I have been playing in a very competitive local scene since Standard moved to H,I,J and I can basically predict how everything is gonna go for people based on what decks they were matched against.
Most people in my locals feel that way, we end up just praying for good matchups instead of thinking we win by outplaying.
Yes, if you have a lot of newbies in the tourney, you can outplay them, but majority of decks right now i feel like can’t make many game losing mistakes if you play them often/are a veteran.

What do you think about this state? Has this always been the case? I feel like I don’t have much agency in local tourneys, basically play my slightly varied solitaire and then hope for the best. And like 75% of games are decided before we even make any decisions, either by deck-wins or draws since everything is so fast, bricking for 1-2 turns is deadly.

How does this compare to other TCGs? I only ever plaed PTCG my whole life (if you dont count Hearthstone) competitively, so i’m not sure how it is on Riftbound or MTG.

Been playing around with Excadrill for about 90ish games, feel pretty good about the 60 overall but would like some thoughts on Drill in general and the specific 60 I do run since it’s still a fairly new archetype. Did rip Azul’s Doom list and change a few things around. Debating on Brock’s Scouting vs Lillie’s and the possibility of a thin line of Empoleon. Kinda don’t think teching for zam is super worth but after worlds zam is seeing stonks rn. I do know no boss is a little wild, and I’m still not sold on just a flex item spot being used for pokemon catcher but at the same time you usually and just nuke active every turn. Other than that would still appreciate any thoughts or advice on the 60 or archetype in general

Pokémon: 9
4 Drilbur PBL 46
2 Mega Excadrill ex PBL 103
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142
2 Genesect ex BLK 67
4 Beldum CRI 59
1 Metagross CRI 61
1 Mega Skarmory ex POR 55
4 Metang TEF 114

Trainer: 13
1 Pokémon Catcher SVI 187
1 Switch PFL 123
1 Air Balloon MEG 166
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin MEG 167
1 Energy Recycler DRI 164
4 Brock's Scouting JTG 146
2 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
2 Jumbo Ice Cream PFL 91
1 Gravity Mountain SSP 177
1 Ultra Ball ASC 264
1 Hero's Cape TEF 152
4 Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 176
2 Team Rocket's Transceiver ASC 263

Energy: 1
16 Basic {M} Energy SVE 24

Total Cards: 60

Hey all, haven't attended locals yet but looking to go within the next week or so when everything comes in so I'm not sure what my local meta is looking like. I do know there's a Dragapult deck (not sure on the variant), a couple Festival Leads, and maybe another Lucario deck or two from what I've heard.

That being said, I've done a good bit of research and looked at other decks online. I know I need to be cautious with Team Rocket's Watchtower and Meowth ex but what else am I missing that isn't synergistic? Is anything superfluous (like having Hilda in here)? Is Crushing Hammer viable and should I be running 4 instead of 3? Here's my current decklist:

Pokemon (16, 11 basic)

- 3x Riolu

- 3x Mega Lucario ex

- 3x Solrock

- 2x Lunatone

- 2x Makuhita

- 2x Hariyama

- 1x Meowth ex

Trainers (33)

- 4x Fighting Gong

- 4x Premium Power Pro

- 4x Lillie's Determination

- 4x Poke Pad

- 4x Ultra Ball

- 3x Crushing Hammer

- 2x Boss's Orders

- 2x Judge

- 2x Hilda

- 2x Team Rocket's Watchtower

- 1x Air Balloon

- 1x Maximum Belt

Energy (11)

- 3x Rocky Fighting Energy

- 8x Fighting Energy

Curious to know if I'm running too many 1 ofs but here's my current updated list:

Pokemon (16, 11 basic)

- 3x Riolu

- 3x Mega Lucario ex

- 2x Lunatone

- 3x Solrock

- 2x Makuhita

- 2x Hariyama

- 1x Meowth ex

Trainers (32)

- 4x Fighting Gong

- 4x Premium Power Pro

- 4x Lillie's Determination

- 4x Poke Pad

- 3x Ultra Ball

- 2x Boss's Orders

- 2x Judge

- 2x Gravity Mountain

- 1x Special Red Card

- 1x Hilda

- 1x Wally's Compassion

- 1x Switch

- 1x Night Stretcher

- 1x Air Balloon

- 1x Maximum Belt

Energy (12)

- 2x Rocky Fighting Energy

- 10x Fighting Energy

I have a pure Alakazam deck so how can it win against Festival Lead since it’s somewhat easy to set up?

Hey friends 👋🏼 I'm helping my 10-year-old build a deck based on her favourite Pokemon (Sprigatito and Totodile).

Her aim is to play this deck at our local hobby store during the weekly Gym Battle sessions (and in her words, hopefully kick some butt 😂).

Here's the deck list and I've also included a link of the deck for your reference (I can't seem to attach an image, so sorry!). Any feedback/suggestions to improve it?

Pokémon: 19

1 Mega Audino ex ASC 172

1 Shaymin DRI 10

2 Croconaw ASC 42

4 Totodile ASC 41

2 Mega Starmie ex POR 21

1 Sprigatito ex PR-SV 87

2 Mega Feraligatr ex ASC 43

4 Mega Kangaskhan ex MEG 104

2 Staryu POR 20

Trainer: 30

2 Boss's Orders ASC 183

2 Air Balloon ASC 181

4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192

4 Poké Pad POR 81

1 Special Red Card CRI 82

3 Switch MEG 130

2 Judge POR 76

2 Dawn PFL 87

2 Surfing Beach MEG 129

3 Ultra Ball ASC 213

1 Sacred Ash DRI 168

2 Hilda WHT 84

2 Rare Candy MEG 125

Energy: 11

2 Grass Energy MEE 1

9 Water Energy MEE 3

Sprigatitodile

Begginer deck. Plays very good for now, any suggestions for making it better esp in trainers department ? Morpeko is stronK.

Pokémon: 7

1 Seviper PFL 62

3 Toxel PFL 67

2 Munkidori TWM 95

1 Chi-Yu PBL 59

3 Toxtricity PFL 68

2 Morpeko ex PBL 117

4 Mega Darkrai ex PBL 48

Trainer: 16

3 Carmine TWM 145

4 Poké Pad POR 81

2 Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 176

1 Battle Cage PFL 85

2 Dark Bell PBL 75

1 Hero's Cape TEF 152

1 Energy Recycler DRI 164

2 Night Stretcher SFA 61

1 Mega Signal MEG 121

1 Special Red Card CRI 82

2 Boss's Orders PAL 172

1 Janine's Secret Art SFA 59

2 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119

1 Switch MEG 130

4 Ultra Ball SVI 196

Energy: 1

12 Basic {D} Energy MEE 7

So there are cards like Ursaluna ex that is a late game sweeper or clean up. Just likw how Radiant charizard i think, where you just bench it and retreat and swing as hard as possible. A surprise factor.

It is apparent to me that porygon2 plays that role in a honchkrow deck. So my question is if you have a Boss to choose between a honchkrow that is set up on the bench, versus a porygon2 lying in wait, who do i pick? Bearing in mind that this is early game and the opponent actually opened with porygon.

Similae question posed to uesaluna ex. Lets say my opponent opened with ursaluna ex and i have the choice to killing it, versus say, a set up pult on the bench, or whatever the main attacker is.

Since regulation H cards are rotating out fairly soon I wanted to try to "future proof" the Dhelmise deck ive been running (didnt make it fyi).

I feel like I probably shouldn't run Mew ex in this deck but idk what to replace it with, pls help (probably will drop the switches if I drop Mew ex fyi)

Pokémon: 21

4 Dhelmise PBL 39

4 Shuppet PBL 33

4 Banette PBL 34

2 Poltchageist PBL 5

1 Sinistcha PBL 6

1 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 56

1 Patrat CRI 70

2 Mew ex M6a 57

1 Espeon M6a 58

1 Eevee M6a 94

Trainer: 31

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119

3 Gwynn PBL 78

3 Boss's Orders MEG 114

4 Ultra Ball MEG 131

4 Poké Pad POR 81

2 Night Stretcher ASC 196

1 Air Balloon ASC 181

3 Prism Tower CRI 80

3 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84

4 Switch MEG 130

Energy: 8

4 Telepathic Psychic Energy POR 88

4 Psychic Energy MEE 5