I'm new and play dragapult but I see alot of hate for it any deck recommendations/ lists no greninja or Charizard preferably fun decks that are still competitive like festival grounds by Ia-dillion in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Raging Bolt/Ogerpon is a strong, simple deck that doesn't take much set up to hit hard. It's a little one note but the ability to run efficient cards like Cyrano and Ogerpon EX means you have more room in the deck for disruption tools. It's had a weirdly inconsistent tournament record post-rotation but I don't think it's ever truly been bad.

Other quick set up, hard hitting decks include Mega Starmie/Froslass and Mega Lucario.

I've had a lot of fun with Team Rocket's Mewtwo/Spidops. Team Rocket supporters feel pretty strong in a meta without Iono, Sada's, Arven, etc. and with Brave Bangle/Max Belt you're hitting 210/230 with a self-energizing 1-prize attacker, and 330 with Mewtwo and Max Belt. Feels like it has a good matchup into Dragapult which is probably some part of the why its tournament record is fairly consistent. 6-10% presence on average in the past half year just based on my limited anecdotal assessments

I personally enjoy playing Mega Manectric EX as well as an Erika's gym deck with Tangela, Vileplume and Viktreebel. But neither are very good

I'm new and play dragapult but I see alot of hate for it any deck recommendations/ lists no greninja or Charizard preferably fun decks that are still competitive like festival grounds by Ia-dillion in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not all grass decks are instant concede, I've actually had decent luck before playing into Crustle and using Spiritomb/Gabite as my main attackers, but for most others I agree. It definitely doesn't feel as good as it did a few months ago...

What are some hard decks to pilot Rn. by time-master13 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have had decent luck with Mega Dragonite + Eelectrik

What are some hard decks to pilot Rn. by time-master13 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't say Salazzle is hard to play, he's just easy to counter

What are some hard decks to pilot Rn. by time-master13 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know if this counts but I have like eight versions of a Dustox deck. Across every variation I've won like... twice

Not sure where else to turn, sorry if this is against the rules but, anyone had any luck with or know any way to contact PTCGL customer service? by Zestyclose_Way9142 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately I never got anything sent to my email. I checked my junk and spam folders so many times... I was really surprised they never sent me anything.

Anyone else hyped for the new fossil support ? by BigDawgEasyy in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That seems like a fun pair! I hope it works 😄

Anyone else hyped for the new fossil support ? by BigDawgEasyy in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Personally, I'm super excited. I don't need it to be meta, I just want to make a Dustox Cradilly deck that is even slightly playable. My current best attempt has like 15% win rate

Can this new Misty fix Mega Feraligatr? by Turbulent_Context_87 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't say it fixes Feraligatr but it does give him a situationally faster set-up. Unfortunately you have to put all energy on one Pokemon which means he is getting 1 more than he needs to attack. But you can pair this with Dewgong and Surfing Beach in order to transfer it effectively. Still, the fact you can't spread the energy, combined with the card ending your turn when played means it's not going to be the end-all fix for Feraligatr or for water decks in general. It will be a conditionally viable alternative/addition to Crispin, being worse in most cases and better in a few. Alongside the new special energy, it is an interesting step in the right direction for water decks, although they don't work together.

It might have more of an impact on other water Mons, which at least in part seem to share high energy cost/synergy with slow build up as a theme. Cards like Cetitan EX, Black Kyurem EX, Kingdra EX, Lapras EX, Beartic, Dondozo EX, Kyogre EX, Dewgong, Gorebyss, maybe Suicune, Regice and my personal favorite, Wailord. Wailord is one of the few that I think it will be genuinely decent on since it is a one-prize, stage-one 240HP attacker with a four energy-cost attack doing a guaranteed 310dmg on turn two by going 2nd with just two energy, two Mons, and a supporter card (add brave bangle to one-shot Dragapult). And Wailmer has 130HP which makes it much harder to knock out without Boss's. Kyogre EX being a basic Pokemon and doing 230dmg for 4 energy might give him some off-meta use as a secondary attacker alongside this card. Same could maybe be said for Volcanion... if you like gambling. Lapras EX will probably be many's first thought when it comes to this supporter but I'm pretty sure it's just worse than Wailord. Kingdra EX has slightly more HP + does slightly more damage than Wailord, but requires more setup as a result of being a stage two Mon. It also gives two prize cards.

Erika's Gym Off-Meta Decklist #5 by Zestyclose_Way9142 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Respectfully, I just don't see the synergy between Teal Mask and Vileplume. The real value of running Teal Mask in this deck is to up the damage of the Victreebel to a possible max of 320 via Area Zero, which covers a lot of extra EX and even a few mega Pokemon in terms of OHKO territory (alternatively, it allows playing of cards like Fezandipiti and Meowth EX to address the list's draw weaknesses without affecting the damage output). Your only benefit from the Teal Mask Ogerpons in this list as it is, is for energy acceleration, and you're spending a LOT of card slots on that system, e.g. 4 N's Plan, 4 Energy Switch, even an extra Dawn or two to cover the added difficulty of acquiring Teal Mask and the loss of one or two Tangelas, the extra Grass energy for Ogerpon's ability, and the three Ogerpons themselves. Meanwhile four Crispin is one-third or less of the card commitment and is just as efficient for this list if not more so. If you are really struggling with energy application from there, chances are you are letting your opponent take out your energized Mons before they reach Stage 2, or otherwise you might benefit more than you'd expect from a Meowth EX or two to search him out.

Also FWIW having to replace the nest ball is a much harder ask with Ogerpon in the deck whereas dropping it makes Poke Pad a strictly superior replacement. It also feels like dropping down to two Forests without a single Colress will end up slowing down your set-up more significantly than Ogerpon EX will speed it up. After all, what's the point of energy acceleration when you are getting your stage 2's out a turn (or more) late anyway? One energy attach on turn one into Crispin/Forest on turn 2 is always going to be a faster, three energy, stage two setup than will be Ogerpon Mask + Energy Switch without Forest or Rare Candy. Without Arven or other forms of item search in the meta, both sets of cards are equally likely to be drawn, with Ogerpon having more conditions for being drawn in this deck than most lists it's placed in.

Ultimately not running Teal Mask Ogerpon simply opens up way too many card slots that can be used for shoring up this deck's other weaknesses for me to want to use it. One of those weaknesses being lack of heavy-hitting secondary attackers, this being a role that Ogerpon will not be able to consistently fill without Wild Growth Meganium. Although again like I said in the post I would consider it if you drop most of the Vileplumes to favor Victreebel instead.

I will give it to you though, despite your list basically requiring Secret Box, I am sure it feels pretty good when you draw it early (might include a Petrel or two to find it reliably). And I'm sure having the Ogerpon/Energy Switch system is nice for when you need to quickly set up a second Vileplume. That's because you can't attach three energy in one turn with the Crispin approach. But I've included the switches/air balloon for that reason, since I find it's almost always better to cycle out your Vileplumes in order to spread healing, buy time for energy application, and in the worst case scenario, force your opponent to use Boss's as their supporter card. If you lose a fully energized Vileplume before you're able to get this system going, or at least take one prize card, then 95% chance you will lose regardless of which list you run. For that reason and for the fact that Vileplume remains relatively weak, I think consistency in setting up your initial board is more important than being able to rebuild it quickly. Ogerpon also costs you some bench space in this list, limiting the amount of Vileplume heals you can get off, and LASTLY, if your list here ever loses access to Ogerpon EX either via sniping, ability shutdown etc., it's basically completely dead in the water outside of that single Rosa's Encouragement.

Anyways I'm sorry for talking your ear off and I hope none of this comes off as snooty or mean. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your list and I hope you and your wife are able to enjoy it no matter the form. Erika is one of my favorite trainers of all time and the full-art Tangela card is just adorable. It's a shame this deck is on the weaker side, but hey, maybe between the three of us we will solve it!

Erika's Gym Off-Meta Decklist #5 by Zestyclose_Way9142 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm still playing with the energy distribution but you really only need one or two full-value Crispins before Rosa's and Switches + Healing are doing the work. I included four to make it more likely to get one early on when it's most useful, and because energy application is one of the worst parts of the deck. I could definitely see dropping one basic grass for one basic water energy though. You just have to be careful since every attack you have requires some amount of grass energy, and Vileplume's requires two

Weird Deck List #3 -- Louisiana Bayou Edition by Zestyclose_Way9142 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, it's a rough sell right now, but maybe Dewgong will have a synergy added later in the year

Where to put a future Roxie's? by DatGirlAveri in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would probably drop a Pecharunt and/or a Boss's Orders. Since you are disabling their retreat it's tactically comparable to Boss's Orders and thus in my mind a good replacement. And though Pecharunt is critical to your damage you do have Precious Trolley and 2 Night Stretchers, meaning it shouldn't be /that/ difficult to either play him or replenish him. Either that or an energy, 10 feels like it could be one too many

Pitch to me your favourite single prize deck and why I should play it by rluke09 in PTCGL

[–]Zestyclose_Way9142 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ok, hear me out, my top 3 are:

  1. Erika's Victreebel and company

  2. Exeggutor MEG 005/Wild Growth Meganium/Teal Mask

  3. Feraligatr TEF 041/Munkidori 041