Speedrill (TCG): Difference between revisions

{{cleanup}}

'''Speedrill''' has been a popular {{TCG|deck archetype}} in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game|Pokémon TCG]] through the '07-'08, '08-'09, and '09-'10 {{TCG|Pokémon Organized Play|Organized Play}} seasons. It has placed highly in many tournaments, and recently won the 2009 Pokémon TCG World Championships. The deck's strategy focuses on getting as many {{TCG|Beedrill}} out as possible early in the game and attacking with {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Beedrill|13}}'s ''Band Attack'', which has the potential to do huge damage for a low energy cost. Stephen Silvestro, the 2009 Masters Division World Champion, included a minor variation in his deck {{TCG|Luxdrill}} on the concept: Luxray GL LV.X, coupled with a miniature Galactic engine.  

The exact origin of the deck is unknown, but it is believed to have first been popularized by Colin Moll of St. Louis. Shortly after the release of the {{TCG|Great Encounters}} expansion, a number of players began experimenting with {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Beedrill|13}}, seeing its potential to do good damage for not much energy. However, since the deck required a large setup and cards such as {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Uxie|43}} and the {{TCG|Rising Rivals}} {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Beedrill|15}} weren't available at that time, the deck had trouble being competitive.

When the {{TCG|Rising Rivals}} expansion was released, though, players once again looked at Speedrill as a threat. It placed well in a number of tournaments, including World's 2009 where it won in the Master's division with {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Luxray GL Lv.X|109}}.

[[Image:BeedrillGreatEncounters13.jpg|thumb|left|{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Beedrill|13}}, the deck's main attacker]]

 

In addition to considerable speed in the earlygame, Speedrill can function well even against heavy attackers such as {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Infernape 4 LV.X|108}}, since it can recycle KO'd Beedrill through {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Night Maintenance|120}} and quickly get them back onto the field through ''Flutter Wings'', ''Cosmic Power'', and a host of helpful {{TCG|Trainer}} and {{TCG|Supporter}} cards. This makes it a real threat in the lategame as well, since the ability to recycle Beedrill and hit for massive damage for a low energy cost makes running away with the game nearly impossible for the opposition.

===Key Cards===

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Beedrill|13}} - This Beedrill, from the {{TCG|Great Encounters}} set, is the main attacker for the deck. With its ''Band Attack'' attack, Beedrill can hit for up to 120 damage for only {{e|Grass}}, depending on the number of Beedrill in play. It has a second attack, ''Twineedle'', as well. For {{e|Colorless}}{{e|Colorless}}{{e|Colorless}}, ''Twineedle'' is rather useless. It will hit for only 50 damage on average, which is usually less than ''Band Attack''. Beedrill also has one other significant asset, that being its free retreat cost. With ''Band Attack'''s damage dependant on how many Beedrill are in play, KOs on Beedrill should be avoided at all costs, generally, and Beedrill's free retreat makes it possible to switch out a heavily damaged Beedrill for a fresh one.

*{{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Beedrill|15}} - This Beedrill, although less crucial to the deck, is still very important to the deck's setup. Although its attack, ''Needle Shock'', isn't bad as a stalling mechanism late in the game, the true reason to play this card lies in its {{TCG|Poké-POWER}}, ''Flutter Wings''. ''Flutter Wings'' allows the player using it to search their deck for a {{e|Grass}} Pokémon and add it to their hand once during their turn. It's comparable to a free {{TCG|Bebe's Search}} each turn, which makes this deck's setup lightning fast.

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}} - Although some decks can function without this staple card, Speedrill is not one of those decks. With this strategy being so reliant on speed, extra drawing support is extremely important, and Claydol provides that.

*{{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Kakuna|66}} - Only used for evolving into {{TCG|Beedrill}}; the best Kakuna to play for its ''Dangerous Evolution'' attack.

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Weedle|93}} - Exclusively used for evolving into Beedrill, can also help set up with its ''Call for Family'' attack.

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Baltoy|60}} - Used to evolve into {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}}.

*{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Uxie|43}} - Uxie is a staple card in most decks, that can help the Speedrill player get set up fast with its ''Set Up'' {{TCG|Poké-POWER}}, which allows the player to draw cards until they have seven cards in their hand. Before Claydol hits the field, Uxie is going to give the Speedrill a big drawing boost.

*{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Azelf|19}} - Azelf is useful for getting a prized {{TCG|Beedrill}} or {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Weedle|93}}, since if a Beedrill is prized, ''Band Attack'' will only be able to do 90 damage maximum.

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Unown G|57}} - Unown G is critical when playing against {{TCG|Mother Gengar}}, since it can protect Benched {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}} from being targeted by {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gengar|18}}'s ''Shadow Room'' attack. It also prevents {{TCG|Basic Pokémon}} from being knocked out by {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Machamp|20}}'s ''Take Out'' attack.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Bebe's Search|119}} - Simply used to search for whatever Pokémon the player may need at any given time.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Roseanne's Research|125}} - Searches for {{TCG|Basic Pokémon}} and/or {{TCG|Energy Cards}}.  Very useful.

*{{TCG ID|HeartGold & SoulSilver|Pokémon Collector|97}} - Used to get several Basic Pokémon out.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Professor Oak's Visit|122}} - Functions as a simple drawing card.

*{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Cynthia's Feelings|131}} - A fantastic hand-refresher after a Pokémon is knocked out; helps the deck rebound.

*{{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Rare Candy|90}} - Allows going straight from Weedle to Kakuna

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Dusk Ball|80}} - Good card to search Pokémon without using the {{TCG|Supporter card}} for the turn.

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Warp Point|88}} - Extremely useful for field control and swapping out heavily damaged Pokémon.

*{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Luxury Ball|86}} - Like {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Bebe's Search|119}} except not a Supporter; can only be used once per game, though.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Night Maintenance|120}} - Recycles Knocked Out Pokémon and Energies back into the deck. Useful for obvious reasons.

*{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Poké Drawer +|89}} - Helps with the speed of the deck; a simple drawing trainer.

*{{TCG ID|Platinum|Broken Time-Space|104}} - This card is crucial to setting up fast, since it can allow players to get {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}} and multiple {{TCG|Beedrill}} out early in the game.

===Energy Cards===

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Call Energy|92}} - Useful in the early game for setting up.

*{{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Grass Energy|105}} - Used to power {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Beedrill|13}}'s ''Band Attack''.

==Typical Decklist==

{| {{graytable}}

|- style="background: #eaeaea;"

| 2× || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Beedrill|13}} || {{e|Grass}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 2× || {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Beedrill|15}} || {{e|Grass}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 3× || {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Kakuna|66}} || {{e|Grass}} || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 4× || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Weedle|93}} || {{e|Grass}} || {{Rar|Common}}

|-

| 2× || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}} || {{e|Fighting}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 2× || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Baltoy|60}} || {{e|Fighting}} || {{Rar|Common}}

|-

| 1× || {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Uxie|43}} || {{e|Psychic}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 2× || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Unown G|57}} || {{e|Psychic}} || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1× || {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Azelf|19}} || {{e|Psychic}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 4× || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Bebe's Search|119}} || Su || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 3× || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Roseanne's Research|125}} || Su || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1× || {{TCG ID|HeartGold & SoulSilver|Pokémon Collector|97}} || Su || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 2× || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Professor Oak's Visit|122}} || Su || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1× || {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Cynthia's Feelings|131}} || Su || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 4× || {{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Rare Candy|90}} || T || {{rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1× || {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Luxury Ball|86}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 2× || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Dusk Ball|80}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 4× || {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Poké Drawer +|89}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 3× || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Night Maintenance|120}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1× || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Warp Point|88}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 3× || {{TCG ID|Platinum|Broken Time-Space|104}} || St || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 4× || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Call Energy|92}} || E || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 8× || {{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Grass Energy|105}} || E || {{Rar|Common}}

 

*{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Cherrim|14}} - Cherrim can add an extra 10 damage onto ''Band Attack'', allowing it to reach 130 damage and potentially get tough KOs such as {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Kingdra|7}} and {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Machamp|20}}.

*{{TCG|PlusPower}} - PlusPower has the same function as Cherrim; it is easier to use but only works once.

*{{TCG|Super Scoop Up}} - Some Speedrill variants use Super Scoop Up to bring back heavily damaged Beedrill to the hand and play them down again with {{TCG|Broken Time-Space}}, effectively removing all damage from them.

Since the 2010-2011 [[rotation]], the set {{TCG|Great Encounters}} was rotated out. The main attacker of this deck, Beedrill, is now out of the format. So is Claydol and Roseanne's Research to name some.