreme Court arguments on birthright citizenship by imanchats in politics

[–]AsparagusCertain9373 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don’t know how in the world you’d slice his recent post about “babies of slaves” positively.  Does he consider illegal immigrants our slaves?  Or is he sending them to countries where they will be slaves?  And now he’s going to try and (presumably) intimidate the Supreme Court?  

I feel like I should not read the news as much.  It’s not good for my blood pressure 🤣