Need some advice for my first deck.

[riakage0]

Hey, this is my first post . Anyways, I've been involved in the pokemon games ever since I was a kid, and I am now starting to try out the TCG. So I need some advice on what to put into my very first deck. I don't really know the current decks being used, aside from infernape, gengar, and kingdra I think. I was actually hoping I could try using Hippowdown level X's "Sand Resest," and see what I could do with that sort of deck, along with maybe a Rampardos or two in the deck. So, any advice for cards?

 

[Politoed666]

This is an incredible coincidence. I'm actually using a Hippowdon deck right now, so I can help you with that. First, though, I'll tell you what decks are the most played right now.
- Mother Gengar (Gengar + Nidoqueen)
- LuxApe (Luxray GL + Infernape 4)
- Speedrill (Beedrill)
- Kingdra
- Flygon/Weavile
- Machamp
- Dialga G variants
- Legos (Palkia G + Mesprit lock)

I think that about covers the heavy hitters. Now, let's move on to your deck idea itself. Hippowdon, although it's not *that* good, can do some damage in the right hands. It's a fairly straightforward deck to play, and like I said, it can win games. Aside from Kingdra, it has no really bad matchups. Then again, it doesn't really have any good matchups either, so it evens out.

Lemme say that Rampardos does not work in the deck at all. I played Rampardos for a few weeks after Platinum came out, and was extremely unsatisfied with the deck's speed and strength. So, this list will not include Rampardos. Without further ado, here is my exact list for Hippowdon.

1x Hippowdon Lv.X
3x Hippowdon RR
3x Hippopotas RR
2x Weavile SW
2x Sneasel DP
2x Claydol GE
2x Baltoy GE
1x Lunatone GE
1x Solrock GE
1x Uxie LA
2x Mesprit LA
2x Unown G GE
1x Unown Q MD


3x Roseanne's Research
4x Bebe's Search
3x Felicity's Drawing
2x Volkner's Philosophy
1x Luxury Ball
1x Dusk Ball
2x Warp Point
1x Premier Ball
2x Super Scoop Up
3x Broken Time-Space
2x Stark Mountain

3x Call Energy
1x Upper Energy
9x Fighting Energy

Lemme know what you think about the deck. Instead of explaining the strategy in paragraph form, I'll simply describe the use for each significant Pokémon in the deck.
Hippowdon Lv.X - If the opponent's deck is one where many energies need to be attached to be successful, such as Flygon/Weavile, Dialga G, or even LuxApe, Sand Reset can be really nasty after the KO of a Hippowdon. Especially since Hippowdon can attack for one energy and have more and more damage buildup each turn.

Hippowdon - This Hippowdon is the main attacker for the deck. It can hit for a fair amount of damage early game, which quickly increases to more and more damage in the lategame if a Hippowdon can survive that long. Groundquake can also hit the opponent's bench for plenty of damage, especially in SP decks, while OHKOing Luxray GL and heavily damaging many other opposition Pokémon.

Weavile - Weavile's only use is for giving Hippowdon weakness advantage against Gengar, possibly allowing for the donk.

Claydol - Claydol is the deck's main drawing support.

Lunatone - Able to discard energies from the hand to be recovered through Hippowdon's Save Sand attack.

Solrock - Allows for draw when using Lunatone's power

Uxie - Can provide extra draw in the early game before Claydol hits the field.

Mesprit - Can prevent decks such as Beedrill from getting setup through a power lock.

Unown G - Chief use is preventing Gengar's "Shadow Room" attack from affecting Claydol and Weavile.

Unown Q - Allows for the free retreat of a bad start.

Lemme know what you think.

 

[riakage0]

Nice deck, and thanks for the suggestions. But I do have a few questions

What if you would happen to start a hand with lunatone or solrock? It seems like the setup from that point would be difficult.

And what would snorlax do to this deck?

And also, why upper energy?

 

[Politoed666]

Nice deck, and thanks for the suggestions. But I do have a few questions

What if you would happen to start a hand with lunatone or solrock? It seems like the setup from that point would be difficult.

And what would snorlax do to this deck?

And also, why upper energy?

Starting with Lunatone or Solrock actually isn't all that bad, depending on what other cards are in your hand. Simply search for a Hippopotas and Warp Point, or search for Unown Q and retreat. In the case of Solrock, it's attack can actually be beneficial to setting up.

Snorlax would slow the deck down terribly. D:

Upper Energy can provide extra support and power if you're behind in prizes, especially since Hippowdon's first attack relies on how many energy are attached.

 

[riakage0]

Is snorlax's Pick and Collect not helpful?

And wouldn't upper energy be useless once Hippodown Level X is played?

Also, if you are receiving 2 energy from Upper Energy, do both of them count towards Save Sand, or is it just one energy regardless?

 

[Politoed666]

Is snorlax's Pick and Collect not helpful?

And wouldn't upper energy be useless once Hippodown Level X is played?

Also, if you are receiving 2 energy from Upper Energy, do both of them count towards Save Sand, or is it just one energy regardless?

Snorlax's Pick and Collect would be helpful if it didn't have massive retreat and is otherwise fairly useless. I just find that it slows down the deck more than it helps it.

Upper Energy isn't useless once Hippowdon Lv.X is played... it's just not AS useful.

Yes, both energies received from Upper Energy count toward Save Sand.

 

[riakage0]

One last thing I question about this deck.

Does leafon make a good stand anywhere in the deck?

 

[Politoed666]

One last thing I question about this deck.

Does leafon make a good stand anywhere in the deck?

Noooo. No synergy whatsoever, unfortunately. Too hard to get out, results in bad starts, dead draw, etc. Pretty much the same as Snorlax.

 

[riakage0]

Well alright then. Any advice on where I can get some of these cards? I just started buying cards and I'm missing a vast majority of these cards.

I'm using pokecorner.com, so if there is somewhere better, please do tell.

 

[scar1et]

Well alright then. Any advice on where I can get some of these cards? I just started buying cards and I'm missing a vast majority of these cards.

I'm using pokecorner.com, so if there is somewhere better, please do tell.

i use ebay, good old ebay, lol:banana:

 

[Politoed666]

i use ebay, good old ebay, lol:banana:

Yep, I would say eBay is the way to go. Unless you want to buy them from me.