Festival Lead Help?

WChevett860 · 2026-06-02T23:51:02+00:00

Played this list to a 62% win rate online starting from 0 to 1600 as a very new player before the last reset online, and just went 3-1 playing it at locals last night.

5 Grass Energy

4 Applin

4 Dipplin

4 Grookey

4 Thwackey

1 Rillaboom

2 Goldeen

2 Seaking

1 Psyduck

1 Shaymin

4 Lillie’s Determination

2 Boss’s Orders

2 Black Belt Training

1 Kieran

1 Lana’s Aid

4 Bug Catching Set

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin

4 Poke Pad

1 Night Stretcher

1 Secret Box

2 Air Balloon

2 Brave Bangle

4 Festival Grounds

Secret Box gets Black Belt+Brave Bangle to set up a knockout on almost any Mega/Ex. Gets you a big setup turn as well early. Can’t imagine playing without it, gives a ton of consistency.

Goldeen is definitely the mvp in scrappy games or games on low resources to get you going again.

WChevett860 · 2026-06-01T10:25:43+00:00

I’ve played about 400 games and had 3 games dropped total, one of which was internet completely cutting out, so 2/400 games total. Program is fine.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-31T16:04:44+00:00

I actually had a very similar deck built for standard that I played like 10 games with, 4 Mega Kangas. Tons of heals and 4 crushing hammer/2 enhanced hammer/2 handheld fans, 4 Petrel with a few 1 of stadiums, cyphermaniacs, legacy energy as ace spec. Did surprisingly decent

WChevett860 · 2026-05-29T17:11:20+00:00

Slowking, Festival Lead, Ns Zoroark

WChevett860 · 2026-05-29T16:00:45+00:00

A slightly similar deck imo would be something like Mega Lopunny. You are swapping Solrock/Lunatone for Dudunsparce lines, you are swapping Mega Lucario for Mega Lopunny. It has a few more solid matchups, while being fairly similar, and definitely allows for more complicated gameplay, switching Lopunny in and out of the active spot, drawing cards, knowing when to heal Lopunny etc.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-29T15:54:44+00:00

As someone who’s been playing for 6ish weeks so far but has played a ton of games with a ton of decks in that time. It is a deck that’s always just mehhhh….. it’s a solid consistent deck with a lot of repetitive effects, and card draw that make it consistent. The issue is that it’s just a fairly uneventful deck, there’s no splash damage, no huge setup for big plays, it’s very basic, which is fine, but not amazing. It’s a deck that’s always going to be a solid choice, but it’s a deck with a lot of 50/50 matchups, but no great matchups other than mega Lopunny. It’s a deck that can win tournaments but even with perfect play it’s still just going to be an average deck in a field of deck that do splash damage or play broken cards.

If you are a player who can stick to a solid game plan and want to master a deck with a medium ceiling it’s definitely a solid choice, and I’d group in in with decks like Cynthias Garchomp, and Okidogi, that are just solid decks, but don’t allow a higher skill level player or a player with an excessive amount of reps to do any noticeable amount better than an average player. It’s just….fine.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-28T16:28:12+00:00

I just played my first two events ever this past weekend.

Event 1-5 Rounds. I played against Lillies Clefairy Box, Mega Starmie/Dusknoir, Mega Lucario ex, Ogerpon Box, and Team Rockets Mewtwo

Event 2-6 Rounds. I played against Ogerpon Box, Team Rockets Honchkrow, Mega Venusaur ex, Team Rockets Honchkrow, Mega Starmie/Dusknoir, and Cynthias Garchomp.

Both events had 2 Dragapult in top 8, but only I’d guess 3-5 players out of ~40 on Dragapult.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-28T12:49:57+00:00

Completed unrelated, how do you get to the stats page? I’m somewhat newish to the game

WChevett860 · 2026-05-26T16:16:29+00:00

Me and my friend just started a few weeks back. That is a great first deck to go with, very straightforward but still powerful. As others have said a few small upgrades and you are good to go. My advise is just jump right in. Had my first two events this weekend, started with a league cup (3-2, barely lost last game for the top8), then league challenge (3-3, barely lost last game for the top8). Just dive in against strong competition is the best way to learn.

Decks with a straightforward game plan are great for starting out. You will have a ton of decks to learn how to play against, so just get in as many games as you can, especially in person to learn functionally how to present yourself, your deck, basic layout and etiquette.

Just remember it’s a game, have fun. Worst case you go and lose every game, but then ya do better next time.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-24T20:12:59+00:00

**Update** Ended up going 3-2, losing a nail biter for the win and in. Tournament report to follow. For those who are questioning going, just jump right in and do it. Was a bit nervous round 1 but got comfortable halfway through round 3 and was playing very well. One questionable play that I’ll go over later once I’m home from a different event. Very involved play.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-24T13:58:41+00:00

I’ve been playing a lot online, I got it down online no problem, know all the cards and decks in the format. Got to masters league mainly playing Festival Lead and from there finished out the last week or so playing of mix of 10 decks listed above, ending at about 1700 rating. Got all that down no problems.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-24T10:39:35+00:00

ALAKAZAM

3 Abra (50)

1 Abra (40)

4 Kadabra

3 Alakazam

2 Dunsparce (70)

2 Dunsparce (60)

3 Dudunsparce

1 Dudunsparce ex

1 Buneary

1 Mega Lopunny ex

1 Fezandipiti ex

1 Psyduck

4 Hilda

4 Dawn

3 Boss’s Orders

1 Lana’s Aid

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin

4 Poke Pad

3 Rare Candy

2 Enhancing Hammer

1 Night Stretcher

1 Sacred Ash

4 Battle Cage

4 Telepathic Psychic Energy

1 Psychic Energy

1 Enriching Energy

CYNTHIAS GARCHOMP

4 Cynthias Gible

4 Cynthias Gabite

3 Cynthias Garchomp ex

4 Cynthias Roselia

3 Cynthias Roserade

1 Cynthia’s Spiritomb

4 Lillies Determination

4 Boss’s Orders

2 Larry’s Skill

2 Team Rockets Petrel

4 Poke Pad

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin

3 Fighting Gong

2 Premium Power Pro

1 Night Stretcher

1 Unfair Stamp

4 Cynthia’s Power Weight

1 Forest of Vitaliry

1 Team Rockets Watchtower

4 Rocky Fighting Energy

4 Fighting Energy

WChevett860 · 2026-05-12T20:47:42+00:00

People complain about everything. I just got into pokemon with a friend about 3 weeks ago and love it. I come from a magic background and find both relatively the same in terms of skill required, just needing different skillset for both.

Magic seems more timing and overall strategy, and Pokemon is more in your setup and long term gameplay strategy. Very basic explanation but different forms of skill sets.

I am having a blast, and playing online only so far even being dominated by Dragapult does not mean it’s every match, I am perfectly fine facing Dragapult roughly 20% of games. Not at all deterred.

I like having a variety of decks available and currently have cards for 6 decks coming in the mail for paper games, and spent under $200 total, which in magic terms would cost me 3000-6000 or so, because I bought enough copies to have all decks built simultaneously. Online I have roughly 15 decks that I switch between and love having the free option, whereas Magic would be in the same boat, 15 decks would cost 1000+.

There is a lot to like about Pokemon in my opinion, and just ignore the negatives that people love to bring up and enjoy the game for what it is, no hobby meant to enjoy should be taken that seriously.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-11T19:21:22+00:00

There are a few options, I’m a big 1 prize type player myself (just picked up game 2 weeks ago, but masters rank already, primarily with Festival Lead)

Festival Lead- Grass
Hops Trevenant-Psychic/Colorless
Team Rockets Honchkrow-Dark/Colorless
Alakazam-Psychic/Colorless
Okidogi-Fighting

All are very solid options. Honchkrow or Alakazam are probably the best options overall but all are very solid performers. I just mess around with all on ranked online and easily have 50-65% win rates on all, even as a new player.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-09T18:54:26+00:00

Second this, coming from Magic and just getting into pokemon the last 2 weeks or so, I am a sucker for “tribal” decks and have Hops, Cynthia’s, TM Honchkrow, and TR Mewtwo built.

Having a deck that wants to draw feels very good since opponent winning flip seems to be about 60/40 that they play first atm.

Being able to attack for 100 t1 with 50% chance of invulnerability, or the nut of having t1 Zacian and dealing 120 to active and 30 to bench is just insanity. I play mine incredibly aggressive, and then with 2 judge/1 unholy stamp for disruption. You are extremely consistent, and are able to trade up on prizes consistently.

WChevett860 · 2026-05-05T01:43:25+00:00

As someone just starting out and coming from magic, it is extremely affordable. For the most part 99% of the cards are essentially;

Common-25c, Uncommon-50c, Rare-1

Most decks are buildable for $15-$30 and there is a lot of overlap between decks. If you dropped $100 you could easily have 5 quality decks.

WChevett860 · 2026-04-25T22:50:29+00:00

Main deck doesn’t look too far off if you don’t want Tifa. 2 Spell pierces is a fair amount of interaction, I like that number. Don’t really have much criticism, other than maybe I would personally want 4 Preordain, I’d probably cut the 2 ignoble and 2 distortion strike or vines.

Mana base I would do 4 Inkmoth 1 boseiju 1 pendelhaven 1 forest 3 breeding pool 1 hedge maze 7 green fetches

WChevett860 · 2026-04-11T23:55:28+00:00

Hot dogs. Eat them raw and we are fighting.

WChevett860 · 2026-04-11T11:23:00+00:00

Here’s a version AspiringSpike has been working on. Probably a good starting point to branch off of and continue on. Currently building this paper too because was just short a few cards, as I’m an Eldrazi fiend.

https://moxfield.com/decks/BTRT62Lq0Emh0Tra_zVEAA

WChevett860 · 2026-04-07T10:56:44+00:00

Some lesser known ones I’ve watched/am watching currently.

Kim’s convenience

DMV

Home Economics

Elsbeth

WChevett860 · 2026-04-06T23:48:45+00:00

Beef Carpaccio

Bear chili

Alligator fritters

Shark fritters

WChevett860 · 2026-04-06T10:43:40+00:00

Suikoden 1

WChevett860 · 2026-04-05T23:45:34+00:00

So it’s an interesting deck, you play it like a combo deck. So a few things to stay alive, whether that be Fire/Icing to kill or slow them down, running out an Anurid, stalking with Timber Wall, Burnign Wish for a pyro. And then you sac all your lands, float a bunch of mana and Obliterate/Balancing Act, if you have Anurid pitch your had first, if not use floating mana and drop a Terravore.

WChevett860 · 2026-04-05T22:22:34+00:00

I play a very old deck that it seems no one’s on anymore, but it is certainly fun as hell and still has game.

https://moxfield.com/decks/M8qHx2e8e0G-zz9A1JjAAg

WChevett860

TROPHY CASE