One nuanced thing I don't see being addressed at 10:49 is that Thin Cards and Search Effects are ACTUALLY the same thing. What makes a Search Effect a Thin Card and vice versa will depend on your goals for that turn. My understanding is that the reason we play 1. Thin cards 2. Draw cards 3. Top X 4. Search effects Is to maximize our chances of getting lucky (the theme of this video). If you thin correctly, you will be putting yourself in more situations to draw the cards you need to close out the games, hence mitigating the need for that final search card (effectively turning it into a thin card for the next turn). Thanks Rowan, your insights make the Pokèmon TCG a much more creative space to be
While Rowan doesn't explicitly state it, i think it's very heavily implied & can be assumed. He does mention in the previous section that if you need prime catcher it makes sense to pokegear first to thin the sada, so basically pokegear becomes a thinning card because your goal is no longer to hit sada.
You are my favorite TCG content creator by far. Your niche of advanced Pokemon TCG concepts and tutorials is amazing, and your skill really shows. You also are the best at communicating your knowledge. I saw an hour long interview with Tord Reklev about Zard, but gained more information from your 20 minute video. Using that info, I have played zard ever since temporal and greatly improved at it. I went 6-3 at NAIC and when the new season began got a placement good enough for points at 5/6 league cups I went to with the deck. I'm hoping for a good placement at Lousville, and feel confident I can do well. I know this is an essay, but THANK YOU ROWAN!
This type of content is gold! Like these are things that we all learn on our own at a some level, but this breakdown is awesome! Very insightful Btw I’m a huge fan since you won Hartford regionals (I just started playing pokemon by that time and I was playing mew vmax as well) btw I still miss the deck u.u
Hi Rowan, your greatest fan here. Since your last video I won my first 2 locals, I'm coming for you. Also, this video makes so much sense. I feel like I've been doing all of these instinctively, but now I know why.
I got into the game within the past year and this is exactly what I wanted to find, the how’s and why’s you order your turn the way you do. I asked for help with this at locals and no one seemed to have a reason or method of why they did things in the order they did (unless it’s obviously easily to decide)
I have played it at local challenges and when it works, it works really well! But when it doesn't, well... Let's say it's not as capable of a come back as zard or pult
Excellent video, I maybe would’ve broken out cards by what their goal is more so as not to confuse thinning with search. Still top tier. The real crazy part here is Raging Bolt can now just kill the rat turn 1 and not feel as terrible because you have briar (still a better plan to kill Lugia)
Hi! Great video! Quick question: at 13:15, why do we want to PokeGear first? Is the deck thinning really preferable to possibly having the PokeGear later in case they use hand-disruption? My instinct would have been to hold on to it for later to maximize chances of getting sada if our hand was disrupted. Just unsure as to when it is wasting possible resources for later versus doing proper deck thinning.
I appreciate this video I'm getting back into the format after years (Xy era) i'm enjoying Charizard, but I know that that deck has much different sequencing than this stack. Since it's mostly all searching effects and not as much draw/scry. Any chance you could make a sequencing video for Charizard players? I know the deck is easy enough that you probably don't even need to, but I'm curious if there's a way I could play even better than I already am
Is thining a card that you might need later and discarding it usually the better choice? Like how you mentioned with that last hand when using pokegear before using squawk 19:15
I understand all concepts, however i'm still struggling when its worth to thin/discard. For example sometimes you have have nice cards that you will need in your future but for the current situation it is bad. Do i Prof research or not? I might lose when i dont, but i might also lose (later) when i do..
Depends on the deck. For example if you run many supporters or important supporters like the sadas. Then I say sqwak then ninja. But if your deck runs a lot of items that set up then maybe ninja before sqwak. Basically if you have a high chance of getting playable cards from the ninja first (or discardables like energy for ancient decks, Kofu for kofu decks, birds for United wings decks)
This is a great question, and the answer depends. First think about your goal, do you need those extra 2 cards to have a strong turn? At the risk of potentially discarding resources? What resources does your deck play? Think of the worst cards for you to draw off ninja? How bad would that be? In the case of bolt specifically I would often use greninja, because there are very few cards that cannot be played and would be wasted.
In case of playing Chien Pao ex, following your logic, should I use Rad Greninja's ability first to see 2 cards or use Shivery chill to draw 2 energies to thin up the deck?
it depends on your goal. If you draw into a water energy from concealed cards will you be happy? If so then Don't shivery chill and raise your odds of drawing water energy.
Does it really matter if you pokestop before pokegear or great ball? You could possibly mill the cards you want. But you could also get items that could change your selection or help thin the deck.
Let me see if I understood it correctly. Its all about thin your deck before you draw cards. Like if I need a Pokémon and I have a vessel, pokegear 3.0 and Radiant Greninja, I should play first the vessel to draw 2 energies, pokegear to maybe draw 1 supporter and this would make me 3 cards "closer" to a pokémon when I make greninja search. Did I understand it right?
One nuanced thing I don't see being addressed at 10:49 is that Thin Cards and Search Effects are ACTUALLY the same thing. What makes a Search Effect a Thin Card and vice versa will depend on your goals for that turn.
My understanding is that the reason we play 1. Thin cards 2. Draw cards 3. Top X 4. Search effects
Is to maximize our chances of getting lucky (the theme of this video). If you thin correctly, you will be putting yourself in more situations to draw the cards you need to close out the games, hence mitigating the need for that final search card (effectively turning it into a thin card for the next turn).
Thanks Rowan, your insights make the Pokèmon TCG a much more creative space to be
While Rowan doesn't explicitly state it, i think it's very heavily implied & can be assumed. He does mention in the previous section that if you need prime catcher it makes sense to pokegear first to thin the sada, so basically pokegear becomes a thinning card because your goal is no longer to hit sada.
Yes! It is all relative to your goal!
Your content as of late has been a gold mine of knowledge. I really appreciate everything youve been putting out for the community
Thanks for the kind words :)
You are my favorite TCG content creator by far. Your niche of advanced Pokemon TCG concepts and tutorials is amazing, and your skill really shows. You also are the best at communicating your knowledge. I saw an hour long interview with Tord Reklev about Zard, but gained more information from your 20 minute video. Using that info, I have played zard ever since temporal and greatly improved at it. I went 6-3 at NAIC and when the new season began got a placement good enough for points at 5/6 league cups I went to with the deck. I'm hoping for a good placement at Lousville, and feel confident I can do well. I know this is an essay, but THANK YOU ROWAN!
rowan is the actual goat of free competitive game theory content
These videos are some of the best of pokemon TCG UA-cam imo keep it up. Easy new subscriber
This type of content is gold! Like these are things that we all learn on our own at a some level, but this breakdown is awesome! Very insightful
Btw I’m a huge fan since you won Hartford regionals (I just started playing pokemon by that time and I was playing mew vmax as well) btw I still miss the deck u.u
Hi Rowan, your greatest fan here. Since your last video I won my first 2 locals, I'm coming for you.
Also, this video makes so much sense. I feel like I've been doing all of these instinctively, but now I know why.
I’m so invested in this saga
@@dlcsprite1587 buckle up >:)
@@dlcsprite1587me too
Rowan your the goat dude this is premium I loved your tarapagos video as well ! Thanks so so much for the free coaching !
Thank you, amazing guide
Glad you enjoyed it :)
I got into the game within the past year and this is exactly what I wanted to find, the how’s and why’s you order your turn the way you do. I asked for help with this at locals and no one seemed to have a reason or method of why they did things in the order they did (unless it’s obviously easily to decide)
Thank you for this! It's super helpful!
Great video! I love how systematic and thorough it is. I definitely won't ever play Raging Bolt though--the deck looks like a bag of bricks.
Yeah I don’t blame you after watching this performance…
I have played it at local challenges and when it works, it works really well! But when it doesn't, well... Let's say it's not as capable of a come back as zard or pult
I actually dont brick as much as he did😂😂 just bad luck I guess. Feels much less like a bag of bricks if you compare it to regidraco
My guy Rowan is definitely fire for this video 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks I've been wanting a video on this topic
Excellent video good sir.
Thank you. very informative
the goat returns, so useful
This have helped me .Thank you!
thanks a lot for this.
Excellent video, I maybe would’ve broken out cards by what their goal is more so as not to confuse thinning with search. Still top tier.
The real crazy part here is Raging Bolt can now just kill the rat turn 1 and not feel as terrible because you have briar (still a better plan to kill Lugia)
The competitive floor just got higher. Lots of eyeballs on a very good lesson.
Hi! Great video! Quick question: at 13:15, why do we want to PokeGear first? Is the deck thinning really preferable to possibly having the PokeGear later in case they use hand-disruption? My instinct would have been to hold on to it for later to maximize chances of getting sada if our hand was disrupted.
Just unsure as to when it is wasting possible resources for later versus doing proper deck thinning.
tatsugiri is another example of a top x effect!
And 1 prize Kingdra & 1 prize Iron Thorns
@@mandy1339 yes but those are attacks rather than actions you take during your turn to achieve your goal
@@spoonsquadptcg you are totally right. my bad
I appreciate this video I'm getting back into the format after years (Xy era) i'm enjoying Charizard, but I know that that deck has much different sequencing than this stack. Since it's mostly all searching effects and not as much draw/scry. Any chance you could make a sequencing video for Charizard players? I know the deck is easy enough that you probably don't even need to, but I'm curious if there's a way I could play even better than I already am
Thank you for this video! It's going to be a huge help!
Hey @Rowan is your class going to be record? The link says it is sold out.. any alternatives?
If I sign up for the Terapagos master class, will there be a recording available after? I am interested, but unable to join live.
Is thining a card that you might need later and discarding it usually the better choice? Like how you mentioned with that last hand when using pokegear before using squawk 19:15
If the trade off is killing the only Lugia V in play, then yes for sure. Depends on the trade off.
Thank you, so much lol.
I understand all concepts, however i'm still struggling when its worth to thin/discard. For example sometimes you have have nice cards that you will need in your future but for the current situation it is bad. Do i Prof research or not? I might lose when i dont, but i might also lose (later) when i do..
Any tips on sequencing with Squawk and Greninja? Which should you use first if given the choice and if you could only use one which would you use?
Depends on the deck. For example if you run many supporters or important supporters like the sadas. Then I say sqwak then ninja. But if your deck runs a lot of items that set up then maybe ninja before sqwak. Basically if you have a high chance of getting playable cards from the ninja first (or discardables like energy for ancient decks, Kofu for kofu decks, birds for United wings decks)
This is a great question, and the answer depends. First think about your goal, do you need those extra 2 cards to have a strong turn? At the risk of potentially discarding resources? What resources does your deck play? Think of the worst cards for you to draw off ninja? How bad would that be? In the case of bolt specifically I would often use greninja, because there are very few cards that cannot be played and would be wasted.
In case of playing Chien Pao ex, following your logic, should I use Rad Greninja's ability first to see 2 cards or use Shivery chill to draw 2 energies to thin up the deck?
it depends on your goal. If you draw into a water energy from concealed cards will you be happy? If so then Don't shivery chill and raise your odds of drawing water energy.
Does it really matter if you pokestop before pokegear or great ball? You could possibly mill the cards you want. But you could also get items that could change your selection or help thin the deck.
Good question. I am also curious.
Let me see if I understood it correctly. Its all about thin your deck before you draw cards. Like if I need a Pokémon and I have a vessel, pokegear 3.0 and Radiant Greninja, I should play first the vessel to draw 2 energies, pokegear to maybe draw 1 supporter and this would make me 3 cards "closer" to a pokémon when I make greninja search. Did I understand it right?
Yup
What's the name of the sim where you are playing called?
lol me playing raging bolt is just like that
❤Subscribed🎉
That was nice
I nearly left as soon as I saw comic sans ms but I’m glad I didn’t.
How would u go thru situations with cards such as iono, unfair stamp, and bib/skow
Generally I like to empty my hand, play the hand reset and follow the process again
why doesnt the sim work
So we always pokestop before using pokegear unless we have less than 7ish cards in deck right?
Not if you just played pal pad to get supporters into the deck
Yeah this is a good rule of thumb. Not always but the situations in which you would reverse it are very nuanced
@@RowanStavenowTCG Awesome, thank you!
@@hectorhernandez7472 Yes & always pokestop first, then pal pad, then pokegear if possible too
So if i wanna get lucky I gotta get thin by cutting out the junk. Cool but how do i win Pokémon games?
Thinning is winning 😉
After you get thin your confidence will increase, and you will use sheer will power to summon the boss for game onto the top of your deck
How is this free?
first
Raging Bolt sucks lmfao
Damn someone can’t beat bolt and it shows 😢
@@MrVG-qt8ob I farm that deck for free wins
isnt this obvious to everyone? i mean it's just basic math
I had the same thought, but I’ve been surprised to find that not everyone naturally thinks this way about the game
@@SixthGreatLake im really surprised that not all people do math in everysingle game they play