#deck lists

It just had to be Rosewater, right? Early issues of The Duelist are wild. Although I was surprised it took until issue 8 until I found any decklists — that weren’t examples of limited pools or part of tournament reports at least. Issue 4 did have a run down on how you can make smart trades and take advantage of Ante to improve your starter deck (essentially a bigger booster pack with basics) and…

Last week I shared one of my favorite new decks, and one I may pick to be my cool new deck if I can navigate the tricky creature that is the upcoming rotation. But Incineroar ex is not the only fire deck I made in my quest for a new deck. I actually have a Fire-Tera type deck that I have actually had some fun with. It’s easy to navigate for most part, it’s fun to play, and it scratches that…

I have been playing the Pokémon card game for years. I think I started playing the card game casually in 2021, masked up in a Dunkin Donuts in the summer. (Because Covid was real and my family wasn’t taking it seriously.) I started playing with a friend of mine, who was super cool and taught me how to play. It was a good excuse to get out of the house. The beginning of 2021 was rather rough for…

Though I would just throw out some casual deck ideas for fun. Here you go.

 Luna’s Transformation (Blue/Pink) 

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=sb141x2-sb12x2-sb33x3-sb140x3-sb37x2-sb35x2-hm139x1-de59x3-sb132x3-sb113x3-eo163x2-eo46x3-hm148x1-eo138x2-sb69x2-eo130x3-mt103x2-de92x3-sb134x2-eo204x3-eo199x2-mt133x2-de123x2-sb129x2-de127x2

Slowly but surely Purel of Transformation is growing on me. When I look at the highly destructive meta we kinda have, just being able to rip out a few friends from your deck over time is pretty great.

Grubber/White.

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=sb51x3-hm47x3-de113x3-hm115x3-sb123x3-sb141x3-sb2x1-hm144x3-de116x3-hm149x3-sb110x2-eo143x2-eo163x2-hm90x3-de72x3-de23x2-mt119x2-mt133x2-de127x2-de135x2-eo23x3-de122x2-sb130x2

I’d like for this deck to work. I’ve even played it against other casual decks and found it pretty fun. But it just doesn’t really have the kick it needs. Tempest+Pow is fun. Grubber buying some turns to score or drop power counters is pretty solid. Photo Finish is a pretty solid turn 2 play. But aside from that its now top teir deck. But maybe if someone gives it a few adjustments they might find something competitive. I just kinda made it for fun like a lot of these decks.

Thorax/Purple Swarm deck.

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=hm109x2-sb141x3-de87x3-sb113x2-eo163x2-hm81x3-de52x3-mt58x3-hm149x3-eo217x3-mt0x3-hm83x3-sb41x3-mt52x2-sb118x2-de122x2-mt117x2-mt124x2-eo192x2-de127x2-hm119x3-sb108x3-de132x1

Gone Batty + Staff is a pretty cool concept and I’ve always wanted to use Exact Duplicate in a deck. Zippowill can be used pretty explositively and Spooky Ruins is pretty great Anti-farming. However, with all that said, the lack of hard removal and such really weakens my faith in this kind of deck. But its probably a lot more fun then the last Purple/Yellow deck I shared.

Heh. (White/Yellow)

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=eo7x1-sb123x3-de116x3-hm149x3-eo108x3-eo146x3-eo114x3-sb141x3-eo163x2-sb56x3-sb59x3-sb100x2-mt119x2-de122x2-de127x2-mt133x2-sb130x2-de96x2-sb118x3-eo125x3-de45x2-de142x2-hm115x2

Heh?

So as I started working under these relatively light rules it became more and more apparent that control should probably be splashing colors all the time. Purple/Pink should be splashing white for body gaurds is a good example. So if these decks seem meh. Well, my arbitrary and fuzzle deck building limitation would be why. Expect a lot more colorful decks in the future. Or mono. Not sure which yet.

I’ll be rounding it out soon. But I’m going to just throw 3 decks out right now, as it has been a bit too long for my likeing. Enjoy.

Skystar/White

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=eo153x3-eo131x3-eo212x3-de116x3-hm149x3-sb141x3-eo163x2-sb3x1-de92x3-eo147x3-eo171x2-de142x2-sb130x2-de127x2-mt133x2-de122x2-sb113x3-sb34x2-mt119x2-hm115x3-eo138x2-hm148x1-mt99x2-hm47x3

Pink/White has some potential for sure. One card I think has been overlooked by many who uses this color combination is Wake-up Call. Considering many are using only so many resource removal cards, and Fashion Desire being so devastating to control and aggro alike. Being able to deal with there one answer is pretty strong. Also, Wake-up Call and Box is pretty strong against Farm. Though perhaps not a Mono variation.

I’m not sure about the main and some of the cards. Lyra seems to be just a little to demanding for this kind of deck. Crissy is always the Tinker Bell of the game, especially with Tempest TM existing now. So Skystar it is for me. Also giving a little extra req when needed. That being side, this deck probably needs some more req reduction to use wake up call. Castle of Friendship is something I consistently look at if only to get more AT Gening.

You will noticed there is only 2 problems in the deck where you need another friend to confront. I actually find this a bit concerning for future development. I’m using them in some of my more ‘[Top Secret]’ decks. Because....really part of what gives control its mff and such is this.

Over all I think something like this can be competitively viable. Its just a matter of teasing out the details a bit.

Tempest/Pink

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=hm78x3-de76x3-sb85x3-hm40x3-eo207x3-hm148x1-de100x3-sb34x2-sb36x2-sb121x2-de116x2-hm149x2-eo124x3-eo128x3-hm25x1-eo163x2-sb113x2-hm88x3-de127x2-mt133x2-de122x2-sb130x2-mt119x2-sb4x1-de92x3

This is at least presentable. Its fine. I think Dip is something people might want to consider more. I’ve Dipped with Rainbow Shine do devastating results. But still, Body Gaurd should be thrown into this deck with a few adjustments. See CoCo 1 and 2 on Reddit to see what I mean. 

Tempest/Orange

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=mt65x3-mt66x3-sb141x3-sb121x3-de116x3-hm149x3-sb110x3-eo143x2-hm0x2-mt100x2-sb135x3-de38x3-hm148x1-de101x1-eo163x2-sb113x2-sb130x2-mt133x2-de122x2-de127x2-mt119x2-mt82x2-de100x1-hm140x1-sb4x1-eo136x2

Well you should probably know what is up via the title, This will be show casing mostly mid-teir and fun decks save maybe the Ambassador of Loyalty/Orange deck, which has more of a competitive edge.

Transformation Central. Skystar/Yellow

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=sb141x2-sb140x3-eo163x3-mt68x2-sb88x3-eo130x3-de92x3-sb37x3-sb35x3-sb34x2-sb33x2-sb56x3-de139x3-de96x2-eo46x2-sb3x1-mt103x3-mt130x2-de131x2-sb130x1-mt133x1-sb129x2-de122x2-sb59x3-sb134x2

So I thought I might try out the Transformation Mechanic and this was the result. Its not too bad actually. Peril kind kinda pay for itself and deck thin. Being a decent threat that can push the game in your favor if left unchecked. Having 2 threatening resource with the additional staff normally means you would make out with at least 1 of them always out . Being able to throw 4 eccentric at hasty speeds and then pay 1 to remove the eccentric and drop 5 power is pretty powerful. In addition to growing the number of bodys.. Jester vs Box is kind of a hard call. Jester being a decent option against farm and control, however being a tad bigger then I would like. One might think AJ can just face off there, but the eccentric maybe able to keep her at pay for a opportune moment. At the same time. It also offer a Dilemma while box is, just box, and not very helpful against control. 

Keep in mind Transformation works on frighten friends. PFF lets you get TM6 as early as turn 2, and that you can transform Skystar between her two forms. It also allows you to reuse Pinkie/Twi and Pinkie/Skystar As they have 2 Titles rather then 1. 

Over all, I think Bugles deck he ran in CoCo maybe the better choice competitively, while I would also make some changes there. But this deck is pretty fun, and I’m sure someone has been looking for a transform deck.

Other suggestions: Changing some of the numbers for the friends in general. Friendship Festival. Cardboard Box.

Hot Wings Mild-Sauce. Bluna/Pink Aggro/mid range.

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=hm139x1-sb141x2-sb113x2-eo163x3-hm68x2-de59x3-de60x3-eo130x3-hm148x2-sb134x3-de26x3-eo147x3-mt103x3-eo167x2-sb132x3-mt14x3-eo204x3-de92x3-eo194x2-eo199x2-sb129x2-mt133x2-de123x2

Pink/Blue suffered alot from the format change. The lack of high-score problems that can be confronted by playing 1 friend being the big issue. The second issue being the lack of resource removal. So, I have this mess. I’m not confident that it is the best build, there are clearly loses cut. It maybe more mid-range then one would feel confident in. RIP being able to deal the mass of problem resources such as Fashion Disaster and Dessert make it potentially worth it. Thunderlain is something I’ve never understood why it left the deck other then it being slow to play. But may have a better place in the deck now. So yes. Its Tech Heavy. But it kinda needs to be to survive in this meta.So I ran with the idea of have tech against control and farm, while keeping potentially enough speed to handle aggro. Honestly I tested this like twice and...its fineish?

Other options: Additional Staff, Prince Ruth, Gabby, Friendship Festavil, Pinkie Holiday, Keven, smaller problems.

Scootaloo/Yellow

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=mt1x1-eo163x3-sb141x2-sb75x3-de65x3-de139x3-sb59x3-sb137x3-hm55x2-de96x2-sb108x3-sb56x3-eo204x3-sb132x3-sb13x3-sb11x3-hm7x3-eo199x2-mt131x2-mt133x2-de122x2-sb130x2

I’ll be frank. Pure aggro Yellow/Blue is probably my least favorit. And it shows in this deck. I’m sure that Thorax/Blue deck has more kick and utility to it. However, I wanted to make a fun thing with Novo. And in my play testing, which is minimal for this deck, this deck preformed decently well against a few other decks on this list. so hear you go.

This deck tries to use Scoots free movement to your advantage. Using Pirate Dash and Novo to create acwoard situations for opposing aggro decks. Moving back Pirate Dash can give you a frighten, which is pretty fun. And you normally have the ability to remove Novo from the fight if it is back firing in some way. Novo is also not a bad DM slayer and can be moved back with Swinging wounder or frightened with Ruth if need be.

But yeah. Its fun if you are fighting a mid-tear deck. But nothing revolutionary here. But prove me wrong if you can, If you are looking for a competitive yellow/blue deck check out CoCo #2 Results.

Other suggestions: Industrial Revolution, Ever Vigelent, Tirek’s Reign, 

Fizzle Flash. Tempest/Blue Mid-range

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=sb132x3-sb11x3-sb13x3-sb121x3-de116x2-mt112x1-sb141x2-de40x3-eo124x3-eo128x3-de100x3-mt123x2-eo95x3-eo134x3-sb43x2-sb71x3-hm137x2-mt133x2-sb4x1-de122x2-de127x2-eo163x2-hm148x1-mt80x3

This deck is fun and plays a mid-range style of game. Zombra allows you to play a interesting control game, as well as allows you to play Read the Manual turn 2, play Zecora turn 2. ect. It might actually be worth considering in other Tempest decks just due to the early game options he can grant. So keep him in mind, especially when fighting aggro as it is unlikely he can be taken out before he gives you the AT. 

Flickering Swinging Wounder can have a pretty big pay off. Flickering Zoned Out into Grubber can actually dodge a TM6+Party Hard set up as well as throwing out a mimics to prevent some options, You can flicker Loyal Pony or Singing to move Pirat Dash. So there is a lot of fun synergy with flickering the friends in this deck. Moving Pirate Dash, Zecora, or spike with Swinging Wounders, Ever Vigelent, or Twi/spike are all solid options. Allowing a lot of shenanigans. 

Basically, this can be a very tricky deck. But due to the color combenations lack of recovery or defensive options I doube it can be high or top teir. But maybe I’m wrong.

Other Options: Night Glider Over Powering. Additional TMs, Discord Wrathful, Additional Spike Festival Assistant, Blackmall and other more controlling problems. Zecora P/B.

Rainbow Dash/Orange

http://ponyhead.com/deckbuilder?v1code=eo1x1-sb113x3-eo163x2-sb141x3-hm149x3-mt0x3-hm119x3-de119x3-mt110x2-sb67x3-eo138x3-sb132x3-sb13x3-mt14x3-de135x2-sb110x2-eo112x3-eo111x3-mt131x2-eo199x2-eo194x2-mt133x2-mt128x2

One Punch Mare + Orange. Obveusly lacking the Burst of speed it still has handy tools with Mullet who can move things immediately. Rainbow also has the luxury of not depending on additional flip power like AoH. She also doesn’t suffer from push back as hard. Wounder Bolts Stadem is always free and giving you a plus. Also being able to play it turn one is pretty nice.Some may wounder why Special Beam. Coundidering that blue has mediocre resource removal and belly flop being a strong counter against Big Eater, its better to just banish the one resource that is a major threat, Cardboard box.

This deck acturally proves to be a formitable opponent against most things, but not particularly exceptional, that being said, I think it could at least be high teir.

Other cards to consider: Prince Rath, Ever Vigelent., perhaps appoloza or a additional Dessert Road.