Locking up the NXD-FLF format with Pyroar

We all know that Pyroar, alongside Charizard EX, will be one of the most played cards next format because of its ability, Intimidating Mane, which prevents all damage done to it by Basic Pokemon. The plus to that? ALL EX's (except for megas) are basic, and so are some of the most played cards today that aren't EX's, such as Kyurem PLF. Its attack, Scorching Fang is decent as well, and it will be best played with Blacksmith if that card gets released here in North America (as it was not actually part of the Wild Blaze expansion) and if it doesn't, (Superior) Energy Retrieval with Emboar could possibly be useful.

Screw you Yveltal!

Another thing that Pyroar would work well with is Archeops NVI (still legal because it was reprinted in DEX) with its ability which prevents each player from evolving their Pokemon. Here's the main point of the deck - once you get it set up, you've pretty much "locked up" your opponent from attacking unless they had already evolved their Pokemon prior to you setting up Archeops.

Trevenant or absolute failure?

Some Trainer cards that would be useful in a deck with Pyroar, Archeops and maybe Emboar would be Evosoda, Devolution Spray, Flame Torch, Twist Mountain and Silver Bangle

Evosoda is for obvious reasons.

Devolution Spray is used to devolve Archeops when you need to evolve another of your Pokemon, but can't because Archeops is in play.

The Fire Energies that you discard with Flame Torch can be retrieved with Blacksmith or (Superior) Energy Retrieval, and it's also useful because you draw 2 cards off it without playing your Supporter for the turn.

"Discard a Fire Energy card from your hand. Then, draw 2 cards."

Twist Mountain will be very useful in this deck for 2 reasons: To put Archen on your bench without having to use a Plume Fossil, and a great Stadium counter.

You can attach Silver Bangle to Pyroar for that extra 30 to EX's (which can't even attack it.) However, with Pyroar becoming a thing next format, EX's may not be as popular (especially Virizion / Genesect) so I wouldn't recommend running more than 2.

The one card that will counter this deck when you have Pyroar active is Lysandre, the new Catcher (kinda) so that your opponent can bring up Archeops on your bench and deal damage to it with a Basic Pokemon, which Pyroar is immune to. The old Catcher is slightly better than Lysandre being a Supporter, but I can still see Lysandre being played in many decks, it even has a possibility in a Pyroar / Archeops deck.

Full art Lysandre print from Wild Blaze.

In my opinion, this deck has a lot of potential. It may not be the most played deck out there, but I can guarantee that I will be playing this deck when Flashfire is released in North America. Also, knowing my luck at prereleases, I'm hoping to at least pull a Pyroar if I end up going to the closest one (pulled Secret Rare Rayquaza at the Dragons Exalted Prerelease and Moltres EX at the Plasma Storm Prerelease.)

This deck also seems fairly cheap, which is good for me because I'm on a smaller budget when it comes to Pokemon, but I can solve the tournament situation by borrowing cards from people or by techs. I love this deck's strategy and how cheap it is, and it will definitely appeal to those cheap people.

Now, after summarizing everything I just wrote, I've come up with deck lists for Pyroar / Archeops with Blacksmith and Pyroar / Archeops / Emboar.

Pyroar / Archeops with Blacksmith

Pokemon: 15

• 4-4 Pyroar FLF
• 3-3 Archeops NVI/DEX (PLB Archen)
• 1 Mr. Mime PLF

T/S/S: 36

• 4 Professor Juniper/Sycamore
• 4 N
• 3 Blacksmith
• 2 Lysandre

• 4 Flame Torch
• 3 Evosoda
• 3 Devolution Spray
• 2 Random Receiver
• 2 Surprise Megaphone
• 2 Ultra Ball
• 2 Silver Bangle
• 1 Super Rod
• 1 Dowsing Machine

• 3 Twist Mountain

Energy: 9

• 9 Fire Energy

Pyroar / Archeops / Emboar

(This list is very clunky and was made in case Blacksmith won't be released in North America.)

Pokemon: 17

• 3-3 Pyroar FLF
• 3-1-3 Emboar LTR
• 2-2 Archeops NVI/DEX (PLB Archen)

T/S/S: 32

• 4 Professor Juniper/Sycamore
• 4 N
• 2 Skyla

• 4 Flame Torch
• 4 Superior Energy Retrieval
• 2 Evosoda
• 2 Rare Candy
• 2 Ultra Ball
• 2 Devolution Spray
• 2 Surprise Megaphone
• 1 Dowsing Machine

• 3 Twist Mountain

Energy: 11

• 11 Fire Energy

Looking forward to the release of Flashfire here at TCG 101! :D

More info on this deck coming soon in The Deck Dumpster!

 - The TCG 101 team of 1 person