I’ve played a lot of Blaine believing in the deck, but the reality is you don’t have enough hp to work with and if you don’t pull ninetails you’re just done. Rapidash and Magmar’s dmg just don’t cut it when trying to burn through bulky EX mons especially with potions
I think something notable about the blaine/ninetales deck is how it eats C tier and below decks alive - it’s fast and pretty consistent, so slow inconsistent decks don’t stand a chance. The issue is, as you pointed out, that the card quality is pretty low, so it struggles against high tier decks.
I have a love/hate relationship with Moltres. It can be helpful when you get that instant charizard and it gets that instant 2-3 energy turbocharge for an insane high roll. But I feel like it's often a liability. Just giving up 2 free points and either turbo charging into nothing while waiting for charmeleon or not charging at all with 0 heads. Meanwhile the opponent is running wild under 0 pressure.
That’s why Arcanine is the best partner imo. Only requiring 3 energy means you can get away with inferno dancing only one time if you have x speed. If you’re dancing a third time you’re just bricked anyways
and this is part of why the fossils are so good in the deck, games where you open slow or don't get many coin flips you can xspeed retreat your moltres into a 1 point pokemon, bench a second one to protect against sabrina and try to buy extra turns to set up your evolutions/energy
Can’t agree more with your general assessment. I kept a reroll where I got really lucky with pikachu packs and got a pikachu EX deck up and running day 1. As much fun as I have jumping around from one deck to another, it’s nice having pika when I just want some wins. One thing I would disagree with is that I think you’re sleeping on the blaine deck a bit. It’s pretty crazy how many times I’ve taken down the top tier decks with it. Feels unstoppable when it draws well. It can scrap a bit mid game too if you find all your pokemon and both sabrinas.
One slight adaptation I like in Charizard ex decks is the addition of 1 non EX Charizard for similar reasons to the non EX Arcanine, it did really well in a recent tournament and I think that plus the fossil really helps optimize Charizard EX to where it's pretty solidly 4th in the game imo Great video and I agree with the rankings 👍
You often say there’s nothing better to play so might as well play fossil. I agree red card is bait, but what are your thoughts on pokedex into pokeball shuffle plays? I find it much more helpful in niche situations than fossil
I have destroyed round after round the Pikachu EX deck with my VENUSAUR EX + Butterfree. I can wait to charge my venusaur by sacrificing 2 pokemon , but once I start hitting… they can’t do anything
Moltres Centiskorch is also pretty decent. 130 damage is a very good break point, and the deck is more approachable because Moltres is the only EX you need. I actually prefer it over both Charizard and Arcanine. Weezing really surprised me, too. I remember seeing Koga and initially thinking it was a terrible card but actually playing with it really changed my perspective.
Yeah and I don't auto lose to them. It's just kadabra and Charazard with 6 energy are the only thing that can kill me after setting up. So that match up is not in my favor if I don't open great. It takes 150+ damage on back to back turns to kill the set up because you can heal 120 on back to back turns with Erika.
I think Blaine deserve at the very least a B Tier.
I’ve played a lot of Blaine believing in the deck, but the reality is you don’t have enough hp to work with and if you don’t pull ninetails you’re just done. Rapidash and Magmar’s dmg just don’t cut it when trying to burn through bulky EX mons especially with potions
@@stillmrblonde8411 not pulling nine tales is comparable to not pulling the key pokemon in almost any deck
@@stillmrblonde8411 drop magmar. The deck is meant to blitz the opponent.
I think something notable about the blaine/ninetales deck is how it eats C tier and below decks alive - it’s fast and pretty consistent, so slow inconsistent decks don’t stand a chance. The issue is, as you pointed out, that the card quality is pretty low, so it struggles against high tier decks.
Always thanks for the game content! Always helpful when determining deck lists.
I have a love/hate relationship with Moltres. It can be helpful when you get that instant charizard and it gets that instant 2-3 energy turbocharge for an insane high roll. But I feel like it's often a liability. Just giving up 2 free points and either turbo charging into nothing while waiting for charmeleon or not charging at all with 0 heads. Meanwhile the opponent is running wild under 0 pressure.
That’s why Arcanine is the best partner imo. Only requiring 3 energy means you can get away with inferno dancing only one time if you have x speed. If you’re dancing a third time you’re just bricked anyways
Just wait for a stage Poke Ball to drop in the next set.
and this is part of why the fossils are so good in the deck, games where you open slow or don't get many coin flips you can xspeed retreat your moltres into a 1 point pokemon, bench a second one to protect against sabrina and try to buy extra turns to set up your evolutions/energy
I have gotten an entirely unreasonable amount of wins with dragonite
I have gotten so many fun games but my Winrate is garbage I'm trying a meowth version with pursian to click while setting up and that is ok
arbok sweep arbok sweep arbok sweep arbok sweep
Can’t agree more with your general assessment. I kept a reroll where I got really lucky with pikachu packs and got a pikachu EX deck up and running day 1. As much fun as I have jumping around from one deck to another, it’s nice having pika when I just want some wins.
One thing I would disagree with is that I think you’re sleeping on the blaine deck a bit. It’s pretty crazy how many times I’ve taken down the top tier decks with it. Feels unstoppable when it draws well. It can scrap a bit mid game too if you find all your pokemon and both sabrinas.
I've seen tier lists that where the "D" level is labeled "Dragonite Tier"
The unfortunate truth rn 😢 hopefully we get a Claire trainer card in the next big set to help the dragons
One slight adaptation I like in Charizard ex decks is the addition of 1 non EX Charizard for similar reasons to the non EX Arcanine, it did really well in a recent tournament and I think that plus the fossil really helps optimize Charizard EX to where it's pretty solidly 4th in the game imo
Great video and I agree with the rankings 👍
I always keep a singular grimer in my Wheezing deck. Straight up stonewalls against Mewtwo.
You often say there’s nothing better to play so might as well play fossil. I agree red card is bait, but what are your thoughts on pokedex into pokeball shuffle plays? I find it much more helpful in niche situations than fossil
I dont think thats better than red card personally but Ill admit I havent tried it.
I have destroyed round after round the Pikachu EX deck with my VENUSAUR EX + Butterfree. I can wait to charge my venusaur by sacrificing 2 pokemon , but once I start hitting… they can’t do anything
Moltres Centiskorch is also pretty decent. 130 damage is a very good break point, and the deck is more approachable because Moltres is the only EX you need. I actually prefer it over both Charizard and Arcanine.
Weezing really surprised me, too. I remember seeing Koga and initially thinking it was a terrible card but actually playing with it really changed my perspective.
I just packed my 2nd pika but no zapdos in sight. Is the deck still good without it?
I think meowth & dragonite is a nice combo
Arbok s tier
solid video!
My favorite Weezing is deck is with butterfree and bulbasar. It wins more than it should but is horrible into Abra if it sets up or charmander.
That's 2 of the 4 most popular decks in the game lol. Those two matchups make up almost 50% of players 😂
Yeah and I don't auto lose to them. It's just kadabra and Charazard with 6 energy are the only thing that can kill me after setting up. So that match up is not in my favor if I don't open great.
It takes 150+ damage on back to back turns to kill the set up because you can heal 120 on back to back turns with Erika.