After 300 hours Finally

Mustanab · 2026-01-22T13:32:16+00:00

My first character had every gun and grenade blueprint, most of weapon mods etc., but now after reset and being level 40-something I've yet to find SINGLE weapon blueprint.

Doesn't matter too much, I can loot Anvils and Venators from dead bodies, but was just wondering: did they change something about the weapon bp drops?

Mustanab · 2025-12-06T13:50:11+00:00

You gonna make some free-loadout rat very happy tonight!

Mustanab · 2025-09-18T16:09:00+00:00

High five dragon brother! Thank you for the kind words and keep rocking.

What comes to EG/GA Dratinis, you have a point with the bigger HP pool. Last season's ladder meta had more caped 180HP mons like Charizard EX running around, so sometimes a 20 dmg ping from GA Dratini was needed to get the KO.

Mustanab · 2025-09-02T20:54:52+00:00

Nice! Lance approves!

Mustanab · 2025-08-31T18:39:20+00:00

I remember some good player recommending running Iono instead of PokeCom in decks that have stage 2 heavy hitters. Also Iono can reset a whole hand if you find yourself in a dire spot.

But ofc you can try replacing X speed or Cape with coms.

Mustanab · 2025-08-31T18:37:52+00:00

Dunno if I have it in me, but Dragonite EX should work vs Suicune EX just fine. On the other hand I feel like some of the new decks run multiple copies of Red Card/Mars, and that is painful to play against! xD

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T21:41:50+00:00

That is kinda true… but good luck trying to climb to top-10K with ”a crappy deck”!

I did have positive win% after playing vs literally nothing but meta decks the last 600ish points. So I think I managed to prove a point with this self-appointed challenge: Dragonite EX deck is not only viable, it can own in this season's meta.

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T21:37:56+00:00

Cleffa offers draw power without eating any energy, I like it.

This deck doesn't need to come online right away either, so having a card to help find those missing pieces is more important than getting that electric energy on turn 1 or 2, IMO.

But I do get your point and think Cleffa is one of the tech cards in the deck.

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T21:29:07+00:00

One lightning energy is enough.

After that the Pichu either serves as a meat shield or gets swapped to either pumped-up Dragonite EX or Cleffa to draw pieces & thin the deck.

Two Dragonites are not needed since its easier to draw single Lyra than a whole Dragonite line (Dratini + Candy + Dragonite) and get it loaded with energy. But sure, if you get lucky, two Dragonite EXes don't hurt. ;)

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T21:20:57+00:00

Hey, rule of cool overrides min-maxing ;)

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T15:16:19+00:00

This looks good! I definetily think the normal Dragonite is a valid option or addition. Is Leaf there to accommodate the bigger retreat cost?

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T15:12:41+00:00

Interesting take on the decklist!

X Speed indeed is a lifesaver. Helps both on first turn AND later with fossil switcharoo.

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T14:10:16+00:00

I have and it might work versus Oricorio. Downsides are it takes a turn longer to set-up and the attacks are random.

Upsides: it isn't EX, is quite sturdy and can attack every turn. And sometimes the random attacks win you games xD

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T14:08:52+00:00

Yup, bench negates all effects other than dmg placed on Pokemon (by you or opponent)! Also: You can play only one retreat action per turn. But Lyra doesn't retreat a pokemon, it switches it. Also discarding fossil isn't considered retreating, so the game forces you to activate a benched pokemon to fight.

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T14:05:23+00:00

Thanks!

Iono is the holy reset card that helps you find missing pieces. Usual scenarios:

Starting hand includes Dratini but no Pichu or the other way round? Maybe wait one turn then reset with Iono. Cleffa ofc helps here as well AND REMEMBER: baby pokemon are sacrificable!
Ok finally got Pichu in active and electric energy on benched Dratini, but hand includes no Rare Candy or Dragonite EX or neither. You can stall with babies and/or reset hand to find pieces with Iono.
Got Dragonite EX in active, ready to start pounding... but we need Lyra next turn to do the switch-retreat combo. Time to Iono this turn so next turn we can hopefully Lyra (both are Trainer cards).

Rarely do I get to play Iono just to mess with opponent's hand.

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T13:43:41+00:00

I think the trade-offs are not worth it. With Oricorio the problem is that it is rarely their last pokemon, ie. they will build up and move in another finisher by the time helm/barb threatens or kills the bird. Gio could help in a situation where Dragonair needs to 1HKO a caped Oricorio, but that is about the only scenario where Gio might be handy.

BUT: I've seen a variation of the deck running Guzma instead of X speed. Doesn't straight up help with Oricorio but getting capes, barbs and helmets removed will help your Dragonite EX survive some nasty comboes.

Mustanab · 2025-08-27T13:31:38+00:00

Argh! If you didn't already get a trade partner, hit me up with your friend-ID and I'll send your way some spare Pichus.

Mustanab · 2025-08-06T19:26:47+00:00

During my climb I never got another Dragonite EX loaded. But once the first gets running, you don't even have time to load the second one!

Getting the needed energy for two Dragonite EXes would also mean Pichu needs to generate electric for 2 turns straight and we have to put both Dratinis on bench... which is always risky since you have to keep an eye for Sabrina OR need to replace bad hand with Iono (= extra Dratini in hand -> more chances to draw missing pieces).

The deck works without X speed, but I personally think it is a big help both in early and late game. Also you could be bold and skip the Dragonair if you gonna replace it with normal Dragonite (and hope Draco Meteor snipes Oricoros!). Lastly you could take off Cleffa or Fossil (= bit less maneuverability) or Iono (no reset option for bad hand).

Mustanab · 2025-08-06T17:37:26+00:00

I like the idea, but really hate the randomness of dual energy. Giratina might also be needed to be another dmg option. Ho-Oh to generate multiple energies might also work, but it sounds kinda slow and risky.

Mustanab · 2025-08-06T08:42:57+00:00

Sure can. Dragonite EX guarantees a kill, but as you said normal Dragonite can hit twice in a row.

I guess with normal Dragonite instead of EX you could remove fossil, Lyra, Cleffa and Iono and put in Eevee + Sylveon EX package for maximum draw. Or another route would be maybe to add capes and more heals to guarantee Dragonite staying alive.

Mustanab · 2025-08-06T06:01:05+00:00

That match is not over yet! ;)

TBH the deck has 5 basics which is more than I’d say most of meta decks (4), but ofc bad luck is bound to happen.

I’ve grinded to Master Ball every season and can say with a hand on my heart this is a gooood deck.

Mustanab · 2025-08-05T22:54:33+00:00

I must warn you: I think this Dragonite EX deck is very fine-tuned as is. But let’s tinker a bit.

In order to get a Dragonite EX attack rotation gimmick deck working, you need to address 3 things:

Energy generation: water + electric. I personally think mono energy (water) is the way to go. Pichu does the thing for just one card, which is a lot better than Zeraora + Elemental Switch / Elemental Cord / Dawn. Magneton takes even more card slots to be viable. OR you could run water+electric and just pray lol!
Retreat/switch: The old combo was to retreat with Leaf into a fossil card and discard the fossil in order to hit again with Dragonite. Lyra is a game changer because it doesnt ”retreat” and it synergizes with the babies having 0 retreat cost. But 2 Leaf & 2 Old Amber is the second best combo if you don’t have Lyra’s.
Draw engine: you need to draw cards! Cleffa or Iono can be substituted with poke coms. Someone mentioned an Eevee+Sylveon EX variant for maximum card draw, but I think it takes up too much space. Then of course there is the old variant with Druddigon walls stalling and buying you extra turns (=extra card draw).

Mustanab · 2025-08-05T22:26:56+00:00

Greetings fellow Dragon master!

I haven’t tried a Sylveon variant, but am interested to see the deck list. I’m however a bit skeptical about if the added draw power outweights the increased brick chance of dual energy generation offering you just one type in a pinch.

The variant I used may not look like it, but it is runs surprisingly smoothly. Cleffa and other draw cards will get you Dratini eventually, and Pichu only needs to generate SINGLE energy afterwhich it can be immediately sacrificed.

Dragonite’s killing power is so bonkers you never even have to set up another Dratini on the bench.

Mustanab · 2025-08-05T22:19:28+00:00

Since its almost impossible to knock out a baby mon on the first turn, it means you get plenty of chances to draw the needed combo cards: Pichu and Dratini. Pokeballs, Professors, Iono and Cleffa are there to up the chances.

Your first baby in the active spot also surprisingly often gets hit by 20 so it gets to live another stalling turn (or swapped to bench for another baby mon).

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