RS/SS - The Most Fun Format To Come in A While

            Hey everyone, nikePK here.  There is still much debate on what format will be the Nintendo Modified, but while we wait, everyone has been testing eon, lc-on, RS only… etc.

            However, now that Sandstorm has come out, many people, myself included, have been playing and play testing decks in RS/SS, or 'Nintendo Only' if you want to call it that.  No promos, no LC; only Ruby and Sapphire and Sandstorm.

            Contrary to what people may think, there is plenty of search and draw ability in these two sets, it’s just not what we’re used to.  No more “shuffle hand and draw X amount of cards.”  No siree, in this we’ve got Birch, Pokenav, and we’re forced to play cards that thin the deck.  However, these cards don’t just thin the deck; they help you get going as well by getting you energy or pokemon.

            Let’s look at a few key cards in RS/SS

Professor Birch:  Pretty much the only normal draw card in the format.  4 of each is a MUST in every deck.  Getting one can give you an advantage or get you back in the game if you’re down.  Most deck thinning you will use is in hopes of getting your evolution out or getting one of these cards.

PokeNav:  This card is pretty much a must also.  Some decks can get away without running it, those that run Delcatty or Linoone may be able to skimp on the amount of Nav they run.  For decks without Catty or Linoone (and decks w/o those 2 cards do just fine btw), 3-4 Nav is a must just to keep the deck running smoothly.  It’ll get you an energy in a crisis, get you that evolution you need… and it’s just like drawing an extra card.  Not the best card ever, but its needed in this format.

Lanette’s Net Search:  In Sandstorm, we get another supporter in the form of Lanette’s Net Search.  This card is AMAZING.  Running 3 colors is NOT uncommon in this format just because of the great energy costs in every pokemon.  Seriously, look at most pokemon in these new sets… they only need around 1 of their own colored energy to use their attack… the rest is colorless.  With Net Search, 2-3 color decks get a major boost in speed.  This lets you get your basics out easily, letting you Wally’s Training or Pokeball into your next stage.  Oh, and it thins the deck nicely too!

Searching Babies:  What makes Gardevoir/Gardevoir ex run even better than it does?  WYNAUT!  The attacks on these babies not only thin your deck, but they get things rolling for you very early.  Pokemon such as Wynaut, Elekid, and Azurill at the start can give you an unparalleled speed advantage and let you start the beatdown faster than your opponent.

There are plenty more key cards, but I won’t go into detail on them yet.  Cards like Oran Berry, Potion, Lady Outing, and Energy Restore are all very good cards in this format too, and see play often.

            All of the above cards have one thing in common:  They deal with speed.  However, in RS/SS, speed is only half the battle.  You NEED to either swarm with considerable damage, or have at least a huge pokemon that can carry your whole team.  With huge attackers, such as Wailord ex, Typhlosion ex, or Gardevoir (ex or rs), getting two out is almost like game over for your opponent.  Getting only one out is good, but it’ll only last for so long.  Weakness is a big thing in this game, one shot from an Espeon can wipe a Gardevoir ex off the face of the planet.  Therefore, you need to get out 2 of them to really win the game.  Big evos turn the whole game around; and while you do need a decent start to win, it’s also important that you can either consistently draw more good pokemon, or can have your big evos take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

People have come back from 5-1 to win 0-1, it’s easy to do this with big evolution cards.  One-hit KO’s are pretty important, whether you rely on weakness to do it for you, or if you rely on your attack to do it.  Gardevoir ex can lay out the FTKO’s like there’s no tomorrow… that is what makes her so good.  Wailord can’t be OHKO’d by nearly anything, making it very good.  Since there is that degree of OHKO, you need more than 1 huge hitter, you need something that if your opponent ko’s your big hitter with their big hitter, you can retaliate still.  It’s a game of who hits who first.  That’s why decent basics are also needed.

            With bigger basics, you force your opponent to send up their big evolution, and then is your chance to strike.  Of course, none of this is as simple as it sounds, but it’s the main part of it.

            For everyone that’s new to this great game of Pokemon, this format is PERFECT.  No old cards reprinted or being able to be in use, cards you’re familiar with, no learning older sets, etc.  For us older folks, it’s something NEW.  FRESH AND NEW.  What’s most important is that it’s fun!  Ask any of us that have been playing on mirc over apprentice; this is one of the most fun formats to come to Pokemon… EVER!  Once you get the hang of deck building, you tweak endlessly lol!  You play test a LOT and its incredible fun changing decks around, making new ones, and testing to see what will work and what won’t.  Nearly everything works, but there is a few really strong decks out there, only one of which I think is archtype-worthy.

            Well, that’s all for now, I suppose.  I hope all of you will try out this format, whether it’s on apprentice, or whether it’s with real cards because it is really great.

Feel free to IM me on AIM at : nikePK

Or email at: jumpluff@cablerocket.com