LuxChomp (TCG): Difference between revisions

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m (→‎Possible Tech Cards: Come on! gyarados should be capitilized! ALSO, rephrased the sentence to make it sound better.)
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* '''{{TCG ID|Unleashed|Entei & Raikou LEGEND|90}}''' - Entei & Raikou LEGEND is often used as a win condition against other Poké-POWER heavy decks, which are common in the format.  Its potential ability to take several prizes in one turn for only {{e|Lightning}}{{e}} is seen by some as too good to pass up, even at the cost of knocking out several of the LuxChomp player's Pokémon.
* '''{{TCG ID|Unleashed|Entei & Raikou LEGEND|90}}''' - Entei & Raikou LEGEND is often used as a win condition against other Poké-POWER heavy decks, which are common in the format.  Its potential ability to take several prizes in one turn for only {{e|Lightning}}{{e}} is seen by some as too good to pass up, even at the cost of knocking out several of the LuxChomp player's Pokémon.
* '''{{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Ambipom G|56}}''' - Ambipom G is commonly used in the tech as another way to donk the opponent, either through the attachment of one {{TCG|Double Colorless Energy}}, or through one regular energy and {{TCG|Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain}}.
* '''{{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Ambipom G|56}}''' - Ambipom G is commonly used in the tech as another way to donk the opponent, either through the attachment of one {{TCG|Double Colorless Energy}}, or through one regular energy and {{TCG|Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain}}.
* '''{{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Lucario GL|8}}''' - Lucario GL is used to gain an advantage against decks that LuxChomp has a type advantage against.  A Lucario GL in play allows Garchomp C LV.X to do 160 damage to {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Flygon|5}} with ''Dragon Rush'' and Luxray GL to do 140 damage to {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Kingdra|7}}, it will also be able to knock out gyarados, three popular plays during LuxChomp's era.
* '''{{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Lucario GL|8}}''' - Lucario GL changes all weaknesses to x2. It is used to gain an advantage against decks that LuxChomp has a type advantage against.  A Lucario GL in play allows Garchomp C LV.X to do 160 damage to {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Flygon|5}} with ''Dragon Rush'' and Luxray GL to do 140 damage to {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Kingdra|7}} and {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gyarados|19}} with ''Trash Bolt''; three popular plays during LuxChomp's era.
* '''{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Chatot|55}}''' - Chatot is used for hand refreshment, as well as its ability to "Chatter Lock."  ''Chatter Locking'' prevents an opponent's starter Pokémon, such as {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Sableye|48}} or {{TCG ID|Arceus|Spiritomb|32}} from retreating until it is either knocked out or, in some cases, the opponent decks themselves.
* '''{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Chatot|55}}''' - Chatot is used for hand refreshment, as well as its ability to "Chatter Lock."  ''Chatter Locking'' prevents an opponent's starter Pokémon, such as {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Sableye|48}} or {{TCG ID|Arceus|Spiritomb|32}} from retreating until it is either knocked out or, in some cases, the opponent decks themselves.
* '''{{TCG|Aaron's Collection}}''' - Aaron's Collection can be used in place, or occasionally in combination with, {{TCG|Palmer's Contribution}} to recycle knocked out Pokémon.  Aaron's has an advantage in that it brings the Pokémon directly back to the owner's hand instead of shuffling them into the deck, but Palmer's returns more Pokémon.
* '''{{TCG|Aaron's Collection}}''' - Aaron's Collection can be used in place, or occasionally in combination with, {{TCG|Palmer's Contribution}} to recycle knocked out Pokémon.  Aaron's has an advantage in that it brings the Pokémon directly back to the owner's hand instead of shuffling them into the deck, but Palmer's returns more Pokémon.

Revision as of 02:18, 1 January 2011

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LuxChomp
LuxrayGLLVXRisingRivals109.jpg
GarchompCLVXSupremeVictors145.jpg
Luxray GL LV.X and Garchomp C LV.X
Types used LightningColorlessPsychic
Major cards Luxray GL LV.X, Garchomp C LV.X, Uxie, and Cyrus's Conspiracy
Era 2009-Present

LuxChomp was regarded by many as the best deck in the format for most of the 2009-2010 season, and remains an immensely hyped and heavily played contender in the 2010-2011 season. The deck won more major sanctioned tournaments in 2009 and 2010 than any other archetype, encouraging more people to play it and causing Luxray GL LV.X's price to skyrocket on the secondary market. LuxChomp players took 1st place honors in two out of the three age divisions, those being Seniors and Masters, at the 2010 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships. The deck's strategy revolves around its ability to knock out the opponent's support Pokémon to disrupt their strategy while taking cheap prizes quickly.

Strategy

LuxChomp differs from archetypes such as Kingdra and Mother Flygon in that it does not focus on knocking out the opponent's main attacker through consistent, high damage. Rather, the deck focuses on taking six prizes in six turns, or as quickly as possible, by knocking out the opponent's low-HP support Pokémon and Basic Pokémon. It does this through Luxray GL LV.X's Bright Look Poké-Power and Flash Impact attack, alongside Garchomp C LV.X's Dragon Rush attack. In the 2009-2010 season, LuxChomp gained notoriety for its ability to easily knock out the opponent's benched Claydol, a popular Pokémon used for draw support.

As with any deck, to begin attacking and taking quick prizes, LuxChomp must set up. It does this through a number of cards, but Cyrus's Conspiracy is accepted as the most critical part of LuxChomp's early game strategy. Cyrus's Conspiracy allows the player to search for an additional Supporter card, such as Pokémon Collector; a Basic Energy card; and a Trainer card with Team Galactic's Invention in its name, such as Poké Turn. This ensures that the LuxChomp player usually has an Energy in hand so as not to miss an attachment. All the Team Galactic's Invention Trainer cards in the deck are situational in that they are used for either searching, disruption, or general support, and Cyrus's Conspiracy's major strength lies in its ability to search out whatever Team Galactic's Invention Trainer is most suitable for the situation at hand.

In addition to Cyrus's Conspiracy, there are several other cards that are major component's of LuxChomp's set up. Uxie allows for easy draw, and is obtainable through Pokémon Collector, which is the deck's main source of Pokémon searching. Using Cyrus's Conspiracy, Uxie, Pokémon Collector, and several other cards, LuxChomp generally has no trouble setting up. A good set up is considered acheived when the LuxChomp player has at least one Garchomp C LV.X on the field with a Energy Gain and Double Colorless Energy attached, or some other way to use Dragon Rush. Additionally, a player would have a Luxray GL on the bench ready to level up into Luxray GL LV.X. An ideal set up would also include resources in hand to Poké Turn a damaged or incapacitated attacker, return knocked out Pokémon to the hand or deck, and resources to quickly charge up another attacker.

Key Cards

  • Luxray GL LV.X - Luxray GL LV.X's Bright Look Poké-Power brings up one of the opponent's benched Pokémon and switches it with the active. This is commonly used to bring up either an opponent's weak support Pokémon or an unevolved Basic for an easy prize. Luxray GL LV.X can also use its Flash Impact attack, which deals 60 damage for only Lightning .
  • Garchomp C LV.X - The deck's other main attacker, Garchomp C LV.X's purpose is to snipe the opponent's bench with Dragon Rush. It serves essentially the same function as Luxray GL LV.X in some respects: knock out the opponent's support and take fast prizes, one way or another.
  • Uxie - Uxie is the deck's main drawing support. It is searchable by Pokémon Collector, Bebe's Search, Pokémon Communication, and Luxury Ball, making it easy to get in hand. Uxie's Set Up Poké-Power allows the player to draw until they have seven cards in hand, which is exceptionally useful in a deck such as LuxChomp that often finds itself expending many resources early in the game, which results in a near-empty hand.
  • Cyrus's Conspiracy - As described above, Cyrus's Conspiracy is the deck's most important searching Supporter card.
  • Poké Turn - Since Luxray GL LV.X's Bright Look and Crobat G's Flash Bite can only be used when the card enters play from the owner's hand, and Garchomp C LV.X's Dragon Rush can only be used every other turn if Garchomp C LV.X remains active, Poké Turn is critical to the deck's ability to consistently take prizes.
  • Power Spray - Power Spray is used to slow down the opponent's set up by denying them potentially important Poké-Powers such as, coincidentally, Uxie's Set Up, which is heavily used.
  • Energy Gain - Being Pokémon SP, both Luxray GL LV.X and Garchomp C LV.X can benefit from the effects of Energy Gain. Luxray GL LV.X's Flash Impact cost becomes only Lightning with an Energy Gain attached, while Garchomp C LV.X's Dragon Rush costs just   , which is payable through one Double Colorless Energy.
  • Double Colorless Energy - Double Colorless Energy is crucial to the deck because, in combination with Energy Gain, it allows one to charge up Garchomp C LV.X's Dragon Rush attack in just one turn. Additionally, if the LuxChomp player is forced to attack with Uxie LV.X, Double Colorless Energy allows for the immediate powering of Zen Blade.

Typical decklist

The deck list appearing below is not official; it is meant to represent an average build of the archetype, not specifically constructed for any regional metagame. Being that this is merely an archetype, a player may wish to change any part of this deck when building his or her own version.

Quantity Card Type Rarity
Luxray GL LV.X Lightning Rare Holo LV.X
Luxray GL Lightning Rare Holo
Garchomp C LV.X Colorless Rare Holo LV.X
Garchomp C Colorless Uncommon
Uxie LV.X Psychic Rare Holo LV.X
Uxie Psychic Rare
Unown Q Psychic Uncommon
Crobat G Psychic Uncommon
Bronzong G Metal Uncommon
Azelf Psychic Rare
Toxicroak G Fighting Rare Holo
Cyrus's Conspiracy Su Uncommon
Pokémon Collector Su Uncommon
Bebe's Search Su Uncommon
Palmer's Contribution Su Uncommon
Professor Oak's New Theory Su Uncommon
Poké Turn T Uncommon
Power Spray T Uncommon
Energy Gain T Uncommon
SP Radar T Uncommon
Pokémon Communication T Uncommon
Luxury Ball T Uncommon
Expert Belt T Uncommon
Snowpoint Temple St Uncommon
Lightning Energy Lightning E
Psychic Energy Psychic E
Double Colorless Energy Colorless E Uncommon
SP Energy Colorless E Uncommon
Warp Energy Colorless E Uncommon


Possible Tech Cards

The following cards are often used in LuxChomp in place of certain cards included in the above list.

  • Entei & Raikou LEGEND - Entei & Raikou LEGEND is often used as a win condition against other Poké-POWER heavy decks, which are common in the format. Its potential ability to take several prizes in one turn for only Lightning  is seen by some as too good to pass up, even at the cost of knocking out several of the LuxChomp player's Pokémon.
  • Ambipom G - Ambipom G is commonly used in the tech as another way to donk the opponent, either through the attachment of one Double Colorless Energy, or through one regular energy and Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain.
  • Lucario GL - Lucario GL changes all weaknesses to x2. It is used to gain an advantage against decks that LuxChomp has a type advantage against. A Lucario GL in play allows Garchomp C LV.X to do 160 damage to Flygon with Dragon Rush and Luxray GL to do 140 damage to Kingdra and Gyarados with Trash Bolt; three popular plays during LuxChomp's era.
  • Chatot - Chatot is used for hand refreshment, as well as its ability to "Chatter Lock." Chatter Locking prevents an opponent's starter Pokémon, such as Sableye or Spiritomb from retreating until it is either knocked out or, in some cases, the opponent decks themselves.
  • Aaron's Collection - Aaron's Collection can be used in place, or occasionally in combination with, Palmer's Contribution to recycle knocked out Pokémon. Aaron's has an advantage in that it brings the Pokémon directly back to the owner's hand instead of shuffling them into the deck, but Palmer's returns more Pokémon.
  • Call Energy - Call Energy is used in many builds to increase the deck's consistency by giving it access to a powerful searching effect in the early game. Considering how many Basic Pokémon the deck runs, Call Energy gives the player many options.