Table of Contents
- Explanation
-Complications
-Deck list
-Tech Options
- A More Tech'd Approach
-Conclusion
Explanation
The deck itself and its strategy are fairly simple. Abuse the weakness of Pokémon hitting for high numbers, often times OHKO's, while using a few techs here and there. Raichu with its Lightning Typing can attack with the help of Silver Bangle, Muscle Band, and Laser Bank, to reach 100 damage with relative ease. Raichu is going to be your counter to Yveltal EX and Lugia EX, as well as any other Lightning Weak Pokémon. Dugtrio on the other hand is a Fighting type, who like Raichu, can reach 100 damage with the use of Silver Bangle, Muscle Band, and Laser Bank. Dugtrio covers two popular types, Dark and Electric. Darkrai and Thundurus, two key parts to popular meta-game decks, both have Fighting weaknesses. Another factor worth noting is the fact that Raichu and Dugtrio have cheap attacks, one of which is powered off of Double Colorless Energy. This means a couple of things, one being Raichu Dugtrio can be a toolbox deck, another is that Frozen City won't hurt this deck, seeing as your Pokémon will be getting OHKO'd most of the time anyhow. From these factors alone we can conclude this deck has a positive match up Vs standard Yeti and Darkrai decks. However, it does have a few complications.
Complications
Although Dugtrio Raichu has good match ups Vs two of the most popular decks in the format, it still struggles with RayBoar, Blastoise, and to an extent, Fairy deck and Genesect Virizion. The main ones we're looking at are RayBoar, Blastoise, and Fairy deck; all three of these decks share one thing in common, a heavy reliance on Abilities. That's where this decks third amigo comes in, Garbodor. Garbodor is a card that’s seen play time and time again and that's for his ability. Shutting of every Pokémon in plays ability/abilities is huge! Especially when facing the decks stated above. And considering neither Raichu nor Dugtrio have any abilities, he's a great addition to then deck. One problem is that you need to run tools, to activate Garbotoxin. Normally Garbodor is run with Float Stone, but since where running him solely as a tech, just running higher amounts of Muscle Band and Silver Bangle will work. Another issue is that most Ability reliant decks run 2-3 Tool Scrapper. Our only solution to this is to well, run more tools. You really can't prevent your opponent for playing down there scrappers, well, not without the inclusion of some crazy tech, but if you can stream tools on Garbodor, you should be covered. A small worry is that Shadow Circlecould ruin you, but a stadium played at the right time alleviates this worry.
Decklist
Here is the deck list I have been testing with.
Pokémon: 18
4-3 Dugtrio XY
4-3 Raichu XY
2-2 Garbodor DRX
Supporters: 14
4 N NVI
4 Professor Juniper BW
3 Colress PLF
3 Skyla BRC
Trainers: 20
4 Level Ball NXD
1 Ultra Ball NXD
4 Hypnotoxic Laser PLF
3 Silver Bangle PLB
3 Muscle Band XY
2 Super Rod NVI
1 Computer Search BRC
2 Virbank City Gym PLF
Energy: 8
4 Fighting Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy NXD
Card Choices
4-3 Dugtrio, 4-3 Raichu
Seeing as how these will be your main attackers for the game, you’re going to want thick lines. The question is what’s the perfect line? After a few days of Online and league testing, I have found 4-3 of each along with 2 Super Rod to be the best line. You’re going to want to use them for the entire game, but 4-4 is a bit too much, and with the format speeding up, 3-3 isn't the safest choice. 4-3 with 2 super rod works because Super Rod can be used to shuffle in Garbodar, Trubish, and Fighting Energy, as well as your attackers.
3 Colress, 3 Skyla
You’re going to want accumulate a big bench to fuel Raichu's attack, Colress is going to naturally be a good draw supporter. Skyla on the other hand, is here to fetch the trainers you need at the appropriate time. I only play three of each because anymore is a bit excessive and not needed.
4 Level Ball, 1 Ultra Ball
Level Ball searches out everything but Garbodor. So it's obviously going to be a good play. Since Garbodar is only a tech, I only run the 1 Ultra Ball. Ultra Ball also can empty cards from your deck. I've considered using a 3-2 Ultra Level Ball split, this isn't bad; don't get me wrong, it could also be in fact be better. I just figure if one of the decks main form of damage output is flooding your bench with Pokémon, having the four Level Ball will in the long run, be better.
4 Hypnotoxic Laser, 2 Virbank
With 6 Tool cards all giving your Pokémon extra damage, the point of Laser Bank might not be clear as day. But it's here to do 30+ on the turns you need it. This is for Pokémon like Snorlax, Thundurus EX, heck, even Kyurem. In also poses the possibility that you can get a one shot on EX's, If you have a Raichu with a full bench, a Silver Bangle, and Laser Bank, coming into your turn, it will do 180 damage, which OHKO's most popular EX's. While this scenario is unlikely and rare, it's still nice to know you have the possibility.
3 Silver Bangle, 3 Muscle Band
It's no secret these are two extremely good tool cards that fit in to most decks, mainly Muscle Band. While it's just a "Nice Addition" a lot of decks, I feel like it's needed in this one. Dugtrio, your counter to Darkrai and Thundurus EX damage output caps at 60 without any add on's. With the use of Silver Bangle, he hits at 60, with weakness, doubles to 180, enough for a clean KO without any Hard Charm or Giant Cape, which hardly see play in those decks. Muscle Band on the other hand, is your counter to Non-EX decks. In combination with Laser Bank, you can reach fairly high numbers.
4 Fighting Energy, 4 Double Colorless Energy
I went fairly light on the energy due to your attackers only requiring 1-2 energy and being able to function with DCE. You also have Super Rod, which can shuffle in your basic energy as a backup.
Tech Options
I will now go over your tech options for the deck so you can customize it to your liking/ to fit your local Meta-Game.
Eevee-Lutions
Eevee-Lutions is a very broad statement; the main two where focusing on are Flareon and Leafeon. Flareon has been used time and time again, having its own deck and being used as a tech. I mentioned before that this deck has an iffy Virizion Genesect matchup, while it's not horrendous like Blastoise and RayBoar are, so I figured it didn't warrant the inclusion of a tech like those do. However, if your area is Virizion Genesect heavy, or your just tired of losing to the deck, teching in a 2-2 line can be useful. It's also worth noting that Flareon isn't just good for fighting Virizion Genesect, it's a solid attacker in other matchups as well. Seeing how your already run fairly heavy Pokémon lines, in combination with Laser Bank and Bangle/Muscle Band, you can hit high numbers pretty fast. Leafeon on the other hand, is just here to better your Blastoise matchup. And just like Flareon, he can also be used in other matchups. If I were to include Eevee-Lutions in my deck, I would use a 2-2-1 Flareon/Leafeon spilt to keep the focus more so on Raichu and Dugtrio, just because you need them for most matchups, but it also means you can get it out efficiently.
Zoroark
Zoroark is a card that saw moderate success in Flareon builds, since it does bring something great to the deck; I figure I should bring it up. Zoroark allows you to copy the attacks of any Pokémon on your opponent’s side of the field without needing the required energy to do so. This is already an extremely good effect that can be used to counter things like Black Kyurem EX. Zoroark does have a few drawback, like being unpredictable as to what he can do, however, if played during the right time, it can be amazing. I don't think I would include and Zoroark in my build for the deck, due to the unpredictability of his attack.
Mr. Mime
Mr. Mime seems like a perfect fit in this deck, he blocks both the damage you do with Dugtrio, and blocks opponents snipe. You could argue that Garbodor shuts him off so he's not a good play, but you only use Garbodor as a tech, and if your opponent’s deck uses Garbodor, then you simply don't play him down. I don't think I would include Mr. Mime in a tech'd list, just due to the fact that your bench damage can actually help you in some ways.
Frozen City
Your Pokémon have low energy cost, so Frozen City won’t hurt much, seeing as you’re getting one shot anyhow buy most things. But what frozen city does to your opponent is softens them up for a K.O. Frozen City is extremely good Vs Blastoise and RayBoar if you can't get your Garbodor out early. Frozen city doesn't help you Vs anything Team Plasma, but The Yeti has proven to be the best Plasma deck we have, and Laser already does nothing Vs Genesect. If I were to use Frozen City over Laser Bank, I would use 3 copies, just to have a healthy amount to counter other stadiums. I think Frozen City is a great card in this deck that's worth testing.
Ninetails
Ninetails has seen moderate success since it was released, one of the most notable was getting T8 at a Regonial's this past month. Ninetails packs two things, a great ability and attack. His ability gives us a Catcher Effect that can bring up Pokemon week to your own and hit them for alot, often a KO. His attack can reach big damage relatively fast with Laser and Bangle. If your playing him, your going to either have to A: run 2 basic energies, or B: run Rainbow Energy. If you take path B you can make your deck even more of a tool box deck.
A More Tech'd Approach
After a bit of Theroymonning and testing online, this is my Tech'd out DugChu list, I won't go into explanation because I have either already explained things, or just told you about above in the techs section.
Pokémon- 20
3-3 Dugtrio XY
2-2-1 Flareon/Leafeon PLF
3-2 Raichu XY
2-2 Garbodor DRX
Supporters-14
4 N NVI
4 Professor Juniper BW
3 Skyla BRC
3 Colress PLS
Trainers- 18
3 Ultra Ball PLB
3 Level Ball NXD
3 Silver Bangle PLB
3 Muscle Band XY
2 Super Rod NVI
1 Dowsing Machine PLS
3 Frozen City PLF
Energy: 8
4 Fighting Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy NXD
A quick thing to take into note, the higher count of Ultra Ball is so you can fuel Flareon.
Conclusion
This deck works because it's fast, and has a quick answer to most things in the format, abusing weakness and Tool Cards. Not to mention it gets OHKO's on two of the most popular decks in format and 2 shots behind Garbodor for the rest. Sure it has a Rocky Virizion Genesect matchup, but this can easily be dealt with proper techs and meta-gaming.
Cheers!
- Explanation
-Complications
-Deck list
-Tech Options
- A More Tech'd Approach
-Conclusion
Explanation
The deck itself and its strategy are fairly simple. Abuse the weakness of Pokémon hitting for high numbers, often times OHKO's, while using a few techs here and there. Raichu with its Lightning Typing can attack with the help of Silver Bangle, Muscle Band, and Laser Bank, to reach 100 damage with relative ease. Raichu is going to be your counter to Yveltal EX and Lugia EX, as well as any other Lightning Weak Pokémon. Dugtrio on the other hand is a Fighting type, who like Raichu, can reach 100 damage with the use of Silver Bangle, Muscle Band, and Laser Bank. Dugtrio covers two popular types, Dark and Electric. Darkrai and Thundurus, two key parts to popular meta-game decks, both have Fighting weaknesses. Another factor worth noting is the fact that Raichu and Dugtrio have cheap attacks, one of which is powered off of Double Colorless Energy. This means a couple of things, one being Raichu Dugtrio can be a toolbox deck, another is that Frozen City won't hurt this deck, seeing as your Pokémon will be getting OHKO'd most of the time anyhow. From these factors alone we can conclude this deck has a positive match up Vs standard Yeti and Darkrai decks. However, it does have a few complications.
Complications
Although Dugtrio Raichu has good match ups Vs two of the most popular decks in the format, it still struggles with RayBoar, Blastoise, and to an extent, Fairy deck and Genesect Virizion. The main ones we're looking at are RayBoar, Blastoise, and Fairy deck; all three of these decks share one thing in common, a heavy reliance on Abilities. That's where this decks third amigo comes in, Garbodor. Garbodor is a card that’s seen play time and time again and that's for his ability. Shutting of every Pokémon in plays ability/abilities is huge! Especially when facing the decks stated above. And considering neither Raichu nor Dugtrio have any abilities, he's a great addition to then deck. One problem is that you need to run tools, to activate Garbotoxin. Normally Garbodor is run with Float Stone, but since where running him solely as a tech, just running higher amounts of Muscle Band and Silver Bangle will work. Another issue is that most Ability reliant decks run 2-3 Tool Scrapper. Our only solution to this is to well, run more tools. You really can't prevent your opponent for playing down there scrappers, well, not without the inclusion of some crazy tech, but if you can stream tools on Garbodor, you should be covered. A small worry is that Shadow Circlecould ruin you, but a stadium played at the right time alleviates this worry.
Decklist
Here is the deck list I have been testing with.
Pokémon: 18
4-3 Dugtrio XY
4-3 Raichu XY
2-2 Garbodor DRX
Supporters: 14
4 N NVI
4 Professor Juniper BW
3 Colress PLF
3 Skyla BRC
Trainers: 20
4 Level Ball NXD
1 Ultra Ball NXD
4 Hypnotoxic Laser PLF
3 Silver Bangle PLB
3 Muscle Band XY
2 Super Rod NVI
1 Computer Search BRC
2 Virbank City Gym PLF
Energy: 8
4 Fighting Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy NXD
Card Choices
4-3 Dugtrio, 4-3 Raichu
Seeing as how these will be your main attackers for the game, you’re going to want thick lines. The question is what’s the perfect line? After a few days of Online and league testing, I have found 4-3 of each along with 2 Super Rod to be the best line. You’re going to want to use them for the entire game, but 4-4 is a bit too much, and with the format speeding up, 3-3 isn't the safest choice. 4-3 with 2 super rod works because Super Rod can be used to shuffle in Garbodar, Trubish, and Fighting Energy, as well as your attackers.
3 Colress, 3 Skyla
You’re going to want accumulate a big bench to fuel Raichu's attack, Colress is going to naturally be a good draw supporter. Skyla on the other hand, is here to fetch the trainers you need at the appropriate time. I only play three of each because anymore is a bit excessive and not needed.
4 Level Ball, 1 Ultra Ball
Level Ball searches out everything but Garbodor. So it's obviously going to be a good play. Since Garbodar is only a tech, I only run the 1 Ultra Ball. Ultra Ball also can empty cards from your deck. I've considered using a 3-2 Ultra Level Ball split, this isn't bad; don't get me wrong, it could also be in fact be better. I just figure if one of the decks main form of damage output is flooding your bench with Pokémon, having the four Level Ball will in the long run, be better.
4 Hypnotoxic Laser, 2 Virbank
With 6 Tool cards all giving your Pokémon extra damage, the point of Laser Bank might not be clear as day. But it's here to do 30+ on the turns you need it. This is for Pokémon like Snorlax, Thundurus EX, heck, even Kyurem. In also poses the possibility that you can get a one shot on EX's, If you have a Raichu with a full bench, a Silver Bangle, and Laser Bank, coming into your turn, it will do 180 damage, which OHKO's most popular EX's. While this scenario is unlikely and rare, it's still nice to know you have the possibility.
3 Silver Bangle, 3 Muscle Band
It's no secret these are two extremely good tool cards that fit in to most decks, mainly Muscle Band. While it's just a "Nice Addition" a lot of decks, I feel like it's needed in this one. Dugtrio, your counter to Darkrai and Thundurus EX damage output caps at 60 without any add on's. With the use of Silver Bangle, he hits at 60, with weakness, doubles to 180, enough for a clean KO without any Hard Charm or Giant Cape, which hardly see play in those decks. Muscle Band on the other hand, is your counter to Non-EX decks. In combination with Laser Bank, you can reach fairly high numbers.
4 Fighting Energy, 4 Double Colorless Energy
I went fairly light on the energy due to your attackers only requiring 1-2 energy and being able to function with DCE. You also have Super Rod, which can shuffle in your basic energy as a backup.
Tech Options
I will now go over your tech options for the deck so you can customize it to your liking/ to fit your local Meta-Game.
Eevee-Lutions
Eevee-Lutions is a very broad statement; the main two where focusing on are Flareon and Leafeon. Flareon has been used time and time again, having its own deck and being used as a tech. I mentioned before that this deck has an iffy Virizion Genesect matchup, while it's not horrendous like Blastoise and RayBoar are, so I figured it didn't warrant the inclusion of a tech like those do. However, if your area is Virizion Genesect heavy, or your just tired of losing to the deck, teching in a 2-2 line can be useful. It's also worth noting that Flareon isn't just good for fighting Virizion Genesect, it's a solid attacker in other matchups as well. Seeing how your already run fairly heavy Pokémon lines, in combination with Laser Bank and Bangle/Muscle Band, you can hit high numbers pretty fast. Leafeon on the other hand, is just here to better your Blastoise matchup. And just like Flareon, he can also be used in other matchups. If I were to include Eevee-Lutions in my deck, I would use a 2-2-1 Flareon/Leafeon spilt to keep the focus more so on Raichu and Dugtrio, just because you need them for most matchups, but it also means you can get it out efficiently.
Zoroark
Zoroark is a card that saw moderate success in Flareon builds, since it does bring something great to the deck; I figure I should bring it up. Zoroark allows you to copy the attacks of any Pokémon on your opponent’s side of the field without needing the required energy to do so. This is already an extremely good effect that can be used to counter things like Black Kyurem EX. Zoroark does have a few drawback, like being unpredictable as to what he can do, however, if played during the right time, it can be amazing. I don't think I would include and Zoroark in my build for the deck, due to the unpredictability of his attack.
Mr. Mime
Mr. Mime seems like a perfect fit in this deck, he blocks both the damage you do with Dugtrio, and blocks opponents snipe. You could argue that Garbodor shuts him off so he's not a good play, but you only use Garbodor as a tech, and if your opponent’s deck uses Garbodor, then you simply don't play him down. I don't think I would include Mr. Mime in a tech'd list, just due to the fact that your bench damage can actually help you in some ways.
Frozen City
Your Pokémon have low energy cost, so Frozen City won’t hurt much, seeing as you’re getting one shot anyhow buy most things. But what frozen city does to your opponent is softens them up for a K.O. Frozen City is extremely good Vs Blastoise and RayBoar if you can't get your Garbodor out early. Frozen city doesn't help you Vs anything Team Plasma, but The Yeti has proven to be the best Plasma deck we have, and Laser already does nothing Vs Genesect. If I were to use Frozen City over Laser Bank, I would use 3 copies, just to have a healthy amount to counter other stadiums. I think Frozen City is a great card in this deck that's worth testing.
Ninetails
Ninetails has seen moderate success since it was released, one of the most notable was getting T8 at a Regonial's this past month. Ninetails packs two things, a great ability and attack. His ability gives us a Catcher Effect that can bring up Pokemon week to your own and hit them for alot, often a KO. His attack can reach big damage relatively fast with Laser and Bangle. If your playing him, your going to either have to A: run 2 basic energies, or B: run Rainbow Energy. If you take path B you can make your deck even more of a tool box deck.
A More Tech'd Approach
After a bit of Theroymonning and testing online, this is my Tech'd out DugChu list, I won't go into explanation because I have either already explained things, or just told you about above in the techs section.
Pokémon- 20
3-3 Dugtrio XY
2-2-1 Flareon/Leafeon PLF
3-2 Raichu XY
2-2 Garbodor DRX
Supporters-14
4 N NVI
4 Professor Juniper BW
3 Skyla BRC
3 Colress PLS
Trainers- 18
3 Ultra Ball PLB
3 Level Ball NXD
3 Silver Bangle PLB
3 Muscle Band XY
2 Super Rod NVI
1 Dowsing Machine PLS
3 Frozen City PLF
Energy: 8
4 Fighting Energy
4 Double Colorless Energy NXD
A quick thing to take into note, the higher count of Ultra Ball is so you can fuel Flareon.
Conclusion
This deck works because it's fast, and has a quick answer to most things in the format, abusing weakness and Tool Cards. Not to mention it gets OHKO's on two of the most popular decks in format and 2 shots behind Garbodor for the rest. Sure it has a Rocky Virizion Genesect matchup, but this can easily be dealt with proper techs and meta-gaming.
Cheers!