Prop 15/3 (Base-Gym) - Deck Profile - Rain Dance
Please find my most up-to-date Prop 15/3 lists in the metagame page and my active lists page. Thanks!
(Update 2024.09.28: after losing a lot to Wigglytuff decks, I have a Pokemon Breeder list that is seems competitive though somewhat fragile.)
Blastoise: an iconic Pokemon with an iconic TCG card with an iconic Pokemon Power.
Rain Dance was a staple of the early Pokemon TCG metagame, competing (and often coming up short) against the Haymaker menace. It's not a wonder that the deck has a similar hurdle in Prop 15/3 (with Rocket's Zapdos and Electabuzz natural predators). Additionally, the 15-trainer limit makes the Pokemon Powers of Dark Vileplume, Aerodactyl, Muk and Mr. Mime harder to counter.
After toying with a few ideas, I believe Rain Dance can be successfully built a few ways: with Kangaskhan and/or Dark Dragonair and/or Computer Error defining the builds (and Dodrio and/or Dragonite supplementing them) to accrue the raw number of cards to function. Based on the core build, Gust of Wind, Super Energy Removal and/or Super Potion join consistency-boosting Trainers in leveraging the explosiveness of Rain Dance.
My personal preference is a Dark Dragons with Step In build, although I am unsure if the deck should have a Dodrio and what that Trainer package should look like. I do not have a lot of experience including Super Potion in the deck, which may be critical to saving a Pokemon and all of its energy from a KO (and have considered a Charity to fight Mr. Mime).
A Computer Error and Dark Dragon build could lead to a strong toolbox list. I also like the idea of trying: a split between Gyarados/Dark Gyarados, a teched Clefable (against Rocket's Zapdos and as a single-energy attacker), Lickitung and Misty's Poliwhirl (with maybe a Misty's Poliwrath).
Example 1: Jason K.'s Computer Error
The mass card draw of Computer Error (and a single Professor Oak) combines with Computer Search and Pokemon Trader to setup Blastoise as quickly as possible. With Rain Dance's extra energy attachments, Super Potion and Super Energy Removal aim to offset an opponent's extra cards. No Gust of Wind leaves the player at the mercy of its opponent's benched Pokemon Powers.
The deck does not have many great early attackers but swings hard from turn 3 onward (with many chances at paralysis). Note that Computer Error ending the turn may lead to Blastoise being setup later than turn 3 or the inability to play a critical Trainer or make a critical attack.
Example 2: Computer Error & Dodrio
-1 Koga's Pidgey, -1 Dodrio, -1 Fossil Articuno, -1 Base Set Squirtle, -1 Super Energy Removal.
.png)
Example 3: Dark Dragons & Dragonite & Kangaskhan
Dragonite's Step In covers one of the big weaknesses of Rain Dance, an expensive retreat, and adds Dark Dragonite line to add consistency (as well as opening the ability to play less copies of other important Pokemon). This approach leads to a very full deck list, with each card serving a purpose and not to be squandered when the opponent is able to survive a few initial quick knockouts!
Dark Dragons and Kangaskhan give additional card draw (and some searching power). But with lean evolution lines and/or energy counts, Nightly Garbage Run and Item Finders are important to prevent running out of cards in deck (and sometimes Blastoise or another linchpin 'Mon). I've found that Dark Dragon with Dragonite requires fewer energy cards in the deck list to function than other Rain Dance variants (but uses many Oaks per game to ensure it hits it attachments). Though, the lower count of energy and needing energy to retreat Dragonite can lead to a loss from one or two poor energy attachments.
With all of the additional colorless Pokemon, Double Colorless Energy are helpful in establishing secondary and tertiary attackers. Kangaskahn attacking on turn 2 or 3 (or Dark Dragonite flipping heads) may be just the pressure the deck needs to close a game many turns later.
Example 4: Dark Dragons & Dragonite & Dodrio & Kangaskhan
UPDATE (2024.08.18):
+1 Lapras, +1 Kangaskhan, +1 Secret Mission, +1 Super Potion.
-1 Fossil Articuno, -1 Water Energy, -1 Computer Search, -1 Super Energy Removal.
Note: This deck has not fared well recently in testing against Haymaker variants.
Starting from the previous deck, this iteration of Rain Dance shaves from the Dragonite line and the 19th Water Energy to squeeze in a Dodrio with two Doduos. Since Gust of Wind (or attacks with similar effects) and energy removal can tax the resource light versions of the deck, Dodrio and Dragonite combine to save a lot of energy normally spent retreating to the best possible attacker (or just clearing a status-afflicted 'Mon).
As an experiment against Mr. Mime, a Wizards Black Star Promo Articuno and a Lapras replace a Fossil Articuno and a Team Rocket Drowzee from the previous version. Additionally, there is a small trainer update: (1) Secret Mission is replacing a Computer Search to give the deck another chance to access a large amount of energy beyond Professor Oak, and (2) Super Potion replaces Super Energy Removal to prolong an attacker over disrupting an opponent's attacker.
.png)
Example 5: Dark Dragon Turbo Blastoise
Playing Rain Dance
Rain Dance's fundamental change to the single-energy-per-turn rule can lend to the deck burning through Professor Oaks or Computer Errors (as well as cards in deck) to quickly setup powerful attackers. Keep an eye on resources that are being discarded and think twice before discarding additional cards that you may rely on for winning in later stages.
Aerodactyl, Muk, Dark Vileplume, Mr. Mime, Chaos Gym and Lass are the most disruptive cards against Rain Dance; have a plan when these cards show up! It is important to have a Gust of Wind or Brock's Mankey (#67) to counter the disruptive Pokemon (and their Basics), but these cards won't equate a loss. Team Rocket Drowzee and Lapras are great counters to Mr. Mime (when Rain Dance has the bench space). Don't give up! Single-energy attachments can build up substantial attackers, and Kangakhan/Dark Dragonair can build up after a Lass or under a Chaos Gym.
In many games, I aim to try to attempt Articuno's chance to do bench damage to soften 70-80-HP 'Mon up to fall to Blastoise's 60-damage attack; though risky with Fossil Articuno, the extra damage is sometimes critical to end the game before 70-HP-and-above Pokemon can prey on the resource-intensive Rain Dance deck attackers. This saves valuable turns of both being on the receiving end damaging attacks and running out of cards!
Wild Ideas
To be added in detail at later date, topics including: Energy Retrieval, Chaos Gym, Energy Flow/Pokemon Center
Comments
Post a Comment