The Pokemon Thread

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bastard.

This is my worst gym yet, I can't get any sort of run going.

[Browning]

It's probably my best one, but Virizion is helping that a lot. A lot of people seem unaware of what he can do. Hoping to catch some fools out with Trevenant now too.

[Browning]

I just got such a bullshit win, the guy must be fuming. He had THREE VIRIZIONS as well as a Chesnaught as runners. He starts with a Virizion on the inside lane which I meet with Zapdos. He then sends a second Virizion down my flank, blocking my corner in 2 turns during which I get Venusaur to the goal. Virizion 3 makes his way down the other side so I send in my Virizion next to Venusaur in case he spins that purple bollocks. Now he has both my corners locked down. Seeing he had no goal block I just said fuck it. Counter attack on Zapdos and soared past the original Virizion to 2 steps from the goal. He now had to kill me or it was game over. He double chances his own Zapdos and we spin Roost Vs Roost.... he respins.... into Roost. Any other move and he would surround me. Amazing.

[Browning]

Trevenant is so good in this gym it's a shame he will be useless after it. Came in clutch for me in a game that was lost due to my corners being taken so early I chucked him in with long throw and he was able to move people away from the corner and turn the game. Hero.

Also had a match that was a total comedy of errors by us both. We both started with virizion but he stupidly advanced too far and had to goal block. I then bought in leafeon as did he but I went to the corner planning to long throw zapdos in if he did the same. Too late I realised all he had to do was run up the middle and I would be reliant on mew to take him out in one go but instead he defended, poor move. He then moved his virizion to kill mind leaving the goal open for leafeon but I missed it and we battled on the other side for about 5 turns each before I saw it and just walked in. He had forever to cover it up but clearly missed it too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Got a Manaphy from a 24 hour box \0/.

I might have to take out the brilliant Xerneas for him.

[Browning]

Manaphy is decent enough in an all water deck, but not much use beyond that. Mine had over 1000 games but I eventually out grew him.

[Browning]

Had a rough day today and I estimate I was something like 2-6 in the event and 3-3 in the league but I spent some gems to get some more event games and have rattled up a few wins to make me feel a bit better about it. I kept coming up against full Deoxys decks who refused to miss a spin. Deoxys still needs to be nerfed as there are no good dark types to make Dark Energy viable and Tropical Energy doesn't do enough to them.

Almost has a comical win just now. I moved Virizion out and he bought out Deoxys Speed (his only Deoxys... thank fuck). I had to block that off with Mew and he moved a Lilligant towards his own goal and blocked it when I took his corner with Virizion. I then bought out Trevenant just for the laugh and was REALLY hoping to spin Purple, Move Lilligant to his own entry point and leave him with absolutely nothing he could do. Unfortunately Trevenant killed Deoxys. Was still an easy win though.

My moment of the day came just before that though. Guy had runners on both my corners and Virizion was my only defender. Game over.... if I didn't have Long Throw. Choice of Mew or Zapdos was hard but I chucked in Mew who proceeded to KO his Chesnaught freeing up a corner. Zapdos came in to the game but I made a terrible mistake and he got surrounded. Opponent then had a choice.... move his Torterra next to his Trevenant (Goalie) to defend or take my corner again with his Venusaur, preventing me getting my own (better chained) Venusaur back. I actually cheered when he went for the latter meaning Trevenant/Torterra had one chance and one chance only to take out Mew or I would win by surround (I had managed to get Leafeon out at some stage and up to his other corner). Mew Vs Torterra span Blue Vs Blue and King Mew completed another unlikely comeback. Never stop being a don Mew.

[Browning]

Finished the gym with a record of 50-20... fairly sure about half those losses came yesterday. I was something stupid like 20-1 at one point but it got rougher towards the end.

May play some more for the free boosters, but glad it's over with for now. Should be getting the Gold Cup too as I'm in the top 250 currently, can't see my falling 1000 places even if I don't play the last 2 days.

[Browning]

Deoxys Attack, Reuniclus and Cosmo Energy all getting massive downgrades

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I played with a team full of Deoxys yesterday in the gym.

Topical Energy and Sceptile slaughtered them.

[Browning]

Tropical Energy can slaughter them, but I'm finding they still hit 130 all the fucking time and of course I never hit any of the moves I have that can counter it.

The change fucks them as when they bring out the runner you can just twat him out of there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, it looks brilliant.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Empoleon looks like he'll be useful now too.

I might make a mental water deck when the update goes live:

Manaphy
Greninja
Empoleon
Gyarados x3.

Woof.

[Browning]

You'd need another runner in there. Probably Mew. But otherwise it would be good. The only thing you have to keep in mind as a Water deck user is other Manaphy's can move you around at will.

Edit- Mew or Keldeo.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mew in for a Gyarados then but yeah, that would be pretty beastly.

[Browning]

Yea, I might consider running something very similar. I spent a long time with a water deck and it was effective for a long time until it became necessary to run Dark energy (and then tropical). I'm considering going back to it. The best moments are when someone has 1 random water type (normally Blastoise or Magikarp) and they use it to block the goal and you just move it away with Manaphy, or when you have a runner on each corner and they attack Manaphy letting you move both in for the surround in one go.

[Browning]

I keep getting "unexpected error" which has almost certainly cost me a match I was winning by pissing away all my time.

All those hours of maintenance for this?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I had one earlier.

But I managed to close the app and get back in to keep playing.

I like the water deck I post, works a treat.

[Browning]

Supposedly it's a known error that happens when you attack anyone with a status condition, and it's effecting everyone.

I am tempted to go back to a water deck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just got an Articuno from a 3 hour box.

Only missing Moltres now.

[Browning]

I've had him forever, but he's got a very limited usage. He got back into my team until I got Gyarados, then he was out again.

Really hoping for 20 boosters at the end of the month but am in serious danger of dropping back to 15.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh he's got no room in my team now but at least it's another option if we get an Ice and/or Flying type gym. Although that is probably a while off as we've already had one.

[Browning]

Tried out a pure water deck after my own deck went 3-3 in League games and just wasn't getting any luck. Went with:

Greninja
Manaphy
Keldeo
Palkia
Empoleon
Gyarados (from Magikarp)

So basically the deck I used to run but with Gyarados in for Blastoise.

Absolutely battered the first guy I came up against. He was on top at the start and I was struggling a bit but once I got Palkia out (his ability is so annoying) I was able to KO his Latios and turned the game, but Empoleon proved the MVP killing his Delphox (picking up a burn but not giving a single fuck) then Mew and then Lugia on his way to the win.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've seen a lot of people take someone out then use a Pokemon Switch to get Palkia out quicker.

No wait unlike with Zekrom/Reshiram.

[Browning]

Yea, I'm just not sure I want to waste a plate for that.

You can bring him out using Manaphy too.

[Browning]

I swore never to drop Mew again and I guess I was being punished for going back on my word. Mew into the Water deck and it's 10 times better. Mew really is undroppable from all decks.

[Browning]

Holy shit I've just seen Kyogre. 130 base damage plus 20 from Manaphy plus 20 from Primal rage..... game over.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I just had someone attack Manaphy with a Moltres.

He rolled a white and Manaphy started singing which allowed me to move a Magikarp right next to his goal and then I was able to move Greninja (who was on an entry point) to surround his 'Mon on goal.

Glorious.

[Browning]

Yea, as I said, I've won many a match that way, and it's the best way to win them.

I just had one against a cunt with 5 Deoxys and a Zapdos. He got about 75% of the spins go his way but there was the odd Dimensional Slip that kept me in it. In the end I had Mew on the spot next to his goal and Empoleon on the corner read to surround Zapdos. He attacks Empoleon with Deoxys A and takes him out and then moves Deoxys A inside the corner. I take the corner again with Ninja but Deoxys A takes him out too. Then I had a genius idea. I took the corner with Palkia. Now because Palkia has no Gold Moves, I knew if he didn't over think it, he'd switch Deoxys A to Deoxys D, and it would go neutral. Sure enough that happened, and I just hurdle jumped him to surround Zapdos. Deoxys D couldn't reach the goal. Game over.

[Browning]

I got 15 free boosters this morning and my best pull was Crobat.

My friend got 8 and got Blastoise, Manaphy and Empoleon....

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I got 7 and only got UCs.

[Browning]

Water Cup has landed.

I'm running my usual Water deck to begin with and in only my 2nd match I face someone with a Chain Level 3 Kyogre.... but he never got to use it as I beat him too fast by KOing Wartortle, Manaphy and Poliwhirl all on his goal with Ninja. Hero.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A free Kygore at 50 wins

[Browning]

That much was obvious when they buffed him.

There's another one too at 30.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't see that one at 30 for some reason.

Forgot to change my team for the first match but it's full grass bar Zapdos (for the old gym) so that attack boost should be fine against 5 tentacools and a ninja.

[Browning]

So far, my water team is taking the piss. 4-0 without any fuss whatsoever.

[Browning]

Magikarp as a runner is so insane I might have to put in my other one.....

Guy was running all X Attacks and Overdrives as his plates. His only runner was Squirtle.

Turn 1- I move Greninja in 2 spots. He puts Squirtle in front of me but one step away so I can't hurdle.
Turn 2- I put Magikarp in 3 spots. He puts Grovyle in front of me but doesn't attack.
Turn 3- Hurdle jump over Grovle to the inside. Ball game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah Magikarp is great (with a Gyarados to evolve into), especially if people are foolish enough to leave it because he wont be KO'd in one attack.

[Browning]

Palkia is also a hero. My latest opponent set up with 2 Manaphy and evolved his Prinplup into Empoleon so he essentially had an Empoleon doing +50 and all his others doing +40.... and Palkia didn't give a shit.

[Browning]

When your opponent hits 190 and you hit a tiny dodge

[Browning]

When it comes off, Manaphy is the best Pokemon in this entire game. I've had so many beautiful wins with Manaphy's song but nothing quite tops one of them.

I had a Magikarp on one of his corners but nothing on the other. He had a Frogadier and a Grovyle on the back line preventing Karp going in. He brings his Palkia forward (down my left flank) and attacks my Empoleon. Empoleon dies but Palkia gets frozen. I take the opportunity to drop Manaphy onto the field down the left side, in front of the Palkia. He brings Grovle away from his goal to unfreeze Palkia. I can't even remember what I did the turn in between but the next turn he uses his Palkia to attack Manaphy. I spin Manaphy's song. I use it to push his own Manaphy backwards and left one space, essentially blocking in the Grovle and Palkia. I then move my Greninja up next to his goal. Thanks to Manaphy blocking the path, no one else can get back there other than his Frogadier, who can't KO Ninja and so ends up getting surrounded. It was beautiful.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I just had a dickhead Poliwhirl try my Manaphy.

Manaphy would have been knocked out but because of spinning pattern his attack shifted two pieces and he started singing. Moved Empoleon (who was on one entry point, he's a beast since the buff) next to his goal blocking Pokemon then on my turn moved Mew to surround him.

[Browning]

I feel a bit bad about my latest win.

The guy was using Manaphy but didn't seem very clued up on how to use him. His Manaphy constantly span Manaphy Song though and all my Mons refused to spin gold. He had a chance to move my Magikarp off my goal but he missed it, albeit I'm not sure if it won him the game or not (I can't recall if Sceptile was in range). Later on he did move my Karp away but on that occasion my Mew was in position to take over from Karp. He then bought Sceptile up next to Mew and was going to win by surround unless I could KO his Sceptile (with Mew.... no chance) or his Blastoise. I went for Blastoise with Palkia which is horrible odds given my Manaphy was dead and his wasn't.... and we span 120 Vs 100, boosted to 120.... ELIMINATED. That was a massive swing for me. I was then able to move Karp up right next to Manaphy who was his last line of defense after he bizarrely committed Gyarados forward. He was left with a choice... attack my Magikarp with Manaphy and try and move it (nailed on he would have spun Song) or attack my Mew with his Sceptile and try and kill it. If Mew went down Palkia was there to cover but would need to KO Sceptile or I would lose to a surround. Granted neither is great odds for him but either could happen. What does he do? Attacks Palkia with Gyarados..... he benched him.... and I got the surround. Fucking hell.

[Browning]

I can't believe the amount of people that attack manaphy when a purple roll will end the game. Guy just now had a brilliant set up with 3 cacnea, a tentacool (powered up by cacnea), a manaphy and then a poliwag on goal and I was pretty powerless against that. I put him in a position where I can surround one cacnea so he attacks manaphy, does well over 100 into a manaphy song.... game over.

[Browning]

3 EXs so far in the event... Torterra, Manaphy (third one but I fusioned one of the three away) and last night a Rhyperior. Buzzing with the last one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've had none

Haven't played all that much though, I have to pull my finger out.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He attacked Manaphy who rolled his song twice

[Browning]

Yea, I had one exactly like that. Manaphy is brilliant.

Strategy I'm loving if people don't bring enough runners to the party is:

Turn One- Put Greninja on the inside left channel, making them block his path.
Turn Two- Run Mew up the inside Right channel and then they block him....
Turn Three- Hurdle Jump to the corner and then
Turn Four/Five- Run Magikarp up the inner right channel and get him next to the goalie. Game over unless they have someone who can reach Mew and can kill him in one shot.

Obviously it's not fool proof as if they anticipate it they can set up a surround on Karp preventing you going in next to the goalie, or if they have Empoleon they can chuck him in inside Mew, but it is catching so many people out.

[Browning]

I love it when people just get simple decisions wrong. I moved my Mew up next to this guys goalie, ready for the surround. He couldn't surround Mew or block the surround so his choice was attack Mew with Manaphy or with Empoleon. He had 2 Manaphy on the board so his scenario was:

- I spin Blue = Game Over
- I spin Gold = Empoleon needs to spin his gold (anything else is too strong) or Manaphy needs to spin his white (much more likely)
- I spin White= Manaphy keeps him in the game (unless he spins Dodge), Empoleon keeps him in the game (unless he spins miss/dodge).

In the end I span Blue, so it was much of a muchness, but when he went for Empoleon I couldn't help but laugh.

[Browning]

Seems all the top decks are using 2 x Manaphy, 2 x Magikarp and 2 others (normally 1 of which is Empoleon). I came up against one of those just now going for my 50th win and got it by making 2 moves and using zero attacks or plates.

Greninja out, path blocked by Magikarp.
Mew out, attacked by Double Chance Blastoise but Mew KOs him.
Mew next to goal.... his only possible move was attack with Manaphy and pray for Bubble Vs Gold... Shuttle Flipped onto the goal.