Gouging Fire ex feature now up!

So, I’m not going to claim any credit for turning the competitive eye towards Dialga VSTAR (which just won Indianapolis), because I’m sure some little content creator already has. And that’s not why I’m doing this. But now that I did inject Dialga into the format, how about a way to counter/crush it?

Entei V alone would do that, but probably could not hold up against everything else. Gouging Fire ex can. This feature will show you how you can hit a first turn 280 damage, 330 if you swap the ACESPEC cards in my list.

I missed last Monday because we were at C2E2. Here’s this week’s video, and I should have another up next Monday. Give us a “Like” if you enjoy my videos, and check out some of the others, too. It helps that whole algorithm thing.

Be not afraid. Later.

Play Garchomp ex With Anything

Okay, I tried to make this post at 8pm on Monday. I don’t know when it went up, but it’s there now. I’m not that great with the whole interweb thing.

I’ve been waiting for a playable Garchomp since Dragons Exalted. The BREAKpoint one was okay, but not really impactful. Maybe he’s not as popular of a character as I thought, but does it get any better than a shark that can move through the ground like in Tremors, and then fly at supersonic speeds? I mean, c’mon! I love this new “ex” from Paradox Rift.

Take a look at these Garchomp lists, especially if you are new to the game. Building and playing a deck like those I posted is a great way to get a sampling of the major mechanics in the current format. It’s also a great exercise in understanding “weakness” and countering “weakness”. Playing a deck that reacts to whatever your opponent does is also a good way to hone your strategy skills.

One thing I meant to mention in the video and left out is the possibility of using “Maximum Belt” instead of “Prime Catcher” in the 3rd list. The plus-50 damage it brings takes the Ancient Koraidon ex’s “Kaiser Tackle” from 280 to 330 damage, giving you the ability to one-hit Charizard ex and the like.

Enjoy the decks.

Be not afraid. Later.

Lycanroc ex: What else should you play after surviving the eclipse?

He’s a werewolf, right? Or as close as Pokemon probably wants to get, at least. What better deck to look at for everyone that survived the apocalypse/eclipse/NJ earthquake of 2024? This one is for fun. Lycanroc ex is not bad, but it’s not winning Worlds this year, either. Joel has created a fun way to play him, whether Lycanroc is your favorite pokemon, or if you like to play casual decks, or you opened a bunch a packs and got nothing but Lycanroc ex and don’t want to sell them for $.45 each. Check out a full description below and see how a budget deck, in the right hands, can still pull out some cool wins.

As previously mentioned, our video release schedule is show-dependant. We’ve got back-to-back shows this week and not much turn-around time in between. Joel won’t have a video ready for 4/15/24, but will be back on schedule the following week. Thanks for checking in.

Be not afraid. Later.

Which Dialga is Better?

Dialga VSTAR has been one of Joel’s pet projects since it came out. From decks with Zacian V and Metal Saucer, to Magnezone, now Metang, it has been on the fringes of competitive play off and on. It very possible that Temporal Forces has made it as playable as ever. Check out this past Monday’s feature and see what you think. Don’t forget to check our YouTube page every Monday at 8pm to see what we are messing around with. It might be a great deck, or it might just be a fun one, or both.

Be not afraid. Later.

Release Schedule For The Gym

I’ve recorded a lot of online game footage over the last year or so. A LOT. Thanks to the weird, self-imposed rotation schedule, in the middle of a season, most of that footage is kind of irrelevant at this point. So, I’m working on getting games recorded in the new standard format. For now, I’m focusing on showing some of my favorite pre-rotation lists and how to adapt them. Some will work, some will not.

Our first video, and a couple of related shorts, on Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR is out now. Check it out below. What I am going to try to do, show schedule pending, of course, is release a new video once a week. I’m thinking every Monday night at 8pm, so you can start your week out with my fuzzy face, and some new Pokemon content. What more can you ask for?

Check this Monday, and each one thereafter, to see what I’m working on. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, and feel free to comment or ask questions there.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter weekend. Be not afraid. Later.

New Bronzong Metal Box Deck!

Many of our favorite decks start the same way this one did. Mix some guys you like together, try to make it fast & consistent, add cards from new sets, change the counts of everything, multiple times…. Sometimes they get so convoluted that we just scrap them. Sometimes balance is achieved and a solid deck is created. Bronzong from Battle Styles really was that spicy ingredient needed to make this one right. In whatever iteration of this deck this version is (5th, at least), Hee-Haw took to the PTCGO and played all afternoon and pretty much beat down everything he faced. Maybe we should figure out how to livestream afternoons like that (how the heck do you do that… dang technology).

Give this one a try. It is legit. Nuff said.

Enjoy. Follow us on all these social things that Marthe keeps straight.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarkMoonCardsandGames/

Twitter: @DarkMoonCards1

Instagram: @darkmooncards

And check out our business website:

http://www.DarkMoonCardsandGames.com

Be not afraid.

Later.

Necrozma V Spread Deck Just Posted!

You know, when you try to work time into your schedule to make YouTube videos, but you have a kid in high school and one in college, and one of them has to move out of campus housing at the end of the year, and the other one has a birthday approaching, so you go pack up one and move him home for the summer, and you get the other one her first car for her birthday that just needs a new clutch, but the clutch doesn’t come in until the day before her birthday, and while balancing all of that, you pack up for a card show in South Carolina, while hosting birthday festivities and trying to update prices for all of the cards you are taking to the card show and finally start the four hour drive to the show and about an hour down the road you exclaim, “Crap… I forgot to post the new video”?

That’s why this video went up today, instead of last Thursday.

Just thought I’d share.

Check this one out. I think it’s definitely has competitive potential. Plus, it’s based on Necrozma, and he’s cool. So, now you have to try it.

Enjoy.

Be not afraid.

Later.

New Wailord V & Kingdra Deck!

Check out our latest deck feature on YouTube. This one may not be the one for Worlds 2022, or 2023, or whenever Play!Pokemon decides to give up on London and bring the event to a place where they might actually allow it to take place….

But it is a fun deck nonetheless. Give it a try and see if you can get Wailord V to hit the lucky 360 or get Kingdra to top 400 damage!

Be not afraid. Later.

Single Strike Tyranitar V Deck!

Think we were gone? We are still here, despite Play!Pokemon cancelling every in-person event for the last year, and on through the remainder of this season. Hey Pokemon! They’ve been holding real tournaments in Japan this whole time… you should look into whatever sorcery they’ve discovered. We have moved most of our content to YouTube, especially regarding decks. If we are ever allowed back into the Fincastle Library, we are anxious to resume our league. Until that time, we are traveling outside of communist Virginia to keep Dark Moon Cards and Games afloat.

Gym Leader Joel, aka Hee-Haw on YouTube, has spent the last week delving into Battle Styles and created some pretty cool decks to try out. Here is the first:

Check out previous deck videos and openings on our channel. Come back here for links as soon as we post them.

Be not afraid. Later.

2020-2021 Rotation List

Check out our 1st TCG Rotation video.  This once was the location for our in depth articles on the Standard Format Rotation each year.  Here is our video version.

Compete Guide To The 2021 Season TCG Rotation

Here are the lists to accompany the video.  Enjoy!

 

ULTRA PRISM:

Rotated Cards

-GX:

• Celesteela GX (FA)
• Dawn Wings Necrozma GX
• Dialga GX (Drg)
• Dusk Mane Necrozma GX
• Glaceon GX
• Leafeon GX
• Lunala GX (gold)
• Palkia GX (Drg)
• Pheromosa GX (FA)
• Silvally GX
• Solgaleo GX (gold)
• Xurkitree GX (FA)

-Trainers:

• Cynthia
• escape board
• Lillie
• Memory (F,L)
• Lana (FA)
• Lusamine (FA)
• Mt Coronet
• Order Pad
• Pokemon Fan Club
• Unit Energy (L/P/M)
• Volkner

-Prism Star:

• Cyrus
• Darkrai
• Giratina
• Lunala
• Solgaleo
• Super Boost Energy

Other Rare/Common/Uncommon

• Lucario
• Garchomp (Drg)
• Empoleon
• Magnezone
• Oranguru
• Pachirisu
• Rampardos
• Tapu Lele
• Weavile

Set Cards That Don’t Rotate (Keepers):

• Crushing Hammer (SWSH)
• Unidentified Fossil (TEU, UNM)
• Pal Pad (SWSH)

FORBIDDEN LIGHT:

Rotated Cards

-GX:

• Dialga GX(M)
• Greninja GX
• Lucario GX(FA)
• Nagandel GX
• Palkia GX
• Ultra Necrozma GX
• Xerneas GX
• Yveltal GX
• Zygarde GX

-Trainer

• Beast Ring
• Bonnie
• Crasher Wake
• Diantha
• Energy Recycler (SR)
• Judge
• Lysandre labs
• Metal Frying Pan
• Mysterious Treasure
• Ultra Space
• Unit Energy (F, D, Y)

-Prism Star:

• Arceus
• Beast Energy
• Diancie
• Lysandre
• Volcanion

Other Rare/Common/Uncommon:

• Alolan Exeggcutor (Tropical Shake)
• Buzzwole (“baby”)
• Garchomp (F)
• Malamar
• Magnezone

Set Cards That Don’t Rotate:

• Unidentified Fossil (TEU, UNM)

CELESTIAL STORM

Rotated Cards

-GX:

• Alolan Raticate GX
• Articuno GX
• Banette GX
• Blaziken GX
• Electrode GX
• Mr Mime GX (Evens)
• Palosand GX
• Rayquaza GX
• Scizor GX
• Shiftry GX
• Stakataka GX

-Trainer

• Acro Bike
• Apricorn Maker
• Bill’s Maintenance
• Copycat
• Energy Recycle System
• Fisherman
• Friend Ball
• Hau
• Hustle Belt
• Lisia
• Lure Ball
• Pokenav
• Rainbow Brush
• Shrine of Punishment
• Sky Pillar
• Rainbow Energy
• Steven’s Resolve
• Super Scoop Up
• Tate & Liza
• TV Reporter
• Underground Expedition

-Prism Star:

• Jirachi
• Latias
• Latios

Other Rare/Common/Uncommon:

• Deoxys
• Magcargo
• Swampert

Set Cards That Don’t Rotate:

• Energy Switch (SWSH)
• Rare Candy (SWSH)
• Switch (SWSH)

 

DRAGON MAJESTY

Rotated Cards

-GX:

• Altaria GX
• Dragonite GX
• Kingdra GX
• Reshiram GX
• Salamence GX
• White Kyurem GX

-Trainer

• Dragon Talon
• Fiery Flint
• Switch Raft
• Zinia

-Prism Star

• Lance
• Victini

Other Rare/Common/Uncommon:

• Altaria
• Blaziken
• Quagsire
• Turtonator

Set Cards That Don’t Rotate:

• None

 

LOST THUNDER

Rotated Cards

-GX:

• Alolan Ninetales GX
• Blacephalon GX
• Genesect GX
• Lugia GX
• Magcargo GX
• Mimikyu GX
• Sceptile GX
• Shuckle GX
• Sigilyph GX
• Suicune GX
• Tyranitar GX
• Virizion GX

-Trainer

• Adventure Bag
• Choice Helmet
• Counter Gain
• Custom Catcher
• Electropower
• Faba
• Fairy Charm (D,F,G,P)
• Judge
• Lost Blender
• Mina
• Mixed Herbs
• Moomoo Milk
• Net Ball
• Professor Elm’s Research
• Sightseer
• Spell Tag
• Wait & See Hammer

-Prism Star

• Celebi
• Ditto
• Heat Factory
• Life Forest
• Lusamine
• Thunder Mountain

Other Rare/Common/Uncommon:

• Blissey
• Granbull
• Lost March (Jumpluff, Skiploom, Trumbeak, Natu)
• Miltank
• Nagandel
• Nihelgo
• Shaymin
• Shedinja
• White Kyurem
• Wobbuffet

Set Cards That Don’t Rotate:

• None

As a reminder, when we mention a GX, that includes all 3 versions of it:  the regular, full art and rainbow rare.