Everyone knows that when making a deck, it is very
important to consider the ratios between the types of cards.
For example, some people think that for every 3
energy cards, there should be 2 pokemon, and 1 trainer.
Well, there is one big mistake that everyone is
making.
Here is what i mean, in detail:
Every single deck building article says something
about how many of each type of card you should put in your deck.
I've heard about 25 energy, about 20 pokemon and
about 15 trainers, or something like that.
This is a pretty good ratio, but there is more to
it. Think about the "about 20 pokemon" part.
Does it see right to have 20 pokemon in your deck?
Well, sure it does. Here is the pokemon list for a
well made tournament level Raindance Deck:
4 Squirtle
3 Wartortle
3 Blastoise
4 Magikarp
2 Gyarados
4 Kangaskhan
This adds up to exactly 20 pokemon. So you'd think
20 pokemon would do the trick right?
Hold on a sec. Lets look at the pokemon list for a
well made tournament level Haymaker.
4 Hitmonchan
4 Electabuzz
3 Scyther
2 Ditto
1 Jigglypuff
This deck only has 14 pokemon! But, somehow, this
deck wins a lot of tournaments? The raindance has 20 pokemon, and is just as
successful as this one, which has only 14 pokemon.
There is a very good explanation of this:
My theory, is that it does not matter how many
pokemon cards in your deck, it matters how many BASIC POKEMON CARDS in your
deck. Every good deck has 12-14 basic pokemon in their deck list. The
Raindance has 12. The Haymaker has 14. It starts to make sense now doesn't it?
So when trying to figure out what card ratios fit
for a deck:
BASIC POKEMON AND EVOLUTION CARDS FALL IN
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES!
PUT EVOLUTION CARDS IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS
TRAINER CARDS!
Evolution cards and Trainers fall under the same
category because, like trainers, they are played like instant effects,
that give you an advantage in your game. Trainers give you a one time effect,
changing the game. Evolution cards are very similar, changing your pokemon,
and therefore, like trainers, instantly changing the game. Look at it this
way, evolution cards only change your pokemon. They are not really different
pokemon, just an enhancement to your old pokemon. Basic Pokemon, of course,
are not one time instant effects, they are permanent, and that is why they are
in a different category. Energy cards, is your pokemon's food, and are vital
if you want to make any actions with your pokemon. An adequate amount is
needed to even play the game, and that is why it is in a different
category. Basically, Evolution cards and Trainers are very similar, and
therefore, fall in the same category.
Now, here is what the categories and card ratios
should look like, and the order of importance:
BASIC POKEMON : 12-14 This is a large
enough amount to make sure you have at least one basic pokemon in your
starting hand, and that you don't have to worry about having few pokemon on
your bench. This is a small enough amount to make sure that you won't
often have basic pokemon in your hand with a full bench.
ENERGY CARDS : 20-25 This depends on how energy
hungry your pokemon are, and how many different types you play. This amount
ensures that you have enough energy to attack, without having too many extra
unneeded energy to attack. This number is a lower than what the instruction
book tells you (25-30), because the instruction book does not assume that you
have cards such as Bill, Professor Oak, Energy Search, and Energy Retrieval,
which gives you a lot more energy, by helping you draw them, or by fishing
them out of your deck/discard pile.
EVOLUTIONS/TRAINERS: 22-26 First, manage your
evolution cards. For Stage 1 evolutions, have a 4-2, 4-3, or 3-2 ratio. For
Stage 2 evolutions, have a 4-2-2, 4-3-2, or 4-3-3. Then, after you are
finished with that, fill the rest of your 60 card deck with trainers. Make
sure you have card drawing trainers, or else you will run low on Energy and
Basic Pokemon. 4 BIlls is very useful, and 2 Professor Oaks can be useful too.
Bills and Oaks are musts for a good deck.
Well, that's bout it. Hope this helps you with
your deck.
Questions? Comments?
Agree? Disagree?