The Top 50 Decks of Sun & Moon - Lost Thunder Part 2: Tier 2 9-28
- Draydon Davis
- Oct 20, 2018
- 5 min read
Disclaimer, if you can not respect the opinion of another player this article is not for you. If you think a deck is not on the list that should be or a deck is on the list that should not be, leave a comment to tell me why I'm wrong, if you're respectful I'll probably respond. Also, credit to LimitlessTCG for the English translated card scans.
These decks all have the potential to get results here and here but I don't expect any of them to be top picks for the duration of the format. For this tier I'll be covering what keeps the deck from being dominant, what makes the strong enough to get results, in addition to other relevant stats for the deck, as well as some new options the deck has (The bigger cards are the main attackers/support Pokemon, the smaller cards are new additions to the deck from Lost Thunder). Whereas for the other tiers I will be talking about decks in more detail. Lastly, it is worth nothing that because of Ditto Prism Star, thin stage 1 lines can be very easily teched into decks like Zoroark-GX for example. So when I call a deck Zoroark-GX/Insert Pokemon Here that doesn't mean you shouldn't play a thin line of Insert different Pokemon here.
Number 28. Ultra Necrozma-GX/Malamar
Biggest Strength: Consistently hits one hit knockout numbers by turn three.
Biggest Weakness: Requires a manual metal attachment to attack.
Other Notable Traits:
Strong mid game.
Weak to Alolan Ninetales-GX, Sylveon-GX, Gardevoir-GX, Granbull, Dedenne, and Tapu Lele.
Tight bench.
Heavy ability reliance.
Heavy item reliance.
Number 27. Zoroark-GX/Solgaleo-GX
Biggest Strength: Too bulky for many top tier decks to deal with.
Biggest Weakness: Less consistent than other Zoroark-GX decks.
Other Notable Traits:
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
No weakness.
Multiple play style options.
Tight deck list.
Tight bench.
Heavy ability reliance.
Heavy GX reliance.
Number 26. Zoroark-GX/Banette-GX
Biggest Strength: Great type coverage.
Biggest Weakness: Weak to Zoroark-GX, Onix, Larvitar, Marshadow-GX, Buzzwole, Buzzwole-GX, Lycanroc-GX, Zygarde-GX, and Weavile.
Other Notable Traits:
Strong early game.
Low energy cost.
Spacious deck list.
Heavy ability reliance.
Heavy GX reliance.
Little comeback potential.
High consistency.
Outclassed by Zoroark-GX/Golisopod-GX, Zoroark-GX/Counter Energy, Zoroark-GX/Weavile, Zoroark-GX/Lycanroc-GX and Zoroark-GX/Alolan Ninetales-GX.
Number 25. Zoroark-GX/Golisopod-GX
Biggest Strength: Consistent early game aggression.
Biggest Weakness: Low damage output.
Other Notable Traits:
Low energy cost.
Weak to Blacephalon-GX, Onix, Larvitar, Marshadow-GX, Buzzwole, Buzzwole-GX, Lycanroc-GX, and Zygarde-GX.
Linear.
Spacious deck list.
High GX reliance.
Little comeback potential.
Outclassed by Zoroark-GX/Counter Energy, Zoroark-GX/Weavile, Zoroark-GX/Lycanroc-GX and Zoroark-GX/Alolan Ninetales-GX.
Number 24. Tapu Koko/Shedinja
Biggest Strength: Wins dominant games through prize denial and drawn out spread tactics.
Biggest Weakness: Heavily vulnerable to the luck and card counts of the opponent.
Other Notable Traits:
Fragile.
Weak early game.
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
Linear strategy.
High item reliance.
No GX reliance.
High comeback potential.
High mobility.
Outclassed by Tapu Koko/Buzzwole, and Tapu Koko/Larvitar.
Number 23. Zoroark-GX/Counter Energy
Biggest Strength: Can have type coverage for every matchup.
Biggest Weakness: Needs to play from behind in certain match ups.
Other Notable Traits:
Strong mid game.
Weak late game.
Low energy cost.
Weak to Onix, Larvitar, Marshadow-GX, Buzzwole, Buzzwole-GX, Lycanroc-GX, and Zygarde-GX.
High comeback potential.
Easily disrupted.
High consistency.
Outclassed by Zoroark-GX/Weavile, Zoroark-GX/Lycanroc-GX, and Zoroark-GX/Alolan Ninetales-GX.
Number 22. Alolan Ninetales-GX/Decidueye-GX
Biggest Strength: No clear auto losses.
Biggest Weakness: Low initial damage output.
Other Notable Traits:
Weak early game.
Strong mid game.
Tight deck list.
Tight bench.
Heavy GX reliance.
Low mobility.
Number 21. Golisopod-GX/Weavile
Biggest Strength: Plays on the weaknesses of most other mid to top tier archetypes.
Biggest Weakness: Not many options for adaptation.
Other Notable Traits:
Bulky.
Strong early game.
Strong mid game.
Low energy cost.
Good type coverage.
Weak to Blacephalon-GX
Spacious deck list.
Low ability reliance.
Heavy item reliance.
Low mobility.
Easily disrupted.
Number 20. Tapu Koko/Buzzwole
Biggest Strength: Covers its own flaws.
Biggest Weakness: Weak early game.
Other Notable Traits:
Fragile.
Strong mid game.
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
Flexible game plan.
High item reliance.
No GX reliance.
High comeback potential.
Outclassed by Tapu Koko/Larvitar.
Number 19. Granbull
Biggest Strength: High damage output.
Biggest Weakness: Inconsistent.
Other Notable Traits:
Weak early game.
Strong mid game.
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
Good weakness.
Resistant to Zoroark-GX and Weavile.
Linear.
Risky to play cards that can not be immediately burned.
High item reliance.
No GX reliance.
High comeback potential.
Easily disrupted.
Low mobility.
Number 18. Buzzwole/Weavile
Biggest Strength: Great type coverage.
Biggest weakness: Can struggle to get off the ground in the face of well aimed early game gusting effects.
Other Notable Traits:
Fragile.
Weak early game.
Strong mid game.
Low energy cost.
Dependent on the opponent's in game decisions.
Tight bench.
Heavy item reliance.
No GX reliance.
High comeback potential.
Low mobility.
Outclassed by Buzzwole/Garbodor.
Number 17. Buzzwole/Garbodor
Biggest Strength: Punishes heavy item reliance.
Biggest Weakness: Can struggle to get off the ground in the face of well aimed early game gusting effects.
Other Notable Traits:
Fragile.
Weak early game.
Strong mid game.
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
Good type coverage.
Dependent on the opponent's in game decisions.
Tight bench.
Heavy item reliance.
No GX reliance.
High comeback potential.
Number 16. Marshadow-GX/Malamar
Biggest Strength: Hits very big numbers, very fast.
Biggest Weakness: Set up can fall apart quickly at the hands of decks with consistent early game aggression.
Other Notable Traits:
Fragile.
Strong mid game.
Weak to Garbodor, Deoxys, Nihilego, Mimikyu, Natu and Deoxys.
Good type coverage.
Very versatile.
Tight bench.
Heavy item reliance.
Heavy ability reliance.
High comeback potential.
High mobility.
High consistency.
Outclassed by Giratina/Malamar.
Number 15. Zoroark-GX/Garbodor
Biggest Strength: Strong throughout every stage of the game against most match ups.
Biggest Weakness: Weak mid game against other Zoroark-GX decks.
Other Notable Traits:
Low energy cost.
Weak to Onix, Larvitar, Marshadow-GX, Buzzwole, Buzzwole-GX, Lycanroc-GX, and Zygarde-GX.
Dependent on the opponent's in game choices.
Spacious deck list.
Highly consistent.
Outclassed by Zoroark-GX/Weavile, Zoroark-GX/Lycanroc-GX, and Zoroark-GX/Alolan Ninetales-GX.
Number 14. Steelix/Wailord
Biggest Strength: Auto wins most Zoroark-GX decks and Tapu Koko decks.
Biggest Weakness: Has almost no outs to decks without a damage cap.
Other Notable Traits:
Slow and low damage output.
Bulkiest deck in the format.
No ability reliance.
No GX reliance.
Heavy item reliance.
Outclassed by Sylveon-GX.
Number 13. Tapu Koko/Larvitar
Biggest Strength: Good top tier match ups.
Biggest Weakness: Very fragile.
Other Notable Traits:
Strong mid game.
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
No ability reliance.
High item reliance.
No GX reliance.
High comeback potential
High mobility.
Number 13. Zoroark-GX/Buzzwole-GX
Biggest Strength: Great type coverage.
Biggest Weakness: Weak to Onix, Larvitar, Marshadow-GX, Buzzwole, Buzzwole-GX, Lycanroc-GX, Zygarde-GX, Garbodor, Deoxys, Nihilego, Mimikyu, Natu, Necrozma GX, Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX and Deoxys.
Other Notable Traits:
High damage output.
Strong early game.
Strong mid game.
Flexible game plan.
Hits good numbers.
Tight deck list.
Tight bench.
Heavy GX reliance.
High comeback potential.
Low mobility.
Difficult to disrupt.
Number 11. Gardevoir-GX
Biggest Strength: Nearly unstoppable once set up, with outs to every match up.
Biggest Weakness: Slow.
Other Notable Traits:
High damage output.
Bulky.
Weak early game.
Strong mid game.
Strong late game.
Immunity options against Fighting, Dragon, Grass, and Psychic.
Resistant to Zoroark-GX and Weavile.
Versatile in attackers.
Heavy ability reliance.
Great resource/item recovery.
Number 10. Lost March
Biggest Strength: No damage cap.
Biggest Weakness: Fragile.
Other Notable Traits:
Strong mid game.
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
Weak to Tapu Koko.
Great type coverage.
Linear.
Tight deck list.
Low ability reliance.
Heavy item reliance.
No GX reliance.
High comeback potential.
High mobility
Inconsistent.
Number 9. Sylveon-GX
Biggest Strength: Strong match ups across the board.
Biggest Weakness: Easily countered.
Other Notable Traits:
Bulky.
Strong early game.
Strong late game.
Low energy cost.
Good resistance.
Low ability reliance.
High item reliance.
Highly consistent.
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