I've always had Pokémon cards growing up but never knew how to play the game. But with the recent release of Pokémon Pocket TCG I not only found interest in playing that game, but the TCG as a whole. Recently I've been binge watching content on the history of the game and your channel is awesome for this. Just subscribed, can't wait to see what you come up with next and keep up the great work! 😊
Great video! As an old head its strange hearing it called GG and not PLOX (short for Psychic Lock). Gardevior Gallade or GG is more descriptive of its main features but it will always be PLOX to me.
@TheArcv2 yeah I interchange between Plox, Garde or GG, but for the sake of the simplicity of the video, I tried to stick to the latter two since they're easily understood to the casual viewer. Thanks for tuning in
Lugia is good, but the Mega ray and Shaymin deck with VS, TM, and BC was way stronger. You could mega evolve on turn one and attack. It was broken af. I still have my blinged out deck. I won San Francisco worlds with it.
@@luv-lost Well, I think the criteria for best deck here is how large a deck's meta share was, in other words, how unlikely you were to thrive in a tournament with anything else. Lugia had a 70% meta share in the silver tempest format, and Gardevoir had similar or higher meta shares for a period of multiple sets. Also, both decks continued to be top contenders in multiple subsequent formats. Also, M Rayquaza EX didn't win 2016 Worlds in any age division. The winners were Darkrai EX/Giratina EX in the Junior Division, Yanmega/Vespiquen in the Senior Division, and M Audino EX in the Masters Division. Wolfe Glick won the Video Game Cup Masters Division with a Mega Rayquaza on his team, but that's not the TCG.
@vee-bee-a the colorless and lightning techs played roles as support. Jolteon star added damage and Chatot allowed you to set up with its free mimic attack if you were struggling to find cards. Later versions of the deck in 2010 usually didn't run Chatot and couldn't run Jolteon though, so they used other support
I recently played a couple of games with Granbull in SUM-LOT, and those games were the most fun I’ve ever had in that format. The strategy was cool, the decision making was engaging, and the use of search Supporters over shuffle-draw Supporters was refreshing. The board setup of Zebstrika, Instruct Oranguru and two Magcargo felt like something straight out of Gen 3 and gave me a sense of agency that I just don’t get from Cynthia or Tate & Liza or even Zoroark GX. For the first time since I tried the format, I feel excited to play SUM-LOT again. That being said, I’m guessing this deck will struggle in certain matchups, even with techs like Weavile or Buzzwole like in JamesG’s list. What would you say Granbull’s difficult matchups are? (I was going to post this comment under one of Granbull's matchups from your SUM-LOT tourney, but I think UA-camrs stop getting notified of comments on their older videos once they hit a certain number of subscribers.)
I don't know the matchups of James Weavile/Buzzwole/Granbull list. I can only speak for regular Granbull. Bad MUs: Solgaleo GX, ZoroControl (unless you play guru), ZoroDeciTales, RegiStall, Cofagrigus (if you count that) Watch out for Alolan Muk which can shut you down or for Alolan Ninetales which can set up double Magcargo KO with 2 attacks. Garde isn't a bad mu, but can be close due to this
@@WhimsicottTCG Thanks for the warning. I'll keep my eyes peeled for those Alolan Vulpix and Ditto Prism Star. And yes, the list plays Oranguru. Girafarig, too. Not quite sure what to do with the giraffe, to be completely honest.
@@WhimsicottTCG I wonder if Electrode GX could be a useful tech against RegiStall. It could force your opponent into taking two prize cards to activate Buzzwole, which could OHKO Regigigas, and it could also help you recover Energy and muscle your way through Shuckle GX. Even just recovering Energy could prove invaluable. You'd have to try and keep your opponent from setting up attackers of their own for the Electrode GX/Buzzwole strategy to work, but it seems like it could work.
@Charmaster04 depending on how the registall is built they will likely be able to run you out of stuff and stick a -30 guy in active to tank unlimited hits while you can't thin the hand down
I suppose for the purposes of casual play, it’s just as important to know what Granbull’s favorable matchups are to know how to find the even ones. (Also, someone who tried playing Granbull back in the day warned me non-spread Malamar decks are favorable against it because they can use Giratina’s Ability three times and then KO both Magcargo with Ultra Necrozma GX’s GX attack.)
Whimsicast: "--Kwickitune--" Me: *Furrows brow* *Rewinds* Whimsicast: "--Quickitune--" Me: *Sighs in relief* I thought you had a lisp there for a minute.
The azelf, uxie combo was broken but just like most decks back then, the resources to gather the tools you needed wasn’t nearly as good as the X&Y meta
@@pedrosantana245 I don't think it's that hard to set up, nor do you need it most games. A lot of GGAMU games just play like a Gardevoir deck with a backup option of the AMU combo. With Telepass and Pokemon Communication it's very easy to set up 1 Lv.X per turn
I mean, these days Gardevoir has been largely replaced by Empoleon on the tcg one 2008 meta, meaning that Jay Hornung usually plays Torterra, a deck with an unfavorable Gardevoir matchup but the unique distinction of a slightly favorable matchup into Empoleon.
Not gonna lie, the Legend Maker through Mysterious Treasures format sounds interesting. Perhaps it would be worth revisiting the way people have revisited formats like NXD-XY, PRC-GRI, SUM-LOT and BTS-PAR? Although Blissey certainly seems like it'd put a damper on the format. That fluffy pink menage is a war criminal. What exactly do I like about this format? It's fun to see gen 3 and 4 cards like those two Meganium still being combined as core components of a strategy, but I'm also loving that Kricketune deck. I think I have a problem. I might just love "gotta go fast" decks too much (source: I enjoyed playing 2018 Rayqaza GX this afternoon, immediately jumped to Donphan when I tried 2010, and continue to love COVID-era Blacephalon, among other offenses. Also, I love Electrode ex).
@@WhimsicottTCG Legend Maker rotating out of 2007 just keeps coming back to haunt me. I remember one time when I realized Giant Stump would be an ingenious tech in a certain 2008 deck, and I couldn't understand why nobody had thought of it before... for about two minutes. If I had to guess, Legend Maker isn't in 2008 because it was supposed to be released before Delta Species and was in Japan. Keeping either of those sets would leave one audience feeling like the format was arbitrarily skipping a set, so they just rotated both of them. Which means no Giant Stump, but also no Holon Engine. :'(
I loved this deck. But I still think the short run with M-Rayqauza, Shaymin, VS, TM, and BC. Was the strongest. I could win turn 1 so many times. I would show up to events people would see my name by theirs on the list and just leave. I also got a deck thrown at my face after a turn 1 Skyfield MegaRay win. It was a good time to be a goblin.
@luv-lost M Ray was a strong popoff deck, but i wouldn't even consider it in the top 10 strongest decks in the history of the game. It was borderline unplayable for most of its lifespan in the Standard format due to its weakness to Night March which was a menace at the time. It did definitely make up for lost time with good success in its later life though
I've always had Pokémon cards growing up but never knew how to play the game. But with the recent release of Pokémon Pocket TCG I not only found interest in playing that game, but the TCG as a whole. Recently I've been binge watching content on the history of the game and your channel is awesome for this. Just subscribed, can't wait to see what you come up with next and keep up the great work! 😊
@@Acadrien thanks for tuning in
Not Gotta Lie, I Saw The Thumbnail And Somehow Managed To See Gardevoir As a Duck
I’m really trying to see it
@LunaDachi If You Stretch Enough You Can Kinda See The Arms And Head As a Beak
yooo I see it!!!!
lol
Oh my GOD i see it
Great video! As an old head its strange hearing it called GG and not PLOX (short for Psychic Lock). Gardevior Gallade or GG is more descriptive of its main features but it will always be PLOX to me.
I think it's just people who played back in the day will remember that. I remember reading articles on it back then and people were calling it plox
@TheArcv2 yeah I interchange between Plox, Garde or GG, but for the sake of the simplicity of the video, I tried to stick to the latter two since they're easily understood to the casual viewer. Thanks for tuning in
Silver Tempest Lugia would like a word
@@dylanheath9713 possibly worth doing a video on sometime down the line
Lugia is good, but the Mega ray and Shaymin deck with VS, TM, and BC was way stronger.
You could mega evolve on turn one and attack. It was broken af. I still have my blinged out deck.
I won San Francisco worlds with it.
@@luv-lost Well, I think the criteria for best deck here is how large a deck's meta share was, in other words, how unlikely you were to thrive in a tournament with anything else. Lugia had a 70% meta share in the silver tempest format, and Gardevoir had similar or higher meta shares for a period of multiple sets. Also, both decks continued to be top contenders in multiple subsequent formats.
Also, M Rayquaza EX didn't win 2016 Worlds in any age division. The winners were Darkrai EX/Giratina EX in the Junior Division, Yanmega/Vespiquen in the Senior Division, and M Audino EX in the Masters Division. Wolfe Glick won the Video Game Cup Masters Division with a Mega Rayquaza on his team, but that's not the TCG.
@@luv-lost That wasn't even BDIF during the XY era. How could it be in contention for best deck in history?
So, it's a fighting & psychic-type deck with one colorless & electric-type. Interesting combinations. 😮
@vee-bee-a the colorless and lightning techs played roles as support. Jolteon star added damage and Chatot allowed you to set up with its free mimic attack if you were struggling to find cards. Later versions of the deck in 2010 usually didn't run Chatot and couldn't run Jolteon though, so they used other support
When people argue what a tier 1 deck is this is what comes to mind.
Telepass gardevoir is peak deck building
@@Crunchy_Troll Insane PokePower
I recently played a couple of games with Granbull in SUM-LOT, and those games were the most fun I’ve ever had in that format. The strategy was cool, the decision making was engaging, and the use of search Supporters over shuffle-draw Supporters was refreshing. The board setup of Zebstrika, Instruct Oranguru and two Magcargo felt like something straight out of Gen 3 and gave me a sense of agency that I just don’t get from Cynthia or Tate & Liza or even Zoroark GX. For the first time since I tried the format, I feel excited to play SUM-LOT again.
That being said, I’m guessing this deck will struggle in certain matchups, even with techs like Weavile or Buzzwole like in JamesG’s list. What would you say Granbull’s difficult matchups are?
(I was going to post this comment under one of Granbull's matchups from your SUM-LOT tourney, but I think UA-camrs stop getting notified of comments on their older videos once they hit a certain number of subscribers.)
I don't know the matchups of James Weavile/Buzzwole/Granbull list. I can only speak for regular Granbull.
Bad MUs: Solgaleo GX, ZoroControl (unless you play guru), ZoroDeciTales, RegiStall, Cofagrigus (if you count that)
Watch out for Alolan Muk which can shut you down or for Alolan Ninetales which can set up double Magcargo KO with 2 attacks. Garde isn't a bad mu, but can be close due to this
@@WhimsicottTCG Thanks for the warning. I'll keep my eyes peeled for those Alolan Vulpix and Ditto Prism Star.
And yes, the list plays Oranguru. Girafarig, too. Not quite sure what to do with the giraffe, to be completely honest.
@@WhimsicottTCG I wonder if Electrode GX could be a useful tech against RegiStall. It could force your opponent into taking two prize cards to activate Buzzwole, which could OHKO Regigigas, and it could also help you recover Energy and muscle your way through Shuckle GX. Even just recovering Energy could prove invaluable. You'd have to try and keep your opponent from setting up attackers of their own for the Electrode GX/Buzzwole strategy to work, but it seems like it could work.
@Charmaster04 depending on how the registall is built they will likely be able to run you out of stuff and stick a -30 guy in active to tank unlimited hits while you can't thin the hand down
I suppose for the purposes of casual play, it’s just as important to know what Granbull’s favorable matchups are to know how to find the even ones. (Also, someone who tried playing Granbull back in the day warned me non-spread Malamar decks are favorable against it because they can use Giratina’s Ability three times and then KO both Magcargo with Ultra Necrozma GX’s GX attack.)
Whimsicast: "--Kwickitune--"
Me: *Furrows brow* *Rewinds*
Whimsicast: "--Quickitune--"
Me: *Sighs in relief*
I thought you had a lisp there for a minute.
I suppose you could say Kricketune went to the local Kwik Trip.
Great Xmas gift
The azelf, uxie combo was broken but just like most decks back then, the resources to gather the tools you needed wasn’t nearly as good as the X&Y meta
@@pedrosantana245 I don't think it's that hard to set up, nor do you need it most games. A lot of GGAMU games just play like a Gardevoir deck with a backup option of the AMU combo. With Telepass and Pokemon Communication it's very easy to set up 1 Lv.X per turn
Undisputed BDIF
@@RahulReddy BDIT even
I mean, these days Gardevoir has been largely replaced by Empoleon on the tcg one 2008 meta, meaning that Jay Hornung usually plays Torterra, a deck with an unfavorable Gardevoir matchup but the unique distinction of a slightly favorable matchup into Empoleon.
ABSOL MENTIONED!!!!
Not gonna lie, the Legend Maker through Mysterious Treasures format sounds interesting. Perhaps it would be worth revisiting the way people have revisited formats like NXD-XY, PRC-GRI, SUM-LOT and BTS-PAR?
Although Blissey certainly seems like it'd put a damper on the format. That fluffy pink menage is a war criminal.
What exactly do I like about this format? It's fun to see gen 3 and 4 cards like those two Meganium still being combined as core components of a strategy, but I'm also loving that Kricketune deck. I think I have a problem. I might just love "gotta go fast" decks too much (source: I enjoyed playing 2018 Rayqaza GX this afternoon, immediately jumped to Donphan when I tried 2010, and continue to love COVID-era Blacephalon, among other offenses. Also, I love Electrode ex).
@@Charmaster04 the rotation is Holon Phantoms to MT. I think it'd be fun to proxy not to build
@@WhimsicottTCG Legend Maker rotating out of 2007 just keeps coming back to haunt me. I remember one time when I realized Giant Stump would be an ingenious tech in a certain 2008 deck, and I couldn't understand why nobody had thought of it before... for about two minutes.
If I had to guess, Legend Maker isn't in 2008 because it was supposed to be released before Delta Species and was in Japan. Keeping either of those sets would leave one audience feeling like the format was arbitrarily skipping a set, so they just rotated both of them. Which means no Giant Stump, but also no Holon Engine. :'(
I loved this deck. But I still think the short run with M-Rayqauza, Shaymin, VS, TM, and BC. Was the strongest.
I could win turn 1 so many times. I would show up to events people would see my name by theirs on the list and just leave.
I also got a deck thrown at my face after a turn 1 Skyfield MegaRay win. It was a good time to be a goblin.
@luv-lost M Ray was a strong popoff deck, but i wouldn't even consider it in the top 10 strongest decks in the history of the game. It was borderline unplayable for most of its lifespan in the Standard format due to its weakness to Night March which was a menace at the time. It did definitely make up for lost time with good success in its later life though
What do people who have had years of experience playing rotation think the strongest deck relative to the meta is?
@philbuttler3427 its between 2008 Gardevoir/Gallade, 2022 Lugia VSTAR, and 2020 ADP/Zacian if you ask me.