Soapbox options allow our particular person writers and contributors to voice their opinions on sizzling matters and random stuff they have been chewing over. Right this moment, Mahin laments the lack of a treasured deck, and recounts his quest to construct it anew. For actual, this time…
There was as soon as a time I used to be doing reasonably alright on the Pokémon TCG On-line recreation, taking down EX and GX playing cards with a tactic that nullified these sorts, which had been mainstays in lots of decks. Now, all that’s left is a damaged deck. A household of Pokémon torn aside for the sake of capitalism the place the motto isn’t ‘gotta catch ’em all’ however ‘gotta hold shopping for the brand new ones’. That is an ode to my lengthy misplaced Pokémon Deck from Pokémon TCG On-line, caught within the crossfire of the brand new migration system to Pokémon TCG Stay.
I had titled this deck ‘Tropical Storm’ because it utilised loads of playing cards from the Alola area, like Alolan Exegutor, Alolan Ninetails and Alolan Sandlash. It additionally had a sprinkle of playing cards from the Black and White sequence. Pokémon from my deck like Accelgor and Escavalier had been deemed too outdated and never introduced over to the brand new recreation. Plenty of these playing cards I used within the older on-line recreation got here from a QR code discovered within the real-life theme deck I had. My solely hope now’s to make use of my bodily playing cards and go face-to-face with real-life Pokémon trainers within the hopes that I’ve what it takes to face tall in opposition to gamers who’ve had years of expertise and cash to burn on the most recent playing cards.
Nevertheless, I’m nonetheless decided to battle in opposition to the chances and resurrect my deck, which has the drawback of utilizing playing cards from a set that got here out in 2011.
A Week Later
So, yeah … about sticking to my weapons and making my outdated deck once more. I’ve in a short time realised that isn’t a really viable strategy to get wherever with the beast that’s the Pokémon Buying and selling Card Recreation. I’ve since made a load of latest associates from my nearest Pokémon card store, Bathtub TCG and listed below are my findings.
One in all my favorite playing cards in my deck, Alolan Ninetales, has a capability that meant GX and EX Pokémon couldn’t hurt it, which is unbelievable now that EX playing cards are making a return … or so I believed. After making a deck fairly near my older on-line one and heading to my first occasion, I am advised my Ninetales’ potential is now null and void. It’s actually ‘ex’ playing cards which can be all the trend now and never the traditional and forgotten ‘EX’ playing cards.
How foolish I seemed because the cogs instantly began delivering my head to resolve easy methods to repair my now damaged deck constructed round a mechanic that seemingly doesn’t exist anymore.
To make issues worse, one other beloved card of mine, Accelgor, was now manner too weak to be thought of a very good choice. You’ll be glad to know that Alolan Exeggutor is among the staples of my authentic deck that has stayed in and I’m attempting my finest to remain afloat with an Alolan-themed deck. Sure, a deck based mostly on the Solar and Moon units, which in my thoughts solely appeared final 12 months. In actuality, these playing cards got here out roughly six years in the past in 2017-ish. With Gen-Z Pokémon trainers in my sights, I’m decided to indicate these youngsters up and educate them that old fashioned is the one college!
And by that, I imply Era VII from 2017.
One other Week Later
So, yeah … about exhibiting these youngsters the way it’s executed… I’m now realising the pool of various Pokémon decks is far smaller than I as soon as thought.
I’ve dabbled in Magic The Gathering prior to now and one in every of my favorite issues about that sequence was how completely different everybody’s decks are and what it says concerning the particular person. A cyberpunk Japanese mech-inspired deck, a deck a few bunch of vampires having a marriage the place the bride and groom are additionally on the dinner plate, a Cabaret-style Nineteen Fifties crime household stuffed with monsters that like to celebration deck. All such artistic themes and robust decks when paired with the correct playing cards.
Not like Pokémon the place the 2 units I noticed repeated had been the ‘Misplaced Zone’ decks, which centred round Giratina, Sableye, Comfey and Cramorant, and a Chein-Pao / Baxcalibur deck. The Giratina one revolved round getting playing cards into your Misplaced Zone, which then made your Pokémon’s skills stronger and the Chein-Pao one made getting power playing cards onto your Pokémon a cinch. Each are extremely sturdy decks that my tropical Pokémon who’re used to sunbathing on the sunny islands of Alola will not be accustomed to.
Nevertheless, after taking up foe after foe — who rapidly was associates — earlier than I knew it, I used to be truly having loads of enjoyable. I could not have been profitable too many matches however holding my very own and doing decently with a deck incorporating technique in addition to sticking to a theme was nicely value all the hassle.
Decked Out
To me, the Pokémon sequence is about what the Pocket Monsters in your crew say about you as an individual, however I perceive that the aggressive scene is nearly that — being aggressive. New playing cards are continuously being printed that put final season’s playing cards to disgrace, so it’s all the time a continuing race to see who can splurge on the latest playing cards first. Naturally, my Alolan deck by no means stood an opportunity, however to have the ability to see my Pokemon in play, doing semi-decently in such a troublesome TCG recreation, and managing to remain afloat gave me a way of delight. And who is aware of how shut we’re to seeing a few of my favorite Alolan Pokemon within the highlight once more in a future set.
I nonetheless had loads of enjoyable moving into the real-life Pokémon TCG in my very own manner and it wouldn’t have been as a lot enjoyable if the trainers behind the Pokémon weren’t so beautiful and welcoming. So whether or not you’re trying to blow some money to climb the ranks of aggressive play or simply wish to use your favorite ‘mons and accumulate shinies, there’s no unsuitable strategy to get into the Pokemon TCG.
Have you ever ever performed Pokémon TCG? Have you ever tried to rebuild your deck? Share your recollections of your assortment within the feedback.
