Memphis 2018 1, 12, 16

Archetype: Malamar
Subarchetype: Malamar/Psychic
Deck builder: Rukan Shao and other Dead Draw Gaming members
Tournament placements:
2018 Memphis Regionals:
  • Daniel Altavilla, 1st 
  • Rukan Shao, 12th 
  • Caleb Gedemer, 16th 

List (PTCGO exportable): 
Pokemon - 19
4 Inkay FLI 50
4 Malamar FLI 51
2 Marshadow-GX BUS 80
2 Deoxys CES 67
1 Necrozma-GX BUS 63
1 Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX UPR 63
1 Mimikyu GRI 58
1 Chimecho CIN 43
1 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 60
1 Marshadow SLG 45
1 Oricorio GRI 55

Trainer - 31
4 Lillie SUM 122
4 Cynthia UPR 119
3 Guzma BUS 115
4 Mysterious Treasure FLI 113
4 Ultra Ball SUM 135
3 Acro Bike PRC 122
2 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Nest Ball SUM 123
1 Friend Ball CES 131
1 Escape Rope BUS 114
4 Escape Board UPR 122

Energy - 10
10 Psychic Energy 5


Notes:

Rukan Shao:
  • Earlier this month, I hinted at a secret deck. It was just Chimecho in Psychic Malamar. I tried to keep the tech a secret, but a lot of people just started figuring it out on their own. Knowing this, I wanted to find a way to improve my deck's matchup against other Malamar decks that might...play...Chimecho. I ultimately settled on Oricorio...as I found it increased my odds of attacking with Deoxys turn 2 from about 50% to 70%. 
  • Changes since [2018 Philadelphia Regionals, where Shao finished 2nd with a similar list]: 
    • -1 Necrozma-GX, +1 Chimecho. Chimecho helps the Zoroark-GX matchup and one [fewer] Necrozma-GX helps the Shrine and [mirror] matchups. 
    • -1 Acro Bike, +1 Oricorio GRI 55. Oricorio serves a similar function to Acro Bike, and improves your Shrine and...mirror matchups considerably. It is basically a dead card against [decks that play] Sudowoodo, though. 
    • -1 Friend Ball, +1 Nest Ball. Nest Ball is a lot better vs. ZoroRoc, plus helps you get turn 1 Chimecho lock more consistently. I still don't feel comfortable running two Nest Ball due to late game concerns though. 
    • -1 Guzma, +1 Escape Rope. ...I wanted an out to mill decks. I ended up cutting Guzma...as I found it was clunky to draw into [in the] early game. This hurt me a few games, but Escape Rope also helped me a few games. I think I would go back to fourth Guzma if I did not expect mill. And no, I would not cut fourth Escape Board...don't even ask." 
  • I am finding myself warming up to Lunala ♢ after Gustavo [Wada's] performance and personally losing twice to BuzzRoc.
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